WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
One Putnam County elementary school is closed today because of smoky conditions from the Olive fire in Levy Prairie. Wildfire mitigation specialist Ludie Bond says this is not the first time this fire has caused such complications. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/01/BOND1.mp3] School officials will decide later today if Ochwilla Elementary will remain closed …
Read More »River CD aims to educate public about history and plight of Florida waterways
A variety of Florida singer-songwriters have contributed their original songs about Florida rivers and waterways to a unique educational endeavor. The coordinator of this special CD project, Karen Ahlers, says through music listeners can learn about the history, culture, commerce, beauty and fragility of Florida’s water. The sponsor of the …
Read More »Road closures and smokey conditions continue from Olive Fire
The Olive Fire in western Putnam County is entering its fifth week and gusty winds and low humidity are continuing to fan the flames. Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bond says the fire now encompasses over 800 acres of land just over the Alachua County border. The fire is sending hazy …
Read More »Smoke from Olive Fire shifts
Alachua County residents may see less smoke from the Olive Fire as easterly winds shift, but the 700-acre fire continues to burn. The fire in Levy Prairie began about a week ago and slowly grew into the 700-acre muck fire. Over the past weekend weather patterns kept the smoke low to the …
Read More »Goethe Fire Still Burning
The 700 acre Goethe State Forest fire in Levy county continues to burn, sending smoke and ash over Gainesville. Several crews with heavy equipment have been trying since last week to contain it, but so far no success and the fire is NOT considered under control. And now there is …
Read More »Two years after her disappearance, the family of missing Haleigh Cummings reaches out for answers
Today marks the 2-year anniversary of the disappearance of five-year-old Haleigh Cummings. Haleigh was reported missing from her home in Satsuma in the middle of the night. Putnam County Sheriff’s office officials say it is very likely the abductor was no stranger to Haleigh’s family. Family members believe her father’s …
Read More »Vegetable growers scramble during this week’s freezing weather
The frigid winter weather in North Central Florida has kept farmers busy this past week. As Donna Green-Townsend reports, vegetable growers in Putnam County were scrambling to get their crops to market before the freezing temperatures could hurt their profit margins.
Read More »Cabbage Growers Take A Hit From Freeze
By Lynsey Saunders – WUFT-FM Crops all over the Florida peninsula have succumbed to the cold weather. Cabbage grown in Putnam County has taken a beating from the frigid temperatures this past week. WUFT-FM’s Lynsey Saunders reports how many growers near Hastings are reporting significant losses. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/cabbage-freeze.mp3]
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