Good morning, Crystal River! It’s Sunday, September 27, and National Chocolate Milk Day, with sunny skies and a high near 84 to kick off the week. Expect sunshine to hold through Tuesday before scattered storms build back in by midweek.

On the news side, a moving ceremony rededicated the memorial for Trooper Ronald Gordon Smith at Jim LeGrone Park, Citrus County Fire Rescue welcomed a newly credentialed paramedic to the crew, and city staff celebrated five-year service milestones. We’re also digging into years of sinkhole reports along the U.S. 19 corridor, plus a rough Friday night for Crystal River football.

Today’s lineup includes an Official Ministry Launch at Fort Island Trail Park this morning and Brooks Dockside Seafood rolling into Inglis for the day. Grab a glass of chocolate milk and get out there!

First Friday at Town Square
Friday, October 2 | 5 PM – 9 PM
123 NW US Hwy 19, Crystal River, FL 34428
Live music, shopping vendors, lawn games, food trucks, and Crystal River's downtown bars and restaurants, hosted every first Friday of the month by the City of Crystal River.

Why does remembering history matter?
Citrus County Chronicle
A dedicated Citrus County teacher has poured 17 years into a powerful 9/11 memorial project. Our latest editorial takes you inside this incredible local effort, revealing why it’s so much more than just remembering a date. It’s about how new generations truly understand the events that shaped our nation.
Why does remembering history matter so profoundly for us, right here in Citrus County? This compelling piece explores the lasting impact of such dedication and why some lessons can never, ever be forgotten.
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The Crystal River football team committed seven turnovers Friday night leading to five Hernando tou…
Citrus County Chronicle
Seven turnovers. Five Hernando touchdowns. Crystal River football took a tough 36-16 defeat this past Friday night right here at Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium. Our Pirates battled hard, but those crucial fumbles and interceptions proved costly.
What exactly went wrong on our home turf? Local fans are already buzzing, wondering what this challenging night means for the team's trajectory and their next game. Don't miss the full breakdown of how it all unfolded.
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More than 50 years after Trooper Ronald Gordon Smith was killed in the line of duty, his sacrifice…
Citrus County Chronicle
A moving ceremony rededicated the memorial for Trooper Ronald Gordon Smith, honoring a profound sacrifice. Over 50 years after he was tragically killed in the line of duty, his tribute now has a "forever home" right here in our own Jim LeGrone Park.
This isn't just a plaque; it's a powerful statement about remembrance and a solemn promise from our community to never forget. What does this enduring dedication truly mean for Crystal River's future generations?
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A “possible sinkhole” shut down two lanes of U.S. 19 for hours. But it wasn’t an isolated report.
Citrus County Chronicle
The "possible sinkhole" that shut down two lanes of U.S. 19 for hours certainly got Crystal River's attention. Traffic ground to a halt, and questions swirled. But here's the thing: it wasn't an isolated event.
Our team mapped years of calls reporting holes, depressions, and suspected sinkholes along the entire busy U.S. 19 corridor. What we found goes far beyond one incident and reveals a startling pattern beneath our community's main thoroughfare. Are these signs of bigger trouble ahead?
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🚑🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST CREDENTIALED PARAMEDIC!
Citrus County Fire Rescue
A familiar face in Citrus County EMS just hit a major career milestone! Paramedic Cassandra Wright officially starts her first shift on her own today, serving our community aboard Rescue 3 on B Shift. She completed Citrus County Fire Rescue's rigorous credentialing process, a big step for her and for local emergency services.
Cassandra joined CCFR back in October 2021 during the big transition from Nature Coast EMS, even serving on Rescue 9 in DeRosa. Her journey from EMT to fully credentialed paramedic means advanced life support is now available with another dedicated professional. What does this mean for response times and care right here in Crystal River?
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This week, we celebrated the “Years of Service” milestones of several dedicated staff members.
City of Crystal River - Government
Crystal River marked some significant milestones this past week, celebrating dedicated staff members who hit their five-year service anniversaries. HR Director Mary Helprin and Fire Inspector Craig Davide were among those honored, alongside familiar faces like trolley drivers Kim Pick and Larry Hirsch.
These are the folks making our city tick, from keeping us safe to welcoming visitors. City Council members even joined a special luncheon to thank them for their daily contributions. Want to see all the faces honored and learn more about the incredible commitment keeping Crystal River vibrant?
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Nothing to report from Public Safety today. We'll flag anything urgent the moment it comes in.

Get your tickets for the 2026 Crystal River High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. I…
Crystal River High School
Ready to celebrate some serious local legends? The 2026 Crystal River High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is happening next Saturday, October 3rd, right in the CRHS cafeteria. It's your chance to honor the incredible athletes who made our community proud. Social hour kicks off at 2 PM, with the main ceremony starting at 3 PM.
Tickets are just $20, but space is limited for this special afternoon. You won't want to miss seeing who makes it into this year's Hall of Fame. Who do *you* think deserves to be recognized among Crystal River's greatest?
Read More →

AP Biology students got hands-on with protein structure as they built their own amino acid chains a…
Crystal River High School
Ever wondered how a simple chain becomes a complex 3D structure vital for life? Our local AP Biology students just tackled that mystery head-on. They got hands-on with protein structure, meticulously building their own unique amino acid chains.
No two proteins looked exactly alike when they were done! Students identified properties, then predicted how each chain would fold into its distinct shape. This wasn't just theory; it was real science unfolding in the classroom. What vital discoveries did these young scientists make about life's building blocks?
Read More →

The next Apple may already exist. Insider sources say Elon has spent two years building a secret device inside Tesla's facilities — one he claims will be "10x bigger than the largest product in history."

There's just one problem: the company is private, and unless you know Elon personally, you can't buy a single share. That was true until Guardian's research team found three public ticker symbols sitting in the launch supply chain.

Click here to see all 3 tickers, free of charge.

You won't hear these names on CNBC — Wall Street hasn't published a word on the connection. But when the launch hits September 21, that quiet ends.

Some are already calling this the biggest opportunity since AI. For anyone who missed Apple before the iPhone, this may be a second look at that kind of setup.

Get the 3 ticker symbols here.

Unlock the free briefing now.

Official Ministry Launch at Fort Island Trail Park
Sunday | September 27, 2026 | 8 AM
Fort Island Trail Park
12073 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429
Come on out and throw a line and listen to the gospel!
View Event Details →

NBHA FL06- FlyN Feather Farm
Sunday | September 27, 2026 | 11:30 AM
FlyN Feather Farm
7855 W. Adirondack St., Dunnellon, FL 34433
9AM-11AM EXHIBITION 11:15 FUTURE CHAMPIONS 11:30 OPEN 5D SENIORS TO FOLLOW OPEN YOUTH TO FOLLOW SENIORS Entries on Saddlebook
View Event Details →

Rainbow Lakes Estates Pins & Needles Stitchers Club
Monday | September 28, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM
24654 SW Shorewood Dr., Dunnellon, FL 34431
🧵✨ Pins & Needles Stitchers Club Love sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, or any type of stitching craft? Come join the Pins & Needles Stitchers Club at Rainbow Lakes Estates! This is a welcomin…
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Brooks Dockside Seafood (Wild Caught Seafood)
Sunday | September 27, 2026 | 11 AM – 8 PM
Brooks Dockside Seafood
140 Elkins Road, Inglis, FL 34449
View Appearance Details →

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Sincerely,
Mark and the Inside Crystal River Team