Thursday, December 31, 2020 Vol. 119, No. 52 u One Section 50 ...
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GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020, PAGE 1
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Vol. 119, No. 52 u One Section
50?
Car found in river, 1 dead
CPD says no foul play is suspected.
Staff Report
According to a press broke the rear glass heavy recovery equip- Florida Department in Tallahassee for an
release the following out of the vehicle in an ment and divers. The of Law Enforcement autopsy, which was
On Sunday, De- occurred:
effort to determine if vehicle was chained Crime Scene Investiga- scheduled for Monday
cember 27, at 12:56 Officer S. Bruner re- anyone was inside.
and attached to a tow- tion photographed and morning.
p.m., Chattahoochee sponded, and observed Bruner reached in- ing cable.
processed the vehicle. Officer
Caroline
Police Dispatch was a red Toyota Rav4 dip- side as far as he could, The vehicle was Wanda Dudley of Hastings with CPD
notified of a vehicle in ping below the surface but could neither see winched towards the Grand Ridge was said no foul play is
the Apalachicola River of the river, in between nor feel anyone inside shore.
found deceased in- suspected. The medi-
at the Chattahoochee the dock and walkway. the vehicle.
Divers were able to side the vehicle. Her cal examiner ruled the
Landing Park.
Bruner
waded Affordable Towing determine the vehicle body was transported death as a drowning.
across to the dock, and responded, bringing was occupied.
to the coroner's office
YEAR IN REVIEW
Looking back on 2020
Highlights in stories and photos
Staff Report
Before 2020 fades into distant memory, it's worth taking a look at what happened in Gdsden County in the last year.
Here are some of the top stories and highlights from 2020:
JANUARY
? GADSDEN COMMISSION HIRES NEW ATTORNEY: Gadsden County Board of Commissioners voted to hire Tallahassee-based Pittman Law Group to serve as the commission's legal counsel. Previously, Ausley McMullen, of Tallahassee, had served as Gadsden County's attorney since June 2009.
? HOMETOWN HEROES RECEIVE KEYS TO THE CITY: The City of Quincy honored Willie Simmons and Alex Jackson, two Quincy natives who coach at FAMU during a ceremony at the Joe Ferolito Recreation Center on Saturday Jan. 11.
Above left, Florida A&M assistant coach and Quincy native Alex Jackson is pictured at a celebration of Jackson, and Florida A&M football coach Willie Simmons. Above right, Simmons receives a shotgun from Gadsden County Sheriff's Office Maj. Robert Barkley during the celebration. Simmons' nickname in high school was "Shotgun Willie" because of his quick release as a quarterback.
and Jalan Black (Air Force Academy) signed National Letters of Intent on Feb. 5 in the school's library.
? LOCAL ATTORNEY SUSPENDED:A longtime Quincy at-
torney has been suspended by the Florida Supreme Court.
According to documents on Florida Supreme Court's website, Sten Thield Sliger was suspended for "failure
to respond to an official Bar inquiry.
? QUINCY ALLOWS FOURTH GAMBLING BUSINESS: Quincy commissioners voted 3-2 on Feb. 18 to
change an ordinance to allow for a fourth simulated gambling facility to open in the city during a Feb. 18 meeting.
Commissioners Freida Bass-Prieto and
Daniel McMillan opposed the decision.
? HOSPITAL INK 15 YEAR LEASE IN QUINCY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY CARE: Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the deal. Commissioners Brenda Holt and Eric Hinson voted against it.
The 15-year deal allows Capital Regional to lease the Gadsden hospital at 23186 Blue Star Highway in Quincy for $200,000 per year.
March
? WORLD SHUTS DOWN AS CORONAVIRUS SPREADS: As the coronavirus crisis spreads across the U.S., Gadsden prepared. Roger Milton, school superintendent, and Maj. Robert Barkley, jail supervisor, who oversees the Gadsden County Jail focused on prevention, and long-term planning amid medical uncertainty.
? QUINCY COMMISSION VOTES TO REDRAW DISTRICT LINES:Quincy commissioners voted 3-2 to move forward with redrawing the city's district lines this year.
Mayor Keith Dowdell and Commissioners Ronte Harris and Angela Sapp voted in favor of a 2020 implementation date, thrusting the city's April election into uncertainty tary.
FEBRUARY
? SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: Gadsden County High's Jamar Knox (Bethune-Cookman), Deandre Lawson (Florida Memorial), Gabriel Showers Jr. (Florida Memorial)
Gadsden County High's Jamar Knox (Bethune-Cookman), Deandre Lawson (Florida Memorial), Gabriel Showers Jr. (Florida Memorial) and Jalan Black (Air Force Acad-
emy) signed National Letters of Intent on Feb. 5 in the school's library.
? GOV. AND FIRST LADY BRING FUNDING TO GADSDEN: Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, First Lady Casey DeSantis, visited Gadsden County and delivered a well-received $2.2 million in state funding, to repair Little River Bridge and Hutchinson Ferry Road bridge.
? MIDWAY POLICE CHIEF COMPLAINS TO COUNCIL ABOUT CITY MANAGER'S REFUSAL TO FIRE OFFICER: Midway Police Chief Deric Mordica accused the city's interim manager of defaming him and provided documentation showing the manager, Lenwood Herron, denied terminating a police officer after an internal affairs investigation. Mordica
See YEAR/Page 3
Data shows a decline in Covid-19 in Gadsden
Two COVID-19 related hospitalizations were reported, which was down from 16 the previous week.
By ERIN HILL
VID-19 data.
died from complications caused by the option of going to their per-
The Gadsden County Times
DOH data also shows 2 residents the virus.
sonal health care provider. CVS in
with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Overall, 3,822 residents have Quincy also offers self-testing for
In the past week, Gadsden Coun- the past week, which is down from tested positive for COVID-19 since those who are symptomatic.
ty saw a decline in newly reported the 16 hospitalizations the week be- March, according to DOH statistics. Florida A&M University in Tal-
COVID-19 cases.
fore.
DOH conducts Covid-19 tests lahassee also offers free COV-
There were 139 Gadsden County Since March a total of 283 resi- at Capital Regional Medical Cen- ID-19 rapid antigen testing Mon-
residents who tested positive, as of dents with COVID-19 have been ter in Quincy from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. day through Saturday from a.m.
Tuesday afternoon, according to the hospitalized. Fifty-nine people have on Tuesdays. Citizens also have to 4 p.m.
Florida Department of Health's CO-
PAGE 2, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
WWW.
OBITUARIES
Miles Kenan Womack
Miles Kenan Womack Jr., 82, passed into his Lord and Saviors arms on Dec. 19, 2020. Miles was a lifelong fixture of Gadsden County and held his community near and dear to his heart. Miles leaves a legacy of values, hard work, and ethical treatment of others. Upon graduation from Gadsden County High School Miles went on to receive his education from the University of Florida, Southwestern University, Emory University, and Florida State University. He received his Master of Divinity from Emory University and was ordained as a United Methodist minister, later attending Florida State University for a degree in counseling.
His career with the State of Florida Job Corps spanned thirty years helping residents find employment and meaningful work. His passion for history and genealogy will live on forever in the pages of his books, Gadsden: Florida County in Word and Picture, and Little River Pioneers. Miles was a longtime member of Centenary Methodist Church. His hobbies
and interests included
research, plants and an-
imals, and shopping for
antiquities.
He is survived by his
feline companions Missy
and Buddy. Cousins Ja-
son (Tiffany) Vickery of
Bristol, Charles (Anna)
Vickery of Lake Talquin,
Beth Hitchcock of North
Carolina, Bob (Pril) Vick-
ery, Lydia Vickery, Chad
Vickery of Panama City,
Caitlin Vickery (Cory
Lowe) of Beaverton, OR,
Lee Perlis (Rachel Gold-
berg) of Atlanta, Craig
(Kelly) Vickery of Allen,
Texas, and the Gee fam-
ily. Friends Robin Core
Meleky, Kathleen Core,
Jimmy Owens, William
Hugh and Sarah Ruth
McGowan, and George
and Annette Ford. Miles
was proceeded in death
by his father Miles Ke-
nan Womack, Sr., moth-
er Mary (Jack) Coving-
ton, his beloved aunts
Genevieve
Vickery,
Margaret Acree, and
his dear friend Michael
Bahns.
A graveside service
was held at 2 p.m. on
Dec. 29, 2020 at Hill-
crest Cemetery in Quin-
cy. In lieu of flowers the
family asks you practice
random acts of kindness
or make a donation to
Rest Your Paws Pet Ref-
uge of Quincy in Miles
memory. Charles McClellan Fu-
neral Home in Quincy is in charge of arrangements.
Shelia Tribue
Ms. Shelia Tribue, 59 years of age, of Gretna, FL departed this life on Friday, December 25, 2020 in Gretna, FL. She leaves to cherish her precious memories: a son, Demario Gaines, Gretna; mother, Elder Mary Holloman, Gretna; four brothers, Lee Holloman (Janice), Nashville, Tenn.; Timothy Holloman (Tammie), Arlington, Texas; Mark Holloman (Latheisa), St. Augustine; Melvin Holloman (Felicia), Atlanta; five sisters, Rose Robinson, Florene Lovett (Eddie) and Mary Mathews (Anthony), all of Quincy; Vengie McMillian (Marvin), Astoria, N.C.; and Charity Holloman, Midway. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 at the Mortuary. A Celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 2 at Shiloh Church of Christ Written In Heaven. Williams Funeral Home of Quincy will be providing the service for the Tribue family.
Gadsden Rattlers gift Big Bend Hosice
Pictured from left to right: Rattler Torry McClellan (chapter vice-president), Rattler Letitia McClellan (corresponding scretary), Ms. Shanika Dilworth (Big Bend Hospice house sta), & Rattler Pat Hinson (chapter president).
Special to the Times
GADSDEN COUNTY-- The Gadsden County Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association delivered
essential items to the local Big Bend Hospice (BBH) before Christmas, including blankets, wipes, bodywash, tissue paper, and other toiletries, to help support BBH's clients' needs.
For all the advancements in automotive safety, the most sophisticated safety devices are the ones already attached to the driver. America's orthopaedic surgeons, in partnership with automakers, urge every driver to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Visit .
Gadsden residents
receive Walmart gift cards
Special to the Times
GADSDEN COUNTY -- Gadsden County leaders, U.S. Congressman Al Lawson, and Gadsden Community Health Council members distributed $25 gift cards on Wednesday, Dec. 23,
in partnership with the Walmart corporation, at the Gadsden County Courthouse in Quincy.
The gift cards were disbursed on a first come, first serve basis to make Christmas for Gadsden County family members a little brighter.
Due to the restrictions on gatherings resulting from the COVID-19 virus, this distribution followed CDC guidelines, including a temperature check and the mandatory wearing of a mask.
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GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020, PAGE 3
Figgers Foundation donates bikes to foster youth
Special to the Times
Ft. Lauderdale ? The Figgers Foundation has committed a gift of $50,000 to Together We Rise, to provide bicycles to youth in foster care.
As part of The Figgers Foundation "Bike Dreams" campaign which launched this holiday season, 500 bicycles will be donated to foster and adopted youth throughout the United States.
To date, 200 bicycles have been distributed with another 300 set for distribution through January 2021.
"We have the unique ability to change a foster child's trajectory in life with simple acts of kindness and support," said Freddie Figgers, Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Figgers Foundation and Chief Software Architect of Figger's Communications, Inc. "As a foster
child myself, abandoned as an infant by my biological mother, I was lucky to be adopted by my foster family at a very young age. That's why our Bike Dreams campaign is so personal to me."
"Bike Dreams" is part of The Figgers Foundation mission to support communities and the lives of children. This year, The Figgers Foundation has supported a variety of youth-oriented initiatives including free broadband access for students during the pandemic and supporting STEM education programs.
The following organizations each received 50 bicycles:
? BoysTown (Quincy) ? ChildNet (Ft. Lauderdale) ? Great Oak Village (Orlando) ? Brooke Jenkins Dream 360 Center (Or-
lando).
A volunteer with Boys Town in Quincy is pictured with bicycles donated by the Figgers Foundation.
PUBLIC NOTICES
For our readers' convenience, The Gadsden County Times provides this Public Notice Section for all Public Notices not published in the Legal Notice section of
the newspaper.
MEETING NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Midway Planning
Zoning Board will hold their Regular Board Meeting
Monday January
at p m
Please be advised the City of Midway is following the directives and guidelines for social distancing related to COVID Per the Governor s directive a limited number of people will be allowed into council chambers for the meeting Face masks are required The meeting will also be available via conference call
All Public Comments must be submitted in writing via email Also please submit any public comments two hours prior to the meeting (No later than 4:00p.m. on Monday, January 11,
2021.)
DIAL IN NUMBER Toll 605-472-5564
ACCESS CODE 451908
Any person requiring special accommodations at any of the meetings because of a disability or physical impairment should contact City Hall, at (850) 574-2355 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. If a person decides to appeal a decision made by the council in any matter considered at this meeting/hearing, such person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is to be made, to include the testimony and evidence upon which any such appeal is to based.
December 31, 2020 ad#ZL68
Keep up withheTimes!
TheGadsden County
Miss a week, Miss a lot.
The next regular meeting of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners will be Tuesday January starting at p m The following items have been agendaed Awards, Presentations and Appearances. Consent: Georgia Ackerman Riverkeeper and Executive Director Approval of
Minutes: Items Pulled for Discussion: Citizens Requesting
to be Heard on Non-Agenda Items (3-minute limit): Public
Hearing: Public (earing Adoption of Ordinance No
An Ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of
Gadsden County Florida adopting Chapter Article ))) of
the Gadsden County Code of Ordinances the Gadsden County
Emergency Repair Program providing for repeal severability
inclusion in the Gadsden County Code of Ordinances
(earing and correction of Scrivener s errors and providing
for an effective date Public (earing Legislative Adoption
of Ordinance
Jett Large Scale Comprehensive
Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment LSPA
Public (earing Legislative Adoption of Ordinance
Jett Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use
Map Amendment LSPA
General Business: Public
Service Through the State of Florida Contract Number
ACS Public Works Roof Replacement Change
Order Number One Ralph Strong Road Sidewalk Project FDOT
LAP Agreement Florida Department of (ealth Bureau of EMS
Matching Grant St (eborn Walk and Bike for Life Trail Change
Order Number One Bid Award for the Massey Building Roof
and Structural Repair Equipment Sharing Loan Agreement
for Gadsden County Emergency Terms and Conditions
County Emergency Services FC) Contract Clerk of Court:
Updates County Administrator: Updates County Attorney:
Updates Discussion Items by Commissioners: Updates
This agenda as well as a listing of the Receipt File items
may be viewed in electronic format on the County s website at
)f a person decides to appeal any decision by the Board of County
Commissioners with respect to any matter considered at such
public meeting he she will need a record the proceedings and
for such purpose he she may need to insure that a verbatim
record of the proceedings is made which record includes
testimony and evidence to which the appeal is to be heard
In accordance with Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons
needing a special accommodation to participate in this meeting
Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL 32351, by written request at least 48
hours prior to the meeting.
December
AD ZKZK
The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners
will hold a Pre-BOCC Meeting Workshop to answer questions on selected agenda items regarding the
January 5, 2021 BOCC agenda
January 5, 2021 - 4:30 p.m.
in the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners Meeting Chambers
9 B East Jefferson Street, Quincy, Florida 32351
Due to the restrictions on gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 virus, this meeting may be viewed by accessing the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners Facebook Page, GadsdenCountyBOCC. Virtual meeting access details will be posted to the Gadsden County website, ZZZJDGVGHQFRXQW\?JRY.
Anyone wishing to speak on agenda items or non-agenda items VKRXOG VFKHGXOH RU QRWLI\ WKH &RXQW\$GPLQLVWUDWRU?V 2I?FH before attending the meeting and will be asked to follow the Gadsden County Public Meetings Citizens Access Guidelines. Also, Public comment for Commission meetings can be submitted via email to &LWL]HQV7R%H+HDUG#JDGVGHQFRXQW\? gov until 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Comments submitted after the deadline but prior to the meeting will be DGGHGWRWKHRI?FLDOUHFRUGEXWWKH&RXQW\FDQQRWJXDUDQWHH that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing assistance in obtaining any information from the County or virtually attending the public meeting should contact Gadsden County Public Information by calling 850875-8671 or emailing PHGLD#JDGVGHQFRXQW\?JRY at least 2 hours prior to the meeting.
If a person decides to appeal any decision by the Board of
County Commissioners with respect to any matter considered
at such public meeting, he/she will need a record of the
proceedings and for such purpose he/she may need to insure
that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which
record includes testimony and evidence to which the appeal
is to be heard.
December
AD ZKPK
GOING IN FOR SURGERY? DON'T JUST LIE THERE.
The safest, most successful surgeries happen when physicians and patients team up as active partners. Which means plenty of candid questions and honest answers from each. Bone up on patient safety at patientsafety. A public service message from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, reminding patients and doctors that communication is the best medicine.
patientsafety
Patient Safety. It takes a team.
PAGE 4, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
TIMESVIEWS GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
WWW.
"The newspaper built on community pride."
Publisher | Gerry Mulligan General Manager | William Snowden
Staff Writer | Erin Hill
Member of the Florida Press Association
THE DIRT ROAD WONDER
Miles Womack, my childhood friend
There is good news and bad news concerning living to a ripe old age. I will give you the good news first and that is getting to live long enough to see your great grandchildren and still have all your marbles. The bad news is there seems to be too many funerals of good friends and relatives. I am selfish. I want to keep all my friends and keep everything just as it has been for many years. That's never going to happen, so I just shed a tear for the good old days and keep on keeping on.
This week I lost Miles Womack, a friend since childhood. My father owned Holman's Place in Old Salem out from Havana and Mr. Keenan Womack would stop by with Miles after he visited his mother in Havana. While he had some refreshment with the other tobacco farmers that gathered there, Miles and I would play out on the driveway. I always got two cap pistols in a holster for Christmas, so we had great gunfighter battles. We also liked to line up long rows of Dominos and then push them down and watch them go. There was one game that he refused to play and that was Hopscotch. He said that was a sissy girl's game.
When we grew up I would run into him sometimes and we
GWYNN PEACOCK KIDD
would have these long talks about bygone years when we were little kids and one of us would have some tidbit of history that we had heard about the county. Mile's History of Gadsden County is one of the finest history books about this county that has ever been written.
Miles taught me how to make quick banana pudding. I went to a party at a hunting camp and Miles brought the best banana pudding. I asked him for his recipe and he laughed and said it was so hard to make that he wasn't sure if I could handle it or not. He said first you go to Piggly Wiggly and get a large can of prepared vanilla pudding, put in Nilla vanilla wafers and chopped up bananas, put Cool Whip on top of it and chill. It doesn't get any easier than that.
When my husband Jack Peacock died, Miles was one of the first people that came to the house that day. Friends are people you
OPINIONS INVITED
might not see often but
come running when you
have troubles. I still re-
member the beautiful
floral arrangement that
he brought. He always
had good taste.
On a lighter note. I
don't want to leave you
thinking about funerals
here at Christmas time
so I will share a funny
thing that happened
to me one Christmas.
As my children can tell
you, I have problems
with electronics. I just
save them until my chil-
dren or grand children
can look at them and
get them working again.
One year I opened a
package from one of the
kids and it was a box
with the word ROKU
on the side. Of course, I
thanked them and told
them it was what I had
always wanted and sat
there and tried to figure
out what it was used for.
Finally, I could stand it
no longer, so I fessed up
and said, "What is it?"
Everyone just howled
when they realized that
I didn't have the foggiest
idea of what I had just
gotten for Christmas.
It was a devise that in-
creased the channels
on my television and I
really enjoyed it.
I hope that all of you
had a nice Christmas
and now we are looking
forward to the new year.
May it be better than
2020. Happy New Year.
`Till next time keep
on the sunny side.
Contact
Gwynn
Peacock Kidd at
Gwynn0720@comcast.
net.
Missed by many
Rev. Richard Corry is pictured with his replacement tennis trophy wearing his favorite plaid pj's.
By JACK CORRY
Special to the Times
Rev. Richard Corry who passed last year at 99-years-young, also much enjoyed sports.
Known and appreciated by many as a humble spiritual leader, he was a patient listener, with confidence.
Some of us learned that together
with his love for playing and following golf, he also played football, in addition to being an avid tennis player, back in the day.
Turns out he'd won the Gadsden County amateur tennis championship. Finals were held in Chattahoochee, back in 1937.
He's missed by many.
n The opinions expressed in Gadsden County
Times editorials are the opinions of the newspa-
per. n Viewpoints depicted in political cartoons, col-
umns or letters do not necessarily represent the
opinion of the editorial board. n Individuals are invited to express their opinions
in a letter to the editor. n All letters must be signed and include a phone
number, address and hometown, including let-
ters sent via email at editor@.
Phone numbers and street addresses will not be
printed or given out. We reserve the right to edit
letters for length, libel, fairness and good taste. n Letters to the editor must be no longer than
400 words, and writers will be limited to two let-
ters per month.
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Letters to Editor
Surprise Medical Billing
Now that the election is over, it should be everyone's hope that Congress can move forward on some solutions rather than debate on issues that hit close to home like healthcare. One thing I have been watching over the year has been surprise medical bills that hit patients with unexpected charges when they are treated outside their insurance network. When you're in need of emergency care, you don't have the luxury of picking a doctor or hospital. It's unconscionable that patients and medical providers get stuck with surprise bills. During this pandemic, insurers have been busy spending millions lobbying Congress to support "rate-setting" legislation. There is a better, fairer way to tackle health care costs. It's called the STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act, and it has more than 30 bipartisan co-sponsors. The legislation establishes a fair and neutral process for an objective thirdparty to resolve disputes between insurance companies and providers. Patients are kept out of the middle and not stuck with financial devastation, and that's the way it should be.
Sam Elliot, Tallahassee
Electoral College
The debate has started again as to whether the US Constitution should be amended in order to change the presidential election process. Some promote eliminating the Electoral College in favor of a direct popular vote for president while others believe the Electoral College should remain unchanged. Just as compromise solved the initial problems of the framers so it is that compromise can solve this problem. The solution is to change the electoral votes to electoral points and reward each candidate a percentage of points based on the percentage of popular votes received in each state. This would eliminate the "winner take all" system thus allowing for all the votes to count. A voter is more apt to believe their vote counted when a percent-
age of popular votes are taken into account rather than the "all or nothing" system currently in existence. Further, this new system would integrate the desire for a popular vote for president with the need for the individual states to determine who actually gets elected. For 2020 multiplying the percentage of votes each candidate received {in each state} times the number of electoral votes {in each state} results in the following: Biden 267.23 and Trump 252.33. Multiplying the percentage of popular votes each candidate received {nationwide} times the total number of electoral votes {538} results in the following: Biden 274.92 and Trump 253.40.
Joe Bialek, Cleveland, Ohio
Thanks
My sincere gratitude to sponsors for the Christmas give away for all the youth at Havana City Hall on Dec. 22. Ken Ball, with Havana Ford Motors, Vick Vickers with Stone's Hardware in Havana, Clary's Bail Bonds, Elizabeth Clary, Pastor Randy Ross of Lake Talquin Church, Greater Faith Temple COGIC, Roy Moore of Piggly Wiggly, Golden Falcon and Arco, Samir Najal, Havana Food Mart, Mr. Seste Wilson of North Florida Vault, Pastor Vincent Smith with COGIC.
Chaplain Jimmy Salters, Havana
Lawsuit Abuse Hurts Florida's Economy and Consumers
It's fair to assume that when it comes to abuse of our judicial system, most people don't consider it to impact their daily lives and that unless you're a lawyer or a judge, you don't really have to worry about it. I'm here to tell those people that they are wrong. Too many lawsuits hurt everyone, and ridiculous or frivolous lawsuits filed against local businesses make it tougher for those same small businesses to create jobs. I read a report last year that showed that just the cost of excessive lawsuits has killed over 160,000
See YEAR/Page 9
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Sports
GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020, PAGE 5
GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES
HOME ON THE RANGE
Shoot or don't shoot?
For instance, in Jana
Deleon's novel "Swamp
Team 3," our heroine,
Fortune, believes that
the person who has just
burned her friend Ally's
house down, is now
slinking around For-
tune's house to do evil.
Fortune sneaks outside,
figuring she has the
martial arts skills to
take the guy down.
By MARJ LAW
However, Ally hurries
outside with a pistol
We stopped by sev- in her hand to help
eral gun stores during Fortune. Fortune is so
the Christmas holidays. busy racing after Mr.
Did you? Did you notice Bad that she doesn't see
that finding .22 or 9mm Ally. She runs into Ally,
ammunition is next to and Ally's gun fires.
impossible? Or, if you When the deputy
can find it, the ammo is plenty expensive.
Guns are too. The gun you want is likely not to be found right now. So it looks like a lot of people have recently bought guns, and a lot of people have purchased as much ammunition as they can afford. This brings me to wonder if all these new (and old) shooters know when they are legally allowed to shoot and when they cannot. Recently I've been reading a book and it addresses some thoughts on this subject. Thanks to Mom and Dad, who firmly believe that books ought to "improve your mind," and those that do not are considered "trash," I have taken the opposite stance. I've decided that novels which do not improve your mind are much more fun to read. The truth is, however, that even trashy novels contain nuggets of information, or ideas for further contemplation.
comes by wondering who was shooting, Ally says that it was an accident; she didn't shoot on purpose.
Since the deputy had been close to the line of fire, he isn't too impressed with her response.
"Should I have shot him?" asks Fortune.
"No!" Deputy Carter yells. "You're not supposed to shoot at random people."
"Even if they're in my yard, wearing a fake ski mask?"
"Even if. You're supposed to call the police."
And it's true. Your house is your "castle." If Mr. Bad smashes a window and breaks into your home knowing you are there, it is probably safe to say that he intends you harm. Then, if you happen to have a gun to protect yourself, you might have your gun ready so that he doesn't kill you. However, in this case, Mr. Bad is sneaking around outside the home. You cannot shoot
someone just because he is on your property. Even if Mr. Bad is wearing a ski mask. Your house is your castle; your land is not.
When you do draw your gun, you must be confronted with lethal force. You have to be afraid for your life.
If you are in your home and you hear someone outside who may be Mr. Bad, you should call the police or sheriff as fast as you can. Only if Mr. Bad breaks in can you point your gun and shoot. And you better have a real reason to say: "I thought my life was in danger."
Later in this novel, Fortune and her sidekick Ida Belle are fleeing from Bad Guy Floyd.
They are riding a motorcycle away from a bar on the swamp. Floyd has a very bad temper and is coming after them. Floyd is furious because he thinks he recognizes these women as those who have recently broken down his
fence while trespassing onto his property. (which they have)
The women are gunning the `cycle as fast as they can, but Floyd is racing behind them in his truck.
Fortune, riding shotgun, turns and aims her gun at one of the headlights. Since she is a CIA assassin, she knocks that headlight right out. She blasts the other one as well.
Just when Fortune and Ida Belle think they're safe because now the truck has no headlights, Floyd turns on those ultrabright high lights.
Fortune and Ida Belle drop off the road, running through a farmer's fields and through his chicken coop. Because Fortune is wet from head to toe, chicken feathers land and stick all over her.
The farmer shoots at them, and the farmer's wife calls in a report to Deputy Carter that a huge chicken on a motorcycle has just run
through their coop. The farmer who was
shooting at them for destroying his chicken coop had no business shooting at Fortune and Ida Belle. Yes, they were trespassing in his field, but he certainly was not afraid for his life. Unless, of course, he thought that a giant chicken was planning to carry him up in an alien spaceship.
Later, one of Fortune's friends asked if Floyd was trying to kill Fortune and Ida Belle.
"He was chasing us," Ida Belle said. "I can't swear he was trying to kill us."
Fortune, then, should not have been using deadly force because neither Fortune nor Ida Belle knew for certain that Floyd was trying to kill them. It's possible he might have wanted to smack them around to teach them a lesson about trespassing.
In these cases of drawing and firing, neither Fortune nor the farmer should have
been firing guns. You can't pull your
gun unless you have a fear for your life, or the life of someone else. You can't even show your gun as if you planned to settle an argument.
Now, back to today and noticing fewer guns and less ammunition on store shelves, I'm thinking there are a lot of new shooters around here.
If they ever shoot or even brandish a gun, they have to know that they must be able to prove that they did so because they were afraid for their life.
I like Deleon's novels. They are fast-paced and fun.
Firearm owners need to know when it's legal to draw and/or shoot a gun.
Deleon's heroine does not, but she sure is amusing.
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.
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