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| What's on this page: - Three Rivers Resident, Lars Anderson -About Candidate: Rusty DePratter - DePratter's Plan: - ARE YOU A BACKWARD OR FORWARD KIND OF VOTER? |
Three Rivers'
About Three Rivers
| ICHETUCKNEE VIEWS |
| LAKE CITY REPORTER Wednesday, August 11, 2010 DePratter's Plan: Stimulate Local economic Growth by Leanne Tyo Stimulating local economic growth and promoting Columbia County are just a few of Rusty DePratter's goals to accomplish if he is elected. DePratter, 51, is running for the County Commission District 2 seat. Asked why he is seeking office, DePratter replied, "to try to make things better." "I just believe in good ethics and honesty," DePratter said, "and to find solutions, not excuses." He and his wife, Cori have two children - Ethan, 21 and Katelyn, 18. DePratter also has a stepson, Jeremy Fisher, 26. DePratter said being self-employed through his business, North Florida Fence Company, for the past 19 years has allowed him to gain experience in the business world. He said the county runs through budgets, contracts and bids, all of which he is familiar with. The most important issue currently facing the county is the recession and how to deal with it locally, DePratter said. "I think somebody's got to step up and have ideas of how to start addressing it," he said. If elected, DePratter said his priorities for District 2 include establishing a district sheriff's office in Fort White and ensuring adequate fire and rescue services in the district's south end. Another priority is promoting the county and Lake City through the Columbia County Tourist Development Council to attract newcomers to relocate to the area, he said. "That is a main factor to revitalizing our local environment." DePratter said. "It's because of the great place that we live. Lake City has a lot, it's a very good place to live." DePratter said he has attended county meetings and read the Lake City Reporter for more than 20 years to stay current on area issues. He said he is willing to work with other commissioners and will give all the time needed to the county commission seat if elected. "This is an elected position, but it is a paid job," he said, "and you're paid to devote all time necessary to get the job done." |
| Candidate : RUSTY DEPRATTER Office : COUNTY COMMISSION DIST 2 I am a lifelong resident of Columbia County. My parents, Billye and the late Charles DePratter, settled in Lake City in 1960 to raise their six sons. I am married to Cori and the proud father of 3 children: Ethan - married to Candace, lives in Blountstown, FL; they are expecting my first grandchild in September; Katelyn, 2010 graduate of CHS, is planning to attend Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall; and Jeremy Fisher, Cori's son, resides and works in Lake City. At age 13, I started working while attending Columbia County public school, and I have been working hard ever since. Currently the owner/operator of North Florida Fence Company in Lake City, I have also owned and operated businesses in - the automotive industry; - real estate development, sales, and appraisals; - restaurant franchises; - and agribusiness (cows, hay, white-tailed deer). With over 28 years of operating small businesses - all in the Columbia County area, I have gained valuable knowledge and experience, managed millions of dollars, and provided jobs for as many as 40 employees. I understand the complexities of contracts and the bidding process. I am an active member of the * Lake City/Columbia County Chamber of Commerce * Florida Deer Association * Florida Bar-B-Que Association (FBA) I am a former member of the Lake City Jaycees and the Kiwanis Club of Lake City. I am a Certified FBA BBQ Judge. I am active in my church, currently serving as an Elder and youth Chaperone. I have an active Game Farm License. My hobbies and interests include: - Hunting - Fishing - Motorcycling - Golfing - Spending time with family |
| Mr. DePratter is a property owner in Three Rivers Estates and a member of the Property Owners Association. He has attended several of TREPO's impromptu breakfasts and water cooler conversations. |
| From Lars Anderson: In case you haven't noticed, we're in the height of the summer thunderstorm season. If you plan on paddling, I suggest you plan trips to avoid the most active hours--usually between about 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Usually! Florida's summer storms are "necessary evils," that bring out the spin-doctor in all of us. Being positive-minded critters by nature, paddlers will grit their teeth into rigid smiles and squeeze out comments like "well, the plants really do need the rain," or "I didn't like that camera anyway," or "I had too much mascara on anyway. Besides, thick, black streaks running down my cheek really brings out my eyes," or "that's okay, my truck needed a good washing, but I really thought it would float better than that." Floridians have been dealing with thunderstorms for thousands of years. When the first nomads sauntered into Florida nearly 12,000 years ago, the climate was much drier than now. But I suspect even those hardy souls had to occasionally huddle in their favorite shelter--perhaps the chest cavity of a recently slain mastodon--where they'd ride out the storm enjoying some quality family-time, gnawing roots and listening to the parents stories--again!--about how hard they had it when they were kids. But thunderstorms were more than a passing nuisance for the original Floridians, they were the source of wonder and superstition. They were awful, in the original sense of the word--inspiring awe. And, as with all unexplained natural phenomena, thunderstorms were considered the handiwork of the gods who dispensed them at will and sometimes at the will of human intermediaries. Through the scant record left by early explorers, we know that some Floridian natives claimed to be on speaking terms with those gods and occasionally called in a favor. After leaving his temporary encampment alongside Ichetucknee River in 1539, Hernando De Soto continued his trek toward the north east. A couple of days later he approached a village near today's Lake City, where the Chief threatened to call down a tempest on the Conquistador if he didn't turn back--him and the horses that brought him. No surprise, De Soto ignored the threat and continued toward the Chief's village. (The massacre that ensued was among the worst in early Florida history, but I'll save that for another time) Sometimes, the Indians beliefs about thunder worked against them. In 1605, when Franciscan Father Martin Prieto tried to Christianize the Chief of a village near today's Bucholtz High School in Gainesville, the Chief firmly resisted. But, when a raging thunderstorm destroyed every building in the village except the church and a large cross the priest had erected, the Chief had a sudden change of heart. The rest of his people soon followed suit. In another incident in 1564 at Fort Caroline, near the mouth of St. Johns River, Rene de Laudonniere took credit for a lightening bolt that struck an Indian village near the fort and burned some huts. This time, the lie worked against him. The French leader had been trying to impress the Indians to make them his allies, so when the villagers asked if his supernatural cannons had caused the lightening, Laudonniere proudly proclaimed that they had. Instead of being impressed, the Indians moved their village sixty miles away. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you go paddling these days, bring rain gear. |
| Three Rivers resident, Lars Andersen is an author (Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide, 2001 & 2004. AND Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, 2008) and a river guide. He leads tours (3 - 4 per week) on over 50 Florida rivers for Adventure Outpost, the High Springs business which he owns with his wife Patsy - http://www.adventureoutpost.net |
