Obituary and Funeral Notice for
Ernest Albert Haile Jr.
-- LIFE PAGE

Annie Get Your Gun

Opening night is Friday (March 14). The Suwannee Valley Players are performing Annie Get our Gun, a play by Irving Berlin. The actors are performing at the Chief Theater, 25 E. Park Ave., Chiefland. Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she's discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades this novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. This classic musical has all the great elements of a delightful live theatre experience with laughs, suspense, romance, and good-natured fun. This play is presented by special arrangement with Rodgers & Hammerstein. The show is going to be on March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at the Chief Theater in Chiefland.Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for senior-youth (through 12th grade)-military. Tickets may be purchased in advance from Suwannee Valley Internet (located next to The Gathering Table) in Chiefland and at Point of View Gifts and Antiques in Fanning Springs. Seating may also be reserved through Becky Gill, who can be reached at 352-443-9096. Seen here are (from left) actors -- Laura Blanton, Julie Van Dyke, Charlotte Van Dyke, Eowyn Verhearen, Diana Child, Leigh Hartzog, Terry Wines, Amelia Wines, Ricky Kidd, Chayene Wilder and Dakota Woodruff.
Photo Provided

SRF winners listed

Here are the FFA and 4-H Dairy Goat and Dairy Meat winners.

Photos By Chuck Elton
Published March 10, 2015
     FANNING SPRINGS -- The Suwannee River Fair is in full swing again with competition in Dairy Cow; Dairy Goat; Meat Goat; Poultry; Rabbits and various types of horsemanship.
     Members of 4-H and FFA from Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties are competing with one another for ribbons and titles. Following are the top winners in each area, although all of the young people in the Tri-County Area win by participating in this agriculture-oriented event.
Dairy Cow
Showmanship
Senior
     • 1st Madison Holder; Bell Senior FFA
     • 2nd Cierrah Cartwright; Bell Senior FFA
     • 3rd Tucker McDaniel; Mossy Oaks 4-H
Junior
     • 1st Austin Bagby; Bell Middle FFA
     • 2nd Kelly Thornton; Bell Middle FFA
     • 3rd Bayley Jones; Mossy Oaks 4-H
Primary
     • 1st Kaylee Douglas; Southern Style 4-H
     • 2ndAustin Jones; Mossy Oaks 4-H
Show
     • Junior Grand Champion - Madison Holder; Bell Senior FFA
     • Junior Reserve Champion - Spencer Hewitt; Spring Ridge 4-H
     • Grand Champion - Austin Bagby; Bell Middle FFA
     • Reserve Champion - Madison Holder; Bell Senior FFA
Dairy/Meat Goat
Showmanship
Senior
     • Shelbi McCall; Dixie Senior FFA
Junior
     • Demetrius Bowers; Chiefland Middle FFA
Primary
     • Alaina Blair; Osceola 4-H
Meat Goat Show
     • Junior Grand Champion – Alaina Blair; Osceola 4-H
     • Junior Reserve Champion – Shelbi McCall; Dixie Senior FFA
Dairy Goat Show
     • Junior Grand Champion – Aubrey Osteen; Buckaroos 4-H
     • Junior Reserve Champion – Demetrius Bowers; Chiefland Middle FFA
~
Poultry
Show
     • Grand Champion – Hunter Sharp; Klover Kids 4-H (Silver Sebright)
     • Reserve Champion – Hunter Sharp; Klover Kids 4-H (Rhode Island Red Bantam)
     • Grand Champion Pullet Pen – Whitney Mills; Chiefland Senior FFA
     • Reserve Champion Pullet Pen – Carter Benton; Levy Lil Farmers 4-H

Whitney Mills (second from left) and Meredith Webber hold the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Rabbits.

Rabbit
Show
     • Grand Champion – Whitney Mills; Chiefland Senior FFA
     • Reserve Champion – Meredith Webber; Mossy Oaks 4-H
~
Horse
Showmanship
Senior
     • 1st Whitney Mills; Chiefland Senior FFA
     • 2nd Mecenzie McElaney; Kountry Bumpkins 4-H
     • 3rd Cheyenne Everett; Dixie Senior FFA
Junior
     • 1st Burlynne Mejeris; Klover Kids 4-H
     • 2nd Karsyn Hardee; Kountry Bumpkins 4-H
     • 3rd Savannah Hudson; Chiefland Middle FFA
Show
Performance
Senior
     • Grand Champion – Whitney Mills; Chiefland Senior FFA
     • Reserve Champion – Mecenzie McElaney; Kountry Bumpkins 4-H
Junior
     • Grand Champion – Savannah Hudson; Chiefland Middle FFA
     • Reserve Champion – Karsyn Hardee; Kountry Bumpkins 4-H
Speed
Senior
     • Grand Champion – Cheyenne Everett; Dixie Senior FFA
     • Reserve Champion – Mecenzie McElaney; Kountry Bumpkins 4-H
Junior
     • Grand Champion – Burlynne Mejeris; Klover Kids 4-H
     • Reserve Champion – Karsyn Hardee; Kountry Bumpkins 4-H
Heifer
Showmanship
Senior
     • 1st Landon Smith; Bronson Senior FFA
     • 2nd Sheila Engel; Chiefland Senior FFA
     • 3rd Sarah Conquest; Bronson Senior FFA
Junior
     • 1st Karlie Meeks; Chiefland Middle FFA
     • 2nd Rieley Beauchamp; Chiefland Middle FFA
     • 3rd Abigail Butler; Chiefland Middle FFA
Primary
     • 1st Harleigh Rucker; Riverside Wranglers 4-H
     • 2ndJillian Sanchez; Cross City 4-H
     • 3rd Austin Jones; Mossy Oaks 4-H
Show
     • Grand Champion – Jillian Sanchez; Cross City 4-H
     • Reserve Champion – Connor Edwards; Williston Senior FFA
     • Home Grown Grand Champion – Mason Mills; Williston Senior FFA
     • Home Grown Reserve Champion – Erin Jones; Trenton Senior FFA

More Below This Ad


Two women win chili contest;
Sheriff Schultz issues challenge

Chili Judges
(from left) Robert Willis, Sharon Langford, and Michael McElroy prepare to taste the various chili samples to find the winners.

Story and Photos
By Jeff M. Hardison © March 7, 2014
     TRENTON -- Diners and donors converged on the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office on Friday afternoon (March 7) as the 5th Annual Sheriff's Cook Off went into high gear by serving chili to the general public starting at 11:30 a.m.

Sheriff Bobby Schultz stands with Rebecca Woodin the winner of the Best Traditional Chili title.

     Once again, it was the chili contest of the year with almost 20 entrees and three judges made their rulings within 30 minutes. Under the excellent direction of Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Anita Moore with Stephanie Simpson as her helper, and with a number of other volunteers assisting as well, the chili cook-off contest and luncheon went as smooth as silk.
     Rebecca Woodin, who celebrates her 38th birthday on Saturday (March 8), won the Best Traditional Chili category with her version named "Meat The Winner."
     Julie Thomas won in the Best Unique Chili category with her chicken chili that she named "The Bomb Digity Chili." The two runners-up in the Most Unique category were "Entic'n Bis’n” and “Chili of the Sea.”

Sheriff Bobby Schultz stands with Julie Thomas the winner of the Best Unique Chili title.

     Both Woodin and Thomas won trophies and $50 cash. Thomas donated her $50 back to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, which is the charity that benefitted by the contest.
     Kelly Danaher won $215 in a 50-50 contest.
     There was $1,200 raised for the Relay For Life of the Tri-Counties.
     Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert D. “Bobby” Schultz III is continuing this GCSO tradition that, on the most fundamental level provides some great chili and other delights to diners – as well as the thrill of victory for the two top chefs. From a more abstract perspective, the event shows faith, hope and love abounding in Florida’s smallest rural county.
     Now Sheriff Schultz is taking the chili contest to the next level.
     Sheriff Schultz is challenging Levy County Sheriff Robert B. “Bobby” McCallum Jr. and Dixie County Sheriff Dewey Hatcher Sr. to a Tri-County Chili Cook-Off with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

Sheriff Bobby Schultz with Sgt. Anita Moore

     Sheriff Schultz said he needs to confer with Sheriff McCallum and Sheriff Hatcher to figure out how to make this happen, as well as to determine the date, but he seemed rather happy about potentially being able to involve all three counties in the future contest.
     As for the contest on Friday afternoon, it was absolutely on track in projected timing. Sgt. Moore kept the event on track.
     Judging the chili this year were Gilchrist County Commissioner Sharon Langford, Assistant State Attorney Robert “Buzzard” Willis and Michael McElroy of Ameris Bank. They considered the smell, color, flavor and thickness to reach their determination of winners in the two categories.
     Diners enjoyed chili, cornbread, a variety of desserts and iced tea – all for $5.
     Kyle Stone of the American Cancer Society was among the helpers. She mentioned her happiness with seeing Dixie, Gilchrist and most of Levy County being in the Relay For Life of the Tri-Counties. The Williston Relay For Life event is so big that it is separate from the rest of Levy County’s efforts.

Kyle Stone stands on one end of a long table of desserts, which she arranged neatly just before the luncheon.

     As for Thomas’ triumph with “The Bomb Digity Chili,” Sgt. Moore said that unique chili was “definitely worthy of it (being named the best in the Unique Category).”
     Thomas was very happy to have won the best Traditional Chili title too.
     The names of the various other contenders were interesting. They included “A Little Spicy,” “Hearty Homemade Chili,” “Double D Delicious,” “Pud’s Spicy Chili,” “Still Kick’n Chili,” “For the Love of Chili,” “Ache’n for Moore,” “Gobble Gobble,” “Nessa’s Homemade Chili Con Carne,” “Nessa’s Spicy Homemade Chili Con Carne,” “Gilchrist County Star,” “Today’s Special,” “Just Chili,” “Chili of Honor,” and “Brilla’s Best.”

ANYONE CAN SIGN UP FOR FREE E-MAIL ALERTS TO KNOW WHEN NEW STORIES ARE POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE. USUALLY, THERE IS ONE ALERT A DAY. PLEASE CLICK ON THE ICON BELOW (LEFT) TO SIGN UP.