✅ Local news ✅ Events ✅ Things to Do ✅ History ✅ and more!

Hernando County commissioners took up two closely watched rezoning cases at their Sept. 1 land use hearing, and residents left with one win and one loss.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed up to 12 single-family and villa units on 11.8 acres off Eagle Nest Drive in Hernando Beach — nearly double the 6 lots currently platted there. More than 20 residents spoke against the project, pointing to flooding history from Hurricane Helene, wetland impacts near Minnow Creek, and hurricane evacuation capacity. The board cited noncompliance with the county's Comprehensive Plan, which specifically protects Hernando Beach's single-family character, even after the applicant offered late in the hearing to drop a duplex option and build only single-family and villa units.

The same night, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a rezoning petition (H2603, filed by Williams Realty and Investment, Inc.) for a concrete batch plant on a roughly 38-acre former sand mine site on Power Line Road, next to the Benton Hills subdivision. More than 15 Benton Hills residents and a Sierra Club representative pushed back, citing silica dust, health concerns, property values, and an estimated 28-30 aggregate delivery trucks a day. County staff noted the site sits within a Planned Development District established in the mid-1990s that specifically designates the area for mixed industrial and commercial use — undercutting the compatibility argument. The board did add a 30-foot tree buffer along the developed portion's east side as a condition of approval.

Sources: Hernando County Sept. 1, 2026 BOCC Land Use Hearing agenda (official minutes still marked Draft on Legistar as of publication)

Roughly 35 teachers and district employees showed up to an Aug. 25 Hernando County School Board meeting to protest a proposed 23% jump in health insurance premiums. Florida Blue told the district its medical loss ratio had hit 107% — meaning it paid out more in claims than it collected in premiums — as justification for the increase, which could add $84 to $128 to an employee's paycheck every two weeks. One teacher's premium would jump from $67.10 to $187.06 per pay period. Employee-only premiums haven't gone up in five years, though the district's own contribution has climbed from $275 to $421.83 per pay period over the last four. Board Chair Kayce Hawkins said the district is "working hard behind the scenes" to limit the increase; no decision was made at the meeting, and the district's insurance committee was set to take it up again Sept. 2.

Sources: Hernando Sun

Citrus County commissioners are expected to vote this week on making Barbara Luckham the county's permanent Management and Budget Director. Luckham has been with the county since 1990 and was named interim director in July after the previous director resigned, citing concerns about workplace stress and its impact on her health. If confirmed, Luckham will oversee the county's roughly $546 million annual operating budget at a salary of $149,996 a year.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle; Citrus County Chronicle — budget chief resigns

The Citrus Springs Civic Association had quietly paused enforcement of the community's decades-old deed restrictions while attorneys sorted out whether they were still valid under Florida's Marketable Record Title Act. The verdict: they're still enforceable. The restrictions cover the usual HOA-style ground — setbacks, fence height, shed size, RV/boat parking, yard upkeep, and the like — and CSCA president Robert Childers says the association has a backlog of about six months of reported violations it's now preparing to act on. Residents with existing violations have until Sept. 30 to fix them voluntarily before the association resumes enforcement Oct. 1 — after that, violations can draw fines up to $1,000.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle; restriction categories per CSCA deed restrictions summary

The Town of Bronson was awarded a $1.38 million state Community Development Block Grant to fund water, sewer, and street infrastructure for a new 33-home affordable housing neighborhood on School Street — the first of its kind in both Bronson and Levy County. The project, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the Nature Coast, is built for low- and moderate-income families and will also convert nearby septic systems to sewer.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle

Levy County was awarded a $75,000 state grant to spend the next year assessing drinking water systems in rural and unincorporated parts of the county — inventorying what's out there, flagging water-quality or infrastructure risks, and building a roadmap for future improvements the county can use to chase state and federal funding.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle

Everyone around here knows Elvis Presley filmed part of Follow That Dream in Citrus County — Port Paradise Hotel in Crystal River, the old Crystal River High gym, the Old Courthouse in Inverness. What's less known is why Citrus County got picked at all. One theory: it traces back to Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and his old carnival connections. Parker worked for a traveling carnival company run by brothers Curtis and Elmer Velare, and Curtis had bought property near Crystal River back in the 1930s as a winter retreat. Parker kept up the friendship, kept visiting, and — the theory goes — never forgot the tropical views along Paradise Point when it came time to pick a filming location years later. Production kicked off in Citrus, Marion, and Levy counties on July 11, 1961, and the film hit theaters the following April.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle; filming date cross-checked against Wikipedia

Since PGA instructor Charlie Meade brought the program to Citrus County in 2022, PGA HOPE has run 12 sessions out of Skyview Golf Course in Hernando and graduated more than 100 veterans. The 2026 fall program runs Oct. 8 through Nov. 12 — free, and open to registration now.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle

At the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association's 41st Annual Forum, Haven Hospice's Dementia Care Program — serving over 260 patients and caregivers since launching in 2024 — won the Excellence in Program Innovation Award. Patient Care Representative Christina Alltop also picked up the Rising Leader Award for her work since joining Haven in 2022.

Sources: Citrus County Chronicle

Saturday, Sept. 12

Sunday, Sept. 13

A few more strong events this weekend didn't make the cut for space — look for those on our Facebook/Instagram Thursday through Saturday

Local Business Openings, closings, and everything in between around the Nature Coast.

Nothing to report this week — let us know if you hear of any interesting local business news, and we'll feature it here.

We're only a few issues in and would genuinely love to know what's landing. Hit reply and tell us which letter:

One letter is all it takes — we read every reply.

Nature Coast Digest reaches local readers across Citrus, Hernando and Levy counties every week. If you own a local business and want to reach them, we'd love to talk.

Interested? Email [email protected]

That's a wrap for this issue. Got a tip, an event we should know about, or a business update? Hit reply — we read everything. And if someone forwarded you this, hit subscribe so you don't miss next Thursday's issue.

See you on the Nature Coast.

— Mike
Nature Coast Digest

Know about an event? Reply to this email.
Own a local business? Ask about advertising with Nature Coast Digest.
Know something we should cover? Send us a tip.
Have a great Nature Coast photo? Send it our way.
Enjoy the newsletter? Forward it to a friend.