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Opinion

  • The pain of leadership

    “You can't squeeze blood from a turnip”

    - Anonymous

    The Levy County Commission's budget workshop this week was painful.

    The most painful moment came when County Coordinator Freddie Moody observed that the proposed 2010-2011 budget of $57.039 million is only slightly smaller than the 2005-06 budget of $57.046 million.

    Just a few years ago, when $25,000 bought an acre of land, the budget hit a high of $70 million.

  • Dark deal further alienates voters

    Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Spring Hill), in one of her final acts as the U.S. Congresswoman for the 5th District of Florida, showed complete disrespect for the people who elected her.

    By manipulating the process, she took it upon herself to appoint her successor.

    We are deeply disappointed.

  • Dear President Obama

    Dear President Obama,

    How was Hawaii? Did you get to improve your handicap on the golf course? I saw where you took the girls out for shaved ice.

    I know your vacation wasn't much after the underwear bomber tried blowing up a plane on Christmas Day.

    I'm glad you are back at work. I hope you are refreshed enough to help me out with a couple of things folks in Levy might want to know.

  • Fear not the future

    ".....(he) called (it)...Ebenezer, saying Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."     

    1 Samuel 7:12

  • Things not on my New Year's...

    It is typical this time of year to prepare a list of resolutions for the coming year. I believe this goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Adam said to Eve, "I think I'll turn over a new leaf this year." And so the tradition has come down to us today.

  • It's time for a change, people

    How many wonder about the robbery that took place on Oct. 9th 2009, at the veneer mill in Cross City.

    When the officers that where dispatched out in search for who stole money and a safe from the company, in their search across the street the local paper stated  that they found two local residents that had been running a methamphetamine lab. The paper stated that there was a smoking jar and several chemicals in the home found to manufacture the meth.

  • Why not my father?

    The City of Chiefland lost a pioneer of the Chiefland Police Department on December 21, 2009.  I am speaking of my father, Etheridge “Crackshot” Bryant.  He gave the City of Chiefland several years of his life as their first African-American police officer.  Moreover, since he started his career as a police officer in this city, he deserved some recognition from his home department.  The Chiefland Police Department should have joined forces with the West Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, who traveled five hours, to honor him.

  • Love for Sammy Yearty

    I feel compelled to write this letter about a man I love; a man of joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  He is one of my best friends; he is my brother. Our families often eat together, have great cookouts and fish fries, and travel and vacation together.  One of our most precious hobbies is genealogy.  Sammy is a great historian of the Yearty family, and of Levy County. He has a remarkable memory.   Although he is always available for his family, he has been dedicated to all in Levy County for 30 years.

  • AARP surveys arbitrary

    The letter titled “AARP members support health care reform” from Doug Heinlen, President, AARP Florida states that from a recent survey, 66% of Florida members support health care legislation. I recieved such a survey call from AARP. It was an electronic questioner. The initial question asked if I wanted my voice to be heard regarding health care, if yes, press a number. I pressed the requested number. That led to a second electronic voice that thanked me for my support of AARP's endeavors in the health care reform bill now before congress.

  • Get a lawyer, now

    It's one of the Ten Commandments: Do not lie.

    As a child I got a pretty graphic example from a nun of why lying is unwise.

    She said if you tell a lie you will have to tell nine more lies to cover up that one lie, and for each of those nine lies you tell, you will have to tell nine more, and for each of those you will have to tell nine more, and so on.

    “You 0can't keep track of all the lies, so you will be caught,” she said.

    I have a whole new perspective on lying.

  • Letter: Thank you for coverage

    Thank you for your balanced coverage of the trial.

    Having sat through most of the prosecution’s presentation, I noticed that both sides were not covered by all the newspapers.

    The FBI agent testified he carried around a large amount of cash expecting to be asked for a bribe. You reported his testimony admitting that he was never asked for a bribe.

    Also, the FBI wants everyone to believe that a commitment to support and encourage a company wanting to bring millions of dollars in jobs and development to Levy County is somehow corrupt.

  • Letter: Letters sought

    I am looking for letters written to and from military personnel that served during the Korean War.

    My father was a Purple Heart recipient at the Chosin Reservoir in 1950 and remained silent about his service until near the end of his life.

    His service meant a great deal to him, but unfortunately he did not have enough time to tell me about it.

    Since I lost him I have traveled to South Korea representing him along with other veterans.

  • Letter: AARP members support health...

    In a recent AARP survey, AARP members in Florida support the House health-reform legislation by a crushing, 66-percent to 30-percent margin after considering everything they’ve learned from AARP and elsewhere about the issue.

  • Life is more than the pursuit of...

    "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."  Ecclesiastes 12:1

  • My barbershop quandary

    When someone looks at me, they might be tempted to assume that my relationship with my barber is a cordial one. This, however, would be a great error in assumption. I have not always harbored such ambivalent feelings towards my barber, but things have changed.

  • Eternity in our hearts

    I am certain that the most thankful people ought to be those who consider themselves outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen. We are the folks who get to enjoy riches that go far beyond our ability to pay for. We get to play in the backyard of God. And even though most property is claimed by an individual or entity; it is really all owned by its Creator. His handiwork is seen in every mountain and valley. He fills each hollow with animals, plants, and trees, not by chance, but according to His divine purpose.

  • Letters to the editor

    Responding on health care

    I can not resist responding to the “Reform health care now” letter of the Nov. 26.  The dear lady is absolutely on track.  Our European brothers and especially the French should set the stage for our reform!  I wonder while we are at it why not revamp our entire Government and pattern it upon a European model.

    Health care reform certainly has a ring to it.  

  • Good News: Loving living in Levy...

    I know there’s a perception that media folks are always critical of everything. But I hope it’s not so.

    And I have had folks in Levy express disdain for folks who move here for its wonderful atmosphere, or any of a variety of reasons, then promptly turn around and want to change it into wherever they came from. It’s a valid complaint.

    But I realized recently how wholeheartedly I have come to embrace Levy County when I cringed at the responses of two job applicants to the question: What do you know about Levy County?

  • Buy local now before it's too...

    The Christmas season is upon us.

    The Christmas lights are up in Chiefland.

    A radio station is playing Christmas music.

    A local store is having a “Christmas Sale 40% to 50% off”

    I don't care if if it's a discounted  holiday or merchandise.

    I'm a sucker for stuff at a nice discount.

    My wish list is the same as last year's. I want that  “Five-Pound Box of Money” singer Pearl Bailey rhapsodizes. She tells Santa it would be useful and is loaded with lots of sentiment.  

  •
    Column: Change does not mean an end...

    You have probably noticed the changes at the Chiefland Citizen.

    First, two new guys moved in. We went from having a newsroom dominated by women to a boys’ club.

    There has been tinkering with the design  and content to make it more interesting and useful. One noticeable change is the teasers at the top of Page 1.

    Then there’s the electronic changes at the website, www.chieflandcitizen.com; the Twitter feed, News4Levy; the Facebook page, Chiefland Citizen; and the email blast for those who register at our website.