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Today's News

  • Barker defends firing of Golding

    Newly minted Levy County Property Appraiser Oz Barker says he fired a veteran employee on his first day in office because he did not have confidence or trust in her, but two leaders in the Tri-County NAACP said he told them God directed him to do it.

    And they think the reason is a little less divine - that Barker traded a promise to fire her in return for votes to help him win the office in the November election.

    Barker denies he fired Mary Golding to help him win the race, will not discuss why but he did seek legal counsel from an attorney specializing in labor issues.

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  • Three file to run for council

    As of noon on Wednesday, Jan. 14, three candidates had qualified for the City Council elections to be held in early March.

    Steve Holcomb, the incumbent in Group A, has filed to retain his seat. Marc Nussel, who has been a member of the council since November, when he was appointed to fill the Group B seat vacated by Cal Byrd, has qualified to run for that position for a full two-year term. He previously served on the council for eight years during the 1990s.

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  • Jones to face Robinson in city election

    Only one seat on the Williston City Council will be contested when the election is held in early March.

    City Council President Debra Jones is being challenged by former council member Jerry Robinson, who left the council last year in an unsuccessful bid for the County Commission.

    Council members Marc Nussel and Steve Holcomb drew no opposition and will automatically be re-elected.

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  • Local residents gather to watch inauguration

    Tuesday Jan. 20, the country swore into office the 44th President of the United States in a tremendous pomp and circumstance celebration on the steps of the Capitol.

    You didn’t have to be in Washington DC to be caught up in the celebration as a group of concerned citizens held their own celebration at Millers Park on the east side of Williston at the corner of highways 331 and 318.

    The event went off with joy and jubilation, and all who attended were even treated to the cold and blustery Washington, D.C. weather.

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  • Teacher 'three days off' plan rejected

    School Superintendent Bob Hastings’ plan to ask all school employees to take three days off without pay has been dismissed, he told the board Tuesday morning.

    Because of the state retirement system, teachers must have a contract of 196 workdays.

    The plan would have reduced it to 193 days, jeopardizing employees’ retirement eligibility.

    “It was deemed that it would not be appropriate and we couldn’t take that route,” Hastings said.

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  • Upcoming events listing

    Saturday, January 24

    * Angel House Thrift store is open on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at Holy Family Parish, 17353 NE 27A, Williston.

    * SHARE Distribution, 9-10 a.m., Cornerstone Assembly of God. Contact Elsie Neal 528-5709.

    Monday, January 26

    * Lions Club 7:30 p.m., Lions Club 401 S.E. Sixth Ave.

    * Levy Veterans Support Group, 7 p.m., Williston City Hall.

    * AA Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Thompson Hall at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.

    * CRA, 5:15 p.m. City Hall.

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  • Upcoming events briefs

    New Abundant Life

    holds conference

    for women

    New Abundant Life, 131 N. Main St., Williston, will hold its annual Women’s Conference from Jan. 22, today, through Jan. 25.

    Tonight’s speaker at 7:30 p.m. will be Bobbie Smith.

    Baseball team

    holds golf event

    this Saturday

    The Williston High School baseball team is sponsoring the first ever “Bats on Fire” golf tournament on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Williston Highlands Golf and Country Club. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. and the shotgun start is at 8.

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  • City manager may add clerk duties

    An advertisement for a new position at city hall, that of Human Resource Director / Assistant City Clerk, may signal the beginnings of changes in the way Williston’s government is managed.

    At the council’s most recent meeting, the first one attended by new City Manager Marcus Collins, the subject of the retirement of City Clerk Barbara Henson was addressed.

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  • CRA wants input from questionnaire

    At their first meeting of the year, members of the Community Redevelopment Association met new city manager Marcus Collins, who sat in on their deliberations, asking an occasional question and in general learning what that body does.

    Chair Dr. Ken Schwiebert read a letter he proposed sending to Bob Uhlar, who donated a great deal of his time installing new lighting in the pavilion in time for the Light Up Williston. Schwiebert said that the lighting “added significantly to the ambience of the celebration.”

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  • Was it too cold for politicians?

    With all the news this week, who knows where to start?

    Obviously, the big story is the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Suffice to say, though, that the honeymoon will soon be over, and he’ll find himself facing the same problems and decisions as most of his predecessors. So we just have to sit back and see how it goes.

    A group of local citizens arranged an outdoors inauguration-watching gathering on Tuesday. Several people showed up, but probably not as many as expected. The main reason was that the weather was very Washington, D.C.-like.

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