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Local News

  • Fanning considers using treated wastewater on area farms

    A plan to deliver recycled water to nearby farms is being proposed as part of the town of Fanning Spring’s future wastewater treatment facility, according to a representative from the Suwannee River Water Management District.

    John Dinges, director of Water Supply and Resource Management with SRWMD, said at the Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group meeting at Fanning Springs City Hall Aug. 26 that the town has already applied for a permit with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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  • Officials discuss vision of Bronson

    All eyes were on Bronson last Thursday as the town played host to a contingent of representatives from the USDA Rural Development, county and state officials who gathered to hear the town fathers’ vision for the future.

    About 40 people participated in the 2010 Visioning Day, which included a two-hour bus tour of the town and presentations by the mayor and city council to the USDA representatives.

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  • Spring project aims at manatee conservation

    Fanning Springs State Park will be getting a small makeover in a couple of years that could make it easier for wildlife to use the spring, according to representatives from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

    “It’s a small project, but we’re really excited about getting this done,” FWC biologist Ron Mezich said  at the quarterly meeting of the Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group at Fanning Springs City Hall on Aug. 26.

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  • County gets final budget from sheriff

    Levy County Sheriff Johnny Smith came bearing a gift that made most everyone happy at Tuesday's Levy County Commission budget meeting: his final budget proposal for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 at $10,831,058.

    He also announced that his office has cut the budget for the current fiscal year by $256,496.

    "We have no extras to purchase anything," Smith said. "And there is no contingency money." He said if the county experiences a disaster he will be back before the board asking for more money.

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  • Tarmac delays mine application

    Tarmac has withdrawn a request to be placed on the Monday, Sept. 13, Levy County Planning Commission meeting, delaying its King Road Mine application until later this year or early 2011. The delay will allow county staff to the Special Exception Permit application.

     “While we hope to have the public hearings on the King Road Mine project before the end of the year, we are well aware a project of this scope requires a level of scrutiny that cannot be rushed,” said Albert Townsend, director of real estate and environmental services for Tarmac.

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  • Bell edges Desmond in District 4 primary

    Ryan Bell defeated Noel Desmond in the Republican primary election for the District 4 County Commission seat Tuesday, closely advancing to November’s general election by a mere 36 votes.

    It was Levy County’s only local race on the ballot in the primary election, held on a day of poor weather and low turnout. Of the 21,415 registered voters in the county, 24.97 percent turned out to vote.

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  • Jobless rate up in Levy

    While Florida was marking a rise in unemployment to 12 percent in July, Levy County's jobless rate rose by three-tenths of a point to 13.4 percent in July from June's 13.1 percent.

    It was much the same news in Marion County where unemployment in July was 14.1 percent and for Citrus County where it was 13.7 percent.

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  • City officials: Fowlers Bluff fire board being difficult

    Chiefland Fire Rescue will continue to provide service to Otter Creek and Fowlers Bluff  because both are without official fire departments, Chiefland city officials said Monday night.  However, Chiefland officials are taking two different approaches to the service agreements with those cities.

    The commission voted unanimously to both approve a contract for fire and emergency services with Otter Creek and to discuss with county officials how to provide service to Fowlers Bluff without dealing with its board.

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  • Levy schools eligible for federal funding

    Florida was awarded about $700 million for education from the federal government’s Race to the Top program on Tuesday.

    The School Board of Levy County is eligible to receive $1.1 million over four years from the program, despite not receiving all three required signatures during the application process. The funds are to be used for school improvement and education innovation.

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  • Local bondsmen say sour economy is keeping people in jail

    You won’t find Dog the Bounty Hunter in Florida but you will find Berlon Weeks and David Stone, Levy County’s two bail bondsmen.

    The two are in the business of assisting people get out of jail when they’re checkbooks are depleted.

    Becoming a licensed and insured bail bondsman is a five-step process, Weeks said.

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