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Ease The Squeeze
On Your Retirement Income Plan
Published March 16, 2026 at 12 p.m.
     NEWBERRY -- Rising prices may not dominate headlines the way they did a year or two ago, but if you’re retired, you’re probably still feeling them. Even when overall inflation cools, the costliest expenses — like health care, utilities, insurance and property taxes — tend to rise faster than broad inflation numbers suggest. That creates a squeeze that can make you question whether your income plan is built to last.

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    Fortunately, you often can adjust without drastic cuts that affect your lifestyle. Start by understanding where the pressure comes from and how to build more flexibility into your plan.
    Inflation hits retirees differently. You’ve likely noticed your grocery bill, prescription drug costs and heating expenses haven’t returned to “normal.” Even small increases compound over time and can chip away at your buying power.
    If your income plan was created years ago, it may assume lower inflation or relatively stable price increases over time. Recent years have shown that’s not always the case.
    Why some income plans feel strained. Any plan relying on fixed withdrawals or rigid budgets can feel tight when living costs rise. If you’re drawing from investments, you may hesitate to increase your withdrawals because of market volatility. And if you depend on fixed income sources like Social Security or a pension, yearly cost of living increases may not keep pace with your expenses. You might live 25 to 35 years in retirement, giving small annual cost increases decades to add up.
    What you can do without sacrificing stability. A few adjustments can help you stay ahead of rising costs and maintain your financial confidence.
    First, review your withdrawal strategy. Ask your financial advisor about flexible approaches that increase income when markets and portfolios perform well and pull back during tougher times. This protects your long-term plan with room to respond to rising prices. 
    Next, rebalance your portfolio. You may uncover opportunities to shift toward investments with more consistent income or better tax efficiency. Sometimes a small tweak can generate extra cash flow without increasing overall risk.
    Finally, look at your income sources. You may be less affected by rising costs if you delay taking Social Security, work a part-time job, add inflation-protected bonds or create predictable lifetime income with annuities, if they’re appropriate for your situation.
    Don’t overlook health care: Health care costs often grow faster than general inflation. Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses can rise annually, and the need for long-term care remains a big financial uncertainty for retirees. Building health care-specific inflation into your plan now can help prevent surprises later. Any savings you have in a health savings account can help you cover health care costs. And many pharmaceutical companies offer financial assistance programs to help pay for costlier medications.
    Stay flexible and informed: Today's retirements look different from those of even a decade ago. The key is staying flexible, reviewing your plan regularly and making small adjustments before pressure builds. A financial advisor can help you find the right approach to navigating rising costs without disrupting the life you’ve worked hard to build.
     Publisher’s Note: This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Edward Jones Financial Advisor Sheila K. Smith and Edward Jones Financial Advisor Ashlyn W. Burtle. Their office is located at 1845 S.W. 249th Drive, in CountryWay Town Square, Newberry. Phone 352-472-2776.
 

Region 2 FDOC K9 teams honored

Cross City Correctional – First Place in the Top Gun Competition
Photo Provided By Police Chief Jamey King

Information and Photos Provided By FDOC Press Secretary Georgia Clarke
and Cross City Police Chief Jamey King
Edited By Jeff M. Hardison
Published March 12, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
     HERNANDO COUNTY –The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) hosted the 2025 Statewide K9 Tracking and Training Event.
     This event serves as an advanced training and competition opportunity for top-qualifying FDC K9 tracking teams from across the state to showcase their abilities and share best practices for responding to incidents and emergencies.
     “Our K9 tracking teams are an integral part of public safety in Florida and we are greatly appreciative of the support we receive from Gov. DeSantis and the incredible sheriffs we partner with to serve the local communities where our teams live and work,” said Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky D. Dixon. “These events are a testament to our dedication to continuous improvement. During every activation our K9 teams respond to, there are lives on the line that depend on us to be at our best.”


Mayo Correctional – First Place Overall
Photo Provided By Police Chief Jamey King

     FDOC K9 tracking teams are primarily designated for pursuing escaped inmates; however, such instances have become infrequent in modern times thanks to advanced technology. As a result, these teams are frequently deployed within surrounding communities to aid local law enforcement in capturing dangerous fugitives and locating missing children or vulnerable adults.
     “This event brings together the top eight teams from regional competitions across the state, culminating in a showcase of the state's absolute best,” said Florida Department of Corrections Special Teams Coordinator Jonathan “Danny” Rummel. “Each year, these teams compete to see who has trained the hardest and perfected their skills. It's not just about winning; it's about public safety and ensuring that our facilities and communities remain secure. This event highlights the dedication and hard work of our teams, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments."
     The timed and scored sessions throughout the event included rigorous day and night courses focused on tracking human scent, conditioning for rough terrain, firearms proficiency, and distance progression for K9 tracking teams. These scenario-based courses ensure FDC K9 officers and their tracking dogs are trained and prepared to serve alongside local law enforcement and keep their local communities safe and secure.
     Congratulations to the winning teams:
     First Place Top Gun - Cross City Correctional Institution (Cross City)
     First Place Overall - Mayo Correctional Institution (Mayo)
     Second Place Overall - Taylor Correctional Institution (Perry)
     Third Place Overall - Lancaster Correctional Institution (Trenton)
     Cross City Police Chief Jamey King noted “The Cross City Police Department is proud to congratulate every member of the Region 2 Florida Department of Corrections K9 Teams on their outstanding performance at the Annual K9 Competition!”
     The awards ceremony was today (Thursday, March 12) at Chinsegut Hill Retreat and Conference Center.
     This conference center in Hernando County and near to the City of Brooksville is a truly unique setting for educational seminars, business meetings, artistic classes and gatherings of fraternal and religious groups. 
     Nestled among magnificent oaks, magnolias, and cabbage palms, Chinsegut Hill Retreat and Conference Center offers a quiet and peaceful venue for special events and retreats.
     CCPD Chief King noted he was honored to attend the awards ceremony today at the Chinsegut Hill Conference Center and personally present congratulations to these incredible teams.
     “These K9 tracking teams are vital to public safety and bring tremendous benefits to Dixie County every single day,” Police Chief King said. “I’ve had the privilege of running calls with them and working side-by-side with all four of these outstanding teams. The officers on these teams have no quit in them — they run behind their dogs into the unknown, never knowing what waits when they make a catch on a suspect. That is true bravery. They are heroes, and we appreciate them so much. We truly have the finest FDOC K9 teams in the entire State of Florida!”

Appraised value sought
for property next to Shired Island
Metal thieves plague transfer sites
Dredge project awarded

Dixie County Commission Chairman Mark Hatch speaks about the county seeking the appraised value of beach property that touches Shired Island Park and Campground.

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © March 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CROSS CITY – Dixie County Tourist Development Director Kay McCallister opened a discussion Thursday morning (March 5) that may result in Dixie County buying property next to Shired Island, which some say should have been bought by the county years ago.
     McCallister said the committee was looking at how to spend BP Oil Spill money that was awarded to Dixie County and that money may be used to buy the land that is adjacent to Shired Island Park and Campground.
     Shired Island Park is located within the boundaries of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. The park comprises just over three acres owned and operated by Dixie County.
     The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge covers 53,000 acres in Levy and Dixie counties.
     On Monday (March 2), McCallister reached out to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Taylor County Extension Agent III Victor J. Blanco Marquez.
     McCallister asked Marquez to help her justify the ecological and environmental benefits from the county buying that land that is adjacent to Shired Island Park, she said.
     The next day, McCallister received a seven-page explanation with the information she sought from Marquez, she said. 
     Those facts, she continued, show the purchase aligns with the BP RESTORE Act priorities – habitat protection, fishery recovery, shore resilience and economic revitalization.
     McCallister asked the County Commission to vote in favor of continuing to move forward with the county buying the property.
     McCallister requested the County Commission use funds generated by tourism bed tax revenue, which is solely to be used for economic development of the tourism industry in Dixie County, to hire an approved property value appraiser who is qualified according to standards in the federal award of those funds to determine the just value of the land.
     On a motion by Commissioner David Oseen, seconded by Commissioner Daniel Wood III, the county will use TDC funds to hire an appraiser to discover the value of that land after a 4-0 vote of approval. Osteen, Wood, Chairman Mark Hatch and Vice Chairman Jamie Storey voted in favor of the motion.
     Commissioner Jody Stephenson abstained from voting due to a possible conflict of interest, as he has always said he would do if this matter came up again.
     Margie Stephenson, the mother of Dixie County Commissioner Jody Stephenson and widow of the late Dixie County Commissioner Johnny Stephenson (April 28, 1937- Oct. 22, 2023) owns the land. Johnny and Margie Stephenson bought the land long ago.


Karen VanAernam speaks about her enjoyment on that stretch of beach over the years.

     Karen VanAernam, the Dixie County resident who is appointed to be a liaison with the North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP), said Dixie County is seeking the purchase of this land from the perspective of having it as part of the county’s tourist development sites and for economic opportunity.
     VanAernam said she has enjoyed that two-acre stretch of Stephenson’s Beach next to the Gulf of Mexico for her entire life and has lived her whole life in Dixie County. 
     It touches Shired Island Beach, and it touches the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge on the other side, she said. This should have been added to the county government’s recreational property holdings long ago, she said.


Dixie County Attorney Chana Watson is seen moments before the start of the March 5 meeting.

     Dixie County Attorney Chana Watson said she believes the fresh water that is used at Shirred Island Park and Campground comes from a well on the Stephenson’s property.
     Chairman Hatch said Dixie County owes its thanks to the late Commissioner Stephenson, Margie Stephenson, and to the whole family, because Jody Stephenson is not that couple’s only child.


Sheila Frierson, R.N., of the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition holds up ‘A Parent’s Guide to Substance Misuse Prevention & Conversations.’ This four-page guide is a valuable tool for parents and teachers to help children and adults aged 3 years to 21 years to understand how to avoid injury, death and destruction from the impact of drug abuse on individuals, families and communities. Learn more by clicking HERE.

Metal Thieves
     In other action and information from the meeting, the County Commission learned thefts of metal from solid waste transfer sites are persistent despite “No Trespass” signs.
     During the conversation about this problem, it was mentioned that a person can be given a lifetime trespass warning and they will just climb the fence and take what they want. There was some mention of a need for the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office to enforce the law to stop thefts.
     Meanwhile, the county lacks a person to collect metal and take it for sale to recycling centers as a business venture where that interest can make some money and the county can have some money too.

Dredge Bid Awarded
     The Dixie County Board of County Commissioners contacted Florida Dredge and Dock of Tarpon Springs concerning dredging projects for the community of Suwannee and the Town of Horseshoe Beach.
     These projects are the dredging of select canales in Suwannee and Horseshoe Beach and transporting the material to the Dredge Material Management Area in the Town of Horseshoe Beach.
     Florida Dredge and Dock had the low bid of #3,398,888.60 (almost $3.4 million).
     “Please provide us with the construction Bid Bond so that we can prepare and submit the construction contract for your signature,” the March 5 letter signed by Chairman Mark Hatch noted. “We anticipate contract preparation and Notice to Proceed to be issued in March 2026.”

CareerSource CLM
Levy County career center moves
By Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC, FCWP
Director of Communications
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion
Published March 5, 2026 at 4 p.m.
     LEVY COUNTY – The CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion career center in Chiefland has relocated to the College of Central Florida’s Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, effective Monday, March 9.     The center has served Levy County at its Suwannee Plaza location near the Walmart Supercenter since 2018. Dale French, CareerSource CLM’s executive vice president, said the new site is part of a two-location strategy designed to better serve job seekers and local businesses.
     In addition to the career center at CF’s Levy Campus, French said a satellite office is expected to open in May or June at the Levy County Government Center in Bronson.
      “The CF campus is at the heart of learning and training for this community, and it’s a beautiful, professional setting,” French said. “Opening a second career center in Bronson will also help make our services more accessible to businesses and residents.”
     The new career center is located at 15390 US-19, Room 102, approximately four miles northwest of the former Suwannee Plaza office, which officially closed on March 5. The upcoming Bronson satellite office will be located 16 miles southeast at 375 Garner St., Suite E.
      “We will provide the same staff-assisted services to connect employers with qualified, skilled talent and to support job seekers with career development and employment opportunities,” French said. “All services are offered free of charge.”
     For more information about CareerSource CLM programs and services in Levy County, call 352-493-6813 or 800-434-5627, or visit https://careersourceclm.com/.

Danny Etheridge
of Capital City Investments
recognized as a distinguished
financial professional by LPL Financial 

Information and Photo Provided
By Brooke Hallock | Chief Brand Officer
Capital City Bank
Published March 5, 2025 at 3 p.m.
     CHIEFLAND -- Capital City Investments, a division of Capital City Wealth, is proud to announce Danny Etheridge, CRPC, CKA, a financial advisor in Chiefland, has earned a place among LPL Financial’s Institution Summit Club Program for 2026, a distinction reserved for financial advisors and professionals who set the standard for excellence in financial guidance.

Danny Etheridge
 

     In today’s dynamic environment, Americans need more than advice. They need a collaborative partner who understands their goals and can help turn plans into progress. Etheridge delivers valuable expertise every day, serving clients across Levy, Gilchrist, Dixie and Suwannee counties with comprehensive wealth management services, including investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, charitable giving and estate planning.
     “I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” Etheridge said. “I believe in building strong relationships with my clients and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed financial decisions.”
     “It’s a privilege to recognize Danny and Capital City Investments for this remarkable accomplishment,” said Ken Hullings, executive vice president of institution client success at LPL Financial. “Financial professionals like Danny exemplify the valuable relationship and impact that financial professionals deliver. By leveraging the resources and collaborative environment of our institution model, investors are empowered to pursue their financial goals. We are proud to support Capital City Investments and all our institutions who are shaping brighter financial futures within their communities.”
     Etheridge has been affiliated with LPL Financial, a leading wealth management firm, for seven years. For more information about Danny Etheridge and Capital City Investments, please visit https://financialadvisors.ccbg.com/.
 

Gilchrist County ag land saved
Information Provided By FDACS Communications
Published March 4, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.
     TALLAHASSEE – Today (Wednesday, March 4), Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the permanent protection of nearly 2,600 acres of working Florida agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
     Rural lands protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
     Property in Gilchrist and Baker counties are now among that protected land.
     “Florida’s working agricultural lands are part of our heritage, and it’s our responsibility to protect them,” Commissioner Simpson said. “I am proud to announce another win for Florida through our Rural and Family Lands Protection Program today. We are permanently protecting nearly 2,600 acres of productive timberland to ensure it stays in private hands and continues working for Florida families. These easements protect private property rights, keep government from owning and managing more land, and ensure Florida families can continue producing the food, fiber, wildlife habitat, and economic opportunity that fuel our state.”
     Since its inception, the department’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved approximately 230,000 acres of working agricultural land, with approximately 165,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson’s administration.
     The properties are enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which was established in state law in 2021 through the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act as a priority of then Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson.
Land West Holdings
     Land West Holdings, an approximately 910-acre timberland operation in Gilchrist County, has been permanently preserved from development through two separate rural lands protection easements, totaling $2,408,000, with $525,250 being provided through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
     The project supports a mixture of pine plantations – nearly all of the original uplands – and encompassed scattered wetlands. Just over half of the site is in typical pine plantation of variable stand age with the remaining portion consisting of a series of large basin marsh wetlands which are connected by forested basin swamps of mature cypress and wetland hardwoods.
Thayendanegea Timber
     Thayendanegea Timber, an approximately 1,685-acre timber property in Baker County, has been permanently preserved from development through a rural lands protection easement, totaling $3,706,000, with $1,853,000 being provided through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
     The property is located near the Osceola National Forest and Osceola Wildlife Management Area.
     The primary agricultural practice on the property is silviculture. Prescribed fire is used to manage the understory, resulting in a high diversity of native flora. The property is interspersed with wetlands and provides a riparian buffer to Cedar Creek, which runs through it.
     In addition to silviculture, the property is managed to increase productivity of deer, turkey, dove, and waterfowl, allowing for native game hunting.

Governor appoints four judges - two local
Information Provided By Governor's Press Office
Published March 3, 2026 at 7 p.m.
     TALLAHASSEE – Today (Tuesday, March 3), Gov. Ron DeSantis announced four judicial appointments.
     Jonathan Ramsey of Gainesville is to serve as Judge on the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court.
     The Eighth Judicial Circuit includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties.
     Ramsey has served as an Alachua County Court Judge for since DeSantis appointed him to that bench in 2024. Previously, Ramsey worked as an associate at Fine, Farkask, & Parlapiano. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and juris doctor from the University of Florida.
     Ramsey fills a judicial vacancy created by the enactment of Senate Bill 2508.
     Joy Danne of Newberry is to serve as an Alachua County Court Judge. 
     Danne has served as an assistant public defender in the Eighth Judicial Circuit since 2013. Previously, she worked as a legal intern at Barfoot & Schoettker, L.L.C. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and her juris doctor from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University.
     Danne fills a judicial vacancy created by the elevation of former Alachua County Court Judge Kristine Van Vorst to be an Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge, which happened in August of 2025.
     Rachelle Williamson of Winter Haven is to serve as a Tenth Judicial Circuit Court Judge now. The Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida includes Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties.
     Williamson has served as a Polk County Court Judge since being appointed by DeSantis in 2024. Previously, she served as an assistant state attorney in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and her juris doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law. Williamson fills a judicial vacancy created by the enactment of Senate Bill 2508.
     Sarah Corbett of Lakeland to serve as a Polk County Court Judge.
     Corbett has served as the director of central staff for the Sixth District Court of Appeal since 2022. Previously, she served as a senior staff attorney for the Second District Court of Appeal. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College and her juris doctor from the University of Florida.
     Corbett fills a judicial vacancy created by the enactment of Senate Bill 2508.

Falcon 9 rocket
takes 29 satellites into orbit
Florida launch
was hours after California launch

This photo shows the rocket blasting flames into the air over Brevard County as seen from Levy County 150 miles to the west of that launch area.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © March 2, 2026 at 11 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     LEVY COUNTY – From 150 miles to the west of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (Brevard County), a small but bright red glow on the horizon was seen through pine trees in Levy County revealed a rocket was going up from over yonder late Sunday night (March 1).     SpaceX successfully launched the Starlink 10-41 mission on Sunday night at 9:56 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), as planned, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 rocket carried 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, flying on a northeastern trajectory.
     The first-stage booster landed on a barge known as “droneship” in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX recycles its first-stage Falcon 9 rocket boosters by landing them on various barges in the Atlantic Ocean and then restoring them for another launch.
     Earlier that day, March 1, SpaceX enjoyed another successful liftoff of 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, which occurred at 2:10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (which is 5:10 a.m. EST). This Falcon 9 mission, launched from SLC-4E, followed another Starlink launch on Feb. 27.
     As of late February 2026, there are more than 9,700 Starlink satellites in orbit, with more than 8,500 of them in active operational orbit, according to data tracked by astronomer Jonathan McDowell. SpaceX continuously launches new batches, making it the largest satellite constellation in history so far, and with those satellites comprising in excess of 65 percent of all active satellites in low Earth orbit.


This is a one-minute view of the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Brevard County) as seen from Levy County, 150 miles to the west. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     The observation late Sunday night by one professional journalist and amateur astronomer in Levy County was made possible thanks to a planted pine farmer who allows his neighbor to film rocket launches from the former hayfield that is now a planted pine forest of currently short pine trees, just to the south of The Ink Pad.
     Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX that provides high-speed, low-latency broadband to, primarily, remote and rural locations globally.
     In Central Florida, Starlink ($80 to $120-plus per month as well as the initial $349-plus equipment cost) is significantly more expensive and generally slower than local fiber providers (often $35–$70/month for 1 Gbps+).
     Fiber By Central Florida is currently the best method for relatively low cost, dependable, high-speed Internet service.
     Central Florida Electric Cooperative is considering selling its fiber-related assets that are known as Fiber By Central to rural broadband provider Conexon. The current Conexon rates are comparable to the current monthly rates of Fiber By Central Florida.

CFEC trustees start evaluating
potential sale
of fiber-related assets to Conexon
Information Provided By Central Florida Electric Cooperative
Published Feb. 27, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
     CHIEFLAND -- The Central Florida Electric Cooperative (CFEC) Board of Trustees unanimously voted during its February Board meeting to begin exclusive formal due diligence and negotiations regarding a potential sale of its fiber-related assets to rural broadband provider Conexon.
    If a definitive agreement is completed, the proposal will be presented to CFEC’s membership for a vote at the Annual Meeting in May. 
    Nothing changes immediately for Fiber by Central Florida subscribers. Internet and voice services will continue operating as they do today over the Fiber by Central Florida fiber network. 
     In partnership with Conexon, CFEC launched Fiber by Central Florida in 2022 to bring reliable, high-speed Internet service to the cooperative’s long-underserved rural communities. That effort has been successful.
     Today, more than 36,000 homes and businesses across the co-op’s territory have access to fiber service, with a majority of eligible members choosing to subscribe. 
     As the fiber system has matured into a strong and valuable network, the CFEC Board of Trustees believes it is responsible to evaluate whether transitioning ownership would strengthen the cooperative’s long-term financial position while maintaining dependable service and sustainable, competitive pricing for members. 
     Under the proposed framework, the sale would allow CFEC to fully retire all fiber-related debt, including the costs of engineering and construction of the network. Additional proceeds could also be used to reduce other cooperative debt, strengthen the CFEC’s financial foundation and improve the cooperative’s ability to manage future rate pressure. 
     Conexon has long partnered with electric cooperatives such as CFEC, focusing exclusively on rural broadband to deliver world-class fiber service to co-op members and communities. The company operates in 24 states and more than 80 markets, furthering its mission to close the digital divide for rural Americans in unserved and underserved communities across the country.
     Given the company’s scale, decades of rural fiber experience and existing close partnership with CFEC, a Conexon agreement would provide a strong long-term path for the continued success of the fiber system. 
     Electric cooperatives today operate in an increasingly complex environment marked by rising infrastructure costs, fuel market volatility, and significant storm recovery challenges. 
     Evaluating opportunities that reduce financial exposure and help protect rate stability is part of the CFEC Board of Trustees’ responsibility to its members. 
     “If a final agreement is reached, our members will make the decision,” CFEC Board President Alan Mikell said. “Our responsibility is to carefully evaluate this proposal and provide clear information so members can decide what is best for the cooperative’s future.” 
     Detailed information will be shared directly with members well in advance of the May vote.