What's On This Page:
- Downtown High Springs adds new Restaurant
- Code enforcement officer gives deadline ...
- Angel Food Ministries New Online Ordering
- Photo of Fort White Train Depot
- Idea for Dinner Train ...
- Angel Food Ministries New Online Ordering

- Obama may visit Newberry/High Springs in September
Three Rivers'
ICHETUCKNEE VIEWS
About Fort White and County
Photo by George Foley at S. Exit of
Ichetucknee State Park
From: "Deborah McClelland" <mctede@alltel.net>

Subject:
ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES NEW ONLINE
ORDERING
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 11:33:20 -0400

In our continuing effort to serve God, our community, and our
neighbors we are proud to be able to provide a new and simple way to
place your orders for Angel Food.  Follow this link:
 http://www.
ftwhiteumc.org

On the left hand side of the screen, toward the bottom, you will find a
link to the order form.  You will be able to type in your order and then
you can mail a check or money order or come to the church to pay
cash or use food stamps.  People will be at the church Thursday and
Friday afternoons from 1 p.m. till 4 p.m. to take your orders and I will
be at the church this Saturday, June 14th, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.  
Please remember we must have your payment in hand by June 15th.

If you have any questions about the form or anything else concerning
Angel Food you may still call me or the church (497-1742) and we will
return your call promptly.  Please share our good news with your
friends, neighbors, church members, organizations.  We are here to
do God’s work and feel this ministry allows us to do that.

Blessings,

Debbie McClelland
Photo from Chris Anderson of Fort White Train Depot
Downtown High Springs
adds 'Coconuts' to its
growing list of
restaurants

By Maria Fernanda Castro
For the Herald
HIGH SPRINGS -- Thirteen
different types of hamburgers,
chicken sandwiches and
salads are part of the menu
of the newly opened J.
Coconuts Beach Grill located
at 15 N.E. 2nd Ave. in High
Springs.

That is because the restaurant, which opened on July 28, aims to
evoke the sand and the beach with its tropical menu entrees that are
reminiscent of similar options found at breezy seaside restaurants.

Even though the theme of the restaurant is sandy beaches, the menu
also will include other south-of-the-border entrees like burritos,
quesadillas and fish tacos in mid-August, when the restaurant will
have its official grand opening.

"We just hope to open a family-oriented restaurant," said Jonas
Graham, who owns the restaurant with his brother Clay.

Graham said jokingly that his 2-year-old twins are too young to help
at the restaurant, but that his 17-year-old daughter is already helping
during her spare time.

The restaurant has a staff of 12 employees, including cooks and
waiters. Graham said that they decided to open a restaurant in High
Springs because of the great community and its support.

"We did zero advertising," he said. "It was just a matter of opening the
door, and we had customers."

Customers even have a favorite salad already -– the Southwestern
salad, Graham said.

As for the name of the restaurant, it was decided in order for it to go
along with the theme of the restaurant.

"We are still brand-new," Graham said. "But everyone has welcomed
us."

J. Coconuts Beach Grill is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:
30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Located on Main Street across from
the old Vogel grocery store building,
Coconuts gave a new look to its
location, giving the outside a
Hawaiian-like feel.
Idea for dinner train ride through area cities still talked about, is still
possible

By Rachael Anne Ryals
Herald Staff Writer
NEWBERRY -- Many years ago the blast of the train's whistle in the Crescent
Communities meant visitors arriving in the area.

Today, only coal, peanuts and other commodities travel the area on slow-moving
freight trains that rumble along the tracks.

But some area officials think that tourists and residents alike would enjoy a train
ride though the area, gazing out the windows at tangly-armed oak trees while
they enjoy dinner on the train and shopping stops in area cities.

The idea for a dinner train ride in the area has been tossed around for years,
Newberry City Commissioner Bill Conrad said, with the Main Street Organizations
of area cities eager for the opportunity to bring more visitors to their cities.

"It's an idea that everyone likes," Conrad said.

In fact, at one point earlier this year, Conrad said, both Newberry and High
Springs were interested in the project along with a railroad touring company
called Inland Lakes Railroad and a company called Florida Northern that leased
the railroad tracks on the proposed route.

Conrad said the plan was to put a billboard on Interstate 75 to attract the
thousands of "potential customers" heading to Disney World everyday.

Ron Trottier of Inland Lakes Railroad said that the area is perfect for a scenic
train ride and they were excited about the idea of a dinner train ride though the
area when the idea was talked about.

But one very large obstacle stood in the way, stopping the idea in its tracks.

The railroad company that actually owns the tracks, CSX Corporation, said that a
multi-million dollar insurance policy had to be obtained before any passenger
cars could be pulled on their tracks, Conrad said.

"That's the obstacle we have not been able to get over," Conrad said.

The idea for the train is still desired by all potential parties but either paying for or
getting around the insurance requirement is stalling the idea.

Conrad said that a trip up to Tallahassee to learn what options are available that
could help the idea along is needed.

While the idea is on hold for now, Conrad said he hopes that the project will one
day come to be.

"Everyone says that stretch of track has some of the prettiest scenery," he said.

Anyone interested in helping to organize or sponsor a trip to Tallahassee to
discuss the scenic railroad project can contact the Newberry Main Street
Organization at 352-472-3927, ext. 128 or the High Springs Main Street
Organization at 386-454-2889.
Obama may visit Newberry,
High Springs in September

By Rachael Anne Ryals
Herald Staff Writer
www.highspringsherald.com
NEWBERRY -- The idea started
as a simple conversation with a
longtime friend about politics.

The end result of that conversation may be a visit to High Springs and
Newberry from presidential candidate Barack Obama next month.

Two months ago, High Springs resident Basti Gonzalez was speaking
with her friend of 20 years, Daphne Parker, when she mentioned how
a train ride press event from a presidential candidate or spokesperson
would be a boost for the area.

Parker, who works for the Obama campaign on the Women for Obama
Committee, made a few phone calls.

Everyone she spoke to at the Obama campaign liked the idea, she
said.

Some liked the idea of a small-town values approach, while others
liked the fact that the train ride could end in student-filled Gainesville
with a possible speech at the University of Florida.

In fact, the weekend of Sept. 26 is now being looked at as a possibility
because it would coincide with a Gator football home game, Parker
said.

But the idea is still just that and both Gonzalez and Parker said that
nothing is definite yet.

"It is not just one yes or no," Parker said.

But she added that the idea, which has gone through 20 people so far
at the Obama campaign, "seems to be going a positive direction."

Even the train company that owns the tracks and normally only allows
freight trains seems to be willing to allow the event, Parker said.

And if a few more approvals and an open schedule allows, the
Crescent Communities could see a visit from a presidential nominee,
something that has happened just once before, when Jimmy Carter
visited the Cattleman's Banquet in Alachua.

Newberry Commissioner Bill Conrad said that officials with the Obama
campaign have called him "almost everyday" to discuss a potential
press event in Newberry.

"I heard it could be the candidate or his wife or both," Conrad told the
City Commission on Monday.

The idea being tossed around is for Obama to helicopter in from
Gainesville to High Springs, and then travel to Newberry where he will
ride on a train from Newberry to Gainesville. There, he could hold
another event, Conrad said, adding that no plans are definite.

Gonzalez and Parker are both cautiously optimistic that their
conversation two months ago will actually bring Obama to the area.

"We are all hoping for this," Parer said. "It will affect a lot of people."
Needed rain, few problems brought by Fay

By Ronald Dupont Jr.
Herald Editor
www.highspringsherald.com
ALACHUA -- Tropical Storm Fay
caused some minor flooding and a few
power outages but ended up helping a
thirsty aquifer that is still low from years
of drought.

The storm also helped to clear up a
clogged Santa Fe River of the hated
water hyacinth plant.

Fickle Fay, as the storm was called
because of its erratic nature, passed
almost directly over the Crescent
Communities but was more like a 5-day
light thunderstorm than a tropical storm,
local officials said.

The High Springs Fire Department
responded to some calls but the calls
were minor in nature, and the Newberry Fire Department did not get a single
emergency call on Saturday, considered the worst day of the storm.

"We had no calls whatsoever," Newberry Fire Chief David Rodriguez said.
"Everybody stayed in."

The city of Alachua also had very few problems, other than flooding in Turkey
Creek.

"The thunderstorms we received over the weekend resulted in very heavy
rainfall in Alachua," Alachua City Manager Clovis Watson Jr. said. "This
resulted in the overtopping of two bridges in Turkey Creek and the light
flooding of a small number of residences in Turkey Creek as well."

Fort White, which often has to deal with flooding, did lose power in some areas
and had to cut some branches that had fallen in the road but had no major
emergencies.

Even the mail got delivered on Saturday, with mail carriers delivering their
routes in driving rains.

High Springs Postmaster Carla Riehl said that only 10 homes in the 32643 ZIP
code area did not get mail, mainly because there was a tree down across a
road.

"One carrier went down a road that said, 'Closed. Only local traffic.' She said,
'I'm local traffic,'" Riehl said.

City officials said that experience with past storms and hurricanes, particularly
the 3-storm experience of 2004, has gotten the cities well-prepared.

In High Springs, the firefighters and the police officers were in touch with each
other via radio.

"We created a partnership with the police department for the storm," High
Springs Fire Chief Verne Riggall said. "They would find a trouble spot and
give us a shout if needed."

In Newberry, city staff, including the city manager, helped fill sandbags for
residents in the rural areas who were afraid of flooding.

And in Alachua, where City Hall and the police department have a gas-
powered generator capable of keeping the two buildings powered for three
days, Watson credits the city staff's preparation with the city's trouble-free
operation.

"One of the biggest challenges in storm events is keeping up with the
business at hand while preparing for and responding to the storm event,"
Watson said. "Our staff and our community were very well prepared for
Tropical Storm Fay; in fact, even better prepared as a direct result of our
experiences in 2004."

Rainfall and its effect

Between Tuesday, Aug. 19 and Monday, Aug. 25 -- the times when the area
was feeling the effects of Fay -- the rainfall in the area was generally steady.

Of the rainfall meters that the Suwannee River Water Management District
monitors, Ichetucknee Springs got the most rain in the Crescent Communities
with 6.58 inches.

O'Leno State Park got the least with 4.94 inches. Forest Grove, which sits
between High Springs and Newberry, received 5.46 inches.

The rainfall helped fill ponds that were empty or nearly empty because of the
low aquifer. The rainfall also helped raise the level of the Santa Fe River,
causing it to finally dislodge the water hyacinths that had clogged the river
near High Springs.

The hyacinth was so thick that boaters could not get through. But by Tuesday
of this week, the hyacinth was nearly cleared out, with islands of the invasive
plant floating past Fort White and beyond.

Fay's Effect Could Be Felt This Weekend

The Santa Fe River at Three Rivers Estates near Fort White is forecast to
reach 17.2 feet by Saturday, according to weather officials.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has
announced that if the forecast is correct and the river does reach that level, a
32-mile segment of the Santa Fe River will become an idle-speed, no-wake
zone for boaters.

Zone 5, which runs from River Rise within O’Leno State Park west to the
confluence of the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers, becomes an idle-speed, no-
wake zone when the Santa Fe River reaches 17 feet as indicated on the
Three Rivers Estates gauge, where the flood stage is 19 feet.

“The Santa Fe could reach that level soon,” said Capt. Roy Brown, area
supervisor at the FWC’s Lake City office. “We’re encouraging boaters to stay
off the Santa Fe River.”

An idle-speed, no-wake zone means a vessel must proceed at a speed no
greater than required to maintain steering and headway. At no time is any
vessel required to proceed so slowly that the operator cannot control it or
anything it may be towing.

If the idle-speed, no-wake zone takes effect, FWC officers will be patrolling this
area of the river to ensure the zone is enforced, Brown said.

“Water levels on the Suwannee River can fluctuate rapidly, creating
navigational hazards, such as submerged docks, floating debris, rocks,
stumps and shoaling conditions for unsuspecting boaters," Brown said. "We
want everyone to be safe."