 One more thing about Crystal River, and then I’ll shut up.
I took a stroll Wednesday afternoon through the bay side of downtown. I found the breeze a little brisk at King’s Bay Park, but the sun was warm. The stroll from Town Square was, as always, slow and pleasurable. Crystal River is such a lovely town. It’s easy to see why tourists go ga-ga over the place. Manatees may lure them here, but this city has plenty to offer.  It’s Wednesday, so let’s talk about our favorite troublemaker.
John “Library Guy” Labriola is crowing because the Library Governing Board last week removed two library advisory board members and appointed three new members. Library Guy is taking credit, though I’m unsure what victory he has attained. The libraries are no more or less vulnerable to attack today than they were last week.  Ever have one of those days when you know even from the morning what tomorrow’s blog is going to be, and that’s exciting because it takes pressure off the day, but as the hours go by you can’t even think of the first sentence, and next thing it’s 6 p.m., and the screen is blank?
No? Oh. The idea was so simple: Road projects. We have lots of them in Citrus County at the moment. Flashing message boards are everywhere telling me to drive slowly or watch out for backed-up traffic.  Happy post-Tallahassee Monday! Let’s get into it.
One of these three things is true: 1. Former Crystal River City Manager Doug Baber was the worst boss imaginable who belittled and bullied underlings behind closed doors while presenting a smiling face to the public.  Decades ago, a sadistic editor had a great idea to make my life miserable.
Go tour the nuclear plant and write a story about it, she said. I looked at her blankly. “Write a story about…how nuclear power is made?” I asked.  Did I ever mention my Wilton Simpson story?
By golly now’s as good a time as ever. It was December 2021, and M&B Dairy hosted a fundraiser for Simpson who, at the time, was Senate president but running for Agriculture Commissioner.  OK, here’s the deal.
I had a very cool blog planned for today. A wonderful blog. Funny, engaging. The kind of blog that one would say, “Wow, how nice of Mike to brighten my day like that.” A blog filled with travel, adventure, and intrigue.  The Crystal River city manager resigned Monday. I have some thoughts.
— Doug Baber was on the job for six months. That’s gotta be one of the shortest tenures for a Crystal River manager. — The city is keeping him on as a six-month consultant for $35,000.  Happy Monday! Let’s discuss:
—Mayor Joe Meek called a special meeting of the Crystal River City Council for 10 a.m. Monday when the city manager is apparently being shown the door.  It’s Friday. Let’s talk football.
The first time I attended a professional football game was in August 1974. Oakland Raiders vs. Detroit Lions, preseason, at Tiger Stadium. It rained so hard the freeway flooded. I remember players flopping around in the mud, the way football was meant. |
AuthorMike Wright has written about Citrus County government and politics for 37 years. 
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