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Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce
gets new administrative assistant

Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce Administrative Assistant Wendy Maxwell is seen in the Chamber office – which is an alcove just to the left after the front entrance to the building where the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners meet on the first and third Mondays starting at 4 p.m.

Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 7, 2025 at 3 p.m.
     TRENTON – Having breezed through at least a couple of executive directors in the past couple of years, the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce now has an administrative assistant, instead.

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     That way, the office worker is a paid employee who simply follows the command of the leadership and does not lead the Chamber in any manner.
     The current officers and board of directors are President Allyson Weiland, Vice President Karen Jones, Treasurer Michael McElroy, Secretary Denise Hudson, and board members - Natasha Allen, Angela Barron, Lucy Coleman, Tommy Langford, Marc Micale, Todd Newton, (Past President) Charlotte Pederson and Amber Stanley.
     Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce Administrative Assistant Wendy Maxwell assumed her duties on Sept. 23.
     Gilchrist County is in the midst of its celebration of existing for 100 years. The Chamber has had a few events in relation to that so far. Maxwell was provided with contact information to reach the daily news website if the Chamber wants to announce anything to the general public.
     This Chamber has gone two ways during the past 15 years. In one version, it tells the general public information. In another version, it limits information about Gilchrist County business and events to only those who pay dues-paying members of the Chamber.

RSVP required for free
estate planning program in Bell
Presentation set for Oct. 28 – RSVP by Oct. 24
Information Provided
Published Oct. 7, 2025 at 7 a.m.
     BELL – Everyone who is interested is invited to see and hear the presentation titled, Creating Your Estate Plan.     A local estate-planning attorney, Leigh Cangelosi, will be available to answer questions.
     The presentation is scheduled for Oct. 28, starting at 6 p.m., in Akins BBQ, 1159 S. Main St. (U.S. Highway 129) in Bell.
     Dinner will be served.
     RSVP to Alicia or Laurel at 352-472-2776 no later than Friday, Oct. 24. Spaces are limited. So, individuals planning to attend are asked to please respond soon. 
     Estate planning is a topic people tend to put off or ignore, but it’s also one of the most important things a person may ever do. Properly planning an estate helps prepare a secure future for the individual and for generations to come.
     At this presentation, participants will have an opportunity to learn about estate planning, including what to consider when creating a will, the benefits of trusts in estate planning, how to reduce estate taxes and how insurance can help protect a family.
     This presentation is being hosted by Sheila K. Smith, Financial Advisor and Limited Partner of Edward Jones.
     Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors, are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are advised to please consult an estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding any situation.

A Retiree's Guide for
National Retirement Security Month
Published Oct. 6, 2025 at 11 a.m.
     NEWBERRY -- If you're retired, it's easy to let your finances go on autopilot. Since October is National Retirement Security Month, it's a good time to revisit some areas that can impact your long-term financial security and help your money last a lifetime.
Consider these suggestions: 
     • Manage your withdrawal rate. You'll likely need to tap into your retirement accounts — your IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan. But think carefully about how much income you withdraw every year. If you take out too much, especially in the early years of your retirement, you risk outliving your resources. You have the option of withdrawing from these accounts at age 59½. Once you turn 73, you'll be required to take out at least a certain amount each year based on your age and account balance. 
     • Estimate health care costs. When you turn 65, you will be eligible for Medicare, but you may still need a Medicare supplement plan, both of which will require premium payments. You'll probably also incur a variety of other unreimbursed expenses for doctor visit copays or deductibles, prescription drugs and vision, hearing and dental care. Additionally, about 70% of adults ages 65 and older will need some form of long-term support, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. This may include a paid home health aide (average cost of $77,792 per year), an assisted living residence (average cost of $70,500 per year) or nursing home care (private room average cost of $127,750 per year). (Cost estimates are from Genworth 2024 Cost of Care Survey.) Over the course of your retirement, these can add up, so be realistic when budgeting for health care expenses in retirement.
     • Consider when to take Social Security. You can start receiving monthly Social Security checks at age 62, but your payments will generally be larger if you wait until your “full” retirement age of 66 or 67. (The size of your payments will “max out” at age 70.) If you believe you have longevity working in your favor, and you can afford to wait, you may well be better off by delaying Social Security as long as possible.
     • Avoid investing too conservatively. Once you’re retired, you might think you should take as few chances with your investments as possible — after all, you have less time for them to bounce back from a downturn than you did during your working years. Nonetheless, it's important to consider keeping a reasonable percentage of growth-oriented investments in your portfolio to help you stay ahead of inflation. Even at a low rate, inflation can erode your purchasing power over time. 
     • Keep your generosity in check. If you have grown children who need financial help, or grandchildren heading to college someday, you’d no doubt like to do what you can to assist them. However, the hard truth is that they have more time than you to find workable financial solutions, whereas if you deplete your funds through your generosity, you could put yourself in a precarious position. So, be as giving as you can afford — but try not to go beyond that. By preserving your financial independence, you’ll end up benefiting your family as well.
     Retirement is ideally an enjoyable time in your life, especially if you feel financially stable. So, take time to check in periodically to keep that stability on track.
     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 Burtle, 25349 West Newberry Road (State Road 26), in Newberry. Phone 352-472-2776.

Dixie County Finance Director
Brenda Royal shares passion for duties

Dixie County Commission Chairman Jody Stephenson is among the officials who put a fingerprint on a particular copy of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget book, and his action is captured in this photo. The metaphoric fingerprint of everyone who participated in making the budget for this fiscal year is what is within the numbers recorded there as a guide for how to spend taxpayers' dollars in Dixie County. Here, Dixie County Finance Director Brenda Royals holds the book as he puts his print on that copy.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 3, 2025 at 10 p.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CROSS CITY – At the first regular twice-monthly meeting of the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners since the start of the county’s 2025-2026 Fiscal Year (Oct. 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2026), one Dixie County public servant helped everyone understand a bit more one of the duties for people in the Office of Dixie County Clerk and Comptroller Barbie Higginbotham.     Dixie County Finance Director Brenda Royal shares passion for duties, one of the deputy clerks in the Dixie County Clerk’s Office, let everyone see part of the human element behind the numbers that record monetary matters for the county.
      In addition to being the clerk of the Dixie County Court and the Dixie County unit of the Third Judicial Circuit Court, which includes a plethora of duties, Higginbotham and her staff are responsible for essential public services enhancing public safety, commerce, and access to justice.
     Clerks and comptrollers perform a wide range of record keeping, information management, and financial administration services for Florida’s judicial system and county government.
     As comptroller for the Dixie County Commission, as well as clerk for the Dixie County Court and that part of the Third Judicial Circuit Court, Higginbotham and other 66 elected Florida’s clerks of court and comptrollers have nearly 1,000 statutory responsibilities they provide to their communities.


Dixie County Finance Officer Brenda Royal shares her passion for duties by allowing other people to put their fingerprint on her copy of the budget book she created for the Dixie County Commission for its Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The video of this presentation on Oct. 3 in Cross City, is visible by clicking on the PHOTO,
Video by Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     Thursday, Dixie County Finance Director Royal shared some of the passion that drives her to help all of the residents of, and visitors to, Dixie County.
     She spoke about the journey that led to the final budget being approved for the fiscal year.
     The cover of the annual budget book, she said, shows a picture that means something to reflect an aspect of Dixie County to everyone. It has included, in years past, equipment, new fire stations or other photos of projects that required significant work by county staff to bring those projects to fruition.
     Royal asked Assistant County Manager Roy Bass to send her pictures to consider for the 2025-2026 budget book. He sent her photographs and some of them were sunsets.
     “Sunsets are a way to my heart,” she said.
     The poles sticking up from the Gulf of Mexico in the photo she chose are where a public dock used to be off of Horseshoe Beach, where a hurricane tore that dock apart.
     “It was just kind of beautiful that the sun was setting right in the middle of it,” Royal said. “So, I knew that had to be the picture this year. I just knew it had to be the picture.”
     Royal said she prayed and knew the Lord said, “There is beauty in rebuilding.”
     The idea that there is “beauty in rebuilding” is a theme woven throughout the Bible. This theme emphasizes that God restores what is broken and creates something new and beautiful from the wreckage.
     Royal spoke about the journey of the Dixie County Clerk’s Office this year to build the budget for the fiscal year. There were emergency meetings of the County Commission that had to be called to meet deadlines set by state law.
     To build a balanced budget, Royal said, everyone had to work together, and they all had to work “really, really hard.”
     “We talked about putting our fingerprint on this county,” Royal said, “and I believe we are also blessed to be where we are – that God put us here to do just a good job and steward this county well.”
     She said this is not to infer that previous staff did not do the same.
     Royal said she and others in the county government all want to do what is best in regard to the use of taxpayers’ money.
     Several meetings were conducted; some tears were shed; and late nights of working went into the creation of this year’s budget book, Royal said, and as result the budget is balanced.
     “Our constitutional officers were amazing,” Royal said.
     She said every department head, the five members of the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners, and everyone in the county government all are working diligently to make the county better.
     The budget book, Royal explained, is the guide for the county to follow for the fiscal year. 
     “We can make anything balance,” she said, “but you want to put your whole heart in it. And make sure you are doing the best job that you can do.”
     She spoke about Beau Wright who served as an intern this year in the Dixie County Clerk’s Office. She told him her vision about the budget this year, and he put in the entries as well as saw her cry – putting it all together and bringing it to life for her.
     Royal thanked Wright for his contributions to the completion of the budget book.
     During the many meetings, there was discussion about “putting our fingerprint on this county,” Royal said, “and making a difference with what we can do.”
     Royal held up her copy of her budget book. 
     With that, she asked County Clerk Higginbotham, each County Commission member and any county department heads who wanted to, to physically put their fingerprint on that copy of the budget book. Starting with Higginbotham, Royal carried an inkpad and each person did as she asked by placing their fingerprint or thumbprint on that copy of the budget book.
     Later in the morning, someone made a comment to Dixie County Chairman Jody Stephenson that they have his fingerprint now, after he made a funny comment about what he might or could do. Everyone laughed.
     Royal, the first person speaking from the lectern that morning, helped many people remember that individuals who provide public service put their hearts into their work, and sometimes that brings tears to drop from their eyes. And their work includes their metaphoric fingerprints.
 

Special exception for cell tower
placement passes 4-0
despite some objections
Four RV placements
and one setback variance allowed too

Dixie County Building Official Leon Wright speaks with the County Commission on Thursday (Oct. 2)

Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 2, 2025 at 7 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
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     CROSS CITY – The Dixie County Board of County Commissioners ruled in favor of six separate petitioners on Thursday morning (Oct. 2) as the elected government officials granted for five special exceptions and one variance related to building and zoning.
     The process of deciding whether to grant requests or rejecting requests, or to grant with requests with provisions has changed a bit for Dixie County within the past year. Now, there is a group of appointed volunteers who sit as the Local Planning Agency (LPA). The LPA listens to the petitioners’ requests and they send recommendations on whether to approve or deny them.
     In the first case heard and ruled upon Thursday, Dixie County Commissioner Jamie Storey recused himself from voting due to a possible conflict of interest. He filed the paperwork required for that recusal, according to records.
     A petition by Jonathan Yates, of Arcola Towers, noted the developer’s request for a special exception to be granted to permit a wireless telecommunications tower in an area zoned agriculture.
     Yates asked to build a 197-foot-tall monopole for Verizon cellular service. The tower is to be located at 3878 N.E 272nd Ave., in Old Town, on 80 acres with significant setbacks, according to records.
     Three people objected to the tower because they believed it may be a health hazard, and it may reduce property values.
     At least two individuals said they favored the added tower, with one of them saying she likes it because she uses Verizon for wireless service, and it leaves something to be desired right now in her area of Dixie County.
     The LPA recommends approval.
     After a long discussion, including commissioners noting they have addressed these concerns before and have approved similar requests, Commission Daniel Wood III made a motion to approve it, which was seconded by Commissioner David Osteen.
     Voting to approve the request with Wood and Osteen were Commission Chairman Jody Stephenson and Commission Vice Chairman Mark Hatch. As noted, Commissioner Storey abstained due to a possible conflict of interest.
     The next four requests for special exceptions were for recreational vehicle placement on land zoned for agriculture or noted to be in an environmentally sensitive area.
     Two of those were recommended for approval by the LPA. One had previously been denied because it was in Commissioner Hatch’s district, and he was recovering from unexpected surgery and was absent from the first meeting where it was to be considered.
     They were all approved 5-0.
     One of the RV placement special exception requests was recommended for denial by the LPA.
     That was approved 5-0 with the caveat that the owner of the property would begin building a home there within a year. The Spanish-English interpreter said the family understood. They are just waiting to close on the sale of property in Lee County, with mortgage on that house in the $200,000 range.

Free fiber optics boot camp
starts Oct. 27 at CF in Levy County
Residents from 10 counties invited
Information Provided By Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC, FCWP, 
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion Director of Communications
Published Sept. 30, 2025 at 3 p.m.
     OCALA – CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion’s next Creating Connections fiber optics training is set to get under way for those interested in securing high-paying, in-demand careers in broadband telecommunications.
     The Creating Connections project is designed to train individuals to help fill broadband positions for companies providing high-speed internet for approximately 70,000 residents and businesses in rural counties.
     Training begins Oct. 27 for fiber-optics technicians and installers with a one-week boot camp at the College of Central Florida Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 U.S. Highway 19, north of Chiefland and just south of the City of Fanning Springs.
     Additional boot camps are slated to take place in February and May.
     The program, administered by CareerSource CLM in collaboration with CareerSource North Florida and CareerSource North Central Florida, provides free training to residents of Levy, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union counties.
     Participants receive hands-on training with patch panels, fiber optic cable and test equipment as well as the opportunity to earn three industry standard certifications which typically cost $2,785. 
     The program also provides wrap-around supportive services such as travel assistance, uniforms, and needed tools of the trade.
Michele Schulze, CareerSource CLM’s Creating Connections grant coordinator, said that to date more than 50 students have successfully completed the training.
      “With hard work and dedication, we have seen fiber technicians move to project managers in less than a year,” Schulze said, adding that those willing to travel can benefit from company vehicles, per diems, and overtime pay. We have two currently employed who graduated from Levy High School in 2024 and are earning hourly wages of $25 an hour with overtime pay at $37.50 an hour for up to 20 hours each week”
     Funding for Creating Connections comes from a $1.73 million grant that is part of the federal Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs program.
     The fiber optics training is conducted by BDI DataLynk, a standards-based company offering Fiber Optic Association (FOA) sanctioned fiber optics network technician training. FOA is the largest professional fiber optics society in the world.
     Residents of Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist and other eligible counties who are interested in enrolling in the program or learning more should call 800-434-JOBS, ext. 4206 or email broadband@careersourceclm.com.

Publisher announces opportunity
for seven more big ad spaces
By Jeff M. Hardison, Publisher
© Sept. 29, 2025 at 8:30 p.m.
     LEVY COUNTY – Jeff M. Hardison, publisher and sole proprietor of the 15-year-old daily news website named HardisonInk.com, announced Monday evening (Sept. 29) that he is opening all seven pages to one more large ad each.     “Right now,” Hardison said, “there is one significant ad on each of the seven pages. Those ads cost $2,000 a year. They measure 600 pixels wide by 399 pixels tall.”
     Hardison said every advertiser from 2024 so far in 2025 has renewed their ads and there have been some new advertisers.
     “When I started this daily news website 15 years ago,” the multiple award-winning journalist said, “I was recovering from being laid off from a high-end horse-oriented magazine in Ocala after being laid off from a daily newspaper in Lake City.”
     Hardison said he saw then that the future of journalism was going toward the Internet. Having taken his first computer class in 1971 (Engineering Concepts II) at Northeast High School in his hometown of St. Petersburg and having learned about the progress of computers after moving from his use of an IBM Selectric typewriter decades later to his first PC, he had learned how to write some “code” for programming.
     "I took an introduction to computer program at UF back in the later 1970s," Hardison said, "but since I was more interested in journalism than computers, the post-graduate teaching assistants chose to snub me when I sought help."
     In any event, Hardison conferred with his now late friend William “Bill” Nelson Kilborn (1937-Oct. 16, 2015) of Trenton in 2010. Kilborn created the code that became a daily news website with everything Hardison had sought. The daily news website officially started on Feb. 1, 2011, although there was traffic on the site before that announcement went worldwide.
     “I violated every ‘rule’ I had written about when I was a business writer in Naples, which was before I became a managing editor there,” Hardison said. “The people and companies I thought would buy ads at first, did not.”
     That was in 1984-1984 after earning his first Florida Press Association honors for Investigative Reporting in 1982 in Jasper and then being the editor of two newspapers in Live Oak.
     In 2011, Hardison saw the first ray of progress arriving when he closed the sale of his first ad, which came from Robert “Bob” Williams, who is now a pastor at United Methodist churches in Old Town and Cross City. Williams bought the first ad – which was for Nature Coast Driver Improvement School.
     After that, Hardison said, the website continued to grow as a revenue producer and as the most trusted source of news in this part of Florida.
     “In any event,” Hardison said, “I am opening up the more expensive ad spaces. Other ads still cost either $1,500 a year or $750 a year, for placement on all seven pages.”
     Hardison said he thinks there is a buyer for the second significant ad on the Police Page, which he is reserving. The other six pages are open for sponsors, he said. Anyone who is interested in buying an ad on HardisonInk.com, at $750, or $1,500, or $2,000 A YEAR, is asked to send an email to hardisonink@gmail.com.
     Monthly ads for political races or to announce events cost $400 a month. 
     

FWC to host in-person workshop
for proposed rules on commercial
and recreational oyster harvest
Workshop is Oct. 14 in Bronson
Information Provided By FWC
Published Sept. 29, 2025 at 11 a.m.
     TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding an additional public workshop to gather input on proposed rules for the regulation and management of commercial and recreational oyster harvest in Apalachicola Bay, as well as regulations that would apply statewide.
     Topics for the proposed rules for Apalachicola Bay include commercial and recreational licensing requirements; setting annual harvest levels and bag limits; harvest seasons; reporting requirements; and authorized landing locations
      Statewide changes include culling requirements, size limit tolerances and rule cleanup.
     There is a workshop set for Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) at the Dogan S. Cobb Municipal Building, 660 E. Hathaway Ave. (U.S. Alt. 27), in Bronson.

Capital City Bank Group Foundation awards $25,500 to nonprofits in Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Suwannee counties
Information Provided
Capital City Bank Group Foundation
Published Sept. 29, 2025 at 11 a.m.
     CHIEFLAND – Capital City Bank Group (CCBG) Foundation – a nonprofit organization created in 1983 by Capital City Bank Group Inc. – has donated annually for 42 years to charitable institutions across the Capital City footprint in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
     During the 2025 grant cycle, the CCBG Foundation reinvested $25,500 into the communities of Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Suwannee counties, awarding grants to organizations like the Dixie Education Foundation, Education Foundation of Gilchrist County, Levy County Schools Foundation, Partnership for Strong Families and others.
 

“Supporting organizations that create meaningful impact in our communities aligns with the mission of the Capital City Bank Group Foundation. We are honored to help strengthen our community through the dedication of our bankers and financial contributions that support lasting, positive change.”
     -- Stewart Wasson, Capital City Bank president of Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Suwannee counties.

     The donations provided by the CCBG Foundation help nonprofits carry on the mission of the Foundation to enhance the quality of life for countless local residents and visitors in the areas where the bank does business.
     “Supporting organizations that create meaningful impact in our communities aligns with the mission of the Capital City Bank Group Foundation,” said Stewart Wasson, Capital City Bank president of Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Suwannee counties. “We are honored to help strengthen our community through the dedication of our bankers and financial contributions that support lasting, positive change.”
     The CCBG Foundation provides grants to nonprofits, charitable organizations, and institutions exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The mission of the CCBG Foundation is to invest in initiatives that benefit local communities.
     Most of the funds are distributed to specific areas of focus, including: arts and culture, children and youth services, economic and community development, education, health and sciences and human services

Nursing students
go hands-on with helicopter


Story and Photo Provided By FGC
Published Sept. 21, 2025 at 5 p.m.
     LAKE CITY -- Nursing students at Florida Gateway College (FGC) were treated to an extraordinary learning experience recently as an AirLife helicopter and crew visited the campus to share insight about the field of aerial emergency medical services.
     The crew provided students with a firsthand look at the unique challenges and rewards of delivering life-saving care in the skies, from rapid patient assessment in confined aircraft spaces to coordinating with ground medical teams during emergency transport. Students had the opportunity to explore the specialized equipment, learn about the rigorous training required for flight medical professionals, and ask questions about career paths in this demanding yet rewarding field.
     The visit proved invaluable in exposing students to a career opportunity many had never considered, broadening their understanding of how emergency medical care extends far beyond traditional hospital and ambulance settings.
      “Florida Gateway College extends its heartfelt gratitude to the helicopter crew for taking time from their demanding schedules to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Ann Brown, FGC dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Their dedication to both saving lives in the field and nurturing future medical professionals exemplifies the spirit of service that defines the emergency medical community.”

Levy County approves
job growth grant application
 
Levy County Economic Development and Tourism Division Director Tisha Whitehurst spends a few minutes requesting permission to apply for a job growth grant and sees the County Commission on Sept. 16 quickly approving her request.

Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Sept. 18, 2025 at 5 p.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     BRONSON – With the dissolution of the former Nature Coast (Levy County) Business Development Council, economic development in Levy County is being led by Levy County Economic Development and Tourism Division Director Tisha Whitehurst.
     On Sept. 16, during the regular meeting of the Levy County Board of County Commissioners, Whitehurst’s request for approval of a Florida Jobs Growth Grant application to be sent was unanimously approved after a motion by County Commissioner Johnny Hiers was seconded by Commissioner Charlie Kennedy with positive votes on the Hiers-Kennedy motion by Hiers, Kennedy, Chair Desiree Mills, Vice Chair Tim Hodge and Commissioner Rock Meek.
      The Levy County Commission has prioritized economic development. The goal is to support strategic initiatives that bring essential jobs, services and infrastructure to meet the needs of the communities.
     The Chiefland area serves as an economic anchor, boasting numerous thriving businesses; however, there is a need to further develop the infrastructure's capacity, Whitehurst noted.
     The multi-page background information in the grant application shows the first phase is hoping to help lead to the construction of a Domestic Wastewater Collection Transmission System in Chiefland. 
     The initial phase of this project is expected to generate a minimum of 120 jobs, including 100 full-time positions within the grocery store and an additional 20 jobs from the out-parcel. When including part-time roles, we anticipate providing a total of 150 job opportunities.
     Furthermore, the second phase of the project aims to double this impact by adding a retail anchor and more commercial out-parcels. This grant will remove the final obstacle preventing the development from moving forward. That obstacle is Chiefland’s current inability to add any significant influx of wastewater for treatment.
     Through countless hours of collaboration among the city, county, developer, and grocer, Levy County has successfully addressed all remaining challenges for Phase 1.
     This ambitious project will cover 155 acres, with approximately 45 acres dedicated to commercial and retail components, also addressing the current lack of retail employment in the area. The remaining land will be developed for residential use. 
     Levy County experiences a significant outflow of its workforce, with 72.6 percent of its residents employed outside the county. This statistic places Levy County 14^th out of 67 counties in Florida in terms of the highest worker outflow.
     This highlights the critical importance of economic development in the County. According to the report from the Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research (WSER) dated July of 2024, an analysis of workforce and demographic characteristics, along with community patterns within Levy County, was undertaken to furnish comprehensive economic data regarding the population and labor force residing and working in the county.
     This comprehensive analysis of commuting patterns in Levy County reveals a net outflow of 6,104 workers. Among the 8,804 individuals employed within the county, 4,088 (46.4 percent) both reside and work here, while 4,716 (53.6 percent) commute from outside Levy County. Meanwhile, of the 14,908 residents living in Levy County, 10,820 (72.6 percent) are employed outside the county. This data highlights significant commuting trends and the reliance of residents on external job markets.
     The proposed “Shoppes at Locke Crossing” development in Chiefland, situated relatively near to the convergence of Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties, is drawing interest from various retailers, including a grocery store, and fast-food ventures.
     Phase II plans include a home improvement store, soft goods retailers, and a $20 million hotel.
     The project aims to address the lack of full-sized grocery stores, spanning 155 acres. Approximately 45 acres will be dedicated to commercial development, while also incorporating residential spaces to address the area's low homeownership rate of 40.5 percent.
     The project is expected to generate 150 permanent jobs in Phase I, with the potential for this number to double in Phase II, thereby revitalizing the community and enhancing local services through economic growth and job creation. Developer investments totaling $70 million represent the direct costs associated with the “Shoppes at Locke Crossing” development. 
     This amount covers all related expenses for labor, tools and necessary services. Additionally, infrastructure improvements are estimated to cost an extra $4.3 million, and the county plans to apply for further grant funding to cover these costs.

Levy County helps commercial development

Levy County Commission Chair Desiree Mills and County Commissioner Charlie Kenndy are seen at the dais on Tuesday morning during the discussion leading to a rezoning for 21 acres to be commercial rather than agricultural-residential.

Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Sept. 18, 2025 at 8 p.m.
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     BRONSON – An advisory group voted 3-2 to deny a rezoning for 21.25 (twenty-one and a quarter) acres from low density residential to commercial for property adjacent to U.S. Alt. 27 between the Williston City limits and the Marion County line.
     The Levy County Board of County Commissioners -- after an extensive discussion with input from the public, county staff members and the property owner-developer -- voted 5-0 to approve the request via a motion by County Commissioner Charlie Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Rock Meeks, with Chair Desiree Mills, vice Chair Tim Hodge and Commissioner Johnny Hiers also voting in favor of the Kennedy-Meeks motion to approve.
     Kenneth Metcalf, as agent for Air 22 LLC, and owner of the property, petitioned the County Commission for this small-scale land use amendment.
     The planning staff reviewed the application packet and scheduled a public hearing with the Levy County Planning Commission, which listened to the request on July 28, according to records. Upon conclusion of the public hearing the Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend denial of the petition.
     Interim Levy County Planning Director Laura Jones now leads that part of the Levy County Development Department. The Development Department oversees all aspects of building permits, construction inspections, zoning regulations, and long-term planning.
     The 21.25 acres of this subject property is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Northeast 30th Street (Levy County Road 121) and U.S. Alt. 27 and is addressed as 21350 NE 30th St. Williston, in the Williston Municipal Service District.
     Levy County Provisional Building Official Bernard “Bo” Cox explained the 3-2 vote to deny the request that was voted on by the Zoning Commission. This commission is an advisory board consisting of volunteers who are appointed by the County Commission.
     A few members of the general public on Sept. 16 expressed their opinions -- asking the County Commission to deny the request. The gist of their plea was to keep Levy County rural and residential, even adjacent to major highways.
     Before Cox spoke, the whole County Commission appeared to already understand the concept of having a commercial property zoning next to a major federal highway in Levy County.
     The Williston Municipal Service District has been designated as an area appropriate for urban expansion under Policy 1.2 of the Levy County Comprehensive Plan. This policy allows for the 
establishment of urban-level densities and intensities supported by the availability, provision, or planned expansion of urban services such as central water and sewer, law enforcement, fire protection, solid waste services, roadways, drainage infrastructure, public education facilities, and recreational amenities. 
     The approval of the commercial designation for the subject property expands the supply of land available for commercial use within the Williston Municipal Service District—an area specifically planned for urban growth and the provision of supporting infrastructure and services.
     Cox said the Planning Commission’s 3-2 recommendation for denial of the request by Metcalf was in part from a concern for the City of Williston not providing water and sewer services there currently.
     Metcalf had mentioned that the intensity of his commercial development is limited by the water being from a well and a septic tank being the method for sewer matters, and that there can be a higher intensity of commercial development if and when central sewer and water service is provided by the municipality in the future.
     There was some discussion about a developer who would have built a relatively large facility years ago; however, the city and the developer did not reach an agreement to provide those services, essentially as a result of the high cost of water and sewer transmission between the would-be development and the city’s utility service facilities.
     Levy County Attorney Nicolle M. Shalley helped the commissioners remember the single issue before them on Tuesday did not relate to anything beyond the requested change from residential to commercial uses, and whether that change matches with the Levy County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan.
     The 5-0 vote on Sept. 16 showed that the commissioners felt the applicant had provided them with enough supporting evidence to demonstrate he met the burden to use his property for commercial purposes. This vote showed the commissioners said what they meant in regard to them believing there is a need for more commercially zoned property in Levy County. Hence, they said what they meant, and they did what they said they would do.

Employees Honored

During the Sept. 15 regular meeting of the Levy County Commission, two employees were honored for their years of service to the residents and visitors of Levy County. Seen above are (from left) Levy County Commissioner Johnny Hiers, Commissioner Rock Meeks, Jeremy Pittman, who was recognized with a certificate for his 10 years of service in the Levy County Department of Public Safety (LCDPS), Commission Chair Desiree Mills, Commissioner Charlie Kennedy, LCDPS Chief James ‘Mitch’ Harrell, Commission Vice Chair Tim Hodge and Levy County Human Resources Director Jacqueline Martin. Not pictured is Cathy Wilson, who will be given her certificate for five years of service in the LCDPS.
Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Sept. 17, 2025 at 8 p.m. 
All Rights Reserved

Suspected commercial vehicle thief arrested

Leonel Diaz Pairol, 54, is charged in connection with a commercial vehicle theft operation.

Story and Mugshot Provide
By FDACS Communications
Published Sept. 15, 2025 at 9 p.m.
     TALLAHASSEE – Today (Monday, Sept. 15), Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the arrest of Leonel Diaz Pairol, 54, by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) for his alleged role in a criminal enterprise involving stolen commercial vehicles, fraudulent vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and falsified title documentation spanning multiple counties in South Florida.     “The theft of commercial trucks and trailers is not a victimless crime — it drives up the cost of goods and services for every Floridian,” Commissioner Simpson said. “Thanks to the diligent work of our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, a major player in a sophisticated vehicle theft and fraud operation has been taken off the streets. We will continue to aggressively investigate and disrupt criminal enterprises that target Florida’s businesses, consumers and supply chains.”
     In 2023, OALE received a referral regarding a criminal enterprise involved in the trafficking of stolen property, fraudulent VINs, and falsified title documentation across South Florida.
     OALE special agents identified a semi tractor-trailer bearing a counterfeit VIN and fraudulent paperwork. The trailer was intercepted in Immokalee (Collier County), during a traffic stop and was linked to EZH Transport Inc., owned by Leonel Diaz Pairol. OALE had previously seized three VIN-swapped semi-tractors from Diaz Pairol and EZH Transport. Title histories confirmed that falsified documents and fraudulent rebuild inspection records were submitted in connection with these vehicles.
     Diaz Pairol was associated with multiple fraudulent semi-truck rebuilds, including a Freightliner tractor valued at approximately $140,000 that had been reported stolen from Miami-Dade County. Fraudulent title applications, falsified repair records, and VIN alterations were systematically used to conceal stolen vehicles.
     On Sept. 8, OALE special agents arrested Diaz Pairol in connection with this enterprise. He was transported to the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending judicial proceedings.
     Leonel Diaz Pairol was arrested and charged with the following felonies:
     ● Three counts of title fraud / false statements;
     ● Three counts of possession of altered VIN;
     ● Three counts of obtaining title with fraudulent documents; and
     ● One count of dealing in stolen property.

Dangerous drug removed
from Florida stores
following emergency ban
Information Provided By FDACS
Published Sept. 8, 2025 at 6 p.m.
     TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has removed 17,311 packages of isolated and/or concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) from retail locations in more than 20 Florida counties today (Monday, Sept. 8), according to an announcement by Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simspon.
     This swift action comes after Commissioner Simpson joined Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for the recent announcement that isolated and/or concentrated 7-OH was being classified through an emergency rule as a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida.
     “Since the emergency rule took effect, FDACS inspectors have been on the front lines working every day to get these dangerous, illegal products off the shelves. Over 17,000 packages containing 7-OH have already been pulled from stores across 23 counties, and our work is far from over,” Simpson said. “These ‘wellness’ products are nothing more than vape shop morphine, and we will continue using every tool at our disposal to educate and protect families, and make sure these products have no place in our communities.”
     The emergency rule makes it illegal to sell, possess, or distribute 7-OH in concentrations of more than 400 parts per million (ppm) on a dry weight basis in the state. Schedule I classification places 7-OH in the same category as heroin, LSD, and fentanyl-related substances.
     Since the rule was announced, FDACS inspectors have worked to identify, stop sale, and remove products containing illegal concentrated amounts of 7-OH from gas stations, vape shops, and convenience stores across Florida. These stop sale orders are in addition to FDACS’ inspections of Florida’s food establishments, such as grocery stores, convenience stores, coffee shops, bakeries, retail meat markets, seafood markets, food processing plants, and more.
     7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a naturally occurring chemical compound found at low concentrations in the kratom plant. In its natural state, kratom leaves contain very low levels of 7-OH. However, when the compound is isolated or concentrated, its potency dramatically increases.
     These 7-OH products, often marketed as “natural” or “wellness” supplements in the form of extracts, powders, capsules, or liquid “shots,” are frequently packaged to appeal to teens and young adults but can lead to addiction, overdose and serious health effects.
     In addition to removing dangerous 7-OH products, FDACS has removed 197,303 packages of illegal hemp products in all 67 counties as part of “Operation Safe Summer.”
     Inspectors have removed products for violations of Florida’s child-protection standards for the packaging, labeling, and marketing of hemp products. Since July 1, 2023, the department has removed more than 1.3 million packages of illegal hemp products from store shelves.

Levy County announces formation
of Public Works Division
Information Provided By Levy County Commission
Published Sept. 4, 2025 at 4 p.m.
     BRONSON -- The Levy County Board of County Commissioners recently announced the merger of some key service departments - parks, recreation, mosquito control, maintenance, and the water departments have been merged into one comprehensive entity - the Public Works Division.
     This restructuring aims to improve service efficiency, streamline operations and better serve the community under a unified leadership model. By aligning these departments under one umbrella, the county seeks to better manage resources, eliminate redundancies and provide more responsive and coordinated services.
      “This is a significant step forward in how we serve the community,” Levy County Commissioner Charlie Kennedy said. “By consolidating these departments, we are building a more agile and effective team that can deliver high-quality public services more efficiently.”
     Levy County Public Works Division Director Matt Weldon has 32 years of experience in public and municipal operations, and he will oversee the day-to-day management and strategic planning of the integrated department.
      “Bringing these essential services together allows for better communication, shared expertise, and more efficient use of public funds. It is about delivering better results for our residents,” Weldon said.

County Developmental Services Dept. accepts
Town of Bronson building permit services
Information Provided
Published Aug. 28, 2025 at 7 a.m.
     BRONSON -- The Town of Bronson and the Levy County Board of County Commissioners recently announced that Levy County will be managing building permit services for the Town of Bronson.
     The intergovernmental partnership is designed to streamline building permit services for residents and business owners in the Town of Bronson. 
     This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to improving efficiency between the town and the county, ensuring code compliance, enhancing customer service, and providing a one-stop shop for building related needs. 
      “By combining resources, we are able to provide a higher standard of permitting services while ensuring that all construction meets uniform safety and code enforcements” County Commissioner Chair Desiree Mills said. “This partnership is a great example of how local governments can work together to better serve their communities.”
     Residents and contractors seeking permits can now apply through the Levy County online permitting portal or visit the Levy County Development Services Office in person. County staff members will manage applications, plan reviews, inspections and code enforcement related to building and development within the town. 
     “The Bronson Town Council made this move with the fiscal responsibility and efficiencies of town staff in mind,” Bronson Town Manager Amanda Huber said. “The town will retain planning and zoning responsibilities.”
     For more information or to apply for a permit, visit the Levy County Developmental Services Department at levycounty.org or contact Developmental Services at 352-486-5198.

UF looks at seaweed
as a sustainable aquaculture crop 

Shellfish farmers use various methods and tools to remove seaweed. The research team replicated and modified a smaller version of a seaweed tool for the work to collect macroalgal biomass. In this photo, Gabrielle Foursa uses an underwater seaweed rake to collect biomass.
Photo By Angela Collins, UF/IFAS

Information Provided By UF/IFAS
Published Aug. 28, 2025 at 7 a.m.
     GAINESVILLE -- Florida’s coastline may one day host more than oysters, clams, fish and shrimp.
     Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Florida Sea Grant are asking whether seaweed could be the state’s next big sustainable crop.
     The effort, launched last year with a $250,000 grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea Grant Aquaculture Program, brings together scientists, industry partners and Extension agents to answer whether seaweed is a good fit for Florida.
     The findings could pave the way for a thriving seaweed farming industry much like it serves as a high-value crop in regions in Europe and the Americas.
     Led by Ashley Smyth, an associate professor of soil, water and ecosystem sciences at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, the project team shared updates recently that sparked strong interest from researchers, aquaculture professionals and entrepreneurs in exploring the feasibility and economic potential of seaweed farming in Florida. 
     Smyth explained that the research focuses on the potential and the practical limits of cultivating seaweed in Florida’s warm waters. 
      “Seaweed acts like a sponge, pulling excess nitrogen out of the water,” she said. “If harvested, it removes that nitrogen completely, which means it could serve as both a product for growers and a tool for improving water quality.” 
     Florida’s unique environment presents opportunities and unknowns. Seaweed is prized not just for food in other parts of the world.
      “Seaweed aquaculture has tripled over the past two decades -- with Asia producing nearly all the supply -- and it's one of the fastest-growing commodity sectors globally,” Angela Collins said.
     Collins is a Florida Sea Grant assistant Extension scientist specializing in marine fisheries and shellfish aquaculture at the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab and a co-principal investigator on the project.
      “A lot of times people think immediately of food when it comes to seaweed farming, but it's also used in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, as well as thickeners and bio packaging, fertilizer and animal feed,” Collins said.
     On the global scale, seaweed aquaculture has also been recognized for the ecosystem services it may provide, and it's been celebrated in several regions for its benefits for water quality.
     Seaweed farming in Florida exists now at a small scale and only in enclosed tank systems. Before farming can expand into coastal waters, researchers must identify which species naturally occur in Florida’s waters, evaluate their ability to absorb nutrients, test cultivation methods and analyze whether the economics make sense for producers. 
     Doctoral student Gabrielle Foursa is leading much of the hands-on work, cataloging species and beginning growth trials. 
      “Step one is really understanding what we have here in Florida waters,” Foursa said. “From there, we can start to figure out which species might be useful, and for what purposes.”
That usefulness could extend into compounds that are already in everyday products.
     Contributing to the project as a co-principal investigator is Dail Laughinghouse, associate professor of applied phycology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, with expertise in algae biology and cultivation. 
      “Seaweed compounds already show up in everyday products, from ice cream and salad dressings to toothpaste, and different species may hold untapped potential for health and sustainability,” Laughinghouse said. “Knowing which native species, we have is the foundation for exploring those opportunities.”
     Beyond these everyday uses, Laughinghouse emphasized that algae could hold an even greater promise for the future. 
      “Different species produce different compounds — from heart-healthy omega oils to natural pigments with anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties,” he said. “That’s why understanding which native Florida seaweeds we have is so exciting. We don’t yet know what they’re capable of, but the potential is enormous.”