Local News

The Rev. Carl Carnegie is dry despite the rains as he blesses and dedicates the new Ten Commandments monument at the Levy County Courthouse as Kellie Stevens of Williston, wife of Levy County Commissioner Danny Stevens, shares her umbrella. About two dozen people turned out for the dedication despite rainy skies and cool temperatures. The monument is provided by the Tri-County Pregnancy Center of Williston on behalf of an anonymous donor. Under County guidelines the Center is responsible for the maintenance of the monument and any legal challenges to its placement on public land.

After four months of being without a permanent fire chief, city commissioners voted unanimously 4-0 at Monday’s special meeting to hire James L. Harris, of Chiefland, for the position.

Vice Mayor Teresa Barron, at the beginning of the meeting, expressed interest in only two candidates, Harris and David R. Dobrzykowski, of Minneola.

And despite Harris being one of the three final applicants Barron expressed doubt about at last month’s special meeting, she said, “I really do think that either of these two guys is great.”

Levy County voters will not get to vote this year on two of Gov. Charlie Crist's judicial appointments.

That is because Article V, Section 11 (b) of the Florida State Constitution says appointees to vacancies will not have to stand for election for at least one year after their appointment.

Col. Mike Johnson, second in command at the Levy County Sheriff’s Office has notified Sheriff Johnny Smith he will be retiring on March 1.

Johnson, who has a history of health problems in his family, cited it in his letter dated Feb. 9.

Johnson’s son, Charles M. Johnson Jr., has been the target of an internal investigation. The investigation has been the subject of media coverage and other complaints aired about the department at an NAACP meeting last week.