1A SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Chamber Diva Day: INSIDE: SUNDAY Suwannee EDITION looks to light Catering River Jam up Lake City. to women. special 1C 1D section Evidence Workers’ Light of hope tossed in comp cost murder raised at Relay of guard weighing Prosecution does not contest loss of on county suspect interviews. By TONY BRITT Officials look for ways to cut
[email protected] claims, reduce extra premiums Two interviews conducted resulting from excess payouts. with convicted murderer Richard Franklin by state By DEREK GILLIAM Department of Corrections
[email protected] personnel immediately after the stabbing death Over the past 10 years, Columbia Cunty has of Columbia Correctional paid more than $1.2 million in additional pre- Institution Sgt. Ruben miums for workers’ compensation insurance Thomas III were suppressed because the county’s compensation claims in court Friday. reflect bad safety practices, according to Franklin, who is serving county records. two life sentences for first- County employees, including those in the degree murder and robbery sheriff’s office and other constitutional offices, with a firearm in 1994, is are covered by the county’s policy. accused by prison officials of Lisa Roberts, county administrative manag- stabbing Thomas in the neck er, said a number of factors determine the cost with a homemade weapon on of workers’ compensation insurance. The state March 18, 2012. sets mandated rates, but there’s also a modi- On Friday, Third Judicial fication to that rate that looks at employer’s Circuit Judge Paul Bryan claims in four-year increments.