NEW EACH DAY - DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THE CHRISTIAN PRESS​

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Gary Miller's Outdoor Truths Ministry, March 17, 2025
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CF Preview attracts
future college students

Eric Zimmer, a retired United States Army veteran, is among the many people helping others consider their potential academic futures. Zimmer is the coordinator for all veteran affairs at all five CF instructional locations, including the campus in Levy County. Veterans have educational benefits and staff members at CF can help them utilize those to further their education.

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © March 13, 2025 at 8:30 p.m.
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     LEVY COUNTY – There was a hubbub of action at the College of Central Florida’s (CF) Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. U.S. Highway 19 – just south of the City of Fanning Springs on Thursday (March 13).
     CF had invited anyone thinking about college to attend the Preview event at the CF campus in Levy County and the future college students heard the news. 

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Becca York-Alcorn (left) and Kat Davis are seen at the table for people to learn about the Student Activities Board at the CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus. York-Alcorn is involved with student services as well as admissions and other matters. Davis is the coordinator for enrollment and is very involved with student services.


Kat Davis holds up one of the 100 t-shirts given away during the Preview event at the CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus on Thursday (March 13).


James Class and Cassie Lozier, two of the instructors in the welding program at the CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, stand next to some equipment used in teaching the welding trade. Students in this program have direct learning experience with welding machines and related gear, and these students are given the opportunity to earn various levels of certification in welding.


Josh Strigle, the dean of E-Learning and Academic Services at CF, was present for the Preview event on Thursday, and standing next to him is Cori Wiygul, Career Pathways coordinator, as well as an instructor in agribusiness -- Business, Technology and Agricultural Sciences. They were among the many people who were available to answer any questions presented to them by individuals interested in using CF to help those potential future students improve their lives.

     Preview is a chance for anyone considering college to learn about everything CF has to offer. As people know, CF is a college for everyone from high school students to retirees and everyone in between. In fact, even people who need to earn their GED – their high school diploma – are welcome to learn and succeed at CF with instructors who care.
     At CF’s largest event of the year, representatives from admissions, financial aid, student services, clubs and organizations helped attendees plan their successful college experience. 
     One benefit from attending this event, which ran from 10 a.m. to noon, was that the $30 application fee was waived for anyone who applied for admission at the event.
     Also, attendees who completed a survey were presented with a CF T-shirt as well as being entered to win free tuition for one 3-credit undergraduate class at the in-state tuition rate.

Dixie county commissioners
choose against asking for more state aid

Scott Pendarvis, the Dixie County IT Director, reads the resolution the County Commission produced dealing with cyber security during the executive session just before the regular meeting on March 6. The Florida Legislature created laws where the press and the public are excluded sometimes from meetings of public boards, councils and commissions. Some people call these ‘secret meetings’ but the real title is executive sessions. In general, most public business in Florida is conducted in view of the public. 

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © March 7, 2025 at 9 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CROSS CITY – The five members of the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners had a busy morning Thursday (March 6), even before the regular twice-monthly meeting started in the County Commission Meeting Room of the Dixie County Courthouse.
     They spent more than an hour, from 9 a.m. until about 10:15 a.m., meeting in executive session – outside the view of the public or the press – as they hammered out a resolution for cyber-security.
     Once the regular meeting started, they went relatively quickly through the agenda under the guidance of Dixie County Commission Chairman Jody Stephenson, who found the other members of the County Commission agreeing with each other in regard to the various motions presented – at least in the first hour of that meeting.
     One obstacle, where there was almost dissention that would have resulted in something other than a 5-0 vote, was resolved before a different motion and second was even voted upon. So, a new motion was made by County Commissioner Jamie Storey and seconded by County Commissioner David Osteen after those two men had made and seconded the first version of the motion, which was discussed and then abandoned.
     Before final and successful 5-0 Storey-Osteen motion, where Commission Chairman Stephenson, Vice Chairman Mark Hatch and Commissioner Daniel Wood III voted the same as Storey and Osteen to adopt it, and that action went into the annals of history for Dixie County, there was a lot of discussion, which followed a presentation by Dixie County Emergency Services Director Chief Darian Brown.


Dixie County Emergency Services Director Darian Brown asks one of the battalion chiefs for DCES a question as he addresses the Dixie County Commission about the status of fire stations and vehicles, including ambulances.

     Those five men elected to lead Dixie County made their choice to not ask the state government for another $179,000 to repave the Dixie County Emergency Operation Center’s parking lot.
     That was one point where Chief Brown said in a bit of hyperbole that the parking lot has a mile-long crack that is like The Grand Canyon. He asked for the commission’s guidance for him in that regard. Eventually, the advice resulted in the chief learning the county will need some other source to repave the parking lot.
     In the meantime, employees, residents and visitors to the Dixie County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will learn how to negotiate the pitfalls in the parking lot.
     Extensive construction at the Dixie County EOC may have caused some of the ruts, potholes and the like.
     In any event, there was the money-juggling required when the Florida Legislature awards a request for millions of dollars and the governor does not line-item veto it.
     Chief Brown gave updates on the status of fire stations before speaking about the need to move $383,000 that has been appropriated already by the state government and was remaining for use by Dixie County Fire Rescue.
     With that explanation, the chief said he would like the County Commission to ask State Sen. Corey Jermaine Simon (R-Tallahassee, Dist. 3) and State Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe, Dist. 7) to ask the Florida Legislature for the ability to move the $383,000 from one part of where it helps Dixie County Emergency Services to another area in that same department, as is required by these state grants.
     The chief said the County Commission could ask State Sen. Simon, whose district includes Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla counties, and State Rep. Shoaf, whose district includes Dixie, Franklin, Gulf, Hamilton, Lafayette, Liberty, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla, and parts of Jefferson and  Leon counties, for another $179,000 to repave the Dixie County EOC parking lot.
     The first Storey-Osteen motion seemed to lean that way -- asking the state for more money.
     Commissioner Hatch said he was not going to vote in favor of asking for the parking lot repaving to be funded by the state, because the felt that during the Legislative Delegation Hearing, he heard Simon and Shoaf say for Dixie County to limit its requests of the state to two items.
     Dixie County Manager John Jenkins said this was his understanding as well.
     Greg Bailey, president and chief executive officer of North Florida Professional Services, an engineering firm used by all three County Commissions in the Tri-County Area, said he had spoken with the local state leaders very recently.
     Bailey apparently heard the same message echoing through all of the halls and chambers of Tallahassee – based on the orders given by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
     The governor on Feb. 24 announced the creation of the Florida State Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) task force, which will work to eliminate waste within state government, save taxpayers money, and ensure accountability in Florida.
     “Florida has set the standard for fiscally conservative governance, and our new Florida DOGE task force will do even more to serve the people of Florida,” Gov. DeSantis said. “It will eliminate redundant boards and commissions, review state university and college operations and spending, utilize artificial intelligence to further examine state agencies to uncover hidden waste, and even audit the spending habits of local entities to shine the light on waste and bloat.”
     Using artificial intelligence for the state government to “audit the spending habits of local entities” is likely going to stick in the craw of some local leaders – but that will be a different story.
     Every director of every state agency appears now to have been commanded to slash spending.
     Given the current trend in Tallahassee, the Dixie County Commission by a 5-0 vote chose to simply ask the Florida Legislature to allow the county to move the money already awarded from one project the state helped fund to another project the state helped fund in the same department – Dixie County Emergency Services.
     Dixie County has requested a couple of other things from the state government.
     At some point in the future, some state leader may say “You should have asked for more,” and then some Dixie County leader can say, “We were told to not ask for more.” Meanwhile, county leaders are keeping fingers crossed for some state aid on a couple of projects.
Other Dixie County Commission News
     Among the many other matters the Dixie County Commission reviewed and acted upon Thursday were updates on tourism; updates on the county’s participation in Elevate Florida; and More.


Dixie County Tourism Development Council Director Kay McCallister speaks with the County Commission about destinations in Dixie County to attract tourists.


Dixie County Building Official Leon Wright speaks a little bit about the Elevate Florida program and other matters related to building and development in Dixie County. 

Friends of A.F. Knotts
Public Library locked out

Friends of the A.F. Knotts Public Library President Ann Sayward asks the Levy County Board of County Commissioners on March 4

Story, Photo and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © March 5, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.
* Updated March 6, 2025 at 7:45 a.m. - See Note At End Of Story
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     BRONSON – Friends of the A.F. Knotts Public Library President Ann Sayward asking the Levy County Board of County Commissioners on March 4, when the library will be reopened.
     She was not given an answer after she asked the question during the public comments part of the twice-month County Commission meeting.


Friends of the A.F. Knotts Public Library President Ann Sayward asks the Levy County Board of County Commissioners on March 4 for help reopening the library. The library suffered damage from Hurricane Helene. Friends saved books and restored the interior of the library, but now the county has locked them out. She received no answer about when or if the library would ever serve the residents and visitors of Yankeetown again. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
This video is by Jeff M. Hardison. All Rights Reserved.

     Before Hurricane Helen hit, Sayward said, library staff and volunteers put all of the books from the fiction area and from the children’s area into the highest area of the library. 
     The building is owned by the Inglis-Yankeetown Woman’s Club. 
     After the storm, volunteers restored the building with new walls, flooring, shelves and painting. They went through the books and saved what could be saved, and they destroyed the rest, Sayward said.
     Volunteers had restored the library preparing it for a return to service. Beginning in February, she said the volunteers wanted to continue shelving books. 
     She learned that the Friends of the A.F. Knotts Public Library were locked out – not allowed to enter the library. 
     The county-paid library staff are put on leave, she added. 
     Saward asked for help from the County Commission to reopen this public library. 
     “There are many people in Yankeetown who are still in temporary residences,” Sayward said. “They are still trying to get their homes rebuilt. A lot of people were relying on the library for Internet connections, or just connections with their neighbors.”
     Sayward said no one in Yankeetown has been told why they are locked out of the library. 
     Commission Chair Mills said there is a county staff member who is in charge of libraries.
     Sayward heard that as an answer. No person answered the phone at the “headquarters” for Levy County Library System on Wednesday.
     A call to County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper was made Wednesday to learn a possible date when the public libraries in Yankeetown and Cedar Key would reopen, or if those two public libraries would ever reopen.
     Joining President Sayward and having been noted in the past as being among the leaders in the Friends of A.F. Knotts Public Library are Barbara Bohlander, Sara Douglass, Barbara Doust, Dianne Fineout, Debra Oates, Sara Runnels and Debra Weiss.
     A branch of the Dixie County Public Library System, which was decimated by the same hurricane that closed libraries in Cedar Key and Yankeetown has returned to service. The Dixie County Library System, though, is part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System.
     The Three Rivers Regional Library System has public libraries in Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette and Taylor counties. It is apparently more able to recover from disasters than Levy County’s public libraries.
    Levy County is part of the Putnam-Alachua-Levy (PAL) Public Library Cooperative. This PAL was created in 2010 when the cooperative members (Putnam County, the Alachua County Library District and Levy County) decided there was a need to bring a higher level of service to their residents. To accomplish this, they entered into an Interlocal agreement among themselves and created the PAL cooperative as an independent special district.
     Public libraries in Cedar Key and Yankeetown remain closed with no potential date to be active again.
     Monday, March 10, is 2025 Library Legislative Day in Tallahassee. Years ago, for a few consecutive years, a group from Levy County would go to ask state leaders to continue state funding for public libraries in Levy County. So far, if the county is planning to do that this year, that has not been mentioned.
     * UPDATED -- County Commission Chair Desiree Mills and County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper shared information to show that issues related to governmental services pertaining to public libraries in Yankeetown and Cedar Key are being addressed. Darlene Slattery, manager for the Levy County library system, has been instructed to provide the public with updates about the libraries if things change in regard to them being closed. There are now libraries in three of the five County Commission districts, where the two coastal districts no longer have functional public libraries. The libraries in Bronson, Chiefland and Williston remain open.

First Published Feb. 1, 2011 at 8 a.m.
     On Feb. 1, 2011, HardisonInk.com came into existence on the Internet. On All Saints Day - Nov. 1, 2011, The Christian Press section on The Life Page of HardisonInk.com started, which was about nine months after the start of the daily news website. The name "The Christian Press" was derived from an encounter a decade earlier in 2001 in St. Petersburg, when and where a man mentioned to a journalist that this particular journalist must work for "The Christian Press." Although the presumption by the man about that journalist was incorrect and misplaced, the name sounded good. And the journalist said that if he could work for The Christian Press, then that certainly would be the publication to serve.
     Since Nov. 1, 2011, The Christian Press section of this page has run daily devotionals from several individuals who contributed over the past years. There were two days in 2018 when the daily devotional did not run due to a journalist requiring emergency orthopedic surgery on broken bones in his left arm and wrist. That surgically added metal, though, makes that part of that arm even more able to withstand forces. Many daily devotionals are pulled from Strength for Service to God and Country (Whitmore & Stone © 1942; Renewed 1969 by Norman E. Nygaard; Second revised edition © 2002 Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, Providence House Publishers). The journalist who is the sole proprietor and owner of HardisonInk.com (Jeff M. Hardison) notes his appreciation for the use of those devotionals from that now-defunct publishing company, and for the many other contributors who have helped people over the past decade-plus now. Strength for Service to God and Country's daily devotionals include many from a time when the United States of America was a partner in a World War, both WWI and WWII. This journalist welcomes contributions of daily devotionals. Daily devotional authors are asked to please send only their original works to hardisonink@gmail.com. Americans are reminded that all religions, having no religion and or being a person who endorses anti-religion are all protected as part of the freedoms from government intervention, as are other benefits from being an American.
 

Monday, March 17, 2025 at 7:30 a.m.
Saint Patrick's Day

THE GOSPEL
OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Read Psalm 26; 1 Kings 20:1-14

     And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
-- 1 Kings 20:14 (KJV)

     The directness of this thrust makes one wince. Even a king cannot escape personal responsibility. Neither can we. Life as a conflict is not a new thought. The children of light wage an unremitting fight against the overwhelming forces of the children of darkness. Always we are assured in this conflict that with God can “one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.”
     Moses appears before Pharaoh saying, “Let my people go.” Elijah on Mount Carmel faces the 400 priests of Baal shouting, “Choose this day whom ye will serve.” Amos appears at Bethel and denounces the king and his corrupt court. The whole godly company of apostles and martyrs throughout the centuries sound a note of defiance. They bear witness to their party in the “insurrection against a pagan world.” In this warfare, the tide of battle is turned even against overwhelming odds as the individual accepts responsibility. “Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.”
     That challenge comes to the Christian today. It is a warfare not only of flesh and blood but of the “hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” It is a conflict of ideas. The battle lines are drawn. We cannot evade the Spirit’s voice - “Thou.”
     O GOD, my heavenly Father, do Thou stand by me this day. Keep me continually aware of my personal responsibility to fight the good fight, to finish the course, to keep the faith, that I may be not only true and valiant in my country’s service, but a good soldier of Jesus Christ as well. Amen.
Pastor Clarence A. Spaulding
First Presbyterian Church
River Forest, Illinois
Strength for Service to God and Country
(Whitmore & Stone © 1942; Renewed 1969 by Norman E. Nygaard; Second revised edition © 2002 Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, Providence House Publishers)

Outdoor Truths Ministry
By Gary Miller © March 17, 2024 at 7:30 a.m.