Thursday, July 23, 2020 Vol. 119, No. 30 u One Section 50 ...

[Pages:16]WWW.

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020, PAGE 1

Remembering John Lewis, 16

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Vol. 119, No. 30 u One Section

50 cents

4 charged in connection with murder

Court records indicate November 2019 shooting was connected to drugs

VORNELL DAVIS

DAMION GAYMON

By SCOTT J. BRYAN

The Gadsden County Times

shooting of a 57-year-old man. old Jakeem Vondell Kelly and According to Quincy police 26-year-old Vornell Davis have

news releases and court re- been charged with murder and

The Quincy Police Depart- cords, 22-year-old Damion attempted murder.

ment has charged four men Alexander Gaymon, 22-year-

in the November 2019 deadly old Tyrell A. Jackson, 20-year-

See MURDER/Page 15

TYRELL JACKSON

JAKEEM KELLY

BLACK LIVES MATTER TO US MARCH

Chief: `The cavalry is

GADSDEN COUNTY

County leaders

not coming to the hood'

implement

civil ines

Law enforcement empowered to ticket people not wearing masks or facial coverings

Photos by SCOTT J. BRYAN/The Gadsden County Times

About 30 people march up South Stewart Street en route to Ward's Lot during a Black Lives Matter to Us march to call attention to Black-on-Black crime in Quincy.

Pastors organize solemn march to call attention to Black-on-Black crime in Quincy

By SCOTT J. BRYAN

The Gadsden County Times

A mid a slew of shootings and killings in Quincy, two pastors recently organized a Black Lives Matter to Us march Saturday ? a solemn walk to call attention to increasing violence in Gadsden County's largest city.

Eddie McMillian Jr. and Clarence Jackson organized the march, which

See MARCH/Page 7

Clarence Jackson, left, and Eddie McMillian Jr. organized the Black Lives Matter to Us march, where about 30 attendees walked from Carter-Parramore Academy to Ward's Lot behind Quincy City Hall.

By SCOTT J. BRYAN

The Gadsden County Times

Gadsden County residents

and visitors not wearing a

mask or facial covering while

out in public could receive civil

?nes after the Gadsden County

Board of Com-

missioners voted

to institute strict-

er enforcement

mechanisms in

an effort to stave

off growing CO-

VID-19 numbers.

On Friday, com-

missioners voted BRENDA

4-1 to implement HOLT

civil ?nes for

those not wearing

a mask or facial

covering in pub-

lic. Commission-

er Gene Morgan,

long an opponent

of a mask man-

date, was the lone

opposing vote. Commissioners

also voted to re-

SHERRIE TAYLOR

duce gatherings to 10 or few-

er people. Prior to Friday, the

commissioner's emergency or-

dinance allowed gatherings of

up to 50 people.

See FINES/Page 10

QUINCY

EDUCATION

Commissioners give inal OK to eliminating opt-out for pension

Robert F. Munroe Day School breaks ground on new campus

By SCOTT J. BRYAN regularly scheduled The Gadsden County Times July 14 meeting.

Commissioners voted

Quincy commission- 3-1 to pass an ordinance

ers approved ending that no longer allowed an opt-out option for a city police of?cers and state pension plan for ?re?ghters to opt-out of city police of?cers and ?re?ghters during their See PENSION/Page 10

SCOTT J. BRYAN/The Gadsden County Times

Robert F. Munroe Day School headmaster Adam Gaey talks about the new campus the school is constructing on U.S. 90 in Havana.

By SCOTT J. BRYAN

The Gadsden County Times

HAVANA -- Robert F. Munroe Day School hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for its new campus on U.S. 90.

The facility will replace the aging structures at 91 Mt. Pleasant Road in Quincy.

The new 39-acre campus will eventually include classrooms, an

See CAMPUS/Page 10

THANKYOU

Thank you, Lillian Byrd, for subscribing to The Gadsden County Times

MUSTREAD

Candidate statements: A slew of aspiring oce-holders submitted their statements of candidacy. Pages 5-7

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PAGE 2, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

GRACE NOTES

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

OBITUARIES

WWW.

he gospel according to Koko the gorilla

A uthor Anne Lamott tells the story of being on a book tour in San Diego and being "ner-

He's never off eating a bologna sandwich when a pandemic or social unrest strikes. He's never not in con-

vous and cranky."

trol when a nation or a community or

Then she saw a picture of Koko

a family or an individual falls apart.

the gorilla who lived at the San Diego Another thing I tell myself when

Zoo at that time. Over the picture

I'm anxious and yelling at God to "Do

it said, "Mantra for the American

something!" is: "God is doing some-

Jungle: Remain calm and share your thing. If I can't see it, it's because

bananas."

he's not done doing it."

Lamott said she wrote "RCSB" in

I think a lot of us are waiting for

ink on her ?nger and every time she God to do something, to step in and

felt nervous and cranky she

?x this unrest that we're in.

would look at her temporary

Maybe he will, or maybe

tattoo and it helped put things

he will let the unrest around

into perspective.

us continue so it forces us to

She said it reminded her of

come to him for rest that our

Mother Teresa talking about

souls desperately need.

America's "terrible spiritual

Maybe this is a reminder to

poverty" and how, in India, if

his people that this world is

someone in the gutter ?nds a

only a temporary home and

banana, he will break it into

NANCY that a far better, eternal home

pieces and share it with oth- KENNEDY waits for us.

ers.

Knowing that makes it easier

But in America, Mother Teresa

for me to remain calm.

said, we "stockpile our bananas and

As for sharing bananas, Lamott

stuff them into our mouths as fast

says the devil wants us to remain

as we can and come up with ways to nervous and cranky, stockpiling

make them ripen faster so we have and holding our bananas tight until

more, more, more."

they're mushy and rotten, but that

Oh, how we need to RCSB.

God knows we are happiest when we

Here's my thought: I won't willingly give, whether it's sharing our stuff

share my bananas unless I am calm or sharing ourselves with each other,

?rst.

giving away kindness in a world

Rest and stillness come before do- that's unkind, being merciful and

ing. Prayer comes before work. Calm gracious to those who are not.

comes before action.

The truth is, we can't give what we

The psalmist reminds us: "Be still don't have and we won't give until

and know that I am God" (Psalm

we see how much we've already been

46:10).

given: that God gave us his own Son

Stillness comes from knowing in

to be a sacri?ce for our sins, a ran-

every ?ber of my being that I am

som for our freedom, peace and hope

loved by a God who (1.) doesn't base and strength for this crazy life.

his love for me on anything but his

Rest in that, dear friends ? and

grace and mercy, (2.) who only has bake some banana bread.

my best interest at heart and (3.)

never says, "Oops."

That's one of my favorite ways of

Nancy Kennedy is the author of

calming myself when I start getting "Move Over, Victoria -- I Know the

nervous and cranky. I remind myself Real Secret," "Girl on a Swing" and

that God never says, "Oops." He

"Lipstick Grace." She can be reached

never slaps his forehead and says,

at 352-564-2927 or via email at nken-

"How did that happen?"

nedy@.

Gadsden Arts Center opens three new exhibitions in July

Special to The Times

The Gadsden Arts Center & Museum is hosting the 32nd Art in Gadsden: Regional Exhibition of Fine Art.

This annual tradition of Gadsden Arts showcases 92 works of art by 69 artists living and working within 200 miles of Quincy, selected from hundreds of entries, and featuring the mediums of watercolor, embroidery, acrylic, oil, photography, clay, encaustic, wood, metal, glass and serigraph.

The juror for the 32nd Art in Gadsden is Katie Deits, executive director of Florida CraftArt, a statewide organization is St. Petersburg that supports Florida's artists and craftspeople. Deits will select the award winners, which will be announced live on Facebook at 6 p.m. July 30.

Thirty-two years ago, Art in Gadsden was created to foster the careers of local artists, bring ?ne art to families in Gadsden County, and

April Fitzpatrick, Lamp to My Feet, Light to My Path, 2020, acrylic, found object on canvas

draw the community together. From 1989 to 2004, Art in Gadsden was displayed in empty storefronts in Quincy, organized and installed by an all-volunteer team. Today, this exhibition draws visitors and patrons from across the region, an exciting celebration of creative production from across the Big Bend Region of North Florida.

Art in Gadsden will be open to the public for viewing by reservation from July 31 through Sept. 5. Anyone can make a reservation by visiting . The exhibition will also available online

through a full-length video, with additional online programming offered throughout the run of show, including an Art Talks Live! zoom conversation with the award winning artists. For more information visit gadsdenarts. org.

Gadsden Arts visitors will also experience Doell West's hand painted furniture in the Munroe Family Community Gallery, and the third Gadsden Arts Artists Guild exhibition in the Bates Community Room. West's repainted pieces of furniture and housewares are intricately patterned, colorful and eclectic, giving them a new life. West works on reclaimed and neglected items to lead the viewer to rethink the value of discarded objects and instead see their potential beauty and utility. The guild exhibition features 44 works of art by the almost 60-member Guild, with a new artist, Thomas Friedman, exhibiting with us for the ?rst time.

Nancy Flournoy

Nancy Emily Clark

Flournoy, of Quincy,

died at Pruitt Health

Care Center in Talla-

hassee on Thursday,

July 17, 2020, after re-

cently being diagnosed

with COVID-19.

She was born at her

maternal grandpar-

ents' home on Sun-

day Lane in Old Mt.

Pleasant, Gadsden

County, on March 19,

1944, to Reuben By-

ron and Emma Lily

"Emily" Sunday Clark.

Emily was 6 months

pregnant when Byron

left for overseas duty

in December 1943.

Nancy was 15 months

old when her daddy

returned home from

World War II service

in Italy with the U.S.

Army Air Corps. It

was quite an adjust-

ment for the little girl

to have this handsome

young man appear

in her life. Only then

was their little family

was complete. Nancy

lived on the Clark farm

in Hardaway until

her marriage and she

moved to Lake Talquin.

She

attended

Greensboro Elemen-

tary School her ?rst

four years and gradu-

ated from Quincy High

School and Massey

Business School in

Jacksonville. Nancy

retired from the Flori-

da Department of Agri-

culture's Seed Labora-

tory following 33 years

of service as the Bu-

reau Chief's secretary.

She was the loving and

devoted wife of Robert

Clyde "Bobby" Flourn-

oy, whom she married

on April 11, 1965.

Nancy was a loving

daughter, sister, wife

and aunt. She was

known for her smile

and compassion for

others. As a sixth gen-

eration Clark in Gadsden County, she had too many Clark cousins to even begin to know them all. Nancy grew up a member of the Greensboro Baptist Church and during the past years attended St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Quincy. She was a member of the West Gadsden Historical Society and enjoyed attending functions where she was able to see friends from years ago.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; husband; fatherin-law and mother-inlaw, Milton Clyde and Anna Lao Flournoy; grandparents, Reuben Sevier and Ellen Poythress Clark and Thomas Edwin and Lilla Loyless Sunday; and brother-in-law Edward Hollis "Eddie" Craig.

She is survived by her sisters, Linda Smith (James) of Dogtown and Judith Anne "Judy" Craig of Macon, Ga.; brother-in-law, Steve Flournoy (Annette); and sisters-inlaw, Janice Maxwell (Walter) of Quincy and Adelaide Lockett of Jacksonville. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, including a special great nephew, Hollis Edward Craig of Perry, Ga., as well as special devoted lifelong friends, Ann Clark Bryant, Jo-Nell Bartlett Culverson and Patsy Lamb Pitts.

For the past two years Nancy resided at Magnolia House Assisted Living in Quincy. There she made many new friends and enjoyed every day of living there. The family would like to thank

Executive Director Amanda Watson and all the staff for the care and comfort given to Nancy.

In consideration of the current pandemic, a private graveside service and interment was held Saturday, July 18, 2020, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Quincy. No memorial service is being held at the present time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the West Gadsden Historical Society, P.O. Box 94, Greensboro, Florida 32330, or your favorite charity.

Charles McClellan Funeral Home of Quincy, (850) 627-7677, is in charge of arrangements.

Anthony House Sr.

Anthony Lamount

House Sr. transitioned

from labor to reward

on July 18, 2020, in

Tallahassee surround-

ed by his loving family.

Graveside services

will be 1 p.m. July 25,

2020, at St. James

Primitive

Baptist

Church cemetery in

the Scotland commu-

nity.

He is survived by his

loving wife Alberta L.

House of Havana; his

sons Kendrick Maynor

Sr. of Havana, An-

thony House Jr. of St.

Petersburg and Gabri-

el James of Sawdust;

his beautiful daugh-

ters, Stranisser Dixon

of Havana, Pamela

Colston of Atlanta and

Clara Collins of Chat-

tahoochee; and a host

of nieces, nephews and

sorrowing family and

friends.

Evans

Funeral

Home, 110 S. Ninth St.

in Quincy, is in charge

of funeral all arrange-

ments.

REGINALD JAMES

FOR GADSDEN COUNTY

SUPERINTENDENT of SCHOOLS

Minnie L. White

October 10, 1939 ? July 21, 2019

In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Mother

Mama, the day you let and gained your wings our hearts just broke in two, although you let us a lifetime of great memories to begin adjusting without you.

Remembering you is easy no matter how many days have passed, when we smile it's because we know you are free and have sweet resting peace at last.

he precious memories of you will never fade away, we will forever cherish your smile and laughter every day.

We thank you for loving us and sacriicing in countless ways that you saw the need, having you for our dear sweet mother was truly an honor indeed.

"Dear Sweet Minnie ... For Ever In Our Hearts" Love your children; Juan, Lynn Jr, Marsha Michelle, Danny, Tony & Grandchildren

Gadsden County School District's Graduation rate currently ranks last in the state. In times like these, we need proven leadership for our children.

Under Reginald James' leadership:

tF%JTUSJDUTHSBEVBUJPOSBUFJNQSPWFENPSFUIBO25 QFSDFOUBHFQPJOUTUPUIFIJHIFTUSBUFJO(BETEFOTIJTUPSZ

t"SFDPSE5"SBUFETDIPPMTQSPEVDFEJOBTJOHMFTDIPPMZFBS

t"OPWFSBMMSFDPSEPG 33"SBUFETDIPPMTQSPEVDFEEVSJOHIJT UFOVSF 1SJPSUPIJTZFBSTBTTVQFSJOUFOEFOU UIF%JTUSJDUIBE QSPEVDFEPOMZ2"SBUFETDIPPMTJOJUTIJTUPSZ

PROVEN LEADERSHIP FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

Political Advertisment Paid for by Reginald James, Democrat, for Gadsden County Superintendent of Schools

WWW.

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020, PAGE 3

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.

GADSDEN COUNTY BOARD OF

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Bid # 20-15

Bid # 20-15 Request for Proposals for Annual Disaster Debris

Removal, Reduction and Disposal Services Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners is Management Services Department ATTN: Sandra Ford 5-B E. Jefferson Street Room 204 Quincy, Florida 32351

 proposal or to procure or contract for any articles of goods or The County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or in the provision of goods and services.

GADSDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

NOTICE TO RECEIVE SEALED BIDS

The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners will

where needed

bidder

Florida

GADSDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

NOTICE TO RECEIVE SEALED BIDS

The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners will

Scotland and Dover Road Safety Improvements

needed

GADSDEN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

The Gadsden County School Board is seeking Construction Managers to pre qualify for bidding future Capital Improvement Projects

The School Board of Gadsden County in Quincy Florida invites a sealed envelope with the intent of Pre qualifying Contractors for future Capital Improvement projects considered

1. A clear understanding of requested services 2. A minimum of 5 years in business in good standing with

DBPR and BBB 3. Possess experience in K-12 educational facilities construction 4. Adequately staffed to meet District needs 6. Financially stable 7. Properly licensed 8. Bondable

An RFP proposal package may be picked up at the Administration Building located at Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Quincy FL or an electronic copy by e mailing lawsona gcpsmail com Additional requirements and mandatory forms are contained in it Participants must thoroughly familiarize themselves with all instructions in the proposal package to be responsive There will be no mandatory pre submission conference or site visit for this RFP

Proposals shall be delivered to the Gadsden County School s

Administration Building by

pm on

Proposal will

Building located at Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Quincy FL

Recommendation will be made to the Board providing the proposals

have been submitted in accordance with the requirements of this

RFP document

Please direct all questions by e mail to Andrea Lawson E mail lawsona gcpsmail com

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations

at the pre-bid conference and/or bid/proposal opening shall

working days prior to the event. If you are hearing or speech

July

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TIMESVIEWS PAGE 4, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

GADSPaDgeE4N| THCURSO DAYU, JNULYT2Y3 TIMES

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

OUR VOICE

Listen up:

Stopping violence

starts at home

"The newspaper built on commWuWWn.iGtAyDCpOTrIMidESe.C.O"M

Publisher | Gerry Mulligan General Manager | William Snowden

Editor | Scott J. Bryan

Member of the Florida Press Association

A s Quincy and Gadsden County manages an increasing number of COVID-19 positive residents, we must also concern ourselves with a spate of violence that has besieged our community.

On Saturday, a couple of local pastors organized a Black Lives Matter to Us march, an effort to call attention to shootings in Quincy that have left young people dead.

We don't presume to know how to eradicate these senseless acts of violence. There is no single policy measure that will stop people from shooting one another. Criminals are going to participate in criminal activity.

What we do hope is parents and guardians will speak to their children and explain to them the value of life. All life. Every life.

We hope Saturday's march called attention to the plight facing our community, but more importantly, we hope the people who live in this community take action within their own homes to ensure the senseless violence ends.

OPINIONS INVITED

n The opinions expressed in Gadsden County Times editorials are the opinions of the newspaper. n Viewpoints depicted in political cartoons, columns 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 letters 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 letters per month.

GUEST COLUMN

Pursuit of justice marches on

By LARRY KEEFE

Special to The Times

Our entire country is properly focused on slowing and stopping the deadly spread of the COVID-19 pandemic -- as normal lives and activities of our citizens and institutions have been profoundly impacted. Still, it is vitally important for the work of our justice system to continue, as safely as possible.

Finding the appropriate balance between the active pursuit of justice and protecting public health, the United States Attorney's Of?ce for the Northern District of Florida this month successfully conducted the ?rst federal or state in-person criminal jury trial in Florida since COVID-19 restrictions began in March. We were careful to proceed to trial with a jury present in a criminal case ? as one of only a handful of federal courts around the nation and the ?rst and only one in Florida.

The successful trial re?ects the Northern District's determination to carefully balance moving the federal justice system forward with its essential functions even as we place a premium on protecting public health. Similarly, two months ago we announced that federal grand juries had quietly resumed activity in the Northern District, which encompasses 23 counties stretching from Pensacola down to Gainesville.

We want the public to have trust and con?dence that their justice system has not been sidelined by

COVID-19. The wheels of the federal justice system will continue to turn as surely and safely as possible, while ensuring the wellbeing of everyone in the process ? from judges and jurors to lawyers and defendants.

Conducting the grand jury proceedings and the in-person criminal jury trial were signi?cant achievements, given limitations imposed by COVID-19. When the July 6 jury trial date was set, all potentially affected parties came together to ensure that appropriate steps were in place to protect the health and safety of jurors, court personnel, witnesses, attorneys, and the defendant. The federal judiciary, Clerk of Court, United States Marshals Service, court security of?cers, and the U.S. Attorney's Of?ce closely followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines while planning how to safely select and seat the jury and determining the safest way to conduct the trial itself.

The presiding judge met with the attorneys for the prosecution and defense so that all concerns were addressed before the trial began. The success of carrying out the ?rst full criminal jury trial in this challenging time underscored our con?dence in our system's competence to proceed with cases of all types going forward.

We salute the work of all in that case, particularly the jurors whose willingness to safely perform their civic duties in the midst of the pandemic made them heroes.

They appreciated the responsibility they accepted and served despite the unprecedented health crisis affecting all our communities.

While we're committed to maintaining regular operations as much as possible, safety comes ?rst. Just a week after the Pensacola jury reached its verdict, Chief United States District Judge Mark E. Walker temporarily closed both Pensacola federal courthouses to the public in order to protect public safety. We fully support that decision ? because we share the priority of protecting public health and safety. We look forward to the re-opening of the Pensacola courthouses, and the resumption of grand jury proceedings and criminal jury trials in them.

We want people to know that we intend to continue to pursue timely justice and protect the public safety and interest, as much as possible.

The United States Attorney's Of?ce for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 of?ces that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Of?ce in the Northern District of Florida, visit http:// usao/?n/index. html.

Larry Keefe is the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Teachers hold the reins with COVID-19

In spite of everyone wanting to return kids to classrooms for multiple very good reasons, no thinking person would do that during an exponentially exploding pandemic. Yet, Donald Trump's disciple, Gov. Ron DeSantis, has ordered just that as he joins his idol in defying the reality of science and in doing things he believes will help his long-term political goals, like twisting

the meaning of the American Academy of Pediatrics statement to make it sound like we must save our kids by opening schools regardless of the exponential spread of Uncle Covid. That was not the Academy's message.

Likewise, no thinking person would yet believe that kids cannot spread this virus at least as well as adults, or that bathing them in viral clouds in buses, bathrooms, and classrooms would not infect them at a rate linked

to crowding, or that thus infected kids would not take the disease straight home to their parents and grandparents, compliment of our esteemed governor.

DeSantis was absolutely correct when he recently advised, "Stay away from crowds." To turn around and order schools to open speaks of his inability to process thought and provide policy in a way that lessens the spread of Covid-19 rather than increases it, and

speaks to his willingness to sacri?ce Floridians' very lives in the interest of preserving his nefarious kinship with Trump and chance of being re-elected or elected at some national level in 2024. We must stop this dangerous nonsense.

There is only one thing that can be done to stop this insanity. Teachers are smart people. You can't command a classroom without having a lot of intelligence, courage and ability. Now is the time

for courage as our teachers must take the helm and join together in saying:

Actually, Mr. DeSantis, we hold the reins here, and the schools are not going to open until it is safe, because we will not be part of putting kids and their families and the people of Florida at greater risk by exposing them unnecessarily to this deadly disease. To do so would be unconscionable.

Rick Soskis

Havana

THE DIRT ROAD WONDER

My Grannie ran a boarding house

M y grandfather died when I was 2 years old, and my Gran-

who boarded with Grannie were telephone operators. It seemed that it was an

nie moved from Alabama

easy walk to the telephone

to Tallahassee with her

of?ce from Grannie's house.

youngest daughter

Grannie would wait

and opened a board-

up for the girls that

ing house. It was on

got off at midnight to

Monroe Street, and as

make sure they were

well as I can remem-

safe.

ber, it was close to the

Mama always said

property where the

that Grannie ran a

Radisson Hotel was

tight ship. There was

built.

a curfew, and since

Running a board-

GWYNN this was during the

ing house was one of PEACOCK war, she had to make

the few ways a widow

KIDD sure there were no

could make a living

soldiers lollygagging

back during the depression. around the living room. On

Before World War II, it was the weekends, Tallahassee

not proper for young girls to would be full of soldiers from

live alone in an apartment Dale Mabry Field looking for

so they would board with

a place to hang out, espe-

someone. Most of the girls cially where there were girls.

I had snow white hair, and it seemed to fascinate those girls. They always wanted to brush my hair or braid it or ?x it some other fancy way. They treated me like I was some sort of doll baby instead of a 3-year-old child.

One day one of them pinned a little ornate pin on my dress for me to keep. I have kept that pin all these years. That would have been 81 years ago so that is a long time to keep up with a piece of jewelry. The girls were always singing and would try to get me to sing with them. All my life I have not been able to carry a tune in a bucket, so I didn't add much to their singing.

One thing I remember about being at Grannie's

house was playing out on the sidewalk and stopping what I was doing just to look up and see the airplanes. Grannie had a tricycle for me, and Mama said I would get off my tricycle just to look up at the planes. Dale Mabry Field was in Tallahassee, and they ?ew training missions, so the sky was always full of planes. In Havana where I lived, we did not even have crop dusters yet, so airplanes were a real interest for me.

My biggest treat when I visited my Grannie was when we would walk down to McCrory's Five and Ten Cent Store. We would go to the soda fountain ?rst and get some ice cream. Then, we would walk all

over that store and look at all the pretty things. She would buy me some small treat like a little rubber (no plastic then) baby doll or a paper doll book. That was my favorite store. We didn't have anything like that in Havana.

Grannie has passed and the boarding house has been town down, but that part of town still holds a lot of memories for me. As Thomas Wolfe said, "You can't go home again," and that is so true.

'Til next time. Keep on the sunny side.

Gwynn Peacock Kidd can be reached at Gwynn0720@ .

WWW.

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020, PAGE 5

Amanda P. Wall is running for Lance Watson is running for Gadsden County

Second Judicial Circuit Judge, Seat 4

My name is Amanda P. nile Division. After ?ve

Wall, and I am running years as a prosecutor in

for Circuit Judge Seat 4. Miami, I became an As-

I have been a lawyer in sistant Attorney General

Florida for 31 years and under Robert Butter-

lived in Tallahassee for worth.

the past 25 years with As an Assistant At-

my husband and four torney General in the

children.

Civil Litigation Division, I

I was appointed as represented the Depart-

magistrate in 2014 by ments of Corrections

the chief judge and

and Insurance in

have presided over

federal and state

more than 3,000

tort litigation, civ-

family law cases

il rights actions

and have experi-

and extraordinary

ence conducting

writs. In 1995

trials and running

my husband and

a courtroom. I was

I moved to Tal-

named the director of the Uni?ed Family Court in

AMANDA P. WALL

lahassee, where I ?rst worked as Branch Coun-

2016. The Florida

sel to Florida Bar

Supreme Court required Committees and then,

me to resign as magis- after raising our four

trate to run for Circuit children, began working

Judge in April 2020.

in private practice as a

I graduated from family law litigator. I am

Loyola University of also a Florida Supreme

Chicago in 1986 with a Court Certi?ed Family

bachelor's degree in po- Law mediator.

litical science, and then In March, the COV-

DePaul University Col- ID-19 crisis brought our

lege of Law with my Ju- judicial system to a halt

ris Doctorate in 1989. and closed courts. Jury

While in law school, I trials have not occurred

interned for the Of?ce of for the past four months

the Public Defender and and may not begin again

the Of?ce of the State At- until the end of this year.

torney in Chicago.

The backup of cases and

My career as a pros- access to justice and to

ecutor began in 1989 the courts is a real con-

when I was hired by Ja- cern. As a magistrate,

net Reno. I prosecuted I was able to gain the

misdemeanor and felony necessary experience

crimes before becoming of handling cases and

a Special Prosecutor for a courtroom during the

the Domestic Violence COVID-19 crisis.

Unit and Assistant Chief During March and

Prosecutor in the Juve- April of this year, I pre-

sided over family law hearings by Zoom video conferences and helped to develop policies and procedures for the courts to be able to conduct hearings. This was essential to ensure everyone had and has access to our court system even during this dif?cult pandemic. The ability to know how to continue conducting hearings during the COVID-19 crisis is essential to any candidate elected as Circuit Judge in 2020. I hope to contribute my experience to assist the courts with the transition to restore our trial system.

I believe a judge must be fair, impartial, unbiased and prepared. I have been committed to having a respectful judicial demeanor as a magistrate for the past six years.

I hope I have earned your vote.

To learn more about Wall, visit or search for AmandaWallForJudge on Facebook. She can be reached via email at wall4judge@gmail. com.

? Submitted by Amanda P. Wall, candidate for Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge, Seat 4

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Soil and Water Conservation Board Seat 1

My name is Lance Area Regional Direc-

Watson, and I am tor for Sen. Marco Ru-

proud to be run- bio, focusing primarily

ning for the Gadsden on constituent issues

County Soil and Water and concerns in the

Conservation Board Panhandle, most no-

Seat 1.

tably in coordinating

I am a fourth gener- outreach efforts after

ation Gadsden County Hurricane Michael,

resident, where my ensuring residents

family has called home were able to sign up

since 1898. I

for resources,

grew up enjoy-

like FEMA, to

ing the outdoors

rebuild

our

with my dad,

beautiful area.

Sterling Watson

At FWC, I work

Sr. who served

on major policy

this county for

issues that im-

many

years.

pact Florida and

Serving the citi-

its visions of

zens of Gadsden LANCE abundant and

County was very WATSON thriving natural

important to

landscapes with

him, as it is to me, and vital working lands

I plan to carry on his and waterways. At

legacy of commitment FWC, we are focused

and public service in on Florida's natural

Gadsden County.

resources and con-

As the Deputy Leg- serving our ?sh and

islative Director for wildlife, which rely on

the Florida Fish and well-preserved water-

Wildlife Conservation ways and land.

Commission (FWC), I My experience has

am passionate about always had a focus

ensuring our water- on the people of this

ways and land are community, as well as

well-preserved in my land and water con-

home county, just as servation. Because of

they were when I was this, I know I would

young.

bring the necessary

I have no doubt I expertise and passion

am the right person to the Gadsden Coun-

for the job. I hold ty Soil and Water Con-

both a bachelor's de- servation Board. As a

gree in history/po- member of Tall Tim-

litical science, as well bers, Nature Conser-

as a graduate degree vancy, 1000 Friends of

in public policy from Florida, Apalachicola

the Florida State Uni- Riverkeepers and the

versity. Before joining Wild Turkey Federa-

FWC, I was the Capitol tion, it is safe to say

my personal interests

align with my career

endeavors, and now

my public service op-

portunity in Gadsden

County.

Our county is com-

mitted to building a

better community by

offering ef?cient, sus-

tainable services, en-

couraging economic

development and pro-

viding safety to im-

prove the quality of

life. I plan to join that

mission with enthu-

siasm and pledge to

work alongside those

who also have a desire

to ensure we continue

creating ways to con-

serve our water, pre-

vent soil erosion, con-

vert irrigation systems

while always being

transparent with the

public about any con-

servation issues that

may arise.

Gadsden County is

my home and a very

special place to me.

My commitment is to

always be a strong ad-

vocate for its natural

resources and all its

constituents. I hum-

bly ask for your sup-

port on Nov. 3.

? Submitted by

Lance Watson, can-

didate for Gadsden

County Soil and Wa-

ter

Conservation

Board Seat 1

(The deadline to sub-

mit candidates state-

ments to The Gadsden

County Times was

July 18.)

HOME ON THE RANGE

Ready but not wrong

" I 'm sick and tired of his harassment,"

she declares to me. "If

he comes by again and

starts that trash talk,

I'll pull out my gun.

That'll

show

him!"

"You'll

actu-

ally shoot

him?"

I ask.

"You'll

MARJ pull out a

LAW

gun and

shoot him

because he annoys the

dickens out of you?"

"No, I'd never shoot

him. But I bet if he

saw this gun, he

wouldn't bother me

again!"

"So you're not wor-

ried he'd hurt you?"

"No, he'd just aggra-

vate me to death."

"Then you can't

show him your gun.

You can only pull out

a gun if your life is in

danger. If you're afraid

he's going to hurt you

or might even kill you.

But you can't brandish

a gun to settle your

differences."

"Well, darn. Then

I won't buy this gun

after all," she says.

I'm thinking: "Good!

No telling what she'd

do with a handgun!"

We've probably all

watched too many

movies where the good

guy whips out a gun.

He shoots at the ?oor

and instantly the tav-

ern is silent. The scene

makes for big drama,

but you can't do this

in real life unless

you'd like to spend

time behind bars.

Today you can't pull

out a gun to make

your point or to settle

an argument. You

can't pull a gun for the

drama you'd create.

You can only pull out

a gun if your life is in

imminent danger. Or

if someone else is in

danger of immediate

bodily harm or losing

their life. Belief that you're about to die or be seriously injured is the only reason you can pull your gun out and point it.

And you have to be ready to accept the consequences of the results of using a ?rearm. Yes, you want to stop Mr. Bad from harming you, but will you be able to eliminate the threat?

One of the ?nest ways of protecting your life is to think carefully about what you do that might put you in danger and then to make sure you don't go there. You want to go shopping at night alone? Instead, ?nd a shopping partner and park under lights. Think of what you'd like to do, and ?nd a way to do it so you don't place yourself in danger. Avoid situations where problems can escalate.

"Why do you think a woman would own a handgun?" I ask my friend Glenda.

"Well, a lot of older women live alone. They're afraid. They might feel safer with owning and learning how to use a gun."

"When else might she want to own a gun?"

"She might be in a situation where she's afraid it may become violent. She would want to carry a gun to protect herself."

"And," she continued, "she may have had a break-in in her business and now she feels vulnerable."

These are all valid reasons to own a gun. Mrs. Mature Lady wants to know that she can protect herself. Now she purchases a gun and puts it in her bedside table's drawer and she feels safe.

Is she safe now? Owning a gun and having someone put bullets (rounds) in it won't make you safe. That's like buying a stationery bicycle to lose weight and build muscle. If you don't use the thing, your weight loss plan most likely won't work. You'll have to ?gure out the settings, actually sit on the bicycle and pedal away over and over to do yourself some good. The same is true of a handgun. If you're sure you will be capable of using it, then you have to be really familiar with the use of it. The Wakulla County Sheriff's Of-

?ce range is a great place to learn to use your handgun. There's a group of men and women who practice shooting at targets on most Wednesday mornings. All of them are willing and happy to share what they know with a newbie shooter.

You'll become stronger and thinner if you use your stationery bike. You'll become more and more pro?cient with your handgun if you perform your target practice at the range.

Getting your Carry Concealed license is a great idea, even if you only plan to keep your gun at your bedside. At the CCW class, you'll learn basics about gun ownership.

For instance, always treat your gun like it's loaded. Keep your ?nger off the trigger until that moment just before you shoot. Shoot only at a target that is safe from accidentally shooting another person or another person's property. Only point your gun at the target. If you point your gun at a person, that means you are ready to kill. Are you? Can you take a life if it means Mr. Bad is

about to kill you? The class will help

you learn how to keep your gun safe from curious children and grandchildren. It will tell you which public buildings will allow you to carry inside and when you ought to keep your gun locked in your car.

It will teach you when you cannot use your gun, like the ?rst gal in this article who said she would show her gun and arguments would cease. Having your license teaches you that pull your gun only if you are afraid someone is about to use lethal force on you.

Yosemite Sam had guns in both hands, and he'd shoot them

off making big smoke and drama. Clint Eastwood shot the ?oor just before a man's foot and all action would stop. Ah, the excitement!

But we can't do that. We can't use a gun to settle an argument. We can't display a gun to prove we are "bad." We can't brandish a gun to show we have power.

We can only use a gun for protection when someone is about to use lethal force on us.

And we hope that day never happens, but we are prepared for it.

Marj Law can be reached at marjlj@aol. com.

The Gadsden County Times

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

AND CONTINUING THE CHATTAHOOCHEE TRIBUNE (USPS 212?720) ? ESTABLISHED 1901

Editor Scott J. Bryan, editor@

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Toll free classi?ed ad contact: 877-676-1403 Circulation: 877-401-6408

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

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PAGE 6, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

WWW.

Tifany Baker is running for Second Judicial Circuit judge, Seat 4

Tiffany Baker is running Baker was born to Mellie

for Circuit Judge for the Sec- and Susie Baker and raised

ond Judicial Circuit, which in Quincy. She attended

includes, Gadsden, Leon, George Monroe Elementary,

Jefferson, Wakulla, Franklin Carter-Parramore Middle

and Liberty counties.

and played basketball for

Baker was inspired

the late-great Coach

to run for judge by her

Jackson and Coach

experience as a court-

Lewis at Greensboro

room litigator and see-

High School. She later

ing the need for every-

graduated from Amos

one to be treated with

P. Godby, where she

dignity and respect,

lettered in both bas-

regardless of race, gen-

ketball and track and

der or socio-economic status. She is running to serve the people as a

TIFFANY BAKER

?eld. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in busi-

judge who sees the im-

ness administration

portance of both incarcera- from the University of Miami

tion and rehabilitation, who in 2007, with a major in ?-

will push for judges to under- nance and minor in chem-

go implicit bias training, and istry. In 2012, she earned

who will be fair and impartial her Juris Doctorate degree

to each and every member of from the Howard University

this community.

School of Law.

Baker is an attorney who has devoted her entire legal career to the Big Bend area. She has gained vast legal experience in both criminal and civil law. While starting out as an assistant public defender, she developed her passion for trial advocacy. Since then, she has tried multiple life felonies to verdict, including attempted ?rst-degree murder, capital sexual battery and homicide. She was deemed suf?ciently quali?ed to serve as second chair in a death penalty case, and in that case, she represented a defendant accused of quadruple homicide. She has represented juveniles, the mentally incapacitated, and has provided pro bono service to help veterans in the Big Bend Community.

In addition to the depth of her experience on the criminal side, Baker worked as an associate attorney for Barrett, Fasig & Brooks. During her time there, Baker gained tremendous personal injury experience by representing her injured clients and ?ghting to ensure that they were made whole. She litigated personal injury claims, negotiated, and settled disputes with insurance companies, and prepared and ?led civil lawsuits on behalf of clients.

Upon leaving the ?rm, she launched her own private practice where she practiced criminal defense and family law. In the area of family law, she has handled contested divorces, parenting plans and injunctions.

Baker currently resides in

Tallahassee with her husband, Leonard Carper, and their two children, Phoenix Ray and Lenox Luna. She is a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Chi Upsilon Omega Chapter, a subscribing life member of the NAACP, a member of the Tallahassee Barristers Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Petunia Garden Circle, the Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Justice Association and other civic organizations.

? Submitted by Tiffany Baker, candidate for Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge, Seat 4

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Mary Jack Greenlaw is running for Gadsden County commissioner, District 5

My name is Mary Jack their needs and concerns

Greenlaw and Gadsden for our county. I also have

County is my home. I am a partnership with D&M In-

a native, born and raised, vestments Gadsden, which

Gadsden County girl,

has assisted in afford-

where my family ties

able housing and cre-

and roots run deep,

ating property taxes

for many generations

for our county. This

back.

business assist ?rst-

I attended Florida

time homebuyers and

State University and

also aides in beau-

have been a business

tifying properties in

owner of D&M Signs

our county. I've made

and Designs in Gads- MARY JACK it my choice to be a

den County for more GREENLAW mother who raised her

than 10 years. With

two children here.

that being said, I have had My hometown roots, my

the opportunity to work with business and my family

businesses closely and hear make me deeply vested in

the continued future growth and economic improvement of our county and fellow citizens' needs. I believe my deep roots in this community make me aware of what is needed in our county as I have seen and felt the struggles and obstacles that many residents have.

I believe I can be your voice, as Gadsden County Commissioner for District 5, and make a positive impact in the future improvement of Gadsden County. I am hopeful to be elected as your District 5 County Commissioner because I believe, along with

your help, we can make it the best it can be.

Some of the initiatives I want to address in Gadsden County are: the need for more businesses and jobs to be brought in, more positive promotion of the businesses that already exist, and focus on our youth and seniors. I would like to try to remove some of the roadblocks that many of us have encountered. I see areas where we can make improvements in our economy, as well as in other areas that affect our daily lives.

I am fully prepared to use

the input of my fellow residents. Together, we can take our collective skills, knowledge and appreciation of Gadsden County and work to make it the best it can be. I believe if we work together, we can bring positive change that will bene?t us all.

? Submitted by Mary Jack Greenlaw, candidate for Gadsden County Board of Commissioners, District 5

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Rolland A. Steele is running for Gadsden Soil and Water Conservation Board Seat 1

My name is Rolland A. Steele, and I am a candidate for Gadsden County Soil and Water Conservation District 1 Supervisor. I currently reside in Midway with my wife of 51 years, Sheila, and my daughter, Leslie.

Since retiring in Gadsden County, I have met and interacted with many great people who have encour-

aged me to run for of?ce. They said we need a leader who knows how to get things done and truly cares about the community like ROLLAND you. After care- A. STEELE ful thought and a serious conversation with

my wife, I decided to run for of?ce. I'm a natural for this position. I am a leader, engineer and policy wonk.

Many Gadsden County residents are very interested in conservation but have no idea of the role the district plays in government. If elected, I will work to make residents aware of what the district does.

I don't have a farming background. However, I do have experience in living through times in which soil and water are consistently abused. I know we have wetlands in Gadsden County that need protection. I know I don't want innocent people to lose their land to big corporations.

I know that I am the most

quali?ed candidate for this position. Vote for Rolland Steele on Nov. 3.

? Submitted by Rolland A. Steele, candidate for Gadsden County Soil and Water Conservation District Seat 1

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Kevin Alvarez is running for Second Judicial Circuit Judge, Seat 16

My name is Kevin Alvarez. a week. I have had more con-

I quali?ed to run for Circuit tested evidentiary hearings

Court Judge by obtaining then I can count, and have

enough signatures from reg- tried cases all over North

istered voters in this

Florida appearing in

circuit. I attended Flor-

front of almost every

ida State University for

judge in this and sur-

both undergraduate

rounding circuits.

and law school, and

In my current prac-

completed both de-

tice, I handle a vari-

grees in just over four

ety of issues. I repre-

years.

sent two construction

I immediately went into private practice. During my time in pri-

KEVIN ALVAREZ

companies as general counsel, I have represented civil plaintiffs,

vate practice, I have

and done civil defense

tried more than 50 jury tri- work. I have also handled de-

als to verdict, as ?rst chair, pendency work and criminal

the duration of many being defense. Often, I am brought

from one day to longer than in as litigation counsel and

as a litigation consultant in a mix of different areas of law because of my extensive courtroom experience.

Competent, well-prepared and informed judges rarely make reversible legal errors. A quali?ed judge listens to both sides, asks clarifying questions to narrow the issues and takes time to educate him/herself on the issues. Additionally, an effective trial judge has a commanding knowledge of the evidence code because the issues may arise quickly and unpredictably. My opponent has a history of rulings that re?ect a lack of these quali-

?cations. My opponent, who is cur-

rently a judge in Tallahassee, has a lengthy record of reversals. A lengthy record of reversals is just the tip of the iceberg of legal issues since recorded reversals only occur when there is an appeal taken, a legal issue is preserved or the issue is fundamental. I am running against my opponent because I believe that I, as a lawyer, have a fundamental obligation to uphold the law, ensure that the judiciary is competent and to stand up to injustice.

We need judges who take the time to listen. That take

the time to understand. That take the time to make the correct decision. I have the quali?cations and experience to be a good judge and would respectfully ask for your vote on Aug. 18.

If you would like to talk to me directly you can email me at KevinAlvarezesq@gmail. com.

? Submitted by Kevin Alvarez, candidate for candidate for Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge, Seat 16

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Oscar Veneszee Jr. is running for Gadsden County commissioner, District 5

Born and raised in Quincy, at Facebook. They have a

Oscar Veneszee Jr., served blended family of six children

23 years in the U.S. Navy's and two grandchildren.

submarine force, protecting Growing up in Quincy, as

and preserving the Ameri- a young child, he attended

can ideals of freedom, equal- George W. Monroe. His ?rst

ity and opportunity. In

job was picking toma-

2012, he was named

toes at the age of 11.

one of only seven Black

He also attended Quin-

Chiefs of the Boat in

cy Middle and Carter-

the history of the Navy.

Parramore. Veneszee

Veneszee is the

graduated from James

son of the late Oscar

A. Shanks High School

"O.D." Veneszee Sr.,

in 1992.

a lifelong agricultural

Veneszee is a com-

foreman in Quincy, OSCAR mitted servant leader

and mother, Ruby VENESZEE JR. who has led emergen-

Bradwell Veneszee, a

cy management and

retired nurse at Florida State disaster preparedness on

Hospital in Chattahoochee. the front lines. He globally

Veneszee is married to Em- champions diversity and in-

maka Porchea-Veneszee, a clusion, helping to prepare

Navy veteran, former White the next generation of lead-

House staffer during the ers through workforce devel-

Obama administration and opment, and assists veterans

former deputy assistant with reintegrating into their

communities at one of the largest, most impactful tech companies in the world. He understands the value of relationships and worked hard throughout his life and 27year career to develop and maintain partnerships with local, state and federal leaders, the military community and the organizations that support them, and he is ready to make them work for Gadsden County.

Veneszee is committed to advancing employment, economic growth, suf?cient health care, and disaster preparedness and response. He will focus on bolstering workforce development in the county, helping to identify and establish mentorship and training programs. Additionally, he will tap into the talent and expertise of

existing leadership to spur new opportunities. He will cut the red tape to ensure that economic development and infrastructure improvement projects are streamlined to allow construction to start and people get to work. Veneszee plans to work with leadership to ?nd and deploy incentives and business plans to increase pro?t margins in the county. He believes one of the ?rst steps may be to pair local business strategies with leading global industry best practices.

Veneszee will stand up for Gadsden County's seniors and working families by developing a long-term plan to address critical needs like: a new hospital in our community, recovering from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and investing in our chil-

dren's education to ensure their success. He is prepared to use the skills he's acquired through the years to improve the quality of life for the residents of Gadsden County as we move forward to a new day and in a new direction.

Veneszee can be reached at oscar@ or 850-545-5858. You may also follow him on Facebook at Vote for Oscar Veneszee Jr. for Gadsden County Commissioner, District 5. For more information, please visit

? Submitted by Oscar Veneszee Jr., candidate for Gadsden County Board of Commissioners, District 5

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Subscribe to The Gadsden County Times by visiting regnow or calling 1-877-401-6408

WWW.

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020, PAGE 7

Nina Moody is running for Second Judicial Circuit Judge, Seat 4

Nina Moody has the legal and ef?cient courtroom. She

experience and demeanor understands the rules of evi-

needed to serve as Circuit dence and has experience in

Judge. She is courteous family, antitrust law and as

and believes in treat-

a Certi?ed Family Me-

ing all people with re-

diator.

spect and dignity. She

Moody has worked

brings almost 19 years

in all of the counties in

of legal experience as a

our circuit as Chief As-

criminal defense attor-

sistant Public Defend-

ney to the position in

er for the Second Judi-

evaluating cases, as-

cial Circuit, managing

sessing evidence and

legal, personnel and

applying the law to the NINA administrative mat-

facts.

MOODY ters. Moody has gotten

Moody would bring

to know the commu-

to the judiciary an abundant nities in our circuit and can

amount of courtroom and relate to each county's diver-

real trial experience. She has sity and needs.

the skills to keep an orderly As Chief Assistant Public

Defender for the Second Circuit, Moody helps to manage the largest criminal law ?rm in our circuit. Moody is the vice president for the Second Circuit First Step Program, a nonpro?t board.

Nina graduated with her Bachelor's of Science degree in Criminology from the University of Maryland. Shortly after graduation, Moody became a paralegal for the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division. After eight years of working as a paralegal, she began law school at Florida State University College of Law in 1998.

While in law school Moody

worked as a Certi?ed Legal Intern with the Of?ce of the State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit and as a student attorney for the FSU Children's Advocacy Center. Moody graduated from FSU Law in December 2000.

Moody is from a career military family. The experience of her family being transferred to different military bases in the United States and overseas allowed Moody to meet different people, embrace different cultures and gave her the life skills to interact with people in all walks of life.

Together with her husband Bill, Moody has three

grown sons. They also enjoy sharing their lives with their canine and feline rescues: Calypso, Kodiak Bear, Ruca Bear, Keiko and Quincy.

Moody would be an asset to the judiciary of the Second Judicial Circuit. Moody has the legal experience, knowledge and competency necessary for our judiciary.

? Submitted by Nina Moody, candidate for Second Judicial Circuit Judge, Seat 4

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

MARCH

What do you think?

Continued from Page 1

boasted about 30 people. Marchers walked silently from CarterParramore Academy to Ward's Lot behind Quincy City Hall.

McMillian was the organizer of a Black Lives Matter march in June,

when about 200 people marched from James A. Shanks High School GLENN ? down SAPP King Street ? to the Gadsden County Courthouse, where days earlier a Confederate memorial monument was removed from public grounds. "Last month, we were yelling Black lives matter," Jackson said. "We were screaming Black lives matter. "But ask the police here. It's been chaotic on the Black side of town, not because somebody white came over here and started chaos. It's because we're killing each other. Black lives just can't matter when we're saying it in white neigh-

What do you think could be done to end the spate of violence in Black neighborhoods in Quincy? Email Letters to the Editor to editor@gadcotimes. com. There is a 400-word limit.

borhoods. Black lives need to matter in our own neighborhoods."

On June 30, 36-yearold Antoine Jackson was shot and killed in the 1000 block of West Clark Street in Quincy. A 19-year-old, Antron Colston, was charged with the shooting.

A little more than a week later, on July 8, 20-year-old Malik Batson was shot and killed in the 400 block of Sixth Street. Quincy police are still seeking suspects in the murder.

Quincy Police Chief Glenn Sapp told attendees he was tired of telling mothers their sons died.

"I'm not afraid of the Ku Klux Klan," Sapp said. "I'm afraid of the BBB. ... That's the bad, Black brother. We have to address our own problems in our own communities."

Sapp said he agrees George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were

murdered by law enforcement of?cials, and those of?cials, Sapp said, should go to prison or be adjudicated by the court system.

"But we have too many young Black men killing other young Black men," Sapp said. "It's time to stop being silent. It's time to stop being silent because the cavalry is not coming to the hood to stop young Black men from killing other young Black men. That's a problem Black people have to address."

The morning of the Black Lives Matter to Us march was shortly after the nation learned U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a longtime civil rights activist, died. Sapp noted Lewis fought for equality for all, and marched in Selma despite Ku Klux Klan members hitting those marchers with clubs.

Sapp said Quincy has a Black police chief, a Black sheriff and most elected of?cials in Gadsden County are Black.

"What is our excuse now?" Sapp asked. "Excuses are the tools used by the incompetent. Those who make excuses do not accomplish anything."

Juliette Fisher-Jackson is

running for Gadsden County

commissioner, District 1

I am Juliette Fisher- of one daughter and

Jackson. After prayer grandmother of two

and meditation, I have granddaughters.

humbly accepted the My professional ca-

challenge to run for the reer has been spent as

of?ce of Gadsden

an educator and

County Commis-

leader in edu-

sioner, District 1.

cation for the

Born, raised

past 35 years.

and educated in

I have success-

Gadsden County,

fully served as

I am the daugh-

the turnaround

ter of Julius and

principal of four

Pleasant Mae

Gadsden Coun-

Fisher. I attend- JULIETTE ty Schools that

ed Stevens El- FISHER- were in jeopardy

ementary School JACKSON of having the

and graduated

state of Florida

from Carter-Parra- educational system

more High School.

take them over. While

My post-secondary serving as principal of

studies included earn- these schools, these

ing a Bachelor's of schools went from fail-

Science degree from ing schools to schools

B e t h u n e - C o o k m a n that met state compe-

College, and graduate tency requirements.

degrees from Universi- Schools alone won't

ty of Florida and Flor- save our community.

ida Agricultural and I have learned that

Mechanical University. progress takes the col-

I am the proud mother lective effort of all our

community and gov-

erning entities. The

of?ce of county com-

missioner will allow

my expertise to aid in

a broader reach while

serving the entire

county. The current

seat is in desperate

need of a new choice

and voice that intel-

lectually brings proven

and effective leader-

ship with a common-

sense approach to the

commission. Together,

we can and will make

the difference needed

for times such as these

and beyond.

? Submitted by Ju-

liette Fisher-Jack-

son, candidate for

Gadsden

County

Board of Commis-

sioners, District 1

(The deadline to sub-

mit candidates state-

ments to The Gadsden

County Times was July

18.)

Damion McNealy is running for Gadsden County commissioner, District 3

With deep roots in the I'm running because I love

district and track record of Gadsden County and be-

serving those often under- lieve we deserve a county

represented and ignored, with solid infrastructure,

Damion McNealy is the com- opportunities for growth

missioner we need, in

and transparency in

such a time as this.

local government. The

"It is my hope as

strides we've made

your commissioner, I

over the years have

restore your faith in

been admirable but

and engagement with

as a county, we have

local government,"

potential and capac-

McNealy said.

ity for so much more.

A

commissioner

committed to the peo-

ple of Gadsden Coun-

DAMION MCNEALY

Together, we can build the county we deserve.

ty and its continued

As commissioner I

growth of our county, Mc- will be an advocate for all

Nealy is ready for the chal- citizens of District 3, treat-

lenge and poised to serve. ing all the citizens with

I'm not just running for dignity and respect. I will

me ? I'm running for your listen with open ears and

family and mine!

observe with open eyes, and

act with a decent heart. I will be a servant and not a master. I pledge to promote ?scal responsibility. Doing this includes having all departments submit budgets for proper funding. The Chamber of Commerce will provide regular updates on prospective business opportunities in order to be funded. Priority road paving will be instituted and revised for District 3, and the issues with the parks will be addressed.

While holding conversations with local leaders and members of the community I thought about the changes I wanted to see in Gadsden County. Our residents want a county without potholes

and vacant buildings, littering the area. Residents want a county with parks for their children to play in and a county that prioritizes people over politics and backdoor deals. And I, want to be the commissioner that gets us those things.

I'm running because government should always be open and honest, to promote a level of trust between local government and the people. Gadsden County should not just be a place where we live but where our residents can thrive.

Lastly, I'm running because our residents deserve accountability and transparency especially, when it comes to their tax dollars.

I'm running to ensure that we all have a seat at the table because "if you're not at the table, you're on the menu." This November, I hope that you'll turn your belief in this campaign into a vote for me.

For more information as how to get involved with our campaign or ?nd out more about my platform please visit our website at

? Submitted by Damion McNealy, candidate for Gadsden County Board of Commissioners, District 3

(The deadline to submit candidates statements to The Gadsden County Times was July 18.)

Al Lawson YRHG

GADSDEN COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

NOTICE

Voting Equipment Public Logic and Accuracy Test

In accordance with Florida Statute Section

a pre election test of the

automatic tabulating equipment which will be used to tabulate the votes cast in

the August

Primary Election will begin at

a m on July

The purpose of the test is to ascertain that the equipment will correctly count the votes cast for all candidates and races

The Canvassing Board will convene and begin testing the voting equipment until completed Testing is open to all candidates representatives of political parties the press and the public

Canvass of Vote by Mail Returns

following times

Dates and Times:

August

p m Canvass of Provisional Cured Ballots

Destination PAGE 8, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

GADSDEN CPaOgeU8 |NTHTURYSDATY, JIUM LY 2E3 S

GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES

WWW.

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

-Augustine of Hippo

ANASTASIA

STATE PARK

A laughing gull stands century on the beach at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine.

Photos by VICKIE LILLO/Special to the Times

St. Augustine state park ofers visitors a variety of nature, plus picturesque beaches

By VICKIE LILLO

Special to The Times

ST. AUGUSTINE

A n unlucky silvercolored ?sh is sandwiched between the maxilla and mandible ? both upper and lower sections of the beak ? of a Snowy Egret, helplessly waiting to be swallowed whole, down its gullet.

Unimpressed by the magni?cent bird's ?shing prowess or the natural beauty of its plumage, which is pure white as virgin snow. Already, wispy feathers are sprouting along its head, neck and back ? a sign of breeding season.

They are feathers so prized by milliners in the fashion world that this egret was nearly hunted to extinction in the latter 19th century. In 1886, at $32 an ounce, these plumes exacted double the price of gold, making these avian specimens the target of hat-makers throughout Europe and the States.

Today, however, thanks to conservation efforts worldwide, the Snowy Egret has bounced back from near demise and can be found along many of the shorelines around the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Indeed, with their unmistakable yellowish-green feet, they are easily recognized, trolling for dinner along the island at Anastasia State Park. Just a stone's throw from St. Augustine proper.

Sixteen-hundred acres of thriving ecosystems ? unspoiled beaches, woodland hammocks of broadleaf evergreen trees, foredunes (above the reach of wave action), and tidal marshes ? offer visitors an unparalleled opportunity for exploration. Open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year, Anastasia's estuaries and beaches teem with life.

Manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, marsh and wading birds, crabs, and obviously, ?sh. And hidden amongst the everdiminishing sand dunes ? its natural habitat ? lives the endangered Anastasia Island Beach mouse, a yellowish-brown to grayish-pink souris with a white nose. Under federal, as well as Florida, protection, this scarce little doeeyed mouse is just another seashore-lover to share the

Indian Blanket ?owers bloom near the boardwalk at Anastasia State Park.

sands with. Since Anastasia State

Park is located along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, bird species of all types are in abundant supply. Ebony-faced Laughing Gulls skitter over the crystal-sand beaches. Killdeer and Dunlins peck at the grains, trying to outrun the incoming tide as the surf surges into shore. Black Skimmers ? jet-andwhite with bright orange legs and partial beaks of the same hue ? rest on the beaches, along with their cousins, the Least Terns.

The vertical pupils in their eyes narrow to slits to offset the glare rising from the sand and the sea. Herons ? the Great Blue and the Tricolor ? forage in the saline marsh along Salt Run, side-by-side with Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills. Overhead, pelicans glide over the wave crests with unnerving stealth, eyeing the water for their next tasty meal.

Along the wildlife trail, which serpentines through woodlands of pine and oak, purple-headed Painted Buntings with scarlet breasts sing from the thickets, while songster warblers ?it throughout the hammock forests.

Woodpeckers drill their

Anastasia State Park

Where: 300 Anastasia Park Road in St. Augustine

Telephone: 904 461-2033. Admission fees: $8 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle; $2 per pedestrian, bicyclist, extra passenger, or passenger in vehicle with holder of an Annual Individual Entrance Pass. Camping fees: $28 per night, plus tax, along with a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee.

bills deep into the bark of tree snags; the keratin nebs yammer rat-a-tat-tat like a tommy gun. Predator raptors, such as owls, ospreys and eagles, make their presence known, scouting the undergrowth for mice, rodents, and miniscule lizards. Basically, on the lookout for anything ? mammal, reptile or amphibian ? scurrying on the forest ?oor.

A nice canopy-covered walking path, the Ancient Dune Nature Trail, about 90 percent shaded and non-strenuous, loops around through a maritime hammock. Mostly ?at, the trail follows some uneven terrain, with low hills and occasional sandy stairs.

See PARK/Page 9

A child ?ies a kite on the beach at Anastasia State Park.

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