New County Animal Shelter Goes Vertical on Woodland Ridge

Lecanto, FL · October 5, 2026

Heavy equipment is shifting from foundation work to structural framing along Woodland Ridge this morning. It makes for an energetic start to the week, even with a few showers lurking on the horizon.

The Lead

Framing and structural steel are rising this week at 3150 W. Woodland Ridge Drive, marking the next major milestone for the new Citrus County Animal Services campus. Following site preparation that began over the summer, the $20.7-million facility is finally going vertical on its 9.4-acre parcel.

For volunteers and staff who have spent decades coping with cramped conditions and un-airconditioned kennels near Inverness Airport, the progress brings tangible relief. The expanded complex adds over 10,000 square feet of usable room, featuring climate-controlled housing, a 2,800-square-foot veterinary clinic, and dedicated quarantine wards to manage large-scale cruelty intake cases safely. Private donors and animal advocacy groups contributed more than $5 million toward the project, offsetting county bond financing.

Roof trusses and exterior wall framing will take shape over the coming weeks as contractors push toward an autumn 2027 opening.

Local Pulse

Habitat Breaks Ground on Milestone 300th Home Housing Construction is underway on the organization's three-hundredth residence to expand local homeownership for Citrus County families.
Park Lightning Warning Siren Returns to Service Parks County technicians reactivated the automated weather siren system at Homosassa Area Recreation Park to protect outdoor sports teams.

Today's Outlook

High 88°F · Low 76°F — Rain showers (44% chance of precipitation)
- Keep an umbrella close by as afternoon rain showers sweep across the warm ridges.

What's On Around Town

Today

Books & Babies Lakes Region Library (1511 Druid Rd), Inverness, 10:00–10:30 AM · Free Rhymes, sensory songs, and early reading activities for infants and parents.
Historical Resources Advisory Board Lecanto Government Building (3600 W Sovereign Path), 4:00 PM · Free Citizen discussion covering local historic landmark evaluations and preservation programs.

Tomorrow

Little Learners Storytime Homosassa Public Library (4100 S Grandmarch Ave), Homosassa, 11:00–11:30 AM · Free
Dining with Diabetes Citrus County Canning Center (3405 W Southern St), 1:00–3:00 PM

Wednesday

Citrus Springs Advisory Council Citrus Springs Community Center (1570 N Citrus Springs Blvd), Citrus Springs, 9:00 AM · Free
Book-a-Librarian Tech Help Central Ridge Library (425 W Roosevelt Blvd), Beverly Hills, 9:30 AM · Free

Spotlight & Story

Lu the Hippo
- Born on January 26, 1960, Lucifer the hippopotamus spent 61 years delighting visitors at Homosassa Springs after an early television career. A 1991 executive order by Governor Lawton Chiles granted him honorary Florida citizenship, preventing his relocation and cementing his place in local lore.

Lecanto Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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