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City preps to haggle
with possible future city manager

Williston City Manager Terry Bovaird and City Attorney Scott Walker are seen moments before the start of the meeting on Feb. 4. Walker is a senior partner in the firm that represents the city. Neither Walker nor City Attorney Kiersten Ballou are available for the special meeting on Feb. 10, however another attorney from Folds Walker, LLC, of Gainesville is anticipated to be present.

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 7, 2025 at 8:15 a.m.
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     WILLISTON – A contract drafted by the law firm for the City of Williston with certain parts left blank and those parts then filled in by City Manager Candidate Sue Beaudet creates a document where the city and this possible future city manager of Williston are going to negotiate.

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     After a discussion Tuesday night (Feb. 4), the Williston City Council voted 5-0 to hold a special meeting on Feb. 10 starting at 7:15 p.m. in Williston City Hall to discuss with one another what they see in the contract offered by Beaudet, and how the candidate’s request for salary and the like might be modified in a counter-proposal before the hiring event is completed.
     Beaudet is currently the town manager in Bronson.


(from left) Councilwoman Alexa Haniff-Riccio (who arrived late on Tuesday night), City Council Vice President Darfeness Sheilyn Hinds and City Council President Michael Cox are seen Tuesday evening. Just as is the case with the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners, and some people at the dais for the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners, a complete view of everyone’s face is not particularly good because they have computer screens or speakers between them and the audience.


City Councilwoman President Debra Jones (left) and City Councilwoman Meredith Martin are seen on Tuesday night. Martin succeeded in having the City Council confer to produce some sort of uniformity of counteroffer to City Manager Candidate Sue Beaudet noted she sought as a salary, and other points.

     There was some jockeying of personal calendars before the five elected people all could determine they could be present for a special meeting that may result in closing the deal on which of the several candidates for city manager would be the final choice.
     Mayor Charles Goodman said he intended to call a special meeting if there were not three of the City Council members who would do so because the city needs a person to replace the current city manager who is retiring. After his rather loud pronouncement, the City Council started discussing the date and time for the special meeting.
     Although this meeting at 7:15 p.m. is open to anyone to see because it is not secret but instead is open to the public, the City Council is asking Beaudet to appear at 8 a.m. to present her response to whatever the City Council creates as an offer of employment after its confab just before then.
     Some people who are elected in Florida are not happy about having to conduct government business within the view of the public; however, this long-established method protected currently by state law remains effective. Some of them actually proclaim for all to hear about how they dislike what are known as “the Sunshine Laws” of Florida.
     An underlying concept of these laws is that the people being governed have a right to see the process leading to how they are being governed by a government that reportedly is by, for and of the people.
     As of Feb. 4, most of the City Council did not have a clean copy of what the candidate had requested by Beaudet as an annual salary, etc., to be hired. 
     A public records request made during that evening meeting resulted in that document being sent by City Clerk Latricia Wright the next afternoon via Internet to the daily news website.
     If the future city manager’s requests or some modified version of her requests to become the next city manager were approved, then she would start her post on Feb. 24, according to what she noted for the City Council to consider.
     Some of the most salient points Beaudet noted as requesting in the contract for her employment are noted below.
     A residency requirement would allow her to live within a 30-mile radius of the city limits.
     Her starting annual salary would be $88,000.
     She would be granted four weeks of annual leave per calendar year.
     Current Williston City Manager Terry Bovaird told the City Commission that some aspects of what Beaudet seeks are better than his contract and some are not as good as what is in his contract.
     Bovaird hopes to be able to part company with the city officially on Feb. 28, which means he will have a few days to give Beaudet as much insight into Williston as possible in that time, if the candidate and the City Council are able to reach an agreement on the contract for employment. 
     If the hiring process breaks down, the city leaders will begin negotiating with their second choice for the future city manager.

Gilchrist County moves forward
with Phase One
of solid waste transfer station
Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 5, 2025 at 8:30 p.m.
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     GILCHRIST COUNTY – The Gilchrist County 5-0 voted on Monday (Feb. 3) to approve Phase One of a three-phase plan to build a new solid waste transfer station.
     The County Commission is comprised of Chairman Tommy Langford, Vice Chairman Bill Martin, and commissioners Sharon A. Langford, Darrell Smith and Kenrick Thomas.
     The first phase shows a cost of $125,000. Phase Two currently has an estimated cost of $175,000 and Phase Three has an estimated cost of $400,000. The $700,000 project is needed for the county to deal with the increased population and subsequent increased production of garbage.
     The current 30- to 35-year-old facility located in Bell is deteriorating, County Administrator Bobby Crosby said.
     When it was built there were 6,000 to 7,000 people in the county, Crosby said. Now there are in excess of 20,000 people in Gilchrist County.
     The new solid waste transfer site will be built on existing county-owned property, he said. 
     Commissioner Smith said he has spoken with Gilchrist County Solid Waste Department Director Bobby Rush, and Smith sees the department is being operated as efficiently as possible. By placing compactors at satellite collection sites, Smith said, this has reduced the number of trips required from those sites to bring the garbage to the main site.
     Smith said the $3.5 million approved last year in the budget this year for the project is about half of the $7 million anticipated cost. While the county has asked the state for help with funding, there are no commitments from the state at this point to aid Gilchrist County to meet its solid waste transfer capital improvement costs.
     Vice Chairman Martin said he is concerned about the county moving forward before the project is funded by grants. 
     After more discussion, commissioners chose to move forward with Phase One because the people of Gilcrest County need trash disposal services to continue. 

Other News

Gilchrist County Finance Officer Richard Romans reads a resolution to amend the current fiscal year budget by transfer of funds from Contingency to the General Fund.

    In other news from the Feb. 3 meeting of the Gilchrist County Commission, there was a 5-0 vote of approval to adopt a resolution to amend the budget for this fiscal year so that the sheriff can hire five more correctional officers for the new jail.
     Commissioners discussed this two weeks ago and this resolution read by Gilchrist County Finance Officer Richard Romans of the Office of Gilchrist County Clerk Todd Newton shows the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners amended the General Fund part of the budget by an increased amount of $361,880.
     ● In another resolution, the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners amended the General Fund part of the budget by an increased amount of $ $1,276,061 for a paving project in the Spring Ridge Subdivision.

Second workshop for island city
shows hope for the future

Cedar Key City Commissioner Jeff Webb opens the second workshop to create plans for the revitalization of Cedar Key after the most recent hurricane season.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 1, 2025 at 9 a.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CEDAR KEY – The Cedar Key City Commission on Thursday evening (Jan. 30) conducted the second of two scheduled public workshops.
     The workshops involved city leaders, as well as professionals and laypersons in various aspects of disaster recovery, redevelopment, employment, business ownership and candidates for municipal office. The number of participants showed the strength of the resolve of people involved with Cedar Key to improve the quality of life there after the island was again impacted by disastrous events.
     The effort shows people who are residents and visitor of the island city striving to define achievable dreams for the future of Dock Street, the Cedar Key Marina Area, and the water just outside the marina. All of the people on Thursday evening strive to continue recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene as it came off of the Gulf of Mexico.
     The people in Cedar Key City Hall on Thursday evening worked together to establish goals and objectives, which included the creation of a list of prioritized projects, policies and potential funding sources necessary to rebuild and invigorate the city.
     Both workshops were held in Cedar Key City Hall (formerly the Cedar Key Community Center), 809 Sixth St.


Cedar Key City Attorney Norm D. Fugate is seen at the front of the meeting room. He was among the professionals assisting during the workshop. His expertise involves avoiding or overcoming conflicts from a perspective related to laws.


Here are some of the many people at the workshop on Jan. 30. 


The continued closure of the boat ramp, which Cedar Key officials and others say is the best ramp for use by airboat operators, shows one of the problems that remains unresolved as of Thursday evening (Jan. 30). The Levy County Board of County Commissioners serve as the trustees or stewards over this boat ramp, which is considered part of the county’s parks and recreation assets.


As the Sun shines through a palm tree near sundown on Thursday (Jan. 30), another day ends as the island of Cedar Key continues its journey toward reconstruction after suffering some destruction from the forces of fire and hurricanes.


Rusty Skinner tells a little bit about CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, where it can help employers find unemployed people. Skinner has served as the chief executive officer of CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion since its formation in 1996 when the organization was known as Workforce Connection. He graduated from the University of Florida with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and has worked in the workforce development arena since 1973. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.


     The first workshop helped form some of what Cedar Key residents and visitors hope to happen as everyone works to rebuild the destination for many tourists as well as those who work in aquaculture and other ventures.
     In the second workshop, the people reviewed possible barriers as well as strategies to overcome those obstacles and then there was the bottom line – finding and apply methods to fund the repairs.
     Cedar Key City Commissioner Jeff Webb opened the workshop with words of inspiration, as well as guidance for everyone involved in the workshop.
     He introduced some of the experts in the room, starting with Sue Colson, a key member of the community who is involved as an elected official, as an employee of the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce, as a leader in the food pantry, as a longtime resident of the island city and much more.  
     CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion Chief Executive Officer Rusty Skinner gave an opening statement where he said this state agency connects people seeking jobs with employers, as well as providing certain training opportunities to help employers and employees.
     Webb, who retired from the United States Marine Corps, shared one of his favorite sayings from the man who is credited with being the author of The Art of War. 
     Sun Tzu (544-496 BC) was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period. Tzu’s birth name was Sun Wu and he was known outside of his family by his courtesy name of Changqing. The name Sun Tzu—by which he became more popularly known—is an honorific which means “Master Sun.”
     General Tzu had a saying that translates into English as, “If you know your enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear because you will win every battle.” 
     Knowing what is wanted, or the mapping the goals for Cedar Key’s future, is knowing yourself, Webb intimated. Knowing the enemy is knowing what is preventing the attainment of those goals, he added.
     “And that is what today is all about,” Webb said as he opened the workshop session.
     During the workshop, as participants suggest possible barriers, Webb asked critics to do so with a mindset of how to solve the problems.
     He shared some of his experiences to show other that he understands the herculean task before them all.
     In May of 2002, six months after the terrorists’ attack on the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers and The Pentagon, Webb was given orders to report to Fort Bragg North Carolina, he said.
     Once there, he became part of a team of 120 people charged with building a national effort to combat global terrorism. At the start of this mission, Webb said he felt woefully unprepared and unqualified to attempt such a huge challenge.
     Two years later, he was the lead planner in the United States Special Operations Command to defeat Al-Qaeda, Webb said. Two years after that, the plan was signed by Donald H. Rumsfeld, who served as the 21st United States Secretary of Defense from January of 2001 to December of 2006.
     Webb said he knows how it feels to look at a big problem, such as restoring Cedar Key – even to the point of bringing it back to an even better condition than how it was before disaster struck.
     “One of the things I learned throughout that process (back in the early 2000s) is – a few people can do a lot of good work,” Webb said. “That organization that was 120 people turned into about a 2,000-person organization. And it began the Center for Special Operations.”
     Webb told the workshop participants “You guys are the few.”
     He let listeners know that they can turn their city into something that will be not only as good as it was, but into something that is even better than they can imagine at that moment.
     Webb let the participants know that accomplishing difficult tasks takes hard work, a commitment to achieving goals.
     “It also takes a long time,” Webb said.
     The large group of people were grouped at tables with different sides of the room focusing on different areas, such as the Marina or Dock Street.
     Webb led the people through a process to identify barriers to reaching fruition of the dreams they had discussed for recovery and rebuilding during the first workshop. He helped people as they worked as a group to determine strategies to reach those goals – in the short-term, in the midrange term and in the long-term for the City of Cedar Key.
       

Williston breaks ground
on future public parking lot

Photos Provided By City of Williston

By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 26, 2025 at 8 a.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     WILLISTON – The City of Williston broke ground on a future public parking lot located at 33 N.E. First Ave. on Tuesday (Jan. 21).
     Reaching the point of putting shovels in the dirt for this project has taken years, however thanks to the tireless and relentless work of past and present members of the Williston Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), it is taking fruition now.
     Anticipated for completion in the fall of 2025, the first phase involves locating electric, sewer, water and natural gas utilities. Development in Williston over the past many decades has not always led to easily accessible records of where the pipes are underground.
     This project is set to create as many as 86 parking spaces.
     The estimated cost for completion is between $750,000 and $1 million.
     The Williston Community Redevelopment Agency over the years has been comprised of volunteers Nick Williams, Dr. Kenneth A. Schwiebert, Jonathan Lewis, Jim Smith, Art Konstantino, Steve McMillen, Mike Langston and others.
     Williams just retired last year. To see the story and photos where he was honored, click HERE.

Moments before tossing the dirt in the groundbreaking ceremony, four Williston CRA members are seen next to the shovels they will use and people with cell phones take pictures.
 

City manager candidates
set for interviews in Williston
Application documents released

The graphic above shows how the City Council members ranked applicants. It is public record.

By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 24, 2025 at 8 p.m.
     WILLISTON – The top seven candidates ranked by the Williston City Council -- President Michael Cox, Vice President Darfeness Sheilyn Hind, and councilwomen Alexa Haniff-Riccio, Meredith Martin and Debra Jones are scheduled for interviews starting at 9 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 27).
     Following are the times of day when the candidates are scheduled to be interviewed. Below each of those listings is information from how the City Council initially ranked them, as well as some information from what the candidates submitted to be considered by the City Council.9 a.m. Kyle Woodrow Drummer
     Drummer had an average of 9 points, where the highest score in the group was 13. Councilwoman Jones gave him the lowest number at 6 and Martin gave him the highest number at 13.
     Among the reasons Drummer felt qualified for the job was his work as the director of public safety communications in Marion County from 2012 up until April of 2024. In May of 2024, according to information he provided, Drummer started working for Common Sense Solutions, in public-safety data aggregation/visualization/licensing platform for delivery of emergency service quality assurance methodologies, according to information he sent.
10 a.m. Christopher Cowart
     Cowart, who recently lost his bid for reelection as Levy County Superintendent of Schools after one four-year term, sent a resume that shows he was elected as a School Board member and served from 2012 to 2020, when he was elected to superintendent of schools.
     The average number of his ranking by the Williston City Council was 9. Cox and Haniff-Riccio both gave him the lowest number at 7.
11 a.m. Brian Byrne Carney
     Carney sent a letter to “Mr. Willis” even though Brooke Willis is a woman who is now the outgoing human resources director for the city. Apparently, he did not conduct advance research before sending the letter.
     In Carney’s letter of Nov. 22, 2024, he notes that he wants $78,000 rather than $84,000 as he had first noted on his application. As a retired military veteran, Carney said he does not need the insurance offered to city workers.
     Carney is a police chief from Georgia. He is familiar with Georgia law.
     He showed a ranking average of 9, where the highest ranked candidate had 13. Carney found Haniff-Riccio giving the highest rating at 10 and Jones gave him the lowest ranking at 6.
1 p.m. Michael Brillhart
     Brillhart showed the highest ranking by City Council of all candidates for the job as city manager. His average was 13. Jones gave him the lowest at 11 and Martin gave him the highest at 15.
     As part of his cover letter, Brillhart noted “My background in local government management will provide the leadership to successfully direct organizational resources in support of the Mayor & City Council, staff, and residents.”
     Brillhart noted his experience includes budgeting, downtown revitalization, advancing economic vibrancy and directing long-term fiscal sustainability.
     Brillhart is currently serving as the interim city manager in Crescent City (Putnam County). His resume shows from 2004 to now, he has served in government management in St. Lucie County; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Camden County, North Carolina; North Baltimore, Ohio; and Wapakoneta, Ohio.
     The six people he lists as references have phone numbers that are not redacted – like the ones for people applying for this job who were in law enforcement, or firefighting or EMS.
2 p.m. Paul Booth
     Booth, who lives in Homosassa (Citrus County), showed an average score of 10. Haniff-Riccio gave him the lowest score of 5. Cox and Hinds each gave Booth the highest score of 12.
     Booth has a strong background as a leader in public works, including when he was the director of public works in the City of Brooksville from June of 202 to August of 2023.
3 p.m. Susan Leigh Beaudet
     Currently Bronson Town Manager Beaudet is serving in the very same county in the closest geographic municipality to Williston.
     Appointed in February of 2021, Town Manager Beaudet has accomplished a myriad of goals set by the Bronson Town Council for her to complete.
     Beaudet scored an average of 11 when ranked by the Williston City Council. Martin gave her the low score of 9 and Haniff-Riccio gave her the highest score of 14.
     Beaudet has 20 years of highly progressive administrative, managerial, and sales experience. She is knowledgeable in recruiting, training and retaining quality talent in the insurance and retail industries, as well as in town government.
     She is skilled at providing superior customer service with strong interpersonal, written, presentation, and organizational skills. Her experience in research and data analysis is of value for the city. She is adept at multitasking, conflict resolution and problem-solving.
     Beaudet provided letters of recommendation from Newmarket, New Hampshire, Town Manager Stephen R. Fournier; Andrew Greene of the Florida Rural Water Association; Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper; Chiefland Vice Mayor Lewrissa Johns; Levy County Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones; and others.
4 p.m. Timothy J. Day
     Day has served as manager in three municipalities in Florida.
     His average ranking by the City Council was 11. His highest score was 13 from Haniff-Riccio.
     He notes that he has worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help areas recover from disasters.
     Day has a background in law enforcement, and so some information he submitted is redacted.
     His most recent professional experience noted was from June of 2022 until July 3, 2024 when the was the community development district manager in Broward and Dade counties. A community development district is a special taxing district.
      Six applicants who were not ranked as being in the top seven are Chase Waggoner, James Weaver, Juan Fernandez, Lenz H. Gelin, Braeden Christofferson and Saira Haniff-Riccio.
     As noted, the top three ranked candidates before the interviews were Brillhart, Day and Beaudet.
     Beaudet is the top contender in regard to being the most familiar with Levy County.
     The Williston City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Monday, Jan. 27 for review and discussion with the possible action of selecting a city manager.
     If the City Council chooses a person, then more background checking will be completed and negotiations will begin to determine a starting date and annual salary, benefits and the like.

Tobacco Free Florida helps implement
tobacco policy in In Levy County schools
Information Provided By Joelle Higgins and Tobacco Free Florida
Published Jan. 21, 2025 at 4 p.m.
     WILLISTON -- Tobacco Free Florida in Levy County helps ensure all students, faculty, staff and visitors are protected from exposure to tobacco, including new and emerging products.
     The program hopes to raise awareness of free and effective tobacco cessation and prevention resources available to schools. With the introduction and widespread popularity among youth of new nicotine delivery products such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), these policies must be kept up to date to protect the health and wellness of the area’s children and teens.
     The increase in youth e-cigarette use has slowed, however 12.5 percent of high schoolers are still using e-cigarettes, according to the annual Florida Youth Tobacco Survey. The U.S. Surgeon General and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both been vocal in expressing concern about youth e-cigarette use, declaring it a national epidemic. Despite legislative changes and FDA actions, popular brands of new disposable e-cigarettes such as Puff Bar and HQD (Cuvie) continue to entice children with flavors like “Blue Razz” and bubblegum.  
     “We have made significant progress in reducing tobacco’s negative health impact on our school campuses by implementing new tobacco free policy language. We have seen new tobacco and nicotine products like e-cigarettes threaten to undo the work we’ve done,” Joelle Higgins said. “Leaders in Levy County schools are doing a great job in implementing new tobacco policy that helps students become educated on the dangerous effects of using tobacco products and they are helping students make better decisions for their mental and physical health.” 
     Local organizations, including Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) and other community-based groups are available in every county to help school districts review tobacco free school policies to ensure alignment with current best practices and support implementation efforts for maximum effectiveness.
     These practices include working to prioritize protecting people from secondhand smoke/vapor exposure, counteracting influence from the industry, increasing access to cessation resources, and allowing for a supportive, cessation-focused approach to discipline. Tobacco Free Florida is dedicated to keeping these standards for comprehensive tobacco free school policies up to date, helping address threats to today’s school-aged children.
     Across the state, the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida provides free tools and services for Floridians 18 years of age or older who are considering quitting. The Quit Your Way program offers Phone Quit and Web Quit options. Group Quit classes are available for every county in Florida in-person or virtually and all tools and services provide free nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum and lozenges where medically appropriate.
     Services can be accessed by calling the toll-free number 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669) at any time. 

Levy County focuses
on cleanup of litter and
enforcement of law on county roads 
Information Provided
By Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper
Published Jan. 17, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
     BRONSON -- The Levy County Board of County Commissioners has received significant feedback from the community about litter along county roads.
     As a result of this feedback, the County Commission has begun focusing on the cleanup and enforcement of litter along county roads.  
     The following efforts are now in progress:
     ● Levy County Road and Landfill staff members have been deployed to clean up trouble areas that have excessive litter and trash.
     ● The Road Department has a driver who is assigned to work ahead of the mowers to pick up trash bags, pillows, etc., so these items are not mowed over. There are four mowers and one driver who picks up ahead of the mowers. Scheduling efforts are being intensified to ensure the driver stays ahead of the mowers.
     ● The county manager and Road Department are working closely with the Florida Department of Corrections to arrange for a dedicated crew of prisoners to work under the supervision of the Levy County Road Department to pick up litter alongside county roads five days a week. 
     ● County employees are investigating potential proactive enforcement opportunities to reduce litter that may be the result of loose loads that are being trucked to the county landfill.
     The county commission welcomes the public to continue sharing their ideas with commissioners to help them prioritize the future work-efforts in Levy County.

Yankeetown continues hurricane recovery

The A.F. Knotts Public Library in Yankeetown is closed until further notice as a result of damage from Hurricane Helene.

By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
     YANKEETOWN – Just like many places along the west coast of Florida, Yankeetown suffered severe damage from Hurricane Helene and others this season.     A spot tour of the area on Friday afternoon (Jan. 10), after a meeting in Inglis with some Withlacoochee Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce members and others, provided a glimpse of how Yankeetown is recovering.
     Just as the Cedar Key Public Library remains closed, so too does the A.F. Knotts Public Library. They are two of the five public libraries in Levy County. There is no word about when the libraries in Cedar Key or in Yankeetown will reopen.
     Not too far from the A.F. Knotts Public Library in Yankeetown, nevertheless, there is a ray of shopping sunshine scheduled to become active again.
     The Yankeetown-Inglis Woman's Club Thrift Shop is set to reopen on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that day.
     After months of volunteers cleaning, rebuilding, painting and sanitizing the building, the thrift shop is almost ready to open. 
     Hurricane Helene damaged not only the clubhouse, sheds and the public library, but the hurricane shut down the Thrift Shop for months.
     The hurricane failed to break the spirit of the volunteers.
     The Yankeetown-Inglis Woman's Club Thrift Shop allows the Woman's Club to support the community through scholarships, and to support the Kidz Eatz weekend meals for children at Yankeetown school. The Woman’s Club also maintains the A.F. Knots Public Library.
     The thrift shop is located at 5 56th St. in Yankeetown.


The United States Coast Guard facility next to Riverside Drive in Yankeetown had four feet of water in its first floor. The USCG Station has recovered from the hurricane event.


This metal plaque shows the United States Coast Guard Station Yankeetown was dedicated in May of 1990.


Located next to the Withlacoochee River, the Blackwater Grill and Bar continues serving great food and drinks. It is back in business and will be a completion point for the Feb. 22 Tour of the Towns, which is being hosted by the Withlacoochee Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce.


Salt marshes leading to the Gulf of Mexico appear as they have in years past after the hurricanes. 


Looking across a salt marsh toward Citrus County the cooling towers from Duke Energy Florida show steam rising. Duke Energy bought Progress Energy Florida, which started out as Florida Power Corp. This location near Crystal River no longer has a nuclear power plant, however it provides plenty of electricity for the area.


A boater in a relatively small vessel makes his way upstream on the Withlacoochee River as he goes away from the Gulf of Mexico on Friday afternoon.


One of the two floating docks next to the Levy County boat ramp at the end of Levy County Road 40 (aka Follow That Dream Parkway) is not able to be used. The parking lot has giant humps just before the ramp and the lines to show where to park are very faded.


A couple of people fish off the floating dock next to the Levy County boat ramp that leads to the Gulf of Mexico from Yankeetown on Friday afternoon (Jan. 10).

A seagull launches from the pavement, flies very close by a parked vehicle and joins some fellow feather friends in a tree that has stood the test of time for at least two decades now.


While there is not an abundance of business in Yankeetown, it is a pleasant place to visit to fish or watch birds. The clouds on seen Friday from the boat dock area were interesting.

The pavilion with picnic tables is closed. This county park is not able to be used now. There is no projected date for when it will reopen. The large vertical black structure is an old warning siren from the days when Florida Power Corp. and then Progress Energy Florida, near Crystal River, had a nuclear power plant.