Opinion

Some time ago while mowing a vacant lot on the south east side of Chiefland I observed a brown medium sized dog chained up under some trees next door.

After looking closer I realized this animal had no shelter from the weather.

I contacted the Humane Society of Levy County who informed me they had no responsibility for the City of Chiefland. I then contacted the appropriate people in Chiefland who informed me there was no requirement for the shelter of animals.

The family of Matt Cravey would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens in the tri-county area for their show of support this past weekend.  The benefit BBQ was a huge success with over $16,000 raised from contributions.  The benefit BBQ was established by a cross section of wonderful community members and businesses in the tri-county and we are grateful for the unselfish, generous giving of your time.

Why do so many young people think the only way to be happy is to be high? When I was young I was happy just to be finished with my chores. It was a simpler life; I looked forward to my favorite fishing hole. If I played football with my friends, or tinkered with my car or getting up the nerve to ask a girl to a movie that was the kind of “Mayberry” stuff it took to make my day, the kind of things it took to complete my interest.

The political process in Tallahassee is broken. It is time to fix it. It is time to amend the Florida Constitution to require the Legislature's most important work be done in the light of day rather than in secret meetings. We should also end the practice of hurriedly approving massive bills in the final days of the legislative session that elected officials have not been given adequate time to read, study and debate.

These are tough times for seniors, especially those relying on Social Security for all or most of their income.  According to 2008 AARP data, more than half of Florida’s three million Social Security beneficiaries rely on Social Security for half or more of their income, and for three of every 10 beneficiaries, Social Security is their only source of income. Each year, as these Floridians look through their checkbooks to figure out how to pay for the rising costs we all face, they take small comfort in knowing that Social Security provides a very mode

There are many of us in the North Florida area who would very much like the music/talk mix of the former Classic 89 to be restored to WUFT-FM's high-power analog station. Classic 89, with its mix of musical genres and news/talk, was a tremendous cultural asset for the entire 21-county area of North Florida.  The very limited and problematic HD2 and online streaming of classical music is far from an adequate replacement.  Most areas within the range of WUFT-FM's analog station do not receive the HD2 signal at all.

Does anyone believe President Obama, when he says taxes won’t be raised if his Universal Healthcare plan goes through? Already Medicare and Social Security are bankrupt and money is being printed so fast within one to three years our dollar may be worth ten to thirty cents. Do the math!! What will you give up, food, meds, car, insurance? Unless you’re a millionaire you won’t make it and we’ve seen millionaires lose their mansions and go bankrupt.

 Last Tuesday I was sulking around the house complaining about the passing of the summer and how it goes by so fast. Personally, I think I have a right to complain in my own house.

After all, I pay the mortgage, the taxes and the utilities, that is, when I think of it. The only thing I do not pay, is attention to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, which has cost me a lot more than the mortgage, taxes and utilities put together.

 EMS assessments are changing this year. Historically, all property owners have paid the same annual amount of $75.00, regardless of their size or the frequency of calls. This meant that Walmart paid the same assessed fee as a residential property owner. In an effort to be more equitable, a formula based on square footage for commercial, institutional and industrial/warehouse designated property was recommended by a company hired by the county to look at our assessment structure.