1A WEEKEND EDITION FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JUNE 22-23, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Skunkie owners blast ‘stories’ Exotic zoo not a nuisance, they say: ‘There is no smell.’ Fair deadline By HANNAH O. BROWN June 22 at 5 p.m. is [email protected] the deadline for all hog entries to be entered in Owners of Skunkie Acres, an exotic zoo in the 2012 Columbia County White Springs, defended their business at the Fair. Children must be county commission meeting on Thursday night, between the ages of 8-18 calling statements made by county commission- and be enrolled in any er Ron Williams “blatant outright stories.” Columbia County pub- At a county commission meeting in April, lic or private school, or Williams called Skunkie Acres a nuisance due enrolled in home school. to an unpleasant smell coming from the prop- All entries must be turned erty. in to the Columbia County On Monday, representatives from county Fairgrounds office or by code enforcement, the Department of Health calling 752-8822. and Building and Zoning Board showed up at Skunkie Acres property unannounced for a Groundbreaking surprise inspection. After nine months of “There is no smell out there,” Barbara Haake planning and fundraising said. the Richardson Memorial She went on to say that she had a right to Committee have set June take those who slander her family to court. 22 at 10 a.m. for the “If somebody makes a false statement about ground breaking of the us, I will take them to court,” Barbara Haake long awaited Richardson said. memorial. Ceremonies will Bernard Haake said the comments made be held at the Richardson by Williams were “totally unfounded and not HANNAH O. BROWN/ Lake City Reporter Community Center in Lake true.” Bernard Haake addresses the county commission about statements made by Ron Williams concerning City and the memorial will “Why should anyone want to destroy an his exotic zoo Skunkie Acres. be dedicated to the princi- animal shelter? I don’t understand this,” he pals, teachers and students said. “We’re doing nothing but trying to rescue Skunkie acres. These statements were followed by two that made Richardson into unwanted and unloved animals. That’s all we do “Honestly, Columbia County couldn’t even neighbors who expressed discontent over the the educational facility of out there.” come close to doing the job that those people zoo. excellence for 50 years. Bernard Haake went said the property do,” he said. “Everyday I have to live with a horrific smell Skunkie Acres is located on, approximately 5 Neighbors Slyvia Patrick and Shannon and flies,” neighbor Linda Cason said. Class reunion acres in White Springs, is zoned for agricultural Sanders spoke in favor of Skunkie Acres. Cason said that animals will often end up on There will be a reunion use. Patrick said her children often spend nights her property, having escaped from the exotic for the Suwannee High Wilhelm Haake, a relative, spoke at the meet- there, helping with the animals. zoo. She said a peacock escaped and perched School classes of ’65, ing as well, saying there are political issues “This is an educational place for the kids,” ’66, ’67, ’68 and ’69 at the involved with Williams statements against Patrick said. “And they have fun.” SMELL continued on 3A Suwannee County Club at 6 p.m. Friday, June 22, 2012. Tickets are $25 per per- son for dinner, cake and a short program. Come out Stakeholders to have their say and socialize with your old classmates. RSVP by June issues. groundwater. 15 to Brenda Newbern Advistory unit The meeting is scheduled for The 12 committee members Sanders at 386-758-9832 or to offer views on 6 p.m. in the St. Johns District’s are representatives from public 288-0756. Send checks or Governing Board Room, 4049 water supply, businesses, power money order to 681 NW water supply. Reid St. in Palatka. Meetings are generation, mining, agriculture, Amanda St, Lake City, FL open to the public, who can par- environmental groups and local 32055. ticipate during the public com- government from the region. By LAURA HAMPSON ment period. David Clanton of the City of Lake Flower arranging class [email protected] The two water management City utilities represents public Bruce Cavey of The districts and DEP formalized water suppliers. Gardener’s Emporium The stakeholder adviso- the partnership in September to On the meeting agenda is iden- will present a hands-on, ry committee to the North coordinate water resource man- tifying water supply issues for instructional program on Florida Regional Water Supply agement in North Florida. The discussion and further examina- flower arranging Saturday, Partnership will hold its first advisory committee is one objec- tion and establishing a regular June 23 at 2 p.m. at the meeting Monday in Palatka. tive of the partnership, along with meeting schedule. Main Library. This free The committee is an advisory developing a regional water sup- The partnership was estab- program is sponsored body that will offer viewpoints ply plan, collecting and sharing lished by the Suwannee River by the Friends of the from stakeholder groups to the science-based data, developing a Water Management District, the Columbia County Public St. Johns River and Suwannee shared tool to predict and assess St. Johns River Water Management Library. File River water management districts water resource impacts, studying District and DEP as an initiative Barry Gwinn (left) and Wanda Gwinn, and the Florida Department of the regional groundwater decline, to protect natural resources and Farmers market of Taylors, S.C., coast along the Environmental Protection to help and setting minimum water flows On Saturday, June 23 the Ichetucknee River for the first time. address the region’s water supply and levels for surface water and WATER continued on 3A Summer Solstice kicks in at the Lake DeSoto Farmers Market. There will be live music with Ted Wright and lots of fresh, locally grown Housing market food will be plentiful as we prepare for our summer looking stronger celebrations. This week, look for featured vendor Michelle Bledsoe and her okra, squash, cucumbers, Agents say sales up, tomatoes, red potatoes, corn, peppers, eggplant, inventory down after onions, cantaloupe, and watermelons. Grandma’s solid month of May. Kitchen Garden will have heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, lettuce, By TONY BRITT and arugula. Plus, many [email protected] more vendors will be bringing their homegrown May was a strong month for the local housing mar- and homemade delicious ket with an increase in new listings, pending sales and healthy food, plants, baked closed sales compared to the same point last year, based goods and crafts. The mar- on figures from the Florida Realtors Association. ket is open every Saturday “We had a good month last month,” said Dan Gherna, from 8 a.m. to non in executive vice president and CEO of the Lake City Board Wilson Park located along of Realtors. “May was a good month. Sales are trending Lake DeSoto between up, inventory is trending down and the average price has the Columbia County stayed pretty much the same, but the median price has Courthouse and Shands dropped though.” Ham operator COURTESY Lakeshore Hospital in The report compares housing results from May 2012 downtown Lake City. to May 2011. In May 2011 there were 24 single-family Aaron Trippensee operates a VHS transceiver during a field day operation. Several local amateur radio operators will participate in a field day communications contest to improve HOUSING continued on 3A emergency preparedness this weekend. For more, see Page 3A Vol. 138, No. 107 CALL US: Opinion ............... 4A TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 93 71 People................. 2A SUBSCRIBE TO T-Storm Chance Obituaries ............. 5A PEOPLE SUNDAY THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics ......... 8B Abe Lincoln, Local news Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles ................. 2B Vampire Hunter roundup. 2A 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JUNE 22-23, 2012 Celebrity Birthdays Thursday: Thursday: n Singer Kris Kristofferson n Football player Kurt Afternoon: 6-7-8 Afternoon: 7-2-0-6 Wednesday: is 76. Warner is 41. Evening: 1-1-4 Evening: 7-6-3-5 2-16-17-28-31 n Singer Todd Rundgren n Baseball player Brant is 64. Brown is 41. n Actress Meryl Streep is n TV personality Carson PEOPLE IN THE NEWS 63. Daly is 39. n Actress Lindsay Wagner n Actor Donald Faison is is 63. 38. n Singer Cyndi Lauper is n Football player Champ Burton, crew bring Lincoln 59. Bailey is 34. Daily Scripture Vampire tale to screen “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shad- NEW YORK — liant researcher stopped “Abraham Lincoln: THE short by an unnamed neu- ow of the Almighty.” WHAT?” rological disease and the - Psalm 91:1 NIV When you heard one unraveling of her family. of this summer’s popcorn Tony Award winner Joe films has our 16th presi- Mantello will direct, as he dent hunting vampires, did at MCC. Quote of the Day you probably did a double Metcalf is currently in take. You’re not alone. “Long Day’s Journey into “If a man does his best, what else is Benjamin Walker, who Night” in London’s West there?” stars as Lincoln in the End. Her other Broadway horror thriller “Abraham roles include “Brighton - General George S. Patton (1885-1945) Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” Beach Memoirs” and says he realizes that it’s a ASSOCIATED PRESS “November” opposite pretty weird idea: “We get Anthony Mackie portraying Will Johnson, left, and Benjamin Nathan Lane.