Today's News

Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz described the man who shot two of his deputies before turning the gun on himself as a recluse who was not identifiable by neighbors and his motives are still unknown.

He said during a press statement April 27 in Gainesville that it is important to provide information the investigation has uncovered so far in the murders of Gilchrist County deputies Sgt. Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey.

Ramirez, 29, and Lindsey, 25, were in the Ace China Restaurant April 17 at about 3 p.m. when they were killed.

The shooter was later identified as John Hubert Highnote, 59, of Bell. He was found dead in a pickup truck outside the restaurant from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He said nothing law enforcement knows is an answer, but the community deserves to know what law enforcement knows so healing may begin.

“I am only going to speak about this person one last time, then send him back into obscurity where he came from and, frankly, belongs,” Schultz said.

Chiefland junior varsity softball coach Chris Wilson is emulating the blueprint that garnered the Lady Indians three straight state championships and four finals appearances.

A talented collection of young players – mostly middle schoolers – have the future of the program looking bright, as their JV team finished 17-3 on the season.

“The group that won three titles, we’ve tried to copy them,” Wilson said. “They’ve been playing travel ball together since they were 9- and 10-years-old. That’s what (CMHS coach) Jimmy (Anderson) did with those other girls, he took them and played and played and played. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The young Lady Indians were led by a ferocious lineup of hitters who complemented solid pitching and defense. They even had to share a couple of their top pitchers – Kalie Osteen and Emma Wilson – with the middle school team.

The purchase of the old Bronson High School building, located adjacent to the Levy County Courthouse in Bronson, could kill two – or more – birds with one stone for the county.

At its meeting April 24, the Levy County Commission reached a consensus to advise County Coordinator Wilbur Dean to seek a deal for the purchase from the School Board of Levy County.

Acquiring the space would allow the county to avoid the estimated $12 to $15 million in costs to build a new courthouse, which has reached its functioning capacity for the county and the courts, and to consolidate more Levy County services – with more parking – in one place to make it easier on residents. The county would move offices to the new site, allowing more space for the judicial system in the current courthouse.

While negotiations are still ongoing, Dean said the 40,000-square-foot property would cost less than $2 million. He quoted a tentative estimate of $38 to $41 per square foot, which would put the purchase at around $1.6 million.

A foundation named in honor of New York City Firefighter Stephen Siller who perished Sept. 11, 2001, is paying the mortgage on a slain Gilchrist County deputy’s home and establishing a scholarship program in the name of another.

John Hodge, Chief Operating Officer of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation CEO John Hodge made the announcement Saturday, April 21, during a press conference at the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office.

The Tunnels to Towers Foundation will pay off the mortgage for the family of Deputy Sgt. Noel Ramirez family home and set up a scholarship program in the name of Deputy Taylor Lindsey. Lindsey was not married.

“We know that when someone is killed in the line of duty and they leave behind children, who quite frankly, we are most concerned about,” he said. “The children’s world revolves around mom and dad; revolves around the home where they live and the friends and or school.”