Waccasassa Water & Wastewater
Cooperative accepts
Bronson withdrawal from Co-Op
Meeting set for Cedar Key on June 16
By Jeff M. Hardison © June 15, 2026 at 12 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CEDAR KEY – The June 2 emergency meeting of the Waccasassa Water & Wastewater Cooperative (W3C) showed the organization is moving forward after the choice by the Town of Bronson to end its relationship with what used to be three parties in the cooperative venture to provide centralized wholesale water and wastewater service, according to records.

MORE BELOW THIS AD

     Town Councilwoman Rachel Weeks is no longer on the W3C Board of Directors, which is now comprised of Otter Creek Mayor Zim Padgett, who is the chair of the cooperative, and Cedar Key Water & Sewer District Member Sue Colson, who is the vice chair.
     The Bronson Town Council voted to withdraw from the W3C, effective as of the May 18 Bronson Town Council meeting, according to records.
     The regular monthly meeting of the W3C is set for tomorrow (Tuesday, June 16) starting at 1 p.m. in the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Office at 510 Third St. in Cedar Key.
     Among the information items are that the W3C is publishing its meetings live on YouTube.
     Another informational item that is set to be announced is that the July meeting of the W3C is set for July 14 starting at 1 p.m. in the Otter Creek Town Hall.
     Among the old business matters to be presented at the meeting on June 16 are updates for projects.
     The W3C meetings are open to the public. There are two points on the agenda where the public can participate.

Candidates qualify
in Tri-County Area elections
Billy Hinote set to run
for Levy County Commission District 4
By Jeff M. Hardison © June 12, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     TRI-COUNTY AREA – As of noon (12 p.m.) today (Friday, June 12), all county candidates in Florida who want to be elected will have qualified.
     Candidates seeking to be judges, county commissioners, School Board members and other county elected leaders are among the people on the ballots set for the Aug. 18 primary elections in Levy County, Dixie County and Gilchrist County.
     Democrats and Republicans will see some differences in Levy County ballots. Even though almost every race will be decided on Aug. 18 for county offices in the Tri-County Area, Levy County voters see there are not only more candidates but there are even candidates in political parties other than just Republicans.
     Democrat and Republican ballots differ in Florida Primaries because the state uses a closed primary system. This means only voters registered with a political party can vote in that party’s primary election.
     Party-specific ballots, for instance to choose which Republican a voter wants to run in a race, each party’s ballot lists only candidates from that party for the races it is running. For example, a Democrat’s ballot will show only Democratic candidates for United States Senate, governor, and other partisan offices – in the general election, once the primary election has decided which Republican and Democrat are running in the general election.
     Independent and unaffiliated voters cannot vote in either party’s primary, but they can still vote in nonpartisan races (like school board or judges) and in races where all candidates are from the same party. For instance, since there are only Republicans running in several of the races in the Tri-County Area, than means Democrats, as well as independent, unaffiliated and all other forms of voters will see those Republican candidates and everyone can choose during the primary on Aug. 18 who will run in the very few county races to be finally decided in the general election in November.
     As a reminder, voters in the Tri-County Area who want to choose who will be their elected leaders will want to vote on Aug. 18 because most of those races ill be decided then.
     As for the close primary status of this state, Florida is one of only eight states with a fully closed primary system. The law is designed to prevent “crossover” voting -- where voters from one party could influence the nomination of candidates from another party. This ensures that each party’s nomination process is decided solely by its own members. There is a plot flaw here, because between the time of the primary and general elections, voters can switch parties again.
     In Florida, as noted relatively often, if all candidates for a given office are from the same party and there is no opposition in the general election, then Florida’s 1998 constitutional amendment allows all registered voters to vote in that party’s primary. This is common in the Tri-County Area where single-party Republican races have become expected.
     The voters’ ballots in Florida’s primary depends on their party registration because the state’s closed primary rules separate the nomination contests for Democrats and Republicans. This is why voters see different candidates and races on each party’s ballot.
     As of noon on Friday, websites of Levy County Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones, Dixie County Supervisor of Elections Darbi Chaires and Gilchrist County Supervisor of Elections Lisa Darus show the following for county elections.
     Billy Hinote was the final candidate to qualify for election in the Tri-County Area, although a couple of candidates withdrew from races in Dixie and Gilchrist counties, according to records. Hinote and a few other Levy County candidates chose to pay the qualifying fee to seek office via election rather than to ask people to sign petitions, which is able to be used rather than the petition method.

Levy County
County Court Judge
● Luis Bustamante (NP)
● Darla Whistler (NP)
County Commissioner, District 2
● Emily Casey (ECO)
● Lincoln Cannon (DEM)
● Wesley Langston (REP)
● Matt Lemery (REP)
County Commissioner, District 4
● Billy Hinote (REP)
● Tim Hodge (REP)
● David Sharpe (REP)
School Board, District 1
● Cameron Asbell (NP) – Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
School Board, District 3
● Jaime Handlin (NP)
● Tricia Horvath (NP)
School Board, District 5
● Devin Whitehurst (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate

Dixie County
County Court Judge
● Natasha Munkittrick Allen (NP)
● Jennifer Johnson (NP)
County Commissioner - District 2
● John Mash Jr. (REP)
● Keith Tuten (REP)
● Daniel Wood III (REP)
County Commissioner - District 4
● Jamie Storey (REP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
School Board Member - District 2
● Amanda Mills NesSmith (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
● Claude Sidney Smith Jr (NP) - withdrawn 
School Board Member - District 3
● John Duane Driggers Jr. (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
School Board Member - District 5
● Lucas Jackson Rollison (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
Suwannee Water and Sewer Seat 1
● Eddie Dugger (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
Suwannee Water and Sewer Seat 2
● Patrick Miles (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
Suwannee Water and Sewer Seat 3
● Karen Ross (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate

Gilchrist County
County Commissioner District 2
● Daniel Fussell (REP)
● Bill Martin (REP)
● Cody NesSmith (REP)
County Commissioner District 4
● Tommy Langford (REP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
School Board District 1
● David Biddle (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified
● Tammy Sudigala (NP) - Withdrawn
School Board District 3
● Raymond Robbins (NP)
● Roy Smith (NP)
School Board District 5
● Charlotte Kearney (NP)
● D. Deen Lancaster (NP)
Soil and Water District 1
● Jeffrey Reed (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
Soil and Water District 3
● Brett Crawford (NP) - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
Soil and Water District 5
● Myles Langford - Elected Due To No Other Qualified Candidate
 

Platinum Task Force increases to prevent,
detect and report Medicare Fraud

Some of the keynote speakers of the event hosted by Elder Options in the Haven Hospice Community Building on Friday morning (June 5) are (from left) Eighth Judicial Circuit Court State Attorney Brian Kramer, Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler, Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Levy County Court Judge Luis Bustamante and Dixie County Court Judge Jennifer Johnson.

Story, Photos and Videos By Jeff M. Hardison © June 7, 2026 at 7 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     TRI-COUNTY AREA – Sheriffs from Levy County, Dixie County and Gilchrist County, as well as the state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and the Levy County Judge and the Dixie County judge, as well as regional directors for Seniors vs. Crime, a special project of the Florida Attorney General’s Office all spoke Friday morning about Medicare fraud – a crime that costs America $60 billion a year.
     A two-hour program hosted by Elder Options, a private, non-profit agency in Florida that acts as the designated Area Agency on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Center for 16 counties in North Central Florida, is bound to serve as fuel to increase the Platinum Task Force increases to prevent, detect and report Medicare Fraud.
     The Platinum Task Force can be considered as an evolution of “gray power,” which is a term for senior citizens working together. “Platinum” sounds better than “silver.” As for the task force, by the people attending this gathering, they have become a task force of individuals who not only will know how to reduce the odds of them becoming victims of scammers and other thieves, but they can tell friends and relatives about methods and resources to stay safe as well.

“It comes down to each every one of us
to be part of the task force.”

-- Senior Medicare Patrol  Spec. Kristina Young

Mina Bustamante, the team leader for the counseling site, and who is known to be the source at the Elder Options office for ‘anything and everything that is Medicare related,’ speaks with the four speakers of the day from the law enforcement profession -- (from left) Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler, Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum and LCSO Lt. Adam Hiers – before the start of presentations.


There were food and drinks available for people at the event, and these included bacon, biscuits, gravy, and more, although a complete survey of the table became precluded by a set of diners stacking up in the self-service zone within seconds after this one-sixtieth of one second photo opp.


Mina Bustamante of Elder Options is seen at the lectern as she serves as the emcee as well as the organizer and top promoter for this event, which provided a wealth of information to scores of people.


Mina Bustamante of Elder Options welcomes everyone to the event as she explains how it will unfold over the two-hours from 10 a.m. to noon on June 5.


Elder Options Senior Medicare Patrol Complex Interaction Specialist Kristina Young holds up a poster for the June 5 event and she holds up a tote bag like the ones given away that is filled with written information to help attendees detect and report Medicare fraud.


Elder Options Senior Medicare Patrol Specialist Stephanie McCrory lets listeners know about some of the success she and Kristina Young have enjoyed by their part in the work of bringing certain fraud cases to a close with recovery of funds and convictions of criminals.

     Each of the speakers shared many nuggets of sage advice to prevent scammers from winning, as well as showing methods to be able to detect a scam – and perhaps most importantly, to have no hesitation in telling law enforcement about being a victim of a scammer.
     Mina Bustamante, a volunteer with Elder Options, and Elder Options Senior Medicare Patrol Complex Interaction Specialist Kristina Young, brought the program together to empower senior citizens, strengthen communities and to help prevent crime.
     The discussion centered around Medicare fraud, which is a $60 billion annual industry. The information available will include details of frauds perpetrated by family members and caregivers that negatively impact the economy. Attendees can learn more about why this crime should be reported, as well as to whom to report it.
     Part of the presentations included a story about 19 older people in Dixie County who accepted free cell phones and provided DNA swabs as part of the “requirements” to accept the phones. Their Medicare policies were each billed 34,000. By the way, each Medicare patient is allowed one genetic marker survey (from a DNA swab) in their lifetime.
     When Seniors vs. Crime learned about this, an investigation was launched, which recently resulted in $389,000 being recovered from those 19 Dixie County cases.
     These scammers are stealing from individuals as well as from the entire population of individuals who use Medicare.

Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum

Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum is the first of several keynote speakers June 5 in a program hosted by Elder Options in the Community Building of Haven Hospice. The program centers on Medicare fraud. Sheriff McCallum introduced LCSO Lt. Adam Hiers, who spoke next. The sheriff welcomed Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler, Dixie County Court Judge Jennifer J. Johnson. He also welcomed Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz and others for joining in the program that day. The sheriff thanked everyone who made this event possible before inviting Lt. Adam Hiers to speak on behalf of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved


LCSO Lt. Adam Hiers

LCSO Lt. Adam Hiers tells drivers to let speeders go around them and to avoid becoming in a road rage incident. He also provided information related to how to avoid becoming a victim of thieves. Hiers was among the several keynote speakers on June 5 in a program hosted by Elder Options in the Community Building of Haven Hospice in Chiefland. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     Lt. Adam Hiers, the leader of the LCSO Community Relations Division, provided tips for senior citizens.
     The first thing he said was to let drivers who are tailgating them be allowed to go around them. Do not edge over the line in the middle of the road to dissuade them from going around, and do not speed up. 
     “Get over and slow down,” he said. Let them pass without incident to avoid injuries.
     Hiers said to remain aware of surroundings when in public places. When it is dark outside, park as closely as possible to the building being entered. The law enforcement officer said the people who engage in criminal activity look for any vulnerability to exploit so they can steal from others.
     Beware of “handyman” offers. Among these scammers are those who say they will build a ramp to a house, but they need money to buy materials to start. 
     Use the network of friends, family and neighbors to find established, reliable and dependable workers who have integrity. Do not accept door-to-door offers from “handymen.”
     Also, when a person comes into the house to work on a refrigerator or perform other jobs, make sure that jewelry, cash, forms of identification and other items that can be taken are out of sight. Do not tempt others to steal.
     Gasoline cans, push lawnmowers, tools and bicycles should not be left out – even in the daytime. If they are near to a road, a thief will grab them. Hiers said he learned of an electric bike taken at 3 a.m. one morning from the back of a vehicle where it was on a rack. That theft was recorded on a video, but the camera did not stop the thief. Those bicycles can cost thousands of dollars.
     Hiers said beware of people impersonating actual officers, including him. If a person calls and says they are “Lt. Adam Hiers” or other officers, and they say a court date was missed, or a toll was unpaid, or some other thing where there is an arrest warrant that is going to be issued unless money or gift cards are sent.
     “Don’t fall for that,” he said.
     If it doesn’t make sense, then it is a scam. If it sounds too far-fetched or too good to be true, it is probably not true.
     Call the Sheriff’s Office. Tell them your name and ask if you owe money, Hiers said.
     He also advised people who carry weapons to take the time to learn about firearm safety, and to become proficient in the use of the weapon. 

Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler

Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler said recognition of danger and prevention of a victim of crime are important elements. People calling with a sense of urgency as they demand money are indicators of thieves. Do not call phone numbers they leave to call. Don’t engage phone solicitors. Just hang up. Block those calls if possible. Shred papers before putting them in the trash. Keep aware of what is needed in the wallet. Medicare information and Social Security cards should be kept at home locked up. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler spoke about recognition and prevention of fraud.
     When someone approached another aggressively demanding money, Butler said, threatening some kind of penalty and having an urgency in the tone, that is the time to evaluate the situation.
     “Take a deep breath and slow things down,” he said. “Control that situation and try to disconnect from whoever that person is.”
     Hang up from the caller and ask the Sheriff’s Office about the people who make these kinds of calls.
     The sheriff advised people to be mindful of their credit cards and their bank accounts. Do not open email or click on links unless it is a known site. Take care to look for fake versions of actual sites, where the scammer changes an email or a link slightly. 

Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz

Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz thanked Elder Option for providing this forum to share information with people., and Hospice for providing the meeting room. Communication is a good method for prevention of crime. The sheriff said ‘We will be aggressive’ in prosecuting people and hold them accountable for taking advantage of people. He said don’t be too embarrassed to seek help if a criminal takes advantage of a person. Do not click on unknown links. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     Sheriff Bobby Schultz said the best method to prevent fraud is to remain aware.
     Most importantly, he said, if ever a scammer is able to trick a person, contact law enforcement. Sometimes, the scammers are in other countries. However, sometimes they are able to be put into a local jail or state prison.
     The sheriff said all three sheriffs’ offices have staff who will track a complaint. 
     For every person who steps forward and reports being a victim, they are saving another 15 or more people from being taken by that criminal.
     Sheriff Schultz noted every person will eventually die. He addressed widowers and widows who are lonely and then become easier targets for scammers because they are lonely. The victim starts building a connection with someone online. Interestingly, after some period of time, that person could visit if only he or she had a certain debt paid. And after that, however, there is another bill that must be covered.
     The victim may see the fraud then, and the thief becomes more aggressive and threatening to collect money from the victim.
     Sheriff Schultz urges anyone who has been scammed to call law enforcement for help.
Team Presentation
     Elder Options Senior Medicare Patrol Complex Interaction Specialist Kristina Young and Elder Options Senior Medicare Patrol Specialist Stephanie McCrory spoke as a team after Sheriff Schultz. Elder Options includes 16 counties in its coverage area – including the Tri-County Area.
     Nationally, according to records, Medicare Fraud Awareness Week is June 1 through 5 this year.
     Mina Bustamante is the team leader for the counseling site, Young said, for “anything and everything that is Medicare related.”
     Young said she works with the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers, helping them navigate Medicare, Medicaid, and other state health insurance options. Locally, this program is known as SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), which is a free, state-run program in Florida that provides unbiased, confidential Medicare and health insurance counseling to seniors, their families, and caregivers.
     The Florida Department of Elder Affairs, in collaboration with Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Secretary Michelle Branham, has launched Operation Senior Shield -- a statewide initiative to protect older Floridians from scams, fraud and financial exploitation.
     To sign up for the free scam alert – click HERE. https://opseniorshieldfl.com/operation-senior-shield-sign-up/
     Young is part of the Senior Medicare Patrol, which hunts for Medicare Fraud. She then introduced McCrory, who spoke to the group.
     This group protects, detects and reports Medicare fraud and abuse, McCrory said, as they assist Medicare recipients and their families.
     The Senior Medicare Patrol has a three-pronged approach to fight fraud, McCrory said. First, the goal is to protect.
     “That means protect your Medicare number. Nobody needs your Medicare number,” McCrory said. 
     If someone calls and says extra benefits are available by providing the Medicare number, that is a scam, McCrory said.
     The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) works closely with the United States Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (OIG) to fight health fraud, waste and abuse, McCrory said.
     Medicare fraud is a federal crime. 
     McCrory said if a person gets the phone number used by a person calling and asking for their Medicare number, then she can report that.
     Other scams include that a person needs a new Medicare card that has a chip in it. There is no such thing, McCrory said.
     Another one is that a person needs a plastic Medicare card. There is no plastic Medicare card. There also is no black and white Medicare card, she added.
     There is a urinary catheter scam, now, she said. Check statements sent monthly. If there is a service or drug listed that was not received, call law enforcement.
     Detecting fraud happens at an individual level from Medicare recipients reading the monthly statements of services rendered and paid for, she said.
     “You are the Number One defense,” McCrory said. “You are your own best advocate for preventing Medicare fraud.”
     After $15,000 of charges, where Medicare paid for $11,000 of that cost for catheters that were never used by one patient, McCrory said, is an example of how this fraud happens.
      If there are doctors’ names on a statement and it is not a doctor who is recognized call the SMO at 1-800-203-3099 to report possible Medicare fraud.
Good News
     Elder Options Senior Medicare Patrol Complex Interaction Specialist Young told listeners about a case started in 2018-2019, when the State of Florida put the SMP program in place Young said.
     This was the genetic testing scam, where 19 Dixie County residents were charged for the DNA samples they provided to receive a free cell phone.
     One swab cost $34,000. And Medicare will only pay for genetic testing once in a lifetime.
     Then, the SMP built a case, Young said. It was reported to the Office of the Inspector General.
     Those 19 genetic tests cost Medicare $389,000, Young said. 
     Nine months later, Performance Laboratories out of Atlanta, Georgia, she said, were found to be the perpetrator of the billing to Medicare. There was a web of others involved, including the cheek-swabbers and the doctors.
     “Never feel like you’re the only one who this (or other fraud) has happened to,” Young said, “because this was happening across the nation.”
     The more people who spoke about it, Young added, the stronger the case became against the criminals.
     Seven years later, she added, a doctor is going to prison and some of the money will be repaid.
    “It comes down to each every one of us to be part of the task force,” Young said.
     McCrory mentioned another case that is concluding now where the doctor fraudulently billed for $5 million worth of genetic testing.

Seniors vs. Crime Region 4 Director Judy Harden

Judy Harden, a regional director with Seniors vs. Crime, explains to prevent fraud, to detect it and to report it. Recently, there was a $6 million recovery from a fraudster that went back to the consumers without them having to pay a civil attorney. Since 1989, this region of Florida has recovered $20 million for consumers who were victims of fraud or scams. She spoke about the swingling sweetheart scams, and other issues, too. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     Seniors vs. Crime Region 4 Director Judy Harden spoke about the program started by the Florida Attorney General’s Office in 1989. Region 4 serves Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Sumter, Suwannee and Union counties.
     The Seniors vs. Crime services are free. The staff try to help senior citizens to not become victims of fraud or scams. If they do become victims, Harden said, then the staff will help the person in the process of mediation with a bad contractor or service provider.
     Pool and roofing contactors are among the worst, she said. One scam that happens is a person coming to the door and telling a homeowner that they have milling at a discount price for the dirt driveway.
     The scammer puts down a thin layer, which wears out quickly. Grass and weeds are growing in the driveway. Then, the scammer returns and sells the victim an asphalt paint covering that also wears out quickly.
     The Wildwood (Sumter County) office last month, Harden said, accepted a $6 million check for recovery. That money went back to the consumer and did not cost the people anything, she said.
     In total, Harden said, this region of Florida has recovered more than $20 million since 1989, and that went back to the consumers.
     One consumer had a problem when a hair-care product with a money-back guarantee did not appear to be sending money back to the displeased customer. Harden said Seniors vs. Crime completed the case and found the refund went to a wrong customer at the bank by being coded incorrectly.
     “Six months later,” Harden said, “the bank worked with us and did a forensic trace, and that person got back their $39.95 – and they were just as excited as that person who gets back their $60,000 from a pool contractor who went out of business.”
     The Swindling Sweetheart Scam showed a surge, Harden said, when there was the global COVID-19 pandemic. People were at home. They went on the Internet. They found romantic partners, and that opened the door for scammers to swindle people.
     Harden told a story about people who build trust and confidence. Then, there is the desire to meet them. And money is sent. Asking is more frequent.
     One person believed the stories to the point of losing $600,000. Eventually, the family had to obtain a guardianship to stop them from mailing money to a scammer.
     Beware of “doorknockers,” she said. Don’t buy things from door-to-door salespeople.
  
Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Kramer

Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Kramer urges victims to report the crimes. Unless the offense is reported, it cannot be investigated, prosecuted and a conviction will not occur. He concedes there are some criminals in countries where they do not extradite them to the United Staes; however, there are plenty of scammers and thieves like that who can occupy plenty of prison cells in Florida. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved


Levy County Court Judge Luis Bustamante

Levy County Court Judge Luis Bustamante speaks about shame overpowering victims to the point that they do not report when they are taken advantage of. He told about older people having more money in the bank. Thieves know older people are easier targets, and they do not want to admit to anyone that someone tricked them. As a prosecutor, he took a case where a woman was tricked out of $10,000 by a younger man who promised to give her ballroom dance lessons, which he did for a while. And then he disappeared. It was difficult for this accomplished professional to tell law enforcement about being taken. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved


Dixie County Court Judge Jennifer Johnson

Dixie County Court Judge Jennifer Johnson said Florida has good laws to protect older people. Among these laws are an exploitation injunction, where it can stop – even a relative – from swindling an older Floridian. She advised against people paying for automated wills, and power of attorney documents that are created by AI (artificial intelligence). She said ads that pop up on cell phones are something to beware of. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video. 
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     All of the people speaking let listeners know to remain aware. If a scammer succeeds in stealing, then don’t be embarrassed. Report it to law enforcement.
     The proverbial bottom line from this get-together is that the “Platinum Task Force” of local senior citizens has increased to prevent, detect and report Medicare Fraud.

Gilchrist County and Levy County
prep to stop data centers

Laura Catlow of Levy County hands papers to Gilchrist County Vice Chairman Charlie Kennedy on Tuesday (June 2) as she speaks for a few minutes about the need to protect Levy County from data centers establishing in the county.

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © June 3, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     TRI-COUNTY AREA -- Data centers are large, secure industrial buildings housing servers that store and process digital information.

     People in rural Florida oppose them because they demand enormous amounts of electricity and water, threaten the state's fragile aquifer, cause noise and light pollution, and bring very few permanent jobs.
     During the Monday (June 1) twice-monthly meeting of the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners, the commissioners heard from a resident who noted their opposition to data centers being allowed to establish themselves in Gilchrist County. 
     Gilchrist County Attorney David Miller “Duke” Lang Jr. was tasked with finding best methods to achieve this goal. He agreed to do so, noting for the commissioners that creating local laws to target a legitimate business is challenging.
     Florida counties can restrict or halt data center developments by enacting specific land use, zoning, and environmental ordinances. Under recent state legislation (Senate Bill 484), local governments maintain clear authority to reject or regulate large-scale data centers, according to information from the Office of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
     Counties employ the following ordinance strategies to stop or strictly limit these developments. Temporary moratoriums are adopted when counties pass emergency ordinances to temporarily freeze all new data centers’ rezoning applications and building permits. 
     This “pause” provides time to study infrastructure impacts, such as groundwater withdrawal and electrical grid strain, before drafting permanent regulations.
     Zoning & land use designations are a method used where counties update their comprehensive plans and land development codes to restrict data centers. By passing ordinances, they can ban data centers in certain zoning districts (such as agricultural or rural lands) or restrict them exclusively to exist only in heavy industrial zones.
     Counties can mandate strict limits on water consumption -- particularly regarding draws from the Floridan Aquifer -- and require data center developers to conduct thorough environmental impact studies regarding noise, lighting and wetland impacts before receiving local approval. Consumptive use and utility permitting can be applied where counties and water management districts can require hyperscale data centers (those consuming more than 50 megawatts of power) to apply for stringent consumptive use permits, ensuring these facilities bear the full cost of their water and electrical usage.
     On Tuesday morning (June 2), Laura Catlow, who has a Bronson residential address, gave the Levy County Board of County Commissioners papers that she said will help them defer data centers away from this county.
     Catlow told commissioners that she was there to “sound the alarm” and “get wheels turning” in Levy County to stop data centers from being established in this county.
     She said a data center is seeking to be established in Citrus County. That major data center proposal in Citrus County is driven by Deltona Corp., according to records. The developer is seeking to rezone in excess of 1,300 acres of land for a massive industrial park near Citrus County Road 491 and Tram Road in the Lecanto area.
     The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications to draft stricter local regulations; however, since the Deltona Corporation’s application was filed prior to the moratorium, it will proceed to a hearing on June 18 before the Citrus County Planning and Development Commission. Meanwhile in Citrus County, all other new data center proposals are officially on hold.
     Hernando County Commission members are considering adoption of a one-year moratorium on data centers, Catlow added.


Laura Catlow speaks from the lectern as she tells the Levy County Commission about her belief that data centers are not a good type of industry to encourage to come to Levy County. They have been proved to have significantly negative impacts on the environment.

     Catlow provided the five commissioners each with a nine-page methodology on how to assess a data center proposal. 
     If the Levy County Commission adopts a moratorium against data center proposals being considered, then the county will have time to amend current building and zoning regulations to reduce the odds of that type of business establishing itself in this county, she intimated.
     Catlow provided her input on the matter during the first “Public Participation” part of the agenda near the start of the meeting. There is a similar opportunity near the end of meetings for people to provide county leaders with their comments.

Democrat enters
Levy County Commission District 2 race
Levy County shows
historic three-party race
By Jeff M. Hardison © May 29, 2026 at 6 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     TRI-COUNTY AREA – The Aug. 18 Primary Election for one race is not going to be the end-all for deciding who wins the seat being vacated by Commissioner Russell S. “Rock” Meeks Jr. (Dist. 2), although most of the other elections for county offices in the Tri-County Area will be finished after that August election and not have to go to the Nov. 3 General Election.
      Not only will Emily Casey, a registered member of the Ecology Party, win the Aug. 18 Primary Election for the Levy County Commission District 2 Race, if all facts remain as they exist as of May 28, but Lincoln Cannon, a registered member of the Florida Democratic Party, will also win the Aug. 18 Primary Election. Other Levy County residents who are registered members of the Ecology Party and the Florida Democratic Party may give Casey and Cannon a run for their money to compete in the Primary Election if they qualify before the deadline and run for that office, and there may be more Republican Party of Florida candidates qualifying to potentially win that primary election, too. And there could be some other minor party candidate or a No Party Affiliation candidate qualifying in that primary race to create an even more interesting contest.
     The two Republicans running for the Levy County Commission District 2 election so far are Wesley Langston and Matt Lemery, according to records.
     County Commissioner Meeks previously announced his plan to not seek reelection for this coming four-year term in office. Meeks is among the people who are known to say what they mean and to do as they say they will do.
     Given the current status of people who are noted to plan to qualify to run for office, as of May 28, the competition between individuals seeking to serve the residents and visitors of Levy County as a public servant and as a politician include three different political parties in that race for Levy County Commission District 2.
     All four of those individuals are announced as intending to be candidates, and they will become qualified candidates given they meet the deadline during the qualifying period in June. All four of those individuals are politicians. Being a politician does not mean they are liars, although there are some elected officials who are liars, where the word “liar” is defined as “an individual who knowingly utters a falsehood, making a statement they know to be untrue with the specific intent to deceive someone else.”
     The word “politician” is defined as “an individual actively involved in government, policymaking, or party politics.” Not every person seeking public office via appointment of election is “a manipulator who engages in politics strictly for self-interest or personal gain,” as some few politicians have done before, are doing now and will do in the future.
     As for the Aug. 18 Primary Election in the Tri-County Area, almost every race will be decided before the Nov.3 General Election because there is such a predominance of Republican that in most races, everyone will get to choose between which Republican wins.
     In the Levy County Commission District 2 Primary Election on Aug. 18, however, only Republicans will be able to vote for Langston or Lemery. Casey and Cannon have won their primary election, given no other Ecology Party or Florida Democratic Party member qualifies to run against either or both of them in the Auf. 18 Primary Election.
     In the Nov. 3 General Election, either Langston or Lemery, will face Casey and Cannon in that three-way contest to replace Meeks -- because Florida is a closed primary state.
     According to the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes, only voters who are registered members of political parties may vote for respective party candidates or nominees for an office in a primary election including a presidential preference primary election.
     A person can register with a party or change his or her party affiliation at any time; however, to be a qualified voter for a party candidate in an upcoming primary election, the person must register with that party or change his or her party by the registration deadline for that primary election.
     State law requires that party changes must be made at least 29 days prior to a partisan primary election in order to be valid for that voter to cast a ballot in that election.
     There are times -- as is often the case in the Tri-County Area -- when all registered voters can vote in a primary election, regardless of which major or minor political party in which they are registered -- or even if they are registered as No Party Affiliation.
     If all the candidates for an office have the same party affiliation -- like Republican Party of Florida in the Tri-County Area races -- and the winner of the primary election will not face any opposition in the general election, then all registered voters can vote for any of the candidates for that office in the primary election.
     If races for nonpartisan positions -- such as for judicial and school board offices, as well as nonpartisan special districts or local referendum questions -- are on the primary election ballot, then all registered voters, including those without party affiliation are entitled to vote those races on the ballot, according to Florida law.
     At a general election in Florida, all registered voters receive the same ballot and may vote for any candidate or question on the ballot. For instance, in the three-way race potentially happening in Levy County, members of any party or of the No Party Affiliate designation can vote for any of the three contenders – the Ecology Party candidate, the Florida Democratic Party candidate or the Republican Party of Florida candidate.
     If there are write-in candidates who have qualified for a particular office, a space will be left open on the ballot where their name can be written.
     In Levy County, according to the Florida Secretary of State Division of Elections Office, as of April 30, there were 29,682 registered voters.
     The members of political parties from that group are in the following groupings: Republican Party of Florida - 18,420; Florida Democratic Party - 6,049; Minor Party - 1,169; and No Party Affiliation - 4,044.
     In Gilchrist County, according to the Florida Secretary of State Division of Elections Office, as of April 30, there were 12,724 registered voters.
     The members of political parties from that group are in the following groupings: Republican Party of Florida - 9,006; Florida Democratic Party - 1,700; Minor Party - 490; and No Party Affiliation - 1,528. 
     In Dixie County, according to the Florida Secretary of State Division of Elections Office, as of April 30, there were 9,916 registered voters.
     The members of political parties from that group are in the following groupings: Republican Party of Florida - 6,728; Florida Democratic Party - 1,616; Minor Party - 241 and No Party Affiliation - 1,331    .
    According to information on the websites of Levy County Supervisor Of Elections Tammy Jones, Gilchrist County Supervisor of Elections and Dixie County Supervisor of Elections Darbi Chaires, as of May 28, the following local candidates are going to run for office.

Levy County
County Court Judge
● Luis Bustamante (NP)
● Darla Whistler (NP)

County Commissioner, District 2
● Emily Casey (ECO)
● Lincoln Cannon (DEM)
● Wesley Langston (REP)
● Matt Lemery (REP)

County Commissioner, District 4
● Tim Hodge (REP)
● David Sharpe (REP)

School Board, District 1
● Cameron Asbell (NP)

School Board, District 3
● Jaime Handlin (NP)
● Tricia Horvath (NP)

School Board, District 5
● Devin Whitehurst (NP)

Dixie County
County Court Judge
● Natasha Munkittrick Allen (NP)
● Jennifer Johnson (NP)

County Commissioner - District 2
● John Mash Jr. (REP)
● Keith Tuten (REP)
● Daniel Wood III (REP)

County Commissioner - District 4
● Jamie Storey (REP)

School Board Member - District 2
● Amanda Mills NesSmith (NP)
● Claude Sidney Smith Jr (NP)

School Board Member - District 3
● John Duane Driggers Jr. (NP)

School Board Member - District 5
● Lucas Jackson Rollison (NP)

Gilchrist County
County Commissioner District 2
● Bill Martin (REP)
● Cody NesSmith (REP)

County Commissioner District 4
● Tommy Langford (REP)

School Board District 1
● David Biddles (NP)
● Tammy Sudigala (NP)

School Board District 3
● Raymond Robbins (NP)
● Roy Smith (NP)

School Board District 5
● Charlotte Kearney (NP)
● D. Deen Lancaster (NP)
 

198^th Performance

This is CFEC Chief Information Officer and Fiber By Central Florida Chief Operating Officer George Buckner III singing the HardisonInk.com Jingle on May 2, 2026, at the Annual Central Florida Electric Cooperative Meeting in the City of Fanning Springs (Levy County, Florida).  Jeff M. Hardison asks people to sing the jingle, and some of them agree to sing it. (Thanks people!) CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO SEE AND HEAR THE VIDEO ON YouTube.com. The very first person to sing the jingle was Danesh “Danny” Patel of Danny’s Food Mart in Chiefland in March of 2013. HardisonInk.com started as a daily news website on Feb. 1, 2011.
Photo and Video by Jeff M. Hardison © May 2, 2026 at 9 p.m.
All Rights Reserved - Do Not Copy And Paste Anywhere Else