LEVY, GILCHRIST, DIXIE COUNTIES
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Levy County enters FLOW
By Jeff M. Hardison, © Feb. 22, 2012
     BRONSON – Levy County is currently part of an ad hoc group named Florida Leadership Organized for Water (FLOW), according to information shared on Tuesday by County Commissioner Chad Johnson.
     The group meets in Lake City and it is chaired by Columbia County Commissioner Ronald Williams. The most recent meeting was a couple of Mondays ago, on Feb. 13.
      A draft of an interlocal agreement is being formulated, Johnson said. When the agreement is finalized and presented to the Levy County Commission, Johnson recommends that the county decide if it wants to continue as a member of FLOW.
     There is currently no call for funding from Levy County, he said, but as the scope of services is fine-tuned further, then there may be a request for money from Levy County.
     At this point, he said, with no cost for participation, it is foolish for Levy County to not continue being part of FLOW.
     Johnson said he plans to attend FLOW meetings and update the County Commission as it progresses. He did note there appears to be some level of conflict between FLOW and at least one water management group, and this is not something he can endorse.
     “There is some contention in that board with one of the water management districts,” Johnson said. “That does concern me and I will keep everyone concerned aware of where FLOW is, and I will also give you my opinion. So, if my opinion differs from the consensus of this Board (of Levy County Commissioners), and you want to pull me away from being a representative, that’s fine.
     “My political belief is that you have to agree to disagree sometimes,” he continued. “And that to be contentious, argumentative, and combative, does not solve an issue. And so, I am seeing some of this early on, and I certainly am not in favor of it. So, I will keep everyone up to date on that,” Johnson added.
     The resignation of Suwannee River Water Management Executive Director David Still happened soon after the meeting, Renate Cannon of Chiefland mentioned, although she did not presume to say the two occasions were definitely connected.

Beefy Crane
A Williston Crane operated by Marc Nussel places a steel beam where it is supposed to go. This particular crane has a 170-foot reach and was only extended about 75 feet to perform the job on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 21). Nussel and others are part of the effort to build the new Beef O' Brady's in Levy County. To see more photos and a couple of videos from the Tuesday afternoon effort, please visit the BUSINESS PAGE.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison

Speed fever runs hot
Bronson Speedway goes strong two days
Story, Photos and Videos
By Jeff M. Hardison
© Feb. 19, 2012
     BRONSON – Two out of three days of planned races at Bronson Speedway provided plenty of chances to enjoy this sport.
     The Saturday night speed fever at Bronson Speedway gave spectators a complete night of amazing action and the Sunday afternoon Open Wheel Modified and Outlaw Modified races were like an amazing dessert.
     With the slated Friday competition scrubbed due to rain, Saturday’s agenda became a bit more stacked.
     Ann and Chris Young, track owners, and their children Chris and Leah, all are part of the team that includes Jimmy Durden, Jimmy Dunford, Jimmy Durden, Charlotte Dunford, Bill Dunn, John Berti, Suzette Cook, Chaplain Lewis Powers and others. The son, Christopher Young, drove a Tour type of Open Wheel Modified to show all fans on Saturday night.

New Title
Rocky Greene of Chiefland is the Official Jr. Flagman at Bronson Speedway. This shirt was among the gifts for his 11th birthday.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison, www.HardisonInk.com

     On Sunday, the son Chris Young became an announcer and he did an excellent job. He was substituting for the regular announcer.
     Stock car racing fans scored on Saturday night. At the rates of free for children aged 5 years and younger in the grandstands; or $5 for kids aged 6 to 11 years in the grandstands; or $8 for teens, students with college ID, and people 60 years and older in the grandstands; or $12 for adults in the grandstands; or $25 for any person in the Pit Area, everyone got a fine deal.
     There is a “No Pass Out” policy at Bronson Speedway. If a person faints from the excitement, that is permitted. Fans cannot, however, buy a ticket and leave to go to the parking lot and then return.
     “It’s just like at a Gator game,” Ann Young said.
     And the price is $25 for all people in the Pit Area, because there is more danger there. A new benefit for drivers and others in the Pit Area is the Concession Delivery Service. Just pick up the phone in that area, dial 1-1-1 and place an order. Charlotte Dunford, concession manager extraordinaire, will see to it that the order is filled.
     By the way, the French fries are golden brown and crisp on the outside and just right on the inside. The hamburgers are tender, juicy and delicious. There are many other foods and drinks available.

Nachos and Cheese
Wade Parker of Bronson, the top Hornet driver at Bronson Speedway, enjoys some nachos and cheese from the concession stands. 'Eating is what I do,' Parker said. 'Racing is just a hobby for me.' 
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison, www.HardisonInk.com

     Also, on Saturday there were various wines being served at the Beer Barn, in addition to the beer. These included zinfandel, merlot, white wine and more.
     Finally, there is a key element which obviously follows discussion of the concession, beer and wine verbiage. Ann and Chris Young have a septic system improvement plan slated. 
     Until the plan is instituted, Beltz Portable Toilets is providing portable units. Ann Young said these are excellent portables, which include mirrors and hand sanitizer dispensers. Sure, it’s not the Ritz Carlton bathroom, but it is the best available facility for the time being. The Speedway owners are very grateful to Beltz Portable Toilets for the help provided in that regard.
     The owner of the portable units went beyond the call of duty, too, by installing lights for the night-time racing. Where else is a person going to find a portable toilet with lights, mirrors and hand sanitizer?
JUNIOR FLAGMAN
     For folks who have been at the track a bit, there is another story about the flagman of the future. Rocky Greene, who just turned 11, was named as the Official Jr. Flagman. This great grandson of Nyla Lockwood of Chiefland has a complete set of flags, and he performs from the stands just as the adult flagman in the tower.
     As part of Rocky’s birthday presents, he received a shirt with his title on the back and he was recognized over the Public Address system. He also picked the “bean” for some technical aspect of the starting order for a race.
SPECTATOR RACE
     Two Old Town residents raced in their street vehicles. Bart Meagley and Steven Turner (the son of racecar drivers Steven Turner and Tricia Turner) took their vehicles for a lap.
     Meagley won in a blue Chevy pickup over Turner’s gray SUV.
HORNET
     Wade Parker of Bronson, the 2011 Champion of Hornet division racing in Bronson, was actually the only contender in a race. Parker drove car number 20, his Buick. It was running very fast and strong.  “Action” Jackson Fowler of Chiefland brought his number 43 Ford Ranger pickup. It is a Street Stock rather than a Hornet.
     There is hope for building the Street Stock division of racers. Parker lapped Jackson by the fourth lap.
GO KARTS
     The South East Champ Kart Series (SECKS) made a debut appearance Saturday night (Feb. 19) at Bronson Speedway, and the thundering herd of little vehicles with their Briggs and Stratton engines created an awesome show.
     Phil Harp, 50, of Largo is the founder and director of this group. There were 13 karts brought to this show. He said the traveling series has peaked with 36 vehicles in a race at Punta Gorda. Other tracks they have sped around are Orlando, DeSoto, Citrus and Auburndale.
     The group is in its seventh year and the race on Saturday was the 98th race, Harp, who drives number 77, said. As a driver, he enjoys the high banks at Bronson, which is Florida’s Premier High Bank Short Track.

First Place
Phil Harp (left) presents Wesley Gonzales with a trophy as the first place finisher holds the checkered flag in the Rectangle of Victory at Bronson Speedway on Saturday Night.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison, www.HardisonInk.com

     There were two heats to qualify for pole position in the SECKS race. (Yes, Phil’s wife Joan said the guys thought the acronym was funny when they named the group seven years ago.)
     Wesley Gonzales in kart 47 won the feature race. Harp presented him with a spiffy trophy immediately after the race as they were in the Rectangle of Victory on Victory Lane in Bronson.
     At the starting line to begin this amazing feature race, it was Trevor Wilson in kart 38, Dustin Chisholm in kart 7, (perhaps) Andy Roy (or Andy Wah, or perhaps Camron Ray, because the announcer was difficult to hear) in kart 3, Wesley Gonzales in kart 47, Chad Dokken in kart 12, Brian Scherrer in kart 57, Chase Fitzgerald in kart 22, Doug Schmidt in kart 8, Ron Sanford in kart 29, Tara Henderson in kart 44, Phil Harp in kart 77, Tyler Weir in kart 90 and Harold Roberts in kart 43.
     Chisholm jumped into first place at the start, followed by Gonzales, Scherrer and Schmidt.
     In this 25-lap speed buzz fest, it was little dots zipping all over the place. However, there was an astounding closeness and straight-line drafting as well as other strategy being played out each minute of the race. Fitzgerald edged up and made some bold moves by the 10th lap, where Roberts, Henderson and Stevens were giving it what-for as well.
     In the 14th through 16th laps, it was Schmidt, Fitzgerald and Henderson running like three peas in a pod slightly ahead of Gonzales and Chisholm. In the 17th lap, those five were so bunched together in a line that a flea’s whisker didn’t separate them. One wrong move and it would be a mess. Yet, they moved as if they were synchronized racers.
     After lap 18, it was Fitzgerald, Gonzales, Henderson and Chisholm but at the end, those four did some jostling amongst each other and the first four of 13 across the finish line in the kart race were Gonzales, Fitzgerald, Chisholm and Henderson respectively.

(Continued on LEISURE PAGE)

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