Coleman Hanging up His Robe Retiring After Serving 18 Years As County Judge
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A3 SATURDAY/SUNDAY, JANUARY 2-3, 2021 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 WEEKEND EDITION Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM SUNDAY + PLUS >> UF FOOTBALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL Local Bowl offered Miami’s King businesses short-handed plans 2021 Gators a return after receive $6.4M future glimpse tearing ACL 6B from CARES Sean of the South SEE BELOW SEE 10A SEE 10A A shot in the arm TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Tom Coleman, who has served as the Columbia County Judge for 18 years, sits at the bench in a Columbia County courtroom. Coleman, who has worked in the local courts system for more than four decades, retired Thursday. Coleman hanging up his robe Retiring after serving 18 years as county judge. COURTESY By TONY BRITT Front line staff member Sara Driggers (left) administers the first Moderna covid-19 vaccine allocated to the Columbia [email protected] County Health Department to Sarah White. The health department will begin administering vaccinations to residents, 65 and older, on Monday. The paintings and other objects that adorn the walls of Judge Tom Coleman’s Health department eager to start administering vaccine office offer an apt description into the man who has served Columbia County for nearly By JAMIE WACHTER ing the vaccine Tuesday. of the health departments in that list. two decades. [email protected] Those distributions, though, Columbia and Hamilton coun- Residents who are at least 65 The paintings show hunters chasing are guided by the registra- ties, said. “The health depart- years old can go online to the their quarry and an outdoorsman enjoying They’re making a list (and tion lists of residents desiring ment is committed to vacci- health department websites, nature’s solitude. they’ll probably check it more the vaccine — along with the nating every resident wanting columbia.floridahealth.gov or The pictures feature family members and than twice.) guidelines from the Centers of a vaccine. Gov. DeSantis has hamilton.floridahealth.gov, and joyous occasions. The health departments in Disease Control and Prevention set the vaccine priority and we register there for the vaccine. The other items along the wall are dedi- Columbia and Hamilton coun- and the executive orders from will adhere to his executive “We’re not giving them vac- cated to law books where Coleman sharp- ties will begin administering Gov. Ron DeSantis. order for distribution. cines if they’re not on the list,” ens his mind for his many tasks as county covid-19 vaccines to residents, “To begin the vaccination “We ask the community to Moffses added. judge. 65 years and older, on Monday. process is a historic point in be patient as we work through For those without a com- Coleman, 68, is an avid hunter, who has The Suwannee County Health this pandemic cycle,” Tom the vaccination process.” hunted across the country in several states Department will begin provid- Moffses, the administrator That process begins with VACCINE continued on 3A including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and South Dakota. “What I really like to do is I like to hunt Council considering lien amnesty turkey,” he said. “I have probably killed tur- keys in a dozen states… It takes a skill, but the truth of the matter is, I just like being in Program would waive ating a lien amnesty program for a year. cil for discussion and possible approval. the woods.” During a November city council work- The city is owed hundreds of thousands At times his wife, Joy, travels on the code enforcement fees shop session, Joe Helfenberger, city man- of dollars through liens by property own- hunting excursions with him and she uses a on blighted properties. ager, unveiled the proposed program. ers, who have not paid their fines on the camera to record the outing. His presentation noted that the program blighted properties in years. Interest on “Joy and I like to travel,” he said. By TONY BRITT would be for code enforcement liens over the fees have compounded to raise the Coleman also likes shooting with a cam- [email protected] $1,000, and both commercial and residen- initial fee amounts. era every now and then. tial properties would be eligible. The city council is scheduled discuss “If the country is pretty enough, I’m a City officials are hoping to gain momen- City council members authorized a resolution to enact the program when tum for their plan to reduce the amount Helfenberger to ‘tweak’ the program’s COLEMAN continued on 3A of blighted properties in the city by initi- language and now it’s returning to coun- LIEN continued on 2A $6.4M in CARES funding dispersed to local businesses County’s individual ed to individuals. Security) Act funding was through the program. text message. gram where county offi- assistance program According to the lat- available from the federal Jay Swisher, Columbia He said $1,701,329 was cials initially set aside $2 has distributed $1.7M. est information from the government to individuals County Clerk of Courts, given to individuals who million. Columbia County Clerk of and businesses impacted said all accounts on the were adversely impacted “We were originally By TONY BRITT Courts Office, the coun- by the global pandemic. business side have been by the pandemic to help unsure if we would be able [email protected] ty dispersed $6,475,529 Columbia County officials finalized. with bills, rent and other to spend that much money through the program with received a total of $12 mil- “In the coming week(s) services. However, officials and put it into the com- Columbia County has the funding going to 259 lion in CARES funding. we will be finalizing the ven- have not yet been able to munity,” said David Kraus, provided more than $6.4 local businesses. No addi- Columbia County offi- dor accounts for those that tally the count detailing interim county manag- million in CARES funding tional details regarding the cials set aside $7 million for helped administer the pro- how many individuals were er, speaking of providing to more than 250 local busi- final funding disbursements local business impacted by gram (Catholic Charities, recipients of CARES indi- more than $8.1 million in nesses who were impacted were available at press time. the pandemic. Local small United Way of Suwannee vidual funding. Individuals CARES funding. “With the by covid-19 with an addi- CARES (Coronavirus businesses could receive Valley, CRI, etc.),” he said could receive a maximum tional $1.7 million distribut- Aid, Relief, and Economic a maximum of $40,000 Wednesday afternoon via of $5,000 through the pro- CARES continued on 2A Vol. 146, No. 203 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Faith & Values . .5A SUBSCRIBE TO 75 55 Classifieds . 6A THE REPORTER: Obituaries . 7A Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 A few showers, 2A Sports . 10A 2A SATURDAY/SUNDAY, JANUARY 2-3, 2021 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER McGranahans recognized as QUICK HITS outstanding forest landowners Scripture of the Day “Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the Staff report sea, and a path in the mighty waters;” — Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 (KJV) LIVE OAK — Bob and Frances McGranahan are outstanding forest land- owners, according to the Thought for Today Florida Forest Service. Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neigh- As part of the National bors, and let every new year find you a better man. Association of State — Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American Foresters’ 100th anniversa- politician ry celebration, the Florida Forest Service is recog- nizing 100 forest landown- Winning Lottery Numbers ers from across the state. Pick 3: (Wednesday p.m.) 2-0-4 They are being honored for Pick 4: (Wednesday p.m.) 6-0-7-7 exemplifying exceptional Fantasy 5: (Wednesday) 10-12-20-29-36 forest management prac- tices, public outreach and See an error? conservation efforts. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news “We want to thank Bob items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, McGranahan of RFM Farms please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will for their stewardship and run in this space. Thanks for reading. maintaining the integrity of Florida’s forestlands, ensur- COURTESY Submissions ing they will be available for Bob and Frances McGranahan have been recognized as outstanding forest land- The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption future generations,” Katrina owners by the Florida Forest Service for their exceptional forest management information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would Koning, Florida Forest practices, public outreach and conservation efforts. like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to [email protected]. Service county forester for Suwannee County, said in a timber production, grazing be noted that this forest is oring the work of the asso- release. and wildlife management. certified to standards and ciation in providing a unified Lake City Reporter The McGranahan prop- Current recreational use of guidelines set forth by both voice for state and private HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING erty is owned by Bob and the property includes hunt- the American Tree Farm forestry in the United States Main number .......(386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff Frances McGranahan, con- ing and wildlife viewing. System (ATFS) and the since 1920, as well as the Fax number ............ 752-9400 (386) 754-0417 Circulation............. 755-5445 ([email protected]) sisting of three tracts total- The McGranahans reg- Florida Forest Service’s tremendous social, environ- Online ....www.lakecityreporter.com CLASSIFIED ing 1,801 acres. ularly participate in public Forest Stewardship mental, and economic contri- The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Community Newspapers Inc., Kym Harrison The McGranahans’ pri- outreach and conservation Program (FSP).