SATURDAY/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27-28, 2021 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 WEEKEND EDITION Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM INSIDE TODAY + >> PREP BASEBALL SUNDAY PLUS 2021 Fort White Baker County man injured silences Columbia with in crash with Columbia & Suwannee one-hitter County 6C semi Consumer Sean of the South SEE 3A SEE 1B Directory SIEGMEISTER INDICTED Former State Attorney mitted while in office. vide “favorable disposition of according to the U.S. Attorney’s government will seize property arrested in Arizona on Jeff Siegmeister was accused charges” in return for the pur- office. obtained from those proceeds, bribery, extortion charges. of participating chase of a bull and campaign con- Siegmeister, 52, of Live Oak, which includes Siegmeister’s for- in a bribery and tributions, according to charging was also accused of reducing mer house and land in Suwannee By JAMIE WACHTER extortion scheme documents filed Wednesday in charges in return for a discount on County. [email protected] with Marion the U.S. District Court for the a tractor purchase in another case The indictment alleges that Michael O’Steen, Middle District of Florida. The as well as swindling Coca-Cola in June 2017 a client of O’Steen The former Third Judicial Circuit a 41-year-old documents were sealed until shares away from an elderly man, was charged with attempted first State Attorney has been indicted on Dixie County Siegmeister was arrested. The who he served as legal guardian degree murder, arson, possession a host of charges including bribery Siegmeister attorney, in which Associated Press reported that he for as well as filing a false tax and extortion for misdeeds com- Siegmeister allegedly would pro- was arrested Friday in Arizona, return. If convicted, the federal INDICTED continued on 6A Covid, budget crunch confront Fit to be crowned state legislators State expected to face severe budget shortfall. By JAMIE WACHTER [email protected] Bradley Brannan State legislators have That time will be hov- already been hard at work in ered over by the covid-19 Tallahassee. pandemic and its effects on That work will gain speed everything: from the state’s for the 60-day sprint of the budget, which is expect- regular session, which ed to decrease following a begins Tuesday. budget shortfall that is pro- “It will go by in the blink of jected to be anywhere from an eye, too,” said Rep. Chuck $2.5 billion to $4 billion; to Brannan, a Macclenny the needs of communities, Republican, whose district businesses and individuals includes Columbia and Suwannee counties. BUDGET continued on 2A Teens arrested after leading cops on chase Staff report who was able to jump out of the vehicle, dropping a weap- Two Lake City teens, one on, following the chase. a 14-year-old juvenile, were Madison Lynne Lipscomb, arrested 18, was charged with fleeing COURTESY Wednesday and attempting to elude law Lake City’s Lindsey Langston was crowned USA National Miss Florida last weekend. Langston, who night after they enforcement, burglary of a was Miss Florida Teen in 2018, will now compete for Miss USA in July. led police on dwelling, trespassing, posses- a brief chase sion of a controlled substance when authori- and possession of drug para- Lake City’s Langston named Miss Florida ties attempted phernalia in connection with Lipscomb to apprehend the case. By JAMIE WACHTER in three years, Lindsey Langston of USA National Miss Florida. them for their The 14-year-old male who [email protected] was sure of herself. “For the past year, I’ve prayed a alleged involvement in bur- was taken into custody, was That calmness helped the Lake consistent prayer…I’ve kept ask- glarizing a local residence. charged with burglary of a After a year of uncertainty and City native and 2018 Fort White ing God, ‘only open doors if they Authorities are attempting standing in front of the judges at High graduate walk away last to apprehend another suspect CHASE continued on 5A a beauty pageant for the first time weekend with the crown and title LANGSTON continued on 6A A Special Welcoming Gift For You We Are Offering: For Only • ”Soft-Touch” Initial Exam (ADA-00110) ity Re C po • Panoramic X-Ray $ e r (ADA-00330) 00 k t a e r • Diagnosis (if L needed) 49 With This Ad About Ask redit has a rig ht to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be CareC I Need to See a Dentist Right Away! reimbursed for payment for any service, examination, or treatment if performed as a and other R result of and within 72 hours of responding E E the advertisement for the free, dis to financing A IC counted fee, examination or treatm DE O We Strive to See You Today or Tomorrow! ent. COUPON #008 available RS’ CH REGU (wac) LARLY $217.00 • A SAVINGS OF $168.00 Open 6 Days a Week • Mon. – Sat. • Evening Appointments Available 1788 S.W. Barnett Way – Hwy. 47 South • AspireDentalLakeCity.com • 386-752-2336 Vol. 146, No. 243 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Sports . 1B Classifieds . 5B-6B SUBSCRIBE TO 86 62 THE REPORTER: Business . 1C Voice: 755-5445 Partly cloudy, 2A Fax: 752-9400 2A SATURDAY/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27-28, 2021 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER BUDGET to struggling restaurants,” lawsuits from everyone that to different degrees of she said, adding the indus- that walked through their felonies if the expense of Continued From 1A try believes takeout meals doors.” responding to the call tops QUICK HITS is a trend that will contin- Two other key bills that $1,000, someone is injured Scripture of the Day across the state to the leg- ue even after the pandemic Bradley is sponsoring are or killed. islature itself. Due to covid subsides. a data privacy bill that will “It puts more teeth into “In this was manifested the love of God toward protocols, the state Capitol The legislature also protect individuals’ infor- the false reporting of crime us, because that God sent his only begotten Son is not as bustling as in years appears on the door step of mation from being sold for statute,” Brannan said. “It’s into the world, that we might live through him.” past, reduced to mostly leg- throwing a lifeline to busi- marketing online and a bill dangerous for everybody — 1 John 4:9 (KJV) islators and staff members. nesses across the state, as that would require farm that’s responding to some- Testimony for committee well as the healthcare indus- equipment suppliers to pro- thing that’s not true.” meetings was mostly con- try, with a covid liability pro- vide the diagnostic software The other crime bill that ducted virtually. tection bill that has already to farmers and independent Brannan has sponsored Thought for Today “I wish people could come cleared committees and is repair shops to allow for involves lewd and lascivious A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition. but we’re doing the best we ready for full session vote. maintenance and fixes with- acts committed against 16- — William Arthur Ward, 1921-1994, American writer can to make sure that we’re Brannan noted in years out being required to return and 17-year-olds. Currently, still accessible and give folks past, a full session hasn’t to the dealer. if someone older than 24 the opportunity to discuss been held on the House “We do that for automo- commits the crime against really important issues,” floor for the first couple of biles and with commercial a victim of those ages, the aded Sen. Jennifer Bradley, weeks. This year, a floor ses- trucks, it can be done safely only charge permitted is Winning Lottery Numbers a Republican from Fleming sion is scheduled for both without compromising intel- simple battery. Pick 3: (Thursday p.m.) 1-2-1 Island whose district also Thursday and Friday. lectual identity,” she said. “I It’s something Brannan Pick 4: (Thursday p.m.) 4-0-3-0 includes both Columbia and The covid liability pro- think it would save farmers experienced first-hand Fantasy 5: (Thursday) 6-14-16-27-31 Suwannee. “But we’re doing tection, which will go into a lot fo time and money.” during his law enforcement the best we can in difficult effect as soon as it is signed Brannan, a former law career. See an error? circumstances.” into law, as well an anti-riot- enforcement officer, has two Brannan has also filed a The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news For Bradley, that means ing bill pushed by DeSantis bills that will increase the number of appropriations items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, sponsoring a bill that will are likely to be up for quick penalties for various crimes. requests, including $2.8 please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will allow restaurants to contin- votes. The first involves the million for improvements to run in this space. Thanks for reading. ue doing the best they can “That liability is going false reporting of crimes, Fort White’s water system in a covid world. While an to be a cloud, if we didn’t especially a growing trend and $2 million toward a new Submissions executive order from Gov. offer them that protection, called “swatting” in which emergency operations cen- The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption Ron DeSantis has provid- there would be the poten- individuals knowingly call ter for Suwannee County. information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would ed restaurants the ability to tial especially in our health- in a fake crime to someone “It’s going to be a tough like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to [email protected].