Seven BCHS Macclenny lauds weightlifters teen for pulling qualify for grandmother state meet... from a fire ... See page 16 See page 8 ThE BakER COUNty PREss 84th Year, Vol. 51 | Winner of 11 state awards for journalism including General Excellence in 2012 75¢ APRIL 17, 2014 THURSDAY 15-year Conference ‘School of Champions’ Glades JON SHUMAKE | SPORTS EDITOR | [email protected] term for Title for the Baker County Middle School is quickly becoming the School ICE jail of Champions. The Bobcat baseball team became the school’s third sports string of Bobcats! team to hoist a conference championship trophy this school year reported when they defeated the visiting Madison County 2-1 on April 10. “I’m super proud of my boys,” head coach Matt Turner said. burglaries “To be a second-year program and win a district championship like that shows that Baker County baseball is serious business.” closing One-half of a two-person See page 12 team responsible for a rash JOEL ADDINGTON of home burglaries in Bak- MANAGING EDITOR er County before and after [email protected] Christmas, 2012 drew a 15- year prison sentence in return An administrative officer for multiple no contest pleas with the Baker County Sher- in circuit court on April 8. iff’s Office says there’s no cause Charles Wayne Cope, 36, for alarm at a report that the until recently indicated he Glades County jail that served would go to trial for his role as a model for the struggling in eight Baker County facility is closing burglaries for lack of ICE inmates. between The facility will reportedly Novem- close in the next few months, ber 29 of according to a story in the that year Glades County Democrat pub- and mid- lished April 10. January 6 Two days before, report- and at one er Charles M. Murphy wrote, point in- Glades County Sheriff Stuart sisted on Whiddon made the announce- defending ment at a meeting of the Glades himself County Commission, citing a loss of inmates from the federal before Charles Cope William Photo by Debbie Pelham agency Immigration and Cus- Salmon of Gainesville was re- The BCMS baseball team with their championship trophy. toms Enforcement, or ICE, that instated as his taxpayer-fund- cost the jail $1 million during a ed attorney. two month period. His co-defendant Julie “We had a meeting with ICE Driggers, 44, entered similar in Miami last Friday and had a pleas in November of last year Merging football and ‘corn hole’ heart-to-heart with them and and was placed on a five-year probation after serving more than ten months in county We have been in com- jail. She was poised to testify Baker County entrant against Mr. Cope had the case munication with Glades gone to trial. County officials and An alert county deputy who at ‘One Spark’ in Jax recognized the defendants’ they state they are not vehicle based on an earlier de- JOEL ADDINGTON The game incorporates every closing their facility and scription stopped them on CR MANAGING EDITOR facet of football, from offense 125 on January 15 and noticed [email protected] and defense to touchdowns, are in fact continuing to a blue pry bar in the car that sacks and interceptions. matched the color on doors What do you get if you com- Though there are various operate and hold ICE that had been forced open at bine American football with types of games that may be detainees. some of the crime scenes. another beloved southern past played with one game set, the –Administration Chief Brian Bishop Mr. Cope, a three-time con- time, corn hole? basic premise is this: two op- Baker County Sheriff ’s Office victed felon from Jacksonville, Gridiron Toss, that’s what. posing players toss bean-bag had a .45 caliber pistol in the It’s a new game invented by footballs onto platforms about car, prompting a felony charge Baker County native Stacy Sim- 20 feet apart, and depending in addition to those of armed mons with help from his father on where the bags land on the they told us it probably won’t burglary, burglary, grand Johnny Simmons of Glen St. platforms, the respective play- get much better,” the sheriff theft, felony criminal mischief Mary, and his two brothers ers are awarded offensive or was quoted as saying. and dealing in stolen property. Matthew and Jeremy, of Glen defensive (negative) yardage, He explained the Glades In all, the defendants were and Sanderson, respectively. which moves the figurative County jail needs at least 400 charged with eight burglaries The family debuted Gridiron football up or down a field be- inmates to stay afloat, but it during that period, stealing Toss at last week’s One Spark tween the two platforms. has averaged about 200 in re- guns, tools, jewelry and elec- festival, billed as the world’s “Anything that happens in cent months. tronics. The locations were largest crowd-funding festival real football, happens in this Officials in Baker County, along CR 125 between Glen and held in downtown Jack- game,” explained Matthew where federal inmates includ- St. Mary and Cuyler, Crews Rd sonville for the second year in Simmons, 27. ing ICE are housed, have said and CR 23D. a row. And whatever you do, don’t they need about 400 inmates They would knock on doors The four-day festival drew toss the bags into the corn in all, including local prisoners and if someone responded some 250,000 spectators. holes. That’ll net you a turn- and those from other federal inquire about a lost dog. If While the Simmons family over. agencies, to remain financially no one answered, they forced didn’t garner any of the cash The Simmons have spent viable. their way in a rear or side door. prizes awarded at the event, two years perfecting the foot- Brian Bishop, the Baker Court records show that they garnered something just ball simulation game. They County Sheriff’s Office ad- as valuable – exposure. showcased it at One Spark in ministration chief, said there’s “It’s been better than we an- hopes of garnering $100,000 nothing to worry about here, See page 2 ticipated,” said Stacy Simmons, to begin marketing and manu- Purchase this photo at www.bakercountypress.com Photo by Joel Addingon and questioned the veracity of 42, on the second day of the facturing the games, now built Stacy Simmons demonstrates Gridiron Toss at weekend event. the article in the Glades County festival. “We’ve gotten a lot of by hand in Stacy’s Jacksonville newspaper. which will take place later this “It’s awesome,” Stacy Sim- good response. This is the first home. “We have been in communi- month, will be the best way to mons said of One Spark. “I love time we’ve had it out in public “If we have to build it in Sta- cation with Glades County of- continue to introduce the game the festival and I’m glad we and getting people’s opinion on cy’s garage, we’re capable of do- ficials and they state that they Camp to the public and build a follow- were able to participate in it.” it and it’s been probably 95 per- ing it,” said the father Johnny are not closing their facility and ing for the product. While there, the brothers cent positive. Everybody loves Simmons, 65, who works for a are in fact continuing to oper- During One Spark, the Sim- tracked the yardage of players it. Most people have been crazy Swedish bearing manufactur- ate and hold ICE detainees,” Tracey mons set up a prototype of and the top 10 players com- about it and saying it will take ing company. said Mr. Bishop by e-mail last Gridiron Toss and invited pass- peted for a game set during a off like wild fire. And I believe They believe starting a ersby to play. rehab it.” league, the first meeting for See page 2 See page 2 bakercountypress.com COVERING BAKER COUNTY SINCE 1929 center The county’s most professional and extensive source for news, classified, display and real estate listings ONLINE POLL RESULTS 69% Adam Giddens Who are you most likely % 904.259.2400 rejected to support in the District 4 24 James Bennett county commission race ? 7% Undecided www.bakercountypress.com See page 5 Visit our website and vote each week in our online poll. [email protected] Page 2 The Baker County Press Thursday, April 17, 2014 Glades ICE jail said closing... He was Man refused to From page 1 Sheriff Whiddon was quoted as saying. “This is ‘Spark’ week. about Democrats in Washington not wanting to “We have not seen a drastic reduction, in fact, arrest people who are here illegally.” surrender a child February ICE ADP [average daily population] was Sheriff Whiddon did not return a call from The Press attempting to confirm his public statements. entrant... JON SHUMAKE was also charged with misde- 216, which is above what we had been told to pre- Other recent news reports show there may be [email protected] meanor battery and resisting pare for,” he said. From page 1 some validity to the criticism about lax enforce- without violence. The next month in March, ICE average dropped A Glen St. Mary man was ar- ment of immigration laws. shootout tournament on Sat- Mr. Easter’s sister, Chris- slightly to 202, according to a report from the rested for felony cruelty toward TheHill.com, which chronicles Congress and urday. tina Jeffers, was also arrested sheriff’s office, which manages the county jail a child and interfering with the the national political scene, reported on March 31 The winner was a football for breach of peace and resist- that’s owned by the nonprofit Baker Correctional custody of a minor on the af- that ICE officials released some 68,000 illegal im- coach from Camden County, ing arrest without violence af- Development Corporation, or BCDC.