Levy County Boat Ramps Re-opening

 

March 25, 2021

Boat ramps along the Suwannee River in Levy County are scheduled to re-open today at noon. The Suwannee River has now fallen to levels that no longer endanger homes and docks along this waterway.

Boaters are cautioned to navigate the river with extreme caution. Receding flood waters flush debris, such as floating logs, into the navigation channels. This debris is difficult to see and could cause damage to the vessel and injury to the boaters. Remember to wear your PFD’s while underway and have a safe weekend.

Suwannee River Boat Ramp Closures

 

March 18, 2021

Sheriff McCallum and members of the Levy County Board of County Commissioners announce the closure of boat ramps along the Suwannee River due to rising water. The following ramps will be closed for launching vessels this afternoon:

·       Clay Landing

·       Camp Azalea

·       Fowlers Bluff

These public ramps will be closed until further notice. Boaters who are using the Suwanee River are asked to keep speeds to a minimum. Please slow to a no wake speed in the areas where houses are located on the river banks to help reduce erosion damage caused by boat wakes.

Viral Video Fight at Chiefland Middle/High School

 

On January 8, 2021 a fight between two middle school female students was videoed in the cafeteria on campus during school hours. School administrators intervened and the students involved were administratively reprimanded. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office did not receive any calls from the parents of the children involved requesting a criminal investigation and charges to be filed.

Most recently the video, as posted in multiple social media platforms, has been viewed over 2 million times. As a result of the content of the video the Levy County School Board and the Chiefland Middle/High School has received numerous nonspecific threats by phone and email. All of these threats have been deemed not credible by an independent investigation conducted by the LCSO Criminal Investigations Division.

Extra security on each campus has been ordered by Sheriff McCallum to ensure the safety of each student.   

This message from Levy County School Board Superintendent Christopher Cowart was issued earlier today:

“We are disappointed by an incident which occurred two months ago at one of our campuses, which has recently received attention on social media platforms, this doesn't accurately reflect the values of the School Board of Levy County. The district has thoroughly investigated and followed through with its policies to address the matter with all those involved.  The School Board of Levy County takes any form of fighting, discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and bullying seriously, and they are not tolerated on any School District campus.   The District has policies that it rigorously follows to enforce those values.  Student privacy laws prevent the district from commenting on the specifics of any particular case, but if a student or parent has a concern about a situation, they should contact their campus principal or the district.  Our District's goals are to continually improve and we have grown from this isolated incident at one of our "A" rated schools.”

This message is to dispel rumors that imminent threats of violence are to occur at this campus and school has been canceled. 

Man Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol Attacks Deputies

 

March 8, 2021

Deputies responded to the residential neighborhood of Manatee Farms west of Chiefland yesterday evening at 6:48 p.m. to a report of a man who was wearing only his underwear was acting erratic. Deputies arrived to the 12100 block of NW 91^st Terrace and found the subject unconscious in a yard. Deputies observed multiple lacerations on this person’s body and called for EMS.    

The man regained consciousness prior to EMS arrival and attacked Deputies who were attempting to aid him. Deputies used a Taser three times in attempts to stop the attack, but the Taser was not effective. An off duty Levy County Detention Officer came to the aid of the deputies and with his help the individual was subdued and restrained with handcuffs and leg restraints. One Deputy was injured during the altercation and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The deranged subject identified as Kolar Lewis Corkill (7/18/99) of Idaho fought deputies and EMS personnel until he was released to medical staff at a Gainesville hospital. Corkill was found to be under the influence of several types of drugs and alcohol.  

Corkill only recently moved to Levy County and was arrested on February 25, 2021 for an outstanding warrant issued in Alachua County. Corkill was out on bond when this attack occurred. Deputies are awaiting Corkill’s release from the hospital to take him into custody. Corkill will be arrested for two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and disorderly intoxication in public.

Georgia Murder Suspect Apprehended in Williston

 

March 4, 2021

 

Yesterday morning, March 3, 2021, Agents with the United States Marshals Service assigned to the Florida/Caribbean Fugitive Task Force along with Detectives from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and Officers from the Williston Police Department arrested Vivan D. Flecher (8/15/85) at a residence in the 1100 block of NE 2^nd Avenue in the City of Williston. Fletcher was wanted in the State of Georgia for murder. The warrant was issued in August of 2020 and Fletcher had been hiding from law enforcement since the murder occurred in Columbus, Georgia.

 

Bobby Frank Sherman (10/29/92) of Gainesville was residing at the same residence as Fletcher. Sherman had an active warrant for his arrest for violation of probation on the original charge of possession of amphetamine in Levy County. There is a no bond assigned to this warrant.  

 

Fletcher and Sherman were both booked into the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility. Fletcher will be awaiting extradition to Georgia. Sherman will appear in Levy County for the violation warrant.