'Biggest Losers' Win

SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.50 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Policeman’s Ball: Fort White High SUNDAY EDITION A touch School holds of class. 1C career fair. 1D 2nd suspect 16-WEEK CHALLENGE TO MAKE YOU ‘GLOW’ arrested in electronics fraud probe Lake City Gets Fit More than $200,000 in stolen iPads involved, say deputies. By STEVEN RICHMOND [email protected] Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies Thursday arrested a second suspect connected to a six-figure electronics fraud investigation, CCSO reports. Steven Lee Hankins, 50, of 305 East Duval Street, was arrested around 3 p.m. Thursday after investigators connected him to a seven-month investigation involving the fraud and sale of more than $200,000 worth of stolen iPads, laptops and other elec- Hundreds gather tronics through his local business, Hankins at FGC to celebrate Lake City Reporter Hankins Computers, according Altrusa challenge. to CCSO. The September 2013 investigation From staff reports “focused on an employee of Anderson Columbia, Inc. who was suspected of order- Hundreds of people gathered ing items on corporate accounts and then at Florida Gateway College selling them for personal gain,” CCSO said Friday evening to celebrate the in a Thursday press release. “Detectives end of the Get Fit Lake City WALKER/ JASON MATTHEW learned that many of the items were sold ‘Biggest Losers’ win big initiative. through a local business owned by Hankins Organized by the Lake City Photos by by conducting an open source search of chapter of Altrusa International, eBay and Amazon.” the initiative was designed to Deputies believe Hankins was obtaining promote well being and fitness the electronics through Jerami Michael in the Columbia County com- Robinson, a former IT specialist with munity. Anderson Columbia who was arrested Sept. “We decided to start this initia- 23 when company representatives noticed tive because a report came out discrepancies on the IT department’s invoic- that listed Columbia County as es, according to Robinson’s arrest report. the 58th most unhealthy coun- “The investigation has confirmed that ty in the state of Florida,” said over 300 iPads and an undetermined amount Altrusan Dennille Decker. “We of new and used computers were sold from wanted better than that for our- January 2008 to September 2013,” CCSO selves and for our community. said in January. We don’t want to be known as one of the least healthiest places HANKINS continued on 6A to live. We want to be known as one of the healthiest places to live.” VOLUNTEERING The evening consisted of a ABOVE: Vicki Busscher (cen- variety of activities including a ter) celebrates after winning the one mile “fun run” for children, female division for the 2013- a 5K around FGC’s campus, live entertainment and dance activ- 2014 Altrusa Get Fit Lake City ities, as well as award ceremo- Biggest Loser competition Friday nies commemorating Columbia night. Busscher beat out Sharon County’s fittest businesses and Pocock and LeAnn Thomas, “biggest losers.” losing 19.77 percent of her body Temperatures dropped into weight. RIGHT: Chad Moore the 40s throughout the cold (right) congratulates Charlie night, leaving visitors with two Joliffe after Joliffe was named the options: 1) Shiver, or 2) Get up male 2013-2014 Altrusa Get Fit and move. All things considered, COURTESY it was ideal weather for an event Terri Skiles of the Ichetucknee Alliance scoops Lake City Biggest Loser. Joliffe lost 8.09 percent of his body promoting activity and exercise. a plastic bottle out of Cannon Sink Saturday After their respective runs, morning. “We’re trying to do whatever little bit weight, winning several prizes local sponsors provided partic- we can,” she said. including a check for $1,320. ipants with food such as fresh fruit and chicken sandwiches for nourishment. Lake City Middle School stu- Groups gather Collect $1,300 each for their efforts dent Chase Martin, 13, complet- ed the 5K in 20 minutes and 35 From staff reports seconds, crediting his fast time to clean up to the direction and guidance The Biggest Loser competition of the Get Fit Lake City Initiative from LCMS cross country/track encouraged local citizens to make a conscious effort to change their coach April Morris. Cannon Sink diet and exercise choices. “Running has helped me lose From staff reports In order to win, each of the 264 contestants had to weigh-in and weight and be more disciplined,” weigh-out with trained medical professionals exactly 16 weeks apart. Martin said. “It gets to be like A group of volunteers from environmen- The award for biggest loser was given to the male and female who lost your best friend, you want to do talist groups Current Problems and the the largest percentage of their body weight over the period. it every day.” Ichetucknee Alliance gathered at Cannon The female winner was Vicki Busscher, a staff member of the Lake Anna Rainbolt, a CrossFit Sink to pick up trash and rubbish Saturday. City Reporter who lost 27 pounds, or 19.77 percent of her body weight. Trainer at Moowatee CrossFit, The volunteers used paint buckets, fish- She attributed much of her success to regularly walking around clocked in at 23 minutes flat and ing nets, canoes and other supplies to collect Lake DeSoto and making healthier eating habits at home. provided comments on the bene- a variety of garbage floating around Cannon “I’m so excited,” Busscher said. “It wasn’t easy...but I did it for fits of fitness and exercise. Sink, one of the main tributaries to the myself and my family.” “You really feel more comfort- Ichetucknee basin. To help her along, she remembered one of Altrusa’s motivational able and function better,” she “There’s a lot more trash than usual,” said phrases from their weekly addresses: “I didn’t lose the weight, I got said. “Everybody should make Fritzi Olson, Executive Director of Current rid of it.” Problems. “All the rainy weather recently WINNERS continued on 7A FINALE continued on 7A CANNON continued on 6A Vol. 140, No. 25 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER LOCAL SPORTS (386) 752-1293 Police . 6A Fort White CHS girls hoops SUBSCRIBE TO Obituaries . 5A THE REPORTER: 76 49 Advice & Comics . 5D hosts Special coach faces Voice: 755-5445 Olympics, 3A. DUI charge, 1B. Fax: 752-9400 Partly cloudy, 8A Puzzles . 2B 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 2014 Page Editor: Emily Lawson, 754-0424 Photo of the Day Scripture of the Day “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 1:2-5 Thought for Today When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened. — Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the UK (1874-1965) Winning Lottery Numbers Cash 3: (Saturday) 4-9-9 COURTESY Play 4: (Saturday) 0-3-0-9 Wedding day Fantasy 5: (Friday) 1-5-7-12-21 Florida Lotto: (Wednesday) 1-7-26-40-42-46-x4 A videographer captures pre-wedding celebrations at Olustee Park Saturday, commemorating the wedding of Taylor Crews PowerBall: (Wednesday) 3-7-9-26-54-19-x2 and Jared Hines. AROUND FLORIDA Mom accused of driving into surf goes before judge ORLANDO investigators she was driving denied that any staff member Jackson had two prior arson con- kidnapping charges. pregnant South Carolina too close to the water, “and the used force on Holland, but the victions, one from Texas and the Before his escape, Truehill woman pointed to the waves pulled her in,” according Sheriff’s Office began an inves- other from Pinellas County. was serving time for manslaugh- A ocean, locked the doors to the charging affidavit. tigation after being contacted by ter and armed robbery. and rolled up the windows, tell- Her children told investigators the Herald-Tribune. Jury recommends ing her three children she was another story. The FBI and the Florida Man gets 13 years for “trying to take them to a better “Mom tried to kill us,” they Department of Law Enforcement killer of FSU student place” as she drove her minivan told detectives, according to the also started investigations of the ST. AUGUSTINE — Northeast drag-racing death into the surf, authorities said. document. “Mom is crazy.” beatings. Florida jurors have recom- TAMPA — A Tampa Bay area Ebony Wilkerson even tried mended death for an escaped man has been sentenced to 13 to call off bystanders hustling to Former inmate files Man sentenced to Louisiana inmate convicted of years in prison for a drag-racing rescue her screaming children killing a Florida State graduate crash that left a bicyclist dead. from the water, saying “every- federal lawsuit life for fatal fire student. A Hillsborough County judge one was OK” as she left the van FORT MYERS — A Former JACKSONVILLE — A north- A St. Johns County jury made sentenced 21-year-old Lenoy Rivera in the ocean, an affidavit said. DeSoto County inmate has filed east Florida man has been sen- the recommendation Friday for on Friday. He was convicted last Wilkerson, 32, is charged with a $3.5 million federal lawsuit tenced to life in prison for setting 26-year-old Quentin Truehill, month of vehicular homicide.

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