Happy Father’s Day TheJournal Levy County

www.levyjournalonline.com

VOL. 90, NO. 49 50 CENTSTHURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

The JournalLevy County

Your Locally-Owned County Paper of Record since 1923

By Terry WittSenior Staff Writer

The 60th Annual Chiefland Watermelon Festival

was a huge success judging by the record crowd attending the festival parade, which stretched for more

than a mile.Chiefland Woman’s Club President Melanie

Hutchinson said the first floats began arriving back at the start when the final floats were leaving the Chiefland High School area. The Woman’s Club

Chiefland Watermelon Festival Draws Massive Crowd

Chiefland Watermelon Queen Katelyn Ressler is joined on stage by her court. From the left, second runnerup Ashley Cribbs, third runnerup Danielle Oscean, Queen Katelyn Ressler and first runnerup Presley Sanders. Photo by Terry Witt.


Duke Energy is moving forward with plans to build a $1.5 billion natural gas power plant in northwest Citrus County that will generate

enough power to replace the decommissioned nuclear power plant and the two soon-to-be-retired coal plants at the Crystal River Energy Complex.

The company has purchased 400 acres of land at the site of the former Halcim mine property

abutting the northern boundary of the Crystal River Energy Complex for the 1,650-megawatt. The plant is expected to burn natural gas piped from the planned Sabal Trail pipeline.

Company spokesman Sterling Ivey said Duke


The Florida Legislature has approved $4.3 million in funding for The Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus of the College of Central Florida a few miles north of Chiefland, but the money won’t

be used for construction of buildings in the first phase.

Provost Marilyn Ladner said the legislative funding signed by the governor last week will fund the first phase of pre-construction work including architectural drawings, site preparation and infrastructure for extending

water and sewer to the site.The total project is expected to cost $18.2

million.Water and sewer for the college will be

provided by Fanning Springs. Ladner said the college is closer to Fanning Springs and the

Search Begins for Chiefland Manager; Evaluations ChangedBy Terry WittSenior Staff Writer

Chiefland City Commissioners Monday voted to advertise for a new city manager, but to modify the form they use to evaluate their top managers and to add a three-month evaluation to the existing six-month and 12-month evaluations.

The changes were made largely because of criticism from City Commissioner Teresa Barron who didn’t think former City Manager Kevin Gay was given a way of defending himself or adequate time to address allegations.

Commissioners stopped short of creating a list of directives that would be written after the three-month evaluation and given to the new city manager, but rather kept most of the existing format in the evaluation form that leaves space for commissioner comments.

Some commissioners felt Gay had plenty of time to make changes in the way he managed his office following criticisms leveled at him in the six-month evaluation, but others felt the six-month evaluation wasn’t enough.

The self-evaluation portion of the evaluation form for the city manager was a point of contention. Gay filled in his six-month self-evaluation with all 5s, indicating a perfect performance in every area. The second time he wrote down 5th amendment for every question on the self-evaluation. The 5th amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects U.S. Citizens from self-incrimination.

Gay said he felt the self-evaluation form could have created problems for him with future employers if he graded himself low in certain areas. Mayor Teal Pomeroy said he understood Gay’s concerns on the matter.

Former City Manager to Get Severance Pay If He Doesn’t SueBy Terry WittSenior Staff Writer

Acknowledging mistakes were made, the Chiefland City Commission voted unanimously Monday to accept former City Manager Kevin Gay’s request for $24,807.64 in severance pay provided he agrees in writing not to sue the city.

Gay’s attorney Lanny Russell wrote the city a June 6 letter

saying the commission failed to abide by its contract with Gay requiring a written notice be hand delivered to him prior to his anniversary date stating the city did not wish to renegotiate his contract.

Gay was told he no longer had a job at the May 27 city commission meeting, but the letter wasn’t mailed to Gay until May 28, the day after the city should have notified him in writing that it would not negotiate a new contract.

City Attorney Norm Fugate was given permission to

negotiate with Russell and to make the offer. Fugate said Gay was also entitled to unemployment compensation. The unemployment would be based in part on the severance pay he receives.

City commissioners said they weren’t interested in paying Gay’s $937.50 in attorney’s fees. At the May 27 meeting, commissioners said they weren’t going to give him severance pay, either.

Fact Box on City Manager and Interim City Manager dates of employment:

Governor Signs Legislation Funding New Williston School

The Florida Legislature has approved $34.8 million for the new Williston Middle High School and Gov. Rick Scott signed it into law last week.

State lawmakers allocated about $11.2 million for each of the next three years.

“I’m just thrilled,” said Superintendent Bob Hastings.

Gilbane Construction of Jacksonsville is partnering with Oelrich Construction of Newberry to construct the facility.

Hastings said subcontractors can call Oelrich

Construction in Newberry, but there will be a public outreach meeting involving Gilbane and Oelrich in late June where subcontractors can fill out an application. They must meeting bonding and other requirements to ensure they can do the work.


Bronson High School quarterback Tyler Beauchamp signed a full football scholarship last week to attend Warner University in Lake Wales, fulfilling a dream to play college football.

“I’m very proud of Tyler. It’s been a long road with Bronson. It’s his dream and he’s living it,” said BHS Football Coach Cameron Porch. “It’s untrue you have to leave Bronson to be seen (as a college prospect).”

Jeff Meeks, football recruiting coordinator for the Warner Royals, and no relation to County Commissioner John Meeks, who was present for the signing, said he liked what he saw when Beauchamp arrived at a college recruiting camp in Lake Wales.

City Manager Earl Cannon 1989 – Aug. 29, 2003

City Manager Ed Smith Sept. 24, 2003 – Sept. 26, 2005

Bill Hammond (interim city manager) Sept. 26, 2005 – March 2, 2006

City Manager Rod Russ March 2, 2006 – Aug. 28, 2006.

Maxie Beauchamp (interim city manager) Aug. 28, 2006 – Sept. 25, 2006

Matthew Brock (interim city

manager) Sept. 26, 2006 – Jan. 11, 2007

City Manager Grady Hartzog Jan. 12, 2007 – April 22, 2013

Mary Ellzey (interim city manager) April 22, 2013 – May 28, 2013

City Manager Kevin Gay May 29, 2013 – May 28, 2014

Mary Ellzey (interim city manager) May 29, 2014 to present.

Happy Father’s Day

continues to page 5A






Bronson’s Tyler Beauchamp to Play College Football on Scholarship

Florida Legislature Gives College of Central Florida $4.3 Million

Duke Energy to Build $1.5 Billion Natural Gas Power Plant

The Levy County Journal2A June 12, 2014



Jail Media Report for 06/02/2014 to 06/09/2014

ADAMS, REGINALD VENTRELL, 29, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: CHILD ABUSE.

ADKINS, LAFAYE NICOLE, 31, OF WILLISTON, FL: TRESPASSING PROPERTY NOT STRUCTURE OR CONVEY.

COURNOYER, TAMARA DEATON, 40, OF CEDAR KEY, FL: DUI; RESIST OFFICER W/O VIOLENCE; BATTERY ON OFFICER FIREFIGHTER EMT ETC.

CRUZ, MIRIAM IVETTE, 48, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: PETIT THEFT FROM MERCHANT 2ND OFF.

DECAMP, SANDRA, 60, OF BELL, FL: PETIT THEFT FROM MERCHANT 2ND OFF.

DOWNEY, RYAN LEE, 28, OF CEDAR KEY, FL: PROB VIOLATION.

DYKES, STACEY MARRIE, 36, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: PETIT THEFT FROM MERCHANT 2ND OFF.

GLIDEWELL, CHRISTIAN, 29, OF OTTER CREEK, FL: WARRANT ARREST.

GRIEVES, KIMBERLY MARIE, 42, OF JACKSONVILLE, FL: PROB VIOLATION X 3.

HERRING, JAMES LEWIS, 49, OF CROSS CITY, FL: LISTED CHEMICAL FOR MANUFACTURE CNTRL SUBS; POSS MARIJUANA.

INMAN, ROBERT LEE, 25, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: OPERATE MOTOR VEHICLE WO VALID LICENSE.

IVON, JAMES, 42, OF GAINESVILLE, FL: OBSTRUCT WO VIOLENCE.

KELLY, COLIN DANNY, 61, OF CHIEFLAND, FL:

Levy County Sheriff’s OfficeArrest Report

Levy County’s Most Wanted

DWLSR.MARSHALL, JOHN AMBROSE, 25, OF

CANTONMENT, FL: CNTRL SUB WO PRESCRIPTION.

MAURER, BRIAN STANLEY, 37, OF MORRISTON, FL: OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT.

MURPHY, BRYCE, 27, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: ABUSE ELDERLY OR DISABLED ADULT WO GREAT HARM.

PANKOW, ROBERT LEIGH, 63, OF WILLISTON, FL: DWLSR; PROB VIOLATION.

RIVERA, JOSE JEOVANNI, 46, OF WILLISTON, FL: ABUSE WITHOUT GREAT HARM TOWARD CHILD; COMMIT DOMESTIC BATTERY BY STRANGULATION.

ROOSA, LLOYD AARON, 43, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: POSS OF WEAPON OR AMMO BY CONVICTED FLA FELON.

SHEFFIELD, JAMES WILEY, 46, OF BRONSON, FL: TO OBTAIN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.

Walther, John Ocala

VOP DEALING IN STOLEN

PROPERTYNO BOND

Of Levy CountyCall 1-877-349-Tips (8477)

Brown, Tamara A Old Town

FTA LARC - PETIT THEFT

NO BOND

Burney, Annette Ocala

VOP SALE AND POSSESSION X 4

NO BOND

McCain, Garrett Cedar Key

VOP DWLSRBOND $ 15,000

Nixon, Nathan Williston

3 CTS SEXUAL BATTERY

BOND $ 300,000

STEVENS, EMILY, 26, OF WILLISTON, FL: OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT.

TEASE, NEVINA, 34, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: CRIMINAL ATTEMPT SOLICIT CONSPIRE 2ND DEG FEL.

WILCOX, REGINA, 22, OF CHIEFLAND, FL: COMMIT THEFT RESIST RECOVERY OF PROPERTY.

WILLIS, ANTHONY, 47, OF WEBSTER, FL: REFUSE TO SUBMIT DUI TEST AFTER LIC SUSP; DWLSR; DUI.

Sentencings from the Bench

Dixie County and DEA Bust the Grower

The Dixie County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Drug Enforcement Administration with an arrest on Friday June 6. The DEA began working a case involving Fabian Lamenta, 29, from Old Town, in 2013. Lamenta was arrested on June 6, 2014 for Cultivating and Manufacture of Marijuana for his role in an indoor marijuana grow operation. Lamenta was booked into the Dixie County Jail on the warrant obtained by DEA. He has since bonded out of jail on a $50,000.00.

— submitted by Major Scott Harden, Dixie County Sheriff’s Office

Dixie County Meth Possession Arrest Leads to More for Local Burglars

Over the past several weeks the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office has been able to identify individuals believed to be involved in residential burglaries. Last Thursday afternoon, Sheriff’s officials and the Cross City Correctional K-9 Team went to a residence on NE 642 Avenue in Old Town in an attempt to locate one of the suspects involved. When they arrived, they found Robert Wetzel sitting in the front porch area of the residence. Wetzel said that he was there alone and that the homeowner was not home. As Wetzel was being interviewed, investigators observed a methamphetamine “head-jar” (mason jar used in the process) sitting on the ground near Wetzel. Wetzel, 48, from Old Town, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine and taken into custody.

Once Wetzel was in custody, the CRCCI K-9 Team began to search the perimeter of the property and discovered that someone else had been at the location and fled the scene. The K-9 Team then began to track the second suspect through the wooded area in the neighborhood and located the second suspect, Kevin Blitch, hiding from officers. Blitch, who does not live at this residence either, was arrested for Resisting an Officer without Violence and taken into custody also.

Sheriff’s officials and the CRCCI K-9 Team then traveled to a second location where Blitch was known to frequent. Once officers arrived at this location and made contact with the homeowners, several items from recent burglaries were discovered along with methamphetamine and the items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. These items were linked to Blitch and recovered by investigators with the assistance from the CRCCI K-9 Team. Blitch, 48, of Old Town, was also arrested for Manufacturing of Methamphetamine, Burglary and Grand Theft. Both Wetzel and Blitch, who have extensive criminal histories, remain in the Dixie County Jail.

—submitted by Major Scott Harden, Dixie County Sheriff’s Office

Robert Wetzel Kevin Blitch

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICELEVY COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD

FOR THE 2014 ELECTION CYCLE

The Levy County Canvassing Board will convene at:

5:00 p.m.,Tuesday, June 24, 2014,

at the Supervisor of Elections office,421 South Court Street,

Bronson, Florida,

to discuss matters pertaining to the 2014 election cycle. In accordance with the Sunshine Law of Florida, all Canvassing Board meetings are open to the public.

TAMMY JONESSUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

LEVY COUNTY, FLORIDAPub.: June 12, 2014

NOTICE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD OF LEVY COUNTY

The School Board of Levy County at its regularly scheduled Board Meeting on June 3, 2014, voted to approve the 2014-2015 TRIM Calendar. The TRIM Calendar calls for a Public Hearing on Monday, July 28, 2014 at 5:01 p.m. for the pur-pose of adopting the tentative budget and millage for 2014-2015. The TRIM Calendar also changes the time of the regularly scheduled Board Meeting on September 16, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. for the pur-pose of holding a Public Hearing to adopt the final budget and millage for 2014-2015. Both meetings will be held in the Board Room located at 480 Marshburn Drive, Bronson. Please make a note of these important meeting changes. The Public is invited to attend.Pub.: June 12, 2014.

Chiefland Man Arrested in Dixie County for Lewd Battery on a Child

Andy G. Bourgeois, 50, of Chiefland was arrested by Sheriff’s investigators on May 27 for three counts of Lewd Battery on a Child. The original complaint against Bourgeois originated when a mother came forward with allegations revealed by her minor children involving sexual activity between Bourgeois and the minors. Investigators will be continuing their investigation involving these children and any other possible victims. According to his arrest records, Bourgeois has a previous arrest for related charges back in 1984 from Alachua County. Bourgeois was ordered held into Dixie County Jail with No Bond during his first appearance in court.

— submitted by Major Scott Harden, Dixie County Sheriff’s Office

Circuit Judge William Davis sentenced three people to three-year prison sentences on June 4, and other defendants to jail or probation.

Klaytin Ezra Adams, 35, Chiefland was sentenced to 36 months in state prison and given credit for 30 days served in the Levy County Detention Center after pleading no contest to manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of an unlawful chemical, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintain a dwelling where drugs were told or used.

Chiefland police found a meth lab in a home on NE 12th Ave while investigating a theft on April 27, 2014. Police found two

jars of an unknown chemical in the home along with a turkey baster and used syringes. Adams told police he had an active meth lab in the home. He said he had to “burp” the meth lab that was cooking in his bedroom. The term burp meant he had to relieve pressure.

Police found the meth lab under a pillow on a bed. The lab consisted of a 32-ounce Gatorade bottle tipped to one side and filled with the fermenting chemicals. The bottle had expanded due to interior pressure. Police neutralized the lab and took Adams into custody.

Bobby Lee Bean, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 36 months in state prison and given credit for 219 days served in the Levy County

Detention Center after pleading no contest to sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

The Levy County Drug Task Force arranged for a confidential source to purchase a piece of crack cocaine from Bean. The purchase was made within 1,000 feet of Hilltop School and Summit Academy in Bronson on June 13, 2013. In a related case, a confidential source purchased a piece of crack


The Levy County Journal 3AJune 12, 2014



The Tri County Veterans float was one of the most patriotic and colorful along the parade route. Photo by Terry Witt.

Watermelon festival buyers are pictured. From the left U.S. Congressman Ted Yoho, County Commissioner and festival auctioneer Chad Johnson, Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Farmer Murray Tillis, A.J. Walker, Jack Spann, County Commissioner Ryan Bell, County Judge Tim Browning, Circuit Judge James Colaw, Circuit Judge Monica Brasington, Laurie Barker representing her husband, Property Appraiser Osborne Barker, and Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones. Photo by Terry Witt.

An honor guard leads the Chiefland Watermelon Festival parade on U.S. 19. Photo by Terry Witt.

The largest watermelon at the festival was grown by Melba and Brycen Tillis and sold for $420 to Scoggins Chevrolet. Kelsi Alexander, holding the 60 pound watermelon, represents the grower and Terry Tillis represents the buyer. Photo by Terry Witt.

Wave of Visitors Headed for Chiefland T-ball TournamentBy Terry WittSenior Staff Writer

Chiefland was swamped with visitors for the 60th Annual Chiefland Watermelon Festival, but it is about to get hit with another wave of people.

The annual t-ball tournament this weekend is expected to attract teams from throughout the state.

Chiefland Area Athletic Association President Wayne Weatherford said 25 teams will take part in the tournament starting Thursday.

CAAA has hosted the tournament for 17 years.Teams from Tampa, Lake City, Gainesville, Orlando,

Jacksonville and more will converge on Chiefland and its motels and restaurants.

Weatherford said every restaurant in town benefits from the hungry parents and t-ball players who come to enjoy the tournament.

He said parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles who make the trip to the tournament sometimes turn it into a mini-vacation, often visiting Manatee State Park during their stay.

He also said Charles Strickland Park is in great shape. The city has made improvements to the bathroom facilities and Water Superintendent Shane Keene has prepared the field for play. Keene is an expert on preparing the fields.

Chiefland Watermelon Festival Draws Massive Crowd continued from page 1Asponsors and organizes the festival.The parade stretched from the high school down to the

final traffic light at U.S. 19 and County Road 345. People on the floats were running out of candy to throw to eager children running out to greet them along the parade route.

Many areas of the parade route were three people deep.“I think it was the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,”

Hutchinson said.Katelyn Ressler was crowned 2014 Chiefland Watermelon

Queen. First runner-up was Presley Sanders, second runner-up Ashley Cribbs and third runner-up Danielle Oscean.

National Watermelon Queen Brandi Harrison, Florida Watermelon Queen Megan Morgan and Alabama Watermelon Queen Montana Savage, Newberry Watermelon Queen Katie Brown and 2013 Chiefland Watermelon Queen Shelbi Crews were part of the festivities.

The watermelon auction may have set a record, although no one could confirm whether $4,440 was indeed a record.

County Commissioner Chad Johnson, who served as the guest auctioneer, believes the average may have been the highest in history. The 13 buyers paid an average of about $341 for the watermelons they purchased.

Scoggins Chevrolet purchased the largest watermelon weighing 60.6 pounds and grown by Melba Tillis and Brycen Tillis, for $420.

Sanchez Farms purchased the largest group of three watermelons weighing 163.4 pounds grown by Tillis Farms, for $550.

With the high prices set by the first two bidders, candidates for public office and local businesses kicked into high gear and opened their pocketbooks to purchase the remaining melons.

Reed Automotive purchased Maddilyn Johnson’s 121.6 pound watermelon for $400 and Ag Pro purchased Abigail Butler and Gracie Frazier’s watermelon for $310.

Those were the top four purchases and the first four on the auction block.

The Tour De Melon bicycle ride attracted 125 bikers. Forty of the cyclists opted to ride 100 miles and the other rode shorter routes. The bicycle ride is a fundraising event by Suwannee Valley Rotary Club. The ride kicks off festival activities.

One of the busier sites on the festival grounds was the watermelon eating tent. The First Baptist Church Men’s Ministry cut the watermelons and dished out slices to hungry festival visitors at no charge.

Farmers Murray Tillis, Bill Douberly and John Parris supplied about 250 watermelons. Chiefland Farm Supply donated the large tubs used to ice down the watermelons before they were sliced for consumption.

The Chiefland Woman’s Club uses the watermelon festival to raise funds in support of local causes and charities. The club will also use the funds to put a new roof on its clubhouse on Park Avenue this year. The Woman’s Club donates money to Haven Hospice, the American Cancer Society and Harmony Pregnancy Center.

The club sponsors an annual awards banquet for emergency personnel including the city police department and sheriff’s office and gives a $500 scholarship to one of the three schools. This year, the money will go to Chiefland Elementary School to purchase new curtains for the cafetorium. The club also donates food baskets at Christmas for needy families.

from Bean on June 11, 2013 after meeting him at the “tree” – a place commonly used for selling and using drugs behind the Post Office in Bronson. Bean and the confidential source drove to Williston to pick up the drug. When they arrived back at the tree the crack was purchased for $50.

In a third drug case involving Bean, the task force on June 11, 2013 bought a piece of crack cocaine from Bean at a location in Bronson known as the “trap” at the boundary and Pine Street, an area known for drug sales and use. Bean exited his vehicle and came back to deliver the crack to the confidential source.

All three drug dealing cases were part of the sentence for Bean.

Emmet L. Brown, 34, Bronson, was sentenced to 36 months in state prison and given credit for 101 days served in the Levy County Detention Center after pleading no contest to sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Court records said on July 15, 2013 Brown sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant working for the Levy County Drug Task Force for $50. The drug deal occurred at the Noble Food Mart in Bronson.

In a separate case, Brown sold .3 grams of crack to a Levy County Drug Task Force confidential source on July 15, 2013. The drug deal occurred within 160 feet of the Noble Food Mart in Bronson. In a third case, Brown sold a piece of crack to a confidential source working for the Levy County Drug Task Force at the Noble Food Mart in Bronson on July 11, 2013.

All three cases factored into the sentence.Other sentences:Lagonda Oshea Johnson, 30, Archer, was sentenced to 180

days in the Levy County Detention Center and given credit for 63 days served for failing to register his email address as a sex offender with the state. He was arrested as part of Operation Wrangler.

Shanda Elaine Lamb Makatura, 38, Trenton, was sentenced to 18 months of drug offender probation and given credit for 17 days served in the Levy County Detention Center after pleading no contest to possession of a controlled substance, possession

of drug paraphernalia for personal use and driving with license suspended or revoked.

Chiefland police received a call on Feb. 3, 2014 that a White Ford car headed for Wal-Mart was carrying an elderly female who may be endangered. When she was stopped in the Wal-Mart store parking lot, police found that her driver’s license was suspended. She told police she had crack in her possession. Police found 2-inch by 2 ½- inch flat piece of crack cocaine in her bra.

John A. Marshall, Jr. 25, Cantonment, Fla., was sentenced to 120 days in the Levy County Detention Center and given credit for 2 days served in jail in connection with a drug case in Inglis. The former Inglis Police Department stopped Marshall’s vehicle and found two pill bottles. One bottle was for Xanax for which Marshall had a prescription. The other bottle contained Adderal and several Hydrocodone pills he said he bought in Miami to sell in Pensacola to pay debts.

Jamie Suzanne Thomas, 23, Chiefland, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading no contest to grand theft. Thomas walked into the Chiefland Police Department and confessed to stealing $38,800 from her employer, Winn Dixie, between Aug. 15 and Dec. 18, 2013.

Michael J. Hawthorne, 51, Morriston, was sentenced to 364 days in the Levy County Detention Center and given 60 days credit for time served. The jail sentence will be followed by 5 years of probation. Hawthorne pleaded no contest to driving under the influence, impairment and refusal to submit to a breath test and felony driving with license suspended or revoked in connection with a drunken driving accident that involved property damage.

Court records said on April 6, 2014 Hawthorne’s vehicle was found in the ditch south of Bronson on State Road 24. He had tried to turn around and drove into the ditch and became stuck. The Florida Highway Patrol said he refused to submit to a breath test at the Levy County Detention Center. A check of his driver’s license revealed he had more than three drunken driving convictions in the last 10 years.

Sentencings from the Bench continued from page 2A

Chiefland Watermelon Festival




OPINION

Michele MalkinCreators Syndicate

Ten years ago this month, U.S. Marine Wassef Ali Hassoun disappeared from Camp Fallujah in Iraq. After a five-month military investigation, he was charged with desertion and theft, brought back to Virginia’s Quantico Marine base and then transferred to North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune for trial.

Yet, a full decade later, Hassoun is as free as a bird.The accused deserter’s whereabouts are unknown. No trial

ever began.No punishment ensued. And our leaders in Washington

don’t seem to be doing a thing about this.Hassoun was born in Lebanon and immigrated with

his family to Utah in 1999. A few years later, he joined the Marines as an Arabic translator.

On June 20, 2004, Hassoun bailed on guard duty at his base in Fallujah. He took his military-issued gun and his Muslim prayer rug. Military records obtained by the Salt Lake Tribune showed that he was “torn between military loyalty and his Muslim beliefs.”

According to the internal probe, he undermined intelligence-gathering operations by refusing to translate questions about Islam. He balked at raising his voice to suspected jihadi imams and sheiks.

He openly threatened to “walk out the front gate and leave.”

The Muslim Marine told his colleagues he supported Hezbollah terrorist attacks on Israel. Members of his unit told investigators he was “anti-American” and listened to jihad sermons on propaganda CDs. Hassoun had received spiritual counseling from Navy Lt. Cmdr. Abuhena Saifulislam, a Muslim military chaplain tied to a radical Wahhabist outfit under federal investigation, according to Hoover Institution fellow and journalist Paul Sperry.

A bizarre video by Hassoun’s Islamist “kidnappers” showed him blindfolded with a sword above his head. But his fellow Marines suspected it was all staged and the “abduction” a collaborative fake. What did the purported hostage-takers want in return for the shady, disgruntled American serviceman? The release of jihadists in “U.S.-led occupation prisons.”

Translation: Gitmo detainees. (Americans would never negotiate such a reckless trade, right? Oh, wait.)

In an even weirder twist, Hassoun somehow resurfaced at the U.S. embassy in Lebanon a few weeks after he walked away from his base. His family was rumored to have enlisted the aid of an Islamist group associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Hassoun denied desertion charges, came back to the U.S. for trial and then deserted a second time after failing to return to Camp Lejeune after visiting family in Utah. In 2011, Hassoun’s family sought a $1 million book and movie deal in Hollywood. One of his brothers said the fugitive Marine was with family in Lebanon.

Ten summers after he abandoned his post, double-deserting Hassoun is still on the run and has yet to be held accountable.

It’s worth reminding Americans about Hassoun’s story in light of President Obama’s exploding Bowe Bergdahl scandal. By all appearances, this administration has no intention of taking action on longstanding allegations that Bergdahl, like Hassoun before him, deliberately abandoned his post in 2009. Defiant Obama said he makes

“no apologies” for the treacherous deal, even as reports of Bergdahl’s renunciation of U.S. citizenship and conversion to Islam have surfaced. Soldiers on the ground have described how Bergdahl’s disappearance catalyzed deadly coordinated attacks by the Taliban on numerous U.S. outposts in Afghanistan. The response has been breathtaking. One of Obama’s minions, former Veterans Affairs bureaucrat and now Housing and Urban Development flack Brandon Friedman defended his boss by suggesting that Bergdahl’s colleagues were “psychopaths.”

Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, Alexandra, sneered that Bergdahl’s critics inside the military are “dysfunctional.” Harry Reid invoked Hillary Clinton’s “What difference does it make?” retort. The president himself sniffed that swelling anger among the families of the fallen was “whipped up.”

Islamist sympathizers inside our military walk away, and the Obama White House turns a blind eye. The Fort Hood jihad attack by Nidal Hasan, who invoked Hassoun in PowerPoint presentations to his military supervisors, is “workplace violence.” Gitmo recidivist Abu Sufian bin Qumu, lead suspect in the Benghazi attack, roams free despite the president’s promise to make “justice” his “biggest priority.”

Our commander in chief empties Gitmo of the worst of the worst jihadists and shrugs at the recidivists targeting American soldiers and civilians. And in a desperate attempt to deflect from the rising death toll of the Veterans Affairs book-cooking scandal, Obama gave Bob Bergdahl a Rose Garden stage to invoke Allah in Arabic.

If you’re not “whipped up” into Category 5 disgust, you’re not paying attention.

Michelle Malkin is the author of “Culture of Corruption: Obama and his Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks and Cronies” (Regnery 2010). Her e-mail address is [email protected].

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

LEVY PUBLISHING, LLC

The Levy County Journal is published every Thursday by

Levy Publishing, LLC 440 S. Court St.,

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Levy County JournalP.O. Box 159

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LEV Y COUNTY JOURNALYour Locally-Owned County Paper of Record since 1923

What Happened to Marine Deserter Wassef Ali Hassoun?

Thomas SowellCreators Syndicate

People are arguing about what the United States got out of the deal that swapped five top level terrorist leaders for one American soldier who was, at best, absent from his post in a war zone. Soldiers who served in the same unit with him call him a deserter. The key to this deal, however, is less likely to be what the United States got out of the deal than it is about what Barack Obama got out of the deal. If nothing else, it instantly got the veterans’ hospitals scandals off the front pages of newspapers and pushed these scandals aside on television news programs.

It was a clear winner for Barack Obama. And that may be all that matters to Barack Obama.

People who are questioning the president’s competence seem not to want to believe that any President of the United States would knowingly damage this country’s interests.

One of the problems of many fundamentally decent people is that they find it hard to understand people who are not fundamentally decent, or whose moral compass points in a different direction from theirs.

Many people who are painfully disappointed with President Obama have no real reason to be. The man’s whole previous history, from childhood on, was shaped by a whole series of people, beginning with his mother, whose vision of America was very much like that of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whose church Barack Obama belonged to for 20 long years.

Obama is not a stupid man. There is no way that he could have sat in that church all that time without knowing how Jeremiah Wright hated America, and how his vision of the world was one in which “white folks’ greed runs a world in need.”

Even if the Reverend Wright had been the only such person in Barack Obama’s life -- and he was not -- it should have been enough to keep him out of the White House.

“Innocent until proven guilty” is a good rule in a court of law, which has the power to deprive a defendant of liberty or life. But it is mindless and dangerous nonsense to apply that standard outside that context

-- especially when choosing a President of the United States, who holds in his hands the

liberty and lives of millions of Americans.People who are disappointed with Barack Obama have no right to be.It is they whom others have a right to be disappointed with. Instead of taking their role as

citizens seriously, they chose to vote on the basis of racial symbolism, glib rhetoric and wishful thinking.

Moreover, many are already talking about choosing the next President of the United States on the basis of demographic symbolism -- to have “the first woman president.” And if she is elected on that basis, will any criticism of what she does in the White House be denounced as based on anti-woman bias, as criticisms of President Obama have been repeatedly denounced as racism?

And what if we have the first Hispanic president or the first Jewish president? Will any criticism of their actions in the White House be silenced by accusations of prejudice?

We may yet become the first nation to die from a terminal case of frivolity. Other great nations in history have been threatened by barbarians at the gates. We may be the first to be threatened by self-indulgent silliness inside the gates.

As for Barack Obama, you cannot judge any President’s competence by the results of his policies, without first knowing what he was trying to achieve.

Many wise and decent people assume automatically that President Obama was trying to serve the interests of America. From that standpoint, he has failed abysmally, both at home and abroad. And that should legitimately call his competence into question.

But what if his vision of the world is one in which the wealth and power of those at the top, whether at home or internationally, are deeply resented, and have been throughout his life, under the tutelage of a whole series of resenters? And what if his goal is to redress that imbalance?

Who can say that he has failed, when the fundamental institutions of this country have been successfully and perhaps irretrievably undermined, and when the positions of America and its allies on the world stage have been similarly, and even more dangerously, undermined around the world?

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com. To find out more about Thomas Sowell and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

The Prisoner Swap Deal

Rubio to Federal Department of Education:End Baseless Probe Into Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

continued to page 5A

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) requested the U.S. Department of Education end its baseless investigation into the Florida Bright Futures scholarship program, articulating the program’s fundamental function to assist promising students with rising costs of higher education based solely on merit.

In a letter to Assistant Secretary Catherine Lhamon, Rubio condemns any forced bureaucratic changes to the Bright Futures program, which would render the program financially unstable and undermine the purpose of the scholarship. Rubio points to the federally funded Pell Grant program as a means to financially assist low-income students with need-based grants.

Rubio said imposing arbitrary rules and exceptions to the standards set for Bright Futures degrades the very fundamental purpose of the scholarship.

The full text of the letter is below. May 16, 2014 Ms. Catherine LhamonAssistant Secretary U.S. Department of EducationOffice for Civil Rights400 Maryland Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20202-1100 Dear Assistant Secretary Lhamon, I am writing to formally request you end your baseless

investigation into the Florida Bright Futures scholarship program. This is a race-blind merit-based program that

supports Florida’s most

promising students. The U.S. Department of Education has no legitimate legal basis for investigating such a program. Further, forcing bureaucratic changes in the parameters of eligibility for this scholarship would not only degrade the fundamental purpose of this scholarship, but also render the program financially unstable.

As you know, Florida’s Bright Futures scholarships were created to assist Florida’s most promising students with the increasing cost of higher education through profit generated by the Florida Lottery. Since its creation, this program has helped over 660,000 of Florida’s brightest students receive in-state postsecondary education.

The Bright Futures scholarships are awarded solely on merit, which includes factors such as the students’ high school completion, grade point average, test scores, service to their community, and a clean criminal record. The fundamental function




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of these scholarships is to assist Florida’s most promising students based solely on merit. I am acutely aware of the unfortunate reality that a student’s circumstance can make

the dream of obtaining a higher education more difficult. As a result, I am supportive of the federally funded Pell Grant program to assist low-income students with need-based grants. This grant program was created with the specific function of promoting access to postsecondary education and, unlike the Bright Futures program, takes a student’s financial circumstances into consideration when awarding grants.

Forcing bureaucratic changes to the Bright Futures program would jeopardize the financial solvency of the program. To the credit of the students of Florida, the standards and achievement levels have risen across the entire state, and the number of students eligible for the program has also increased. While I am proud of the strides Florida’s students have made, the logical conclusion is that the standards of the program must rise with the achievements of our students.

For these reasons, I formally request you end your investigation of the Bright Futures program. This program has helped thousands of Florida’s top students pay for the increasing cost of higher education and go on to be leaders in a large range of industries throughout Florida and the nation. To impose arbitrary rules and exceptions to the standards degrades the fundamental purpose of the scholarship. Unnecessary intervention by the Department of Education threatens the long-term sustainability of this program and will be damaging to the future of many of Florida’s most promising students. I thank you for your consideration and look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,Marco RubioUnited States Senator

Editor’s Note:This letter from Sen. Rubio contains an all important criteria for the future of this country.

Please support Sen. Rubio and all others that still realize that “socializing” our students down to a common worker-bee mentality is the beginning of the end of American society, ingenuity and courage as we have always known it to be. Not everyone wins! Those that persevere, apply themselves and don’t give up – do win. Education is not about pleasing the students; it is about training them for the future. That training sometimes is uncomfortable and hurts – but in the end they learn to quit taking offense (The Bait of Satan) at their failures, learn from the failures, apply themselves and move on to improve not only their skills but most of all, their character. Character is the prize in the end as we use the learned skills in our lives. Cheating erases character and the Department of Education is cheating hard working students of their just due for working hard.

It is starting to look like that might just be the point of this whole thing. Break down the ‘fight for right’ in a person and their character can slip into a passive give-up mentality, especially in the youth. Then the automaton society just passively exists until the end. Those of us who are too old to give up the ‘fight for right’ have to persevere to give that great gift to our future generations. If you have never had to fight for something – now is the time to re-enlist for the cause – We have only just begun to fight!

Kathy Hilliard, Editor

City Commissioner Teresa Barron said there were obviously issues she knew nothing about when Gay was fired.

“Obviously he didn’t get a chance to defend himself,” she said.Technically, Gay wasn’t fired. He worked as a contract employee and the city commission

chose not to renew the contract on a 3-2 vote. He walked out of the city commission meeting in anger. The commission had voted 3-2 a few minutes earlier to reject Barron’s motion to renegotiate his contract.

Barron said she didn’t think Gay was treated fairly. She and Commissioner Rollin Hudson wanted to renegotiate the contract, but Mayor Teal Pomeroy and Commissioners Betty Walker and Chris Jones were opposed.

“Apparently there are some things I didn’t know about,” Barron said.Jones said he spoke to Gay about the issues he had with his job performance and with the

person who had lodged a complaint. He said Gay drove over to his place of business to talk to him.

“He gave his rebuttal on my property; so he and I spoke,” Jones said.Pomeroy said it’s difficult for a city manager to follow the directives of five different bosses.

He said city managers and county managers have the same problem all over the state.Pomeroy said he talked with Gay and got the impression a lawsuit “wasn’t imminent.”Gay told the Journal that Pomeroy apologized to him when he called.

Former City Manager to Get Severance Pay If He Doesn’t Sue continued from page 1A

Rubio to Federal Department of Education continued ftom page 4A

Search Begins for Chiefland Manager; Evaluations Changed continued from page 1ACity commissioners set July 7 as the date

when city manager applications and resumés will be due. There will be a special meeting after the regular city commission meeting on July 14 to review the applications and shorten the list of applicants.

The city commissioners will then meet again in regular session on July 28. There will be special meetings on July 29-30 to interview the finalists. The background checks will be handled by a private investigation firm, the same one that reviewed the last batch of applicants.

Commissioners will meet again in regular session on Aug. 11. They will have a special meeting on Aug. 18 to hire a city manager.

The position announcement for the city manager’s position says preferred applications

would have a degree from an accredited four year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a related subject, and, or five years of progressively responsible management positions in local government, preferably with municipalities and preferably in Florida, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

The advertisement for the position also says the city’s population is currently 2,260 and that the city manager functions as the ex officio city clerk and as the chief administrative head of all city departments except the police department, fire department and city attorney. The city manager administers a $4.5 million budget annually and reports directly to five city commissioners.

college actually has a Trenton address.“This was the closest municipality. Fanning Springs came

up with some money and we came with some money and they will provide the water and sewer,” Ladner said.

Ladner said the college campus is not situated in either municipality.

The late Chiefland High School teacher Jack Wilkinson donated $2.5 million for construction of a new college and additional $1 million in donations has come from other members of the Levy County community, primarily from Chiefland.

“That’s a lot of community support for this project,” Ladner said.

The late Jack Mann and his wife LoyAnn donated 10 acres of land for the site. The college has purchased an additional 30 acres. The property borders U.S. 19 on the east side and the Nature Coast State Trail on the west.

Ladner said the college will ask for additional funding next year from the Florida Legislature. She said the college also anticipates additional funding will come from community donations.

Wilkinson’s donation will be used to “enhance facilities and equipment” at the new campus.

The College of Central Florida has outgrown its current administrative and classroom facilities at a shopping center located across the street from Chiefland High School.

A majority of students attending the Levy Center take courses associated with physical therapy and health care management, according to Ladner. They can also take basic college courses and can obtain a two-year associates degree.

The Levy Center also had its first four-year degree graduate recently. The Cedar Key student took most of his

coursework at the Levy Center and a few classes in Ocala.Ladner said many students in the modern era like to take

their courses online. They grew up with computers and are comfortable with online courses. With online courses, they don’t have travel incur housing expenses. They can take the courses at their home on a computer.

Florida Legislature Gives College of Central Florida $4.3 Million continued from page 1A

Architect rendering of new College of Central Florida

Energy is awaiting approval of the Sabal Trail pipeline before going forward with plans to build a connecting transmission line west from Ocala to the Crystal River site a few miles south of Inglis on the Gulf of Mexico.

A hearing on Duke Energy’s petition to build the new power plant is expected in August before the Florida Public Service Commission. A ruling is expected by the end of the year.

The plant would take three years to build. Construction would start in 2015 and come on line in 2018 with 50 to 75 employees.

“This plant will be able to replace generation from the nuclear plant and two of the coal fired plants,” Ivey said.

Company officials are watching the Sabal Trail approval process. Should the Sabal Trail project fail to win federal and state approval, Duke Energy would look elsewhere for its natural gas to supply the power plant.

Ivey said the 5,000-acre Duke Energy property in

southwest Levy County remains the proposed site of a nuclear power project in the “distant future.” The company is proceeding with plans to seek federal approval of a combined operating and construction license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The nuclear power plant at the Crystal River Energy Complex was decommissioned after cracks were found in the containment building wall surrounding the nuclear reactor.

Ivey said the oldest two coal fired plants at the energy complex will go out of service about the same time the new natural gas plant comes on line. The older coal fired plants don’t have modern air emission controls like the other two newer plants at the same site.

Progress Energy Florida, which was merged into Duke Energy in 2013, planned to build two nuclear reactors at the southwest Levy County site before the national economic meltdown in 2008 all but halted the housing boom in most of Florida. The expected population growth didn’t arrive as

expected.“We definitely haven’t stopped pursuing a construction and

operating license, but (construction of the plant) is definitely in the distant future,” Ivey said.

The natural gas power plant is an attractive source for power generation in the modern era because natural gas prices are currently low and natural gas burns much cleaner than coal or oil.

“Natural gas is the most cost effective for customers,” Ivey said.

Construction of the natural gas plant will raise the monthly bill of a Duke Energy customer.

“There will be some increased costs, but since we’re not talking about putting in the rate until 2018 or 2019, it’s a little early to say what the impact will be on rates,” Ivey said. “It will probably have a price impact on bills of $7 to $8.”

But he said natural gas prices will have an effect on consumer bills.

Duke Energy to Build $1.5 Billion Natural Gas Power Plant continued from page 1A




Bronson Students Receive Multiple Scholarships

The Florida Bright Futures scholarships with an ACT score of 26-28 were awarded to:Left to right – Victoria Strough, Wade Phillips and Brandy Weston.

From the College of Central Florida for Academic Merit to JR Trimm and for Academic Scholar to Justin Johnson.

From STEM – to Melissa Boyette and Zachary Kalinouski. Melissa Boyette also received a scholarship from Central Florida Electric Cooperative and the Levy County Education Association.

From the Levy County Schools Foundation to (l to r) – Wade Phillips, Naomi Sloan and Leslie Ruvio.

From the Levy County School Food Service Association – to Alyssa Bauder who also received scholarships from the Eagle Lady Café and Workforce.

From the Tommy Dunford scholarship for higher education to Caitlyn Cates.

From the Town of Bronson to (l to r) – Wade Phillips, Naomi Sloan and Caitlyn Cates.

Local businesses, groups and individuals contributed to Levy County students last Tuesday with scholarships to continue their education. After years of hard work these students were honored with tangible rewards to help them move onward and upward to fulfill their dreams.

With thanks to Ms. Nobles at Bronson Middle High School for the pictures and information the Levy County Journal would also like to publish these accomplishments and say congratulations to all these students who studied and disciplined themselves to achieve these awards of scholarship.

Not pictured due to space were:The Capital City Group Foundation award to Landon

Smith who also won the Plum Creek award and was pictured last week in the Journal;

The Class of 1961 award to Morgan Dean;The Mount Pilgrim Primitive Church Memorial to

Zochil Martinez;The DUKE Energy Scholarship to Justin Johnson;The William & Norma Schossler award to Tyler

Beauchamp;The Lou Eva Keen Memorial & Weinar to Caitlyn Cates;

Bronson’s Tyler Beauchamp to Play College Football on Scholarship d continued from page 1A

“His character, his attitude, the way he carried himself showed us he was ready to compete academically and athletically at the university level,” Meeks said.

Meeks said the Royals coaching staff has not decided whether Beauchamp will play quarterback or in the defensive secondary of the team.

Warner University has 1,000 students and offers a degree in agricultural studies. Beauchamp wants to pursue a career in agriculture. The degree program in agriculture made Warner appealing to him.

Beauchamp turned down a college baseball offer to play for Warner University.

Warner University was founded by Church of God pastors and laity in 1968. It is a liberal arts university set on a 300-acre campus.

The mission of the university is to provide individuals who exemplify academic excellence and Christian character an opportunity to lead and serve, according to its website.

“Warner University exists to provide students who are committed to the mission of the institution the opportunity to further develop their God-given abilities through various venues,” the website said.

Beauchamp thanked Porch and the coaching staff at BHS for working to turn around the football program at Bronson and working to make him a better player. He also thanked his parents, Cheryl and Mickey Beauchamp for supporting him.

And he had one more thank you.“I want to thank God for making this possible,”

Beauchamp said.Cheryl Beauchamp, principal at Bronson Elementary

School, said Tyler is the fourth generation to graduate from Bronson High School.

She said his athletic scholarship proves young athletes don’t have to leave Bronson to reach the next level. She said the family had just about decided that Tyler would not play football, but her husband Mickey never lost the faith.

“This has been a prayer answered,” she said.She said her son has always been taught to make the best

of his life, and that much is expected of those to whom much is given.

Bronson quarterback Tyler Beauchamp stands with the people who made his scholarship possible. From the left are BHS Offensive Coordinator Wes Lackey, his mother Cheryl Beauchamp, Tyler Beauchamp, father Mickey Beauchamp, Head Coach Cameron Porch and Jeff Meeks, football recruiting coordinator for Warner University. Photo by Terry Witt.




Williston Mayor Gerald Hethcoat honored Students of the Month at the June 3 Williston City Council meeting.

Morgan Geiger, daughter of Jeremy and Tisha Geiger, was nominated for Student of the Month at Joyce Bullock Elementary by teacher Debra Osteen who described Morgan as an all-around ideal student. She makes teaching enjoyable because she always puts forth her best effort on all the tasks given to her. She is more than willing to help her teacher or peers whenever needed. She is very polite and caring to all her peers. Morgan has made tremendous growth this year and continues to thrive, even here at the very end of the school year. I appreciate all of the determination and enthusiasm Morgan shows daily with her lessons. She is a wonderful asset to her class. Much of Morgan’s success can be traced back to having such a wonderful support system. Her parents have done an amazing job of instilling quality morals, values and high expectations in Morgan!

Maclayne McGowan, daughter of Paul and Scarlett McGowan, was nominated for Student of the Month at Williston Elementary School by teacher Jeanne DuBois, MacLayne’s math teacher. DuBois described MacLayne was a shining star in math – always ready to share her work and explain her thinking, showing others an effective strategy. She is so much more than an excellent student. She is a safety patroller, an A student, a talented dancer, a capable mentor and a positive role model as well as a willing helper. And she is always smiling. It has been a pleasure having her in my class.

Williston Mayor Gerald Hethcoat presents MacLayne McGowan and Morgan Geiger with framed certificates honoring them as Students of the Month. Photo courtesy of Fran Taylor.

Williston Mayor Honors Students of the Month

Rachael Hutson Named Chiefland Student of Month

Chiefland City Commissioners recognized their Student of the Month at Monday’s meeting. City Commissioner Betty Walker made the presentation.

Rachael Hutson, daughter of Shannon and Ken Hutson, was nominated by Kamala Reidy, who described Rachael as a sweet young lady and an awesome student. She has been on the A/B honor roll for her entire 3rd grade year. Rachael gets along well with her peers and sets a good example.

Chiefland City Commissioner Betty Walker presents Rachael Hutson with her Student of the Month Award.

Sandgnat NewsFor Yankeetown School

By Sheena PriceEditor’s Note: Before going on to the Sandgnat News,

the Levy County Journal would like to thank Sheena Price for all her journalism work in presenting the news from Yankeetown School. This is Sheena’s last submission and we will miss her very much. Sheena has been extremely faithful to report on YT School students, teachers and activities and it is a blessing to be on the other end of the hard work of someone who really cares. You are special Sheena and we are thankful. Be greatly blessed in your travel and endeavors. We will miss you.

Pre-K “Moving On Up” ceremony: The following students will be included in Mrs. Megan

Wood’s Pre-K graduating ceremony on Thursday, June 5th at 10:00 am:

Colton Best; Caleb Black; Daniel Gruss; Alexia Hughes; Shannon Keim; Olivia McClure; Sidney Meckelberg; Tarynn Neely; Ashlynn Porterfield; Michael Putch; Leland Roberts; Lilly Robinson; Kinsleigh Rodriguez; Wyatt Rodriguez; Braylon Shrum; Jaylyn Slone; Remee Stephens; and Odette Switzer.

Kindergarten Graduating class:Watson- Andrew Adams, Nicholas Cairns, London

Castle, Kari Collins, Jasmine Leblond, Mckayla McClure, Abagail McPeak, Madison Pank, Lena Schieferstein, Hailey Sheehan, Liam Wise

Yaws-Venessia Bailey, Aaron Beam, Madison Goode, Kimber Jarrett, Holden Martin, Julietta Mulligan, Donte Porter, Joshus Rivera, Jacqueline Robertson, Nathan Sedor.

4th 9 weeks awards:Perfect Attendance: Carson-None; Brannen-Anna

Fugate, Paskal Nedeltchev; Dillon- Julia Hurtado, Madeline Rohrer; Lovely-Alex Rowe, Jasmine Hurtado; Harmon-Anthony Biorn, Sheldon Pierce, Emily Robinson, Grace White, Michael Gilley; Jenner-Ashley Pike, Victoria Pressley; Steinberg- Angel Biorn, Samuel Dillon, Katie Johnson, Maverick Molina, Julie Snyder, Tricia Ruttinger

A Honor Roll: Carson-Dayden Floyd, Makenna Hurst, Logan Maggio, Leila Rodriguez, David Ruttinger; Brannen- Gabriel Gruss, Koen Herrin; Dillon- Kyla Goode, Jewlia Mathews, Madeline Rohrer Lovely- Sereana Pierce, Annabelle Pitts; Harmon- Anthony Biorn, Emily Robinson, Grace White; Jenner-Corrine Curvin, Lisa Pressley, Victoria Pressley, Eli Thompson; Steinberg-Angel Biorn, Drashti Patel, Triia Ruttinger, Alex Wildey

A-B Honor Roll: Brannen- Madisyn Dewey, David Marsee, Kailey Beam, Paskal Nedeltchev; Dillon- Emeth Borden, Julia Hurtado, Shelbee Stephens, Emily Stines, Shane Keim, Jacob Tiesmeyer, Michael Whitt; Lovely- Julia Babcock, Katie Duncan, Jasmine Hurtado; Harmon-Brooke McCarthy, Chelsea Mekelburg, Sheldon Pierce, Stephen Cabot; Jenner-Amber Babcock, Uriah Gruss, Lauren Mathews, Steven Mulligan, Ashley Pike, Morgan Pitts, Patrick Stewart; Steinberg-Alyssa Cecere, Samuel Dillon, Maverick Molina, Julie Snyder, Baylor Willis

Math Champs-Lovely: Arden Hamilton, Jasmine Hurtado; Harmon: Stephen Cabot; Jenner: Steven Mulligan, Amber Babcock.

Reading Champs-Lovely: Tristan Kennedy; Harmon:

Grace White, Anthony Biorn; Jenner: Victoria Pressley, Robert Bray

Science Champs-Lovely: Aubrey Crews, Kyle Chandler; Harmon: Rachel LePine, Kaiden Hyche; Jenner: Ashley Pike, Morgan Pitts.

Woman’s Club Awards:Kindergarten: Yaws-Donte Porter and Madison Goode;

Watson-Madison Pank and Andrew Adams3rd/4th Grade: Citizenship-Patrick Stewart Most Improved: Bryanna Pank Encouragement: Alex RoweAR Awards-The following students have read 100+ books for the 2013-

14 school year and have earned the coveted Reading trophy:1st-Paskal Nedeltchev, Anna fugate, David Marsee,

Gabriel Gruss, Mackenzie Gilley, Leila Rodriguez, David Ruttinger, Kirsten Pank, Dayden Floyd, and Makenna Hurst; 3rd- Christopher Tiesmeyer, Annabelle Pitts, Anthony Biorn, Emily Robinson.

4th-Ryan Gilley, Lisa Pressley6th -Kaloian Nedeltchev (120+ points); Vincent Pierce

(120+); Ryan Wildey (200+); 7th-Alyssa Thompson (160+); Elizabeth Beverley (180+);

Joseph Flores (275+); Jaden Arnett (375+)8th-Julie Snyder (140+); Alex Wildey (150+); Tricia

Ruttinger (200+); Drashti Patel (250+); Angel Biorn (500+)Masonic Awards-K-2-Kristen PankLion’s Club Awards-Citizenship-Carson: Leila Rodriguez; Brannen: Gabriel

Gruss; 8th Grade: Citizenship-Katie Johnson and Alex Wildey

Middle School Awards Night:YTS Middle School Awards Night was a huge success.

Middle School teachers with others from the community clubs and organizations made for an eventful distribution of well-earned awards. The teachers gave awards for all subject areas, but the big winners of the evening were Lauren Cecere and John “AJ” Biorn, who won $4,000 scholarships to CFC when the time comes! These scholarships are part of the Central Florida College STEPS Program in honor of Carol Runnells Sullivan and Eleanor Hutchinson.

Core Value-May- Great Character! The Core Value Great Character awards were presented to

the following students for their overall great Core Values this past school year.

Yaws- Madison Goode; Watson-Madison Pank; Carson-Kristen Pank; Brannen-Gabriel Gruss; Dillon-Shelbee Stephens; Lovely-Annabelle Pitts; Jenner-Steven Mulligan; Calderone- Lauren Cecere; Bartello- Trina Ruttinger ;Mr. Gatton-Madison Goode and Uriah Gruss –Tricia Ruttinger and Clayton Kennedy; Mr. Willis-Clayton Kennedy; Steinberg-Morgan St. Cyr.

Mrs. Gatton’s Helping Hands Certificates are going to:Morgan St. CyrKatie JohnsonDrashti PatelAngel BiornGlory ThompsonEmily RobinsonThese girls helped me organize and shelve books, look up

AR levels, and put AR dots on books. (They were a big help and I will sorely miss the 8th grade girls next year.)

Science Fair Winners 3rd Place Winner

by Victoria Pressley and Steven Mulligan.

Science Fair Winners were: 3rd grade- 1st Julia Babcock for Solution Evaporation; 2nd Chelsea Mekelburg; 3rd Anthony Biorn, Grace White, and Ronnie Beam for “Do Your Senses Affect Your Taste?”

4th grade- 1st Lauren Mathews, Lisa Pressley, and Eli Thompson for Magnetic Miracles;

2nd Ashley Pike for “Lemons Light Your Way”; 3rd Victoria Pressley and Steven Mulligan for YTS A/C.

First Priority Ends Year:On Tuesday May 27th, there was a celebration organized

by the student leadership team of the Yankeetown School Branch of First Priority. First Priority is a student led Christian school club where students bring the love of the Lord to their classmates through fellowship, the testimony of those in the local community, the sharing of personal salvation experiences, and entertaining and enriching activities. The students are assisted by local Pastor Aaron Kramer from the Inglis Baptist Church and Yankeetown School faculty sponsor Chester Pacana.

The celebration this student leadership team threw was to highlight the year past in First Priority and to celebrate in fellowship together. Invited were all fifth through eighth Suzette Steffer, YTS Principal with Lauren Cecere and AJ

Biorn.

Amanda DeGennaro, Waylon Machin, Youth Pastor Aaron Kramer, Johnathan Sellner, Glory Thompson, Jacob Pitts, Elizabeth Hamilton, and Sammy Dillon of Yankeetown School





Vets Helping Vets Update

As the United States Congress attempts to untangle the crisis surrounding the shortcomings of the healthcare being provided to America’s Veterans, one local veterans group is looking out for their own.

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association of Florida, Chapter 20-6, with support from the AMVETS Post 42, AMVET Riders, AMVETS Sons, the VFW Chiefland Ladies Auxiliary, and many friends and supporters answered the call to raise funds to assist veteran Dale “Texas” Kolden and his wife, Marilyn. Recently Marilyn suffered a heart attack and stroke and spent eight days in the hospital. Although Marilyn has recovered, the family has been left with some staggering medical bills.

Kirk “River Brat” Layman, Chapter Commander of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 20-6, was overwhelmed by the support and compassion shown for the group’s fund raising activities which helped raise $3,135.00 to ease the Kolden’s financial burdens. A burden which could befall any one of us.

Founded as a nationwide association, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association is one of the seven not-for-profit chapters established in Florida. Layman emphasized that the primary goal of the organization is “Vets Helping Vets.”

To learn more about CVM Chapter 20-6, kindly contact Kirk Layman at (904) 370-0182 (Cell).

— submitted.

2013 Annual Drinking Water Quality ReportTown of Bronson

PWS ID Number 2381178We’re pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every

day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water. Our water source is groundwater from two wells drawing from the Floridan Aquifer. We treat our water using chlorination for disinfection and feeding a polyphosphate for iron control.

In 2013 the Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system and a search of the data sources indicated no potential sources of contamination near our wells. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Kelli Brettel at our office between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday at (352) 486-2354. We encourage our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our Town Council meetings. They are held the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM.

The Town of Bronson routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2013. Data obtained before January 1, 2013, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations

As approved by EPA, the State has reduced the monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Some of our data, though representative, is more than one year old.

In the table below, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we’ve provided the following definitions:● Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE): An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water

systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

● Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

● Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

● Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.● Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant

is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.● Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do

not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.● Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) – one part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.● Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (µg/l) – one part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.● Picocurie per liter (pCi/L) - measure of the radioactivity in water.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Town of Bronson is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

(A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.(B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges,

oil and gas production, mining, or farming.(C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.(D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also

come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.(E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Thank you for allowing us to continue providing your family with clean, quality water this year. In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply, we sometimes need to make improvements that will benefit all of our customers. These improvements are sometimes reflected as rate structure adjustments. Thank you for understanding.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

We here at the Town of Bronson would like you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to insuring the quality of your water. If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided, please feel free to call any of the numbers listed.

PLEASE CONSERVE WATER. EVERY DROP COUNTSPub. June 12, 2014

TEST RESULTS TABLE

Microbiological Contaminants

Contaminant and Unit of Measurement

Dates of sampling(mo./yr.)

MCL Violation Y/N

Highest Monthly Percentage/

NumberMCLG MCL Likely Source of

Contamination

Total Coliform Bacteria (positive samples) 5/2013 N 1 0

For systems collecting at least 40 samples per month: presence of coliform bacteria in >5% of

monthly samples.For systems collecting fewer than 40 samples per month: presence of coliform bacteria in >1 sample

collected during a month.

Naturally present in the environment

Inorganic ContaminantsContaminant and Unit ofMeasurement

Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)

MCL ViolationY/N

LevelDetected

Range ofResults MCLG MCL Likely Source of

Contamination

Barium (ppm) 7/2012 N .0009 N/A 2 2Discharge of drilling

waste; discharge from metal refineries; erosion

of natural deposits

Chromium (ppb) 7/2012 N 1.0 N/A 100 100Discharge from steel and pulp mills; erison

of natural deposits

Nitrate (as Nitrogen) (ppm) 7/2012 N 1.6 N/A 10 10Runoff from fertilizer

use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion

of natural deposits

17. Fluoride (ppm) 7/2012 N .036 N/A 4 4.0

Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum

factories. Water additive which promotes strong

teeth when at the optimum level of 0.7 ppm

Sodium (ppm) 7/2012 N 4.1 N/A N/A 160 Salt water intrusion, leaching from soil

Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfectant By-ProductsDisinfectant or Contaminant and Unit of Measurement


MCL Violation Y/N

Level Detected

Range of Results MCLG MCL Likely Source of Contaminants

Chlorine (ppm) 01-12/2013 N 0.8 0.6 – 1.05 MRDLG = 4

MRDL = 4.0 Water additive used to control microbes

TTHM [Total trihalomethanes](ppb)

8/2012 N 1.17 N/A NA MCL = 80 By-product of drinking water disinfection



MCL Violation Y/N

Highest Result

Range of Results MCLG MCL Likely Source of Contamination

Secondary Contaminants3. Color (color units) 7,12/2012 Y 21 7.5/21 NA 15 Naturally occurring organics



AL Violation

Y/N

90th Percentile

Result

No. of samplingsites exceeding

the ALMCLG

AL (Action Level)

Likely Source of Contamination

Lead and Copper (Tap Water)

Copper (tap water) (ppm) 9/2011 N 0.49 0 1.3 1.3Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives

Lead (tap water) (ppb) 9/2011 N 2.3 0 0 15 Corrosion of household plumbing systems, erosion of natural deposits

LAIRSON

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WANTED:

Cash Paid

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1995 40ft Mountain View 5th wheel, 2 slides, large living

and bath, pulls great! $4900

ENTERPRISES

grade students and, for the first time, fourth grade students to allow them to glimpse the workings of the club they will be able to join next year. The celebration featured games, competitions, sharing of Jonathan Sellner’s salvation experience, Samuel Dillon’s testimony of how First Priority has worked in his life for the past two years, a skit by Jacob Pitts and Glory Thompson, and the sharing of the Lord’s word.

Jacob Pitts and Glory Thompson were given awards for their tireless work for First Priority and being ambassadors of the program to the students around them. Sarah Bliss and Brandon Fonda won full scholarships for a week long Christian summer camp. The students

of First Priority and the student leadership team would like to thank all the committed volunteers that have made First Priority possible. If anyone would like to be involved through volunteering, providing possible volunteer experiences, or sponsoring First Priority at Yankeetown, please contact Chester Pacana at 352-447-2372 ext.240 or [email protected]

End of Year Awards:A Honor Roll- Carson- Dayden Floyd, Makenna Hurst, Logan Maggio, Leila Rodriguez,

David Ruttinger; Brannen-Kailey Beam, Madisyn Dewey, Gabriel Gruss, Koen Herrin, David Marshee ; Dillon-Kayla Goode, Jewlia Mathews, Madeline Rohrer; Lovely: Anthony Biorn; Harmon: Sereana Pierce and Annabelle Pitts; Jenner- Lisa Pressley, Eli Thompson

A/B Honor Roll-Brannen- Lealanni Butler, Mackenzie Gilley, Noah Mekelburg; Dillon-Emeth borden, Julia Hurtado, Emily Stines; Lovely: Katie Duncan and Jasmine Hurtado; Harmon: Brooke McCarthy, Sheldon Pierce, Emily Robinson, Grace White; Jenner- Corrine Curvine, Uriah Gruss, Lauren Mathews, Morgan Pitts, Victoria Pressley

Perfect Attendance-Dillon- Julia Hurtado; Harmon: Sheldon Pierce and Emily Robinson

Scholarship-Carson: Faith Martinson; Brannen-Paskal Nedeltchev; Dillon-Sha

Sandgnat News For Yankeetown School continued from page 7A




Sudoku

The answers for this week’s sudoku puzzle will appear in next weeks issue.

Last week’s Sudoku

115 NOTICES 115 NOTICES 125 SERVICES 135 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 305 APTS FOR RENT 440 LAND FOR SALE

Classif ieds Deadline: Friday, noon JournalYour Locally-Owned Paper

of Record since 1923

Levy County100 Miscellaneous110 Lost & Found115 Notices125 Services126 Business Opportunities 130 FREE135 Volunteer Opportunity140 Announcements145 Entertainment150 Musical Instruments

155 Schools & Instruction200 Employment210 Help Wanted - Full Time240 Help Wanted - Part Time245 Work Wanted300 Rentals305 Apartments for Rent310 Houses for Rent315 Mobile Homes for Rent320 RV Rental Lots

325 Vacation Rentals330 Commercial Property

for Rent340 Rooms for Rent345 Wanted to Rent400 Real Estate405 Condos - Apartments

for Sale410 Houses for Sale

415 Mobile Homes for Sale435 Commercial Property

for Sale440 Vacant Land for Sale445 Wanted to Buy500 For Sale505 Antiques510 Auctions515 Yard Sale

520 Building Materials525 Appliances526 Furniture530 Guns535 Pets & Animals540 LiveStock545 Good Things to Eat550 Farm Products555 Automobiles

556 Trucks560 Estate Sale570 Swap, Barter or Trade600 Recreation605 Boat & Marine610 Campers, RVs & Trailers

615 Motorcycles & ATVs700 Farm705 Farm Equipment900 Legal Notices

ADVERTISER NOTICE — The Levy County Journal does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this newspaper. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Levy County Journal hereby disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The Levy County Journal has the sole authority to edit and locate any classified advertisement as deemed appropriate. The Levy County Journal reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

---------FREE PREGNANCY TESTS – Confidential - Harmony Pregnancy & Resource Center. Now open Mon. thru Thurs. from 11 AM to 6 PM. Call (352) 493-7773 or write to us at Harmony Pregnancy Center, P. O. Box 2557, Chiefland, FL. tfnJf

---------AL-ANON MEETINGS IN WILLISTON — Join us for Al-Anon meetings on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Midway Plaza located at 13451 NE Highway 27 Alt. in Williston. 1-800-851-1795. ftfn

---------NARCONON — a nonprofit public benefit organization that specializes in helping people with drug or alcohol addictions assessments and more than 11,000 local referrals. Call (800) 556-8885 or visit www.drugrehab.net

---------AA MEETINGS – FOR INFORMATION CALL NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA Intergroup Office at: 352/949-2239 which is also a 24-hour local hotline number. Tfnf

---------

ADDICTION RECOVERY MEETING - Do you struggle with a Drug or Alcohol addiction? Come to our meetings held the 1st and 3rd Thursday night of the month at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church 7:00 PM – Hwy. 340 in Bell, at the flashing light, west of 129. Call 386/935-2300 or Kevin Craven at 352/463-8700 or go to www.grace-ministry.net for more info. Tfnf

---------Guardian ad Litem

Be the one to advocate for abused and neglected children who have never been told they are loved, smart, strong, worthy…that they are Somebody.Don’t wait to be the one to give them hope. No special background needed. Legal and staff support provided.The next class starts June 12th. Orientations held every 4th Thursday from 12-1 pm at 102 N. Main St, Chiefland.For more info, call 352/493-6051 or go to www.gal.alachua.fl.us. Only 50% of children in Levy County have an advocate to stand up for them. Call today – 352/493-6051 Visit today – www.gal.alachua.fl.usTfn Jf

---------OPEN AA MEETING

IN CEDAR KEYThe United Methodist Church at SR 24 and 4th in Cedar Key is hosting an AA meeting on Thursdays at 7 p.m. This is an Open Meeting. Tfnf

---------Discover truths in the Scriptures that have been buried under centuries of flawed tradition and forgotten by many. Join Michael Rood on a journey through the Scriptures, bringing them to life, and leading you along the path to learning and living the Word of God. Go to: http://aroodawakening.tv/about/ tfnJf

SHEDS, SHEDS, SHEDS! — We move ’em. Best price in town. 352-493-0345. Joe’s Rollback Service. Credit cards accepted. TfnJp

---------ELECTRICAL WORK

State certified, Dependable, Honest

Experts for any and all electrical needs call

All Seasons @ 493-4888 or 1-800-542-1028.

License # ec13001855. tfnJb

---------SUMMER SESSIONS NOW ACCEPTING - Piano, Vocal, Guitar, Bass and Drum students. Qualified teachers; reasonable rates. Call Miss Robbie’s School of Music today. 352/486-6366. 6/19Jp

---------ALL SEASONSHEATING & A/C

License # CAC057426Residential & Commercial

Replacements or UpgradesMobileHome Units-

Heat PumpsCARRIER

1-800-542-1028(352) 542-3008 or

493-488824 Hour/7-Day

Emergency Svc.Call for estimate

tfnJb

135 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

FLORIDA’S LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM needs volunteers to join its corps of dedicated advocates who protect the rights of elders residing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes. The program’s local councils are seeking additional volunteers to identify, investigate and resolve residents’ concerns. Special training and certification is provided.

All interested individuals who care about protecting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care facility residents -- who often have no one else to advocate for them -- are encouraged to call toll-free (888) 831-0404 or visit the program’s Web site at http://ombudsman.myflorida.com.The local council meets to discuss the program’s current activities and give the public a chance to provide comments about long-term care facility issues. Concerned citizens and those interested in volunteering are welcome to attend. tfnf

210 HELP WANTEDCASH PAID FOR JUNK CARS. $300 and up. 352-771-6191. 6/12Jp

---------NEWBERRY ASSEMBLY WORKERS NEEDED. Must have experience in manufacturing or assembly setting. Soldering is a plus. Please contact 352/378-8367 for appointment or www.wal-staf.com 6/26Jp

---------EXPERIENCED AUTO TECHNICIAN NEEDED. Master-Lube Automotive. Call 352/528-3331. 6/19Jp

300 RENTALSCHEAPER STORAGE

FIRST Month FREEClimate Controlled

Down from Dollar Generalin Williston

352/528-0778, tfnJp

305 APTS FOR RENTWILLISTON ARMS APARTMENTS - 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments starting at $423 per month. Short commute to Gainesville and Ocala. We accept Section 8 vouchers. Rental assistance based

on eligibility and availability. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Equal Housing Opportunity. Florida TDD 1-800-955-8771. Rental office phone: (352) 528-3352. tfn2/27Jb

440 LAND FOR SALE1 ACRE MORRISTON: WELL SEPTIC & POWER ALREADY INSTALLED!! Cleared homesite. Nice Neighborhood. Owner Financing. No down Payment! $24,900.00. Only 256.12/mo. www.LandO wner F inanc ing .com or call 352/215-1018. 7/17Jp

---------10 ACRES DUNNELLON – Peaceful Secluded Country Setting! Perfect for Horses! Owner Financing! NO DOWN PAYMENT $59,900.00. Only $525.67/mo. www.LandO wner F inanc ing .com or call 352-215-1018. 7/17Jp

---------1 ACRE ARCHER – Well Already Installed! Paved road frontage. Cleared homesite on 105th Ave. in University Oaks. Owner Financing! NO DOWN PAYMENT! $24,900.00 Only $265.12/mo www.Land-Owner-Financing.com or call 352-215-1018. 7/17Jp

---------1 ACRE IN BRONSON: Beautifully wooded parcel! Nice Neighborhood. Owner Financing! NO DOWN PAYMENT! Total $12,900.00 Only $132/mo. www.LandO wner F inanc ing .com or call 352-215-1018. 7/17Jp

---------4 ACRES WILLISTON: Secluded country setting. Gorgeous Oaks

with cleared homesite. Owner Financing! NO DOWN PAYMENT! Total $39,900.00 Only $410/mo. www.LandO wner F inanc ing .com or call 352-215-1018. 7/17Jp

445 WANT TO BUYCASH PAID FOR JUNK CARS. $300 and up. 352-771-6191. 6/12Jp

500 FOR SALEDIXIE MONUMENTS: Serving North Central Fla. for over a decade. Featuring beautiful bronze, marble & granite monuments in many colors and styles. Choose from 100s of designs or let us custom design any idea you may have! We have the latest technology in laser etchings and can also inscribe final dates and lettering at the cemetery. Now located for your convenience at 24347 SE Hwy 19 in Old Town, Florida 32680. Open Tues-Fri 8-4 & Sat. 8-12 or call for after-hours appt. Toll Free 1-877-542-3432 6/20/14Jb

---------LUMBER FOR SALE — Pine, cherry and cypress. Call Sammy at (352) 949-3222. ptfn

555 AUTOMOBILESANY JUNK CAR – cash paid up to $300. Free pickup. 352-771-6191 6/12Jp

560 ESTATE SALEESTATE SALE: All types furniture; gas stove; lots of knick-knacks. All day, Sat. & Sun. June 14, 15 at 524 Pennsylvania Ave., Bronson. 6/12Jp

4 WEEKS FOR ONLY

$20!

It’s Our Journal20/20 Special: Your Ad of 20

Words or Less for 4

Consecutive Weeks, No

Changes. $20, 10¢ Each Additional

Word. Email classifieds@

levyjournal.com

Classified Ads

CHIEFLAND MEDICAL CENTER

1113 N.W. 23rd Ave. Chie� and

(Across the parking lot from Wal-Mart)

OPENMon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Sat. 8:30 a.m. - NoonWalk-ins Welcome!

Call for an appointment:

493-9500

Caring for the health of your family

David Renaud, D.V.M. ● Kathy Bowker, D.V.M.

Suwannee ValleyVETERINARY CLINIC

www.suwanneevalleyvet.com352-493-4958

2580 North Young Blvd., Chiefland (Across from Mary’s Little T)

David Renaud, D.V.M. David Renaud, D.V.M. VETERINARY CLINICVETERINARY CLINIC

David Renaud, D.V.M. David Renaud, D.V.M.

OPENMon.-Fri. 8-6pm &

Sat. 9-Noon

GRACE

• Personal and Compassionate Care

• Preventative Care, Medicine, Surgery & Dentistry

• Convenient Appointments

• Three Year Vaccines for Dogs and Cats

• Early Morning Drop Off Service

• Finance Plans Available Through Care Credit

Big Chief’sMini Storage, Inc.

ELECTRONIC SECURITYFenced, Paved, Lighted,

Climate Control, Pest Control, Outside Storage, Boats,

Vehicles, Trailers.

Earlene Crews, OwnerPost Office Box 249Chiefland, Florida 32644

493-1022493-4825

“Look for the Bright Orange Doors”Established in 1996

Manager, Office Hours 9-5 Daily

Sat 9-12 GATE OPEN DAILY




The Levy County Journal is the only locally-owned and completely independent newspaper operating in Levy County. The Journal has absolutely no connection to any other newspapers in the county.

If you are interested in sending information for your group or placing advertising in the Levy County Journal, please don’t rely on corporate-owned newspapers to forward information to the Journal.

To reach the Levy County Journal, your locally-owned county newspaper of record since 1923, please make sure to call us personally at 486-2312 at our Bronson office, or use our popular website at levyjournalonline.com, or email us at [email protected]. Our veteran newspaper reporter, Terry Witt, can be reached at 352/220-4927.

Thank you for supporting the Journal.The revenue earned by the Journal is spent locally.

To Our Readers – For Your Information and

Clarification

10 Deer Trail Circle Bronson, FL 32621

deertrailhomes.com/contact/

Beverly Anderson | 352.514.1581Tate Mikell | 352.225.1871

FINANCING SEMINAR FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Deer Trail Model Home10 Deer Trail Circle, Bronson, FL 32621

May 6th | 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Alarion Bank and Bosshardt Realty (Refreshments will be provided)

Levis Johnson Loan [email protected]

• Mortgage Process • What lenders look for • Shopping for a lender • Work up a budget • Documentation• 5 C’s of credit• Credit scores• Loan Programs

Location:

Starts:

Hosted By:

Instructor:

Topics Covered:

Log Cabin QuiltersThe Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, June 5th at the

Levy County Quilt Museum at 11050 NW 10th Ave in Chiefland. Work was done on the quilt in the frame and others worked on their own projects. We had a chance to visit with each other and to learn about our plans for the summer.

On Wednesday, our visitors were ladies from the travel group in Haile Plantation. We were so delighted to have them out for a visit. Kathy who had donated the log cabin sofa is a member of the group and was pleased to see the sofa in its new home. Thanks again, Kathy, for the sofa.

Greg and the boys were out to do our yard work. We kept several of them busy rearranging inside. We have a little more work inside that needs to be done. Thanks Lancaster for your help.

Jan brought out some of her mom’s fabric to share with us. Thank you for thinking of us.

Eleanor’s husband grabbed up this lap quilt before she could leave it at the Museum. Lucky Guy.

Wanda’s cats make the perfect pets - no mess, no fuss - just a great quilt to wrap up in when you’re in the recliner or a great wall hanging.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service is now accepting applications for the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. The sign-up period will run from June 6 through July 18 and is available for non-industrial private forest landowners.

“The southern pine beetle is one of the most destructive forest pests in the southeast,” said Commissioner Putnam. “By taking preventative measures now, Florida’s private landowners can greatly reduce their risk of timber loss during future outbreaks.”

Periodic outbreaks can rapidly kill millions of pine trees and deplete tens of thousands of acres of timber resources. The most recent series of major southern pine beetle outbreaks resulted in an estimated $59 million in timber loss between 1999 and 2002.

The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance Program is offered for private lands in 44 northern Florida counties. (Map attached.)

The program provides incentive payments for the following:

• Conducting a first pulpwood thinning.• Conducting prescribed burning operations.• Conducting mechanical underbrush treatments.• Planting longleaf or slash pine. “Since 2005, we have assisted many private forest land

owners through this program,” said Jim Karels, Director of the Florida Forest Service. “More than 150,000 Florida acres have been treated for Southern Pine Beetle prevention.”

The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) is one of five common species of pine bark beetles that occur throughout the Southeastern United States. Pine bark beetles utilize stressed, dying, or recently-dead pines as hosts. All species tunnel, reproduce, and feed in the inner bark or phloem (located between the outer bark and the wood); this activity disables the transport of sugars through the tree. In addition, several bark beetle species (including the SPB) introduce a blue-stain fungus into the wood, plugging the tree’s water transport system. Typically, pines successfully colonized by SPB are functionally dead within one day after attack, despite the fact that the crown may retain green needles for several days or weeks.

To learn more about this program and obtain an

application form, contact a local Florida Forest Service office or visit www.freshfromflorida.com/SouthernPineBeetle/Prevention. Qualified landowners may apply for no more than two approved preventative practices per year. Funding requests may not exceed $10,000 annually. All qualifying applications will be evaluated and ranked for approval. This program is supported through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.

The Florida Forest Service manages more than 1 million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com.

Southern Pine Beetle Program Accepting Applications from Private Landowners Now Thru July 18

Southern Pine beetle on tree Southern Pine beetle pitch tubes where entry is made on tree.

The Williston Community Theater is presenting the classic Little Women.

Little Women is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). The novel follows the lives of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—detailing their passage from childhood to womanhood, and is loosely based on the author and her three sisters. Little Women was a novel for girls that addressed three major themes: domesticity, work, and true love, all of them interdependent and each necessary to the achievement of its heroine’s individual identity.

The production at the Williston Community Theater is by

Marisha Chamberlain and will be shown at the Williston High School Auditorium on June 14, 15, 21 and 22. The Saturday shows are at 7 PM and Sunday shows at 3 PM. Tickets at the door an hour before performance are $12/seat and children under 10 are $6.

On Sunday, June 15, Father’s Day – Dads get in free… This would be a most enjoyable and unusual gift for Dad so join the cast to celebrate your father.

During the first full dress rehearsal a picture was taken showing the cast from left to right:

Front row - Katie Taylor, Kami McCormick, Lauren Taylor, Mandy Fugate;

Back row: Katie West, Heath Davis, Lori Moss, Heidi

Schwichert, and Kenneth Allen Cowart.Gary Leathers is President of the WCT and Babs Leathers

is the Artistic Director.

Williston Community Theater Presents Little Women for Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day TheJournal Levy County

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Transcript of Happy Father’s Day TheJournal Levy County