All posts by Donna Green-Townsend

Airboat community plans benefit to assist Lochloosa family after tragic racing accident (07/08/2011)

Aired on WUFT on July 8, 2011

Alachua and Marion County airboat enthusiasts are planning a benefit later this month to help a Lochloosa family with living and medical expenses after a tragic airboat racing accident seriously injured one of their own. Bo White from the Lochloosa area was getting ready for an airboat race near Clewiston over the Fourth of July weekend when his airboat went out of control causing severe injuries requiring a lifeflight to a West Palm Beach hospital. The airboat accident that seriously hurt Bo White is one of three tragic water-related accidents over the fourth of July weekend involving North Central Florida residents. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the President of the United Sportsmen Airboat Alliance, Jerry Wetherington about what happened and how the airboat community is coming together to help:

Hernando County Sheriff’s Department mourns the loss of one of their own (07/06/2011)

Aired on WUFT on July 6, 2011

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office needs the public’s help. They’re looking for anyone who may have been forced off U.S. Highway 41 near Brooksville on Sunday by a car going the wrong direction. That car driven by convicted felon, 35 year old Michael Anthony, took law enforcement on a four-county chase that caused two accidents with one resulting in the death of a Hernando County Sheriff’s deputy in a fiery crash. Anthony has been charged with murder in the case. WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with deputy Wendy McGinnis about how the public can help in the case, and how the deputy, John Mecklenburg will be remembered.

De Lions of Jah

(Aired on June 24th, 2011)

It’s reggae time at the Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville tonight

A reggae band with a message for youth is headlining tonight’s “Free Fridays” concert series at the Bo Diddley Downtown Plaza. WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with band leader, Dave Phillip from “De Lions of Jah.”

Former U.S. senator uses work experience to write a spy thriller (06/24/2011)

Aired on WUFT on June 24th, 2011

Former U.S. Senator and two-time Florida Governor Bob Graham is travelling the country promoting his new book, “Keys To The Kingdom.” Senator Graham is basing about 40 percent of his spy thriller on facts he’s learned from recent world events. Graham has held some key political positions in recent years which have given him great ideas and fodder for his book. While in the U.S. Senate, Graham chaired the Senate Intelligence committee during and following 9-11. He’s also co-chaired the commission looking into the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. He talked with 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about his new book

Former Senator Bob Graham addresses latest blame in BP oil disaster and other state issues (06/23/2011)

Aired on WUFT on June 23rd, 2011

An internal investigation by the owner of the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico last year largely blames oil giant BP for the disaster. The Transocean report released yesterday (Wednesday) says the April 20th, 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill was the result of the succession of well design, construction, and temporary abandonment decisions that compromised the integrity of the well which then compounded the risk of its failure. The Swiss firm says many of the decisions were made by well owner BP in the two weeks BEFORE the disaster. Meanwhile, BP’s internal report blames failures on multiple companies. Former U.S. Senator and two-time Florida Governor Bob Graham co-chaired the National Oil Commission which looked into the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He talked with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about the latest blame game and other current Florida issues.

Policy makers weigh in on the President’s plans for troop withdrawls from Afghanistan (06/23/2011)

Aired on WUFT-FM June 23rd, 2011

There are mixed reactions from lawmakers in Washington to the President’s plan to pull 33,000 U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by next summer. While top Democrats say the pullout isn’t fast enough, top Republicans say it might be too rash. Former two-time Florida Governor and former U.S. Senator from Florida, Bob Graham, has closely monitored the military decisions. Graham served on the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee during 9-11 and chaired the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction. Graham talked with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about the President’s announced troop withdrawals:

Student tuition hike and faculty/staff raises proposed for Santa Fe College (06/21/2011)

Aired on WUFT on June 21st, 2011

At this hour President of Santa Fe College, Jackson Sasser, is meeting with the College’s Board of Trustees regarding budget recommendations Sasser has submitted. Those recommendations include a tuition hike for students and a salary increase faculty and staff. WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with Sasser about his budget recommendations earlier today.

Cancer report angers residents of Stephen Foster neighborhood near the Cabot Koppers Superfund site

Aired on WUFT on June 7th, 2011

Residents living in the Stephen Foster neighborhood near the Cabot Koppers Superfund site are not pleased with the results of a cancer inquiry report from the Florida Department of Health and the Alachua County Health Department. That report released late last week was based on a six-month evaluation examining whether there was evidence of elevated cancer rates in the community around the Superfund site. The report indicated there were not increased rates for any of the reported cancers from 1981 thru 2000. Analysis will continue on the data from 2000 to 2008. Meanwhile, residents in the Stephen Foster Neighborhood are angry and want action to remove the contamination now. WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with one of the members of the Stephen Foster Neighborhood Protection Group, Maria Parsons:

Veterans display tombstones to remember fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan (05/27/2011)

Aired on WUFT on May 27th, 2011

Veterans for Peace will be displaying more than 6,000 tombstones from dawn tomorrow through dusk on Memorial Day on Eighth Avenue just east of 34th street in Gainesville. Donna Green-Townsend talked with Vets for Peace coordinator Scott Camil about how this display was arranged to remember those who have died in the wars in Afghanistan since 2001 and in Iraq since 2003.

The Impostors perform in tonight’s ‘Free Fridays’ concert series (05/20/2011)

Aired on WUFT on May 20th, 2011

The “Free Fridays” concert series continues tonight at the Bo Diddley downtown plaza in Gainesville, d it’s the last weekend for the Theatre for Young Audiences’ performance of the Tales of King Arthur at the Thomas Center. Donna Green-Townsend sat down with David Ballard, the events coordinator for the City of Gainesville’s Division of Cultural Affairs to talk about both events.