All posts by Donna Green-Townsend

Brad Whitehead Is Sworn In As Union County Sheriff

January 16, 2014NewsBrad Whitehead, Donna Green-Townsend, Jerry Whitehead, Lake Butler, tragedy in Union County, Union County SheriffDonna Green-Townsend

Newly appointed Union County Sheriff, Brad Whitehead

Governor Rick Scott has appointed Brad Whitehead to take over for his father, Jerry, who died last month of a heart attack.

Whitehead, 37, of Lake Butler, will be the third member of the Whitehead family to serve as sheriff of Union County. Whitehead has served as the assistant warden of programs for the Florida Department of Corrections since 2012. Past positions include serving as the assistant warden of operations and as the senior prison inspector within the Office of the Inspector General. He has also served as a law enforcement detective for the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire & Arson Investigations from 1998 through 2003.

Governor Scott said, “I am confident that Brad Whitehead will be a great sheriff. His experience in law enforcement has prepared him to serve the families of Union County.”

Original Story: Jerry Whitehead, The Late Union County Sheriff Describes The Community’s Strength During Tragedies

The late Jerry Whitehead who served as Union County Sheriff since 1985.

Despite a tragic school bus accident that killed seven children in Union County in 2006 and the August shooting spree when a former employee of Pritchett Trucking killed the company’s owner, 80 year old Marvin Pritchett and two of Pritchett’s employees, Union County Sheriff Jerry Whitehead says the community has learned how to cope and reach out to each other. Now the community will have to learn how to deal with the death of their long-time top law enforcement chief. Sheriff Whitehead, the longest serving sheriff in Florida, passed away on Wednesday, December 18th from an apparent heart attack. He was 60 years old. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church of Lake Butler. Burial will be in Whitehead Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranches Inc.; P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, Florida 32064.

In this video recorded the week after the Pritchett Trucking shooting spree, Whitehead describes how Union County residents have learned how to deal with tragedy.

Video of law enforcement escorting Jerry Whitehead’s hearse the day of his funeral service.(posted by James Parker)

Cabbage Growers Race To Beat the Expected Hard Freeze

January 6, 2014News, Reporter and Editor, Videocabbage growers, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida, freeze, vegetable growersDonna Green-Townsend

Cabbage pickers near Hastings quickly work to bring in the crop before the expected hard freeze on Monday. — Cabbage pickers quickly work to bring in the crop before the expected hard freeze on Monday.

With record-breaking temperatures expected in Florida, cabbage pickers between Hastings and Palatka were busy today trying to harvest the latest crop.

Today’s scene was very similar to 2011 when cabbage growers also faced the risk of losing their winter crop to a hard freeze. Click on my archive story below to watch the process of cutting the cabbage and packaging it up for transport across the country.

Vegetable growers in North Central Florida scramble to get their crops to market during a January, 2011 freeze.

Migrating Sandhill Cranes Inspire Artistry

December 23, 2013News, VideoDavid Beede, Donna Green-Townsend, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, IFAS, Kayt Kennedy, Nancy Dwyer, sandhill cranes, sandhill cranes nesting ecology, Stephen Nesbitt, University of Florida, Wildlife and Range SciencesDonna Green-Townsend

It’s that time of year again when North Central Florida serves as host to migrating sandhill cranes. Floridians are very familiar with the loud, squawking sounds of these tall birds with wing spans as wide as 6 feet as they circle above and fly to favorite feeding grounds around the Gainesville area, especially Payne’s Prairie and the shoreline and marshes of Orange and Lochloosa Lakes in Alachua County. The father of Florida folk, the late Will McLean (1919-1990), was inspired by the “dancing and prancing” of the cranes and penned the song called, “The Courtship Dance of the Florida Sandhill Cranes.” McLean is accompanied in this 1985 live recording by Kate Kennedy on bowed psaltry and David Beede on hammered dulcimer.

Florida's Black Hat Troubadour — Cover photo of CD recorded in 1985 at the historic Thomas Center of Florida’s Black Hat Troubadour Will Mclean

Sandhill cranes flying over Watson Prairie near Cross Creek, FL.

In the news video below produced by Donna Green-Townsend on nesting ecology of Sandhill Cranes in Florida, you will hear the melody of McLean’s song performed by Melrose singer-songwriter David Beede and Kate Bostrum. The nesting ecology research was a cooperative effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Wildlife and Range Sciences Department at the University of Florida. (this report originally aired statewide on the IFAS program Florida File in 1990)

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Historic Cross Creek Continues Annual Christmas Parade Tradition in 2013

December 21, 2013NewsChristmas Parade, Cross Creek, Cross Creek 4th Annual Christmas Parade, Donna Green-Townsend, FloridaDonna Green-Townsend

For the 4th year in a row, the historic community of Cross Creek has held a Christmas Parade. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s December 7th, 2013 parade:

Audio Archive Feature: Danny Wuerffel Heisman Profile on NPR’s Morning Edition

December 9, 2013News, Sports1996 Heisman Trophy Winner, College Football Hall of Fame, Danny Wuerffel, Danny Wuerffel Christmas CD, Desire Street Ministries, Donna Green-Townsend, Draddy Trophy, Gator Football, University of FloridaDonna Green-Townsend

Aired on NPR’s Morning Edition on December 13th, 1996

(Original Intro) In New York tomorrow (Dec.14th,1996) the Heisman Trophy will be awarded to the nation’s top college football player. One of the top finalists is Danny Wuerffel, the quarterback from the University of Florida who’s helped the Gators win four consecutive Southeastern conference titles and a place in this year’s Sugar Bowl. But in his home state of Florida, Danny Wuerffel is known for being much more than just a great football player. From member station WUFT in Gainesville, Donna Green-Townsend has this profile.

On December 10^th, 2013 Danny Wuerffel was named to the 2013 College Football Hall of Fame Induction Class. Voters said he had one of the most impressive records ever compiled. Wuerffel was the only player in college football history to start at quarterback for a conference champion four straight years — plus win a national title and the 1996 Heisman. In addition, Wuerffel, a two-time first-team academic All-American, was awarded the Draddy Trophy (also called the “academic Heisman”) presented annually by the College Football Hall of Fame, to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete.

And then there were his statistics. In Wuerffel’s career at UF he completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 10,875 yards, 114 touchdowns and 42 interceptions in starting 36 of his 46 games.

During Wuerffel’s four seasons, Florida won four-consecutive SEC title games. As a senior, Wuerffel’s 3,625 yards passing yards were an SEC record. He also set a national record for his 39 touchdowns. In his final two games in a Gator uniform, Wuerffel threw for 401 yards and 6 touchdowns to beat Alabama (which at the time was the No. 1-ranked pass defense) for that fourth-straight league crown. In the Sugar Bowl national championship rematch over rival Florida State, Wuerffel threw for more than 300 yards and 3 touchdowns (also rushing for a TD) in a 52-20 victory against the top-ranked defense in the country

Danny Wuerffel on his Christmas CD Project to Benefit Desire Street Ministries

scan0034 — Cover of Danny Wuerffel’s Christmas CD

Aside from football, Danny Wuerffel has dedicated his time to the work of Desire Street Ministries. Danny produced “Heaven & Nature Sings” Christmas CD to help with the goals of the ministry which is transforming impoverished urban neighborhoods into flourishing, healthy communities.

Archival Hippodrome State Theatre, Gainesville Community Playhouse and Acrosstown Repertory Theatre features

December 1, 2013Arts, FeaturesAcrosstown Repertory Theatre, Hippodrome State TheatreDonna Green-Townsend

Click on a link below to hear archive theatre features produced by Donna Green-Townsend

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Always Patsy Cline (07/14/1999)

A Christmas Carol at the Hipp (11/29/2010)

Avenue Q at the Hipp (07/10/2013)

The Big Bang (08/29/2004)

“Carrie” at the Hipp (10/12/2012)

“Come Back, Little Sheba” in Gainesville (12/06/2012)

Costume sale at the Hipp (10/01/2010)

‘Dead Man’s Cellphone’ Opens At The Hipp (01/12/2010)

Don’t Dress For Dinner Opens At The Hippodrome (08/30/2013)

Dracula– two versions

“The Drawer Boy” at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (08/24/2012)

“End Days” at the Hipp (01/06/2011)

Forever Plaid (06/2000)

God of Carnage at the Hipp (09/01/2011)

The Hot Mikado (07/2007)

Love and Fate

The Marvelous Wonderettes at the Hipp (06/01/2012)

Mary Hausch Recaps 40 years at the Hippodrome State Theatre (05/17/2013)

Mindgame (Oct 16, 2009)

Robin Hood at the Hipp (04/12/2013)

Bill Goss: The Luckiest Unlucky Man

December 1, 2013SpecialsBill Goss, cancer, coping with cancer, Donna Green-Townsend, melanoma, Rocky the flying squirrel, skin cancer, squirrel therapyDonna Green-Townsend

Bill Goss' first book — *Bill Goss’ first book*

One day navy pilot Bill Goss from Orange Park, Florida says he was flying one of the fastest jets in the world. Just a day later he learned he could be dead from cancer in only six months. What happened over the next few months became the subject of Bill’s popular book, “There’s a Flying Squirrel In My Coffee- Coping With Cancer With The Help of My Pet.”

Bill book about surviving cancer with the help of "Rocky" the flying squirrel — *Bill’s book about surviving cancer*

Goss, now medically retired from the navy, sat down with Donna Green-Townsend to talk about how his flying squirrel, “Rocky,” helped him to survive his greatest battle. (Originally broadcast on WUFT on March 14th, 2003. The documentary won a first place Edward R. Murrow Regional Award from the Radio and Television Digital News Association in 2004 as well as a first place award for documentary from the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters in 2004)

Donna and Bill Goss, The Luckiest Unlucky Man

Donna Green-Townsend with Bill Goss and the famous “Rocky”

The one-hour documentary is divided up into 5 segments below:

Pt 1

Pt 2

Pt 3

Pt 4

Pt 5

JFK Assassination among White House Memories of Former Marine Band Members

November 20, 2013News50th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, Albert Johnson, Donna Green-Townsend, JFK funeral procession, JFK motorcade, Jim King, John Fitzgerald Kennedy assassination, Marine Band, Marine Band at the White House, presidential inaugurationDonna Green-Townsend

November 22nd, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination, one of the most memorable tragedies in American history. Millions of Americans stayed glued to their television sets for news updates from Dallas, Texas where John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was assassinated by a sniper while travelling with his wife Jacqueline, Texas Governor John Connally, and Connally’s wife Nellie, in a presidential motorcade. After a ten-month investigation, The Warren Commission made the conclusion that Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, and that Oswald acted alone. Since that time there have been many conspiracy theories.

Kennedy funeral procession best photo — *John F. Kennedy funeral procession November 25th, 1963*

In 1997 Donna Green-Townsend talked with trombonist Albert Johnson, a former Gainesville resident, and the late Jim King, a clarinetist from Gainesville. The two musicians have very distinct memories of the Camelot years in the White House. The two former Marine Band members played for many major events in Washington including inaugurations, dinner parties and sadly for the funeral procession of John F. Kennedy. (Originally aired on January 23, 1997)

Short Version:

Long original version in 1997:

Tim Tebow Foundation Reaches Out To Typhoon Victims In The Philippines

November 13, 2013NewsAid for the Philippines, Donna Green-Townsend, Philippines, Tim Tebow Foundation, typhoon hits the PhilippinesDonna Green-Townsend

A massive international aid effort is beginning to take shape in the Philippines to help the 600,000 people displaced by last Friday’s typhoon. The official death toll as of early afternoon (Wed., Nov. 13th) is up to 2,344 and is expected to rise. Former Florida Quarterback and Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow was born in the Philippines while his parents worked as missionaries there. The Tim Tebow Foundation in partnership with CURE International, has been constructing an orthopedic hospital in Davao City. The foundation is also working with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association on evangelism, church planting and orphan care ministries in the Philippines. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the Executive Director of the Tim Tebow Foundation, Erik Dellenback, about how they are responding to the crisis in the Philippines. The Tim Tebow Foundation has activated a donation link on its website that will collect funds specifically for the Philippines at www.timtebowfoundation.org or by mail to the foundation lockbox at Tim Tebow Foundation, 2209 County Road 210 W, Suite 108 PMB 329, Jacksonville, FL 32259.

Remembering The Return of the 351st Military Police Company In Ocala

November 9, 2013News351st Military Police Company Returns, Donna Green-Townsend, Ocala's Veteran's Park, Operation Freedom Iraq, Veteran's DayDonna Green-Townsend

During this Veteran’s Day Holiday weekend, it seems appropriate to look back on a special day in Marion County. On Thursday, June 24th, 2004 several thousand people turned out at Veteran’s Park in Ocala to welcome home the 351st Military Police Company. The 130-member unit arrived on buses and participated in a short parade through the park. Many of those who turned out to cheer and greet the veterans carried homemade signs. A huge banner read, “America’s Hometown Heroes.” The military police unit had just completed a 13-month mission as part of Operation Freedom Iraq. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend was there and reports the celebration included a musical tribute and a military flyover. (Originally aired on WUFT on June 24th, 2004)