Smiling 'Possum' Faces
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
BCHS drama Wildcats hit the celebrates three pads in second decades with week of practice ‘Golden Thespis’ See page 20 See page 19 ThE BakER COUNty PREss 85th Year, Vol. 4 | Winner of 11 state awards for journalism including General Excellence in 2012 75¢ MAY 15, 2014 THURSDAY A BCSB Vows suit against hopeful is involved in city over zoning bar fight for package store JOEL ADDINGTON JOEL ADDINGTON MANAGING EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] [email protected] A Tampa Bay man in the liquor license business is vowing to sue James Clay Rhoden, who is the City of Macclenny for denying him the ability to sell a license he collecting signatures to run for owns to Smoker Friendly, a beer, wine and tobacco products retailer school board, was involved in a on S. 6th St. bar fight recently, according to The license, which used to belong to the now-shuttered ABC Li- accounts on the social media quors store in Macclenny, has been owned by Jerry Minton for years. website Facebook. The potential buyer, Ghandi “Andre” Ayoub, sought a special ex- Mr. Rhoden was reported- ception last February from the city’s Zoning Adjustment Board to sell ly defending a female patron liquor by the bottle. The application was unanimously denied. at the 121 Club on South 6th Mr. Minton argues that Mr. Ayoub didn’t need the special excep- Street in Macclenny on May 2, tion in the first place, and the city’s denial of the application and its which led to an altercation with refusal to sign Mr. Ayoub’s liquor license application with the state as a male. required by law is costing him money. While on the ground, Mr. To back up his claim, Mr. Minton cited the city’s liquor, or distilled Rhoden was kicked in the head spirits, laws, which govern how far liquor may be sold from churches, by another male, according to Purchase this photo at www.bakercountypress.com Photo by Jud Johnson schools and parks, and what days and times it may be sold. comments presumably written The Banjocats of Nashville perform behind a stuffed possum from Drop Tine Taxidermy dubbed Pearl the Possum. Mr. Minton said the code also explicitly exempts “package stores” by Mr. Rhoden to his niece on from the location restrictions. City codes define package stores as any Facebook. site selling alcoholic beverages with more than 14 percent alcohol. In a conversation between Mr. Mintons says he intends to file a lawsuit against the city to Mr. Rhoden and the niece, force zoning officials to sign on to Mr. Ayoub’s liquor license applica- who were at the bar with other Smiling ‘possum’ faces tion to the state. family members, Mr. Rhoden the best part of the affair were by the Rotary’s Possum Trot The section of the code referencing liquor or distilled spirits that wrote: JOEL ADDINGTON the many smiling faces. 5K run to kickoff the Saturday, Mr. Milton cited reads in part: “I will guarantee you that MANAGING EDITOR “The children’s games, see- May 10 activities. “No person shall construct any bar, beer hall or juke joint in the the person [who] decided to [email protected] ing all the smiles — it was just Finishing the race first was city, or use an existing building within one thousand (1,000) feet of kick me in the back of the head Hundreds of people joined smile after smile and multi- Susan Miller with a time of any church, public playground or public school. Provided, however, will feel the wrath of me! I a slate of volunteers and orga- generational,” she said. 22:05. Ty Hartley, finishing this prohibition does not include package stores [emphasis added], stood up and laughed that this nizers for the first annual Pos- The fundraiser orchestrated in 23:02, had the fastest time grocery stores, restaurants (over sixty 60 percent of gross revenue weak S.O.B. thought he could sum in the Park charity festival by the 12-member Lions Club among males under 18 while from food sales) and private clubs (Moose, Elks, Eagles, Veterans, get away. I will find out who at Celebration Park in Glen St. of Macclenny, with help from Sylvia Tomlinson was the etc).” he is and make him realize that Mary last weekend. the Rotary Club of Baker Coun- quickest of the females under “Where did they get the authority for a special exception hearing?” to mess with me ... to commit Event co-chair Cathy Men- ty and other groups, began with asked Mr. Milton. He said he’s been in contact with city attorney suicide is a better choice! I will dolera said the entertainment a Friday night concert, which See page 2 Frank Maloney, but the attorney has since stopped responding to his definitely make this kid know was stellar, as anticipated, and was followed the next morning questions. that I don’t have a heart for someone who tries to sneak at- See page 2 tack on an individual!” According to another Face- book conversation, Mr. Rho- den said the friend of the young Chronic offender again man who kicked him had suck- er punched a female. “I unfortunately took this apprehended with meth poor kid through old school character training and his Michael Anthony months to 12 years old, friend decided to kick me in Gray is back in jail. were in the vehicle. the back of the head while I was The longtime drug Deputy Mobley said down on the floor,” the post offender with a his- Mr. Gray was treated shows. tory of manufacturing for a bite injury to Screen shots of the Face- methamphetamine at his forearm inflicted book posts were captured and his north Macclenny by the dog when he forwarded to The Press by Al- residence and else- refused to show his lison Broughton, who said they Purchase this photo at www.bakercountypress.com Photo by Joel Addington PHOTO BY JOEL ADDINGTON where was re-arrested hands while lying on Matt and Dana Rio of Macclenny. were from Donna Mobley, both Leigh Dubie pilots a Super M Farmall tractor in the tractor parade. early on May 11 after the ground. The offi- of Macclenny. he fled two county cers found a prescrip- James Clay Rhoden, 47 and deputies into a wooded tion bottle nearby con- part of the staff at Northeast area off SR 121 South, taining a liquid that Florida State Hospital, is seek- then surrendered Anthony Gray later tested positive for ing the District 3 seat on the when they threatened meth. school board. to send the canine Blitz A subsequent ve- Also vying for the post are after him. hicle search turned former schools superintendent Mr. Gray’s wife Jes- up two more pill vials Paula Barton and DeAnna Re- sica Diane, 36, was at near the front passen- wis-McDuffie, who is employed the wheel of a 2000 ger seat, one of them by Mrs. Broughton and her Mercury SUV that fled a prescription belong- from deputies Chris ing to Mrs. Gray and See page 2 Walker an Daryl Mob- the second with eight ley after they spotted it Xanax pills inside. about 3 am on 121 near A dozen Oxycodone Interstate 10. They pills were located in a chased it to a location DVD case on the dash- off Sylvester Manning board. Rd. just south of there, Jessica Gray Police began look- County where Mr. Gray, 36, jumped ing for Mr. Gray about 24 out of the vehicle and ran into hours earlier after a complaint the woods. that he was cooking meth in a PHOTO BY JOEL ADDINGTON Purchase this photo at www.bakercountypress.com Photo by Joel Addington The couple’s four children, room at the Travelodge mo- landfill Susan Miller won the 5K. ranging in age from four Dell Bennett of Trenton, FL shows an experimental Briggs & Stratton engine. See page 2 payments bakercountypress.com COVERING BAKER COUNTY SINCE 1929 The county’s most professional and extensive source for news, classified, display and real estate listings to be cut ONLINE POLL RESULTS 70% Kenneth Roberts Who will you be % 904.259.2400 supporting in the Clerk 7 Staci Harvey See page 6 % of Courts race? 7 Julie Combs www.bakercountypress.com Visit our website and vote each week in our online poll. [email protected] Page 2 The Baker County Press Thursday, May 15, 2014 Smiling ‘Possum’ Vows suit on refusal faces at inaugural on zoning From page 1 18 at 25:55. Tim Williams was the top runner among the male adults From page 1 at 23:26. “Now I’m going to the max,” The Lions Club’s Joey Williams said bills are still being paid and he said last week. “I’m not donations are still being collected, so the amount raised by the inau- backing down now. They made gural festival has yet to be determined. me mad.” “Our goal was to raise $1000 so I think we’ll probably meet our The city’s zoning and build- goal,” said Mr. Williams, a county judge. “It probably won’t be a huge ing director, Mike Walker, amount of money though.” countered that city ordinances He estimated some 500 people attended the festival, which fea- do, in fact, require a special ex- tured antique tractors, engines, cars and trucks; homemade ice ception to sell packaged liquor. cream, children’s games, and yes, possums. City staff, the city attorney Children’s book author Donna Elkins brought a few baby possums and Mr.