In The The Wakulla War Eagles pound Huddle A look at college football bowls Mosley in the Sunshine State See Page 4B ews See Page 1B Our 117th Year, 34th Issue nPublished Weekly, Read Daily Two Sections Thursday, September 6, 2012 Serving Wakullak ll County For More Thanh A Century 75 Cents Judge Fulford No to cave diving hears net State rejects technical recreational diving at Wakulla Springs By JENNIFER JENSEN [email protected] fi shing case By WILLIAM SNOWDEN After nearly eight months [email protected] of deliberating, the Florida Park Service has decided to TALLAHASSEE – Fishermen in the audience maintain its 26 year-long de- had the look of vindication throughout the day- cision to not allow technical long trial here at the Leon County Courthouse. recreational cave diving at Comments and questions by Circuit Judge Wakulla Springs. Jackie Fulford in a bench trial on Thursday, “We believe this is the Aug. 30, showed best decision,” said Florida that she at least Park Service Director Donald understood the Forgione. claim they’ve The park service met with made for years. experts on both sides of the Namely, that issue and also received com- the goal of the ments from the public. “We 1994 constitu- feel very confi dent that we tional amend- talked and listened to ev- ment to limit eryone,” Forgione said. The net fishing – months of research, along the so-called with opinions from the ex- net ban – was perts and citizens, “really to limit over- confi rmed that our decision fishing and Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford in the past is a sound and waste of marine good decision,” he said. resources. The park service, along It did that by outlawing gill nets. with the Florida Department “ The biggest effect of the amendment was of Environmental Protection, reducing the maximum size of nets from the PHOTO BY GUE was approached by members thousands of yards of net that were used before of the Wakulla County Dive A cave diver at the Wakulla Springs main vent in a research dive. The state park service decided the amendment to two 500 square foot pieces Club who pushed for the not to allow recreational cave divers access to Wakulla Springs. of net. state to change its policy. Continued on Page 15A The divers, who have called Wakulla Springs the crown We believe this is jewel of Florida springs, con- OBITUARIES tended that opening the facil- the best decision. ity to recreational cave diving Margaret Bartley Donley would bring much needed Austin Fleetwood revenue to the area. “ – Donald Forgione, Jack Carmel Phelps Sr. Those in opposition argue that the fact that Wakulla director of Florida Park Service Larry J. Smith Springs is the crown jewel is Vernell Tindel the same reason recreational Weldon ‘Mike’ Vowell Jr. cave diving should be prohib- plan was to address all the gione said they determined three sinks. ited. They also pointed out concerns expressed by those only a small amount of the Neither groups are against concerns with the allowance, in opposition and propose a population of cave divers cave diving, but were against including interference with way to manage those situa- could even dive at Wakulla where the diving was going INDEX other activities, wildlife, on- tions. Another meeting was Springs. “It’s a very technical to take place, he said. Public Notices ................................................................. Page 3A going research and artifacts. held in March with key stake- dive. It’s very dangerous to “We’re happy with the The Opinion Page ........................................................... Page 4A The state held a public holders and experts from dive there.” way the decision came out,” Church............................................................................. Page 6A hearing in January to obtain both sides of the issue. He also pointed out the Piasecki said. Obituaries ....................................................................... Page 7A There were three major other three areas that allow Forgione added that while comments from the com- Community ..................................................................... Page 8A concerns that were addressed cave diving, Emerald Sink, they know about some arti- munity. A crowd of about School ............................................................................. Page 9A 250 people packed the live- during the process. These Cherokee Sink and Clear Cut facts that are located within Outdoors ...................................................................... Page 10A stock pavilion at the Wakulla included the safety of the visi- Sink. the springs, they do not know County Extension Offi ce and tors, protecting the artifacts Ron Piasecki, president of everything that is there. The Water Ways ...................................................................Page 11A opinions were split nearly and other cultural resources the Friends of the Wakulla bone room of Wakulla Springs Taking Care of Business ................................................ Page 12A right down the middle. located within the caves and Springs and the Wakulla is 13,500 years old, one of the Sheriff’s Report................................................................Page 14A “There was not an over- also protecting the natural Springs Alliance and Hydro- oldest sites in the United Sports ..............................................................................Page 1B environment, Forgione said. geology Consortium, both of States. whelmingly favored side,” Week in Wakulla ..............................................................Page 2B Forgione said. “Wakulla Springs is un- which voiced their opposition The park service plans to like most springs in Florida,” to allowing recreational cave allow research and scientifi c In the Huddle ...................................................................Page 3B Following that meeting, Thinking Outside the Book ..............................................Page 6B the park service decided to Forgione said. The spring is diving at Wakulla Springs, diving to continue so they Classifi eds ........................................................................Page 7B move forward and develop very deep and would only said his groups would be can discover even more. He a draft plan of what the in- be accessible to a highly more than willing to work called the springs an “envi- Legal Notices ...................................................................Page 7B clusion of recreational cave trained, highly certifi ed diver. with the diving community to ronmental classroom.” Weekly Roundup ............................................................Page 10B diving might look like. The Through their research, For- improve the facilities at these Continued on Page 2A Comics ...........................................................................Page 12B Howard Kessler is running for county commission By JENNIFER JENSEN in district 4 before losing stands that the millage be able to.” [email protected] the seat to Jerry Moore in rate was lowered, but the Kessler said the commis- 2010. increases in taxes far out- sion would eventually get Former county com- He said he decided to weigh this reduction. to a point when the money missioner Howard Kessler run for county commission- He added that he would runs out and the county is is running for a seat on er now, instead of waiting go after eliminating the not be able to provide all the county commission another two years, because Public Services Tax fi rst. The of the things they want in district 3. He will face of what he called “an over- Public Services tax is a 7-per- and the community wants. incumbent Mike Stewart in burden of taxation on the cent tax on the purchase of But when the economy gets November. citizens.” The deciding fac- electricity, metered or bottle better and more revenue Kessler previously served tor was the implementation gas, fuel oils and water. comes in, those things can two terms as commissioner of several new taxes and “It’s a tax on essentials,” be looked at again. increases in others in the Kessler said. He added that He said would not look last year, he said. this tax has a major effect at eliminating any services, Many in this county can’t on people who are strug- but would look at how de- handle all the taxes that gling to make ends meet. partments are staffed. have been placed upon In order to reduce the “The board needs to them, he said. “This in- tax burden, Kessler said he make the hard decisions,” creasing tax burden is a would suggest the commis- he said. very onerous and diffi cult sion come together and set The commission needs burden to carry,” he added. a list of priorities of services to prioritize and become And this doesn’t just apply and then rank them. The as effi cient as possible, he to those senior citizens on health and safety of the added. And once the priori- a fi xed income, but also to citizens would come fi rst ties are set, the commission the families who are lucky and would include law en- can’t allow itself to deviate if they still have one income forcement, fi re rescue and and must continue to follow in the household, he said. emergency medical services. the plan, he said. “Everyone realizes that After those top services, The county government we need taxes to run the Kessler said the commis- must also be open and trans- government,” Kessler said. sion would rank the impor- parent, he said. “There’s “But the level of taxation SPECIAL TO THE NEWS tance of each service and never too much information