- PAGE 3 - PAGE 12 - PAGE 2 The Gadsden County Times

The

The Graduates: photos from Gadsden County's graduations

- PAGE 3

Looking for fireworks? Gadsden County fireworks guide.

- PAGE 12

Gadsden County

Gadsden County student newspaper wins national award.

- PAGE 2

Times

VOL. CXX . . . . NO. 26 Copyright ? 2021 Gadsden County News Corp. QUINCY, Thursday, July 1, 2021

Serving all of Gadsden County, Florida

75 CENTS

Salvation Army's office in Quincy conflicts with potential credit union location

By Erin Hill

Gadsden County News Service

During a recent

meeting of the City of

Quincy Commissioners,

the old NetQuincy

building was approved

as the potential move-in

location for a locally-

owned credit union in

Gadsden County.

However,

the

Salvation Army of

Tallahassee was recently

given permission by

Charles Hayes, the city's

acting building and

planning director, to

move into the NetQuincy

building prior to the

introduction of the credit

union.

Hayes gave his

permission to the

Salvation Army before

receiving approval from

the city's commission.

Dr. Beverly Nash, the

city's grants coordinator,

told the commissioners

the organization moved

into the building in May.

"The concern that I'm

having right now is that

we just agreed for a

possible credit union to

enter that space and I'm

sure that area will

probably be the area that

would be most beneficial

for them," Mayor Ronte

Harris said to Nash.

Harris asked if there is

other usable space in the

building.

Nash said there is

space available on the

opposite side, but that

the Salvation Army is

currently using the

drive-through portion of

the building.

Commissioner Keith

Dowdell also said his

concern was if the city

allows the Salvation

Army to use the old

NetQuincy building,

that would put them in

conflict with allowing

the credit union to use

the space.

The city's attorney,

???, said the agreement

states that the city can

get out of the agreement

with a 30-day notice.

Harris asked if the city

was agreeing to a

specific location, or if

they were just agreeing

to provide space.

Roberts said the city

was just agreeing to

provide space.

Harris asked if the city

could move the

Salvation Army into

Quincy City Hall, if

necessary, and Nash

said the city could do

that.

"How do we allow a

group to come in, set up

business, and then bring

it to us for approval?"

Grant Sapp asked,

regarding the decision

being made to allow the

Salvation Army to settle

in without city approval.

Nash said she couldn't

answer that.

"I'm just facilitating

what needs to happen,"

Nash added.

City Manager Jack

McLean said at first the

agreement was month-

to-month, but that he

also was under the

understanding that the

Salvation Army's move

into the NetQuincy

building had been

brought to the

commission's attention.

McLean said the

commissioners had not

given their formal

approval, but according

to McLean, the

commissioners had been

made aware of Salvation

Army move into the

building.

Grant Sapp asked if

there is another space in

the building that the

Salvation Army can use

if the state's auditors

determine there is a

conflict by them being in

the same building as the

People's Credit Union.

McLean said he was

not ready to answer the

question, but he had

spoken with Gadsden

County Commissioner

Kimblin NeSmith and

the

Community

Redevelopment Agency

(who are presenting the

credit union), and

McLean said it was not

the intent to move

anybody out of the

building, but that a

rearrangement

and

restructuring could be

done to keep everyone

in the building.

"I know we really

wanted the Community

Redevelopment Agency

to be in that building,

and I appreciate them

being there, but we'll

work around whatever

SEE "SALVATION ARMY" ON PAGE 12

What's Inside?

S

The Gadsden County Times

H O P

LOCAL

? Calendar - 2 ? Opinions - 4 ? Obituaries - 5 ? Community - 5-12 ? Comics - 6 ? Puzzles - 6-7 ? Legals - 8-9

Will Quincy relax local alcohol laws?

By Erin Hill

Gadsden County News Service

Quincy

city

commissioners

are

looking

towards

potentially relaxing local

drinking and alcohol

laws.

During the June 8

meeting, the city

commission authorized

staff to revise the local

alcohol ordinance and on

June 22, the city's

Community

Redevelopment Agency

Manager Robert Nixon

appeared before the

board with a draft

ordinance.

"The purpose of this

revision is to develop a

local ordinance that will

promote economic and

tourist development in

the Historic Downtown

District and along our

commercial corridors,"

Nixon said.

To accomplish this

goal, Nixon said staff

recommended removing

proximity restrictions in

the

nine-block

downtown district, and

the primary commercial

corridors of Highway 90

(Jefferson Street) and

Highway 267 (Pat

Thomas Parkway).

This means businesses

in those specific areas

would not have to be a

certain distance away

from churches, daycares

and schools to sell

alcohol.

The revised ordinance

would likewise allow

public drinking in the

previously mentioned

commercial areas.

Nixon said the

proposed revisions to the

local alcohol sales

ordinance would allow

legally organized private

or non-profit entities to sell liquor and alcohol with the city's approval during special events in the downtown district or special events venues where attendees would be permitted to "sip and stroll."

"We believe that the public will benefit by having the opportunity to participate in special events where alcohol will be served, where you can walk and sip or sip and stroll," said Nixon.

Nixon said they looked at alcohol ordinances in towns like Thomasville and Bainbridge for inspiration.

He said he worked with Quincy's attorney Gary Roberts, City Manager Jack McLean and Interim

Building and Planning

Director Charles Hayes

to develop alcohol rules

that are at the same

standard as the state.

Nixon also said the

intent is to attract select

businesses that have

been licensed by the

state, and received

approval from the city to

either host a special

event where alcohol will

be served in that district,

or attract businesses

looking to locate in the

downtown commercial

district that want to sell

alcohol are not prohibited

to do so because of an

"outdated code."

Although Nixon told

the commissioners the

ordinance

revision

would only apply to the

Historic Downtown

District and the

SEE "ALCOHOL LAW" ON PAGE 12

Juneteeth celebrated in Gadsden County

Faith in Florida recognizes those who make a difference in the county

Breanna Rittman

Gadsden County News Service

Faith in Florida held its

Juneteenth

Community

Recognition Celebration on

Saturday, June 19 at the

Gadsden County Courthouse

square.

This was the first time Faith

in Florida has held its

celebration in Quincy.

Tracey Stallworth was the

congregational organizer for

the event for Faith in Florida;

Stallworth had a team nominate

recipients for an award that

recognized their commitment

to the community.

Each recipient received a

certificate, a freedom bag for

the next generation and the

opportunity to speak to the

gathering.

Over 15 people were

recognized for their

contribution to the community.

"Typically, most people

honor people who have been

recognized last year and so

on and so forth. We wanted

to recognize the unrecognized

people in the community that

are doing the work," said

Stallworth.

Lieutenant Anglie Holmes

of the Gadsden County

Sheriff's Department was

one of the recipients of the

reward.

In her speech, Lt. Holmes

encouraged the crowd, stating

that every difficult moment

they have been through was

fertilizer to help them achieve

their goals.

"When people thought they

buried you, they actually

planted you," Holmes said.

Danny Cruz, Founder of 5F

Soccer League, was another

recipient recognized for his

work in the community.

5F Soccer League is

multicultural

and

multigenerational and has

been operating for seven

years; one of Cruz's goals is

to develop athletes at a young

age.

"I played professional

soccer when I was 14 until I

was 17 and what I gathered

throughout the years is

everything starts with the

youth," said Cruz.

The complete list of award

recipients is: Attorney Marva

Davis, Stacey Hannigon,

Jerome Harris, Natalie Roberts,

Terrance Roberts, Reverend

Jimmy Salters, Sharisse

Turner, Rick Redding, Billy

Redding Sr., Rod Lee, Rosco

PHOTO BY BREANNA

RITTMAN

MaMa FripPy (a character portrayed by Latreva Stallworth) sings a song during the Saturday, June 19 Juneteenth Celebration of the Faith in Florida organization. The celebration was held at the Gadsden County Courthouse, in Quincy.

Newton, Roland Steele, Yvette

Bittle, Danny Cruz, Bishop

Willie Lamb, Lt. Anglie

Holmes, Oscar Veneszee,

Commissioner Freida Bass-

Prieto, Emma Harrell, L. C.

Jackson, Johnny Watson,

Arlinthei "Spyce" Davis,

Alison Stallworth, and Evonski

Bulger.

MaMa FripPy, portrayed

by Latreva Stallworth, was

there to perform a skit and

sing a song. "MaMa FripPy"

is an 82-year-old storytelling

character who speaks to

children about history and

culture.

The Gadsden chapter of the

National Association for the

Advancement of Colored

People (NAACP) had

representatives

present,

encouraging people to

register for membership.

Faith in Florida is a

nonpartisan group.

According to their website,

the group's mission is to

build a multicultural, non-

partisan network of

congregation community

organizations in Florida that

will address systemic racial

and economic issues that

cause poverty for families.

"We bring truth to power.

We agitate, we mobilize, we

educate on house bills, senate

bills and anything that

threatens our democracy,"

Stallworth said. "We are

there to educate the people."

For more information about

Faith in Florida visit



PHOTO BY BREANNA RITTMAN

Flawda Order President Binjimin Brown is pictured with his stud horse, Amadeus during the order's Juneteenth celebration in Quincy. The biking and equestrian group provided horseback rides, dirt bike rides, bounce houses, and free food during the June 19 event.

Flawda Order saddles up to ride for positivity

Breanna Rittman

Gadsden County News Service

Flawda Order Entertainment held their first Juneteenth celebration event on Saturday, June 19 at the Friendship Park on Frank Jackson Road, in Quincy.

"It was a big deal for us to have this event on Juneteenth to celebrate our freedom and our ability to have this event in a peaceful and positive way," President Binjimin Brown said to the attendees.

Vice-president of the order, Miguel Davis, spoke to the crowd about Flawda Order's purpose and the significance of having an event on Juneteenth.

"We have been oppressed since slavery and we're standing up the right way," Davis said.

Though having their inaugural event on Juneteenth is important, Flawda Order's members said that their ultimate goal is to promote positivity in the community.

"We're not stopping at Juneteenth. We're going to be involved for St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, Breast Cancer Awareness, Sunday Fun Days, anything we can get into that promotes positivity," Brown said.

As part of the day of celebration, Flawda Order provided horse rides, dirt bikes rides, bounce houses and food for attendees.

The night ended with a firework show. "We're here to promote positivity and fun for all ages and all races. It's that simple," Davis said. Flawda Order's slogan is: "It's not just about horses and trail rides. It's bigger than that." To join the trailriding group, or find out more information, visit to @flawdaorder on Instagram.

Page 2, thursday, July 1, 2021

Gadsden County times



Landing Park. The event will begin at 3 p.m. and last until after dark, when a firework show will take place. There will also be food vendors, booths for local craftspeople and artisans, activities for kids, and live music. Admission is free.

Want to see your event listed in The Gadsden County Times Community Calendar? Send information regarding your event to the Times Editor at

editor@ or call (850) 627-7649.

Gadsden Library's Summer Reading Program ? June 14 - August 6 The Gadsden County Public Library System will be filling the 2021 Summer Reading Program with lots of fun activities, prizes, and awards. With support from the Friends of the Gadsden County Public Library System, this year's summer reading program will have raffles, activity packs and crafts, online events, online reading logs, the chance to earn prizes, and fun activities for every reading level. Contact: (850) 627-7106

Independence Day fireworks in Greensboro ? Saturday, July 3 Just after dark

559 Greensboro Highway, Greensboro Greensboro Kiwanis Club will again be hosting the annual fireworks show in town. Fireworks will begin just after dark, and can be viewed from around the Greensboro Elementary School.

Greenshade-Dogtown Fourth of July Fireworks ? Sunday, July 4 8 p.m. 8583 Salem Road, Quincy The Greenshade-Dogtown Volunteer Fire Department will be putting on a free fireworks display for Independence Day at 5F Farm. This will be a drive-in event.

Fourth of July Celebration in Chattahoochee ? Sunday, July 4 500 River Landing Road, Chattahoochee The City of Chattahoochee will be returning to hosting the annual Fourth of July Celebration at the city's River

Exploring the history of Gadsden County Home Demonstration Clubs ? Saturday, July 10 Shade Tobacco Museum, 204 Northwest 2nd Street, Havana 10:30 a.m. The Havana History & Heritage Society will be celebrating "A Half-Century of Gadsden County's Historic Home Demonstration Clubs", facilitated by Carrie Durden and Donna Warlick. The event will feature old scrapbooks from a Home Demonstration Agent in Gadsden County, a presentation about "The Black Experience in Extension", and a "show and tell" time for attendees to present other memorabilia they may have concerning the Home Demonstration program. The event will also feature a recorded presentation about Florida State University involvement with the Extension Service and Home Demonstration program.

Havana Farmer's Market ? Saturday, July 10 9 a.m. Downtown Havana, across the street from the police station Come check out local vendors, with homemade goods and farm-fresh produce, during the monthly Havana Farmer's Market.

Gadsden County High School student newspaper wins national award

Ebony Houston

Gadsden County News Service

Just like many other students across the nation, the students of Gadsden County High School were faced with the challenges of a shifting reality as they returned to school at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though some students will have the chance to regain a sense of normalcy in the upcoming school year, many have spent their final high school year limited in how they could socialize with their peers and the world.

The true senior experience that most students dream of was altered by what some called "a new normal."

In reflection of this shift in normalcy, the Gadsden County Gazette, also known as the high school's newspaper, would become an open diary of the graduating class of 2021.

"When I started the class, I was a small, quiet sophomore. I was shy, very shy," stated Gadsden County High School student Maria Castellanos in the opening sentences of one of her articles for the gazette.

Castellanos, among

many other peers of

student senior staff

writers, would share

their experiences and

hopes for the future of

the school as wrote and

published the 2020 high

school newspaper...but

all of the student

journalists had way more

in store for the future

than they had expected.

The 2020 graduation

edition of the school's

paper would not only

gain the attention of the

students and families of

Gadsden County, but

also members of the

awards committee of the

American

Press

Association.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GADSDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL - GAZETTE

The student journalism staff at Gadsden County High School were recently recognized for their 2020 school newspaper that documented student life during COVID-19. Pictured from left to right, John Nogowski (Journalism Instructor), Aaliyah McKinnon, Yaquelin Paredes, Marcela Rosa-Quijano, Maria Castellanos, Maria Molina-Tomas, and Araceli Carlos. Not pictured are Katie Lugo and Omeishia McMillon.

"We tried to find

different elements that

we thought would

engage the students,"

said John Nogowski, the

journalism instructor at

the high school, and the

editor for the school's

paper.

Nogowski has been

teaching at Gadsden

County High School for

about five years.

According

to

Nogowski, part of the

inspiration for the

graduation edition of the

student-led paper was

born after he and his

journalists walked down

the school's empty

hallways and observed

the engagement of the

students.

The now awardwinning edition of the student paper features topics that cover more than just student life during COVID-19, but also discusses topics such as healthy levels of phone usage, "Where Are They Now" spotlights on graduated school alumni, and features on the history of dance.

"I am extremely happy with everybody and Mr. "Nogo". I am proud of their hard work, and it was a beautiful edition. I just think that it shows that Gadsden County has a lot to offer," said Maybelline Somoza, an allum staff member and

technical advisor for the

school paper.

Somoza was able to

help create a website for

the school to post their

articles online; this

helped the Gazette reach

a much broader audience

than before.

The paper entered to

win the Scholastic Award

last year and placed in

second place, but the 15-

page graduation edition

helped land the Gadsden

County High School

Gazette in first place for

the American Press

Association award.

The award winning

publication can be found

online

at

gadsdencountygazette.



In Memory of Our Loved Ones

Husband: Evant "Vant" Jenkins - 10/06/1931 - 04/21/2020 Parents: Magnus "Bill" McGill - 06/25/1907 - 01/16/1984

Catherine McGill - 11/05/1911-06/30/2002 Siblings: Otis McGill - 07/03/1936 - 08/08/1978

Mertis McGill Christopher - 08/23/1939 -02/21/1997 Willie Frank McGill - 04/18/1933-05/21/2000

Niece: Gwendolyn Parker-Baker - 02/07/1964-10/28/2017

Gone are the days we use to share, But in our hearts you're always there. Never more than a thought away, Loved and remembered every day.

Forever loved and cherishing your memories, Earnestine McGill Jenkins & Family



Gadsden County Times

Thursday, July 1, 2021, Page 3

The Graduates

Photos By Breanna Rittman

Crossroads Academy

and Gadsden County

High School held their

graduation ceremonies

on June 17-18. The

graduating Jaguars and

Scorpions

were

surrounded by their

supportive families,

friends, peers, and

teachers during the final

"hurrah" of the seniors'

high school experience.

Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners

Construction Maintenance Worker

Position #00107 Facility Maintenance Department

Salary $12.34 - $18.51 Hourly Position Closes: July 1, 2021

To obtain additional information about this position visit our website at . EEO/AA.

Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners

Maintenance Worker I

Positions Number: #0174, #0179, #0420, #0421, #0422 Public Works Department

Salary $10.15 - $14.50 Hourly Advertisement Closes: July 1, 2021

To obtain additional information about this position visit our website at . EEO/AA.

TimesViews

Page 4, Thursday, July 1, 2021

Gadsden County Times

Editorial & Opinion



Ask Judge Smith

Pandemic has created a logjam of cases at courthouses

Judge Layne Smith

Typically, your county courthouse is a happening

place.

It provides office space

for judges, deputies,

clerks, prosecutors,

public defenders, county

commissioners, and

staff. Lawyers, parties,

witnesses, and jurors go

there for hearings and

trials. Reporters visit to

cover breaking news,

and citizens go for

services.

This bee-hive of

activity came to an

abrupt halt when the

pandemic hit.

To prevent courthouses

from

becoming

COVID-19

super-

spreaders, the supreme

court suspended jury

trials, in-person hearings,

and many deadlines.

Since March of 2020,

the judiciary has followed

strict

COVID-19

protocols; judges have

adopted and refined the

use of technology to

move cases without the

risk of infection, we have

worn masks, observed

social distancing, and

disinfected commonly

touched surfaces.

We've been tested,

inoculated,

and

quarantined.

If I had a penny for

each time I've washed

my hands since March of

2020, I'd be rich!

As an upside, I have

not been sick and plan to

keep washing my hands

with the frequency of a

surgeon.

Like most Americans,

judges have largely kept

to their homes and

offices, and few of us

became sick. To date,

none of the roughly

1,000 people who serve

as your state judges have

died from the pandemic.

Judge Layne Smith

Judges have worked

with prosecutors, defense

attorneys, sheriffs, and

the Department of

Corrections to reduce the

inmate population to

prevent

further

outbreaks.

Notwithstanding,

judges have kept as busy

as possible resolving

actions - during this

fiscal year, state trial

courts will dispose of

2,900,000 cases!

The bad news is that

putting safety first has

come with some costs. Statisticians estimate

that by July 1, 2021, the state will have an extra 1,200,000 pending cases.

Why so? It's because holding no jury trials or in-person hearings for over a year has created a log jam. When parties don't know how a jury will decide their case, the uncertainty weighs on them, and they often come to terms. Without the incentive of imminent jury verdicts, the parties have settled fewer cases during the pandemic. When the courts fully reopen for business, we expect to be hit by an avalanche of pent-up demand. My Leon County circuit civil colleagues and I are already responsible for managing around 1,000 lawsuits

each. As our dockets

explode, we will be akin to jugglers with lots of balls in the air.

So, what can we do about it? Be patient!

It took 18 months to create this backlog, and it will likely take twice that long to eliminate it.

It's kind of like going on a diet - we'll have to take it a day and a case at a time.

You have heard it said that justice delayed is justice denied...however, justice is not only about speed, especially when people's health is at risk.

What matters most now is fairness and getting things right on the merits - as soon as possible.

You can expect your trial judges to roll up their sleeves and schedule a lot of trials.

Heavy trial dockets

will result in scheduling conflicts, but everyone must push through to make it work.

The parties in civil lawsuits must either dismiss, settle, or try their cases. Likewise, prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys must either dismiss, plea out, or try their cases.

Spoiler alert for everyone concerned: the supreme court has directed trial judges to move their cases and to discourage delays. We will grant fewer continuances.

So, let's get to work, and please don't shoot the messenger.

The Honorable J. Layne Smith is a Circuit

Judge, author, and public speaker.

Send your questions to askjudgesmith@gmail.

com

The Gadsden County Times

112 E. Washington St. Quincy FL 32351-2415

AND CONTINUING THE CHATTAHOOCHEE TRIBUNE

(USPS 212?720) ? ESTABLISHED 1901

Publisher Mark Pettus mark.pettus@

Managing Editor Ashley Hunter

editor@

Advertising LaFoya House lafoya.house@

Legals legals@

Telephone: (850) 627-7649 Fax: (850) 627-7191

Web: Mailing address:

112 E. Washington St., Quincy FL 32351-2415

Published weekly every Thursday by Gadsden County News Corp.

Periodical Postage paid at Quincy FL 32351 Copyright 2021 by the Gadsden County Times. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.

Single copy 75 cents each. Subscription rates:

Yearly

In County

$37.99

In State

$52.99

Out of State

$62.99

Online Only

$37.99

Advertising rates available upon request.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Gadsden County Times, 112 E. Washington St., Quincy FL 32351-2415.

From the Editor's Desk

Growing Up an American Kid

Ashley Hunter

Editor

To me, Independence Day is the launch of summer.

I know summer

`officially' only kicked

off a week or two ago,

but living in the south

means that summer

temperatures

have

already been in full

swing for several

months.

Additionally, when I

was growing up,

Independence Day week

and weekend was usually

spent camping at a lake

with my gaggle of

cousins, aunts, uncles,

and great-aunts/uncles.

These days, camping

in July - in Florida -

seems like a heat stroke

waiting to happen, but

it's funny how you don't

recognize things like

insane summer heat,

sunburns, and constant

mosquito bites when you are a kid.

My family would go out to the lake with a tent (no RV for us) and stay lakeside for several days while us cousins spent practically every waking moment in the water, on a jet ski, or sitting in a dock, legs dangling and eating fried fish and watermelon.

When July 4 would arrive, we would pack up and go to a nearby family-owned lodge and eat a massive Thanksgiving-capacity lunch while surrounded by multiple generations of family for our annual family reunion.

As kids, you didn't know how the older family members were related to you, but it was fun to sit on the couch and watch the older ladies argue over fish frying and cornbread

cooking in the tiny little camp kitchen - or watch the older men lean on their canes and discuss fishing, hunting, and the temperature of the barbeque grill they were casually watching.

After lunch was cleared up and everyone had started coming back out of the food-coma we had subjected ourselves to through a generous helping of squash casserole, barbeque, coleslaw, pie, and fry bread, we would head back to the lake and watch fireworks being shot into the sky (possibly illegally...) by lakeside residents.

It didn't matter that the first day of summer happened back in June, to me the reunion and lakeside camping was the official start of summertime.

The family still gathers

for an annual family

reunion - but it is no

longer held at the tiny,

ramshackle hunting

lodge where we once

gathered; and the family

still goes camping in the

week leading up to the

reunion, but the group

has narrowed as the

cousins are growing up

and moving on with our

lives.

It doesn't matter how

my family shifts in

celebrating our reunion -

this holiday is almost as

sentimental as Christmas

and Thanksgiving.

So, to all our readers -

have a wonderful

Independence Day and I

hope it is filled with as

many memories and

sentiments to me as we

can be afforded.

I hope your Fourth of

July is filled with the

four F's of the holiday:

Fireworks,

Family,

Friends, and Freedom.

Veterans Village

The older veterans stood in a semi-circle in the rear parking lot of the coffee shop, watching the activity and drinking coffee. What they were watching was the creation of the first two tiny homes that would eventually launch the

Veterans Village. Sarge had found

construction drawings in the trash done by one of his homeless dormitory veterans, David, who had finally confessed that, yes, he used to be the owner of a construction company.

"But that was before,"

David said. Before his

life took a nosedive.

Before he'd ended up

homeless.

"And this is now," said

Sarge, spreading out the

drawings.

After many discussions,

after conferences with

Sarge's attorney and

banker, after breaking

through David's fear-

induced

resistance,

papers were signed. The

plan was to sell several

homes and generate

enough cash to buy a

small piece of land. On

that spot Veterans Village

would rise, tiny homes

for homeless veterans, all

built by David. The

construction site in the

back parking lot was a busy place during the day, with experienced veteran carpenters doing the work.

The minute the roofs were shingled, a local man stepped up and asked how much the tiny houses were going to sell for. Sarge eased into the periphery of the conversation, staying silent but also staying nearby in case David faltered.

But he didn't. Instead, David smiled, confident and in charge, and said, "Now that's going to depend on the finishes you'd want, sir. If you step over here, I can show you the flooring choices, the exterior cladding, the appliances you can choose from ..." One of the elderly veterans waved Sarge over and whispered a question: "Does he know yet?" Sarge shook his head. No, David didn't know that the elderly veterans and their families had banded together, hunted for land and opened their wallets. David was closer to creating the Veterans Village than he ever imagined.



C

Gadsden County times

N

thursday, July 1, 2021, Page 5

THE DIRT ROAD WONDER

When Bubba Jilted Me

Yes girls, it can happen to you...he will promise to marry you and then he marches off to war.

When he comes home, he gets engaged to someone else and leaves you with a broken heart; what can I say, it happens.

Bubba worked at our store with Daddy, and it was his job to man the gas pumps.

If a customer could afford to fill up his car, he would have his windshield cleaned and his tires checked. Gas at that time cost $.25 cents a gallon, and the usual sale was four gallons for a dollar, but $.50 cents was the most some people could afford.

It was not unusual for drivers to try and save gas by letting their cars

roll downhill when the hill was steep.

Holman's Place sold sandwiches then and he would also help Mama in the kitchen; there weren't many

odd jobs for young men during the depression, so he always felt lucky to have that one.

Bubba worked for Daddy until he was drafted into the army.

All of us were sad at his leaving, me most of all, because he promised to marry me when he got back home.

Despite my infatuation, Grannie always said she had a dark feeling about him leaving, but she didn't know why.

We would later understand that dark feeling when we learned what happened to him.

Gwynn Peacock Kidd

In the meantime, I guess I should have written to him, but I had not learned my ABC's...I was only four

years old, you see, and I took his promise to marry me very seriously.

Our Bubba was taken prisoner by the Japanese on Bataan and ended up in the Bataan Death March; all during the war we didn't know whether he was alive or

dead.

There were a lot of

prayers said for the

protection of that boy

and the whole

neighborhood wondered

if they would ever see

him again.

Bubba was used in the

Japanese Christmas

broadcast; he could only

give his name, rank and

serial number.

A HAM radio operator

picked up the broadcast

on the west coast, and

made

three

transcriptions.

That radio operator

sent one of those

transcripts to Bubba's

family, and one to the

Havana

Police

Department...which is

how we learned he was

still alive.

Bubba was one of the

lucky soldiers and got to

come home - when he

got back home, there was a parade for him and he was given a hero's welcome.

The whole community turned out to welcome him home.

I remember at that time he was as thin as a rail, but still handsome.

He came by the store one day and told Mama and me that there was someone out in his car that he wanted us to meet.

We walked out to the car, and he introduced us to the girl he was going to marry.

She told me later that I wouldn't even look at her...by that time, I was nine years old, and I took everything to heart and as far as I was concerned, I had just been jilted.

PUMP REPAIR

His wife ended up becoming my best friend, as well as my Sunday School teacher, and she later taught me in school for a little while.

I loved `Miss' Jessie like a second mother; I still think about her and miss her.

One of the greatest emotional blows to me was when Miss Jessie's daughter called me to tell me that her mother had died.

With all this talk of war and death let me leave you with a pun to cheer you up... She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

`Till next time keep on the sunny side.

Gwynn0720@

TRENCHING

000WE2W

todAY CAN Be diFFereNt

Create in America a clean heart, O God

If we can't agree on anything else, we can at least agree that America is struggling.

Perhaps considering John Adams' words could help get the United States of America back on track.

An article titled "4th of July Article" on says: "John Adams believed that the Fourth of July should become a religious holiday ? a day when we...committed ourselves...in `solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.' Such was the spirit of the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of those who led it..."

What would happen if, every Fourth of July, we as a nation recommitted ourselves to Almighty God?

We could begin by acknowledging ? and repenting ? of our rebellious ways by praying a prayer resembling Psalm 51:

"Have mercy on America, O God, according to Your steadfast love;

according to Your abundant mercy, blot out our transgressions. Cleanse us from our sin. For we know our transgressions, and our

sin is ever before us. Against You, You only have we sinned and done what is evil in

Your sight.

Create in America a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Cast us not away from Your

presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from us.

Restore to America the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us

with a willing spirit. Then we will teach other nations Your ways so that they, too, may

repent and return to You. Amen."

Even if only ten percent of Americans do this, it could transform America. But let's ask God for a multitude of intercessors who will pray fervently for every political leader from the White House to our local districts, including our pastors.

Let's also ask Him for intercessors who will pray for everyone living within our borders.

Will you be one of these intercessors? Will you intercede for America ? not only on July 4, but all year long?

If so, ask God to help us desire His wisdom and develop a reverence for Him ? and give us discernment to understand the price we'll suffer if we don't.

Pray we'll realize the enormity of the consequences of every vote and

Sheryl Boldt

every issue. And pray that God will fulfill His purposes for our country in such a way that other nations will want to emulate America.

We, individually and corporately, can't afford to minimize our sin ? or underestimate God's judgment; rather, let us fall on our knees in repentance and ask our heavenly Father to transform America by creating in us a clean heart.

Show us our hearts, O God. And then show us Yours.

Sheryl H. Boldt is the author of the blog

Connect with her at SherylHBoldt@

5355 TOWER ROAD

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32303

(850) 562-2906

IRRIGATION

WATER TEST & FILTRATION

Ruth Blount

Realtor ?

(850) 545-0651

blount67@

Exceptional Service ? Outstanding Results

000WSLP

W&L Tire & Wheel Co.

ALIGNMENT & BRAKE SERVICE 24 HOUR ROAD SERVICE

New, Used, Recapped Tires Heavy Duty Trucks Tires ? Industrial Tires Farm Tires ? Lawnmower Tires ? Custom Wheels

John Ledbetter, Manager 820 W. Jefferson St. ? Quincy, FL 32351

(850) 627-8830

000WFO7

Erin Hill Photography

Capturing moments to last a lifetime

O

D N

(850) 759-9275 erinhillphotog@

James Owen Rudd

James Owen "Jim"

Rudd,

82,

of

Chattahoochee, Florida,

passed away on June 22,

2021 in Tallahassee, FL.

He was born February 23,

1939 in Tallahassee, FL.

Jim was preceded in

death by his children,

Dianne Faith Rudd

Leynes and Shane Owen

Rudd; his father, Samuel

Oscar Rudd, Sr.; his

mother, Media Rudd

Taylor; his brothers,

Samuel Oscar Rudd, Jr.,

John Allison Rudd, and

Hurley W. Rudd; and one

sister, Ida Jeanette Rudd.

Jim spent his entire

working career with the

Florida Highway Patrol,

serving in Taylor, Dade,

Brevard and Gadsden

Counties. He retired as a

Sergeant in 1987.

Jim is survived by two

grandchildren, Robert L.

Leynes, III (wife Savanna)

and Courtney B. Leynes;

and

two

great

grandchildren, Oliver

Owen Leynes and Chloe

Elaine Leynes, all of

Crawfordville, Florida. He

is also survived by several

nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the

family requests donations

be made to the Cystic

Fibrosis Foundation,

6931 Arlington Road,

2nd floor, Bethesda,

Maryland 20814.

Graveside services will

be held at 10:00 AM on

Friday, June 25th at

Antioch Cemetery, 284

McCall Bridge Rd.,

Quincy, FL. Lifesong

( or

850/627-1111)

is

assisting the family with

arrangements.

Mr. Terry McClellan

Mr. Terry McClellan,

64 years of age, of

Quincy, FL, departed

this life on Monday,

June 21, 2021 in

Tallahassee, FL. He

leaves to cherish his

precious memories:

three sons, Carlos

McClellan (Tonya),

Orlando, FL, Lorenzo

McClellan,

Sr

(Marissa),

Eddie

McClellan, both of

Quincy, FL, one

stepson, Julius Taylor,

Quincy, FL, one

stepdaughter, Yolanda

Carter, Tallahassee, FL,

two brothers, Ricky

McClellan

(Gail),

Chattahoochee, FL,

Howard Matthews

(Gloria Jean), Quincy,

FL. one sister, Ladonna

Reed

(Lenzy),

Chattahoochee, FL and

21 grands. Visitation is

2pm - 7 pm, Friday, July

2, 2021 at the Mortuary.

Service will be 2:00 pm,

Saturday, July 3, 2021

at Friendship P.B.

Church, Quincy, FL.

Williams Funeral Home

of Quincy, Florida will

be providing the service

for the McClellan

family.

Vivian Carlisle

Vivian Carlisle, 59, of Quincy, Florida, passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at her residence.

NOTARY LaFoya House

MOBILE NOTARY SERVING LEON, GADSDEN AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

850-743-7653

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download