A3 + PLUS >> Pence, Harris spar over covid-19 in VP debate, Below PREP FOOTBALL NFL FHSAA sets football NFL is looking at playoff brackets protocol incidents See Page 10A See Page 10A THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM County adds two voters during extension Website crash led to move of registration deadline. By TONY BRITT [email protected] Extra time didn’t lead to many extra voters locally. After the state’s online voter reg- istration site crashed momentarily Monday evening — the original last day for people to register to vote in November’s general elec- tion — Gov. Ron DeSantis directed supervisor of elections officers Photos by JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter and tax collectors offices to remain Zak Jones with the North Collier Fire Department waves an American flag Wednesday evening as dozens of Brotherhood Ride open until 7 p.m. Tuesday to allow cyclists end their week-long trek across Florida at the Live Oak Fire Department station. The Brotherhood Ride is an annual bike more residents the opportunity to register. ride to honor first responders who died in service. Former Suwannee County Fire Chief James Sommers was among those hon- In Columbia County, that exten- ored this year. Sommers died in August 2019. sion led to two additional voters registered. Liz P. Horne, Columbia County’s supervisor of elections, said the ‘We will for our brothers’ office normally closes at 4:30 p.m., but remained opened until 7 p.m. Tuesday to provide that additional time for registrations. Brotherhood Ride honors Sommers, “We had one person call and two come in,” she said Wednesday other fallen heroes in trek across state. afternoon. County’s fallen fire chief. Total, there are 44,023 registered By JAMIE WACHTER “It was such a wonderful voters in Columbia County, per the [email protected] experience, we never thought supervisor of elections office’s web- LIVE OAK — Carrying a load we’d do it again,” said Jeffrey site — 22,047 Republicans, 13,810 through adverse conditions is Morse from the North Collier nothing new for firefighters and Fire Department and the VOTERS continued on 7A law enforcement officers. founder and president of But for the past week and Brotherhood Ride, about the 556 miles, a group of 40 first group’s origin in 2007 with a responders carried an emotion- ride from Naples to Charleston, al load across Florida in honor South Carolina, after nine fire- Slugger of their fallen brothers. fighters died in a fire. Brotherhood Ride finished A month later one of the their week-long bicycle trek police officers that helped arrested around the state Wednesday with escort the cyclists on that initial a 90-mile jaunt from Green Cove ride passed away, the group was Springs to Live Oak — passing asked if they’d ride in his honor. for threats through Lake City in the middle They’ve been riding and hon- of the afternoon. One of the 25 oring ever since. first responders that died in the Sharon Sommers, James Sommers’ mother, hugs Jeff Morse, “I always say that it’s firefight- with bat line of duty last year that was ers that started the Brotherhood the found of the Brotherhood Ride, after the group honored honored by this year’s ride was Staff report James Sommers on Wednesday. James Sommers, Suwannee RIDE continued on 2A Wielding a baseball bat and allegedly threatening to kill a man with it landed a Lake City slugger in jail Tuesday. According to the Pence, Harris spar over covid-19 Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Associated Press American people to know, from John Ash, 65, of the very first day, President a SW Lanvale St. SALT LAKE CITY — Vice Trump has put the health of address, was walk- President Mike Pence defend- America first,” Pence said, ing down Eloise ed the Trump administration’s promising millions of doses of Ash Street around 1 handling of the covid-19 pan- a yet-to-be-announced treatment a.m. Tuesday when demic that has killed more than before the end of the year. authorities arrived in a response to 210,000 Americans Wednesday He also condemned Harris’ a complaint about him. night, while his Democratic skepticism of Trump’s bragging The report states that an irate challenger, Kamala Harris, con- about vaccines-to-be: “Senator, Ash told cops that he was going to demned “the greatest failure of I ask you: Stop playing politics beat the victim to death, stating the any presidential administration” with peoples’ lives.” man was giving crack cocaine to all during a largely civil debate There were heated exchanges the women in the area and “that he dominated by the coronavirus. early on, but overall it was a was going to put an end to it.” With Trump recovering from far more respectful affair than JACK GRUBER/USA Today Pool Photo The victim told authorities that the virus in Washington, Harris the opening presidential debate The candidates debate on stage during the Vice Presidential Ash and a woman were walking declared she would not take a eight days earlier when Trump debate between Republican nominee Vice President Mike past his house while engaged in a vaccine if the Republican pres- was the aggressor, butting in Pence and Democratic nominee Sen. Kamala Harris held verbal argument, the report states. ident endorsed it without the and almost yelling. Pence inter- at Kingsbury Hall at The University of Utah. Susan Page, The victim said Ash then grabbed backing of medical professionals. rupted at times, too, but nothing Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today, is the moderator. the woman by the arm and told her Pence, who leads the presi- like Trump had. to keep walking and to not hang dent’s coronavirus task force, The candidates debated in an presidential debate of 2020. asked to step into the presidency around the victim. acknowledged that “our nation’s auditorium where any guest who The prime-time meeting in even before the end of the next According to the CCSO, Ash then gone through a very challenging refused to wear a face mask was Salt Lake City elevated two can- term. Health questions loom time this year.” to be asked to leave, an extraor- didates with presidential aspira- BAT continued on 3A But he added, “I want the dinary backdrop for the only vice tions of their own who may be SPAR continued on 3A Vol. 146, No. 145 Obituaries . 3A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Advice & Comics . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO 87 71 THE REPORTER: Classifieds . 6A-7A Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 A few showers, 2A Sports . 10A 2A THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Brannan, the District 10 by our side and make sure of those lost and those who RIDE state representative, were that good trumps over came before us.” Continued From 1A among the local officials evil,” said Brannan, who Morse said the group that welcomed the group had a long career in law often is asked why they QUICK HITS Ride, but it’s a police officer to Live Oak and thanked enforcement before run- ride when they often don’t that made sure we contin- them for their efforts to ning for state office. “And know the first responders make sure fallen heroes that’s what fire rescue and Scripture of the Day ued the Brotherhood Ride,” they’re honoring. are not forgotten. The police do every day and I’ll Morse added during a brief “Why would we do “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: ceremony at the Live Oak group has honored nearly never forget that. this for a total stranger?” my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for Fire Department station 600 first responders and “I always told my employ- Wednesday evening follow- raised more than $500,000 ees at the (Baker County) Morse said reading from thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” ing the ride in which the to their families. Sheriff’s Office to always go the group’s mantra. “We — Psalm 63:1 (KJV) group recognized Sommers. “Nothing is more import- out and do a good job and wouldn’t, but we will for His mother, Sharon, was ant than those who stand never tarnish the memory our brothers.” present along with his chil- Thought for Today dren, Gavin and Leigha. Are right and wrong convertible terms, dependant Eddie Hand, the current upon popular opinion? Suwannee County fire chief — William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879, Ameri- and the assistant chief can journalist under Sommers, said the jordan law firm pllc ride is a special event, espe- attorneys at law cially for those who have lost a fellow firefighter. 386.755.3456 Winning Lottery Numbers “You don’t know how Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 9-5-2 [email protected] 934 NE Lake DeSoto Circle, Lake City, FL much this means to us, espe- (NEXT TO THE COURTHOUSE) Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 0-8-2-7 cially with us losing Chief Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 5-22-23-29-35 Sommers and you guys rid- If No Recovery, No Fees or Costs ing in his honor,” Hand said. “It’s an amazing thing that Free Initial Consultation See an error? you guys are doing.” The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news Len Stapleton, the If you are in need of a lawyer to handle a medical malpractice, wrongful items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, chairman of the Suwannee death or serious injury claim..