TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM 3rd Circuit State Attorney It’s Jarvis vs. Siegmeister Field now set for Third Third Judicial Circuit The Third Circuit Decker qualified by collecting the state attorney Robert serves Columbia, Dixie, required petition signatures, according to Circuit judge, public “Skip” Jarvis will face Hamiliton, Lafayette, the Florida Department of State Division defender races as well. Lake City attorney Jeff Madison, Suwannee and of Elections. Schutte qualified by paying Siegmeister in November. Taylor counties. the $5,687.12 fee. By LAURA HAMPSON Jarvis, a Democrat, took Circuit Judge E. Vernon Incumbent David W. Fina is unopposed [email protected] office in 2009 and was Douglas will not seek re- for his seat on the circuit. He qualified by assistant state attorney for election after 23 years in collecting 1,384 petition signatures. Jarvis Siegmeister Two circuit judgeships and the state 24 years. the position. Three candidates are seeking Circuit attorney’s seat will be contested this fall. Siegmeister, a Republican, has served Live Oak attorney Andrew J. Decker Court Judge James Roy Bean’s seat, as Friday was the deadline for candidates as assistant state attorney. Both Jarvis and III and Live Oak attorney Frederick John he will not seek re-election as a full-time for judge, state attorney and public defend- Siegmeister collected petition signatures “Rick” Schutte IV are seeking Douglas’ er to qualify for the 2012 election ballot. to qualify. seat. 3rd CIRCUIT continued on 3A Social Security Two weeks of detours expected Trouble coming sooner than later It’s now predicted Trust Fund will go broke in 2033. By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press WASHINGTON — Social Security is rushing even fast- er toward insolvency, driven by retiring baby boomers, a weak economy and politicians’ reluctance to take painful JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter action to fix the huge retire- Crews replace a railroad crossing at Martin Luther King Jr. Street Monday. US 441, North Marion Avenue within city limits, will be closed to all traffic until May 4 as a ment and disability program. result. Traffic will be detoured through US 90, Main Boulevard and Bascom Norris Drive. The trust funds that sup- port Social Security will run dry in 2033 — three years earlier than previously pro- jected — the government said Repairs mean finding a new way to work Monday. There was no change in the From staff reports the railroad crossing at Martin be able to turn east onto Martin pleted by 5 p.m. Friday, May 4. year that Medicare’s hospital Luther King Jr. Street while the Luther King Jr. Street from US Law enforcement officers insurance fund is projected A major Lake City thorough- crossing is replaced. 441. will be located on both sides of to run out of money. It’s still fare, closed Monday for railroad The detour route for through The road closure includes the crossing 24 hours a day to 2024. The program’s trust- crossing upgrades, will remain traffic is US 90 (Duval Street), pedestrians who will be directed ensure that motorists and pedes- ees, however, said the pace shut for up to two weeks, say state US 41 (North Main Boulevard) to use the next paved crossing. trians use the appropriate detour of Medicare spending contin- Department of Transportation and County Road 100A (Bascom Norfolk Southern crews will routes. ues to accelerate. Congress officials. Norris Drive). replace the concrete crossing The crossing was last replaced enacted a 2 percent cut for US 441, North Marion Avenue Local traffic will be able to use and the roadway approaches will 14 years ago in May 1998. About Medicare last year, and that within city limits, is closed to all Montana Street on the north side be repaved up to the crossing. 6,000 vehicles a day travel this is the main reason the trust traffic in the immediate area of of the railroad tracks but will not All work is scheduled to be com- section of US 441. fund exhaustion date did not advance. The trustees who over- see both programs say high Report: Man says he energy prices are suppress- ing workers’ wages, a trend broke into church they see continuing. They also expect people to work to get out of the rain fewer hours than previously projected, even after the econ- From staff reports omy recovers. Both trends would lead to lower payroll A homeless man who said he was seekingshel- tax receipts, which support ter from the rain was arrested Sunday morning both programs. after he broke into a church, authorities said. Unless Congress acts — Jackie Armstrong, 57, was charged with bur- and forcefully — payments to glary and criminal mischief in millions of Americans could connection with the case. He was be cut. booked into the Columbia County If the Social Security and Detention Facility. Medicare funds ever become According to Columbia County exhausted, the nation’s two Sheriff’s reports, around 8:30 a.m. biggest benefit programs Sunday, members of the Pentecostal would collect only enough Believers of the Coming of Christ money in payroll taxes to Church found Armstrong inside Armstrong pay partial benefits. Social the church, called authorities and Security could cover about 75 waited outside for deputies to arrive. percent of benefits, the trust- JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter Cpl. Don Meyer, the first deputy at the scene, ees said in their annual report. State workshop at LCPD ordered Armstrong to exit the building. He com- Medicare’s giant hospital fund plied and was taken into custody without incident. could pay 87 percent of costs. Dr. Evelyn Ploumis-Devick, a program manager for leadership and professional develop- A screwdriver believed used to pry open the “Lawmakers should not ment in the Department of Corrections’ Bureau of Staff Development, speaks during a church door was found where Armstrong was delay addressing the long- strategic planning workshop for the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and standing, reports said. Boys Monday at the Lake City Police Department. He was jailed without bond. FUND continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 64 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 People. 2A 72 46 Obituaries . 5A PEOPLE WEDNESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO Mostly sunny THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics . 3B Hudson’s family Local news Voice: 755-5445 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles . 2B in court. roundup. Fax: 752-9400 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012 Page Editor: Jason M. Walker, 754-0430 Celebrity Birthdays n Actress Shirley MacLaine 57. Saturday: Monday: Monday: is 78. n Actor-comedian Cedric the 1-15-22-27-31-43 Afternoon: 3-3-0 Afternoon: 8-4-5-3 Sunday: n Actress, singer, director Entertainer is 48. x2 Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 14-18-20-28-30 Barbra Streisand is 70. n Actor Djimon Hounsou is n Actor Michael O’Keefe is 48. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Daily Scripture “It is written: ‘As surely as I Trial of Hudson family members begins live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee CHICAGO will bow before me; every he trial began Monday tongue will acknowledge God.’” for the man accused of — Romans 14:11 killing Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and Thought for Today 7-year-old nephew four Tyears ago, and although the Oscar- “I feel proud to be living in a winning actress and singer was in country where people are not the building, she wasn’t present for opening statements, an official said. afraid to laugh at themselves Hudson’s fiancé, David Otunga, and where political satire is tol- sat in the fourth row of the Cook County courtroom gallery and erated by the government, if stared as defendant William Balfour not the television network.” walked in wearing a white dress — Pat Paulsen, shirt and tie. America comedian (1927-1997) Balfour is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 2008 slayings. Lake City Reporter Prosecutors said a gift of balloons HOW“ TO REACH US ” sent Hudson’s then brother-in-law Main number ....... .(386) 752-1293 BUSINESS into such a jealous rage on Oct. 24, Fax number ............. .752-9400 Controller Sue Brannon... .754-0419 Circulation .............. .755-5445 ASSOCIATED PRESS ([email protected]) 2008, that he shot dead her mother, Online .. www.lakecityreporter.com brother and nephew in a horrific act Singer and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson speaks in Chicago on Sept. CIRCULATION The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Lake City Reporter of vindictiveness in the home where 27, 2011. On Monday, the Chicago trial begins for William Balfour, the man Community Newspapers Inc., is pub- Home delivery of the the Hollywood star grew up. accused of murdering Hudson’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in 2008. lished Tuesday through Friday and should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Balfour believed the balloons he Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 a.m. on Sunday. saw at the Hudson home came from Kentucky Derby. earned five nominations, Lambert Fla. 32055. Periodical postage paid at Lake City, Fla. Member Audit Bureau of Please call 386-755-5445 to report any Julia Hudson’s new boyfriend; driv- A statement from has four as a solo artist and as part Circulation and The Associated Press. problems with your delivery service. ing away for her job as a school bus Churchill Downs on of her trio Pistol Annies, and Swift All material herein is property of the Lake In Columbia County, customers should driver, she glimpsed Balfour in her Monday said Blige led a contingent of stars earning City Reporter.