LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL AROUND LEVY COUNTY THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2007 This Week's Arrests 1. The Levy County Sheriff's Office reports the following arrests for: Joshua R. Sipe, 16, of Newberry was arrested for burglary of structure, grand theft greater than $300. Bail was set at $10,000. Charles Lloyd Wilson,; 17, of Winterhaven was arrested for battery on detention facility staff. Robert L. Houser, 46, of Trenton was arrested for violation of probation (VOP) - dealing in stolen property. No bond was set. David Cecil Farmer, 49, of Zephyrhills was arrested for driving on suspended driver's license. Bail was set at $2,500. Ruby P. Bailey, 31, of Chiefland was arrested for VOP grand theft. Adam Howard Bolinger, 22, of Chiefland was arrested for possession of marijuana and tampering with physical evidence. Bail was set at $5,000. Kenneth Doyle Langford, 37, of Inglis was arrested for VOP - possession of cocaine and VOP attempted purchase of controlled substance. ZachariaL.Robinson, 22, of Archer was arrested for VOP no valid drivers license. Marcus K. Chever, 24, of Williston was arrested for evidence destroying tampering, resisting without violence and possession of marijuana less than (L/T) 20 grams. Bail was set at $10,000. Christopher Allen Barron, 23, of Chiefland was arrested for VOP. No bond was set. Issac C. Grisset, *36, of Pompano Beach was arrested for failure to appear (FTA) violation of drivers license restriction. Bail was set at $10,000. Mathew Lee Wilson, 42, of Bronson was arrested for VOP possession of cannabis L/T 20 grams. No bond was set. Ray Phelps, 45, of Trenton was arrested for VOP driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLSR). Bail was set at $1,330. John Lee Brown,. 40, of Newberry was arrested for VOP driving under the influence (DUI). Brandon L. Spangler, 20, of Cocoa Beach was arrested for VOP petit theft first offense. Bail was set at $5,000. Brian Harper, 48, of Cedar .Key was arrested for VOP- DU. FiHe was released on his own recognizance (ROR). PabloLopezRamirez, 19, of Bronson was arrested' for trespass on property, trespass to conveyance and disorderly intoxication. Bail was set at $5,500. Gordon E. Staley, 43, of Jensen Beach was arrested for two counts of FTA jury trial, FTA possession of paraphernalia. Bail was set at $75,000. Jason Dean Rutledge, 30, of Gainesville was arrested for repeated harassing phone call. Bail was set at $3,000. Shawn Lynn Gallagher, 33, of Hudson was arrested for exposure of sexual organs. Bail was set at $1,000. David W. Lewis, III, 25, of Archer was arrested for possession of marijuana L/T 20 grams. Bail was set at $2,500. Kimberly Ann Meckstroth, 21, of Chiefland was arrested for VOP possession of cannabis more than (M/T) 20 grams. No bond was set. Robert Alan Bender, II, 24, of Chiefland was arrested for VOP forgery. No bond was set. David Michael Hlolmes, 32, of Williston was arrested for warrant FTA. He was ROR. Eric V. Crandall, 29, of Chiefland was arrested for domestic battery. He was ROR. Matthew Andrea Hopkins, 40, of Williston was arrested for battery domestic. He was ROR. David I. Fike, 24, of Bronson was arrested for battery domestic, 2 counts of aggravated assault and criminal mischief. Bail was set at $45,000. Jeffrey Brian Cooper, 22, of Bronson was arrested for battery domestic. Bail was set at $3,500. Esteban Ortega, 34, of Williston was arrested for domestic battery. Bail was set at $5,000. The Williston Police Department reports the following arrests for: David Michael Holmes, 32, of Williston was arrested for flee and elude and driving while license suspended or revoked (DWSLR). Latasha Sherese Tobin, 35, of Pompano was arrested for grand theft vehicle. Chiefland woman dies in one-car accident A Chiefland woman died Jan. 2 from injuries she sustained in a one-car accident New Year's Day. Tanya Hodge, 23, was driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am 1.2 miles west of Chiefland on State Road 320 and for some reason lost control of the vehicle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. Jan. 1 near NW 78 Terrace outside Chiefland. The accident report states that Hodge left the paved road, traveled out of control and struck a grassy embankment at the base of a tree. The vehicle was redirected and she struck several trees before come to rest facing the southeast on the north shoulder. Hodge was taken to Shands at the University of Florida and died the next day. A complete obituary appears on page 7. Learn more about Alzheimer's BY JOHNNY SMITH LEVY COUNTY SHERIFF Our elderly are so impor- tant to us. Their knowledge, experience and insight are very valuable. Also, they are very enjoyable. That's why this topic is important al- though not pleasant to cover. Remember, the Alzheim- er's person or wanderer, will not leave many verifiable clues. They also will not cry out for help or respond to shouts. Many are found within 33 feet of a road or trail and tend to travel down- hill. Alzheimer's people are also drawn towards light and, interestingly enough, 75 percent of wanderers head south. And remember, these are not goal-oriented people. They are wandering. Here are some search and rescue things that we will do if a person wanders off. First thing we'll do is conduct a highly systematic search of the residence/nurs- ing home and/or grounds. Patrols will be sent to places the person has wandered to before. Tracking dogs as well as air-scent dogs may be used. Buildings, roadways, forests, underbrush areas will also be searched actively, several times. As search is conducted, it will be expand- See Sheriff Page 14 YOUR VIEW Letters continued from page 4 Stricter dock ordinances coming To the editor: Discussion during the Jan. 3 Yankeetown Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) meeting focused on development by the commission of dock ordinances that would give the town control of permitting of dock construction, expansion and maintenance. According to the town compliance officer the town is involved in permitting currently to confirm that the builder has obtained county and other required permits. Historically, Levy County has jurisdiction over dock permitting from the mean high water mark to the middle of the river. It was discussed by the commission that Yankeetown would seek to gain control through an inter local agreement with Levy County, wherein the town's dock ordinances would take precedence. The commission was uncertain that such an agreement with the county can be accomplished. Apparently the town has jurisdiction of canals and upland cuts (man made cuts into the river bank) and any dock ordinances resulting from current code development work will apply to these water properties if and when they become law. Ordinances require town council approval after a process of public hearings and input. The commission did not indicate when they would be prepared to send their dock ordinance recommendations to council. The time and place of P&Z meetings is posted at town hall prior to the meeting and on the bill board sign at the town limits. Town residents, particularly those with affected,. waterfront properties are encouraged to attend. Carl Mazzuca Yankeetown Tax rebels to meet for 'Home Rule' To the editor: So you think you can't do anything about the property tax gun held to your head? Guess again! The Levy County Tax Rebels have a solution. And it's le- gal! It's a solution that was added to the "new" 1968 Florida constitution. That's right. The current Constitution of the state of Florida replaced the state of Florida Constitution of 1885! The 1968 Florida legislature saw the need for a new type of county government.. .A government which they named a "Home Rule" form of government. A government for the people, by the people and of the people. A government that we do not have today in Levy County! The good news is that we have the right to a "Home Rule" form of county govern- ment. Home Rule government gives the voters of Levy County a real voice in how the county runs. Learn how. Attend the "Levy County Tax Rebel" meeting - When? Thursday, Jan. 11th, 7 p.m. Where? Cedar Key Cedar Cove Conference Room - Next to the "Island Room" restaurant at the east end of 2nd Street Why? Learn how to make a permanent change in our Levy County government This is a fight that must be won. If unfair county govern- ment laws and actions are hurting you or your friends, this is a fight for you! This is not just about taxes, although unfair taxes are the immediate concern. Unfair taxes are just the tip of the iceberg! Unfair government hurts everyone! We do have a solution. Find out what it is and YOU DE- CIDE! Bill Phillips Cedar Key Her way or the highway? To the editor: I find the Jan. 4 letter to the editor in the Levy County Journal from Marsha Drew, our newly elected Yankeetown Vice Mayor, to be frightening. As an American, I do not expect to be asked by town of- ficials to leave town for exercising my constitutional right to criticize the government, an old and time-honored tradition. Part of political leadership is taking the heat or getting out of the kitchen. Retaliation by elected officials on townspeople for expressing their views is, at best, very poor judgment. I find it sadly laughable that the vice mayor provided only political rhetoric in her published responses to the points raised by Mr. Mazzuca. Yet she had the audacity to say that, "we inherited a town on the brink of collapse." This is consistent with the ongoing attempt of this administration to convince us that the failure of the town government was cre- ated by the previous mayor, while the town was intentionally being collapsed around her, The vice mayor, from her office, represents the views of the town of Yankeetown government and that is the most ominous, threatening aspect of her letter. The vice mayor's response served to confirm Mr. Mazzuca's observation that if you are not is lockstep with this government's views, you will be arrogantly dismissed or, even worse, you will be invited to leave town if you don't like it. Where is the open, honest, representative government we were promised? Michael Weimer Yankeetown Breakfast funds needed for FCAT To the editor: It is the time of year again when we begin preparing our students to take the FCAT or Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. The administration, faculty and staff are working very hard to help our students become successful test takers. As you may know, statistics show that students that get plenty of rest and a good breakfast do better with taking test. This is where we are asking for your help. We are asking for donations to be able to provide our students with breakfast on the days of test taking. This will allow us to make sure that all of our students have breakfast and not just a few of them. We feel that this will help all of our students to be successful. Your donations are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your generous and continued support of our school programs. Our testing schedule includes: Four (4) days in February-testing for our 8th and 10h grade students on Florida Writes + during Feb. 6, 2007 until Feb. 9, 2007. During Feb. 26, 207, until March 9, 2007, all students will be tested in reading and math and the NRT or Norm Referenced Test. The 81 and 11th grade students will also take the FCAT science exam; and juniors and seniors will take FCAT retakes. Our menu will be breakfast pizza, bagel and cream cheese with chilled juice or fruit and assorted milk. The price list for food including tax is as follows: Breakfast pizza, case of 128, $29.06 Bagels, case of 72, 11.39 Cream cheese, case of 100, 16.25 Assorted juice case of 70, 9.04 Apples, case of 125, 31.50 Assorted milk, case of 50, 20.98 We will need enough funds to serve 600 children a day. All donations need to be in by Jan. 22, 2007. Make checks payable to L.C.F.S. For more information call 486-5409 ext. 287. Bronson Middle/High School Food Service Staff Kitchen Manager, Katherine Manuel Principal Ms. Boughanem Dixie Echoes in concert Jan. 18 The Dixie Echoes will be in concert Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Full Gospel Outreach Church located 4.5 miles north of Chiefland on Highway 19. Subscribe and save! 'SiriALiWAU7U 1)0INT EV T)~ik~ Butka, Ruby Old Town W/F DOB: 08-17-1964 VOP, Purchase of Cocaine No Bond Ellis, Thomas Lee Bronson W/M DOB: 10-18-1977 VOP, DWLSR No Bond Feliciano, Louis Kevin Trenton W/M DOB: 10-22-1963 Fraud, Insuff Funds Over $150 $5,000 Bond Hite, Kimberly Sue Trenton W/F DOB: 02-25-1965 VOP, DWLSR $2,500 Bond Snelson, Gilbert Homer Old Town W/M DOB: 09-26-1962 VOP, Possession Cocaine $10,000 Bond Troy, Stephen M. Williston W/M DOB: 11-29-1978 VOP, DWLSR No Bond anyone knowing the whereabouts or having any information about the above individuals is asked to please contact the Levy County Sheriff's Office at 352-486-5111 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477. Page 5