50¢ Wednesday Two Sections August 14, 2013 52nd year, No. 32 Taco Times www.perrynewspapers.com Serving the Tree Capital of the South Since 1961 Two fathers, children News Forum Four killed in Sunday crash BACK Steinhatchee loved ones died while being transported Sandra Carmichael, also of stop sign posted at the Aug. 11. Lazo was traveling are mourning the loss of two (in an ambulance) to a Steinhatchee. intersection of S.E. 55A northbound on 55A and fathers and their children waiting helicopter. The family was returning Highway and U.S. 19. failed to stop at the stop to who were killed in an early Levi Micale’s survivors home from Shird Island, a The driver of that vehicle, sign before entering the morning crash Sunday in include his mother, Mary local Dixie County park, Eddie Pinner Lazo, 35, of intersection at U.S. 19. Dixie County. Grant, brother Dewayne where they had gone to Cross City, was critically He hit the right side of SCHOOL Ray “Bucky” Enfinger, Long, sister Nancy Long watch the Perseids meteor injured when he partially Enfinger’s truck, causing 51, his son-in-law, Julius and maternal grandmother, shower. ejected from his 2001 both vehicles to cross the “Jay” Micale Sr., 35, and Susan Grant, all of The four were traveling Ford truck. He remains in eastbound and westbound Micale’s 13-year-old son, Steinhatchee. together in Enfinger’scritical condition at Shands lanes of U.S. 19., Florida Inside today Levi, were all pronounced Katie Enfinger’s1992 GMC truck when it Hospital in Gainesville. Highway Patrol Sgt. Tracy Taylor County students dead at the scene; Enfinger’s survivors include her was “t-boned” by another The crash happened ➟ Please see page 3 return to school Monday, 16-year-old daughter, Katie, maternal grandmother, vehicle which ran the around 2:15 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. You’ll find all the information to help you prepare for the 2013-14 school year, featured in the Early morning house fire What does special “Back to School” section inside today’s Taco Times. future hold ‘Ride to the Ranch’ for U.S. 19 this Saturday First United Methodist corridor? Church will host a “Ride A committee established to the Ranch” bike run this by the Perry-Taylor County Saturday, Aug. 17, benefitting Chamber of Commerce the Madison Youth Ranch to examine ways to help (an extension of the Florida businesses owners revitalize United Methodist Children’s Perry’s U.S. 19 corridor will Home). hold a meeting Thursday, Registration begins at the Aug. 15, to discuss options church on North Jefferson and seek community Street at 9 a.m. Riders will partners. begin the run at 10 a.m. Lunch The meeting will be held (in Perry) will be served at 1 at 6 p.m. in the county p.m. commission meeting room Tickets are $15 per at the County Courthouse motorcycle and $5 for Annex on Green Street. passengers. An early morning fire Monday, Aug. 12, destroyed a home on Dice Road. Taylor County Fire-Rescue “We’re going to be The event will include a (TCFR) officials said the family was not home when the fire started and the State Fire Marshal’s office discussing what we want photo scavenger hunt to is investigating. Fire-Rescue received a call reporting the fire around 2 a.m. “The family who lived to accomplish and how to the Madison Youth Ranch in there actually discovered the fire when they came home and called 911,” officials said. Assisting at get there,” said Committee Pinetta. the scene were volunteers from fire stations 2 and 3 as well as members of the City of Perry Fire Member Jack Brown. Department. No injuries were reported and the family received assistance from local American Red Help available Cross representatives. The house was declared a total loss. ➟ Please see page 3 through Alzheimer program The Taylor County Senior Center has announced the Murder suspect remains at large availability of funds through the Alzheimer’s Disease It’s been a month since Whitehead Jr., 26, may According to multiple a black male, 6’0” and 160 Initiative Program. former Taylor County have fled to the Miami witnesses, Whitehead lbs. The program can serve resident Samuel Lee area. forced his way into the He has an extensive clients ages 18 and older Hamilton Jr. was fatally On Sunday, July 15, apartment where he and criminal history and is who suffer from a diagnosis shot in Gainesville and the GPD received multiple Hamilton got into a verbal considered armed and or suspected diagnosis of United States Marshal’s 911 calls just after 6 altercation. extremely dangerous, dementia, Alzheimer’s or Service and Gainesville a.m. reporting a person The altercation ultimately officials said. other type of memory loss. Police Department (GPD) shot in the area of resulted in Whitehead He is wanted for The individual must have are still looking for the Southern Pines Apartments allegedly producing a first degree murder in this someone who lives with them suspected shooter. in Gainesville. handgun then shooting case. and helps care for them on a According to GPD Officers locatedand killing Hamilton, Hamilton, formerly of regular basis. officials, they have received Hamilton, 37, deceased Gainesville investigators Perry, was a 1994 graduate For more information, or to unverified informationwith an apparent gunshot reported. of Taylor County High access the services provided Larry Whitehead Jr. that the suspect, Larry wound to his head. Whitehead is described as School. under the program, please contact the Elder Helpline at (800) 963-5337. Festival award is ‘SUNsational’ Library workshops Jobless continue Thursday The Taylor County Public Library’s remaining adult rate on workshops for August include the following: • Thursday, Aug. 15: Basic Art Workshop at 6 p.m. ($15 the rise materials fee); • Thursday, Aug. 22: Basic Taylor County’s Floral Arranging & Bow Tying unemployment rate edged at 6 p.m. ($5 materials fee); up for the second straight • Tuesday, Aug. 27: Abe month in June, settling at Whitfield, Layering & Grafting 7.8 percent. at 6 p.m. The county’s unemployment rate began the year around 9.2 percent and fell steadily through Weather April, when it was 7.4 percent. Since then, it has Wednesday 92˚ been working its way slowly back up. June’s rate of 7.8 percent 60% 75˚ was still significantly lower than the 9.4 percent reported Thursday 91˚ in June 2012. Taylor had the 23rd 60% 74˚ highest unemployment rate among Florida’s 67 counties in June, with 757 people unemployed and Index 8,942 employed, according Editorial .................. A-2 to figures released by the Florida Department of Living ...................... A-4 The Perry-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce received first place in the 2013 SUNsational Economic Opportunity Awards program hosted by the Florida Festivals & Events Association. Director Dawn Taylor was Religion ................... A-5 (DEO). presented the award during ceremonies held Aug. 8 in Bonita Springs. The chamber was recognized for Community ............. A-6 Among Taylor’s the KIDZ-Que held in conjunction with the annual Southern Pines Blues & BBQ Festival. neighbors, Dixie County had Chamber board members are shown above with the award: (l to r) Cline Moore, Paul Dyal, Wade Sports ..................... A-7 the highest unemployment Goodman, Charlton Knowles, Lee Bennett, Taylor, Marvin Brooks, Jack Brown and Rodney Classifieds .............. A-8 rate at 9.5 percent, followed McKinley. The FFEA SUNsational Awards program recognizes members’ innovation, individuality by Madison County at 9.3 and creative collaboration. The 2013 Southern Pines Blues & BBQ Festival will be held percent. Below Taylor were Dec. 13-14 at Forest Capital Park. The KIDZ-Que will be held Saturday, Dec. 14. The association’s Lafayette at 6.7 percent mission is “to promote and strengthen the festival, event and fair industry in Florida through ➟ Please see page 3 education, networking, dissemination of information, and the cultivation of high standards for the industry.” A-2 Taco Times August 14, 2013 Editorial Character Education NOW thanked for helping youth Dear Editor: responsibility, kindness, is supported through Character Education fairness, forgiveness, community donations. NOW is a wonderful group friendship, compassion, I would highly of individuals who take their patience and respect are recommend our community, time to work with students discussed. businesses and leaders in the various schools. Students listen to words support this successful Their main objective is of wisdom daily on video program. These students for students to understand from community members will soon be our future that character is the core with this program. With community leaders. of who we are. This team some of our youth lacking I cannot thank Paul helps develop sound moral in character, morals and Nowlin, Dustin Logan and character in students. This values, this is a much their staff of volunteers is the greatest lesson we can needed program in our enough for bringing this teach our youth. schools. program to the youth of our Topics such as honesty, There is no cost for any schools and community. citizenship, trustworthiness, students as this program Anne Sesock Letters to the Editor City’s farmers market a white elephant instead? Midweek Muddle By SUSAN H. LINCOLN Dear Editor: adequate and far less costly. locate any programed seeds I applaud Mr. Gamble for As it stands now several or plants. What is a vendor speaking out about the, so thousand dollars was spent to do with produce that called, new farmers market. needlessly and the money ripens on days the market is He said much in his letter is long gone from Taylor unavailable? to the editor but left much County and the City of After I read the five pages unsaid.