The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Ocklawaha, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
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Eco-friendly & clean work area.
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PDCA Certified Member.
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Your Go-To House Painting Company in Ocklawaha, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
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Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
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Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Ocklawaha, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
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The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Ocklawaha, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
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We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
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Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
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Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
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Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Latest News in Ocklawaha, FL
Partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River will bring prosperity to Putnam County
News Staffhttps://www.palatkadailynews.com/opinionletters-opinionletters/partial-restoration-ocklawaha-river-will-bring-prosperity-putnam
Small ImageBodyPartial restoration of the Ocklawaha River will provide needed economic benefits for Putnam County. These include expanded recreation opportunities, increased revenues from nature-based tourism and the provision of smart development packages for Putnam County like additional boat ramps, parking areas and shore fishing platforms. It is also important to emphasize the positive impact that restoration of the Ocklawaha River would have on the St. Johns River, the most important river in Florida, and on the local econ...
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Partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River will provide needed economic benefits for Putnam County. These include expanded recreation opportunities, increased revenues from nature-based tourism and the provision of smart development packages for Putnam County like additional boat ramps, parking areas and shore fishing platforms. It is also important to emphasize the positive impact that restoration of the Ocklawaha River would have on the St. Johns River, the most important river in Florida, and on the local economies of Palatka and Welaka.
I recently had a chance to spend a day on the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers and met some truly authentic Putnam County people. The people that I met on the river renewed my belief in fundamental values, of neighborliness and of reverence.
We put our boat in at the Shell Harbor Boat Ramp in Welaka. I had the best river guide in these parts, Bob Lee of “Backcountry Lawman” fame. Lee, who spent over 30 years with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, knows these rivers like the back of his hand. The stories that he told on our river journey, of his experiences patrolling these rivers – and as recounted in his books – are legendary. They capture a true sense of place, of Old Florida, and if we are not careful, of a vanishing Florida.
Lee took me up the lower Ocklawaha River, where he spent 13 years on water patrol. As a prior ship captain, I was impressed with his boat handling skills as we navigated tight bends in the rivers and creeks and as he expertly judged boat clearance over sunken logs and under leaning cypress and palm trees. Birds and wildlife were everywhere, including Kingfishers, Ospreys, Blue Herons and, of course, plenty of alligators.
On the St. Johns River, we met Bruce Horning, locally known as “Bull,” a Welaka institution who has been crabbing in the river since he was 10 years old. His boat was loaded with wooden crates full of blue crabs he had just pulled from the river. He owns and operates the Welaka Fish, Crab, and Bait Store.
Listening to Lee and Bull, I was struck by their knowledge of fundamental things, like where the crabbing is best, when the shrimp run and where the largemouth bass are biting. I was learning how to read the river. Like the farmer who knows the seasons, the weather and when to plant, these people also live close to the land. They represent a way of life and time-honored traditions.
I asked Lee and Bull about breaching Rodman Dam and of partial restoration of the Ocklawaha River, of which I have long been in favor. I wanted to hear from local people who are active in their communities. Both men are in favor of breaching the dam and of putting an end to this 50-year-old controversial issue for the state of Florida. Bull said if they open the river back up that it would improve crab fishing – that God would do a better job of managing the river than man. I tend to agree with him.
When I asked a local scientist and fisheries expert this same question, he said with the improved freshwater flows from the breaching of Rodman Dam, he would expect to see positive impacts on numerous fish species ranging from striped mullet, bass, blue crabs and white shrimp to name a few. This is because Rodman Lake – artificially created when the Ocklawaha River was dammed – smothers 20 freshwater springs and increases water loss due to evaporation. The improved freshwater inflow improves estuaries, which provide valuable nursery habitats for a variety of fish species.
During my day on the river, I saw a lot of men and women fishing, shrimping and crabbing. I know that studies show the increased economic benefits of the Ocklawaha River restoration to Putnam County. I have studied them. There are enhanced business revenues due to improved tourism and cost savings from not needing to repair an aging dam, etc.
But my day on the river also helped me to see the value of a local economy where families and communities rely on the bounty of the river. Where one elderly woman told me how she relies on her fishing skills to stock her refrigerator and supplement her grocery bill. And of the importance of cultural continuity in our river communities. These skills are passed from fathers and mothers to sons and daughters. It is a way of life.
If we are going to really protect these rivers, it will be local people standing up for their culture, their traditions and their natural heritage – people like Bob Lee and Bull. Let the river run.
William C. McQuilkin is a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral who consults on international relations and security.
Ocklawaha River future debated
Cindy Swirkohttps://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2018/06/26/ocklawaha-river-future-debated/11877769007/
Group wants vision for body of water's fatecindy.swirko@gvillesun.com0:000:30ADFor decades the Rodman Reservoir in Marion and Putnam counties has been fought over like an angler trying to land a bass and a fish that keeps thrashing to throw the hook.Created as part of the ill-advised and eventually canceled Cross Florida Barge Canal, the reservoir was created by damming the Ocklawaha River. When the canal was stopped in 1971, the dam remained.Environmental groups have been trying since then to rem...
Group wants vision for body of water's fate
cindy.swirko@gvillesun.com
For decades the Rodman Reservoir in Marion and Putnam counties has been fought over like an angler trying to land a bass and a fish that keeps thrashing to throw the hook.
Created as part of the ill-advised and eventually canceled Cross Florida Barge Canal, the reservoir was created by damming the Ocklawaha River. When the canal was stopped in 1971, the dam remained.
Environmental groups have been trying since then to remove the dam and let the Ocklawaha flow freely into the St. Johns River.
This week one of those groups, the Florida Defenders of the Environment, is sponsoring an exercise to develop a broad-based vision of the Ocklawaha of the future, said Executive Director Jim Gross.
“We are hoping to be able to forge a consensus statement even if some of it is only at the level of shared values. It may not be a statement about the dam itself,” Gross said. “We are really trying to make this neutral as possible and invited as broad a variety of stakeholders as we can possibly find.”
Unlikely to attend is anyone from Save Rodman Reservoir, a group that favors keeping the dam. Many supporters are anglers who believe the environment is best served by maintaining the reservoir.
“I will not be able to be there as executive director and I don’t believe our president will be able to make it either,” said Larry Harvey. “It’s not about the dam. Let’s bring it down to saving Florida’s environment…(The reservoir) has over 9,000 acres of wetlands that have 21 billion gallons of fresh water. To me, that’s the important story that needs to be told.”
The American Assembly on the Future of the Ocklawaha will include a public information session from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Valhalla Hall at St. Johns River State College in Palatka.
A review of comments given at public meetings held last year will be presented. The results of an economic study on removal of dam done by the University of Florida will be discussed. Current fish and wildlife conditions will be examined and thoughts about what should be done next will close the session.
On Friday an invitation-only planning “charette” will be held. Participants will break into groups to throw out ideas for environmental restoration, economic development and creation of a schedule for implementation and funding.
A report on the process will be written a week or so later, Gross said.
The meetings Thursday and Friday, along with the report that will be compiled, is part of an effort to once again focus attention on Ocklawaha issues, Gross said.
The Rodman dam is about eight miles up the Ocklawaha from the St. Johns. Florida Defenders contends the reservoir, sometimes called Lake Ocklawaha, is filled with hydrilla and other weeds, requiring herbicides and drawdowns of water to control.
Advocates of removing the dam believe that allowing the river to flow will improve its health and allow movement of endangered species.
Gross said the UF economic study, commissioned by several groups, including Florida Defenders, showed that undamming the river would boost tourism to help local businesses.
“As a free-flowing river, it is worth twice as much, or more, as it is as an impoundment because it would attract people from outside the region. The impact of their dollar is higher than local dollars,” Gross said.
Harvey contends the reservoir is home to a wide variety of wildlife and that it is not “weed choked” as so often described.
As salt water makes its way farther up the St. Johns from rising sea levels, the fresh water impounded by the dam will be more important environmentally and as a potential source for human consumption.
“We’re not going to be holding back the Atlantic Ocean when global temperatures rise and the water comes in, so you better have some place to drink water out of,” Harvey said.
Guest column: Time has come to remove Rodman Dam and restore the Ocklawaha
Lisa Rinamanhttps://www.jacksonville.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2022/01/16/guest-column-time-now-remove-rodman-dam-restore-ocklawaha/8975520002/
The St. Johns River runs through the heart of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, shaping our lives and driving our economy. Our river is also one of Florida’s most productive estuaries and the nursery grounds for numerous species of commercially harvested fish and shellfish we love to eat.Shrimp spawn offshore, but once their eggs hatch, the larvae migrate back to the ideal habitat of the St. Johns estuary to grow and mature. As a result, commercial and sport shrimpers enjoy the river’s bounty between Jacksonville and Pal...
The St. Johns River runs through the heart of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, shaping our lives and driving our economy. Our river is also one of Florida’s most productive estuaries and the nursery grounds for numerous species of commercially harvested fish and shellfish we love to eat.
Shrimp spawn offshore, but once their eggs hatch, the larvae migrate back to the ideal habitat of the St. Johns estuary to grow and mature. As a result, commercial and sport shrimpers enjoy the river’s bounty between Jacksonville and Palatka.
Blue crabs, the largest fishery in the river, release their eggs in the marine waters near the mouth of the river. Wind and tides will eventually carry the larvae upstream where they will find refuge in the submerged grasses that will nurture them. During the warmer months, blue crabs reach as far south as Lake George.
The St. Johns’ delicate tidal balance of salt and freshwater has historically enabled healthy underwater grasses to thrive, providing critical habitat for fresh and saltwater species that have attracted sportsmen from near and far.
Now our thriving estuary and fishing economy are at risk. Due to overuse of our aquifer, dredging and increasing saltwater intrusion, the St. Johns’ underwater grasses are disappearing, the cypress forest wetlands are stressed and fish habitat is vanishing within the St. Johns River estuary from Welaka to Palatka to Jacksonville.
The loss of our river’s submerged grasses also increase the threat of toxic blue green algae and increase flood risk throughout the lower St. Johns.
More than 50 years ago, the Rodman Dam (now known as the Kirkpatrick Dam) was built across the Ocklawaha River, the largest tributary of the St. Johns, as part of the failed Cross Florida Barge Canal. This resulted in the clearing and flooding of approximately 7,500 acres of floodplain forest, while submerging over 20 springs beneath a massive pool of water that significantly reduced freshwater flow to the St. Johns.
The boondoggle canal project was eventually halted by the federal government, but the dam remains in place after all these years.
The good news is that we have an opportunity to finally breach the dam and allow the Ocklawaha to run free, once again. By reuniting the natural connection of Silver Springs, the Ocklawaha River and the St. Johns, we can restore more than 150 million gallons of fresh water a day to our estuary, improve water quality, offset saltwater intrusion and restore habitat for fish and wildlife in the Lower St. Johns River.
A free-flowing Ocklawaha will also restore a lost migratory pathway used by numerous fish species that migrated between the Ocklawaha River and the South Atlantic Bight. Many species historically migrated far up the St. Johns and into the Ocklawaha River to feed and reproduce, including American shad, striped bass, American eel and mullet.
Unfortunately, the construction of the dam across the Ocklawaha severed this migratory pathway and fish populations in Silver Springs have sharply declined.
Few efforts to restore Florida’s biological wealth hold the prospect for such far-reaching benefits including making Northeast Florida more resilient from Welaka to Palatka to Jacksonville.
The science is clear and there is overwhelming public support based on the St. Johns River Water Management Survey conducted in October 2021, where more than 85 percent of the participants expressed a desire to restore the Ocklawaha River.
The time has come to finally restore the largest tributary of our St. Johns River and together, we can unleash the significant ecological and economic benefits of a free-flowing Ocklawaha.
To help save the St. Johns and free the Ocklawaha, visit StJohnsRiverkeeper.org.
Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper
After almost 50 years, state decides that above the Ocklawaha River, lower is better
Bruce Ackermanhttps://www.ocalagazette.com/after-almost-50-years-state-decides-that-above-the-ocklawaha-river-lower-is-better/
We know that government infrastructure projects can sometimes move at a glacial pace. State Road 40 east of Ocala offers an example.The Ocala Star-Banner once noted in an editorial, “Once State Road 40 is four-laned in years ahead, and this is destined as traffic continues to increase, the bridge will become a bottleneck, unless it is expanded to four lanes.”The bridge in question is the Ocklawaha River Bridge.But the newspaper’s observation about the need for a wider bridge amid snarled traffic was mad...
We know that government infrastructure projects can sometimes move at a glacial pace. State Road 40 east of Ocala offers an example.
The Ocala Star-Banner once noted in an editorial, “Once State Road 40 is four-laned in years ahead, and this is destined as traffic continues to increase, the bridge will become a bottleneck, unless it is expanded to four lanes.”
The bridge in question is the Ocklawaha River Bridge.
But the newspaper’s observation about the need for a wider bridge amid snarled traffic was made in May 1972, shortly after the structure opened.
Now, the Florida Department of Transportation plans to finally widen more of SR 40 east of Ocala and build a new bridge – two of them, in fact.
That’s slated to begin in 2029, some 57 years after the Star-Banner indicated that was a must.
According to FDOT spokeswoman Mariam Ali, the state intends to widen and reconstruct SR 40 from the end of its existing four-lane section to a point east of County Road 314. That segment runs about six miles.
That $111 million effort includes replacing the Ocklawaha River Bridge.
The new SR 40 roadway will feature two 12-foot-wide lanes in each direction separated by a 40-foot-wide grass median, Ali said.
The state also will build a 12-foot-wide multiuse trail along the north side of the road from Northeast 60th Court to Ray Wayside Park near the base of the western end the bridge.
And instead of one tall arch, two “lower profile” bridges will span the river.
Additionally, the FDOT also will establish wildlife crossings throughout the project.
“From what I’ve learned it’s about accommodating future growth, improving mobility and safety and addressing the needs for animal crossing,” Rob Balmes, director of the Ocala/Marion County Transportation Planning Organization, said of the entire SR 40 project.
“But to get that project done, you have to include the bridge.”
The current bridge was built in 1972.
A year earlier the span had been abandoned in mid-construction when President Richard Nixon halted the Cross Florida Barge Canal project.
Nixon eventually approved finishing the bridge because, as the Star-Banner noted in its editorial, he had no choice. And even as it was, the bridge stuck “out like a sore thumb,” the paper argued, “rising hundreds of feet into the air, extending a long distance, yet crossing a small body of water.”
Ali noted in an email that planners built a “high-level bridge to accommodate both horizontal and vertical clearance requirements at that time.”
“This canal was supposed to go underneath the bridge, but the canal did not end up getting completed due to environmental concerns,” Ali said.
Planning documents indicated the canal would travel up to 40 miles of the 74-mile-long Ocklawaha River.
Today, Ali said, FDOT planners determined through public sessions held as part of an environmental study the new bridge did not need to be the height of a middling-sized skyscraper.
The new crossings will sit just 25 feet above the river’s normal high-water mark.
FDOT officials decided that lowering the bridge’s elevation would also reduce potential harm to migratory birds that navigate the river and hug the tree line in flight.
Ali noted that this project is still on the drawing board and other details remain to be finalized.
The state’s fiscal year 2021 budget included $3 million to purchase right of way for expanding SR 40.
Ocklawaha farmer finds bear mauling a sow
JOE BYRNES Star-Bannerhttps://www.ocala.com/story/news/2007/11/27/ocklawaha-farmer-finds-bear-mauling-a-sow/31229135007/
OCKLAWAHA - A Marion County pig farmer came face-to-face with a Florida black bear attacking one of his sows Sunday night.After 10 p.m., Herman Horton, his adult son Jeremy and a neighbor returned to Horton's small farm following dinner at his sister's house. They found a sheriff's deputy parked in front of the property at 10980 S.E. County Road 464C.Horton said the officer had responded to reports of someone screaming."So I get inside my high fence, and I hear my hogs raising hell," Horton said. The 56-year-ol...
OCKLAWAHA - A Marion County pig farmer came face-to-face with a Florida black bear attacking one of his sows Sunday night.
After 10 p.m., Herman Horton, his adult son Jeremy and a neighbor returned to Horton's small farm following dinner at his sister's house. They found a sheriff's deputy parked in front of the property at 10980 S.E. County Road 464C.
Horton said the officer had responded to reports of someone screaming.
"So I get inside my high fence, and I hear my hogs raising hell," Horton said. The 56-year-old farmer, who had 11 hogs in 10 pens, thought his boar might have gotten loose.
"I go back there. I don't think nothing about a damn bear," Horton said. He grabbed a 4 1/2-foot piece of 3/4-inch PVC pipe he uses to control the pigs. Meanwhile, his son shined a Q-Beam spotlight on the situation.
His boar is black, Horton said, so at first he thought he saw the hog.
"I noticed the hair on the back of the hog is long," he said. "I don't have no long-haired hog. ... My son says, 'That's a [expletive] bear!'"
The large bear was about two feet away from Horton across a 4 1/2-foot-high fence. It was on the sow's back, gripping it in a bear hug. The pig's head and neck were badly mauled.
The bear stood up, and man and beast were eye-to-eye. It was taller than Horton's 5-foot-6, he said. "I said, 'Hello! Time to go.' ... The bear - flat-footed - jumps the fence." Then it bounded over another one and fled.
Jeremy Horton called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and two officers went to the farm Sunday night, FWC spokeswoman Joy Hill said.
Hill said an FWC official would call Horton with "technical advice," including the importance of an electrified fence given his closeness to the Ocala National Forest.
"There's more than one bear in the woods," she said. "To the bear, that was just food." Fortunately, the bear's response indicates it still has a fear of people.
The FWC region's bear biologist has been busy, Hill said. For this year through October, the 12-county Northeast Region has received 1,235 calls about bears. Marion and Lake counties - with 353 each - tied for the most calls in the region. Seminole County came next with 185 calls.
Within the national forest, including portions of three counties, there were 314 bear sightings reported.
"Now is when they're very active - now and in the spring," Hill said. The bears are packing on their winter stores before slowing down - if not actually hibernating in Florida - during the colder months.
Horton planned to kill the wounded sow Monday morning, he said. "She was my favorite hog."
Joe Byrnes can be reached at joe.byrnes@starbanner.com or 32-867-4112.
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