CHIEFLAND Thursday, July 11, 2019 Proudly servingITIZEN Chiefland and Levy County for 68 years C2 sections, 20 pages Volume 68, Number 18 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 Fishing Bronson volunteers answer call to save BPR DEBORAH GOAD hold a volunteer signup. BPR’s fate hung planting at the park entrance and more. Correspondent in the balance. By 1 p.m., the James H. Cobb Park had a Whatever the challenges and caus- new and improved look. club A two-hour workshop meeting and a es behind the decline in volunteers at On July 1, the Town of Bronson City Bronson City Council meeting on June the park, the town stepped up in a big Council met for their regular bi-monthly 17 led to a proposed ultimatum for way on clean-up day, as parents and meeting. Mayor Partin opened his por- Bronson Parks and grandparents came pour- tion of the meeting thanking everyone owner Recreation (BPR) and ing out at James H. Cobb that came out and volunteered at the its management of Park, where 44 volunteers park on Saturday. He publicly thanked youth sports. attended. the 44 volunteers, plus by name, Chris A push from citi- Mayor Robert Partin, Holder, Donald Deedrick, Shirley Mill- wants zens to give the BPR Councilman James Beck, er, and Melisa Thompson, adding, Program another Councilman Berlon Weeks, “Everything is looking good for the year led to a stipu- Town Clerk Shirley Mill- Fourth of July”. lation from Coun- er, Deputy Clerk Melisa When it was time to discuss the fate cilman Berlon Week Thompson, BPR Director of BPR, Weeks described a disarray in to give that BPR remain in Curtis Stacy, and Joshua bookkeeping that made it difficult to see place another year Berlon Weeks Harris all rolled up their what funds were available for the Park. as the caretaker sleeves, directed and “So when Shirley told me the park was of Bronson youth sports, under direc- worked alongside the volunteers. With bleeding money, I said we will talk about back tor Curtis Stacy, as long as at least five the heat index over 100 degrees, spec- it at budget time, (which means) setting volunteers could be recruited to help run tator benches were replaced, bleachers up methods to determine whether that SUZETTE COOK concessions. A community park cleanup re-welded, new bulbs installed and light department was functional, and whether Reporter day had been previously scheduled for poles replanted and straightened. There See PARKS Page B5 June 29, making it a convenient date to was also painting, new fences built and Gulf Hammock Fishing Club owner Dale McClel- lan grew up visiting and fishing in Levy County and has fond memories of riding on his cat- tleman grandfather’s tractor. Independence in style On his 65th birthday, McClellan visited the Levy Board of County Lighthouse Commissioners to “Put a face with a name” and to make a pledge to the beams first community. “If you’ve got a cause, and it needs a facility,” time in 104 McClellan said, “you can consider that facility years in yours.” McClellan said he pur- chased the Waccasassa Cedar Key Fishing Club a year ago and has been making im- LORI PREVATT provements ever since. Correspondent He renamed it Gulf Hammock Fishing Club A large crowd of and labeled it as being residents and visitors “In the heart of the Na- gathered together in ture Fishing Coast.” Cedar Key on July 5 to McClellan lives in begin a new island tra- Hillsborough County dition. The lighthouse when he’s not at the on Seahorse Key was lit club but says, “I’m not for the first time in 104 a guy here from out of years and a celebration town trying to cause was held on G street so harm to this community. the patrons could view I love Gulf Hammock, the light beaming from I love that river, and the lighthouse tower. spent a fortune updating The Cedar Key’s Light the facility. Station light was extin- “If you ever have a guished in 1915 due to need, wedding funer- economic hardships, al, we can hold quite a making the number of number of people.” ships embarking to the McClellan then ex- island less and less. plained that he wants Cedar Key Mayor to do something at least Heath Davis said the one time a year for the lighthouse would not communities he has be lit everyday but on businesses in. special occasions and See CLUB Page A3 some holidays. Davis was the first of several speakers at the event and thanked everyone CHIEFLAND in the community for attending. CITIZEN County Commission Chair John Meeks, the 624 W. Park Ave second speaker, said, Chiefland, Fl 32626 “there are three gener- Phone: 352-493-4796 ations that have never seen the lighthouse lit. There is no one alive today that remembers the lighthouse being lit. It was a beacon of hope in its lifetime to those fishermen long ago. I hope it continues to be SEAN ARNOLD/Citizen a beacon of all the great Cedar Key celebrated Fourth of July with one of its annual golf cart parades, as dozens of patrioti- See LIGHT Page B5 Ad#:000VXFTcally-themed Date:04/03/19 carts zoomed Day:WED around Size:5X3 the island Cust:80827 on July Salesperson:792 4. Last Edited By:CDECKELMANN Pub:SPECIAL SERVICES Tag Line:METAL ROOF FRONT PAGE Color Info:4COLOR 000VXFT - Page 1 - Composite 000VXFT 2A Chiefland Citizen Thursday, July 11, 2019 CAAA football, cheer sign-ups Warren named Levy County Extension Agent The Chiefland Area SUZETTE COOK hiring freeze at UF. Athletic Association Reporter “We went through a process to (CAAA) is currently hold- get this position secured,” Dean ing sign-ups every Satur- Newly hired UF/IFAS Extension said. “The University had a hiring day for football, cheer- Agent Mark Warren was introduced freeze, so they developed a plan,” leading and flag football to the Levy Board of County Com- he added. “There’s a lot of counties in the fall. The sign-ups missioners at the July 2 meeting. around the state that are not where take place at Strickland Warren will earn an annual salary we are now.” Park in the Board Room, of $79,900 paid by 40 percent Warren said he is excited to be located at the back of ($31,960) from Levy County and living in Levy County and take on the concession building. 60 percent from the University of the position. “My wife and I are The remaining registra- Florida ($47,940). community type people,” he said. tion date is July 20. The According to the University of “I’m impressed by the passion for time is from 9 a.m. to Florida Agricultural Extension Ser- community, and I am already devel- noon. vice, “UF/IFAS Extension Levy oping that from the people I have The fees are $75 for County educates the people of met. I am thrilled to be here.” football and cheer, for Levy County in the areas of ag- Warren earned an Associate’s in ages 5 to 12, and $60 for riculture, livestock, horticulture Agriculture Business from Baldwin flag football, which is and 4-H youth development. It is a Agricultural College, a Bachelor’s for ages 4 to 6. partnership between the Universi- in Agricultural Education from the If you’re signing up a ty of Florida Institute of Food and University of Georgia, and has a child for football or flag Agricultural Sciences and the Levy Master’s in Agricultural Education football, please bring a County government.” from the University of Florida. copy of the child’s birth Warren will work under the He said he was surprised by the certificate and a current direction of Levy County Extension amount of watermelon grown in SUZETTE COOK/Citizen photo. Director Ed Jennings and the North- Levy County. And Commission Mark Warren was introduced to the Levy Board of County For more information, east District Extension Director Eric Chair John Meeks reminded him Commissioners on July 2 as the new UF/IFAS Extension contact Lee Bell at 352- Simonne. that “peanuts are on deck.” Agent. 210-2617 or David Wil- Levy County Coordinator Wilbur Warren is relocating after serv- liams at 352-210-3307. Dean said it was a process to get ing in a similar position in Flagler “We feel at home already, and looking forward to the position filled due to a recent County for 13 years. serving the community,” he said. Suwannee Refuge CLUB continued from Page A1 accepting comments “A barbecue, bluegrass band,” he suggested, and then asked the commis- on hunting fees sioners to choose a cause they felt could use a The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Lower benefit. Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) “We don’t like to choose is accepting public comments on increasing who it is,” McClellan said. the yearly hunter access fee for hunting “We just want to be help- on the Refuge. The current fee is $15.00 ful to the community.” and we are proposing a $10.00 increase to A commissioner asked $25.00 for the 2020-2021 season. McClellan if he could host The recreational fees will be retained by a fishing tournament. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a part “I want to do that, but of the Recreational Fee Program and used not manage it,” he said for road maintenance as part of the admin- and added that he doesn’t istration of the hunting program.