Mom Jailed Too in $99K Fraud
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A3 + PLUS >> New City Hall one step closer, Story below NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP LOCAL Who A final salute won? to Mr. Mont See Page 5A See Page 2A TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Inmate dies Pharmacy tech Two dead, CCSO SAYS: 3A at county jail stole drugs in one critical Mom after crash her bra: Report in crashes jailed too in LOTS OF LOCALS AMONG THEM $99K fraud Son, Michael Hullett, Teachers rally in Tally arrested last month. By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] Following in her son’s footsteps, a Lake City woman was arrested Friday for her role in their $99,000 scheme to raid her estranged husband’s retirement account, deputies say. Debra Elaine Stone, 68, of Stone Southwest Placid Lane, was booked into Columbia County on a felony larceny charge stemming from a plot she carried out with her son, Michael Wayne Hullett, 42, who was arrested in late December, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report. Sheriff’s officials COURTESY PHOTOS launched a probe into the Teachers, students and concerned citizens attend the teachers rally in front of the old capitol building in fraud nearly two years ago. Tallahassee on Monday. BELOW: Tammy Garrett (left), a Lake City Middle School teacher, and Tanya Johnson, A major break in the inves- Columbia Teachers Association president, hold signs at the Tallahassee Civic Center Monday, before march- tigation came last summer, following testimony in a ing the rally Monday. separate-but-related civil Among 10,000 who case. gathered to ask for MOM continued on 3A more ed. funding. By TONY BRITT [email protected] New City Tanya Johnson is a local teacher with 18 years’ experience and a master’s Hall now a degree, but she still can’t qualify for a home loan. step closer Her plight is one faced by many educators across Hospital board agrees the state, and 10,000 to give parcel to city. of them showed up in Tallahassee Monday to By CARL MCKINNEY tell Florida lawmakers [email protected] they need more money for themselves, their students A land deal to secure the and their classrooms. proposed site of the future “It was really awesome,” Lake City Hall is moving said Johnson, president forward. of the Columbia Teachers The Lake Shore Hospital Association. “From the Authority, a public entity response and the feedback Park Elementary School Association vice president funding is actually below entrusted by state law to we got, I would say the teacher. “I personally feel and a Columbia County where it was in 2007. She oversee its namesake hos- legislators understood our like we need more guid- Special Education teacher, said the funding shortages pital, agreed on Monday needs.” ance counselors, nurses said the Florida Education are occurring all across to donate land to the city, Johnson said it was and opportunities to help Association spearheaded the state. which will use the prop- important to attend the our kids work through the rally. Johnson said she had erties for construction of rally to show solidarity those traumatic experienc- She said the educators’ at least 30 local educa- a new headquarters and and to increase aware- es that they’re having in common goals are to tors call her during the add more parking spaces ness about our school have experienced, qual- holiday break regarding for downtown events, with systems ified teachers in every what the ‘From the response and funding through insur- room left over that the today.” classroom in the state; county could use for an students, the feedback we got, I ance costs and the cost of teachers The appropriate class size for administrative building of would say the legislators co-pays. and schools understood our needs.’ group special needs learners; its own. needs are. marched to safe schools and inviting “It’s not a county issue, “This will be a catalyst “We need the steps classrooms; and adequate it’s a state issue,” she said. to help revitalize down- (increased funding), but of the old capitol building, funding for all the school “Our county has worked town,” City Manager Joe our students need it more, many holding signs say- districts in the state. very well with us to try Helfenberger told the hos- especially with all the trau- ing: “Fund Public Schools, Delaney said many leg- to alleviate some of these pital authority. matic things that are chil- Fund Our Future.” islators claim education issues, but they’re coming The land sits at the inter- dren are faced with today,” Jenee Delaney, funding is up, but based on from the state and they said Johnson, a Melrose Columbia Teachers cost of living statistics, the continue to cut funding.” CITY continued on 3A Vol. 145, No. 218 Obituaries . 3A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Sports . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPORTER: 81 58 Advice & Comics . 7A Voice: 755-5445 Mostly cloudy, 2A Classifieds. 8A Fax: 752-9400 2A TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER JAMES MONTGOMERY QUICK HITS A final farewell to Mr. Mont Scripture of the Day “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and dents was inexhaustible,” that seek him with the whole heart.” By MICHAEL PHILIPS Johnson said. [email protected] Kat Gordon, a small-busi- — Psalm 119:2 (KJV) A celebration of life for ness owner in Lake City, James H. Montgomery said Montgomery had was held Saturday at First touched just about every- Thought for Today one in the community. Presbyterian Church of It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impar- Lake City, the same church “I never took his class, but I know many people tially admire all schools of art. — Oscar Wilde, his father was called to 1854-1900, Irish writer “The Picture of Dorian Gray”) serve more than 90 years who have found success before. who might not have if it The church used spill- wasn’t for Mr. Mont’s gen- over parking locations, as erosity,” Gordon said. “You Winning Lottery Numbers its parking lot filled quickly. would be hard-pressed to Pick 3: (Sunday p.m.) 2-8-4 This wasn’t the only find anyone in Lake City Pick 4: (Sunday p.m.) 3-7-6-6 who doesn’t know someone indication of the stature of Fantasy 5: (Sunday) 9-17-24-30-35 Montgomery, affectionate- who was helped by him. He ly known as “Mr. Mont.” was truly a great man.” Since his death on Dec. 7 The Rev. Al Reese gave See an error? the eulogy on Saturday. at the age of 86, Mr. Mont The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news He had been friends with was the topic of conversa- items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, Montgomery for decades. tion on several social media MICHAEL PHILIPS/LCR please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will He noted that Montgomery forums and this service The Rev. Al Reese delivers the eulogy at the run in this space. Thanks for reading. had learned from his family was being livestreamed by celebration of life service held for James H. to “think theologically” and at least one Facebook page. Montgomery on Saturday at First Presbyterian. that how he practiced stew- Jess Johnson, a Submissions ardship was “truly, truly The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption Columbia High School Mont developed so many shaped the world today.” remarkable.” class of 2000 alumnus, was information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would rich relationships as a Whether it was field Reese asked like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture asked by Montgomery teacher, an elected leader, trips to Gainesville or Montgomery why he chose personally to speak at this and information to the editor: [email protected]. a champion of the young, Jacksonville or just one of to turn his sights to elected event. Johnson said that a coach, a church leader. the legendary sleepovers politics. of all the descriptors that “After a few years in the apply to the man, at heart But at heart he was a story- he would supervise at his teller. Through stories and home on Alligator Lake, classroom,” Montgomery Lake City Reporter Montgomery was a master said to him, “I have seen of language. his rich use of language, he “Mr. Mont’s enthusiasm HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING and heard things I can’t Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff “I was his student, friend put in perspective the his- to find intellectually stimu- Fax number ............ 752-9400 (386) 754-0417 and admirer,” he said. “Mr. torical circumstances that lating activities for his stu- FAREWELL cont. on 10A Circulation............. 755-5445 ([email protected]) Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate CLASSIFIED e word of Community Newspapers Inc., Kym Harrison et th out! is published Tuesday through (386) 755-5440 G Saturday/Sunday at 180 E. Duval ([email protected]) St., Lake City, FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at Lake City, Florida, BUSINESS OFFICE Member of The Associated Press Vickie Busscher jordan law firm pllc and the Florida Press Association. (386) 754-0419 attorneys at law All material herein is property of ([email protected]) the Lake City Reporter. No part of the contents of this publication may CIRCULATION be reproduced in whole or in part Director Sara Mercer 386.755.3456 without written permission of the (386) 754-0408 934 NE Lake DeSoto Circle, Lake City, FL publisher.