Good morning, Crystal River! A large oak tree crashed down onto a Frito-Lay truck on U.S. 41 north of Holder, shutting the highway down while crews cleared the wreckage. Meanwhile, city officials are weighing whether Kings Bay Park should get a new boat ramp, Boys & Girls Clubs are gearing up for their 24th annual Steak & Steak fundraiser on Oct. 8, and new numbers show Citrus County home prices holding steady even as inventory tightens.

On the school front, a state proposal to loosen school vaccine mandates is stirring debate between parents' rights advocates and public health officials, Crystal River High's Sarah Duncan is Miami-bound for the Miss Teen USA stage, and the Pirates picked up wins in both golf and swimming over Springstead this week.

Plus, a full slate of events and live music around town, a food truck stop at Aggregation Distilling Company, and if you're looking for an excuse to treat yourself today, it's National Peach Day, enjoy a slice of peach cobbler and have a great Thursday!

Steak & Steak Fundraiser Returns Oct. 8 to Support Boys & Girls Clubs

The 24th annual Steak & Steak fundraiser is back this fall, with proceeds raised to help keep Boys & Girls Clubs programs affordable and accessible for local kids. The event has become a fixture on the Citrus County calendar, giving the community a chance to enjoy a meal together while supporting local youth programming. Further details on tickets and location are expected as October 8 approaches. Read More -->

City Weighs New Boat Ramp at Kings Bay Park

City officials are considering turning part of Kings Bay Park into a boat launch facility, a move aimed at easing congestion at Crystal River's existing ramps. The proposal comes with its own set of questions, though, as planners weigh the safety and traffic concerns that come with adding a new access point to the water. No final decision has been made, and officials are expected to keep studying the idea in the coming weeks. Read More -->

Citrus County Home Prices Hold Steady as Inventory Tightens

Citrus County's housing market is holding relatively steady on price, even as the pool of available homes shrinks. Inventory is down 18% compared to a year ago, while sales have continued to climb, giving sellers a bit more leverage. For buyers, that means fewer options to choose from than last year, even though prices haven't spiked to match the tighter supply. Read More -->

Oak Tree Crushes Frito-Lay Truck, Shuts Down U.S. 41 North of Holder

A large oak tree came crashing down onto a Frito-Lay delivery truck on U.S. 41 north of Holder, crushing the truck's cab and forcing a shutdown of the highway while crews worked to clear the wreckage. The closure caused delays for drivers along the busy corridor as crews cleared debris and made the road safe to reopen. Details on what caused the tree to fall were not immediately available. Read More -->

Proposed State Rule Change Would Loosen School Vaccine Requirements

School vaccine requirements are becoming a bigger topic in Florida politics, with a new proposal from the DeSantis administration that would drop some existing mandates and expand parents' ability to opt their children out of others. Supporters frame the change as a matter of giving parents more say over their children's health decisions. Doctors and public health officials, however, have raised concerns that loosening the requirements could lower immunization rates and leave schools more vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases. The proposal has not yet been finalized, and more details are expected as the rulemaking process continues. Read More -->

Crystal River High's Sarah Duncan Heads to the Miss Teen USA Stage

Crystal River High School is cheering on Sarah Duncan as she represents the school and its Academy of Health Careers program on the Miss Teen USA stage in Miami. Duncan's appearance is a point of pride for the school community, which has rallied behind her ahead of the competition. Good luck, Sarah! Read More -->

Pirates Golf Tops Springstead 157-172

Crystal River's golf team picked up a win over Springstead, 157-172, behind strong rounds from Nolan Deforest (32) and Mason Antill (39). The Pirates will look to keep the momentum going Thursday when they travel to Lecanto for a 4 p.m. match. Read More -->

Pirates Swim Teams Roll Past Springstead in Season-Opening Meet

Following last week's season-opening announcement, Crystal River's swim teams made a splash in their first meet, defeating Springstead by a combined score of 232-64. The girls' team won 101-50, while the boys' team cruised to a 131-14 victory. Great job, Pirates! Read More -->

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Brightway Insurance, The Wilson Agency - Nature Coast Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Thursday | August 27, 2026 | 4:30 PM
Brightway Insurance, The Wilson Agency
5335 S Suncoast Parkway, Homosassa, FL 34446
Join us in welcoming our newest member to the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.
View Event Details -->

Thursday Evening Scramble at ZenSprings Golf Club
Thursday | August 27, 2026 | 6 PM
ZenSprings Golf Club
20650 SW 80th Place Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34431
⛳️ THURSDAY EVENING BLUE TEES SCRAMBLE ⛳️ Looking for a fun way to kick off the weekend a little early? Grab your golf partner and join us every Thursday evening at ZenSprings Golf Club for our Blue…
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Cruise In Car Show @ Brooks Dockside Seafood
Friday | August 28, 2026 | 5 PM – 8 PM
Brooks Dockside Seafood
140 Elkins Road, Inglis, FL 34449
View Event Details -->

Parent's Night Out at Sculpt & Flow Studios
Friday | August 28, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Sculpt & Flow Studios
28 NE 4th Street, Crystal River, FL 34429
🌟 Parents Night Out at Sculpt & Flow Studios! 🌟 Parents… you deserve a night off, and the kids deserve a night of fun! 🎉 Join us for a special Parents Night Out: Campfire Backyard Yoga Excursion…
View Event Details -->

Canvas Painting by Traveling Art Parties at Bree's Riverside Restaurant
Friday | August 28, 2026 | 6 PM – 9 PM
Bree's Riverside Restaurant
29250 Lake Lindsey Rd., Nobleton, FL 34661
View Event Details -->

Rainbow Lakes Estates Dungeons & Dragons Club
Friday | August 28, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 9 PM
Rainbow Lakes Estates Creative Arts Center
24654 SW Shorewood Dr., Dunnellon, FL 34431
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons Club at Rainbow Lakes Estates 🐉 Calling all adventurers! Join us for Dungeons & Dragons Club at the RLE Creative Arts Center and embark on epic quests, battle fierce monsters,…
View Event Details -->

15-Year Reunion
Friday | August 28, 2026 | 10:30 PM – 6 PM
Lecanto High School
3810 W Educational Path, Lecanto, FL 34461
Friday, Aug 28: - Football Game versus Citrus High, special seating on track for class - Social Outing at Copps Brewery Saturday, Aug 29: - School Tour - Reunion in Cafeteria with food trucks Alumni…
View Event Details -->

Fall Sip N Shop 🍁 at Citrus Nutrition
Saturday | August 29, 2026 | 9 AM – 2 PM
Citrus Nutrition
4499 N Lecanto Hwy, Beverly Hills, FL 34465
🍂 Join us for our Hello Fall Sip N Shop at Citrus Nutrition! 🍂 Celebrate the start of fall with a fun-filled day of shopping, community, and seasonal favorites! ✨ What to expect: 🛍 Local vendors �…
View Event Details -->

Spice Corner (Indian)
Thursday | August 27, 2026 | 4 PM – 8:30 PM
Aggregation Distilling Company
255 SE US-19, Unit 4, Crystal River, FL 34429
View Food Truck Info -->

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Karaoke at Bree's Riverside Restaurant
Thursday | August 27, 2026 | 6 PM – 9 PM
Bree's Riverside Restaurant
29250 Lake Lindsey Rd., Nobleton, FL 34661
View Event Details -->

Mark Connors Music at Brooks Dockside Seafood
Mark Connors Music
Friday | August 28, 2026 | 5 PM – 8 PM
Brooks Dockside Seafood
140 Elkins Road, Inglis, FL 34449
Come enjoy some live music and great food!
View Event Details -->

Echo/Sixx Band at The Shed (Old Homosassa)
Echo/Sixx Band
Saturday | August 29, 2026 | 4 PM – 8:00 PM
The Shed (Old Homosassa)
5300 S Cherokee Way, Homosassa, FL
Can't beat a great band ...great food and amazing atmosphere for a Saturday night
View Event Details -->

Rachel Duffen at Bree's Riverside Restaurant
Rachel Duffen
Saturday | August 29, 2026 | 4 PM – 8 PM
Bree's Riverside Restaurant
29250 Lake Lindsey Rd., Nobleton, FL 34661
View Event Details -->

Jim Green at Brooks Dockside Seafood
Jim Green
Saturday | August 29, 2026 | 5 PM – 8 PM
Brooks Dockside Seafood
140 Elkins Road, Inglis, FL 34449
View Event Details -->

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