Your Right to Know May Be at Risk Fallen Trooper Will Finally Get Her
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A3 + PLUS >> ‘Compromise’ not good enough on public notices, Opinion/4A COLUMN DISTRICT CHAMPS Come Meet CHS wrestlers an American eye regionals See Page 10A See Page 5A THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION Your right to know Racially-charged post roils CRC may be the 20-year-old chairman of the county’s One member says it was Republican Party. at risk racist for another to wear Bowden is a local public figure himself and one of the leading voices here on matters Bills would curtail Trump hat to meeting. involving claims of racial discrimination. public notice of tax On Wednesday, Bowden explained why he hikes, plenty more. By CARL MCKINNEY made the post. [email protected] “I thought placing the cap on the table By CARL MCKINNEY facing me was a political in-my-face state- [email protected] A Facebook post by a former Democratic ment,” Bowden said. “And I believe he may congressional aide serving on the county’s be trying to politicize the (Charter Review A bill gaining traction in charter review board accused the Columbia Commission). We’re trying to Tallahassee threatens the County Republican Party be nonpartisan and fair to the public’s access to informa- chairman of racism for wear- community.” tion about their local gov- ing a Trump baseball cap to Bowden said he had ernments — and it could the group’s meeting Tuesday strong anti-Trump feelings make it easier for elected night and placing the hat in and that the vast majority of officials to slip property view while business was being African Americans associate tax hikes, pet projects or discussed. the president with white unpopular regulations past Glenel Bowden, a Lake City supremacy. their constituents. resident who is one of two Bowden Peeler “I personally identify State law African American members President Trump with the Confederacy,” requires of the county’s Charter Review Commission, Bowden said. taxing shared a two-photo collage on Facebook of Peeler fired back on Wednesday. authorities fellow board member Hunter Peeler’s Trump “Glenel needs to grow up and he needs to such as campaign hat beside another photo of a ran- learn that just because somebody disagrees county dom crowd of shirtless, rowdy white men with him does not mean he’s racist,” Peeler commis- waving Confederate battle flags and making said. “It’s amazing how my age and accom- sions, city obscene gestures. Lake City when Bowden snapped the photo of Brannan plishments really make people nervous and councils Bowden was previously an aide to former Peeler’s cap with his cell phone. have the need to make ridiculous remarks and school U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Jacksonville). “HE IS SHOWING HIS COLORS about either issue.” boards to post public notic- Bowden and Peeler were sitting side-by-side TONIGHT,” Bowden posted with the es in their local newspaper during the Tuesday charter review meeting in grouped photos, calling out Peeler as POST continued on 2A informing the public about upcoming hearings, prop- erty sales and other official business. Florida House Bill 7, which is headed to the floor with the sup- TRANSFER DAY AT FGC port of state Rep. Chuck Brannan, whose district includes Columbia County, Florida Gateway would kill that rule and College students allow local governments to Meghan Jones self-publish notices online. (clockwise, from Brannan initially had left) and Taryn reservations about the Roberts chat with legislation, but came out University of North in support after lawmakers made compromises over Florida representa- rural communities where tive Madison Turner internet access is poor. on Wednesday That compromise? during Transfer Day, where stu- NOTICES continued on 2A dents met with rep- resentatives from four-year colleges and universities in Domestic the Wilson S. Rivers Library & Media violence Center to learn about options for agency continuing their education after dethroned graduation from FGC. Staff/wire report As a financial scan- dal engulfs the Florida TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a bill that would strip the non-profit orga- nization of its guaranteed contract with the state is on its way to Gov. Ron Fallen trooper will finally get her due on I-75 DeSantis. The Florida Senate’s By CARL MCKINNEY a traffic crash. The legislation to Richard by naming a portion of ment was in Brooksville, part of unanimous vote on [email protected] name that part of the interstate Interstate 75 in her honor is a Troop C. Wednesday reflected after Richard was great tribute,” Spaulding said in She was later transferred to Florida lawmakers’ Fallen Florida Highway Patrol championed by the statement. “Trooper Richard Troop B in Ocala. staunch support of an Trooper Chelsea Renee Richard state Rep. Chuck was dedicated to serving the res- In May 2014, while investigat- effort to terminate the will forever stand watch over a Brannan, whose idents and visitors of this state as ing a traffic crash on Interstate 75 state’s partnership with four-mile stretch of Interstate 75. district includes a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper, in Ocala, Richard and two other the organization in the On Friday, the portion of I-75 Columbia and the ultimate sacrifice she paid individuals were struck by a pass- wake of an investigation between mile markers 340 and County. is well deserving of this recogni- ing motorist. All three suffered that found its former CEO 344 in Marion County will be ded- FHP Director tion.” fatal injuries. received more than $7 mil- icated to the memory of Richard, Richard Gene S. Spaulding Richard began her career with The roadway dedication cere- lion in compensation over who served for nearly a decade issued a state- FHP in June 2005 as a member of mony will be held 2 p.m. Friday a three-year period. before she was struck by a pass- ment honoring Richard. the 111th Basic Recruit Class in at the Ocala FHP station, 600 SE ing motorist while investigating “Paying tribute to Trooper Tallahassee. Her first duty assign- 25th Ave. AGENCY continued on 2A Vol. 145, No. 250 Obituaries . 3A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Sports . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPORTER: 56 32 Advice & Comics. 3B Voice: 755-5445 Classified . 8A-9A Fax: 752-9400 Sunny, 2A 2A THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 NEWS LAKE CITY REPORTER lic officials accountable if State Sen. Rob Bradley, atic for counties such as they decide there is ade- whose district includes Columbia County, where NOTICES quate internet access in Columbia County, did not access to broadband is poor. Continued From 1A the face of overwhelming respond to a request for According to the lan- QUICK HITS evidence suggesting other- comment. guage of the bills, the mea- Local officials in “fiscally wise? If the bills are signed into sures provide “for website Scripture of the Day constrained counties” — a “Well I would assume the law, taxpayers who want to publication of legal notices; term used for the state’s paper would be there to say stay informed would have provides criteria for such “Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to poorest communities, most- it’s not true,” Brannan said. to go out of their way to publication; authorizes shine; and we shall be saved.” ly in North Florida — must The bill passed the search all the local gov- fiscally constrained county — Psalm 80:3 (KJV) decide in a public hearing Florida House State Affairs ernment websites — and to use publicly accessible that here is adequate inter- Committee on Feb. 6 with there’s a lot of them. The website to publish legally net access in their area 14 votes in favor and nine county, city, Lake Shore required advertisements Thought for Today before they can opt for in opposition. Hospital Authority, School & public notices; requires online-only notices. A related bill has been Board and Suwannee River governmental agency to A lie never lives to be old. “The rural counties are filed in the Florida Senate Water Management District provide specified notice to — Sophocles, 496 BC-406 BC, Greek playwright going to opt out because — Senate Bill 1340, which all have taxing authority, residents concerning alter- they’re going to know that was meant to go before and they all run separate native methods of receiving they can’t meet that stan- the Senate Judiciary websites. legal notices,” according dard,” Brannan said. Committee earlier this Relying on the internet to the summary posted by And who holds the pub- month but was postponed. can be especially problem- lawmakers. Winning Lottery Numbers Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 8-9-5 Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 3-4-7-6 coalition’s long-time chief ny before the House responsibility for the state- Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 13-14-17-26-33 AGENCY executive officer, to cash Public Integrity & Ethics wide domestic-violence Continued From 1A out millions of dollars in Committee came after the program. Under the bill, paid time off when she House subpoenaed Carr, the state agency will man- See an error? resigned in October. who is currently in North age the funds earmarked The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news Under current law, The House earlier this Carolina, and the 13 mem- for the domestic-violence the coalition has a sole- week spent six hours bers of the coalition’s board centers and ensure that items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, source contract with the grilling several board of directors. Testimony is the shelters provide vic- please call the editor.