Family and Friends Gather to Honor Grady Lou Nichols on 100Th Birthday
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THE CALHOUN-LIBErtY ¢ 50 INCLUDES JOURNAL TAX CLJNews.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012 Vol. 32, No. 30 Local health departments at bottom of FL rankings; changes already under way by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor ago, didn’t think the report was nearly as bad Residents got a surprise when it was as it sounded. She didn’t learn about it until learned Friday that the Liberty County Health she started her new job. Department was the lowest ranked facility in She noted that the ranking guidelines are the state and that the Calhoun County Health still considered to be in draft form. The DOH, Department was only two notches higher. which came up with the ranking system at the The Franklin County Health Department request of Governor Rick Scott, describes the was wedged between the two at Number 66 document as “a work in progress.” Grady Lou Nichols enjoys a laugh with a young relative at Satur- out of the state’s 67 counties. day’s party in honor of her 100th birthday. The photo in the back- “I don’t think the rankings accurately reflect ground shows her as a toddler, posing with a school teacher who The highest ranked on the list was the In- the performance of the health department,” lived with her family in Marianna. DANIEL WILLIAMS PHOTO dian River County Health Department with a she said, speaking of both Calhoun and Lib- score of 58 points out of a possible 69. Liberty erty County. “I think the health department County had only 23 points, Franklin County has a great staff and does a great job.” But Family and friends had 29 and Calhoun County had 32. she noted, “There are always areas that need Information was compiled on everything improvement.” from employee satisfaction surveys to the She said she’s already started on it. “We’re gather to honor bacterial STD rate in 15 to 24-year-old pa- developing an action plan and moving for- tients. Leadership effectiveness, adherence ward,” she said. to controls, ability to respond to disease and Part of that plan went into effect July 13 Grady Lou Nichols public health threats as well as budget exper- tise were also factored into the final grade. when she held a joint staff meeting between The findings were known by the Depart- the two departments at Veterans Memorial on 100th birthday ment of Health (DOH) earlier this year but Civic Center in Bristol. “It allowed the staff time to be together and brainstorm,” she said. by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor apparently had not be presented outside of the There’s no way to accurately count up the meals she’s cooked Commander A.J. Gwyn of Atlanta gave a agency. and quilts she’s stitched, but as she nears her 100th birthday, Grady presentation to the group about violence in the The DOH responded quickly to a public Lou Nichols fondly recalls doing those things for the family she records request from The Journal Monday for workplace in a health care setting. raised in Calhoun County. the results. The two local health departments have a And she had a lot of family to do for. Rachel Manspeaker, who was hired as the total of about 60 employees, which includes She and her husband, Ernest, had six children. He died in the late new Administrator for the Calhoun and Liber- approximately 10 who work with both 1980s. Their eldest son, Broward Nichols, and youngster daughter, ty Health Departments less than three months departments. Linda Menefee, have also passed away. Her surviving children include Hazel Swearingen, 82, of Panama City; Louise Jordan, 80, of Marianna and two sons, Glenn, 73, and Willard, 68, who live next to the home where they were raised near Clarksville. While the rest of the family has to keep it written down to keep the numbers straight, she’s quick to rattle off her list of descendants. There are 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 13 great- great-grandchildren. “It’s quite a bunch,” she said. “I love them all.” Approximately 100 relatives representing five generations gathered at Poplar Head Baptist Church, about one mile north of Clarksville, for a party in her honor on Saturday. There she held court, greeting old friends and catching up with her fast-growing great-great-grandchildren, including five-year-old Cassidy Frusha. “Scratch Cat Grandma” is the name the little girl started calling her after hearing about a black and white kitten at Miss Grady Lou’s home that had a bad habit of clawing visitors. She got married on June 16, 1929, just three months after meeting Ernest Nichols. He brought his 17-year-old bride from her Marianna home to the Clarksville area to set up housekeeping. He and a friend helped each other build their wood-frame homes. Theirs was ready by November of that year. Health Department employees from both Liberty County as well as County County listen to a guest “It had three bedrooms,” she said. “One for the boys, one for the speaker at a staff meeting held earlier this month in Bristol. girls and we had one.” They were together 68 years and she remained in that home 86 Clip & Save years. Just a few months ago, family members convinced her to Political The tale of spend some time at Blountstown Health and Rehabilitation Center, speaking 2012-13 a drunken where she could get around-the-clock care. School “My health is pretty good for my age,” she said, explaining that set Friday squirrel at she likes to get out and about at the rehab facility. “I still go all Calendars over the building with my wheelchair and my walker.” She enjoys in Bristol Torreya Pk. playing Bingo with the other residents and has done a little painting PAGE 4 PAGE 18 PAGE 29 during craft classes. See GRADY LOU NICHOLS continued on page 17 Sheriff's Log...2 Commentary...6 Speak Up!...7 Birthdays, a Birth & a Wedding...9 News from the Pews...11 Calhoun School Board gets Gold Star...12 4-H Super Science Day Camp...21 Obituaries...23 Journey Stories....25 Page 2 THE CALHOUN-LIBERTY JOURNAL JULY 25, 2012 Former LCHS instructor facing SHERIFF’S LOG sanctions after DOE investigation •Rickey Battle, possession of by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor •The DOE investigation determined CALHOUN COUNTY a weapon by a convicted felon, A former Liberty County High School that in June 2006, Peddie gave alcoholic July 18 LCSO. teacher is facing sanctions ranging beverages to two 17-year-old girls and •Jerad Lipford, VOSP, CCSO. •Reggie Thomas, no valid driver’s from a written reprimand to loss of her drank in their presence. •Eric Finley, child support, license, LCSO. educator’s certificate after the Department •While employed as an English teacher CCSO. •Sabrina Allen, possession of mari- of Education (DOE) found her in violation at LCHS during the 2009-2010 school •Joshua Crawford, child support, juana less than 20 grams, possession CCSO. of two statutes and two rules following year, she was reported to have sent a of drug paraphernalia, LCSO. July 19 an investigation into improper conduct threatening message to a female student July 19 •Brandy Leigh Vestal, battery, •Brandy Leigh Vestal, holding for around her students. that stated “you need your ass kicked,” CCSO. CCSO, CCSO. An administrative complaint was or words to that effect after the girl had July 20 July 22 filed against English teacher and girls’ lunch with Peddie’s boyfriend, who had •Paul Fuder, failure to appear, •Brain Williams, disorderly con- volleyball coach Casi Peddie with the recently graduated from LCHS. CCSO. duct, resist officer without violence, DOE by the Liberty County School A Finding of Probable Cause issued LCSO. District, who found cause to proceed after by Education Commissioner Gerard they conducted their own investigation. Robinson charged that Peddie was guilty LIBERTY COUNTY Listings include name followed by charge and identifica- “She resigned from the school district tion of arresting agency. The names above represent of “gross immorality or an act involving July 16 those charged. We remind our readers that all are on April 10, 2012 and now the Office moral turpitude” and had violated the •Donna Needer Boettcher, disor- presumed innocent until proven guilty. of Professional Practices will meet to Principals of Professional Conduct. derly intoxication, LCSO. Blountstown Police Dept. determine her penalty,” said Liberty He said she violated one rule when •Russell Dalton, failure to appear, LCSO. July 16 through July 22, 2012 County School Superintendent Sue she “failed to make reasonable effort •Christopher Mathis, writ of attach- Citations issued: Summers. to protect the student from conditions Accidents...............04 Traffic Citations..................18 Peddie was removed from her coaching ment, LCSO. Special details (business escorts, traffic details)....110 harmful to learning and/or to the student’s July 17 Business alarms.....01 Residential alarms..........00 position and reassigned following the Complaints..............................................................97 mental health and or/physical health school district’s internal investigation and/or safety.” A second rule violation and pending the outcome of the DOE was when she “intentionally exposed a investigation. student to unnecessary embarrassment of Summers said her office investigated disparagement.” one complaint regarding an explicit Sanctions may include, but are not conversation between Peddie and another limited to a written reprimand, probation, teacher that took place in front of students on or about Sept. 19, 2010. “The other restricting the teacher’s scope of practice, a complaints came out as part of the DOE fine, enrollment in the Recovery Network investigation,” she said. Program, suspension or revocation of her •The first complaint charged that educator’s certificate and possibly barring Peddie was texting and talking on her cell her from reapplying for the certificate for phone while driving LCHS students on a up to 10 years or permanently.