Assistant City Manager Lonnie Ballard resigns

Lonnie Ballard, assistant city manager over development and transportation, resigned today. Ballard — whose last day will be Jan. 29 — led the Aviation, Public Works, Growth Management, Planning Land and Community Enhancement and Economic and Community Development departments since former City Manager Anita Favors Thompson hired him in April 2014. Ballard also provided oversight to the Capital…

Frostproof residents get a say on CRA

FROSTPROOF — Building a grocery store, improving roads and attracting Dunkin’ Donuts topped the list of projects a potential Community Redevelopment Agency should work on, according to residents. Before city commissioners vote on whether to form a CRA, the Central Florida Regional Planning Council held a workshop Monday to get community input for what problems…

Crystal River ready for its Main Street

CRYSTAL RIVER — So this is what Main Street looks like. Quaint downtown shops and restaurants, signs along a landscaped-divided U.S. 19 that point out parking and areas of interest, a boardwalk along the bay that intersect with bike trails, and decorative crosswalks to get visitors safely from one side of the highway to the other.…