The Wakulla SPORTS, Page 9A Coach J.D. Jones Please see Page 4B to be inducted Teachers: Visit TheWakullaNews.com into Hall of Fame for links to FREE NIE curriculum ews nOur 117th Year, 8th Issue Thursday, February 23, 2012 Published Weekly, Two Sections Read Daily Serving Wakulla County For More Than A Century 75 Cents CIVIL WAR CANNON Judge will allow net lawsuit to move forward By WILLIAM SNOWDEN [email protected] Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford refused to dismiss a lawsuit fi led by Wakulla fi shermen that chal- lenges state net regulations as unconstitutional. The lawsuit was fi led by the Wakulla Commer- cial Fishermen’s Association and fi shermen Ron- ald Fred Crum, Jonas Porter and Keith Ward. The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Com- mission had fi led a motion seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed. Among the arguments made by Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Glogau, who is representing the FWC, is that fi shermen have fi led and lost several lawsuits in the past in which they have challenged state rules on what kind of nets can legally be used. But fi shermen, who are represented by at- torney Ron Mowrey, contend that there is new evidence from scientifi c research that shows the nets the state requires them to use are detrimen- tal to the environmental because the small mesh catches mostly juvenile fi sh, not legal mullet. In a seven-page order released on Tuesday, Feb. 14, Judge Fulford concluded by saying: “This court cannot agree that our system of government is so harsh as to bind the hands and gag the mouths of those who believe they have been wronged.” JENNIFER JENSEN Mowrey said the language reminded him of an Don Volsch with his Civil War 6-pound cannon. He traded with another collector for the barrel and then collected and order in a net case written several years ago by built the rest of the parts for the fi eld gun, which took him three months to assemble. then-Circuit Judge Charles McClure, now retired, who compared the situation of mullet fi shermen to Indians being driven from their land. Local resident builds a cannon that will be used at While Fulford refused to dismiss the case, she did allow some counts to be dismissed – including a count in which fi shermen claim that the FWC the re-enactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge is selectively prosecuting Wakulla and Franklin county fi shermen. The judge found that selective By JENNIFER JENSEN beads from the Spanish and Civil War prosecution is a defense to criminal prosecution [email protected] Battle of Natural period,” Volsch said. and is not appropriate in a civil lawsuit. Chasing artifacts has always been a Continued on Page 12A After 10 years of collecting parts Bridge is this weekend passion, he says. and three months of putting them About 15 years ago, he did some all together, Don Volsch, of Wakulla • Friday, March 2 – Middle and “horse trading” with another collector County, can fi nally cross an item off his high school students will visit the for the gun barrel and says since then OBITUARIES bucket list. state park beginning at 10:30 a.m. he has always wanted to use it to build Volsch built a No. 1 Civil War fi eld car- There will be multiple stations set a cannon. Gerald Lee Clevenger up with living historians giving 19th riage with a 6-pound cannon and started “It was one of those things on my Margaret R. Sheotes the project with only a gun barrel. century demonstrations. bucket list,” Volsch says. “I have always loved things that put • Saturday, March 3 – 10 a.m. to 4 One day, three months ago, he de- Doris Shadix Jackson Smith out smoke and fl ames and go boom,” p.m. Visitors will mingle with Civil War cided it was time to put that plan into Volsch says. re-enactors and observe a Confeder- action. Volsch is a history buff and has been ate-Union skirmish in the afternoon, “I didn’t think it would take me three INDEX cavalry demonstrations, artillery collecting artifacts since he was a child. months and 30 to 40 hours a week,” Public Notices ................................................................. Page 3A shows and a medical demonstra- He has been diving for artifacts for the he says. Comment & Opinion ....................................................... Page 4A last 30 years. He has numerous shelves tion in the afternoon. Following the The cannon is built 100 percent to Church............................................................................. Page 6A full of mastadon teeth he has found over skirmish, sutlers and food vendors specifi cations. He used a copy of the Community ..................................................................... Page 7A the years. He grew up in Tallahassee, but will be present. original blueprint for this type of can- when he was younger, he loved going to • Sunday, March 4 – The offi cial non. School ............................................................................. Page 8A the St. Marks River at low tide to hunt Opening Ceremonies and Dedication “Every measurement is as a Civil War Sports ............................................................................. Page 9A for trinkets. will he held, followed by a full-scale 6-pounder would have been,” Volsch Outdoors ...................................................................... Page 10A “The history was phenomenal,” re-enactment of the Battle of Natural says. Water Ways....................................................................Page 11A Volsch says. Bridge at 2:30 p.m. A problem with the blue prints is that Sheriff’s Report ............................................................. Page 13A He found arrow heads, Spanish black The CSO will accept donations of they are vague and it took some time to Senior Citizens .................................................................Page 1B glass bottles, pipes, Civil War buckles, $3 per person for adults and $1 for decipher the measurements. Week in Wakulla ..............................................................Page 2B children younger than six. musket balls and buttons. “Everything has to be so precise,” Thinking Outside The Book ..............................................Page 4B Contact the Natural Bridge State “I would sit for hours and sift the Volsch says. Classifi eds ........................................................................Page 5B sand with my fi ngers and fi nd trade Park for more information at (850) 922-6007. Continued on Page 5A Legal Notices ...................................................................Page 5B FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH Christian Coalition holds its annual Scholarship Banquet By HERB DONALDSON Feb. 17. East Gadsden Principal two. Due to his efforts, Rickards He is a life-long learner Special to The News The event is held each year as a fundraiser to and Wakulla native Dr. The Wakulla County help with activities of the Kimball Thomas was Christian Coalition held WCCC. the keynote speaker at Black History Parade its sixth annual Arthur L. This year’s presentation Andrews Memorial Schol- was attended by many of the Arthur L. Andrews arship Banquet in the main the original founders of Scholarship Banquet dining room of Wakulla’s the WCCC, which began held Friday. Senior Center on Friday, close to 10 years ago. The program was opened with a musical prelude by Fred Lee, whose covers of familiar songs were often lively. His version of Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” set many in the room to dancing. And his somber, more poignant songs depicting the struggle and hopes of WILLIAM SNOWDEN the African-American were The parade fl oat for Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church #2 in Saturday’s Black His- Kimball Thomas especially moving. tory Parade. For more photos, see Page 14A. An invocation was given erette, who spoke of mo- by Pastor Alfred Nelson of ments in their childhood AFRICAN-AMERICAN READ-IN was held at the public library on the Macedonia Church of as only a sister can do. Sunday as part of Black History Month. See story, Page 14A. God Written in Heaven. She was encouraged in her The highlight of the statements by their moth- evening was a keynote ad- er, Evelyn Thomas, who dress given by Dr. Kimball was also in attendance. He was once an assistant High School was kept off with a Bachelor of Science Thomas, native of Wakulla Thomas was formerly principal and teacher at the critical low list during in Education, Masters in County, and principal of principal of Rickards High Wakulla Middle School. his four-year tenure. He Administration and Super- East Gadsen High School School in Tallahassee for As an administrator, he was also directly involved vision and a Doctorate in in Quincy. four years and the Florida achieved success by rais- in the implementation of Educational Leadership. Thomas was introduced A&M Developmental Re- ing test scores in reading, its International Baccalau- Continued on Page 14A by his sister, Shirlyne Ev- search High School for mathematics and writing. reate Program. Page 2A – THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, February 23, 2012 www.thewakullanews.com Gulf Specimen takes its touch tanks on the MEET THE CREATURES: road to visit Wakulla students at their schools By JENNIFER JENSEN “It has the complexity [email protected] of the space shuttle,” Jack Rudloe said of the inside For the last several of trailer. years, Gulf Specimen Ma- Eventually, he said he rine Lab has been able to would like to juice up the bring its sea life to the trailer and include octo- public in the form of a puses and sharks, this way touch tank. there is always something On Feb. 15, the lab different for the children unveiled its latest project, to see. which is leaps and bounds “We want the kids here above the touch tank. It to know what’s in their is travel trailer full of sea back yards,” Rudloe said. creatures. Superintendent of The trailer is essentially Schools David Miller said a mobile touch tank that the trailer was a great op- is completely self-sustain- portunity for the children ing.