1 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Florida economy losing ground Report: State has Florida International University Recession hit the state hard, par- unemployment rate has fallen to 11.5 percent, between 2000 and economists said in their annual ticularly the implosion of housing 7.1 percent, but has been stuck 2011. The median income is point fallen further than Labor Day report that the state’s prices and the depression in the at that level for three months. where half of households make median income has fallen at a construction industry, Florida’s Typically, a healthy economy has more and half make less. nation since 2000. greater pace than the rest of the economic ills predate the crash. an unemployment rate of 6 per- — The wage gap between high The Associated Press country and that poverty jumped “A lot of the problems were cent or less. and low earners grew between nearly 50 percent between 2007 just exacerbated by the reces- Census data released last week 2000 and 2012 as the top 10 per- MIAMI — Florida’s economy and 2011. sion,” co-author Ali Bustamante showed that Florida has the sec- cent of earners saw their incomes has been losing ground since The researchers at FIU’s told The Tampa Bay Times. “The ond-highest rate of uninsured grow by 13 percent during that about 2000 on almost every mea- Research Institute on Social recession basically made them residents younger than 65. period while the bottom 10 per- surement, including income, and Economic Policy said in worse.” According to the report: cent saw their wage decrease by unemployment and inflation, a their “State of Working Florida” Florida’s unemployment hit a — Florida’s real household report released Monday says. report that while the 2008 Great high of 11.4 percent in 2010. The median income fell $5,668, or ECONOMY continued on 3A SUMMER’S FINAL FLING Agency to help navigate Care Act market WellFlorida to help region’s uninsured enroll for coverage. By STEVEN RICHMOND [email protected] WellFlorida Council Inc., are- gional health agency based in Gainesville, has been selected by the University of South Florida to be one of 10 partners to help uninsured North Florida residents enroll in health coverage. Because the state of Florida opted out of a Medicaid entitle- ment expansion and insurance exchange as part of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, it became eligible for grant pro- grams from the federal govern- ment to facilitate the transition into the laws taking effect Jan. 1. Those without health insurance after Jan. 1 will face a penalty of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up Photos by AMANDA WILLIAMSON/Lake City Reporter to $285 for a family) or 1 percent of Brothers JayL (right), 5; Wyatt (middle), 4, and Bentley wear their tubes at Ichetucknee Springs State Park on Monday. The three boys and their income, whichever is greater. parents were in town from Ohio visiting relatives who live in Lake City. USF was awarded one of sev- eral “Navigator” grants which will be used by organizations like WellFlorida to help uninsured Spring visitors relax on Labor Day Floridians enroll in programs. “We’re ... posting navigators Ichetucknee Springs filled where we know uninsured people with tourists enjoying last INSURANCE continued on 3A day of tubing this season. By AMANDA WILLIAMSON FGC students [email protected] starting own or first-time visitors to the Ichetucknee Springs State Park, the coldness of the water always food pantry catches them off guard — and it was no different for Jodie By TONY BRITT FHenton. [email protected] Labor Day weekend brought a flood of people to the park, including many from The national economic down- all over Florida ready for a mini-vacation. turn has impacted families in a Henton, in town with her family from variety of ways. Wesley Chapel and friends from Lutz, Florida Gateway College tubed down the river for the first time. Student Government Association “It was hard to stay out of the bushes,” members have formed the Florida she said Monday, adding that her group Gateway Food Pantry, which will of eight saw a snake while on the water. benefit students in need. SGA “But it was a cool experience. I want to members learned about starting try canoeing next time. Canoeing will be a food pantry at their American safer.” Student Government Association Monday was the last day for tubers to new officer training in July, said travel the full river until Memorial Day FGC student government presi- next year, but the south entrance to the dent Stephanie Lansford. park will still allow visitors to tube from the “Financial instability is the num- midpoint to Dampier’s Landing. According ber one reason for college drop- to park manager Mebane Cory-Ogden, out,” Lansford said in a prepared canoers and kayakers are welcome to float statement. the entire river all year long. “We felt it was a need that some “It has been a busy Labor Day week- of the students had,” said Billy end,” she said. “It’s always good to see Greer, student senate chairman. people enjoying our natural resources.” “We just didn’t want to see some of The park reached capacity for the north the students go hungry.” end on Monday, but experienced a steady Each month on the 15th, students flow of people at the south end, Cory- Jacksonville resident Mya, 10, launches herself into the Ichetucknee Headspring at the Ichetucknee State Park on Monday. Allen was visiting the park with her Girl Scout Troop. Born in need will be able to go to the in the Bahamas, she said the blue water of the spring reminds her of the island. HOLIDAY continued on 3A PANTRY continued on 3A Vol. 139, No. 155 People. 2A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 94 72 Opinion . 4A PEOPLE WEDNESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO T-Storm Chance Obituaries . 3A THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics . 3B Competitive Local news Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles . 2B Frisbee. roundup. 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 Page Editor: Jim Barr, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Saturday: Monday: Monday: n Beetle Bailey creator Mort n Actor Steve Schirripa is 10-11-12-17-28-46 Afternoon: 9-3-4 Afternoon: 3-5-7-2 Sunday: Walker is 90. 56. x4 Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 14-15-18-27-32 n Actress Anne Jackson is n Guitarist Todd Lewis of 88. The Toadies is 48. n Actress Pauline Collins is n Actor Charlie Sheen is 48. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS 73. n Singer Jennifer Paige is n Singer-guitarist Al Jardine 40. of The Beach Boys is 71. n Musician Redfoo of n Actress Valerie Perrine is LMFAO is 38. British interviewer David Frost dies 70. n Actress Ashley Jones is n Drummer Donald Brewer 37. of Grand Funk Railroad is 65. n Actor Nick Wechsler is 35. LONDON n Guitarist Steve Jones of n Actor Garrett Hedlund is avid Frost had sparred the Sex Pistols is 58. 29. with Richard Nixon for hours, recording a series of interviews with the former president Daily Scripture Dthree years after he stepped down in disgrace over Watergate. But as The earth is filled with your the sessions drew to a close, Frost realized he still lacked something: an love, Lord; teach me your acknowledgement by Nixon that he decrees. had been wrong. Nixon had admitted making — Psalm 119:64 mistakes, but Frost put down his clipboard and pressed his sub- ject on whether that was enough. Americans, he said, wanted to hear him own up to his misdeeds and Lake City Reporter acknowledge abusing the power of HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS the White House. Main number . .(386) 752-1293 “Unless you say it, you’re going to Fax“ number . .752-9400 Controller Sue Brannon. .754-0419 Circulation . .755-5445 be haunted for the rest of your life,” ([email protected]) Online . www.lakecityreporter.com CIRCULATION the British broadcaster told Nixon. The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Home delivery of the” Lake City Reporter What came next were some of the AMANDA WILLIAMSON / Lake City Reporter Community Newspapers Inc., is pub- most extraordinary comments ever lished Tuesday through Friday and should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 made by a politician on television. Competitive Frisbee Fla. 32055. Periodical postage paid at a.m. on Sunday. For Frost, who died Saturday, it was Lake City, Fla. Member Audit Bureau of Please call 386-755-5445 to report any the signature moment of an illustri- Hank Bass (right) and Randy Aiu throw a Frisbee toward their opponents Mike Circulation and The Associated Press. problems with your delivery service. ous television career that spanned Prost and Jim Elsner (not pictured). The four men — three of whom are from All material herein is property of the Lake In Columbia County, customers should half a century and included inter- Tallahassee and one from Miami — met at the Southside Recreation Complex City Reporter. Reproduction in whole or call before 10:30 a.m. to report a ser- in part is forbidden without the permis- vice error for same day re-delivery. After views with a long list of the world’s sion of the publisher. U.S. Postal Service Monday to play double disc court Frisbee. 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery or ser- No.