CHIEFLAND Thursday, March 28, 2019
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CHIEFLAND Thursday, March 28, 2019 Proudly servingITIZEN Chiefland and Levy County for 69 years C2 sections, 22 pages Volume 70, Number 3 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 55th Annual Old Florida Celebration Kid's discovery at of the Arts The Annual Old Flor- local park leads to ida Celebration of the Arts March 30 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 31 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in inmate arrest Cedar Key celebrates its 55th edition this week- SUZETTE COOK sandwich bag and 10 packs of end. The event has been Reporter tops rolling papers, 10 con- named in the Top 10 tainers of Kayak snuff, and Fine Art Fairs in America Lavontaye Depree Graham, one clear sandwich bag with the past three years by 37, of Trenton was arrested green leafy substance that field SEAN ARNOLD/Citizen ArtFairCalendar.com. for unlawful possession of tested positive for Marijuana City Manager Mary Ellzey, Mayor Chris Jones, and Vice Mayor The festival is coordinat- prescription drugs, possession weighed 21 grams.” Tim West, left, look at a copy of a speech on Mayor Betty Walker, ed by the Cedar Key Arts of drugs within 1,000 feet of Sgt. Barnes then made delivered on the floor of the U.S. House by Will Kendrick. Rep. Center and proceeds school/place of worship, and contact with CPD Chief Scott Neal Dunn presented the speech and the flag Jones is holding benefits the arts center. possession with intent to dis- Anderson who determined the to City Hall on March 21. The flag flew over the U.S. Capitol in Great food is prepared tribute on March 19 after the “contraband may have been honor of Walker. and served by local Chiefland Police Department placed in the bathroom for the non-profit organiza- was alerted to a bag filled with City of Chiefland Inmate Work tions. Enjoy the music, contraband hidden in a bath- Squad.” fun and Children’s Art room at Strickland Park. Anderson advised Barnes Flag honoring Booth in beachfront City According to police reports, to place the contraband in his Park. The event is free, a man reported on March 18 office. family and pet-friendly, that his grandson discovered a The bag and its contents and allows smoking only white plastic bag in the men’s were placed back in the spot in designated areas. bathroom tucked under a sink. they were discovered by the Mayor Walker For more information, After looking in the bag, the CPD and arrangements were go to www.CedarKe- man reported the discovery to made so that Strickland Park yArtsFestival.com or call Cody Carter, a board member would be the first stop sched- 352-543-5400. for the (CAAA) who then locked uled for the work squad on the bag in a bathroom stall and March. 19. flies over Capitol called to report it to the Sher- According to the report, CPD iff’s office. Sgt. Matt Poppell was stationed SEAN ARNOLD ed to City Hall for preser- Operation Jackpot CPD Sgt. Willie Barnes re- in the attic above the men’s Editor vation by U.S. Rep. Neal nets $135,000 sponded to the call and, upon bathroom with an unhindered Dunn on March 21. Dunn arrival, looked in the bag and view. Chief Anderson was A flag was flown over also presented a copy of a took inventory. According to stationed inside the concession SUZETTE COOK the U.S. Capitol to honor speech given about Walker the report, Barnes counted “21 stand where he could see light Chiefland Mayor Betty on the floor of the House Reporter bundles of individual rolls of See CONTRA Page A3 Walker, who passed on Chiefland Police Chief cigarette wrapped in a plastic Feb. 25, and it was present- See FLAG Page A2 Scott Anderson an- nounced that the total funds recovered from “Operation Jackpot” is $135,000. On Nov. 3 in 2018, eight internet cafes were simultaneously raided and shut down in Chief- land after they were caught awarding cash payouts, which is illegal in the State of Florida. According to Ander- son, the monies ac- quired as a result of the bust were delivered on Feb. 20. “We brought in $135,000,” Anderson told the Chiefland City Commission. “I can’t spend it on anything that’s budgeted,” he added. “It has to be used on law enforcement equipment.” Anderson was asked by the commission if the funds could be used in a future operation and An- derson replied, “That’s exactly what we’re doing with it.” See POT Page A3 CHIEFLAND CITIZEN 624 W. Park Ave Workshop to tackle County Road repair policy Chiefland, Fl 32626 Phone: 352-493-4796 SUZETTE COOK According to the County Attorney, the Reporter commission can adopt changes to the current list of County Road priorities by Citizens chime in County Commissioner Rock Meeks got passing a resolution. a message that two drivers passing each The current and updated 2019 Road other on Levy County Road 341 collided Paving /Re-Surfacing Schedule regarding with road repair when their side view mirrors made con- County Roads is as follows: Under con- tact. County Commissioner Lilly Rooks struction currently is CR 243 from 155th comments said she was almost hit twice by a truck Street to the end. Upcoming County pulling a trailer on County Road 345. Road projects in order as they appear on SUZETTE COOK “Let’s talk about roads,” Commissioner the list are: Reporter Meeks said during the commissioners’ #5: CR 176, CR 160, CR 174 beginning report portion of the March 19 meeting. at Alt 27 and ending at NE 140th Court. The Citizen asked readers which “Shoulders busted out, certain times of #7: CR 4032 beginning at Alt 24 and Levy County roads needed repairs the year when tractors are on the roads,” ending at SW 75 Street and SW 129 Ave- and why. We received 89 com- he said. “The one in particular is CR 337, nue. ments. Here’s what a majority had going out to Alachua County,” he said #8: CR 159 beginning and ending at SR to say to our question posted on and added, “CR 341 south, the road is 27 the Citizen’s Facebook page: super narrow. #9: CR 108 beginning at Alt 27/SR 121 Brenda Hatten Roberts: “337 “It’s roads not being wide enough and and ending at Pinewood. south heading to Newberry from vehicles getting bigger,” Meeks said. #10: CR 366 beginning at Hammock Bronson!! That road is too narrow! “And lots of farm equipment. If we Road and ending at Marjorie Avenue. And there’s no shoulder and the don’t start widening roads, working on #11: CR 1076 beginning at NE 101 sides are broken in so many areas. shoulders of roads, it’s going to cost us Court and ending at NE 104 Court. I try to avoid that road.” money. I know we have a paving list that #12: CR 1078 beginning at C335A and Kate Talbott-Nagel: “345 LOAD- we’re working off of. There’s things we ending at NE 70 Street. ED with patches, holes, bumpi- can do to get 10 to 15 more years out of #13: CR 201 beginning at CR 321 and ness, etc. from CK to Chiefland... these roads.” ending at C345. horrible!” Commissioner Meeks rallied the Board #14: CR 586 beginning in East Levy Migdalia Garciga Quinn: “337 is of County Commissioners to agree on and ending at NE 5 Street. horrible. It is so narrow and there setting up a workshop that will include #15: CR 425 beginning at SR 345 and are so many filled in pot holes. the Commission, County Roads Depart- ending at CR 341. It is a very well traveled road by ment staff, and the public. The meeting #18: CR 1073 beginning at NE 47 Place is set for April 30 at 9 a.m. at the Levy and ending at end of that road. See ROADS Page A3 County Courthouse in the regular com- #19: CR 189 beginning at NE 109 Street mission meeting chamber. and ending at NE 112 Street. 2A Chiefland Citizen Thursday, March 21, 2019 getting exposed to different Leah Gamble, College of Cen- presenters, they got to learn tral Florida; Kasidy Schultz, about some careers they may Simplistic Salon; Ryan Watson, not have even known were CFEC; Timothy Reidy, Capital a possibility,” Corbin said. City Bank; Vondla Sullivan, “That’s really what the day Haven; Joey Wheaton, Bubb- was all about, helping students aQues; Delilah Twombly, UMC work on soft skills as they Family Ministries, Levy County engage with presenters and Public Safety; David Peaton, having them get exposed to Levy County Emergency Man- some new ideas.” agement; Levy County Super- Classroom presentations visor of Elections; Primerica were given by: Tri-County Insurance; Eric Handley, Usher Metals; Jeanie Keisler, massage Land and Timber; Heather therapist; Kathryn Lancas- Snellgrove, Tri-County Nursing ter, Edwards Jones; Gilchrist Home; Coral Denton, LifeQuest County Sheriff’s Department; Organ Recovery Services; Brenda Chrisman, Career- Alliance Diaries, Jessica Emer- Source Citrus Levy Marion; son; Reed’s Metals; Cross City Genevieve A. Mendoza, 4-H Rehab; Max Long, Levy County Extension Agent; FWC; Boyle Sheriff’s Office; Levy County Imaging; Duke Energy; Santa Property Appraiser’s Office; Fe Respiratory Program; and Chiefland Police Department; Coral Denton, LifeQuest Organ Gainesville Fire Rescue; and Recovery Services. Tammy Baldassarre, LifeSouth Hosting booths were: FDOT; Bloodmobile. SEAN ARNOLD/Citizen CMHS students sample some of the LCSO's equipment on Career Day March 21.