CHIEFLAND Thursday, July 12, 2018 Proudly servingITIZEN Chiefland and Levy County for 69 years C 2 sections, 22 pages Volume 69, Number 21 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 Sheriff seeks budget support for Safe Schools law BY LORI PREVATT deputies in case someone had to be off, or leave a school.” Citizen Correspondent This would allow McCallum the manpower needed to meet the Safe Schools mandate, which requires every school in the state to have a school resource Sheriff Bobby McCallum addressed the Board of Levy County Commission- officer or school guardian present at all times. ers in a long discussion on July 2 in an attempt to secure additional funding In addition to the strain on the budget for the resource officer program, for the fiscal year and left the meeting short of his goal. McCallum also expressed the need for additional funding for additional over- McCallum sought additional funds to pay for full-time security on campuses time hours paid to the deputies covering the schools, insurance costs for his during school hours, meeting a new state law requirement that came in the employees, FICA and new vehicles for deputies. He also mentioned the need wake of the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in for a new forensic investigator. February. “One of my forensic investigators has to be on call 24/7 every other week,” If the County would have provided McCallum the funding requested, it McCallum said. would have generated a deficit of $300,000. McCallum and the Commissioners discussed School Board funding for Safe McCallum requested $1.2 million additional dollars more than the prior Schools. The School Board had provided $409,496 to the Sheriff’s Office to year, in addition to the $550,000 the County is already providing each year go toward the safe schools program. The School Board is also committed to for school resource officers. $510,000 per year. “We have currently spent $515,000 through May of this year,” McCallum Commissioner Lilly Rooks asked McCallum if he were to receive the $1.2 said. “We currently have six school resource officers and one part time Ag- million increase, less the $550,000 already riculture deputy covering schools for us. We need to hire seven brand new promised, would he be able to approach See FISCAL Page 9A deputies. Ten other schools need deputies. That would give us three extra the School Board for more funding. Meridian move to Birthday party Chiefland imminent LORI PREVATT Citizen Correspondent Meridian, a North Central Florida non-profit mental health and addiction treatment provider, is nearing the final phases of preparations to open their Chiefland Office, reported President Maggie Labarta at the Levy County Commission meeting July 2. Larbarta said Me- ridian purchased two buildings across from Chiefland City Hall, which are currently being renovated, and Meridian is hoping to have the new office open by the end of this summer. Meridian’s Photos by Deborah Goad Levy County base is currently in Bronson. Bronson celebrates “The plan is to Independence Day at the move operations from park July 4. Above: Trey Bronson to Chiefland,” Tucker handles a sparkler. Labarta said. “We will Bottom: Ed and Peggy have to wait and see Rowe take donations for what happens before the Food4Kids program. we decide to close the Bronson office.” The Commissioners were concerned about the Bronson office clos- See MOVE Page 9A CHIEFLAND CITIZEN P.O. Box 980 Chiefland, Fl 32644 Phone: 352-493-4796 Griner tapped as Farmer of the Year SEAN ARNOLD servation, according to the “I want to maximize my Editor Florida Farm Bureau, which time with the judges to show coordinates the competition. them our total operations, he list of accolades The FFB featured Griner in its not just our farming and continue to grow Ly- Floridagriculture magazine cattle operations, but also our Tnetta Usher Griner. for July. logging operations,” Griner The Chiefland timber Griner owns and manag- said. “The logging business rancher and cattle farmer has es Usher Land and Timber has been the backbone of been named Swisher Sweets/ with her husband Ken. They what we’ve done for many, Sunbelt Ag Expo Florida entered the family business many years and we’ve been Farmer of the Year. in 1989, following the tragic able to expand that with the Griner, the former Flor- death of her brother, Tommy, farming and the cattle side.” ida Agriculture Woman of and have since expanded Griner says her commu- the Year, will compete with from its foundation in timber nity projects, which include nine other state winners for to include cattle and farming. helping raise more than $1 the distinction of Southeast They are part of a group that million for the Children’s Regional Farmer of the Year, breeds composite bulls opti- Miracle Network, and con- which is revealed in October. mized for Florida climate. servation efforts are just a The prestigious state honor Griner will meet with natural outcome from her is in recognition of her “busi- judges more three hours in commitments. Lynetta Usher Griner, of Chiefland, is ness success and her contri- August as part of the process “I’m pretty passionate the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo butions to her community” as to compete for the Southeast See FARM Page 9A Florida Farmer of the Year. well as her record in con- Farmer of the Year. 2A Chiefland Citizen Thursday, July 12, 2018 Levy County Sheriff's Reports Most Wanted The Levy County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests: Often Used Abbreviations • July 2, Earnest DL - Driver’s License Gerome Brown, 63, Wil- DWLSR - Driving While License liston, contempt of court. Suspended or Revoked Bond $40,000. DUI - Driving Under the Influence • July 4, Christian Miles FTA - Failure to Appear Cannon, 30, Newberry, ROR - Released on Own Recognizance three out-of-county war- RWV - Resisting With Violence rants. ROR. RW/OV - Resisting Without Violence Ty Colella Samantha Gath • July 3, Vajiha Farooq, VOP - Violation of Probation 20, Trenton 32, Chiefland 31, Bronson, two counts VOP VOP cruelty toward a child w/o $5,000. ment. ROR. electric weapon or device, great bodily harm. Bond • July 6, Jeffrey Resawn • July 7, Jennifer Cullen possession of cocaine, $50,000. Middleton, 34, Williston, Rodriguez, 34, Williston, possession of marijuana • July 5, Kelly Letri- FTA. Bond $2,500. possession of cocaine, not more than 20 grams, sha Geer, 40, Bronson, • July 4, Andrea Mi- possession of marijuana possession and/or use of aggravated assault. Bond chelle Mobley, 41, Ocala, not more than 20 grams. drug equipment. Bond $5,000. DWLS. Bond $10,000. • July 5, David Lee $10,000. • July 7, Octavious J. • July 3, Edward Joseph Runion, 35, Williston, • July 5, Daniel Keith Gore, 34, Bronson, two Neary III, 54, Bronson, two counts burglary, three Suffield, 55, Morriston, counts contempt of court, possession and/or use counts grand theft, grand grand theft. Bond $10,000. aggravated stalking, VOP. of drug equipment, sex theft of a motor vehicle, • July 4, James Wade Bond $50,000. offender violation failure two counts dealing in Venable, 30, Williston, Ty Larson Christina Mitchell • July 3, Vernon Scott to comply with registration stolen property. Bond DUI, DWLSR. Bond 20, Bronson 38, Bronson Hagerman, 54, Bronson, VOP VOP law. Bond $25,000. $162,000. $40,000. possession of cocaine. • July 7, Paul Leonard • July 5, Scott Starling, • July 2, Christopher Bond $5,000. Norris, 54, Old Town, 60, Fanning Springs, Yawn, 33, Cross City, Anyone with in- • July 3, Kelly Ann possession of a weapon or burglary, grand theft of a non-support of children or formation about Hersey, 36, Bronson, bat- ammunition by a con- motor vehicle, petit theft, spouse. Bond $25. tery, disorderly conduct. these individuals victed felon, possession crimes against a public • July 6, Timothy Ber- Bond $2,000. is asked to call the of cocaine, possession of servant, resisting W/OV. nard Young, 26, Williston, • July 5, Rashad Nakia Sheriff’s Office at marijuana not more than Bond $101,000. aggravated assault, firing Hooper, 19, Chiefland, 20 grams, possession and/ • July 2, Raymond a weapon in public or on 486-5111. To re- VOP. or use of drug equipment. Elton Stieve, 72, Fan- residential property. Bond main anonymous, • July 4, Michael James Bond $17,000. ning Springs, DUI. Bond $110,000. Koehler, 20, Williston, call Crime Stop- • July 4, Shania Aerion $2,000. • July 7, Vincent Salva- FTA. Bond $2,000. pers at 1-877-349- Leashae Perry, 18, Chief- • July 3, Quinton Jamaal tore Zottola, 57, Archer, Tana Plank • July 5, Forrest Donald 8477. land, no DL, possession Stroud, 26, Williston, car- DUI. ROR. 22, Inglis Love, 32, Plantation, out VOP and/or use of drug equip- rying a concealed weapon, of county warrant. Bond Arrest made after Fourth Construction burglar nabbed Scott Tummond Runion was located at a celebration in Bronson LCSO Public Information home outside of Williston Scott Tummond vehicle slid sideways Construction of a new and confronted. He ad- LCSO Public Information toward the group. home can be exciting and mitted to these thefts and Levy County deputies Eight teens were inter- frustrating for the owner directed investigators to assisting with the Fourth viewed and told deputies as well as the construc- a stash of stolen property, of July celebration at the they had been arguing with tion company, all within a some of which had already Bronson Sports Complex Geer and were walking single day. Delays caused been sold to unsuspect- responded to complaints of away. Geer then threatened by weather and supply ing buyers.