Features

Reprinted with permission from University of Florida Health By Leah Buletti With respiratory masks used by health workers battling the coronavirus in short supply, the University of Florida Health’s department of anesthesiology has developed masks that can be produced in large quantities using materials already found in hospitals and medical facilities. UF Health workers are crafting masks out of materials ... Full Story »

Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz announced over the weekend that he will not be releasing Gilchrist County Jail inmates to curb the coronavirus risk. The sheriff said he has received questions from residents regarding the release of inmates. Unless a judge issues a court order requiring him to release inmates, Schultz said he will not do so. He went on ... Full Story »

The City of Fanning Springs, FL will hold a Special Election on May 12, 2020, or if a primary election is required, it will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. This Special Election will be held to fill the vacant seats of Group 2 and Group 5 Councilmen in Fanning Springs. Resolution 2020-02 identifies the Florida Statutes require the ... Full Story »

Johnny and Sandi Johnson awoke on Sunday, March 1, to find eight of their young lambs dead. The Johnsons live near Bethel Baptist Church on County Road 313 about six miles West of Trenton. The Johnson’s raise Cameroon Sheep, a meat sheep, to sell at market once a year. The Johnson have 15 ewes and have been raising sheep for ... Full Story »

Gilchrist County is pleased to have Tyler Pittman, Ph.D, as the new Extension Agent. Pittman was selected in November after a long interview process. The job became open after longtime County Agent Marvin Weaver retired. Pittman is a native of South Carolina, growing up on a farm that his grandfather farmed years ago near Greenville. He is married to Amanda ... Full Story »

The Gilchrist County Commission listened to Gilchrist Planning and Zoning Director, David M Lang, Jr. when he presented a Site Plan and proposed vegetative buffer for the Trenton Solar Plant that is located in northwest Trenton. Mr. Lang reported that Mortenson, the contractor that built the solar complex has submitted a buffer that will eliminate the public’s view of the ... Full Story »

The 4-H County Events were held Saturday, January 25th at Bell Baptist Church. 4-H members from throughout the county worked hard to make the day a great success. In the Demonstrations category were Cloverbuds: Christian Fussell-peanut butter and jelly demonstration, green ribbon. Emma Jones-cookie dough balls demonstration, green ribbon. In the Juniors: Justin Holtsclaw-shaving demonstration, category winner, blue ribbon.  Addyson ... Full Story »

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will host an Open House for the Suncoast Connecter and an Open House for the Northern Turnpike Corridor at the same time on Tuesday, January 28. Levy County as well as Gilchrist County and Dixie County will be  affected by these proposed large roads. The M-cores release stated, Open House for the Suncoast Connector ... Full Story »

Work began this week on a much needed water drainage project in downtown Trenton that has been an ongoing problem for years. Most of the storm water in downtown drains to a retention pond that is located across from El Cocina Tex Mex Restaurant, at the end of NW 1st Ave. The current drainage pipes are not big enough to ... Full Story »

By Cindy Jo Ayers Longleaf Pine, once covered around 90 million acres from Virginia to Florida, west through Louisiana to eastern Texas were mostly gone by the 1920s. These majestic pines reach heights of 80 to 100 feet when mature. Today they only cover about 3 percent of their natural range. Longleaf Pines prefer sandy, dry, acidic soils with elevations ... Full Story »