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Page 7


Thursday March 12, 2009


Local


 Wildfire Danger
Increasing; Bronson Asks
For Public's Help In Fire
 Prevention

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida is
experiencing twice the wild-
fire activity of a year ago
and the danger is increasing
every day, Florida Agricul-
ture and Consumer Services
Commissioner Charles H.
Bronson said today.

Bronson is urging residents
to do their part to prevent
wildfires by avoiding any un-
necessary outdoor burning.
They should also check with
their local Division of
Forestry office or county gov-
ernment to determine if
there is a local burn ban in
effect.

"Prevention is the key," Bron-
son said. "We're asking resi-
dents and visitors alike to ex-
ercise extreme caution when
you use anything that in-
volves fire or high heat. Be-
fore conducting any outdoor
burning, check with officials
to see if it is a dangerous
burning day and if there is a
local burn ban in effect."

A lack of substantial rain-
fall, especially in Central and
South Florida, coupled with
recent freezes throughout the
state, has left Florida's vege-
tation ripe for wildfires.
Wildfires can start easily, in-
tensify quickly and move


rapidly because of the cur-
rent conditions.

Statewide, the Keetch-Byram
Drought Index (KBDI) cur-
rently stands at 520, well
above normal.for this time of
the year. Moreover, the index
shows that nearly half of
Florida is well above the
statewide average and is ex-
periencing "severe" dry con-
ditions. The KBDI measures
available soil moisture and
runs from 0 (saturated) to 800
(desert-like).

Additional tips for residents
to help prevent wildfires in-
clude:

-- Never leave a campfire un-
attended.
-- Don't throw cigarettes or
other lighted material out of
car windows.
-- Clear gutters of leaves and
other debris, and remove
vegetation from around
homes, creating a 30-foot de-
fensible space.
-- Do not park motor vehicles
or equipment in areas where
the hot catalytic converter
could ignite grass, leaves or
debris.

For other wildfire prevention ac-
tions you can take, and recom-
mendations to help increase the
probability that your home and
community can survive a wild-
fire disaster, visit the Florida Di-
vision of Forestry website at
http://www.fl-dofcom or contact
your local Florida Division of
Forestry field office.


WHEN THE GAME

IS ON THE LINE

NOTHING IS

LEFT T0.

CHANCE.



Picking an insurance agent shouldn't be
a guessing game either. Instead, look
for a Trusted Choice agency that
offers you a choice of insurance
companies so you can choose the
policy that's right for your needs.

Don't leave your insurance to
chance; choose a Trusted Choice*
agency to help protect what's
important to you and your family,


bo NeedAnfIndependent fnsuranceAgenP


Langston Insurance Agency, Inc.
 179 NE 351 Hwy, Cross City, FL 32628
 352-498-3328 Langstonins.com
 Agents: Betty Nell Mills
 Tommy Cooper


.'oI


Don't miss this

 next year!

Friends of the Lower
Suwannee & Cedar Keys Na-
tional Wildlife Refuges,
Refuge Manager John Kas-
bohm and Refuge staff host-
ed their Annual Meeting
and Open House last week-
end in the town of Suwan-
nee. The public was invited
to enjoy the special event.


The Friends held their an-
nual business meeting, vot-
ed in the new Board of Di-
rectors, and welcomed mem-
bers, old and new to the
eighth such meeting. This
year, the town of Suwannee
was the venue for the event,
in order to showcase the
spectacularly scenic Dixie
County half of the Refuge.

University of Florida re-
searcher and guest speaker,
Dr Peter Frederick en-
thralled the group with
more to know about ibises
than one would think possi-
ble. As the group learned
more, they also realized that
when it comes to our
wildlife, there are more
questions than answers as
we begin to feel the reality
of climate change..

Dr 'Dawn Miller of Eye of


the Eagle Wildlife Sanctu-
ary entertained the Friends
group with her collection of
rehabilitated owls, hawks,
and a juvenile swallow-
tailed kite. The injured
birds that can never fly
again will remain with Dr
Miller as educational birds.
Cameras flashed throughout
the presentation and the
birds seemed use to it.

Then everyone went out-
side. Tours by pontoon boat,
kayak, and hayride took


members and visitors into
parts of the Refuge most
don't see. Habitat, forestry
and prescribed burns were
interpreted by the Refuge
Forester Daniel Barrand.
Prescribed Fire Specialist
Vic Doig explained the fire
equipment on display and
demonstrated their uses.

It was a perfect day for a
boat ride or paddle on the
Suwannee River. The Flori-
da Cracker Cook-out could-
n't have been surpassed.

The Friends of the Lower
Suwannee & Cedar Keys Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge are
enthusiastic about the 53,000
acres of public lands that
are in our own backyard.
They share their passion for
the diverse landscape with
all of us at their Annual
Meeting an event not to be
missed.


 WOODMEN ON THE
 WORLD
 LODGE 626
 TRENTON, FLOIRDA
 MARCH 1 7 AT 6:30
 ST. PATRICK'S DAY
SouP & SANDWICH NIGHT
RELAY FOR LIFE SPEAKER
 JULIE


My name is Caden Cothron
and I won Tiny Mr. AES in
the Valentine Pageant at
Anderson. I would like to
thank my sponsors for
helping me out. Thank you
to Buddy and Sonia Weeks,
Scott and Dana Wright,
Kevin and Lisa Sumrall,
The Dixie County Advo-
cate, and of course my
mom and grandparents.

I had so much fun and can't
thank everyone enough.

Caden Cothron


'A


 Levy County Republicans Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Levy County Republican Exec-
utive Committee will be held on Monday, March 16, 2009, at
Bubbaque's Restaurant in Chiefland formally known as
Bell's. We will start with food and fellowship at 6:30pm fol-
lowed by our meeting at 7pm. Our new chair, Michelle
Finnen has brought many new exciting fresh ideas. All Re-
publicans are welcome to join us.

 Our Lincoln Reagan Memorial Dinner will be on Fri-
day, March 27 at Bubbaque's Restaurant in Chiefland. Our
speaker will be the former Speaker of the Florida House of
Representatives, Marco Rubio. He is best known for his
book 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future. Rubio trav-
eled around the state to gather ideas from citizens for this
book. During his tenure as Speaker Marco Rubio champi-
oned a conservative, small-government approach to Flori-
da's government. A few tickets are still available at our
meeting or call Juanita at (352) 339-0747.

 Now is the time for ALL REPUBLICANS TO WORK
TOGETHER so please attend our events and get involved.


 BkftLA"! 16

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 s itoStemid


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Twls1 60 Ami
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BkfT Sau" Bault 20
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 Stephen M. Henry, DMD

 (352) 498-7001


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brighter,
faster


to ft W
W 10.


New ptiensawecome


 NEW Mini Implants
For Crowns, Bridges &
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 COME TO OUR




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 JOIN US FOR A FUN NIGHT OF
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 FOR MORE INFORMATION

 CALL FLO GILCHRIST @
 498-2843


 John Birch Society
 meeting at the Gilchrist
 County Library in
 Trenton
Monday, March 16, 2009
from 7:00 PM to 8:30 pm.
Contact Hank Richstine
 542-8617


 ACTION
 Pump Repair & Well Drilling
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 IF


 Economic Recovery
 Payments Coming For
 People Who
 Receive Social Security
 And SSI Benefits

By Donna Maitland
Social Security District Manager,
Gainesville, Fl

The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009,
which the President signed
into law in February, pro-
vides for a one-time payment
of $250 to people receiving
Social Security and Supple-
mental Security Income (SSI)
benefits.

The one-time recovery pay-
ments will go out in May 2009
and all payments should be
received by the end of May
In April, Social Security will
send a letter with additional
information to each person
who is eligible for the one-
time payment. The pay-
ments will be sent automati-
cally, meaning no action is
required on the part of the
person receiving benefits.
The economic recovery pay-
ments will be made separate-
ly from regular monthly So-
cial Security and SSI pay-
ments.

All adults who receive Social
Security benefits, including
disabled adult children (but
not minor children) are eligi-
ble for $250 payment. In ad-
dition, all persons who re-
ceive SSI payments, includ-
ing minor children, are eligi-
ble for the payment. Anyone
who receives benefits or who
was eligible to receive bene-
fits during any of the three
months prior to enactment
(November and December of
2008 and January 2009) will


receive the one-time payment
as long as the address of
record is in one of the 50
states, the District of Colum-
bia, Puerto Rico, Guam,-U.S.
Virgin Islands, American
Samoa, or the Northern Mar-
iana Islands.

The payments will be made
in the same way that regular
monthly payments are made.
People with direct deposit
will receive their payments
electronically. Those who re-
ceive paper checks will re-
ceive their payments in the
mail. People who receive
regular payments through
the Direct Express debit card
will receive their one-time
payments through the card.

If someone receives both So-
cial Security and SSI, only
one payment of $250 will be
made. The economic recov-
ery legislation also provides
for a one-time payment to re-
cipients of Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) and
Railroad Retirement Board
(RRB) benefits. However, if
you receive Social Security
or SSI benefits and you also
receive VA and/or RRB bene-
fits, you will only receive one
$250 payment. The Social Se-
curity Administration will
send you this payment.

To assist in processing the
payments as efficiently as
possible, please do not con-
tact Social Security unless do
not receive a payment by
June 4, 2009. Information is
available at www.socialsecu-
ritygov and will be updated
regularly.

To learn more about the
American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009,
visit www.recovery.gov.


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