CHIEFLAND Thursday, July 18, 2019 Proudly servingITIZEN Chiefland and Levy County for 68 years C1 section, 18 pages Volume 68, Number 19 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 LCSO School grades up across the board makes SEAN ARNOLD and industry certifications, are also fig- overall score – from a 42 to a 52 – thanks Editor ured into the scores. to significant upticks in ELA and math The district showed improvement in scores. The Levy County school district saw all 11 categories, moving up its ranking ELA gains were a focus of the district series of across-the-board gains on the latest an- among districts to 42nd out of 67, up this past school year, according to Edi- nual school and district grades released from 56th in 2018. Levy scored a C in six son. by the Florida Department of Education of the previous seven years. We’ve worked really hard on our this month, as the county increased its “I’m very proud of the district overall,” English Language Arts and we saw some arrests in overall score by 11.5 percent to go from Superintendent Jeff Edison said. “Almost good gains there, especially in the high a C to a B district. every school came up, and some of them schools,” the superintendent said. “It’s The district earned its largest improve- significantly. going to be another focal point this year, ments in the areas of middle school stu- “That just goes to the hard work of the because I think that’s one of the hard- Manatee dent performance and English Language teachers and administrators.” est ones to get. Reading is probably the Arts (ELA) gains for the bottom quartile Chiefland and Bronson schools saw most difficult skill there is. of students. significant gains. Bronson Middle High “We’ve been doing very well for a The grades are based on 11 criteria, School improved from a C to a B, with number of years in social studies,” add- Farms which measure student performance and particular improvements in graduation ed Edison, who also praised the district’s student improvement on subjects such rate and middle school acceleration, biology scores. The Levy County as mathematics, social studies, science which reflects the rate of middle school Whispering Winds Charter School in Sheriff’s Office early and ELA. Graduation rates and accel- students passing high school level as- Chiefland made the largest gains of this month made several eration success at the high school and sessments. Chiefland Elementary School all Levy Schools, catapulting to an A arrests in the area of the middle school levels, which include data remained at a C, missing a B by two Manatee Farms subdivi- on Advanced Placement, dual enrollment points, but improved 24 percent on its See GRADE Page 3 sion, west of Chiefland off of County Road 320. On July 5, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division TV series puts conducted a traffic stop on a truck driven by An- Survival challenge spotlight on drew Merz. Subsequent investigation revealed Merz, a convicted felon, was found to be in local shellfish possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun and ammunition. Merz industry was held on a $100,000 bond for possession of SUZETTE COOK firearm by a convicted felon, $100,000 bond Reporter for carrying a concealed How To Do Florida, firearm and $50,000 a television series that bond for possession of takes viewers behind- - ammunition by a con the-scenes to places victed felon. throughout the State, That same day, detec- features several busi- tives arrested Cynthia nesses in Cedar Key Louise Burnett for break- in this week’s episode ing and entering into an “Florida & Big Bend unoccupied structure Shellfish Trail.” in the Manatee Farms The show featuring subdivision. Burnett was the Shellfish Trail will air bheld on $35,000 bond on TV 20 this Saturday for burglary of an un- (July 20) at 1 p.m. occupied structure and According to Visit $25,000 for grand theft. Nature Coast, the Host On July 8, while Chaw Crawford and searching for stolen crew visited Tony’s property in Manatee Seafood for a taste of Farms, detectives locat- the world-famous clam ed a man who attempted chowder, went clam- to conceal himself upon ming with Peter Stefani, sight of law enforce- and cooked freshly ment. He was identified Photo provided caught clams at the Is- as Robert Eugene Van- Chiefland Middle High School senior is planning a Survivor-styled challenge for willing participants on a Cedar land Room Restaurant. tassell III, and had three Key island in 2020. Crawford travels active warrants for his Florida’s Big Bend Coast arrest out of Levy, Dixie SUZETTE COOK he could find the best location allowed and tasting crab, shrimp, and Alachua Counties. arrange for all the details for releases and dis- Reporter oysters, clams, and Also on July 8, de- claimers that participants must sign off on. scallops along the way. tectives conducted a Jimmy Boyle is standing on a deserted island “I had to find an island, get waivers for peo- He also heads out with traffic stop on an ATV off Cedar Key. He is dressed in camouflage. The ple to sign, make it legally safe,” Boyle said. local aquatic farmers to in the area of Manatee beat of tribal drums echoes as the aerial foot- “It took a month and a half,” he added and age captured by a drone scopes out the unin- said that he scouted seven islands off Cedar get a firsthand lesson in See ARRESTS Page 3 habited landscape. The music fades as the cam- Key. His first choice turned out to be an un- harvesting. era zooms in on Boyle. He offers this challenge marked refuge, so he worked with Florida Fish Levy County Commis- to the viewer: “Whoever outlasts each other and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) to finish the sion Chair John Meeks through the effects of hunger, dehydration and plan. previewed the show CHIEFLAND mental insanity will gain the pot prize.” “I got together with Andrew Gude (manager and said it was a “very CITIZEN Boyle, 17, is a senior at Chiefland Middle of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Key Refuge) well put together piece High School and a big fan of the CBS show and he worked with me and we got a new possi- that starts out in Cedar 624 W. Park Ave “Survivor.” He said he would like to compete on ble island,” Boyle said. Key and talks about the Chiefland, Fl 32626 the show but has to turn 18 first. The accom- “I was able to show him where he couldn’t clams, heads up the Phone: 352-493-4796 plished pole vaulter is getting a jumpstart on go,” Gude said about helping Boyle learn which coast to Dixie County his plan by creating a competition that involves islands are refuges and which might be private- and Horseshoe Beach. a $50 entry fee and allows 25 people to join ly owned or State parks. Gude made sugges- “Then they go up to him on an undisclosed island. tions of who to talk to and how to find property Steinhatchee and sample The event is planned for next summer 2020, owners on the Levy County website. some blue crabs and see Boyle said. “I got the idea while sitting in class “I gave him water management contacts, and how those are harvested, one day,” he said. He asked a few friends what Boyle and his colleagues spent quite a bit of and end up in Taylor they thought and they encouraged him to “go time planning,” Gude added. “Good lesson to County harvesting scal- for it.” learn about how to go about doing this event.” lops.” It’s a been a learning process for Boyle, Boyle, who said he’s been going out to Meeks said the show who first planned to host the completion this is a “feather in the cap month, but moved it to next summer so that See SURVIVE Page 9 Ad#:000VXFT Date:04/03/19 Day:WED Size:5X3 Cust:80827 Salesperson:792 Last Edited By:CDECKELMANN Pub:SPECIAL SERVICESSee TV Page Tag 3 Line:METAL ROOF FRONT PAGE Color Info:4COLOR 000VXFT - Page 1 - Composite 000VXFT 2A Chiefland Citizen Thursday, July 18, 2019 Cross City Artist David Smith decided to bring his art to sell at the Chiefland Farmers Flea Market. Smith said he is a self- taught artist who watched videos of Bob Ross to learned techniques with acrylics and oils. He named this work, which is a tribute to New York, "Mind of Imag- inations." SUZETTE COOK/Citizen Back to School Bash at FUMC The 2019 Back To have generously School Bash will soon be sponsored this event, here! such as The Chiefland The First United Meth- Women’s Club, Alliance odist Church of Chief- Dairy, Walmart and Tri land has been putting County Metals, to name on the event for the last a few. There are over 24 seven years. This year, booths from local busi- FUMC-Chiefland has nesses, hot food, snow partnered with com- cones, popcorn, and of munity organizations: course lots of school Meridian Healthcare, supplies for the chil- Tri County Resource dren. Country Legends Center, The Potter will be broadcasting live House, The Department during the event. Come of Health in Levy Coun- and enjoy your after- ty, Tobacco Free Part- noon for this awesome nership in Levy County Free Back To School and local radio station Bash on Saturday, July Country Legends. 27, from 9 a.m.