CHIEFLAND Thursday, May 2, 2019 Proudly servingITIZEN Chiefland and Levy County for 69 years 2C sections, 20 pages Volume 70, Number 8 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 Levy, Gilchrist Circuit Judge abruptly resigns County road adjacent to RV park Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Stanley Griffis III submitted a resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis on on paving list since 2003 April 22, effective at the end of the day on April 30. Griffis was a SUZETTE COOK said the prioritizing of the list is Circuit Judge since 2007 Reporter a staff-level decision while put- and was most recently ting roads on the list is left up to re-elected unopposed in The two-mile long road known the commission. 2018. He handled cases as Levy County Road (LCR) 201 “It’s your responsibility to in Levy and Gilchrist that runs adjacent to Strawber- vette these roads, make sure Counties on matters of ry Fields RV Park in Chiefland they meet the criteria, and the mortgage foreclosures, has been on Levy County’s road roads that are on here, we need probate, extraordinary paving and resurfacing schedule to do a hard count,” Meeks told writes, mental health, for 16 years. Road Department Coordinator family, domestic vi- That list, re-prioritized in 2013, Alice LaLonde. olence, and juvenile is about to come under scrutiny “There are roads on here that dependency and delin- as a result of a 4.5-hour-long don’t match our criteria and they quency. Griffis’ letter special meeting hosted on April need to be removed,” he added. 30 by the Levy County Board of Commissioners expressed didn’t give a reason for SUZETTE COOK/Citizen County Commissioners. the resignation, only See ROAD Page B6 County Commissioners Rock Meeks, sitting, and Matt Brooks adding that, “It has been Commission Chair John Meeks look over a road map at a special meeting on April 30. my honor and privilege to serve the people of Alachua, Baker, Brad- ford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union Counties since 2007.” Wild Hog draws record crowd SEAN ARNOLD Bulls and Barrel Editor rodeo is May 3-4 t’s shortly after Chiefland FFA Alumni noon and Joey invite you to the Bulls ICanova is cheering & Barrel rodeo event on boaters from the at Carter’s Crossroads scorer’s table as they Arena on May 3 and approach the finish May 4. The gates open line of the 42nd Annual at 6:30 p.m. and the Wild Hog Canoe Race event starts at 7:30 p.m. on April 27. Tickets at the gate are While the water this $10 for adults and $5 year was up, and boat- for students. Ages 6 and ers reported a healthy under get in free. NFR current that helped Rodeo Announcer Roger pushed things along, Mooney will keep the the race is always a crowd entertained. grind, no matter the Chiefland FFA Alumni conditions and no See ROAD Page 2B is also holding a Smoked matter your experience Boston Butt Fundraiser. and strength. And most Pick up your Smoked competitors stumble butt at Chiefland Ele- just before completion, mentary School on May as they’re required to 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. The lift their boats over a pre-paid price is $25. log that bridges about Please see an FFA Alum- a foot or two over the ni member to purchase. water, in between the U.S. 19 bridge and the finish line. Even if the Small Boat Meet boat goes over smooth, getting back in the boat this weekend is often a problem. The 34th Annual Ce- “You never know how dar Key Small Boat Meet the race is gonna end,” is May 3-5. yells out Canova, as All shallow craft are one duo has to paddle welcome: dories and din- to the finish facing ghies, catboats, beach backwards after they cats and trimarans, scramble to get back sharpies and sampans, in their boat in time on cuddy daysailers, any or the other side of the all boats driven by ped- log. Canova was the See BOATS Page A3 master of ceremonies, filling in for longtime announcer Don Lind- sey, who was suffering CHIEFLAND health problems. The Wild Hog Canoe ITIZEN SEAN ARNOLD/Citizen C race raises money for Jimmy Boyle, of Chiefland, takes the plunge near the finish of the Wild Hog Canoe Race on April 27. Boyle and Luke Levy ARC (LARC), a Stockman, left, have competed together in the race for four years. 624 W. Park Ave work center in Otter Chiefland, Fl 32626 Creek that serves Phone: 352-493-4796 two hours. was a petting zoo and the proceeds of the in the sky. adults with mental dis- There were 90 boat- a yard sale. There were race and their yard “We give God all the abilities. It’s a sharply ers in this year’s race, three large bouncy- sales throughout the glory,” Maynard said. bending 15-mile trek down from 102 last house slides, two zip year. “With a 90 percent down the Wacassas- year. But the gathering lines, raffles, vendors, “The petting zoo chance of rain for Sat- sa River, starting at at the river bank at the BBQ and a duck race. was a big hit!,” WHCR urday a week before, the Wacassassa Bridge end of the race was a The Orange Blossom Director Keith Maynard we knew God would along Highway 24 near record crowd. In recent Ramblers returned to said. “And as always, give us a beautiful day Bronson, and culmi- years, the festivities provide music enter- the main attraction being that we are only nating at the bridge on have grown, which has tainment. was the zip lines with doing it for His glory, Highway 19, north of helped increase the The organizers of the a long line all day. The and He did!” Gulf Hammock. The number of attendees race present a check children had a blast!” The WHCR regulars fastest riders can com- Ad#:000VXFT Date:04/03/19 Day:WEDwho don’t Size:5X3 compete Cust:80827 in in Salesperson:792 late spring or earlyLast Edited By:CDECKELMANNThe weather was Pub:SPECIAL SERVICES Tag plete it in a little under the race. NewLine:METAL this year ROOFsummer FRONT to PAGE LARC Colorfrom Info:4COLORidyllic, without a cloud See WILD Page A2 000VXFT - Page 1 - Composite See WILD Page 3 000VXFT 2A Chiefland Citizen Thursday, May 2, 2019 Jimmy Boyle were back again as a duo, this time making the WILD upgrade from canoe continued from Page A1 to kayak. Stockman felt the difference. “We just kind of can remember a wing it,” the CMHS couple years ago junior said. “We don’t when the water was really have our timing low the race was a down. We just had a particular difficult faster boat.” slog. Husband and wife Top placers duo Danny and Alexis Overall – Edwards Schlenker felt faster (One-Man Canoe) on the water this year 1:43:31; Keown (Kay- LEFT: Justin Maynard unleashes in what was their ak-Men’s) 1:52:45; Sifka the ducks off the U.S. 19 bridge fourth try, but noticed & Feldman (Recreation) at the Wild Hog Canoe Race on their competitors 1:53:20; Saint & Rose- were faster as well. brock (Recreational) April 27. Before entering their 1:56:12; Cooper (Kay- first race, they’d nev- ak-Senior) 1:59:46. Photos: SEAN ARNOLD/Citizen er canoed before. Recreation – Sifka & “We expected to do Feldman 1:53:20; Saint a lot better but every- & Rosebrock 1:56:12; body amped it up,” Wetherington & Conk- Danny said of this lin 2:05:15; Fowler & year’s run. Harris 2:05:52; Werner “It helps a little to & Werner 2:12:09; Scott know it, you’ve got & Hunt 2:12:33. to feel it out,” Alexis One-Man Canoe – Ed- said. “(The turns) are wards 1:43:31; Morse sharp. It’s hard to fig- 2:03:21. ure out, but it’s fun.” Experienced – Barber Cedar Key School & Smith 2:08:06; Gar- science teacher ner & Garner 2:08:17. Raymond Powers, Sr. Men’s Kayak – Keown has entered the race 1:52:45; Bailey 2:13:20; with each of his three Kunckleman 2:19:48; children at different Reidy 2:20:07. times but went solo Women’s Kayak – this year. He com- Francavilla 2:11:20; petes in obstacle races Varrati 2:29:28; Haven but finds Wild Hog 2:41:27. even tougher. Women’s Canoe “This is just an – Wetherington & aquatic version of (ob- Quincey 2:38:33; Walsh stacle course races),” & Walsh 2:56:03. said Powers, who had Mixed – Frederick little purple and gold & Williams 2:04:39; sharks painted on his Holton & Polk 2:09:28; boat to represent CKS. Nico & Haufler 2:11:46; “If you’re going for Pearce & Pearce your best time, you 2:17:00; Abram & can never rest. But on Deemer 2:19:48. obstacle course races, Senior Kayak – Coop- there are moments er 1:59:46; Francavilla you can just stand.” 2:01:01. CKS agriculture Senior Canoe – Owen teacher Rachel & Owens 2:03:59; Streb Wetherington teamed & McQueen 2:13:37. up with Suwannee Parent/Youth – Raab County agriculture & Fiducia 2:10:32; teacher Katie Quincey White & White 2:35:32; in the race. CKS Prin- Johnston & Richardson ciple Kathy Lawrence 2:38:25. was on site to offer Youth – Santana & support. Hogan 2:17:26; Saint & Chiefland Middle Seidel 2:36:31; Rich- High School juniors ardson & McPhillips Luke Stockman and 2:38:18.