50¢ Friday/ Saturday May 24-25, 2019 www.perrynewspapers.com Outstanding warrants lead to cross-county chase: Five-day manhunt ends in 4 arrests The search for a wanted Stevan V. Simmons (on into the San Pedro Bay area him in Boyd. Through fugitive that spanned a a warrant for possession off Johnson Stripling Road our investigation, we five-day period beginning of a controlled substance) on a motorcycle. began mapping out his Friday, May 17, netted and Billy Joe Adkins, 54, “The search began when travel habits and the three additional arrests. (for warrants on violation we attempted to serve a places he frequented. On Joshua Warf, 26, was of probation and driving felony warrant on (Joshua) Tuesday, Inv. Jason Vinson taken into custody Tuesday while license suspended/ Warf for three counts of conducted a traffic stop on and his father, John Paul revoked). felony retail theft and he a vehicle he (Warf) was in Warf, 50, was also arrested Taylor County Sheriff’s fled. The warrants were – he was sitting in the back that same day for an Office (TCSO) deputies and from July 2018. He was seat. Warf fled on foot and outstanding warrant. members of the Drug Task becoming a priority,” TCSO we launched an exhaustive Two additional suspects Force (DTF) fanned out Capt. Jimmy Cash said. search of the area,” he said. were also arrested during across the county Friday “We were able to track ➟ Please see page 2 the initial search for Warf: after (Joshua) Warf, 26, fled him Friday, but then lost John Paul Warf Joshua Warf LDR exemption sought for crematory locations The Perry City Council The change comes at the technology, the reasons for is expected to take a final request of Nature Coast that are no longer a problem vote next Tuesday on an Memorials, LLC. and we no longer need that amendment to its Land “Previously, crematories prohibition,” City Manager Development Regulations were not allowed to be Taylor Brown told council (LDR) that would permit located next to funeral members during the first the location of crematories homes. However, with reading of the ordinance next to funeral homes. the advancements in held May 14. Will Suncoast extension Watch for detours run through Taylor Co.? U.S. 19 in Perry will be detoured around the railroad crossing adjacent to the West Frazer lumber mill beginning Monday, June 3, while a Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of Regional Economic Supporters of the Department of Transportation (FDOT) contractor works to repair the has signed off on a Significance (M-CORES) M-CORES bill point out crossing. According to FDOT officials, the closure and resulting detour controversial bill that could Program within the Florida’s population growth are expected to remain in place through Saturday, June 22. During the pave the way for a major Florida Department of is equal to adding a city the closure, through traffic will be detoured along U.S. 27 (Hampton Springs toll road extension -- likely Transportation (FDOT). size of Orlando each year. Avenue) and U.S. 221 (Jefferson Street). Work was recently completed cutting through Taylor The program is designed Proponents say the new on the crossing on U.S. 221 in downtown Perry. County -- including a 150- to advance construction of roads would alleviate traffic mile extension connecting three regional corridors that on existing roads, provide the Suncoast Parkway in will accommodate multiple new hurricane evacuation Commission votes to revoke tax the Tampa Bay area to the modes of transportation routes and bring economic Georgia border in Jefferson and various infrastructure development to rural areas. County. improvements -- including “We’re probably gonna exemption for townhouse project On Friday, May 17, broadband and sewer need more than that, just DeSantis was joined by access, among others. given how our state’s The Taylor County which had saved the to offer the economic Florida Senate President M-CORES requires the growing and given that Commission has revoked an company $4,358 in taxes in development incentives, Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) state to build two new toll traffic can be a big problem, ad valorem tax exemption 2017 and $4,341 in 2018. and commissioners have as he signed Senate Bill roads and extend a third toll and so I’m supportive of given to San Pedro The San Pedro had numerous discussions (SB) 7068 into law at a road through rural parts of infrastructure,” DeSantis Investments, LLC back Investments exemption was since then concerning the small, private ceremony Florida. said. in 2017 for “The Davis” the county’s only active county’s policies governing in Sarasota – one hour In signing the Environmentalists argue townhouse community. tax abatement, although the process. after a large public controversial bill, DeSantis the new roads will lead Stating the company’s the commission recently One of the issues that ceremony, attended by sided with Galvano over the to massive sprawl that recently-submitted annual approved a 10-year, 75% emerged during those law enforcement, students, environmental community, will destroy natural areas report had not shown tax exemption for Super- discussions was the fact politicians and the media, saying he believes Florida’s through undeveloped enough job creation to meet Pufft set to begin next year. the county had not been in which he signed another road network needs to portions of the state and the county’s guidelines, Taylor County voters requiring annual reports as bill banning texting while expand. alter the rural character of the commission voted overwhelmingly agreed outlined in the ordinance driving. “I think we need new communities in its path. unanimously last week to last year to extend the ➟ Please see page 2 The legislation creates roads in Florida to get ➟ Please see page 12 discontinue the exemption, commission’s authority the Multi-use Corridors around,” DeSantis said. Local VFW Post sounds call for assistance By CAITLYN BURCHETT is in need of at least four to join with us in the next contribute a few hours of dependent on donations. Staff Writer qualifying veterans with few weeks and become their time. A couple hours “The funds to support After more than four the ability to fill key post active in the oldest and each week would be more veterans and their families decades of service to the positions by June 11, most effective veterans than sufficient to keep the come directly from the local community, Veterans 2019, or it will lose its service organization in post open,” Kisamore said. fund-raising efforts and of Foreign Wars Post 9225 Congressional Charter the country. We know you VFW posts are the work of the local post of Perry may be forced to after 44 years of assisting are out there,” Post 9225 Congressionally Chartered members themselves,” close its doors due to a lack and advocating for area Chaplain Martin Kisamore 503(c) tax exempt fraternal Kisamore said. of veteran participation and veterans and their families. said. organizations. The posts According to Kisamore, community contributions. “This is an appeal to all “We need younger receive no government ➟ Please see page 2 Perry’s VFW Post 9225 local veterans who qualify veterans with the ability to funding and are entirely A life devoted to service, family As the oldest of five children, R.V. Later in his career, he trained men to be Memorial Park, beginning at 10 a.m. Hunter was used to taking charge. trainers themselves.” “Dad’s birth certificate reads his name as That experience, gained from “leading” R.V., who died in 2013, enlisted in the only ‘R.V. Hunter.’ His parents named him his three younger brothers and younger Air Force in March 1953, three months R.V., but when he enlisted in the Air Force, sister, came to the forefront when he joined before the Korean War ended. they told him he had to have a first name. the military a few months shy of his 20th He served stateside and later transitioned The Air Force recruiter had him make the birthday. to the Air Force Reserves. He was drafted R stand for Robert (which was his father’s “He showed leadership skills in his into the Army in 1956 and remained in name)...R.V. was not a Jr., even though he testing. He was the oldest of five, so he service (Reserves) until 1965. was the firstborn. His parents named their had to have leadership skills,” his son, A U.S. flag will be hoisted in R.V.’s honor second son Robert Jr.” Mike said. Mike Hunter, recalls. “He never served as a as part of the Memorial Day ceremony ➟ Please see page 3 R.V. Hunter combat serviceman, but he trained soldiers. planned Monday, May 27, at Veterans 5 Index One section 130th Year, No. 21 Weather Looking Back ......... A-4 Entertainment ....... A-8 Friday 93˚ Saturday 96˚ Sunday 94˚ Religion .................. A-5 Sports ................... A-9 68˚ 69˚ 74˚ Community ............ A-7 Classifieds .......... A-11 HOT A-2 Perry News-Herald May 24-25, 2019 Commissioners: Business didn’t meet county’s guidelines in original application ‘and we gave him the exemption anyway’ TAX EXEMPTION no longer meets the criteria the discussion with San time putting into place this and 10?” “Well, he didn’t meet Continued from page 1 of F.S. 196.012, the county Pedro Investments’ annual year?” Commissioner Pam “Ten,” Commissioner (the guidelines) in his administrator shall make report. Feagle asked. Malcolm Page said. original application, and governing the exemptions. a report to the board of “If you recall, we gave “I will say that when he “If it doesn’t fit (the we gave him the exemption This led to a request that county commissioners for this business owner an submitted his application, guidelines), then he doesn’t anyway,” Page said.