PAGE 8 - April 18, 2012
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
From Dawn's Front Porch
Squawk Box
Continued from page 1
on the words, “three holes and a camera in your knee”. Was the doctor going to fix my knee
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
My stuff – First off I want to say that this column is written by me a private citizen
or launch a weather satellite?
and has no bearing on anyone else. Hopefully it will be informative on issues in town and
At this point I will introduce you to my spouse, AKA Kathie L. Johnston.
of interest to those of us who live here.
Kathie wanted to know all the gruesome details about the operation and when I explained
Do Your Rain Dance – If you’ve noticed your plants wilting, they are probably
the fact that I had a brain freeze before the doctors instructions and information session was
screaming for more water but if you’re watering your lawn and plants, you need to know
finished, she felt obligated to take over.
that as we are in a serious drought, and SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management
You have to understand that I do not want anyone, not even my lovely wife who I
District) has issued phase III water restrictions for our area. There is a water shortage
deeply love and cherish, doting over me or telling me what to do. I can t stand to be waited
within their district and they have said that Levy County is currently affected by this. The
on and I can take care of myself.
flow of the Withlacoochee River is very low and has been classed as “critically abnormal”.
Being raised by the most caring and protective mother one could ask for I under-
Aquifer levels are down also. SWFWMD has issued watering rules which can be found by
stand maternal instincts, but ironically enough, through her I learned self-reliance. With
going to SWFWMD’s website and also on the Town of Yankeetown’s website. The rules
three siblings, all sisters, I was force-fed mud pies at “Tea Parties” as a toddler and took the
cover everything from watering plants to washing cars. There is a special allowance for
fall for many of their misdeeds as a youngster so I learned at an early age to trust my own
new lawns plants and hand water is addressed. Also, just so you know, the Climate Predic-
instincts, and understand my limitations.
tion Center has forecast that rainfall will be below normal at least till June.
On April 12th I was accompanied by my dear wife to Ocala for knee surgery. Next
Yankeetown Zoning Function Reviewed – The YT Town Council held a work-
week I will document my experience.
Water Levels Down on Lake Rousseau
shop last week to review and possibly restructure the zoning position. Office hours may be
reduced from what is presently 12 hours. Since the office hours may change in the future,
if you have an upcoming project you may wish to be sure and check what the current hours
Modified Phase III water shortage restrictions went into affect March 10, 2012
are before you make a trip. It’s a reflection of quieter times which is not necessarily a bad
until June 30, 2012. This applies to counties Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Levy, City of
thing. The issue will be on the agenda for a regular meeting at which time the decision will
Dunnellon and the Villages in Marion. Limit to watering 1 day a week are addresses ending
be made for sure. There was also a discussion of restructuring the Code Enforcement por-
in 0-1 MON, 2-3 TUES, 4-5 WED, 6-7 THURS and 8-9 FRI BEFORE 8AM AND AFTER
tion of the job by assigning or hiring someone else to perform that function. That decision
6PM. Landscape can be hand watered and micro irrigation of plants other than lawns any
will also be made in the future date. Good Night and Good Luck
day but before 8 AM and 6 PM. All restrictions can be found at http://www.swfwmd.state.
Missing man found safe,
fl.us/conservation/restrictions/phase3.php
Residents on Lake Rousseau in
near  diagnosedhome   disease, Dean Vincent
his with Alzheimer’s
southern Levy County and northern Cit-
rus County are well aware that we have
a very critical water shortage. The ap-
An 80 year-old Inverness man
proximately 3700 acre lake was formed
Olson, who was reported missing on April 14, was located at a Turner Fish Camp Rd. prop-
in the 20’s when a dam was built on the
erty, not far from his home, following a tip from a neighbor. The media release stated that
Withlacoochee River that divides Citrus
Olson would be evaluated then released to his family.
and Levy County. The pictured 2 days
The Silver Alert that was issued by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office stated that
measurements 5 days apart (Apr 9 + Apr
Olson, who had not yet taken his medications, left his home in his white 1997 Chevrolet
14) show how quickly evaporation and ab-
Suburban following an argument with his wife and that, before he left, he packed warm
sorption from the shore are lowering the
clothing and cash, leading family and law enforcement to suspect that Olson may have
backwater and our aquifer as well. You
intended to drive to Wisconsin where his son resides.
can see the normal lake level by the stains
on the wall in feet at 27-8. The vast area
of lake causes more evaporation according to Chris Zajak, Community Affairs Mgr for
Southwest Florida Water Management District but winds increase that evaporation rate.
Zajak said it is evaporation balanced with precipitation (rainfall) to keep the lake up and no
rain means continuing loss. Up stream there is very little to flow and many springs already
have or are going dry. Photo and story by Sally Price
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE TOWN OF YANKEETOWN
INFORMATION ON THE 2012 SPECIAL ELECTION
ELECTION DATE/TIME: Tues., May 8, 2012 7:00am - 7:00pm
ELECTION LOCATION: Inglis / Yankeetown Lions Club
22 59th Street, Yankeetown, Florida
ON THE BALLOT:
Proposed Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) based
Amendments to the Town of Yankeetown Comprehensive Plan
A copy of the proposed Ordinance 2012-01, containing the ballot summary questions
and the text of each Comprehensive Plan Amendment(s), is available for public inspec-
tion at the Office of the Town Clerk, located at Yankeetown Town Hall, 6241 Harmony
Lane, Yankeetown, Florida, Monday through Friday, during regular Town Hall business
hours (9:00 AM till 12:00 Noon) as well as the Town’s Web Site at http://yankeetownfl.
govoffice2.com
TO VOTE ABSENTEE, YOU MAY:
Go to our Web Site at:
http://yankeetownfl.govoffice2.com
Email us at:
yankeetownth@bellsouth.net
Call Town Hall at:
352-447-2511
Any handicapped or person with disabilities requiring reasonable accommoda-
tion to participate should contact the Yankeetown Town Clerk at (352) 447-2511
so arrangements can be made pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 286.26.