Perry's First Railroad Arrives in 1903
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50¢ Friday/ Saturday Perry News-HeraldJune 28-29, 2013 Serving the Tree Capital of the South Since 1889 Watermelon Man says he’s on city’s ‘mostPerry News-Herald wanted’ list For the past several years, must conduct the bulk for five years. I have an Rick Moore has been a of their business from a agreement with JB’s Tire staple of summer, manning building that meets the to use the property and Carl Jordan a produce stand at the corner Florida building code; if don’t know why I have to ‘Little CJ’ Melton III of Highway 19 and U.S. 98. they are not operating out leave,” Moore told council His main offering has of a building, then they members. been watermelons and are considered “transient “Under the ordinance Toddler many simply called him merchants” and must pay a that addresses U.S. 19, you “Watermelon Man.” $375/day licensing fee. have to be conducting the However, Tuesday night Moore, who lives in majority of your business battling Moore added a new title to Hernando, has been inside a building. Although his name—“Most Wanted.” conducting his business you may face Highway Wearing a bright orange roadside with produce 98, the property you are t-shirt with the words “Most displays in the back of on fronts U.S. 19. The brain Wanted Watermelon Man” trailers. Until now, no one ordinance covers any piece emblazoned across his chest, raised the alarm. However, of property that touches Moore appeared before in recent weeks City 19. If you get the property tumor the Perry City Council to Hall received multiple owner to let you use one Thanks to an executive order, the 2013 scallop contest a local ordinance complaints regarding of the garage bays and all season will open two days early--this Saturday, At 14 months old, Carl that could send him packing Moore’s business which contact with the money is June 29. Jordan Melton III--called from his favorite corner. prompted an investigation made inside the building, “Little CJ”--has a smile that Under an ordinance that led to police officers then you could be in 2 days early could melt your heart. adopted by the council in asking him to comply with compliance,” City Manager But that sweet smile 2009, all vendors operating the ordinance. doesn’t come as easily along the U.S. 19 corridor “I have been at that corner ➟ Please see page 3 these days and the coming Scallop season weeks promise to be filled with challenges, fears and hopefully, a miracle, for the toddler and his family. opens Saturday Last Thursday, doctors discovered a malignant brain Only a handful of days before the start of the 2013 tumor growing on Melton’s recreation scallop season, Gov. Rick Scott announced brain stem. Specialists Wednesday that the season would begin early, on Saturday, in both Gainesville and June 29, rather than the traditional July 1 kick-off. Jacksonville said there The decision gives scallopers and those businesses which was little they could do rely on their annual arrival an extra weekend this year. and referred the boy to St. Local businessman Don Everett Jr. said he and his father Jude Children’s Research were discussing the opening of scallop season earlier Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. this week and wondered why it couldn’t start a few days “We knew there was Self-proclaimed “Most Wanted Watermelon Man” Rick Moore, right, earlier on Saturday (instead of Monday) to help increase something going on with addresses city council members (from left) Shirlie Hampton and Mike him, but just not what. He Deming. ➟ Please see page 3 would wake in the mornings crying and hold his head. The doctors have been working through a series of tests to find out what was Buckeye shareholders to vote ➟ Please see page 3 Time to on Georgia-Pacific merger Georgia-Pacific LLCannounced tender offer in nonwovens business. The promptly to consider and or waiver of the other and GP Cellulose Group accordance with the merger “long form” merger affords vote on adoption of the conditions to the merger, make a LLC, an entity controlled agreement with Buckeye Buckeye Technologies’ merger agreement. Adoption Buckeye Technologies’ by Georgia-Pacific,Technologies. shareholders the opportunity of the merger agreement shareholders will receive today announced that GP Georgia-Pacific and GP to vote to approve the requires the affirmative$37.50 in cash per share in Cellulose Group has chosen Cellulose have chosen to merger. vote of at least 75 percent the merger, the same price splash! to convert to a “long form” convert to the merger as Under the merger of the outstanding shares they would have received in merger in the pending a result of the previously agreement announced April of Buckeye Technologies’ the tender offer. The new splash pad at acquisition of Buckeye announced second request 24, Buckeye Technologies common stock. Subject to The previously Rosehead Park is open and Technologies Inc. and to from the Department has agreed to hold a special the receipt of shareholder ready for visitors. terminate the previously of Justice regarding the meeting of its shareholders approval and the satisfaction ➟ Please see page 3 City Manager Bob Brown said they were given the green light to open the facilities Thursday morning and the park attraction opened for business at 4 RIDING THE RAILS p.m. that afternoon. “The hours will start out at 4 p.m. to dark Monday through Thursday while construction continues on the playground area behind Perry’s first railroad the splash pad. It will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from sun up to sun down. It is course free and open to everyone,” Brown arrives in 1903 said. By MARK VIOLA models, representing the Live Oak, Perry & horse and go to places like Shady Grove.” Benches are located Staff writer Gulf Railroad, the South Georgia Railway and In 1905, the Suwannee and San Pedro inside the protective fence Interlude II Atlantic Coast Line Railroad’s Southland. Railroad became the Florida Railroad. surrounding the splash pad For the past two weeks, former Perry resident While the Florida Railway is not among the “It was owned by the Drew family,” Tedder and free wi-fi is available Russell Tedder has been serving as conductor models now on display, it played an important said. courtesy of Fairpoint on a ride through Perry’s and early role in Perry’s railway past. Gov. George Franklin Drew was elected Communications. railroad history. Chapter 4: The Florida Railway Florida’s 12th governor in January 1877, The splash pad is located Tedder, who was “There was one other railroad that came into the first Democratic governor after the on South Jefferson Street guest of honor at Perry that I don’t have a train for, called the Reconstruction era. adjacent to the Grand the Perry Historic Florida Railway,” Tedder said. Born in Alton, N.H., he built Florida’s Pavilion at Rosehead Park. Station’s grand “It was the first railroad into Perry. Originally largest sawmill at Ellaville on the Suwannee PerryA Farmer’s Market is News-Heraldopening in 2009, it was called the Suwannee and San Pedro River. He returned to the lumber business open every Saturday at the recently returned Railroad. It ran from Live Oak, crossed the following his term in office and died in pavilion, from 8 a.m. until to Perry to donate Suwannee River at Lauraville, went to Mayo Jacksonville in 1900. His sons George L. Drew 12 noon. and Thursday from four model trains and then turned back northwest and came to and Frank Drew joined him in his ventures and 3-7 p.m. to the city which Perry up through Fenholloway. the rail served their timber interests. are now displayed “It arrived in Perry in 1903. They had “He had two sons and they were the ones at Java Depot in the advertisements and schedules in Perry and who built the railroad,” Tedder said. station. So far, we said there was a livery station with horses and ➟ Please see page 5 Frank Drew have looked at those buggies. So you could ride the train and rent a 0 Index Weather Looking Back ......... A-2 Entertainment ........ A-8 Friday 92˚ Saturday 89˚ Sunday 78˚ Perry News-Herald Living ..................... A-4 TV listings .............. A-9 73˚ 75˚ 73˚ Two section 124th Year, No. 25 Religion .................. A-6 Classifieds ........... A-10 www.perrynewspapers.com Sports .................... A-7 50% 60% 70% A-2 Perry News-Herald Looking Back June 28-29, 2013 Remember when... A melting pot By ANTHONY L. WHITE [email protected] Have you ever considered how much you are like your parents and the people who raised you? I am a melting pot of everyone who had a hand in raising me. I look like my mother and my father. I have her full face and her eyes. I have his complexion, bow legs and mustache. I was even born with twelve fingers like him. My personality is also a combination of both. Like my mother, I’m easy to satisfy, but like my father, I’m never satisfied. I’m quiet and easygoing like my mother; however, like my father, I’ve been known to be a little raucous. I can be counted on when I’m needed just like my mother, but like my father (and he knows I’m saying this) I may not come through when you need me, but I’ll be there when you least expect me to. These conflicting personality traits have oftentimes left me in quite the quandary.