By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Dr.Kenneth Schweibert, a well-known and respected dentist and community leader for the past 40 years was honored by Levy County Commissioners on April 6 for his dedication, service, and commitment to the Williston community.
Scheibert has retired from dentistry but remains active as a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA, working with the Williston City Council, remade Heritage Park into a beautiful recreation facility complete with a pavilion for community events, attractive night lighting, and a well-designed veterans’ memorial to honor those who served in the military.
The likeable dentist took time ahead of the recognition ceremony to thank commissioners for their outstanding Emergency Medical Service staff that responded to his 911 call on Jan. 16 after he suffered a heart attack.
“I just wanted to acknowledge how professional and thorough and careful they were,” Schweibert said. “They got me to Shands Hospital as quick as they could. Because of that service, I came out on the good end of this and I just want to share my appreciation for the medical service and the emergency medical people.”
Commissioner Matt Brooks, the Williston board member, said he wanted to recognize Schweibert for his dedicated service to the community since October of 1980 when he opened his first office at the top of the hill near what is now the Subway restaurant.
He said Schweibert, a craftsman in his spare time, renovated his current office on North Main Street with help from his brother before moving to the new location many years ago.
“Not only has he been a fine dentist over the years, he’s been a great steward to our community. He has been extremely involved in the Community Development Agency; if you’ve had the pleasure to see Heritage Park and how it has been turned into the beautiful place it is now,” Brooks said. “If you’ve had the honor to see the Veterans’ Memorial as well, that’s another item that his handprints are all over. He’s done a lot of things for the Williston community, been involved in the Williston Chamber of Commerce and I really don’t know how he finds the time to do all these things that he does except for maybe he just doesn’t sleep.”
Brooks said Schweibert has been his dentist from a young age and was able to perform work on him as a boy that won’t ever be forgotten.
“I can tell you that I’m personally grateful and thankful for you as a friend, as my dentist. I won’t go into the story, but I wouldn’t be able to talk today if not for Dr. Schweibert’s saving efforts many, many years ago when I was a child. He really helped me out. I really wanted to say thank you and we of course want to thank you for your service in the military,” Brooks said.
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting April 6, 2021; Posted April 11, 2021
