Local News

The city of Williston needs to find $750,000 to pay for a project that has to be completed by Jan. 9.

At a workshop Monday at City Hall, interim City Manager Mark Schiefer met with engineers and grant specialists to discuss the new water well the city is drilling north and east of town.

A Community Development Block Grant was received for some of the construction, which is scheduled to finish in November. "We certainly have a funding shortage," Schiefer said.

HIGH SPRINGS - A man whose fund-raising quest was to travel from Williston to California in a wagon behind two horses ended tragically in High Springs when one of his horses died early Thursday, May 1, after being hit by a car.

Rodney Burnett, 51, left Williston earlier in the week with much fanfare. He had planned on taking a trip all the way to the Pacific Ocean, raising money along the way for Ladder H Farms, an organization that, once it had enough money, would provide therapeutic experiences for disabled people through the use of horses.

Williston's City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday evening to determine how to go about selecting a new city manager to replace Jim Coleman, who was fired last week on a 4-1 vote.

The panel's initial task was to confirm the appointment of Mark Schiefer, currently the city's finance director, as interim city manager. Schiefer has indicated that he is not interested in taking on the position on a permanent basis.

Williston High School will hold a Parent Night on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Williston High School for all Williston Middle School 8th grade parents/students to present information and answer questions you may have about your child's entrance into the 9th grade for next school year.

Eighth grade students will bring home information on April 30 for the pre-registration process that should aid you in making important decisions about your child's future.