About six weeks ago, stretches of the Withlacoochee River just plain dried up and went away. "It was shocking when we woke up one morning and there was no water at all," said Debby Blust, co-owner ...

IF YOU GO The Third Annual Mother's Day Powwow will be May 6-8 at the Withlacoochee River Park near Dade City. Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Minor flood stage for the Withlacoochee River near US 301 and Trilby Road is 12 feet, and water levels on Thursday morning stayed consistently between 12 and 12.1 feet.

The county says the Withlacoochee River is set to reach major flood stage by Oct. 18. People who evacuated are being offered shelter at the Sumter County Fairgrounds.