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Opinion

  • D-day remembrance

    Editor:

  • Message to the graduates

    This is a yearly column by the editor, updated with latest information.

    This is a big weekend for many young people in Levy County, as they leave high school and move on to the next phase of their lives.

    Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for most Levy County schools this weekend, a landmark day for a few hundred young adults who are ready to venture out into the world.

  • Are children safe?

    There was a recent story that should have sent a little bit of anxiety through all the parents in Levy County.

    The attempted kidnapping of two young boys from Joyce Bullock Elementary School in Williston recently points out how vulnerable our children can be. Joyce Bullock has fences around it, but it is a huge campus and it's impossible for the faculty to keep an eye on all children once school is dismissed.

    Ultimately, the safety of children is a parent's responsibility, but all of us have trusted our children to the schools at one time or another.

  • Memories on Memorial Day

    White grave markers and bright red, white and blue flags as far as the eye could see … that was my first impression of Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell the first time I went around Memorial Day several years ago.

    There are those buried there who gave their lives in service of their country, but there are many more who served honorably, came home and lived full and productive lives, as my father did. Also buried there are their spouses, such as my mother.

  • A student's plea: Save our...

    Editor: My name is Cheri, some know me by C.J. At this current moment I'm an 11th grade student here at Chiefland High school. I wanted next year to be the best year here for me and a lot of other students at Chiefland High, knowing that it is going to be the last year for a lot of us. Unfortunately it won't be. Why, you ask? Well, it's not that we are taking a cut in games for some sports, or that the lunches may not always be what we expect them to be, even though they have been a lot better. No, it's neither. It won't be such a good year here because some of our teachers have been cut.

  • Still one person short

    Maybe we should all send maps to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist with Levy County circled.

    Apparently, the governor has forgotten that we are still here.

    Last fall, the governor suspended two county commissioners who faced federal indictments. He also had a vacancy on the Levy County School Board after a member resigned.

    After several months, the governor finally filled the School Board seat and one of the County Commission spots in early March.

    That left us with one County Commission vacancy.

  • Some things change, but others...

    Let's see. Where were we?

    It was late in 2006 when I wrote a column saying I was leaving to become the editor in Williston, within the same company.

    Prophetically, the last sentence of that column read, "You won't get rid of me that easily." I was referring to the fact that my column would still appear occasionally, not realizing that someday I would be sitting here in the same office doing it again.

    So my first couple of days I drove around to see what had changed.

  • Levy officials kept them safe

    To the editor:

    The citizens of Fowler’s Bluff are happy to be watching the waters of the Suwannee River recede after recent flooding. Although water is still over the roads and inside lower levels of about 15 homes, the worst of the inconveniences has passed. The cooperation among neighbors has been outstanding in helping everyone prepare for and exist during flooding.

  • Police officer got to the matter

    Editor:s Note: This letter was directed to the Police Chief, Mayor, City Commissioners, and the Chiefland Citizen.

    To the editor:

    I am writing to express my gratitude for the fine job that officer Nick Viaggio and police staff of Chiefland did in coming to the aid of our hotel Holiday Inn Express. On numerous occasions the City of Chiefland Police Department has come to assist us in ensuring the safety of the guests visiting our great city.

  • Letters to the Editor

    To the editor:

    This story concerning Mr. Wayne Thomas is, to say the least, disturbing. Where were the parents of these young children? Surely they would have detected alcohol when these young girls came home. What this man did was unconscionable. The parents of these girls should be brought to account for their actions and why they allowed this to happen. Shame on you.

    Donna DeGroat

    Chiefland

     

  • Letters to the Editor

    To the editor:

    Like most Americans, family farmers and ranchers are affected by the current economic situation facing our nation. Unfortunately, farmers and ranchers face an added economic hardship: the federal estate taxes that come due when a family member dies.

  • Neva Mae Gribble

    Neva Mae Gribble, 84, of Chiefland died April 24, 2009 in Trenton.

    She was born Neva Mae Hapner in Shepherd, Mich. and moved to Florida in 1996.

    She was preceded in death by her husband Rex Potter in 1999 and husband Roy Gribble in 2004.

    She was a loving mother and grandmother.

  • Bible is key for understanding...

    Bring up the importance of the Bible and two reactions are common: unquestioning zeal for God’s literal word, and anger. Both reactions stem from defensive points of view: defense of the faith; and defense of the self from those eager to impose belief.

    I would like to offer an alternative that has nothing to do with arguments about faith or truth.

    The Bible is important because its proverbs, its stories and its mythologies underpin art and literature in Western Civilization.

  • The call was issued and you are...

    Lubcho Michevski is not as alone as he thinks he is.

    Less than 24 hours after my column about his desire to return to his native Bulgaria appeared April 2, calls, e-mails, letters and money started showering my office at the Chiefland Citizen.

    The people of Levy County and the surrounding area, in fact, the world, felt compassion and many stepped up to the plate offering any help they could.

  •
    Adieu, my friends, but never goodbye

    I’ve always been a countdown-er. Fourteen weeks until the baby’s due date. Six weeks until Christmas. A month until vacation. Three days until the weekend.

    For two weeks now, I’ve been counting down the days until May 6–my last day at the Chiefland Citizen.

    Journalists, by their very nature, are transient.

    We’re always looking for better jobs, better opportunities, better positions, better money.

    Some of us make lateral moves and for a variety of reasons.

  • A Lubcho Michevski Update

    Donations and offers of help continue to come in almost daily to assist Chiefland resident and Bulgarian-born Lubcho Michevski return to his native country. (Chiefland Citizen April 2 and April 16)

    A bank account for donations will be soon established and information on how you can help will be published in the newspaper in the weeks to come.

     

  • Tough decisions now will make a...

    As many of you know, the legislature recently met in a special session to make significant cuts to the state’s budget for the current fiscal year. This special session was called as a direct result of the economic downturn our nation, our state and our individual communities have all been experiencing. This downturn led to subsequent cuts to many programs and it will definitely shape the policies we implement, as well as the final budget we pass during the upcoming regular session.

  •
    We have to help Lubcho go home

    Lubcho Michevski is a heart-broken stranger in a foreign land.

    You may not know him by name, but if you’ve driven through Chiefland much over the past decade, you have perhaps passed him as he walked from one errand to another making the daily trek from his home near Manatee Springs into town, about 12 miles round trip.

    Or maybe you ate food he prepared while he was the cook at Bar-B-Q Bill’s.

    Lubcho is a familiar sight around town. Short and stocky with a balding pate, khaki shorts and dark socks, he walks a lot.

  • Letters to the Editor

    To the editor:

    I am married to a teacher that has been pinked slipped. I feel that I must state that Mr. Stewart did indeed join the DROP program and is in the extended DROP as Teachers did have the option to continue in DROP for an additional three years, which does not constitute “double-dipping”.  Even though he is at the top of his pay scale, I can assure you that his salary is still less than what the Superintendent and Principals are making and these administrative personnel are not even in the classroom teaching the future leaders of Levy County.

  • Letters to the Editor

    To the editor:

    On Sunday, March 15, 2009 I found mself in a situation I’m not very familiar with. I have spent many years responding and assiting people with medical emergencies, on this particular afternoon I began not feeling well, upon insistence of my family, 911 was called. Both Williston fire department and Levy County Emergency Medical Services responded.