Vouchers Raise Real Concerns: Carswell
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A3 + PLUS >> Tag that lapsed on 4/20 led to pot bust, Story below CHS FOOTBALL CHS TENNIS Offers just keep Tiger makes coming for Smith it to state See Page 1B See Page 1B THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM MONSTER (TRAFFIC) JAM/2A TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Super-cool science SCHOOL FUNDING Vouchers raise real concerns: Carswell Conservative local schools chief finds himself in the odd position of agreeing with state Dems. By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] Columbia County’s superintendent says he and state Democrats are strange bedfellows joined in opposition to a bill heading to the governor’s desk that would expand Florida’s school voucher program. Republicans argue the “Family Empowerment Scholarship Program” created by the bill will benefit working-class families who are unhappy with their local public schools. But Superintendent Lex COURTESY Carswell, echoing criticisms from “Cool” being the operative word. The liquid nitrogen that is generating this condensation registers -320 Carswell Democrats, said the move could degrees Fahrenheit, though it can’t hurt Pinemount Elementary paraprofessional Allison Ward in its current undermine public education in form. Ward volunteered for a show put on at the school earlier this month by Steve Wilson (pictured), founder Florida, threatening an institution he has called the of “Super Cool Science.” Wilson, of Chiefland, has been traveling the country staging science shows at elemen- backbone of society. tary schools for 22 years now, he says. He put on three shows at Pinemount. Wilson described the liquid nitro- “The Family Empowerment Scholarship could gen seen above as “air in liquid form,” as 78% of the atmosphere consists of the stuff. impede our ability to continue to provide the high quality of education currently found in Columbia County because it directly subtracts funds from our budget and diverts them to private schools Pull up a chair and play for a while: without any of the same requirements imposed on SongFarmers seeking a bygone era SCHOOLS continued on 3A a country porch, said Banjo star Johns to the internationally Tag that lapsed appear on RFD-TV renowned banjo-bran- about movement. dishing musician from Lake City. on 4/20 led to By CARL MCKINNEY The SongFarmers [email protected] movement is a revival pot bust: Cops of the front-porch atmo- The crowd roared so sphere that has faded By CARL MCKINNEY fiercely he could actual- from modern life, said [email protected] ly feel the noise — thun- Johns, who is featured derous cheers so loud in a new documentary the shockwaves were chronicling the growing Sometimes the headline says it all. slapping his face. coalition of musicians Columbia County deputies stopped a dark-colored Performing at the and music-lovers. Lexus on Tuesday after noticing the California tag Grand Ole Opry all “Years ago — like on expired on April 20. They found three jars of mari- those years ago felt a Friday night — every- juana butter and residue, a vaporiz- every bit as incredible body in town would er and multiple bongs, according to as Skip Johns imagined come and gather on it would. Still, there’s FILE a Sheriff’s Office report. World class banjo player Skip Johns is the local the porch, at the gen- The driver, Tanner Christian something special about eral store, in the barn,” Kelm, 23, of Lake Wood, Calif., was a family, friends and leader of the SongFarmers movement, which Johns said. “People neighbors enjoying a seeks to recreate the atmosphere of “front arrested on charges of simple drug casual jam session on porch” performances of an bygone age. SKIP continued on 2A possession, possession with intent Kelm to distribute and possession of par- aphernalia. When deputies first stopped him, Kelm men- DUI alleged in critical-injury crash tioned marijuana being in the center console, the report states. By TONY BRITT one critically, when they hol-related and the woman Kelm’s girlfriend, Jenee Chase, then arrived at [email protected] were thrown from a pas- driving the van was driving the scene with marijuana “shake” and a large senger van in a crash on under the influence of alco- amount of currency in her 2013 Honda, also with Three teenagers were Interstate 10. Authorities injured Monday morning, allege the crash was alco- WRECK continued on 2A Burnett POT continued on 2A Vol. 145, No. 31 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Obituaries . 3A (386) 752-1293 Schools . 6A COMMUNITY CALENDAR SUBSCRIBE TO Sports . 1B THE REPORTER: 83 70 Big weekend of events ahead, 5A Voice: 755-5445 T-storms Advice & Comics . 3B Fax: 752-9400 2A THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Pull up a chair and play QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day SKIP “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous Continued From 1A words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 (KJV) would play. People would listen. People would dance. Thought for Today And people would have a good time. That’s what we’re bringing back. That’s Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun. what SongFarmers is about — Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959, U.S. architect — a sense of community.” “SongFarmers: Building a Front Porch ’round the World” airs Friday on RFD- Winning Lottery Numbers TV, available through Dish Network and DirecTV. Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 4-5-7 The film is also currently Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 5-0-1-8 available on YouTube and Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 3-6-18-34-35 other streaming services, and any locals who watch it may recognize a lot of See an error? familiar faces and places. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news There are chapters all items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, over the country, and FILE PHOTOS Johns said two of the most Skip Johns strums his guitar as a fellow musician accompanies him on a double please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will popular ones are the Lake bass during a jam session at a SongFarmers gathering last year. run in this space. Thanks for reading. City and Live Oak groups, which he and his wife run. to back another player’s tune. of gathering and communi- SongFarmers. At the Lake City chapter, The idea is to give musi- ty,” Johns said. One man who came into Submissions which meets from 7 p.m. cians an outlet to perform, Johns readily admits a recent meeting had been The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption to 9 p.m. the first Saturday share, collaborate and he was one of those who writing songs for years that information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would of the month at St. James learn from each other. sought fame and fortune. he’d never shared with any- like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture Episcopal Church on That kind of environ- “I chased money, I body — and that’s a com- and information to Robert Bridges: rbridges@lakecityreporter. Bascom Norris Drive, ment used to be common chased fame for years — mon story, Johns said. com. anywhere from 15 to 22 before the record industry as hard as a human being “Where else could that musicians and up to 200 was born, Johns said — could do that — but the man have gone and played listeners will show up each before music became more most gratifying feeling that that song, and have people Lake City Reporter time, Johns said. business than art. I’ve ever had musically is appreciate it, and play with HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 The Live Oak chapter, “The reason it went away SongFarming,” Johns said. him, and encourage him Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 which regularly sees about is money entered the pic- Music is its own lan- and applaud?” Johns said. Fax number ............ 752-9400 CIRCULATION 10 to 15 musicians and 80 ture,” Johns said. guage, Johns said, and a lot “He would have been sitting Circulation............. 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter to 100 listeners, meets from The advent of record play- of people would be talking in his living room had it not Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the ers and radios encouraged to themselves without been for SongFarmers.” The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Community Newspapers Inc., is a.m. on Sunday. last Thursday of the month musicians to try to make a published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any at the Live Oak library on living out of it, Johns said. Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at Ohio Avenue. Music became something Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should All genres of music and to enjoy in private, behind Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m. to report a types of acoustic instru- closed doors, he said. All material herein is property of the service error for same day re-delivery. ments are welcome, Johns “Families started gath- Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery whole or in part is forbidden without or service related credits will be issued. said — some chapters ering around the radio the permission of the publisher. In all other counties where home delivery U.S.