1 TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM $400M BOY REUNITED WITH STOLEN PUPPY Voting sliced district from changes now set budget Realignment will Gov. Scott vetoes correct disparities money earmarked in voter numbers. by top legislators. By DEREK GILLIAM By GARY FINEOUT [email protected] Associated Press Lake City’s new voting TALLAHASSEE — Florida district boundary lines were Gov. Rick Scott, who had a unanimously approved at tough time winning coopera- M o n d a y tion this past year from the night’s city Republican-led Legislature, c o u n c i l struck back on Monday by meeting. vetoing near- M a y o r ly $400 mil- Stephen Witt lion from the said after state’s new the meeting budget. the changes Witt S c o t t were needed praised the as some dis- Scott overall bud- tricts contained more reg- get — which JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter istered voters than others. now stands at roughly $74.1 Samuel Claridy, 4, reacts Monday after being reunited with Calypso, his 3-month-old, pitbull/Labrador puppy at his Also, Witt said he felt the billion — because it includes home in northern Columbia County. Calypso was stolen by two teenagers for a few hours on May 14. Samuel was change came at an appropri- spending increases in areas diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and uses the puppy for therapy. See story, Page 3A. ate time between elections. such as education. The bud- “It’s something we’ve been get, for example, includes needing to do and it was $480 million that is aimed at the right time to do it,” Witt handing out pay raises for said. teachers. District 10, represented “We made strategic invest- by Councilman Eugene ments in this budget, while Folklife festival set Jefferson, had 941 registered holding the line on spending voters while District 13, rep- that does not give Florida tax- resented by Councilwoman payers a positive return on Stephen Foster park population to its shores — Florida,” said Andrea Thomas, Melinda Moses had 2,308 investment,” wrote Scott in a Jacksonville’s African-American park service specialist at Stephen before the boundaries were message accompanying his to host cultural events population; the river’s handful of Foster. “It focuses on everything redrawn. The changes put list of vetoes. throughout weekend. shrimpers, crabbers and fisher- great about Florida: the history, District 10 at 1,479 voters, But the GOP governor also man; and immigrant farm work- the heritage.” District 12 at 1,512 voters, took aim at some of his fellow By AMANDA WILLIAMSON ers from Mexico, Central and The event starts on Friday at District 13 at 1,724 and Republicans as he axed $368 [email protected] South America. 10 p.m. and runs until Sunday District 14 at 1,400. million from the final budget. “The Folk Festival showcases night. Throughout the weekend, Before the changes to ypress trees, the His vetoes wiped out mil- everything that makes Florida, guests will be entertained by the district boundary lines, north-flowing St. lions for college buildings, more than 300 musical perfor- Johns River, a net- health care programs and mances, including the Bellamy COUNCIL continued on 3A work of fishermen even money for supplemen- Brothers, Jim Stafford, Moors and Jacksonville’s tal programs for veterans. & McCumber, Ed Cotton, Doug Cbustling city streets inspired the Many of the vetoes squashed Gauss and more. Guests can take Department of State’s Florida money for projects targeted their own instruments and join a Folklife program at the 61st Winning for legislators’ hometowns. jam session. The Florida Banjo Annual Florida Folk Festival this Scott, who met briefly with Society will hold a banjo contest, coming Memorial Day weekend. reporters, defended his ratio- with registration beginning at lottery Held at the Stephen Foster nale by saying he wanted 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Under Folk Cultural Center State Park to make sure that projects the Oaks Stage. The fee is $5. ticket sold in White Springs, the festival included in the budget helped On Saturday, the official Florida has celebrated Florida’s land, create jobs, improved edu- Fiddle Contest kicks off at 11 people and diverse cultural heri- in Florida cation or kept government a.m. at the Heritage Stage. The tage since its beginning in 1953. efficient. entry fee is $10. It has grown to be one of the $590M Powerball “I’m responsible for 19.2 In the folklife area, the crafters state’s best cultural events. This million people,” Scott said. and musicians are inspired by jackpot will go to year, the Folklife area highlights “I’m not responsible for one the culture they’re drawn from. single ticket holder. the lower St. Johns River basin. region by itself.” This year, the crafts represent the According to the website, the Among the notable targets: fisherman heritage along the St. By BARBARA RODRIGUEZ theme reflects the diverse cur- Scott vetoed $14 million for a Johns River and the urban culture and TAMARA LUSH rents that contribute to the social, new technology and science of the Jacksonville, the largest Associated Press cultural and economic develop- building at Gulf State College city in the Lower St. Johns River ment of present-day Florida. that had been backed by basin. ZEPHYRHILLS — It could The St. Johns is one of 14 Senate President Don Gaetz. From Jacksonville and the “hip be an anxious wait of up to American Heritage Rivers and Scott also vetoed a 3 per- hop” community, Mal Jones and two months for people in often is called “America’s First cent tuition increase for col- Paten Locke will demonstrate a small Florida city to find River,” according to the Florida COURTESY lege and university students emceeing and deejaying, out who won the highest State Parks website. Over the A dancer in action at a previous that had been championed Powerball jackpot in history: years, the river attracted a diverse FESTIVAL continued on 3A by House Speaker Will Florida Folk Festival. an estimated $590.5 million. Weatherford. The governor The lucky ticket was also said no to a $50 million bought sometime Saturday item to help build a multi-use or earlier at a Publix super- trail that would stretch from market in Zephyrhills, a city St. Petersburg to Titusville. Branford man hurt in wreck of about 13,000 people best Scott joked to reporters known around the state for that he likes to ride bikes, but From staff reports its brand of spring water with he said he wanted to rely on the same name. existing transportation pro- A Branford man was The winner has 60 days grams to gradually pay for seriously hurt when he to claim the lump-sum cash the trail instead of one large lost control of his car and option, estimated around budget item now. it flipped on U.S. 90 short- $376.9 million, at the Despite the vetoes, both ly after noon Monday, Florida Lottery’s office in Weatherford and Gaetz according to a Florida Tallahassee. Under Florida were muted in their official Highway Patrol report. law, lottery winners in the responses to Scott’s actions. Matthew R yan state cannot remain anony- “While we did not agree on Cromeenes Thody, 20, mous; their names and city every line item, he signed 95 was headed east near the of residence must be made percent of our budget, which intersection with Hunter publicly available to anyone is a resounding endorsement Road at 12:20 p.m. when who asks, according to the of the House and Senate work he lost control on a left- state’s lottery website. No product,” Weatherford said in hand curve and drove one had come forward as of a statement. onto the grassy shoulder, Monday morning. Senate Democratic FHP said. “It never happens this Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Thody steered hard left quickly,” lottery spokesman Lauderdale, however blasted in an effort to recover, David Bishop said. “If they the governor for “misunder- JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter know they won, they’re going standing” how local projects Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Mark Birchard (left) and Lt. Mark Boatright look over a help communities. WRECK continued on 3A 2004 Toyota Carolla afer it crashed at U.S. 90 and Hunter Road on Monday. LOTTERY continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 340 People. 2A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 90 65 Opinion . 4A PEOPLE WEDNESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO T-Storm Chance Obituaries . 5A THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics . 3B Swift wins big Local news Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles . 4B at Billboards. roundup. 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013 Page Editor: Jim Barr, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Saturday: Monday: Monday: n Rhythm-and-blues singer n Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., 1-11-19-33-37-49 Afternoon: 6-0-9 Afternoon: 6-5-9-0 Sunday: Ron Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 62. x4 Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 5-21-22-27-33 is 72. n Actor Mr. T is 61. n Rock musician Hilton n Music producer Stan Valentine (The Animals) is 70. Lynch is 58. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS n Actor Richard Hatch is 68. n Actor Judge Reinhold is n Musician Bill Champlin is 56. 66. n Actor-director Nick n Actress Carol Potter is 65. Cassavetes is 54. Taylor Swift wins 8 Billboard Awards Daily Scripture LAS VEGAS nother day, another domi- “May the God who gives endur- nation for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot ance and encouragement give winner at the Billboard you the same attitude of mind Music Awards.