1A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Judge’s conduct to be reviewed Andrew J. Decker III probable cause to exam- “serious conflicts of interest.” Dukes said INSIDE probable cause ine alleged violations of Decker “sacrificed” him and another for further dis- accused by ex-client Florida Bar rules gov- Union County resident in favor of Third ciplinary pro- of conflict of interest. erning professional con- Circuit Judge Paul Bryan of Lake City in a ■ Promissory note set ceedings in duct. federal proceeding in 2012. The three had events in motion, 6A regard to pos- By DEREK GILLIAM The finding came formerly been clients of Decker in a land sible violation of [email protected] after Union County real foreclosure case brought by TD Bank. Florida Bar rules governing misconduct estate investor Daniel A. Decker Decker said nothing he did, or failed to and minor misconduct; conflict of interest Third Circuit Judge Andrew J. Decker Dukes, a former client do, harmed Dukes in any way. with current clients; and conflict of inter- III faces possible disciplinary action after of Decker’s, filed a complaint against him The Third Judicial Circuit grievance the circuit’s grievance committee found last spring concerning what he called committee investigated the case and found DECKER continued on 6A Scott FOOT SOLDIER seeks teacher raises Details of proposal to be announced today in Orlando. From wire service reports TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Rick Scott is asking state lawmakers put aside money in the coming year to give pay raises to the state’s teachers. Scott is to formally announce his proposal at an event at an Orlando-area school, Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz told the News Service of Florida, though she said his office won’t disclose details until then. The proposal was being met a day ahead with cautious optimism by public education stakeholders who said the governor’s education push dovetails neatly with his man- tra of economic development and job growth. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter “I think the governor is rec- Lake City Mayor Stephen Witt (right) jokes with former U.S. Marine Sgt. Mac McQuown, 51, as he passes through Lake City Tuesday on the way ognizing the value of our class- to Atlanta. McQuown is walking 15,000 miles across the country to each state’s capital to raise awareness for wounded and homeless veterans. room teachers and the public McQuown started in Stafford, Va., on Sept. 11, 2011, and has walked 1,447 miles to date. He estimates it will take him six years to complete his jour- education system in Florida,” ney in Arlington Cemetery. ‘My biggest enemy is blisters,’ McQuown said. ‘This beats up my body everyday. I’ve already dropped 40 pounds. I get to said Sen. Bill Montford, D- see this country at three miles an hour.’ Tallahassee, who is also exec- utive director of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and a for- Ex-Marine on trek to benefit comrades RAISES continued on 6A Will walk to all 50 state Columbia, Raleigh and CITY COUNCIL Tallahassee. capitals to raise funds for McQuown said he only takes disabled, homeless vets. time off from his walk around Nonprofit the holidays. By DEREK GILLIAM He reached Tallahassee wants to add [email protected] around Christmastime and called his sister in Ocala. She housing for ormer U.S. Marine picked him up in Florida’s capi- Mac McQuown has tal in her car. disabled pulled a cart with 50 McQuown said the prog- pounds of supplies ress is steady, about 15 miles By DEREK GILLIAM from Virginia to a day, and that his training as [email protected] FNew York City, and then down a Marine prepared him for the to Tallahassee in his quest to long days of gutting it out on The city council on Monday “bring awareness back to vet- the road. approved two ordinances that erans.” His plan is to walk to “I never take a ride,” he said. rezoned land on Lake Jeffrey every state capital in a 15,000 “It’s all foot.” Road so that a nonprofit orga- mile trip. Along the way, he said McQuown started to walk to nization could build additional he will and help raise money for the nearest capital from Ocala. housing for disabled individu- veterans who are homless or COURTESY His next stop will be Atlanta. On als. disabled. Mac McQuown pulls a cart loaded with 50 pounds of supplies. He pulled Jan. 7, he started to walk once The Volunteers of America In about a year, he said he’s the cart from Virginia to New York then traveled south to Florida. again, pulling a cart loaded with currently own the land located raised roughly $6,000. The 51- 50 pounds of supplies. at 1078 NW Jeffrey Road, and year-old veteran said he figures Juneau. United States combat wounded, On Monday, McQuown made want to add additional units. the journey will take around McQuown has a Facebook ill, injured and dying military it to Lake City, and before The housing will be sub- six more years to complete, page, facebook.com/macmc- members and Veterans from all he left Tuesday, he met with sidized by the United States and that he started last year in quownwalking, and a website, wars, past and present, and hon- Mayor Stephen Witt to talk Department of Housing and Virginia, his home state. www.operationwalkamerica. oring their sacrifice with Silver about the plight of homeless Urban Development. The He’s made it as far north as org, where people can track his Star Service Banners. veterans. Volunteers of America are New York City, but didn’t quite progress and learn more about The SSFOA is now accepting McQuown said everybody required to monitor the devel- make it to the capital of New his travels on the road. donations for Operation Walk asks him how he’s going to opment 24 hours a day. York Albany, but that he plans According to operationwalka- America. These donations will “walk” to Hawaii. What he plans The Volunteers of America on visiting that capital city on merica.org, McQuown has be used to assist Walk America on doing is to board a cruise plan to use the additional his way through New England. recentlyjoined forces with the and for general operating ship and walk around the deck. units as permanent housing “I had to turn south,” he said. Silver Star families of America. expenses for providing services He knows that he won’t be able for low-income people with “Winter was coming in.” The Silver Star Families of to our wounded, ill, injured and to match the speed of the ship, disabilities. The capitals he says he America, according to the site, dying, including homeless vet- but “it’s the best I can do.” Both ordinances will have has been able to reach are: is a non profit public charity erans. He has a similar plan for to be approved again at a Richmond, Annapolis, Trenton, committed to supporting the the trip to Alaska’s capital city future meeting. Vol. 138, No. 256 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 63 35 People. 2A PEOPLE THURSDAY SUBSCRIBE TO Sunny Obituaries . 5A THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics . 3B Boy bands Local news Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles . 5B are back. roundup. 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013 Page Editor: Jim Barr, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Tuesday: Tuesday: n Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, n Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D- Afternoon: 0-8-7 Afternoon: 4-9-8-6 Monday: D-N.J., is 89. Del., is 66. Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 14-23-27-29-33 n Actress Jeanne Moreau n Actor Richard Dean is 85. Anderson is 63. n Actress Chita Rivera is 80. n Rock musician Bill n Actor-director Lou Antonio Cunningham is 63. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS is 79. n Rock singer Robin Zander n Actor Gil Gerard is 70. (Cheap Trick) is 60. n Actor Rutger Hauer is 69. n Los Angeles Mayor n Rhythm-and-blues Antonio Villaraigosa is 60. singer Jerry Lawson (The n Princess Caroline of ’90s boy bands team up for tour Persuasions) is 69. Monaco is 56. NEW YORK ew Kids On the Block, Daily Scripture 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men are teaming up for a summer tour. “Ask and it will be given to The groups you; seek and you will find; Nannounced “The Package Tour” on Tuesday morning on “The View” and knock and the door will be also performed. It’s the first time on opened to you. For everyone tour in 12 years for 98 Degrees. New Kids On the Block also who asks receives; the one who announced a new single, “Remix (I seeks finds; and to the one Like The),” will be released Jan. 28 and a new album, “10,” is out April 2. who knocks, the door will be The three bands sold millions of opened.” records in the 1980s and ’90s and — Matthew 7:7-8 helped usher in a wave of vocal groups that continues today. ASSOCIATED PRESS The tour starts May 31 in New Kids on the Block, from left, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan Lake City Reporter Uncasville, Conn., and continues into Knight, Jordan Knight and Danny Wood perform on the NBC “Today” television July with more than 30 dates. HOW TO REACH US program in New York in 2009.