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

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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.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS!

Have You Developed An Illness Due to Cigarette Smoking?

You may be entitled to substantial compensation.

NO Legal fees or costs unless we recover

money for you.

Call us Now at (888)960-2055 for a free consultation.

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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

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PAGE 4, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

TIMESVIEWS GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

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"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.

The Gadsden County Times

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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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