Daily Archives: September 18, 2024

Judge tosses Sand Mine Exception because Levy County Commissioners violated their own rules 2024-09-18

A judge today quashed the Special Exception the Levy County BOCC approved for the 3RT Sand Mine.

Craig C. DeThomasis, Florida Eight Judicial Circuit Court Judge, ruled that the county failed several ways to provide notices required by law for hearings and appeal requirements, and failed to do at least two kinds of required studies: traffic and wildlife.

[Florida Judge Quashes 2024-09-18 Levy County 3RT Sand Mine: Lack of Public Notices & Lack of required studies]
Florida Judge Quashes 2024-09-18 Levy County 3RT Sand Mine: Lack of Public Notices & Lack of required studies

This does not mean it’s all over. It does mean the applicant has to start the whole process over, and this time the county has to follow state law and its own procedures. Meanwhile, the opposition is still organized and ready.

The judge did not consider that the mine is in the springshed of Rainbow Springs nor that SWFWMD in issuing an ERP did not consider its own Rainbow Springs BMAP.

The judge noted: Continue reading →

Video: Sweet William Ennis, Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues), Best Blues Song, Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin @ Suwannee River Songwriting Contest 2024

Sweet William Ennis, from Palatka, Florida, played his song “Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues)” and won Best Blues Song and Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin, in the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2024.

He got awards for both plaques, and a $100 check for Outside.

[Sweet William Ennis, Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues), Best Blues Song and from Outside, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2024]
Sweet William Ennis, Catfish Stew (Suwannee River Blues), Best Blues Song and from Outside, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2024

He wrote about himself:

“Sweet William” Ennis is a singer/songwriter who has lived in Palatka, Florida, for over three decades. His personally original songs written over the span of fifty years cover multi genres and subjects including the environment, love & war, with a heavy dose of Blues. 2019 quarter finalist in the Memphis International Blues Challenge, 2021 Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest First Prize winner and 2018 Santa Fe River Song Contest 3rd place winner, Sweet William is very active in the Florida music community and recognized for organizing volunteer music events supporting soup kitchens, assisted living facilities and worthy fund raisers.

Here’s a WWALS YouTube playlist of him playing his song, followed by WWALS President Sara Squires Jones awarding the prizes:
https://youtu.be/LFrDBfw1ni4?si=lyagdfgKlbSXDFvC


Videos by Doug Jipson for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.

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