Learn about cost-share programs

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Cost share programs for soil and water conservation are available for owners of agricultural, pastoral, and forested land.

District Conservationist Lakeisha Barber and Division of Forestry Representative Jack Hernandez will give a presentation on these programs at June 10 meeting of the Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District.

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension office, located at the Clay County Fairgrounds about 150 feet east of the main fairground entrance.

Interested parties are invited to attend. This is a public meeting.

“A Fighting Chance For Every Baby” applications being accepted

FORT LAUDERDALE – March of Dimes Florida is seeking applications for its Community Grants to support programs that address unmet maternal and child health needs.

The grants will be awarded to organizations that work to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

The goal of the Community Grants program is to identify and fund community-based programs addressing the health concerns of pregnant women and infants in Florida with a focus on decreasing pre-term births. They must also fall under March of Dimes’ 2016 funding priorities.

Applicant organizations must provide services in Florida.

The chapter grants fund for 2016 is approximately $120,000. Proposals are being accepted until June 20. Grantees will be notified on Aug. 1. For more information or questions, email Gillian Cross, director of maternal child health at gcross@marchofdimes.org or call (754) 300-2609.

For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies marchforbabies.org.

Candidate forum slated for Melrose

MELROSE – The Melrose Business and Community Association is holding a candidate forum on June 10 at Mossman Hall in Melrose.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and candidates will each have a few minutes to speak. Light refreshments will be provided, and Joe Rush, president of the MBCA, will be the moderator.

The event will conclude by 7:30.

This is the third election season in which the MBCA has held a candidate forum, and the organizers have made every attempt to invite all candidates to speak.

Confirmed speakers for district-wide races include Ed Emery, Rod Smith, Keith Perry, Joe Snodgrass, Leslie Dougher, Bobby Payne and Katherine Van Zant.

Reached for comment, Snodgrass said, “Our campaign welcomes this event. We will do our part to call for, organize, and participate in forums, debates and town halls. The voters deserve the opportunity to ask questions and to have candidates respond.”

Although three of the five County Commissioners from Bradford County are running for re-election, none have yet committed to attending, nor have their opponents. Only three candidates from Bradford County and three from Clay County have agreed to speak. All three sheriff’s candidates from Alachua County will be there, including incumbent Sadie Darnell. The two incumbent commissioners from Alachua County, Byerly and Hutchinson, will attend.

Putnam County will be well-represented with many candidates from the sheriff’s race, as well as clerk of the court, property appraiser, and one candidate for county commission attending.

Mossman Hall is an historic church, built in the 1920s, located at 301 Hwy 26. The Mossman Foundation is actively trying to preserve this impressive feature in the heart of Melrose. For further information on the candidate forum, fill out the “contact us” form for the MBCA at melrosefl.com.

Forest service alert Floridians to heightened wildfire danger

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service urge the public to exercise caution with all outdoor fires due to increased wildfire danger levels throughout the state.

Thunderstorms and excessive lightning have sparked wildfires in many coastal areas of the state recently, including the 1,000-acre Tide Swamp Fire in Taylor County that began May 29.

“Florida’s wildland firefighters will likely battle additional wildfires in the coming weeks due to dry conditions and increased lightning activity,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Citizens can do their part by keeping preventable human-caused wildfires at bay and preparing their families and homes for wildfire.”

Lightning accounts for approximately 25 percent of Florida's annual wildfire activity. Because wildfire danger will rise with increased thunderstorm activity, the Florida Forest Service is urging residents to use caution when using fire outdoors. Residents are also reminded to develop and implement a family wildfire action plan, call 911 or a Florida Forest Service field unit office immediately in the event of a wildfire, obey Florida's outdoor burning laws, never burn on windy days, never leave an outdoor fire or hot grill unattended and keep a shovel and water hose handy in case the fire breaks containment.“When citizens are careful with fire, they are doing more than just protecting themselves and their property,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester. “They are helping to protect the lives of Florida's wildland firefighters and first responders.”

There are approximately 57 active wildfires currently burning throughout Florida. Since January, the Florida Forest Service and its partners have responded to 1,200 wildfires that have burned 18,000 acres.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests, provides management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests, while protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.