Tri Tri again
Chasing Caterpillars will test your mettle
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‘Singing with the Stars’
Artist for a Cause announces Gala
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‘Oldest floating craps game’ ‘Guys & Dolls’ revival at the Barn
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PALM CITY/TESORO
YourVoiceWeekly.com VOL. 4/ISSUE 16
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Chairwoman considers what she’d tell Gov. Scott
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
Yes, world peace
Patrick McCallister STAFF WRITER
pmccallister@YourVoiceWeekly.com
MARTIN COUNTY — Chairwoman Anne Scott got a heavy duty at the last regular meeting of the County Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Her fellow commissioners unanimously adopted an impromptu motion for her to call Gov. Rick Scott and tell him to declare a state of emergency for Martin County. Unseasonably heavy rainfall has the Army Corps of Engineers again releasing large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous-heavy water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie and Calooshatchee rivers. The commissioner and governor share a name, but aren’t related. However, Florida’s First Lady’s name happens to be Ann. The Martin chairwoman is certain the governor will take her call when told, “Anne Scott is on the line.” Shortly after the meeting the commission directed Scott to call the governor, he appealed to the corps to divert more water from Lake Okeechobee southward, rather than dumping it into the St. Lucie River via the C-44, which lets out at the southern end of Palm City. Commissioner Scott said she appreciated the governor’s gesture. She added that Martin County shouldn’t have to go asking for a state of emergency — the state should already be on it.
Anne Scott “I mean part of the problem with this situation is — if we were on fire it would be easier to get everyone’s attention, but we’re not on fire,” she said. When Central Florida had its 1998 firestorm, the state and federal governments sprang into action. Among other things, President Bill Clinton flew into Daytona Beach International Airport to meet with firefighters who traveled from all over the country to help battle the blazes. The chairwoman said there seems to be only one reason why getting water flowing southward has been a herculean task. “This has implications to the
See EMERGENCY page 12
Mitch Kloorfain/chief photographer Miss Martin County Fair participant Michelle Schulman, of Palm City, is asked the pressing questions by event emcee James Stedham, also of Palm City, during the opening night festivities of the annual Martin County Fair Friday, Feb. 5 in Stuart. Schulman went on to be in the top five finalists.
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