jeff.waters@gaflnews.com
Florida may be keeping “Swanee River” as its state song - with some changes - and getting an official state anthem, as well.
Florida Sen. Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville), who led the charge last year to change the state song, said he would agree to a compromise which would allow “Swanee River (Old Folks at Home),” to remain, provided the racially-tinged wording is changed, and provided “Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky” becomes the state anthem.
Hill and Rep. Ed Homan (R-Tampa) sponsored a bill earlier to replace the current song with “Florida,” after it was voted on by the public through a special website earlier in the year.
Homan is sticking to his original plan of replacing the current song with the new one.
Stephen Foster’s song has spurred considerable controversy with its references to plantation life and the use of the term “darkeys.”
Gov. Charlie Crist refused to play the song at his inauguration.
The newly revised version would replace “darkeys” with “dear one” and “old plantation” with “childhood station.”
Hill’s bill (SB1558) narrowly passed a Senate committee by a 3-2 vote.
The new proposal is expected to reach the Senate floor soon.
“Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky” was written by Jan Hinton of Pompano Beach. “Swanee River “ was written by Foster in 1851 and designated Florida’s state song in 1935.
Lawmakers have not made clear the difference between a state song and a state anthem.
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5th grader belts a rendition of "I Will Always Love You"
A Suwannee County fifth grader mesmerized students, parents and faculty during the Suwannee Intermediate School Spring Talent Show Thursday evening.
Brittanie Powell performed “I Will Always Love You” which was immortalized by the late Whitney Houston. It was Brittanie’s first performance and she selected the song a few weeks ago after watching a contestant perform it on American Idol. -
Pournelle receives valedictorian title
The only SHS senior with a 4.0 GPA was left out previously due to district policy
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Suwannee Democrat obituaries - May 25, 2012
Agnes Barr Taylor
Bobby Roberts
Clifton E. Riley Sr.
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Suwannee County's vals and sals
Editor's note: In today's paper (May 25) salutatorian is above Mara Lance's photo. Lance is a Suwannee High School valedictorian.
SHS
Valedictorians
Laura-Kaitlyn Boatright
Mara Magee Lance
Salutatorian
Christopher Cole ThomasBHS
Valedictorian
Robert Hansen
GPA - 3.83
Salutatorian
D’Vonte Cherry
GPA - 3.76
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Democrat Morning Update for Friday, May 25
Good morning. This is what's happening in your county today.
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FCAT 2.0 math and reading results
Suwannee falls right in line with state averages
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