Roadwork on Hold; Merchants See
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1A SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2014 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.50 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM STEVEN RICHMOND/Lake City Reporter Tony Richards, owner of CarQuest Auto Parts on Pinemount Road, walks through the unfinished construc- tion site in front of his parking lot. ‘Every day they’re still SUNDAY EDITION not working, it’s hurting my business,’ he said. Fantazia Circus a family affair. 6A Roadwork on hold; Fort White students earn OSHA merchants see red certificates. Subcontractors left unpaid, says FDOT; project has had a negative effect on 1D commerce in the area. nearby businesses see loss of revenue. Southern Development Corporation of Jacksonville, an By STEVEN RICHMOND to a spokesperson with the Florida infrastructure construction com- [email protected] Department of Transportation. pany, was awarded a $11.1 mil- ATF: Drug network In the meantime, FDOT says it lion contract to four-lane a roughly The road construction project on has cut off funds to the contractor mile-long section of West US90 West US 90 could face a delay of a for failing to pay its subcontractors, between Lake City Avenue and had neighborhood year or more due to difficulties with and many local business owners nearly ‘under siege’ the project’s contractor, according claim the lingering construction PROJECT continued on 6A COMPROMISED? By STEVEN RICHMOND siege at times. The law-abiding [email protected] citizens were kind of power- less to do anything, they were Local ‘Idol’ The 17 individuals arrested intimidated.” by local, state and federal law The bulk of the activity enforcement Thursday were occurred around the home of headed to known for being one of the Travis Lavelle Smith, 31, of 742 most violent narcotics traf- NW Long St., who went by ficking networks in Columbia the alias “Cook”—a moniker he Hollywood County’s recent history, a received as the man behind the supervisor with the federal “cooking” process to produce Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, crack cocaine, Lockhart said. By STEVEN RICHMOND Firearms and Explosives said “Most of the subjects were [email protected] FILE Saturday. already multi-convicted felons The Michaels crafts store at the The suspects, who range and armed career criminals,” One talented Lake City woman Lake City Mall is shown. from age 20 to 81, were a Lockhart said. will be headed to California next loosely knit group who dealt The 17 individuals were month after successfully passing primarily in crack cocaine and arrested during a fast-paced the first round of auditions on the had access to a high quantity coordinated effort Thursday, hit reality show American Idol. COURTESY Michaels of cheap conventional firearms, authorities said, in hopes of Lake City native and class Lauren Ogburn, 19, of Lake City, according to Todd Lockhart, avoiding a potentially danger- of 2012 CHS graduate Lauren auditioned for American Idol in Atlanta probes Group Supervisor for ATF ous power struggle created by a Ogburn, 19, auditioned in and was accepted into the next round Jacksonville, Group Two. void in the narcotics network. Atlanta last July with thousands of competition in Hollywood, Calif. “They operated throughout “There’s always ambi- of other Idol hopefuls and came possible Columbia County but were actu- tious criminals trying to meet out victorious, becoming one of McEntire,” Ogburn said. “I’d ally pretty specific to a three or demand or fill a void,” Lockhart only 44 people who received invi- never heard it done on American four block area [around NW said. “And we’ll target them, tations to Hollywood that day. Idol, so I thought it was a good breach Long Street],” Lockhart said. too. It’s going to be a bad time The audition was broadcast choice because there was nobody “The violence associated with Thursday night. to compare it to.” that, people were almost under NETWORK continued on 5A “I sang ‘Fancy’ by Reba The three-person judging panel of data responded favorably: Keith Urban The Associated Press praised Ogburn’s authenticity and song choice, Jennifer Lopez IRVING, Texas — Michaels said she gave her “goosies,” and Stores says it is investigat- Chamber Ball Harry Connick Jr. said he enjoyed ing a possible company data the performance despite his criti- security breach that may have sees ‘passing cism of Ogburn’s wardrobe. affected its customers’ pay- “I wore a tanktop that had a ment card information. bald eagle with the American flag, The Irving, Texas, company of the buck’ jeans, American flag boots and an said Saturday that it launched By STEVEN RICHMOND American flag bandana,” Ogburn the probe after learning of [email protected] said, saying she was looking for possible fraudulent activity a “rough around the edges look... on some U.S. payment cards The who’s who of Columbia County busi- [Connick Jr.] said it was a little used at the home decor and ness showed up dressed to the nines at the overdone and too much, but said crafts retailer. fourth annual Lake City-Columbia County he enjoyed my audition.” Michaels Stores Inc. is Chamber Ball Saturday evening. Ogburn said she’s been sing- working with federal law JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter enforcement and data secu- Chamber of Commerce members milled Joel Foreman (left), the outgoing 2013 Lake City-Columbia ing since she could talk and has about the Banquet Hall at the Columbia developed her talents through a rity experts, but has yet to County Chamber of Commerce president, hands a dollar to confirm that its systems were County Fairgrounds chatting about the lat- John Kuykendall, the incoming 2014 Chamber president, in a variety of performances in church est news and happenings on the Columbia and other community events, compromised. buck passing ceremony at the Unmask the Night Chamber Ball Management at the County business scene. Annual Dinner Saturday. such as the Olustee Festival. Some members added a flair of mystery “I’ve never had vocal lessons,” Michaels in Lake City referred to their evening by donning Venetian-style annual state-of-the-Chamber ent and exciting.” she said. “I tried to take vocal les- a reporter to their corporate masquerade attire, provided at the front meeting,” said Chamber And it worked—tickets sons one time for a month and I communications office, which door for the evening’s theme, “Unmask the Executive Director Dennille for the event sold out weeks didn’t like it. I’ve always wanted then referred the reporter to Night.” Decker. “So every year we a spokesman, Michael Fox. “Our bylaws say we have to hold an try to do something differ- CHAMBER continued on 7A OGBURN continued on 6A Fox’s assistant then referred the reporter back to the press release. CEO Chuck Rubin suggests Branford skate park opens amid much fanfare Michaels customers review their account statements for By STEVEN RICHMOND LEFT: Bill Procko cuts the ribbon cially opened Procko Skate Park unauthorized charges. [email protected] officially opening Procko Skate Saturday, a 5,000 square foot Target Corp. has said hack- Park in Branford Saturday morning. skate park in Hatch Park dedi- ers recently stole about 40 BRANFORD–About three years cated to local enthusiasts, both million debit and credit card ago, a boy named Josh Walker numbers. Neiman Marcus Three years, $68,000 and sev- young and old. wrote a letter to the town coun- said a security breach last eral hundred tons of concrete “It’s been hard to keep the cil of Branford with one simple year may have affected about later, the town of Branford offi- request—he wanted a skate park. STEVEN RICHMOND/Lake City Reporter PARK continued on 6A 1.1 million cards. Vol. 139, No. 254 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 Police . 3A BUSINESS TUESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO Obituaries . 5A THE REPORTER: 61 49 Advice . 5D CARC thrift store settles Coverage of Tennis Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 Partly Cloudy, 8A Puzzles . 2B into new home, 1C. Fitness Day. 2A 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER SUNDAY REPORT SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2014 Page Editor: Emily Lawson, 754-0424 Friday: Friday: Saturday: Saturday: Wednesday: Wednesday: 1-11-17-20-19 8-20-21-29-32 9-6-8 7-8-3-5 6-7-11-13-23-44 x3 1-2-7-9-55-29 x3 AROUND FLORIDA 3 police officers suspended for Bieber escort OPA-LOCKA Zimmerman would be n official says charged with murder. It three Florida was taken for the AP by police officers freelancer Rick Wilson. have been The news cooperative suspended asked that any sale be Afor giving Justin Bieber an blocked — and that, if unauthorized escort from there has been a sale, that the airport. the AP be paid damages. Opa-locka Assistant City Zimmerman sold anoth- Manager David Chiverton er painting on eBay last said Friday that the offi- month, with a winning bid cers were suspended with of $100,099.99. pay pending the outcome On Twitter, George of an investigation. Zimmerman wrote Friday Police escorts from evening: “No worries AP, the Opa-locka Executive I’ll just take whatever U Airport are not uncom- sue me for off your tab mon, but they must follow when I’m done suing you procedure. Chiverton says :-) Or... I could put out how the one that accompanied much U offered me 2..” Bieber on Monday had not Responding to been authorized. Zimmerman’s tweet, According to Chiverton, Colford, the AP spokes- investigators are still try- man, said: “We don’t know ing to get more informa- what he’s talking about.” tion from the airport and the officers about where police escorted Bieber.