Local News

The Levy County Emergency Management has filled a gap in the communications loop throughout the region this week with the arrival of eight new satellite phones, according to LCEM Director Mark Johnson.

“This plugs a huge communications hole in Levy County,” Johnson said. “If the area is hit with a major storm and all other communications are down, the satellite phones create an emergency responder communications web. We’ll be able to know exactly what the needs of each community are.”

Levy County Commission Chair Nancy Bell says the county is in “dire straits” financially in the coming year and she would like to see across the board budget cuts of 5 percent from this year’s funding levels.

But Sheriff Johnny Smith’s representative told the commission in a budget workshop Tuesday that if funding is not maintained at its current level patrol cars will be parked and “three or more” people will be laid off.

Owen Chad “Cracker” Johnson has been named to the Levy County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat, nine months after Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Tony Parker for being indicted on federal charges.

Crist’s office made the announcement Wednesday afternoon after spending most of the day calling the other applicants.

Johnson, 38, is married to Angela Quincey. The couple has four children, Tyler, Quin, Bryden and Maddilyn.

More beach closings on the Rainbow River are possible as the county tightens its standards for water quality at public swimming areas.

On July 22, the Marion County Health Department recommended closing the Village of Rainbow Springs Beach, Rainbow Springs State Campground Beach and Dunnellon City Beach as well as KP Hole Park Beach.

Water samples from these locations failed on two successive tests to meet the U.S. EPA’s recommended limit for enterococci bacteria — bacteria found in the intestines of all humans and warm-blooded animals.