Baseball All-Stars District Recently Played in a Tourna- World Series
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1A WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Defendant tells his version Inmate testifies about tific testimony to graphic details of Franklin, who wore gray pants and a brutal conflict that left Sgt. Ruben a light blue shirt, didn’t wear hand- how his fatal attack on Thomas III dead. cuffs while he testified and often used prison guard happened. Franklin, who is being tried for his hands to help explain what he was Judge Paul Bryan the March 2012 stabbing death of saying. speaks to the Thomas, a Columbia County correc- He said the incident in which jury during the By TONY BRITT tions officer, spent more than hour Thomas was killed was a tug of war Richard Franklin [email protected] on the witness stand explaining what between him and Thomas fighting capital murder happened that night. for control of the door to a security Richard Franklin took the wit- Franklin was shackled at the ankles station. trial on Tuesday. ness stand in his defense Tuesday and a corrections officer was posted “When he tried to close the door, I as the pace in his capital murder trial less than 5 feet from him, near the speeded up from technical and scien- jury box, as he gave his testimony. TRIAL continued on 3A JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter County board Second-effort payoff to set tax rate City’s withdrawal from dispatch center on table. By DEREK GILLIAM [email protected] Lake City’s fire depart- ment wants to pull out of the county’s dispatch center and let the city handle dispatch services for it, according to memos between the county and city managers. The Columbia County Commission Thursday night will discuss and could vote on changing a city/county agree- ment regarding the Combined Communications Center, a dispatch center originally designed to bring all emer- gency dispatch together. The commission meet- ing will be at 5:30 p.m. in the county School Board Administrative Complex audi- torium. City Manager Wendell Johnson said in a memo to county officials that recent JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter conversations and general David Johnson, 27, is applauded as he walks to the stage to receive his general equivalency diploma during the Columbia County School District feedback left an impression Adult Education Graduation ceremony Tuesday. Forty-eight of 108 graduates from the past year received their GEDs at the ceremony. that “there is little chance of collaboration for a success- ful combined communication system for all parties.” Adult education students get diplomas “The mayor and council have agreed that it is in the the Columbia County Career and ing the 21st Career and Adult Huddleston. city’s best interest for the 48 graduates overcome Adult Education Center. Education Graduation who Johnson said he has been wait- city staff to move forward difficulties to achieve After acquiring his GED, accomplished their goals of pass- ing 10 years to walk in his own with independent dispatch- important milestone. Johnson, 27, began taking cours- ing the high school equivalency graduation. Throughout his life, ing services by the Lake City es at Florida Gateway College to test. he’s been to jail approximately Dispatch Center for all our By AMANDA WILLIAMSON pursue a certificate in heating, “These students represent seven times. needs, to include fire dis- [email protected] ventilation and air conditioning. the epitome of perseverance by “I was getting in and out patch,” Johnson wrote. And on Tuesday at the School staying focused and overcom- of trouble, making stupid County Manager Dale David Johnson walked out of Board Complex auditorium, he ing obstacles and barriers,” said jail and into a new life through sat with 47 other students dur- School Superintendent Terry GRADUATION continued on 3A COUNTY continued on 3A Art show reception Woman charged Lorie Norris explains to Bill Poplin her technique for with setting fire creating her pen-and-ink drawing called ‘Honeymoon By AMANDA WILLIAMSON she had Hike’ while at a reception [email protected] just poured Tuesday for the Friends of gas on the the Library and Art League of A Lake City woman faces floor of his North Florida’s Eighth Annual charges of arson after she house and Art Exhibition at the Columbia allegedly poured gasoline in lit it on fire. County Pubic Library West her boyfriend’s living room Pillar auto- then lit it on fire Monday, Gardner m a t i c a l l y Branch. Eighty-four entries according to a Columbia hung up from 47 artists were judged. County Sheriff’s Office the phone, called 911 and Norris, Wally Reichert, arrest report. began driving home from Katrina Browning and Ann Michelle Talley Gardner, work. Opgenorth won first prizes in 33, of 723 SW Seville Place, Columbia County Fire the drawing, painting, photog- told the responding depu- Department responded to raphy and sculpture/creative ty she had grown tired of Pillar’s home at 1995 SW arts categories, respectively. hearing government voices Nautilus Road and quickly Library visitors are welcome when he asked her what put out the fire. The house to vote for their favorite piece happened with the house, suffered only interior dam- until Aug. 3. the report said. age, the report said. At about 9 a.m. Monday, Deputy Marcella Miller James Pillar received a call JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter from Gardner, who told him ARSON continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 361 People. 2A CALL US: Opinion . 4A TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 T-Storm91 Chance70 Obituaries . 5A BUSINESS THURSDAY SUBSCRIBE TO Advice & Comics . 4B THE REPORTER: Cooling dip Local news Voice: 755-5445 Puzzles . 3B Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A in the river. roundup. 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013 Page Editor: Jim Barr, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Tuesday: Tuesday: n Singer Tommy DeVito of DeBarge is 54. Afternoon: 2-1-1 Afternoon: 5-6-9-8 Monday: The Four Seasons is 85. n Singer-dancer-choreogra- Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 3-9-10-25-27 n Actress Gena Rowlands pher Paula Abdul is 51. is 83. n Actor Andy Lauer n Singer Spanky McFarlane (“Caroline in the City”) is 50. of Spanky and Our Gang is n Singer-guitarist Brian PEOPLE IN THE NEWS 71. Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe n Actress Phylicia Rashad is 49. is 65. n Actress Mia Sara (“Ferris n Singer Ann Wilson of Heart Bueller’s Day Off”) is 46. is 63. n Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Kim Kardashian apparently gives birth n Actress Kathleen Turner Welch is 43. is 59. n Actor Jean Dujardin (“The LOS ANGELES n Country singer Doug Stone Artist”) is 41. ris Jenner says is 57. n Actress Robin Tunney is her daughter Kim n Singer Mark DeBarge of 41. Kardashian is thrilled to have a new baby girl. Kardashian and her Krapper boyfriend Kanye West were Daily Scripture keeping silent in the wake of mul- tiple reports that Kardashian gave Fathers, do not exasperate your birth over the weekend — about a month premature. children; instead, bring them up But Jenner told E! at the Daytime in the training and instruction Emmys on Sunday that Kim is “extremely happy and thrilled for the of the Lord. new baby and she’s doing great and she’s beautiful.” — Ephesians 6:4 Kardashian’s sister Khloe appeared to have let a rather cryptic cat out of the bag on Twitter. “I can not even begin 2describe the Lake City Reporter miracle that is now apart of our fam- HOW TO REACH US Main number . .(386) 752-1293 BUSINESS ily. Mommy/baby are healthy &rest- Fax“ number . .752-9400 Controller Sue Brannon. .754-0419 Circulation . .755-5445 ([email protected]) ing. We appreciate all of the love,” she JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter tweeted Sunday. Online . www.lakecityreporter.com CIRCULATION The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of She quickly followed with a sec- Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter Cooling dip Community Newspapers Inc., is pub- ond tweet: “More info will come lished Tuesday through Friday and should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, Tuesday through Friday,” and by 7:30 when the time is right! Thank you all James Biron, 11, holds his breath after jumping into the clear water of the Fla. 32055. Periodical postage paid at a.m. on Sunday. for understanding! We love you all Ichetucknee River for a cool afternoon dip. Lake City, Fla. Member Audit Bureau of Please call 386-755-5445 to report any dearly! Overwhelmed with love right Circulation and The Associated Press. problems with your delivery service. now.” All material herein is property of the Lake In Columbia County, customers should p.m. Monday on Sunset Boulevard. admitted assault and accepted a City Reporter. Reproduction in whole or call before 10:30 a.m. to report a ser- Jenner linked to both tweets on in part is forbidden without the permis- vice error for same day re-delivery. After Valenzuela says nobody was cited police caution after published pho- sion of the publisher. U.S. Postal Service 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery or ser- her Twitter account, then wished No. 310-880. or arrested and officers determined tos showed him grasping the throat vice related credits will be issued. West a Happy Father’s Day. POSTMASTER: Send address changes no crime was committed. He says of his wife, celebrity chef Nigella In all other counties where home delivery to Lake City Reporter, P.O.