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Dixie County recovering
from flood issues;
Hwy. 349 reopened
Published Aug. 20, 2019 at 10:39 a.m.
     CROSS CITY -- Dixie County Emergency Services Lt. Mandy Lemmermen, Public Information Officer, noted in a 10 a.m. email morning update that the county continues recovering from issues caused by heavy rainfall.
     "We have opened up South 349 Highway to all normal traffic at this time," Lt. Lemmermen noted. "We still have our general population shelter open for those affected by the flood (as noted in a story below this one on this page). It is not pet friendly. Our information line at the Emergency Operations Center is still active at 352-498-1464, to answer any questions or concerns."


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SR 24 partly reopens in Levy County
Published Aug. 19, 2019 at 9:39 a.m. 
     TRAFFIC ADVISORY: As of 9 a.m. today (Tuesday, Aug. 20) State Road 24 from Otter Creek to Cedar Key is now OPEN. State Road 24 from Bronson to US Hwy 19 is still CLOSED, according to Levy County Emergency Mangement.

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On The LEISURE PAGE

Monday Morning Flood Update
From Levy County Emergency Management
Published Aug. 19, 2019 at 10:09 a.m.
     BRONSON -- Rain will significantly drop off today and there may be some visible sunlight hitting the ground.
     Significant flooding is still happening throughout Levy County and several roads are still flooded. Go to https://levydisaster.com/ for a list of closed roadways throughout the county.
     Please report damages to your home or business to 352-486-5155 or online at http://levydisaster.com/report-storm-damage.php.
     If you are stuck in your home and have no way of getting out, please call us at 352-486-5155 or 352-486-5111. If you experience an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
     Cedar Key School is closed today, but the rest of the county schools are open. Levy County School District does have a modified school bus route schedule in place.
     This information can be found on their website at http://www.levyk12.org/.
Information about the dangers of flooded wells and how to handle the situation has been provided by the Levy County Department of Health. That information can be found on our website at https://levydisaster.com/.
     If you have any other questions, please call Levy County Emergency Management at 352-486-5155.
 

More roads close;
Motorists ignore signs;
Cedar Key School is closed tomorrow

These are some of the signs that Levy County Road 347 is closed going west from Fowlers Bluff

Story, Photos and Video
By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 18, 2019 at 6:09 p.m.
Updated Aug. 18, 2019 at 6:49p.m.
All Rights Reserved
     LEVY COUNTY -- A riding review of roads closed in Levy County showed at 3 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 18) that Levy County Road 347 at Fowler's Bluff was closed going toward Cedar Key.
     Some Levy County school bus routes are abbreviated, Levy County Emergency Management Assistant Director David Peaton noted in an email at 4:35 p.m.
     Due to significant rainfall and localized flooding in the Cedar Key and Yankeetown areas, Peaton said, a few buses will be running a slightly abbreviated route on Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 19 and 20).
     Cedar Key School is closed tomorrow (Aug. 19).
     Drivers will contact parents in flooded areas who may need to deliver their students to the nearest main road or designated stop where they can be picked up.
     Again, this will only be in the Cedar Key and Yankeetown attendance zones, and all buses in those zones will not be impacted.
     Anyone who realizes that their street is significantly flooded and may present problems for the bus, is asked to please call the bus driver prior to the morning route to confirm if there are adjustments, Peaton said. 
     Rain is continuing for much of west and south Levy with some areas still seeing heavy rainfall.
     "We can expect flooding issues to continue or even get worse," Peaton said. "Otherwise, much has remained the same. A list of road closures is on our homepage at https://levydisaster.com/."


This sign on the east side of the community of Fowlers Bluff lets people know beforehand that they will need to turn around if they are thinking of driving on CR 347 west toward the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge or farther west.


The Levy County Public Safety Department Fire Station in Fowlers Bluff has some water standing in front of one of the vehicles parked there.


In this video, water is flowing north under the CR 347 roadway as it goes to the Suwannee River. Then, the video shows where the water is entering to go under the road.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 18, 2019


Marty Griffin of the Levy County Road Department is one of the many people who do not normally work Sundays, but was called in as a result of flood conditions.


This rapidly flowing water travels under Levy County Road 347 on the west end of Fowlers Bluff. An unmistakable smell indicates that not every septic tank upstream may be working at 100 percent. This is the view of the southern flow going under the road.


This rapidly flowing water travels under Levy County Road 347 on the west end of Fowlers Bluff. This is the view of the northern flow going under the road and into the Suwannee River at Fowlers Bluff.


State Road 345 at Rocky Hammock, looking south toward State Road 24, shows it is marked as a road to not travel due to the danger of water crossing the road and sweeping a vehicle off the road.




Motorists drive oblivious to the potential of flowing water across Levy County Road 347 between SR 345 and U.S. Highway 19, as they are in-between two sets of signs warning that water is crossing the roadway.

     State Road 345 at Rocky Hammock showed it was closed going southbound toward State Road 24, which leads to Cedar Key.
     "Road Under Water" signs going east on CR 347 from SR 345 (Carter's Crossroads) were ignored by some motorists.
Due to continued heavy rains across Northeast Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation has announced additional road and lane closures in Taylor and Levy counties.
     At 1 p.m. Troy Roberts, communications specialist with the Florida Department of Transportation announced that as of Sunday morning, State Road 51 in Steinhatchee (Taylor County) at Second Avenue is closed due to water on the roadway. The detour route utilizes Third Avenue, 14th Street, and First Avenue.
     Additionally, State Road 500 (U.S. Alt. 27) in Levy County has a westbound outside lane closure between County Road 32B and the County Road 339 intersection, Roberts said.
     The State Road 24 road closures – between Otter Creek and Rosewood, and between Bronson and Otter Creek – that were announced Friday continue to remain in effect, Roberts said.
     Crews remain onsite and monitoring water levels on those and nearby roadways, Roberts said.
      In Dixie County, according to Lt. Mandy Lemmermen, Public Information Officer with Dixie County Emergency Services, at this time, South 349 Highway starting at 346 Highway, is still closed to non-residents of the Town of Suwannee and all affected areas.
      The Dixie County information line is open for any questions you may have, Lemmermen said.
      The number is 352-498-1464, Lemmermen said.
     We ask that you please avoid driving in any affected areas that may have water over the roadway for your safety, Lemmermen said.
     Per the Dixie County School Board, all Dixie District Schools will be open tomorrow (Monday, Aug. 19). All questions or concerns can be directed to school officials.
(Please see related story below)
 

NWS Ruskin, Tallahassee
and Jacksonville
warn of flooding issues
'Doppler radar indicates 7 to 11 inches of rain
has fallen om Levy County
from Inglis to Fowlers Bluff since Wednesday.'
– NWS Ruskin



By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 18, 2019 at 9:39 a.m.
     TRI-COUNTY AREA – Offices of the National Weather Service in Ruskin, Tallahassee and Jacksonville warn of existing flooding issues in northern Florida and West Central Florida this morning (Sunday, Aug. 18).


This graphic from the NWS shows rain probability from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 18) in Florida.
-- Graphic By NWS

     The National Weather Service (NWS) in Ruskin has issued a Flood Warning for Levy County in northern Florida, which is in effect until 5:30 p.m. Sunday. This warning has been in effect for a few days now.
     At 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, the NWS reported, Levy County Emergency Management reported numerous road closures due to flooding over the past couple of days.
     Additional showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected tonight (Sunday night, Aug. 18) which will hinder flood waters from receding. Doppler radar indicates 7 to 11 inches of rain has fallen from Inglis to Fowlers Bluff since Wednesday.
     Some locations that will experience flooding include Williston, Chiefland, Bronson, Homosassa Springs, Manatee Road, Fowlers Bluff, Homosassa, Inglis, Yankeetown, Fanning Springs, Otter Creek, Citronelle, Crystal Manor, Manatee Springs State Park, Lebanon Station and Citrus Springs, although this list is not all-inclusive, the NWS noted.

DIXIE COUNTY
     The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Flood Warning for Dixie County and Southeastern Taylor County in Big Bend of Florida, until 12:30 p.m. (Sunday afternoon, Aug. 18).
     At 12:22 a.m. (Sunday morning, Aug. 18). The Emergency Management Division of Dixie County Emergency Services, the NWS noted, reported flooding in Dixie and southeast Taylor counties.
     Significant flooding is occurring near Steinhatchee. Although rain has temporarily come to an end, flooding will continue through the morning hours, and additional rain is possible this morning (Sunday, Aug. 18), the NWS noted.
     Some locations that will experience flooding include Cross City, Steinhatchee, Horseshoe Point, the Town of Suwannee, Horseshoe Beach, Tennille, Fish Creek, Shamrock, Howell Place, Clara, Cross City Airport, Shired Island, Old Town, Jena, Hines, Jonesboro, Bird Island, Eugene, Fletcher and Yellow Jacket.

TRENTON
     The NWS forecast from Jacksonville for Trenton today (Sunday Aug. 18) notes showers and thunderstorms are likely. Then, showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. is likely. A high temperature near 87 degrees Fahrenheit is noted for Sunday.
     South wind at 3 to 8 m.p.h., with chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible.
     Tonight (Sunday, Aug. 18), in Trenton, the NWS forecasts showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 7 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. The forecast shows it will be cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

ALACHUA and COLUMBIA Counties
     The NWS Jacksonville Office has issued a Flood Warning on issued Aug. 17 at 9:19 p.m. until further notice for Alachua and Columbia counties.
     The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a flood
warning for the following rivers in Florida Santa Fe River near O`Leno State Park affecting Alachua and Columbia counties from Sunday evening (Aug. 18) until further notice, or until the warning is cancelled.
     At 8:15 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 17), NWS Jacksonville noted, the flood stage measurement of the Santa Fe River near O`Leno State Park was 40.9 feet. Minor flooding is forecast. Flood stage is 43.0 feet.
     The NWS Jacksonville forecast is that the Santa Fe River will rise above flood stage by tomorrow (Monday, Aug. 19) in the late evening and continue to rise to near 44.4 feet by Tuesday evening.

LEVY-DIXIE-GILCHRIST IMPACT
     Levy County Emergency Management Assistant Director David Peaton noted that U.S. Alt. 27, Levy County Road 347, and State Road 345 are all open.
     There are still several roads throughout Levy County that are closed, partially flooded, or soon to be flooded. State Road 24 between Bronson (U.S. Alt. 27) and U.S. Highway 19, as well as State Road 24 between Otter Creek (U.S. 19) and Rosewood (State Road 345) are still closed.
     Levy County Emergency Management will keep road closures updated as best as they can at this county’s website at https://levydisaster.com/.
      Levy County property owners can report flood-related damage to the online damage reporting portal at http://levydisaster.com/report-storm-damage.php. Levy County Emergency Management will begin taking damage reports over the phone from people that do not have access to Internet -- beginning Monday morning.
     It is vital that everyone use extreme caution on the roadways. Pay attention to surroundings. Do not try to cross flooded roadways. Research alternative routes before leaving home, because road closures can occur rapidly.
     Report new road closures or other non-emergency issues in Levy County to the Levy County Sheriff's Office at 352-486-5111. If a person experiences an emergency, he or she should dial 9-1-1.
     The Levy County School Board notes that school will be in session in Levy County on Monday.
      “Road flooding is occurring throughout all of Levy County, but the most severe is south of Chiefland and west of U.S. Highway 19, including all Of Yankeetown, Inglis, Otter Creek, and Gulf Hammock,” he said Saturday.
     “Stay off of the roads if possible,” Peaton continued “and if you do have to cross roads, research alternative routes before leaving the house in the event that you encounter a flooded roadway.”
     The second in command at Levy County Emergency Management noted that due to the geographical size of Levy County, not all flooded roads will be identified or marked.
     “Make sure that you use extreme caution if you our out on the roadways,” Peaton said. “If you encounter an unmarked flooded road, contact the Levy County Sheriff’s Office at 352-486-5111. if you experience an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
     Dixie County Emergency Services Public Information Officer Lt. Mandy Lemmermen sent information reminding members of the public to stay safe.
     At 12:34 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 17), Lt. Lemmermen noted that at this time, South 349 Highway, starting at Highway 346 in Dixie County and continuing into the Town of Suwannee, is CLOSED to all non-residents of Suwannee or those affected areas until further notice.
     "As soon as the road is opened back up for normal traffic, we will let you know," she added.
     Later Saturday evening (Aug. 17), Lemmermen noted that the members of Dixie County Emergency Services urge everyone to practice safety when driving in flood conditions.
     The Florida Department of Health is urging all residents and visitors to avoid direct contact with floodwaters. Flood water may contain fecal matter from sewage systems, and septic tanks, agricultural and industrial waste and other bacteria. There may also be unseen hazards under the water in areas that received storm surge or freshwater flooding.
     As for Gilchrist County, there have been no public notices of flooding issues or closed roads, or springs in that county from Wednesday (Aug. 14) through 9:39 a.m. on Sunday (Aug. 18).

Boil water notice issued
for Manatee Utilities;
By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 16, 2019 at 12:09 p.m.
    CHIEFLAND -- A boil water notice has been issued customers of Manatee Spring Utilities, of Chiefland, as of today (Friday, Aug 16).
     Manatee Utilities serves the Chiefland Golf and Country Club.
     Manatee Utilities is on a precautionary boil water notice until two consecutive days of satisfactory bacteriological tests are done.
     A precautionary boil water notice is issued to protect consumers when it is possible that drinking water has been contaminated by microorganisms that can cause illness (i.e. germs or pathogens).
     To learn more about a precautionary boil water notice, click HERE for the proper link to the Florida Department of Health.
     People who have any question about the Manatee Utilities boil water notice are asked to please call Levy County Water in Bronson at 352-486-5376.
 

Police chief predicts
recreational marijuana laws
are destined for Florida's future

Chiefland Police Chief Scott Anderson warns City Commission members that he believes recreational marijuana will be approved for use in Florida by state legislators in the near future. The chief’s comments

By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 14, 2019 at 9:39 a.m.
     CHIEFLAND – Police Chief Scott Anderson on Monday night (Aug. 12) told the four Chiefland City Commission members present for the twice-monthly regular commission meeting that the next thing they should expect is recreational marijuana being approved in Florida.
     Chief Anderson received a 4-0 vote of approval to buy another $8,500 K-9 to replace Blitz, the Chiefland Police Department K-9 who is being retired due to his skill at sniffing out marijuana proving to be essentially useless now. Blitz had been on the police force for years, finding suspected drugs with his nose.
     The chief had to return a different recently-approved and recently-purchased $8,500 K-9 that was trained to detect marijuana and other drugs, because it would be giving “alerts” that could not stand the test of the judicial process for reasons to conduct a search of a vehicle.
     The returned K-9 is being “swapped” for a dog that is trained to find drugs other than marijuana, which then will show the CPD having two K-9s qualified for the newest version of drug-detecting law enforcement – that excludes sniffing for marijuana.
     Both of the recent K-9 purchases by the CPD were of dogs bought from Southern Coast K9 Inc., a well-established reputable training and sales facility on the East Coast of Florida, in New Smyrna Beach. The two dogs with a total price-tag of $17,000 are being bought with money from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which exists from money seized from criminal activities – such as Internet café operations that were raided and closed in Chiefland by the CPD.
     Chiefland City Commissioner Donald Lawrence was absent for his second consecutive regular meeting, on a night which included extra meetings where the City Commission also sat as a Planning Board and then met in a workshop for the city’s annual budget.
     City Commissioner Lawrence has sold his Chiefland home, and when he returns from an out-of-state visit for a family celebration, he will be living in his recreational vehicle at the Strawberry Fields For RV’ers Resort. He intends to buy another house within the city limits, City Manager Mary Ellzey said in an interview Wednesday (Aug. 14).
     City Manager Ellzey is the clerk of the city, too, and in that capacity she is the supervisor of elections for city elections in Chiefland.
     By living at the RV resort that is in the city limits, City Commissioner Lawrence can still be a member of the Chiefland City Commission. Only people who are qualified voters in city elections can serve on that commission, and to vote in Chiefland, an individual must reside within the city limits, according to city charter and state law.
     As for the recreational use of marijuana being on the horizon, recent state legislation approving hemp farming and sales may be perceived as greasing the skids for those laws to be enacted.
     When the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services succeeded in having the Florida Legislature allow hemp to be grown and sold in Florida, it created a problem for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to successfully arrest people for using marijuana recreationally.
     This issue results due to the inability to distinguish levels of the psychoactive element in this plant – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is one of at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
     Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney William Cervone sent a letter July 31 to all law enforcement agencies in this circuit – which includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties – regarding officers charging suspects and his office prosecuting marijuana possession cases.
     The letter explains to law enforcement officers why State Attorney Cervone and some number of the total 20 state attorneys in Florida’s 67 counties within the 20 circuits are conceding that the mere odor of marijuana is not enough probable cause to justify a search or arrest.
     Chief Anderson told the Chiefland City Commission a recent request by him for a search warrant based on the odor of marijuana coming from a motel room was denied. In that instance, one suspect spontaneously admitted having other drugs, however, as he stated that he smoked drugs – but he did not sell them, according to information in the arresting officer’s narrative.
     “Because hemp and cannabis are indistinguishable by sight or smell,” Cervone noted in his July 31 letter, “that alone is no longer significant probable cause to go forward.”
     The current field tests to determine if THC exists in a sample of suspected marijuana, Cervone noted, are not adequate to differentiate and detect if the three-tenths of 1 percent of THC threshold has been exceeded to prove the leafy green substance is potent enough to prosecute the possessor.
     While Chief Anderson was somewhat throwing his hands up in surrender to busting misdemeanor marijuana possessors, Cervone clearly wrote methods for law enforcement officers to arrest some number of suspects who are inclined to be successfully prosecuted by the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.
     A K-9’s “alert” to the smell of marijuana is not sufficient, Cervone noted.
     Therefore, he added, an officer must reach “an odor-plus standard.” The arresting officer must be able to articulate additional facts beyond the detection of the odor, Cervone noted. For instance, if the subject is involved in other criminal activity, admits that he or she is using a form of marijuana that is potent, admits to other criminal acts, shows signs of nervousness or deception, makes furtive movements or provides other indicators of to suggest his or her guilt, then the officer can combine those elements with the detection of the odor of marijuana to have probable cause to move forward with action to enforce the laws of Florida.
     However, even if the officer meets the “odor-plus standard,” and then if he or she wishes to move forward with a criminal charge against a person, then State Attorney Cervone wrote that prefers the officer do so by a sworn complaint rather than by an arrest.
     “I would also suggest that the arrest option be limited to significant quantities of suspected cannabis or known drug traffickers,” Cervone said in his July 31 letter to all law enforcement officers in this circuit.
     The state attorney reminds officers that the state must prove beyond and to the exclusion of reasonable doubt that any substance submitted as evidence is proved to be the illegal form of cannabis with a high enough THC level to meet that standard.
     He added another fact to show why his office is taking this new stance, because it is based on a foundation in ethics.
     “Our ethical burden,” Cervone wrote, “requires a good faith belief that we can produce admissible evidence sufficient to sustain a conviction, and that is not something that we can do at this moment.”
     Cervone wrote that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently unable to test to find the levels of THC from evidence collected. Cervone said no private lab has stepped forward to fill that gap, which must be completed to show evidence that meets the requirements of the law for a successful prosecution.
     Meanwhile, Cervone noted, recreational use of marijuana in Florida is still illegal. The only change with hemp being grown and marketed by farmers and salespeople in Florida for uses other than recreation, he said, is the level of ease in regard to the ability to prosecute.
     As for cases related to the seizures of other illegal drugs, illegal weapons and evidence of all other crime, Cervone reminds all law enforcement officers that his office shall continue prosecuting people suspected of violating laws.
     He ended his letter by letting readers at law enforcement agencies in this circuit know Texas and other states face similar issues as a result of hemp being grown legally. As this issue continues to develop, Cervone promised to circulate additional information.
 

FHP seeks help finding
hit-and-run driver who left
woman in critical condition
and hurt the male bicyclist too
By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 13, 2019 t 11:49 p.m.
     ALACHUA COUNTY -- Ashley Applewhite, 28, and Anthony Livingston, 39, both of High Springs, were riding bicycles in Alachua County Tuesday evening, when a car hit them and then fled the scene, the FHP said in a press release late Tuesday night.
     The unknown vehicle is described as a silver-colored late model Honda or Toyota, in the press release by Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Javon Murphy, based on information from crash investigator FHP Trooper William F. Schrader.
     That vehicle was westbound on Northwest 46th Avenue, approximately one-tenth of one mile east of Northwest Alachua County Road 235 at 7:08 p.m. on Aug. 13, the FHP said in the press release sent at 11:13 p.m. on Aug. 13.
     The two bicyclists were also riding abreast westbound on Northwest 46th Avenue, when that driver failed to slow the vehicle or to drive around the bicyclists, the FHP said.
     The vehicle's front and passenger side hit both bicyclists, the FHP said, before leaving the scene of crash.
     The hit-and-run driver of the vehicle was last seen going northbound on Northwest County Road 235 toward the City of Alachua, the FHP said. The vehicle should have a missing passenger side mirror and possibly
front and hood damage, the FHP said.
     Applewhite suffered critical injuries and was taken to Shands in Gainesville, the FHP said. Livingston suffered minor injuries and was taken to Shands in Gainesville, the FHP said.
     Anyone with information about the driver and or vehicle involved in this crash is asked to contact FHP Trooper W.F. Schrader at 352-955-3181 or the Florida Highway Patrol Station in Gainesville at 6300 N.W. 13th St., or the Florida Highway Patrol Communications Center in Jacksonville at 1-800-387-1290 or Crime Stoppers of Alachua County Florida.
 

Homicide victim
found in Levy County;
LCSO seeks help from the public

Jafet Padin Rodriguez
Photo Provided
 

By LCSO Lt. Scott Tummond
Published Aug. 12, 2019 at 8:49 p.m.
     LEVY COUNTY -- At 7:53 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 11), deputies with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office responded to Levy County Road 464 in the southeastern area of Levy County.
     A 9-1-1 caller reported finding the body of an unidentified male on the side of the road. Deputies arrived and immediately secured the area as a crime scene. Levy County detectives and Crime Scene investigators were dispatched to the scene and assumed the investigation.
     Detectives learned the identity of the person is Jafet Padin Rodriguez, 33. He would have been 34 years old on Sept. 14. He is from Ocala.
     Rodriguez had been listed as a missing person the day prior to his body being found by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives determined that Rodriguez suffered a single gunshot wound, which ended his life.
     Levy County detectives are asking people in Levy County and Marion County for assistance.
     This investigation has determined Rodriguez left his home on Saturday evening to go clubbing in the Ocala area. He never returned home.
     Anyone who saw Rodriguez in or nearby any nightclubs in Ocala and has information that could assist this investigation is asked to call LCSO Det. Mike McNeil at 352-486-5111 ext. 266.
 

Suspected poachers from
Levy County, Pinellas County
and elsewhere are busted;
FWC uncovers suspected major fish
and wildlife violations
via long-term undercover investigation
Story By FWC Communications Staff
Published Aug. 9, 2019 at 4:39 p.m.
     TALLAHASSEE -- A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigation led to the arrests today (Friday, Aug. 9) of three suspects in Levy County and Pinellas County for violating state laws pertaining to illegally harvesting and selling various fish and wildlife. Fifteen additional suspects were served with notice to appear citations in Levy, Orange, Pinellas and Broward counties.
     As part of a long-term investigation initiated in May 2017, FWC investigators managed to engage with this group of associates to gain information and evidence. The suspects were taking deer out of season, alligators without licenses and permits, and protected gopher tortoises.
     During a closure in response to red tide, they illegally took snook, jeopardizing the fishery’s recovery. 
     “Organized criminal operations like this pose serious environmental and economic consequences,” said Col. Curtis Brown, head of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “They damage our precious natural resources and create black markets that undermine the legal process. We do our best to put a stop to these crimes, supporting law-abiding business owners, landowners and those who enjoy recreating in Florida.”
     Another man concerned about Florida's natural resources weighed in on the investigation and arrests.
     “Many Floridians make their living in and around Florida’s waters, and when a group of individuals disregard the conservation efforts of so many, it’s encouraging to see the FWC and agency partners work hard to bring those individuals to justice,” said J.D. Dickenson, Coastal Conservation Association Florida chairman. “CCA Florida is proud of the hard work that FWC officers do in protecting the resources that we all enjoy.”
     A fishing and hunting lobbyist shared his views on this matter.
     “As an advocate for sportsmen's groups in Florida, I applaud FWC law enforcement for its efforts to protect our resources," said Lane Stephens, a long-time lobbyist for hunting and fishing organizations in Florida.
     There are still aspects of this investigation that are ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
     The public can also help by reporting suspected violations to the FWC. Call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or text or email to Tip@MyFWC.com.
The suspects and their charges are as follows:
     James Alexander Smith, 63, Charge 1:  Unlawful sale of deer, 3rd degree felony; Charge 2:  Taking/Possession of deer during the closed season, 1st degree misdemeanor; Charge 3: Unlawful sale of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 4: Illegal take/possession of American alligator, 3rd degree felony; Charge 5: Unlawful sale of American alligator, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 6: Unlawful sale of deer, 3rd degree felony; Charge 7: Taking/Possession of deer during the closed season, 1st degree misdemeanor; and Charge 8:  Unlawful sale of deer, 3rd degree felony.
     Sherod Christopher Strawder, 51, Charge 1: Possession of snook three fish or more in excess of the daily bag limit,1st degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: Sale of saltwater product without a saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 3:  Sale of snook, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 4:  Possession of over the bag limit of snook; 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 5:  Possession of snook during closed season, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 6:  Harvest or possession of snook for commercial purposes, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 7: Possession of oversize/undersize snook Gulf Region, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Aaronnette Jermeshal Shytresa Lee, 28, Charge 1:  Possession of a short-barreled shotgun, 2nd degree felony.
     The following individuals were issued Notice to Appear citations on Aug. 9:
     Illie McIntosh Jr., 64, Charge 1: Unlawful purchase of saltwater product by dealer or restaurant from other than licensed dealer, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: No saltwater retail license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 3: Unlawful purchase of freshwater game fish, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 4: Unlawful purchase of freshwater game fish, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Darryl Sherod James, 57, Charge 1 and Charge 2: Unlawful purchase of alligator, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Emmitt Laurent Brown, 39, Charge 1: Unlawful purchase of freshwater game fish, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: Unlawful purchase of alligator, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Tej Prakash Bhojnauth, 54, Charge 1: Possession of deer out of season, 1st degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: Possession of deer out of season, 1st degree misdemeanor; Charge 3: Unlawful purchase of snook, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Kumar Persaud Naurang, 59, Charge 1: Illegal purchase of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: Possession of deer out of season, 1st degree misdemeanor
     Somal Persaud Haimdas, 53, Charge 1: Possession of deer out of season, 1st degree misdemeanor
     Larry Kenson Charlery, 30, Charge 1: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: No retail license, 2nd degree misdemeanor ; Charge 3: Major violation- no saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 4: Illegal purchase of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Seeraj Bire, 44, Charge 1: Illegal purchase of turkey, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2 and Charge 3: Illegal purchase of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 4: Illegal sale of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 5: Possession of deer out of season, 1st degree misdemeanor
     Robert Jonathan Cresser, 47, Charge 1: Illegal purchase of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Narrad Persaud, 75, Charge 1: Illegal purchase of deer, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Suraj Persaud, 43, Charge 1: Unlawful purchase of snook, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Michael Antonio Smith, 47, Charge 1: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: Unlawful purchase of saltwater product by dealer or restaurant from other than licensed dealer, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 3: Major violation - no saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Joe Earl Rowe, 63, Charge 1: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 3: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 4: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 5: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 6: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 7: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charges 8, 9 and 10: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charges 11 through 20: No retail license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charges 21 through 26: Possession of undersize sheepshead, 2nd degree misdemeanor;
Charge 27: Major violation- no saltwater products license 2nd violation, 1st degree misdemeanor; Charge 28: No freshwater dealer license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 29: No freshwater dealer license, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     Konstantinos P. Apergis, 72, Charge 1: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: No saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 3:  Major violation- no saltwater products license, 2nd degree misdemeanor
     George Louis McBride, 62, Charge 1: Unlawful sale of freshwater game fish, 2nd degree misdemeanor; Charge 2: Unlawful sale of freshwater game fish, 2nd degree misdemeanor
 

Dixie County conference shows
resources for
response to mental health issues

Prevention Specialist Robert Wells of Meridian Behavior Healthcare speaks about resources to help people.

By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 7, 2019 at 8:09 p.m.
     CROSS CITY – A Dixie County High School senior introduced the program Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 6) where mental health professionals spoke about available resources in Dixie County.
     Jacob Knox, a DCHS senior, introduced Prevention Specialist Robert Wells of Meridian Behavior Healthcare. Wells spoke about some of Meridian’s many programs to help individuals with mental health issues.
     Wells, who has been in the prevention field since 2001, shared information about some of the services provided by Meridian Behavior Healthcare. Meridian provides housing, intervention services, group therapy, as well as in-patient and outpatient care and other services, Well said.
     Wells is one of the founders of the Levy County Prevention Coalition in 2001. He was instrumental in the success of the Dixie County Prevention Coalition starting some years ago, when he worked with Katrina VanAernam, the founder of that coalition. Now, Wells is assisting in the start-up of the Gilchrist County Prevention Coalition.
     VanAernam and several other people were present for the gathering on Tuesday. Some people shared how drug abuse and domestic abuse have hurt them.
     Wells said coalitions find that gaps that need filling as they work to prevent people from falling victim to the ravages of drug abuse.
     Among the things Wells teaches is a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course as a step all individuals can take toward wellness and helping others to reach wellness. He is willing to teach to groups of people from a half dozen to 25 people at a time.
     Just as physical health issues have warning signs and symptoms, early intervention for mental illness is very important, the Meridian website notes. The MHFA course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adults including: anxiety, depression, psychosis, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and substance use disorders, the Meridian website notes.
     Wells also spoke Tuesday afternoon about the Meridian Mobile Response Team.
     Meridian Behavior Healthcare Mobile Response Team (MRT) Manager Alesha Smith, also was present Tuesday at the Dixie County Public Library in Cross City.
     The Meridian Behavior Healthcare MRT Program is to help troubled young people, 25 years and younger, who are in Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee and Union counties whenever they are in need of crisis intervention services 24-hours-a-day, on any day or night.
     The MRT Hotline number for young people to call when they need help is 1-800-330-5615.
     While neighboring Taylor County is not in this coverage area for Meridian, all 67 counties in Florida have resources.
     The goal of the MRT program is “… to lessen the trauma of crisis situations, particularly diverting individuals away from” emergency rooms and jails. As part of that goal, the MRT intends to stabilize the person in the most conducive setting possible.
     During the initial crisis phase, a counselor with a master’s level counselor responds to the crisis location at any hour of the day or night. Meanwhile, a care coordinator establishes links to appropriate community resources.
     According to the information shared with the public on Saturday, Mobile Response Teams from Meridian aim to
     ● Respond to the site within 60 minutes of a crisis notification;
     ● Follow up the next day with a tailored behavioral health crisis-oriented care plan;
     ● Provide screening, standardized assessments and referral services;
     ● Create safety plans to prevent future crises;
     ● Include family members in decision-making and support processes;
     ● Assure links between all continuing care services, including psychiatric care, as well as outpatient and referral agencies; and
     ● Promote the use of innovative technology.
     To respond within 60 minutes, sometimes a law enforcement officer is needed to provide “Telehealth,” where the crisis counselor can aid the person via a video-audio link.
     Telehealth is a convenient and confidential way to access real-time outpatient services through a computer, tablet or smartphone. Meridian uses secure broadband or cellular connections to protect privacy during a session, the Meridian website notes.
     Assessment, counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management are available by telehealth. Telehealth can be provided from Meridians clinics to home or a mobile device, to a school, other community settings, or from one Meridian clinic to another, the Meridian website notes.
     While the MRT is for young people, individuals of any age can use the Meridian Behavior Healthcare 24/7 Crisis Line by calling 1-800-330-5615.


Seen here are (from left) Jennifer Gregory, Debby Sweem and Donna Crawford, members of The Hope Dealers. They are currently working under the umbrella of the Dixie County Prevention Coalition, but the plan is for The Hope Dealers to become an independent group that provides peer support for drug rehabilitation and prevention.

     Also, on Tuesday afternoon, Debby Hagan Sweem introduced a new group named The Hope Dealers.
     Working under the auspices of the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition, Program Coordinator Sweem is joined by Donna Crawford and Jennifer Gregory as they are all peer support specialists.
     They all have experienced drug abuse having a negative impact on their lives, and have recovered for three or more years to qualify to take the training to become peer support specialists.
     Lutheran Services of Florida provided the training for these women who are The Hope Dealers.
     The Hope Dealers are those who have been through the burdens from addiction. They provide people with support in designing their very own methods for getting off of drugs and staying off of them.
     The telephone numbers for people with drug problems to call for help in getting off of drugs are
     Debby Sweem 352-210-2601
     Donna Crawford 352-210-2561
     Jennifer Gregory 352-440-2776.
     Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition Event Coordinator Rebecca Fusco provided a wealth of telephone numbers to call for resources that can help.
     In addition to the Meridian Crisis line and The Hope Dealers phone number, both noted above, other groups people can utilize for assistance are:
     * Lutheran Services of Florida at 1-877-229-9098. This 24-hour North Florida hotline provides referrals for anyone living with a substance abuse or mental health disorder.
     * Overcomers at 386-965-8461. This is a Christian faith-based recovery support group that helps individuals and their family members break the chains of drug addiction, without cost or judgment. They meet every Monday at 6 p.m. in the New Life Church on Chavous Road in Old Town.
     * Alcoholics Anonymous at 352-210-3623. This group meets every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Ameris Bank location in Cross City, where the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition also has its offices.
     * 7th Day Adventist Recovery Group at 352-231-0849. This is a Christian faith-based recovery support group that is focused on rest and restoration.  It meets every Friday at 7th Day Adventist Church in Cross City.
     * Tri-County Community Resource Center at 352-507-4000. Located in Chiefland, this is a resource for people to find help if they are needy. It also serves as a clearinghouse to direct people who need help across the whole spectrum of social services.
     * Another Way at 1-866-875-7983. This agency helps people who are suffering as a result of domestic (spouse or child) abuse.
     * Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
     * Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673.
     There are resources to help people in need.
 

CFEC warns of scammer

Published Aug. 6, 2019 at9:39 p.m.
     TRI-COUNTY AREA -- Central Florida Electric Cooperative announced there is a scammer attempting to steal money from cooperative members.
     The scammer calls and poses as a cooperative or electric company employee.
     Anyone who receives a call from a person claiming to be with CFEC should ask for the employee's name. The caller will become more aggressive and threatened to cut off your power.
     Then call CFEC at 1-800-227-1302 or 352-493-2511 and ask for the named employee, or ask for the status of your account if you are in doubt.
     Be aware! Don't get scammed.

Chief deputy's retirement
shows change and continuity;
Loyalty, integrity, honor and more
go steadily through transition

(from left) Incoming Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Robert Willis, Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz and Chief Deputy Jeff Manning, who retired about 12 hours after this picture was taken, pose as requested for posterity. The change in second in command at the GCSO provides some change as well as a base of continuity of honor and integrity that is expected from professional law enforcement leaders in Florida.

Story, Photos and Video
By Jeff M. Hardison © Aug. 3, 2019 at 9:39 a.m.
     GILCHRIST COUNTY – With about 12 hours remaining in his post as Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeff Manning, the second in command at the GCSO enjoyed a party in his honor held at the conference room of the GCSO in Trenton Friday afternoon (Aug. 2).

In this video, Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz on Friday afternoon (Aug. 2) speaks about Chief Deputy Jeff Manning – about 12 hours before Manning’s retirement started. On Aug. 2 as it becomes Aug. 3, at midnight.

     “I thank all of y’all for being here,” Sheriff Bobby Schultz said as he opened the celebration to honor retiring GCSO Chief Deputy Manning.
     Gilchrist County Sheriff Schultz, Gilchrist County Manager Bobby Crosby, incoming GCSO Chief Deputy Robert Willis, GCSO Capt. Sheryl Brown, GCSO Lt. Clint Anderson, GCSO Sgt. Edwin Jenkins, GCSO Sgt. Mike Simpson and others shared their thoughts about Manning.
     From everything that was said, the retirement of this honorable man who has been involved as a professional law enforcement officer for 34 years brings change; perhaps more importantly from the perspective of Gilchrist County residents and visitors the seamless transition will bring continuity in how the second in command for the GCSO helps Sheriff Schultz serves the GCSO and the residents and visitors of the county.
     Manning will turn 57 years old this year. He and his wife Pam are relocating to North Carolina, where they will enjoy their horses and ride on their pontoon boat on a lake there.
     Of course, there is bound to be more for the couple although Manning told HardisonInk.com he is retiring and has no plans to accept other employment.
     Most of Manning’s career as a law enforcement officer was as a member of the St. Petersburg Police Department, where he served from December of 1984 to November of 2010. A few years later, he started at the GCSO in January of 2013 as a lieutenant.
     The sheriff saw Manning’s value to the county as chief deputy, and he promoted him.
     As the sheriff opened his speech regarding Manning’s departure, he said it was “bittersweet” to be in the position now to thank Manning for his service to Gilchrist County.
     Sheriff Schultz was elected to his first four-year term in November of 2012. At that time, he had not met Manning before. During the campaign to get elected, Sheriff Schultz said, he was at Akins Bar-B-Q & Grill in Bell and Manning grilled candidate Schultz on why he thought he should be the next sheriff of Gilchrist County, the sheriff said.
     Sheriff Schultz shared his perspective of Manning.
     “When I think of Jeff Manning,” Schultz said, “I think of integrity and loyalty. He has been very loyal to the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office.”
     The sheriff said Manning’s experience as a law enforcement officer over 25 years in a relatively large metropolitan police agency proved to be valuable to the GCSO as this county and its Sheriff’s Office grew to become what it is today. The sheriff is very pleased with what has resulted from the chief deputy’s work at the GCSO.
     “I can say that anything good that has happened here,” Schultz said, “he has had a direct role in. And for that, I will be eternally grateful.”
     The sheriff said he believe Manning is the “hardest working chief deputy” that he has ever seen.
     Schultz said Manning helped him in many ways during the past six-plus years, including with finding the best method to speak to crowds. Schultz said he dislikes speaking to crowds.
     The single piece of advice Manning gave Schultz was to “speak from the heart.” Another key element the outgoing chief deputy gave, which has proved to be sage advice, is to go aside from the speaking engagement, and to say a prayer.
     County Manager Crosby on Friday, said a prayer to bless the gathering and the food at this retirement party on Friday.
     The sheriff said no person is perfect, but the perfect love of Christ was brought to Schultz by Manning reminding him from whence all people in power can go for comfort, strength and peace.
     Given the terrible and horrible events Gilchrist County has suffered in the past six years, Schultz said this encouragement for him from Manning is invaluable, indispensable, crucial and a critical element in the GCSO’s success in the face of tragedy.
     The sheriff shared with listeners that in September of 2014 when children were killed by a grandfather fatally shot his daughter and her six children before killing himself, Manning told Schultz that he would “get him through this, and then I’m done.”
     “I got fired that evening,” Manning said.
     The sheriff said he would let Manning tell that story about him being fired that evening.
     “But he came back to work the next day,” Schultz said. “And a week later, he said, ‘I’ve got a little left in the tank.’”
     The sheriff said looking from 2014 to the events of 2018, where two deputies were killed and the murderer took his own life too, and the same conversation was had between the two men.
     “He is a man of integrity,” Sheriff Schultz said, “because he could have walked out the door on us that day. He could have, and there would have been a void beyond voids; but he was a man. He stood here. He came in. He did his job.”
     The sheriff said Manning saw the GCSO through the point where it had to hire 10 new employees after the murders of two deputies in 2018.
     Sheriff Schultz said his predecessor Gilchrist County Sheriff Daniel Slaughter (2008-2012) told him he should seek to leave things a little bit better than what they were when he found it.
     “Chief (Manning), you are leaving things a little bit better than what you found it,” Schultz told his retiring friend and colleague.
     The sheriff said he thinks there are 18,000 people in Gilchrist County who would agree with that statement.
     The sheriff previously had awarded the retiring chief deputy with the service revolver issued by the agency. On Friday afternoon, Sheriff Schultz presented Chief Deputy Manning (who is retired effective at midnight on Aug. 2) with a plaque.
     The plaque notes “Sheriff Robert D. Schultz III And the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Presents to Chief Deputy Jeffrey L. Manning In Appreciation of 6 years of Dedicated Service and Commitment to the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of this county, Our thanks for a total of 34 years in Law Enforcement and Public Service exhibiting courage and compassion to Protect and Serve. Congratulations and Best Wishes on your Retirement January 4, 2013 – August 2, 2019.”


Jeff Manning (left) accepts a plaque from Sheriff Bobby Schultz.


Chief Deputy Jeff Manning and Sheriff Bobby Schultz provide a photo opportunity with the plaque presented by the sheriff to the retiring chief deputy.
 

     Chief Manning then spoke to the room full of people.
     He said that when he retired from the SPPD after 25 years, it was an emotional experience. Nonetheless, he added, the retirement event on Aug. 2 in Trenton, gives him emotions that are “off the chart.”
     “You guys mean that much to me,” Manning said. “I don’t have a whole lot of family, and you guys have become that.”
     The outgoing chief deputy said he recognizes that he may have been seen as being tough on some of them, but that is a requirement of him being the chief deputy.
     “I did that because I only want you to get better,” Manning said, “and I know you’ve got it within you to do that.”
     He mentioned several names of deputies who were always there for him. GCSO Sgt. Jenkins is a man whom Manning said he put his life in his hands and the sergeant put his life in Manning’s hands, and there was never a moment of doubt about putting that degree of trust there.
     “I consider you a great friend,” Manning said before crossing the conference room to hug the sergeant.
     In part of his parting speech, Manning said there are some projects and goals he is leaving unfinished; however, he added, this is as it should be.
     “I think if you leave,” Manning said, “and you didn’t have things that you didn’t get accomplished, then you can’t say ‘O.K., I did everything I needed to do.’ You can’t have that.”
     Manning said he knows Sheriff Schultz has more that he wants to accomplish, and he knows incoming Chief Deputy Willis has said he wants to complete some missions that Manning had on his radar.
     Manning said the support by the people of Gilchrist County for everyone in the community, including the Sheriff’s Office, is “off the chain. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He added that the support of the GCSO by the County Manager’s Office and by the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners has been appreciated.
     Incoming Chief Deputy Willis expressed his hope for Manning to have good luck in his retirement.
     Before the event, Manning and Willis shared some candid points with HardisonInk.com.
     About Manning, Willis said he is a man of integrity.
     Both men agreed, too, that as the chief deputy they have certain traits that are good for leaders in the law enforcement profession.
     They are both stubborn in their convictions. They are both thick-skinned. They are both, assertive, dedicated, honorable and committed to the mission of serving the people as they do their best to protect life and property as they have taken an oath to do, while staying within the bounds of the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution and all of the laws deriving from those documents and from legislators’ work.
     In speaking to the audience, Willis said these two men being both stubborn have almost come to blows because they both knew they were right in the application of differing methods to reach the same goal.
     Willis said to Manning that he saw Manning always acting honorably, and professionally, and with the passion that is essential to the success of law enforcement.
     “What Jeff has shown us,” Willis said to the members of the GCSO, “is that it does takes hard-headedness, thick skin, bullhead and being assertive to be a cop. You’re not supposed to be a snowflake. You’re not supposed to apologize for what you do.
     “You’re supposed to stand up and be proud of it,” incoming Chief Deputy Willis told the listening deputies at the event about 12 hours before he took that post. “Right or wrong, it is better to do what you think is right at that moment, than to second-guess yourself. And that’s exactly what the chief has done for this sheriff, and for each one of you, whether you realize it or not.”


County Manager Bobby Crosby (standing at right in the plaid shirt) speaks about his friend Jeff Manning.

     County Manager Crosby then spoke about Manning.
     He told listeners that they had met at Pine Grove Baptist Church during a Chamber of Commerce event.
     When Manning needed to share some confidential information with the sheriff, Crosby offered to walk away, but Sheriff Schultz told him to stay.
     “That same trust you all put in me,” Crosby said, “I have been able to put in you in what we’ve done.”
     That is when their friendship began, Crosby told Manning, and he values that friendship.
     Answering calls on weekends, nights and other times provided opportunities for the two county agencies to work together for the good of the people, Crosby said.
     Crosby told a story about Chief Deputy Manning pulling him over by activating the GCSO’s county truck’s emergency lights, while Crosby was driving a Gilchrist County truck. It happened one day when both vehicles were heading the same direction around Walker’s Curve (U.S. Highway 129 at Gilchrist County Road 307).
     Both of their cell phones kept lighting up with people calling them as they were on the side of the road trying to talk. Everyone wanted to know why Chief Manning pulled over County Manager Crosby, he said.
     Crosby said he was not pulled over to be issued a citation or a warning.
     The radio system through dispatch had broken that morning, Crosby said, and Crosby was on his phone speaking with someone about that. Manning was trying to call Crosby as he was driving behind him.
     Crosby saw Manning behind him as he looked in the rearview mirror.
     “He can see I’m on the phone,” Crosby said. “So, he just turns his (emergency) lights on to pull me over.”
     Manning said he pulled Crosby over because they needed to return to the radio antenna tower.
     “The funny thing is,” Crosby said, “is that this was at 8 o’clock in the morning when all the school traffic was going over. So, for about two days we answered the question of why I did get pulled over.”
     Crosby said that was a fun occurrence. He wished Manning and his family the best, and told him he will be missed.


Chief Deputy Jeff Manning reaches across a table to hug his friend Sgt. Edwin Jenkins.

     GCSO Sgt. Jenkins said he was called by Sheriff Schultz to a home invasion at 4:30 a.m. where a person was killed. The sheriff said he would call Chief Deputy Manning to the scene as well.
     Within 15 minutes, Schultz and Jenkins were at the scene, the sergeant said.
     About an hour or two later, Manning showed up, Jenkins said. The sheriff and sergeant were looking rather haggard at that time of the morning, having rushed to respond.
     Sgt. Jenkins said then-Lt. Manning showed up shaved, showered, wearing a suit and tie. Jenkins said it has become a standing joke to talk about whether Manning had showered before going to a scene.
     This happened one or two months after the sheriff took office in 2013, Manning said. So, on Friday afternoon (Aug. 2) he “confessed” as to why he arrived a bit later than within 15 minutes. His GPS had directed him to the crime scene.
     “They give me this address and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’ll be able to find that.’” Manning said.
     Manning said he may have driven by the location 10 times, but he had to call in for turn by turn directions to find that location.
     As for being clean shaven, he was trained at the SPPD that when you are on the clock, you are prepared.
     Sgt. Jenkins said Manning has always been firm, but fair. They did not always agree, the sergeant said, as he congratulated the man on retiring, because he earned it, added that he will miss his friend whom he saw daily as a member of the family at the GCSO.
     Sgt. Simpson, who leads the GCSO Special Response Team, and the Honor Guard as well as serving daily as a sergeant, said he and Manning have had the same goals but they both expressed to each other their different ideas on the best method to complete missions.
      Simpson said he sees now where he might have thought Manning was just riding him without cause at some points over the years, it was to help Simpson exercise an opportunity to advance in his career.
      Lt. Anderson said he appreciates everything Manning has done to help him over the years.
     Capt. Brown said the chief deputy brings forth growth when he sees potential in a person. She said the past few years have presented her with times when she spoke to him and the sheriff about things she would not normally speak about with her coworkers. Manning provided her with good advice and directions, and Capt. Brown said she is forever grateful for that.
     Todd Holder said he remembers going from being a road deputy to being a School Resource Officer and missing a softball event, where he was then called on the carpet.
     Another time, he faced the sheriff and chief deputy and was told to surrender his gun and badge, while that sounds tough, it was one of those moments where those two leaders helped him gain a better sense of humor.
     Holder thanked the chief deputy for all of the opportunities he gave him, including as an SRO, to grow in the profession.
     GCSO Patrol Commander Lt. Scotty Douglas said he remembers when Chief Manning started at the GCSO in 2006, and while they had moments where they saw the same thing with different points of view, Manning helped the lieutenant get through some things.
     Sheriff Schultz shared a story to wrap up that part of the event.
     When Schultz was first elected, it was by a narrow margin. He saw that 50 percent of the voters wanted him and 50 percent of the voters wanted the other candidate. There was a lawsuit, he continued.
     The sheriff said that when Manning and he would show up at the courthouse, Manning would always literally stand behind him rather than beside him. This was before he was chief deputy.
     The sheriff mentioned it to Manning, and he told Schultz that is where he belonged – to watch his back.
     The sheriff’s mother told her son that she saw Manning as a good man. Schultz said with that endorsement, he saw manning had the best seal of approval possible.


One section of the tables full of food that was brought by many members of the GCSO for the celebration.


The cake is part of the desserts available at this event.

     And then, there were the “refreshments.”
     The invitation to the event noted refreshments would be available after the ceremony. Long tables were covered with plates and crock pots of various meatballs, chicken wings of differing spice levels, homemade chicken salad, homemade egg salad, homemade turkey sliders, homemade ham sliders, cheeses and finger-food forms of vegetables galore were there. A wide assortment of soft drinks, as well as sweet and unsweetened tea were available to drink.
     All of the guests enjoyed the refreshments after the retirement celebration.
     

Are you raising
mosquitoes in your yard?
By Levy County Mosquito Control
Under the Direction of Mathew Weldon
Published Aug. 1, 2019 at 12:09 p.m.
     BRONSON -- Check around your yard and home for places where water collects such as water-holding containers, house A/C drains, and ornamental ponds – You May Be Raising Mosquitoes! 

    Here are positive steps you the homeowner can take to reduce this menace.
     Get rid of old tires, tin cans, bottles, jars, buckets and other containers.
     Empty your small toddler-size wading pool weekly and store it indoors when not in use. 
     Make certain your backyard swimming pool is properly maintained.
     Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently. 
     Scrub and change the water in bird baths and in vases holding flowers or cuttings twice each week or grow cuttings in sand.
     Empty outside water pans for pets daily.
     Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs and stock ornamental ponds with fish. 



     With all the recent rain, mosquitoes are going to be hatching out and we all need to remember a few tips to avoid being bitten.
The Five Ds are:
     Dusk & Dawn are when mosquitoes are most active so you should avoid being outside at those times. And if you must be outdoors then--
     Dress so your skin is covered with clothing. Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
     Drain any empty containers and stagnant water so mosquito wrigglers can’t grow up to become biters.
     Deet mosquito repellant is best to protect bare skin and clothing. It is important to remember that DEET in not recommended for children younger than two months old. Instead, avoid exposing your baby to mosquitoes.
     Levy County is the home for 40 known species of mosquitoes. They are as different in their feeding and breeding habits as humans are different in their lifestyles.
     All mosquitoes must have water to develop.  Most prefer slow-moving or stagnant water in which to lay their eggs. One tablespoon of water will breed over 200 mosquitoes. During warm weather, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in four days.
     While there are dozens of mosquito control devices on the market today, the most effective method is to destroy mosquito breeding places. This means getting rid of any standing water conditions around your home.
     Practice good “mosquito hygiene” around your home.

It’s A Fact….
     All mosquitoes need water to develop. 
     Most prefer slow-moving or stagnant water in which to lay their eggs. Eliminating potential breeding grounds around your home will certainly reduce the mosquito menace around your property.
     One tablespoon of water will breed over 200 mosquitoes. 
     During warm weather, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in four days.
     For detailed information, visit the website at http://levycountymosquitocontrol.org/.
 

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Sandra Wilcox (left) and Angie Acevedo pause for a moment before singing the HardisonInk.com Jingle on Thursday evening (June 11) in the lobby of The Chief Theater in Chiefland. These two performers accommodated at photographer-videographer as he assured the picture-taking machine (Canon EOS Rebel T6) was in focus. Wilcox and Acevedo are both assistant directors working with Director Rebecca Locklear on the play School House Rock Live Jr.