News, floods, and Rodeo’s

1960
The Trenton High Gazette was published by student at Trenton High School during the 60s. The school newspaper staff included Wayne Hartsfield who was the Editor and Chief, Lucy Lazarus was Assistant Editor, Sharon Miller another Assistant Editor, Will Gray May was the Business Manager, Robert Johnson was the Assistant Business Manager and each school club and class provided it own reporter.

I. J. Philman of Bell won the District Events Day Tractor Contest held in Ocala. Philman beat four other 4-H’ers from surrounding counties to win the event according to Gilchrist County Agent Leonard Cobb.
1980
In April the Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers were flooding. Residents of the Hart Springs area moved from their homes along the river. The Road to Hart Springs has flooded as well as the Bath and Concession buildings at Hart Springs. The Fanning Springs area also has many roads flooded including the road to Middleton’s Restaurant which has closed due to the flood. This flood was not expected to be as bad as the 1973 flood when the Suwannee River crested at 18 feet in Fanning Springs.

Bell FFA Chapter members held their first Annual Rodeo at the Bell Arena according to Karen Hilliard the FFA Reporter. The main events included tie down calf roping, bareback bronc riding, dally team roping, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing.

• By Cindy Jo Ayers