Bronson fixes water problem
Information Provided at 5:12 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2022
By Bronson Town Manager Sue Beaudet
Published Jan. 26, 2022 at 6:11 a.m.
     BRONSON -- Residents and visitors who use water provided by the Town of Bronson can resume using it again.
     A boil water notice that was issued on Jan. 19 has been rescinded.
     At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 19, the Town of Bronson had a water main break at the corner of Thrasher Drive (State Road 24) and Hathaway Avenue (U.S. Alt 27).
     The Town of Bronson issued a boil water advisory until further notice. Last night (Jan. 25), the all-clear was issued.
     Anyone who uses Bronson city water is advised that should they have any questions or concerns about water, they can contact Bronson Town Hall at 352-486-2354.

 

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Williston Honors People At MLK Event

The photomontage above is from RaRhee Duncan's Facebook page. She and her husband Richard Duncan attended a Martin Luther King memorial program recently at the former Williston Vocational High School, which later became Williston Middle School, and was then vacated for the most part by the Levy County School Board when Williston Middle High School was built. Years ago, when segregation existed in the United States of America, the vocational school was for black students before integration. There was a similar vocation school in Chiefland at the time, and it later burned down. RaRhee Duncan further noted on the social media site more about the recent formal supper in Williston, where she wrote "This program honored former teachers and students from this school who have planted seeds into the lives of the Williston community, which has resulted in the growth of so many. I was especially elated to witness my dad, Mr. Wiley Jones, my Uncle Alphonso Johnson, and my former teacher Soror Rosa Rutledge, be honored at this program." She noted her appreciation for the Ministerial Faith Alliance for its "wonderful program honoring these pioneers of our former school." There was a gala held in Chiefland the week before to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and there was a parade in Chiefland on Jan. 17, which is the day designated in 2022 as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the civil rights leader who was assassinated. There were no known events for the public to attend in Dixie County or Gilchrist County this year to recognize the work of the late Dr. King. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, HardisonInk.com covered the outdoor parade in Chiefland, but was unable to cover the two other events held in Chiefland and Williston to memorialize the late slain minister.
Published Jan. 24, 2022 at 8:11 a.m.
Photos Provided By Gussie Boatright
 

Dixie County Commission
looks at garbage issues and more

(from left) Dixie County Clerk Barbie Higginbotham, County Commissioner James Valentine and Dixie County Attorney M. Michael O’Steen are seen minutes before the start of the Jan. 20 meeting. Attorney O’Steen is leaning on the back of the chair where County Commissioner Mark Hatch would be sitting. Commissioner Hatch participated in this meeting via teleconference, including voting that way. At a meeting of the Williston City Council two nights before (on Jan. 18), that City Council would not let City Council Vice President Marguerite Robinson participate, including to vote, via teleconference because that City Council said Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order allowing that form of participation had expired.

Story and Photos
By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 23, 2022 at 8:11 a.m.
     CROSS CITY – Four county commissioners were in the meeting room and one commissioner participated in voting via teleconference (voting and even seconding a motion via telephone) Thursday evening (Jan. 20) in Cross City at the regular twice-a-month meeting of the Dixie County Commission.


(from left) Dixie County Commission Chairman Jamie Storey, Commission Vice Chairman W.C. Mills and County Commissioner Jody Stephenson are seen during the regular meeting, which happened after the executive session, where the press and the public had been excluded from watching. That executive session was with Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler as they spoke about courthouse security in Dixie County, outside the view of the public and the press, as that type of meeting is among the exclusions allowed from Florida’s Government-In-The-Sunshine laws.


Robin Rouse tells the County Commission about how she and other volunteers have picked up litter along roads in Dixie County.


Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler (standing) tells about working with the Florida Department of Transportation to use the best methods to safely pick up litter next to roadways. The sheriff spoke from where he sat rather than going to the podium. Dixie County Commission Chairman Jamie Storey is attempting to bring more order and decorum to meetings than in the past. The twice-monthly regular Dixie County Commission meeting has been devolving from civility to the point a couple of weeks ago where there was a helter-skelter scene of commissioners being rude and threatening to physically fight with one another.


Dixie County Commission Vice Chairman Jody Stephenson passes a check for $92,000 to County Clerk Barbie Higginbotham for payment of services that were provided by Dixie County for Jefferson County in regard to solid waste transfer. Seen here (from left) are Chairman Jamie Storey, Commission Vice Chairman W.C. Mills and County Commissioner Stephenson and County Manager Duane Cannon.


Rodney Hawkins speaks about building a house in Dixie County. He and his wife were denied a special exception to put an RV on the property, however by building the house and following the county’s rules in that process, that short-term residence on wheels (RV) may be permissible at the house-construction site.

Order In The Meeting
     The Dixie County Board of County Commissioners is comprised of Chairman Jamie Storey (Dist. 4), Vice Chairman W.C. Mills (Dist. 2), and commissioners Jody Stephenson, Mark Hatch (Dist. 3) and James Valentine.
     Chairman Storey opened the Jan. 20 meeting, after the prayer and the pledge, by sharing with listeners a new level of order expected by the County Commission regarding people giving input to the County Commission.
     After the previous trend of very loose decorum was seen reaching a pinnacle two weeks earlier, where there was shouting about a possible outdoor brawl that would include a couple of commissioners, and perhaps even the wife of a commissioner, to somehow settle a difference of opinion about facts, the chairman appeared to understand about a need for a bit stronger statement. Storey pulled on the reins of leadership so that meetings would not involve fighting.
     Storey said everyone will have a chance to speak at the meeting. The requirement will be, however, that rather than just shouting from being seated in the audience, speakers will go to the podium, state their names and then say what they want, as well as be able to ask questions.
     People who interrupt the meetings by shouting out will receive one warning. Storey said. The second time he bangs the gavel to bring order after the same person shouts out, that person will be escorted from the meeting room by a deputy with the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, Chairman Storey said.
     “And if you come back to the next meeting,” he continued, “and you interrupt us, interrupt the meeting again, you will be banned (from the County Commission meetings) for the rest of the year.”
     Each commission, council and committee in the Tri-County Area has its own rules about addressing the governing body. Some have set minutes of speaking about matters not on the agenda, etc.

Code Enforcement Officer Quarantined
     Steve Fremen, the Dixie County Code Enforcement Officer and Dixie County Veterans Services Officer, was absent from the meeting Thursday night.
     It was said that he is quarantined due to having COVID-19.
     Fremen is the only code enforcement officer in this county, which is one year into having a code enforcement department. Quarantines, illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths have caused issues in the private and public sectors for a couple of years now as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Garbage Matters
     Garbage was a topic that flowed through the meeting, from volunteers picking up litter along local roadways, to concern for people who allow trash to fly off vehicle before reaching a solid waste transfer station, to which business or person is recycling the metal brought to the solid waste transfer stations, to the collection of overdue payments from a partner county.
     The Dixie County Commission breezed through its pat agenda, including taking literally last minute action where a previous vote was rescinded and a new motion and second passed unanimously.
     On Thursday night (Jan. 20), the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on all motions.
     Before the start of the meeting at 6 p.m., the five men and others met out of the view of the public and the press as they were in “executive session” to reportedly discuss courthouse security with Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler.
     Commissioner Hatch met and interacted via teleconference that night at the regular meeting. He may have been at the executive meeting via telephone, but that meeting was out of the view of earshot of the public and the press.

Litter Collection
     Robin Rouse told the County Commission about her work with other volunteers to clean litter from roadways in the county.
     Commissioners pledged as much as $500 from the County Commission’s budget to pay for reflective vests, litter-grabbing tools and signs. All of the materials will be county-owned property.
     Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler offered input regarding methods used by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for safety as people pick up litter next to roadways. Rouse mentioned that she has adopted a road through the FDOT for litter removal CR 349 for one mile on either side of that dump site.
     Rouse mentioned that Levy County has a countywide method for adopting roads there, which is similar to the FDOT program for litter control.
     Litterbugs became so rampant in Marion County that a task force has formed to address how to cope with the effects from these state law violators’ actions.
     Commissioner Stephenson said there are signs that show the $500 fine for conviction of littering includes “Secure Your Load Or Secure Your Payment.” He recommends making bigger signs for people to understand this concept.
     Commissioner Hatch asked County Clerk Higginbotham to check and assure that the county ordinance about littering was properly filed in Tallahassee. A few years of relatively inept handling of clerk’s duties prior to Higginbotham being elected have caused issues and the County Commission is striving to overcome all of that.

Metal At Dumps
     Commissioner Stephenson asked about progress with companies to pick up metal from the solid waste recycling sites. 
     Todd Herring said he has been working with Solid Waste Director Michael Latson on this for several years so far. Meanwhile, County Manager Cannon and County Attorney O’Steen are trying to reach an agreement with two separate metal recyclers in the area.
     Those metal-recycling companies, though, are too busy to meet with county officials, as best as can be determined from what was said Thursday night. Cannon said he plans to provide an update on this matter at the next County Commission meeting.

Jefferson County Pays Bill
     County Commissioner Stephenson presented a check for $92,000 from Jefferson County for its past due bills, and current payment.
     The commissioner asked about where this money is going. Clerk Higginbotham and County Manager Cannon explained that the budget this year shows $69,000 of that payment for solid waste, as Jefferson and Taylor counties split fees paid to Dixie County for relevant services. 
     Cannon added that due to Jefferson County being three-plus years delinquent in its payment for those services, the placement of revenue other than for this year could go into the general fund as additional collected revenue, or it could go to help the current solid waste funding.

Fine Paid
Title Insurance OK'd
     County Attorney O’Steen brought a $1,000 check to give to the county clerk.
     He said this money is from Code Enforcement Officer Fremen bring code enforcement cases through the whole process in court.
     Banker’s Title contacted him after completing a title search, which showed a lien on property due to payment required to Dixie County from a code enforcement action that had been completed.
     That title defect on the property, O’Steen said, caused the title insurance company not to write title insurance on that property until the money was paid and title defect was cured.
     While the code enforcement issue had been resolved, O’Steen said, the property could not be sold until that payment was made. Hence, he added, the year-old code enforcement program is seen as working now in Dixie County.     

Special Exceptions Tabled and Denied
     While the previous months of the County Commission granting special exceptions, except where neighbors objected, to place recreational vehicles all over the county continued.
     The two matters before the County Commission on Thursday night were carryovers from two weeks ago.
     Regarding a petition by Carmen Merchan requesting a Special Exception to be granted to permit one recreational vehicle on the property at 485 N.E. 262nd Ave, Old Town, a 5-0 vote led to it being tabled again.
     Regarding a petition by Kimberley Hawkins requesting a Special Exception to be granted to permit one recreational vehicle on the property at 1430 N.E. 796th St., Old Town, that motion was denied 5-0.
     Later during the meeting, Rodney Hawkins, her husband asked for the County Commission to reconsider and rescind that vote. He apologized for being late the meeting that started at 6 p.m., but he is an electrician, and he works out of town.
     After discussion with Mr. Hawkins, Building and Zoning Official Leon Wright, County Attorney M. Michael O’Steen and the County Commission helped the man feel a bit of comfort.
     The Hawkins are building a house on the site. He was given the specifics of what is allowed as he builds it there. Wright and Hawkins agreed to meet to assure the property owner understands more about this procedure.

5-0 vote on non-agenda item
     The Dixie County commission voted to give the historic Cross City Woman’s Club House to the city, while keeping the ground on which it sits – across the street to the southeast of the Dixie County Courthouse.
     The County Commission authorized the city to move the historic house. Meanwhile, the county may be expanding its County Commission meeting room.
     This final act of the night, with a 5-0 vote, was on an item that was not on the agenda.
     In Levy County, before the County Commission votes on a non-agenda item, a motion and second are made and if that motion passes, then that body moves on with discussion and vote on the matters not on the agenda.
     In Dixie County, the agenda lists at least 15 people with titles who may be present and if they are present, they may speak. Thursday night, most of them were absent or did not speak.
     On the agenda for the meeting of Jan. 20, one of the people other than the plethora of typically listed people was Luanne Dempsey. That name actually had a topic with it “Sheriff Department Complaint.” Dempsey was absent from that meeting.
 

Peanut Butter Challenge collects
more than 22 tons statewide
Levy County wins statewide

Pallets of Peanut Butter collected by UF/IFAS 4-H in Levy County are seen with members of the Levy County Extension staff, members of Williston Peanut and Florida Farm Bureau.
Photo Provided By UF/IFAS Levy County Extension

Story By Kirsten Romaguera of UF/IFAS
Published Jan. 18, 2022 at 12:11 p.m.
     GAINESVILLE – More than 45,000 pounds of peanut butter have been sent to local food banks statewide following the 2021 Peanut Butter Challenge, an effort led by the Cooperative Extension offices of UF/IFAS and Florida A&M University (FAMU) in partnership with local organizations.
 

The 2021 champion, Levy County, amassed an impressive 7,120 pounds alone. Madison County came in at a close second at 6,807 pounds.

     The annual jar collection began in the Florida Panhandle counties in 2012 as a way to combat food insecurity with a shelf-stable product while also highlighting the peanut’s Florida-grown roots. The effort expanded statewide in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when an estimated one in 10 Floridians faced food insecurity, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. 
     Participating offices rely on grassroots community support to collect jars of peanut butter from Oct. 1 until the day before Thanksgiving, after which they’re counted, bragging rights are awarded, and the jars are delivered locally.
     By the numbers:
     - 45,157 total poundage collected
     - 35,109 total jars collected
     This year’s Peanut Butter Challenge community collection alone can make in excess of 700,000 peanut butter sandwiches! Fifty-five competitors accepted the challenge, including FAMU’s first entry and a UF campus collection for the campus food bank, the Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry. 
     Many of the newcomers seemed to hit their stride, as totals increased 18,000 pounds over the first statewide competition. The top overall community collector of 2021 earned the title in only its second attempt: Levy County amassed 6,954 jars for a whopping 7,120 pounds. 
      “Our success this year is all thanks to our community, from the local school collections to an incredible donation from the Levy County Farm Bureau, Williston Peanut and Peanut Proud,” said Kristen Brault, who coordinated the UF/IFAS Extension Levy County collection. “We grow and process a lot of peanuts here in Levy County, and it’s rewarding to be able to give these jars right back to food banks, big and small, across our county.”
     Madison County brought in an impressive haul, as well, at 6,807 pounds; other top performers include regional champions Jefferson County (Northwest, 2,237 pounds), Hardee County (Southwest, 2,000 pounds), Hernando County (Central, 1,731 pounds) and Indian River County (Southeast, 1,185 pounds). 
In addition to engaging local communities, the Peanut Butter Challenge has partnered with the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) for years.
     These organizations, based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state, also contribute pallets of the nutrient-dense spread to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions. Peanut production contributed $119 million to the state economy in 2019, according to the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service.
      “The Peanut Butter Challenge makes such a simple ask – donating a jar of peanut butter – but our communities always respond in a big way,” said Libbie Johnson, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County agriculture agent and co-organizer of the Challenge since its inception. “It’s exciting to be able to share so much of this nutritious, Florida-grown product with our neighbors who may be struggling. Thank you to everyone who donated a jar to the cause this year.”

(To see the story, photos and video from the 2021 Peanut Festival in Williston, click HERE. The Peanut Butter Challenge is mentioned in this story, and the video of the gentleman singing about peanuts is priceless.)
 

Chiefland celebrates
MLK Day with a parade

Members of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office are among the people who helped assure traffic stayed off of Main Street (U.S. Highway 19) during the parade late Monday morning. Members of the LCSO Citizens On Patrol, who are volunteers, also helped with traffic control that morning in Chiefland.

Story and Photos
By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 18, 2022 at 10:11 a.m.
     CHIEFLAND – Chiefland City Commissioner Lance Hayes succeeded in conducting the Fourth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Chiefland on Monday (Jan. 17).
     Pastor Hayes, who is the chairman of the Levy County MLK Committee's Chiefland Chapter, was among the participants. As noted, Hayes is a member of the Chiefland City Council as well as being a man of the cloth.
     Another visible elected City Council member in the parade was Chiefland Mayor Chris Jones. And there may have been a couple of others in the city’s new fire truck, which was also in the parade.
     After the parade, there was a gathering where a couple of pastors said prayers, and Mayor Jones provided a brief message in Trailhead Park, which is just north of The Deer Camp on the western side of Main Street (U.S. Highway 19).
     The parade started at Chiefland Middle High School and ended at Trailhead Park, which is across the street from the Historic Chiefland Train Depot and the park around that structure.


Members of the Chiefland Police Department are among the people who helped assure traffic stayed off of Main Street (U.S. Highway 19) during the parade late Monday morning.


City employees put up a barricade along the parade route.


An officer in a CPD cruiser checks for safety along the route through downtown Chiefland just before the start of the parade.


Dotti and Bob Leichner of Dixie County stand in front of the former office for the Levy County Journal, which newspaper was last owned, and which office was last rented, by the late Andy Andrews (Nov. 13, 1942-March 29, 2016). There was no public celebration of the life of Dr. King in Dixie County this year or last year in Cross City due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Angela Carter is among the community leaders who successfully led the group effort in Cross City in recent years past. Bob Leichner, a musician as well as a teacher, helped the effort in Cross City for at least 16 years as he volunteered his service and equipment to have a public address and sound system for music and speeches back then at that event.




Parade participants travel southbound on Main Street (U.S. Highway 19), crossing Park Avenue.


Chiefland Mayor Chris Jones drives a golf cart in the parade.


A more full view of the parade participants are pictured here. The procession stretched for a few blocks.










Some of the many vehicles in the parade are seen above.


The new Chiefland Fire Rescue Department’s engine helps wrap up the end of the parade. There may have been Chiefland City Council members in there. The weather was relatively chilly at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit with a northerly wind in the 15 mph range. There were no floats in this parade, as there have not been in the previous few years of this parade in Chiefland. And while there were no marching bands either, many of the participants sang as they marched down Main Street Chiefland in honor and to memorialize the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.




Levy County Sheriff's Office vehicles and Chiefland Police Chief Scott Anderson in an SUV take up the very end of the parade, keeping all of the parade participants safe from traffic on U.S. Highway 19. That is Chief Anderson in the SUV on the other side of the LCSO cruiser as the chief waves to a photographer from the daily news website.
 

Rabies alert issued for
portions of Levy and Gilchrist counties
Alert until Feb. 14
Information Provided
By Wesley Asbell, Environmental Health
Florida Department of Health
Tri-County Unit
Published Dec. 14, 2021 at 8:11 p.m.
     BRONSON -- The Florida Department of Health in Levy County and Gilchrist County have issued a rabies alert for portions of both counties.
     This is in response to a number of raccoons that have tested positive in the past few weeks in the Trenton, Chiefland and Bronson areas.
     All residents and visitors in Levy County and Gilchrist County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population. Domestic animals are at risk if not vaccinated.
     The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in Levy County and Gilchrist County. Alerts are designed to increase awareness to the public, but they should not get a false sense of security to areas that have not been named as under an alert.
     This rabies alert was issued Dec. 14 and is for 60 days.
     The rabies alert is for the Northeastern portion of Levy County and areas near Trenton and the Levy-Gilchrist County line. This rabies alert includes the cities of Trenton, Chiefland and Bronson. 
     More specifically the area defined below:
     • Areas east of U.S. Highway 19 and north of State Road 24 northward to the county line and Trenton area.
     Positive rabies locations are:
     • 750 N.E. 155th St., Trenton
      • 1805 S.W. 14th St. Chiefland
     • 8690 N.E. 110th Ave., Bronson
     • 770 N.W. 160th St., Trenton
     An animal with rabies could infect other wild or domestic animals that have not been vaccinated against rabies.
     All domestic animals should be vaccinated against rabies and all wildlife contact should be avoided, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes.
     Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm-blooded animals, including humans. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies specific immune globulin and rabies immunization.
     Appropriate treatment started soon after the exposure, will protect an exposed person from the disease.
     Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
     • Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets. 
     • Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Levy County Animal Services at 352-486-5138. 
     • Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. 
     • Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter. 
     • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. 
     • Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. 
     • Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets. 
     • Persons who have been bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals should seek medical attention and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health in Levy County at 352-486-5300. 
     • For more information on rabies, go to http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies/index.html or call the Florida Department of Health in Levy County at 352-486-5300, or Levy County Animal Services at 352-486-5138. 
     The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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