A3 SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2018 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM SUNDAY + PLUS >> After 33 years, Best of 1C RIP, city fire chief the Best Benjamin taking his leave ballot Duke Morris inside New man in city Williams/4A growth mgmt. Life, 1D See 4D TROPICAL Fort White High graduation STORM Alberto driving toward county Gov. Scott issues emergency order. By STEVE WILSON [email protected] With Tropical Storm Alberto moving northward, local and state officials are preparing for a potential major weather system to move northward through the area over the next cou- ple of days. Faces of the Future On Saturday, Governor Rick Scott issued Executive Ominous skies don’t Order 18-150 declaring a deter 146 at Friday’s state of emergency in all commencement. 67 Florida counties as the state continues to monitor and prepare for Subtropical By COREY ARWOOD Storm Alberto, according to [email protected] a press release. ort White High School Al Sandrik, a meteorologist Class of 2018 walked under with the National Weather F stormy skies Friday. Service in Jacksonville, said Despite ominous clouds, the that as of early Saturday graduating students, with stands afternoon Alberto was locat- full of supporters, celebrated the ed south of the western tip of occasion with a positive air that came through in their speeches ALBERTO continued on 2A and carried them through to the end of the ceremony uninterrupt- ed by the storm in the distance. It lasted just under two hours with light rains threatening the Aviation start of the procession. But it ulti- mately held off and gave way to dark clouds with sporadic gusts academy of strong wind. An occasional low rumble of gets new thunder could be heard through- out the ceremony, and a distant flash made an appearance. But mission no lightning appeared and the procession carried from start to finish. By CARL MCKINNEY The school district had stated [email protected] earlier Friday it would be the only condition that would post- The North Florida pone the ceremony. Aviation Academy is mov- After the nearly 150 member CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: The Fort White High ing into the new school student body made its way from School graduating class of 2018, flanked by year with a narrower, more one end zone to the next the bleachers and sidelines full of family and friends focused mission. commencement began with a as they listen to their classmates deliver speech- Starting in the fall, the welcome and introduction from es. An excited group is ready to turn their tassels. academy will no longer Fort White Principal Keith Valedictorian Jorge Gonzalez spoke to his peers offer core classes — histo- Couey. about their past together, their futures apart and In his speech Couey said their ry, language arts, science time in high school was like a the positive influence he said his classmates had math and social studies — on him in high school. School district officials before just under 150 diplomas were handed out. FWHS continued on 2A Photos by COREY ARWOOD/Lake City Reporter AVIATION continued on 2A Memorial Day: Honoring fallen heroes in Lake City 150-plus gather at VA to pay tured American troops and so they auditorium with more than 150 Robert Milligan (left), homage to the American dead. could say the Pledge of Allegiance. people in attendance, including Lake City Police Friday morning, Dennis Pollard, elected officials, first responders, Department Honor By TONY BRITT a Navy veteran, told the story of veterans and VA support staff. Guard member, stands [email protected] Christian to start the 2018 Lake Mike Williams, manager of with Mike Williams City VA Memorial Day program government and public affairs for after they placed a Mike Christian, a prisoner of and it set the tone for the entire Nutrien in White Springs, served wreath in honor of fall- war in Vietnam, was tortured for ceremony. as keynote speaker. en troops during the making an American flag replica. The annual Memorial Day pro- Williams, who retired from the Lake City VA Memorial He made it out of old rags to keep gram took place Friday morning at Day program Friday up the morale of the other cap- the Lake City VA Medical Center HEROES continued on 3A morning. TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Vol. 143, No. 301 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Obituaries . 5A Puzzles . 2-3B Navy vet honored SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPORTER: 79 70 Business . 1C Haven pinning ceremony, 6A Voice: 755-5445 Life . 1D Fax: 752-9400 Chance of storms, 2A 2A SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2018 DAILY BRIEFING LAKE CITY REPORTER 146 walk in Fort White QUICK HITS and likened it to a road Scripture of the Day FWHS trip. Continued From 1A “The road trip to grad- “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift uation defintely wasn’t easy, it was a struggle,” to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” puzzle and recalled how — James 1:19 (KJV) that puzzle gradually said Thomason. “It had formed until the final a lot of roadblocks, alter- piece was put in place nate routes and wrong Thought for Today that night at their gradu- turns.” ation. Lastly, before the roll call of students Nature uses as little as possible of anything. “All 146 of you tonight — Johannes Kepler, 1571-1630, German scientist are a success, you never and presentations of quit and you accom- medallions and diplo- plished your goal,” Couey mas Valedictorian Jorge said. “I hope you leave Gonzalez gave a some- here tonight knowing one times emotional, though Winning Lottery Numbers thing. That most in this largely humorous, speech Pick 3: (Friday p.m.) 5-2-3 crazy puzzle of life, and to his classmates. Pick 4: (Friday p.m.) 4-1-6-5 He called himself a that is that you are loved Fantasy 5: (Friday) 7-18-20-23-32 by your family, your class- master procrastinator and mates, our Tiwahe Nation, said the speech he read just look around you, and that night was evidence. See an error? especially by me.” “Minus all the academ- The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news Following Couey, ics we have an amazing items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, senior class historian community in this town please call the editor. Corrections and clarications will and we have an out- Savana Terry introduced run in this space. Thanks for reading. student body president standing senior class. This class is made up of Dylan Cason. Photos by COREY ARWOOD/Lake City Reporter Cason delivered a for- compassionate, upbeat, Submissions ward looking speech with creative and highly The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption words of encouragement intelligent people,” said information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would to his class members and Gonzalez. “If I was able to like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture an emphasis on their abil- write this speech in one and information to Associate Editor Justin Caudell at ity to effect change in the night I believe anything [email protected]. country at large. can be done... In conclu- “In order for this nation sion the class of 2018 is a to mold into what you powerhouse of creativity Lake City Reporter believe it should be it is and we will work to make the world a better place.” HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS..............754-0419 necessary for you to be Main number ........(386) 752-1293 active. That doesn’t neces- Top school district offi- CIRCULATION cials, including Supt. Lex Fax number ..............752-9400 sarily mean you must go in Circulation ...............755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter front of the White House Carswell, were present. Online ... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. with a cardboard sign School board mem- The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 of Community Newspapers Inc., is a.m. on Sunday. or go on Facebook and ber Stephanie Finnell and Fort White Athletic published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any tell everybody why their Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. views are incorrect,” said Director John Wilson FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at presented the students Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should Cason. “Why not become Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m. to report a with their medals before service error for same day re-delivery. the next Bill Gates? Why All material herein is property of the they walked across the Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery not become the next Elon or service related credits will be issued. Musk? Why not become stage to receive their whole or in part is forbidden without the diplomas. permission of the publisher. U.S. Postal In all other counties where home delivery the next Lebron James? Service No. 310-880. Earlier that night is available, next day re-delivery or Why not use your mind POSTMASTER: Send address changes service related credits will be issued. and your voice to spark Couey announced Finnell to Lake City Reporter, P.O. Box 1709, had been in a minor car Lake City, FL 32056. Circulation ...............755-5445 a better tomorrow and a ([email protected]) accident and would be Publisher Todd Wilson .....754-0418 better America?” ([email protected]) Home delivery rates After Cason’s charged late to the event.