What's on this page:
- Santa Fe River rising to flood stage, no-wake zone activated for 32-mile segment
- Lake City, Florida - A Sesquicentennial Tribute' available at Hunter Printing
- The Spencers, International Magicians of the Year, perform at LCCC January 26
- FDA issues Health Alert for Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats
- Think Spring and prepare seeds and transplants for of seasonal vegetables and flowers
- Two weeks of freezing temperatures wreak havoc
Three Rivers'
About Three Rivers
ICHETUCKNEE VIEWS
Two weeks of freezing temperatures wreak havoc

By Rachael Anne Ryals
Herald Staff Writer

Branford/Fort White area
fish farmer Dave Walen
farms native fish that will
not die as a result of the
cold, but his business is
still being affected by the
cold.

That’s because the fish
have settled deep in the
lime rock pit he uses to
farm the fish, and he
cannot reach them. He
doesn’t know when they
will decide to swim close
enough to the surface to
catch.

“We have orders for fish
that we can’t fulfill –
orders since before Christmas,” Walen said. “The cold stops
everything.”

As of Wednesday, Jan. 13, the area has experienced 12
consecutive days of below freezing temperatures -- a new record.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Jason Hess said that it’s the
length of the cold that is most significant.

“This is the longest stretch ever in 100 years of record keeping.”

A new daily record low temperature was set Sunday, Jan. 11, in the
Crescent Communities, with the area reaching 17 degrees.
More on freeze
1/17/2010 10:26:00 PM
FDA issues Health Alert for Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Merrick
Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of
“Best By 111911” because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and Internet sales.

Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA
is advising consumers in possession of these products not to handle or feed them to
their pets.

In December 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of Merrick Beef Filet Squares
and detected a positive finding for Salmonella. A follow-up inspection found
deficiencies in the packaging and manufacturing processes.

Click here for the rest of the story
1/16/2010 10:41:00 PM
'
Lake City, Florida - A Sesquicentennial Tribute'
available at Hunter Printing

The book, "Lake City, Florida – A Sesquicentennial Tribute"  by
Morris Williams and Kevin McCarthy, is available again at Hunter
Printing, 1330 SW  Main Blvd.  The cost is $20 including tax.  

If you want the book mailed to you, you can also purchase the
book at the web site www.hmorriswilliams.com for $25, which
included shipping and handling.

The first printing sold out in less than a month.
1/17/2010 10:13:00 PM
The Spencers, International Magicians of the Year,
perform at LCCC January 26

The Spencers Theatre of Illusion. (Courtesy photo)



















By Mark Kirby
Coordinator of the Levy performing Arts Center

“The Spencers Theatre of Illusion” comes to Lake City
Community College on Tuesday, January 26.  The show begins
at 7:30 p.m. in the college’s Alfonso Levy Performing Arts Center
and is the fourth show of LCCC’s 2009-10 Lyceum Series.

“The Spencers Theatre of Illusion” has been applauded by
audiences all over the world, from North America to Asia to
Australia.  It’s a high-tech stage show replete with dazzling special
effects, puzzling feats of legerdemain, cutting-edge illusions, and
knee-slapping comedy.

Kevin and Cindy Spencer, the husband-and-wife team of the act,
have been touring with the show for more than a decade and
have been awarded many honors, including Programmers Arts
Entertainers of the Year for a record-breaking six consecutive
years.

Perhaps the Spencer’s most cherished accolade has been their
most recent. Their peers in the International Magicians Society
voted the duo “International Magicians of the Year” for 2009.

Tickets for “The Spencers Theatre of Illusion” are $15 for adults,
$14 for seniors age 55 and over, and $13 for LCCC staff and
students, children, and students from other schools.  To reserve
or buy tickets or for more show information call the Levy
Performing Arts Center box office at (386) 754-4340.

Prior to the performance dinner will be served in the college’s
Lobo Café.  To make dinner reservations call (888) 845-0925 or
(386) 438-5440.
1/23/2010 10:52:00 PM
Think Spring and prepare seeds and transplants for of seasonal
vegetables and flowers





These homegrown seeds can
be used to preserve heirloom
varieties and to cut down on
costs. A wide variety of seeds
can be purchased from
nurseries and hardware stores
or from mail order and online
stores.  (Don Goode photo)

















You can use recycled seed flats, paper cups, food cans or other containers to start
your seeds.  Be sure to use a clean potting soil and provide drainage holes to reduce
root rot. (Don Goode photo)

By Don Goode
Horticulture Writer

It is almost time for planting the spring vegetable garden and flower beds.  Local
garden centers and nurseries offer a wide variety of seasonal vegetable and flower
plants that are ready for planting.

These are convenient and represent many of the popular varieties for our area.  
Sometimes, however, you may want to start your own transplants.

Perhaps you have an heirloom variety unavailable elsewhere that was passed down
through the family or from friends.

You may need a large number of transplants and are looking for an economical way
to start your own.  You might enjoy experimenting with new or unusual plant varieties.

Transplants can give you a jump on the garden and provide an earlier harvest than if
you waited for suitable weather to plant seeds directly in the soil.  As a rule of thumb,
allow 4-6 weeks from the time of planting the seeds to setting them out in the garden.  
A gardening guide is available from the Extension Service with recommended planting
dates for common vegetables.

Click here for the rest of the story
1/25/2010 4:10:00 PM
Santa Fe River rising to flood stage, no-wake zone activated for 32-
mile segment

The National Weather service in Jacksonville has issued a flood warning for the
Santa Fe River at Three Rivers Estates, affecting Columbia, Gilchrist and Suwannee
counties. The flood warning is for Thursday afternoon, until further notice.

As the water level continues to rise, the Santa Fe River will approach flood stage
Tuesday, activating an idle-speed, no-wake zone along a 32-mile segment of the
river, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The FWC has been working with Suwannee River Water Management District
personnel, who expect the Santa Fe to reach 17 feet above mean sea level at the
Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet.

Once the river reaches 17 feet at the Three Rivers gauge, the FWC will apply
boating restrictions to Zone 5, which runs from River Rise in O’Leno State Park west
to the confluence of the Suwannee River.

“The Santa Fe may reach that level Tuesday. We want to give boaters a heads up,”
said Capt. Roy Brown, area supervisor at the FWC’s Lake City office.

An idle-speed, no-wake zone means a vessel must proceed at a speed no greater
than that required to maintain steerageway and headway. The FWC doesn’t require
any vessel to proceed so slowly that the operator can’t control it or anything it may
be towing.

If the FWC activates the speed zone, officers will patrol this area of the river to
ensure the idle-speed, no-wake zone is enforced, Brown said.

“Water levels on the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers can fluctuate rapidly, especially
with all the rain we’ve been getting lately. These fluctuations can create navigational
hazards for unsuspecting boaters, such as floating debris, submerged rocks and
stumps and new shoaling conditions. We want everyone to be safe,” Brown said.

The idle-speed, no-wake zone would stay in effect until the water level recedes below
17 feet.

The other four zones are:

Zone 1, from the U.S. 90 Bridge at Ellaville south to the State Road 51 Bridge at
Luraville. This 39-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the
Suwannee River reaches 47 feet or more above mean sea level at the Ellaville
gauge, where flood stage is 54 feet.

Zone 2, from the S.R. 51 Bridge at Luraville to Little River Spring. This 18-mile
segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches
26 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge, where flood stage is
29 feet.

Zone 3, from Little River Spring to the County Road 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff. This
23-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River
reaches 24 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge.

Zone 4, from the C.R. 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff to one mile below the Fowler Bluff
Boat Ramp. This 51-mile segment will be an idle-speed, no wake-zone when the
Suwannee River reaches 9 feet or more above mean sea level at the Wilcox gauge,
where flood stage is 11 feet.

To obtain real-time river level information, visit
www.mysuwanneeriver.com.