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Arts and Entertainment: Call To Artists
October 8th, 2012

Business Section: New Restaurant in Cedar Key
October 7th, 2012

Columns: North Florida – Wild Florida: The Cattle Drive
October 7th, 2012

Obituaries: Gary Dean Haldeman
October 6th, 2012

Announcements: BOOK BUNCH NEWS
October 6th, 2012

Announcements: Cedar Key Arts Center Workshop Schedule for October 2012
October 4th, 2012

Fishing News: Spanish Mackerel
October 4th, 2012

School News: The Shark Reports - 10/2/12
October 3rd, 2012

Law Enforcement News: Levy County Arrest Report 10/1/2012
October 2nd, 2012

Announcements: Levy County Libraries Soon to Offer FREE Downloads of Audiobooks and eBooks
October 2nd, 2012

Announcements: Florida Museum opens ‘Water: Discovering and Sharing Solutions’ exhibit Sept. 29
October 2nd, 2012

City News: 10-2-12 CRA and City Meetings Agenda
October 1st, 2012

Announcements: 2012 Cedar Key Yoga Group
October 1st, 2012

Announcements: Oyster Culture Activities in the Gulf of Mexico Region
October 1st, 2012

Announcements: Fire Destroys Structure in Rosewood
September 30th, 2012

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Trouble in Cedar Key - "Wayne"

Trouble in Cedar Key - "Wayne"

Gene Benedict

Wayne`s real job was at the hardware store. Wayne opened the store in the morning, making coffee that sat in a pot near the register for any who cared. I cared. When Cedar Key got the Weather Channel, Wayne had it on all the time. The hardware store was the gathering place for fishermen, the place to get ice, block or crushed, bait, snacks, supplies, and most importantly, information.

Wayne knew the weather. He knew the fishing reports, originating some himself. When the guys came back in later in the day, he was there to get stories and, maybe, to take some pictures; the wall was covered with them.

The Cedar Key Beacon asked him to write a fishing column, so he did. I remember that column. It was pretty authentic. He ended the column, "And remember sometime this week, take a kid fishin`."

Wayne was a single parent raising children and paying off debts, so he took on part-time work for the Cedar Key Police Department. He got nighttime shifts. One night Anne`s car was sideswiped by a couple in a pickup doing a little horseplay - a circle turn in an intersection. Wayne came to investigate and write up the report. Chief Walker jumped on Wayne for signing the report.

One night while on patrol alone, Wayne got a call about a fight on D Street between Annie`s and the Methodist Church. He went to check it out and when he saw the crowd, he called the County Sheriff for backup. He waded into the crowd feeling alone but doing what he had to do.

It seems that the Chiefland kids had come to rumble with the Cedar Key kids - I think over a dating incident. When Wayne got to the middle of the group, a couple guys and a whole lot of girls were in a melee in the middle of the road, pulling hair, exchanging punches, and all that goes with that.

When Wayne had the situation pretty much in control, back up arrived and secured Number Four Bridge. Then they came in to town and secured Annie`s Bridge. No one left town `till the investigation was over. I don`t remember the outcome, but I am told that several adults were there, in the background, should Wayne need assistance. He stood up to the crowd and kept things under control.

Wayne and his kids eventually moved to the Tampa area. He knew he could make more money there and still have a lot of time available for his children.

I saw him on Dock Street several days back. He still looks the same. He was in town to do some fishing with "the kids." We talked a while about that different era, his fishing column and his concerns about leaving Cedar Key.

And still today I remember his desire that parents raise their children well, so..."this week, take a kid fishin`."

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