School Bus Forced Off Road, No Injuries Reported
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n f l a o n l i n e . c o m Today’s Weather High The 59° F Precip: 0% Partly cloudy skies today with highs around 59°F. Lows today expected to be around 27°F. Winds NW at 8 mph. Chance of rain 0%. Jasper News For up to the minute weather go to www.nflaonline.com. 143rd YEAR, NUMBER 7 THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 50¢ Armed School bus forced off road, suspect sought in no injuries reported domestic dispute By Joyce Marie Taylor [email protected] The Hamilton County Sher- iff's Office is seeking a man who fled into the woods armed with a loaded rifle following a do- mestic disturbance late Wednes- day night, Jan. 15, near US 41 in White Springs. According to Hamilton Coun- ty Sheriff Harrell Reid, a man who lives near the Genoa area on US 41 had been heavily drinking and roughed up his girlfriend and her friend before taking off from the residence with a rifle in hand. No injuries were reported after this school bus was forced off the road Tuesday morning. - Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor Police were called to the dis- turbance at 11:24 p.m. Jan. 15. By Joyce Marie Taylor County as it was transporting four nee County schools. No injuries were Numerous units who respond- [email protected] special needs kids to Greenwood reported and a back up bus was sent ed to the scene were still track- School in Jasper, Tuesday morning. to pick up the kids. ing the suspect as morning A Suwannee County School bus The bus driver took evasive action to Lovelace said the bus driver did a broke Thursday, Jan. 16, accord- narrowly missed being hit by a truck avoid a collision and went into the great job keeping the bus from ing to eyewitnesses. that was coming out of the Love's ditch, according to Jesse Lovelace, di- rolling over and keeping the kids An HCSO incident report Truck Plaza at I-75 in Hamilton rector of transportation for Suwan- calm. states that HCSO was dis- SEE ARMED, PAGE 2A School district Stamp price not happy with to increase By Bryant Thigpen DJJ negotiations [email protected] By Joyce Marie Taylor [email protected] The United States Postal Ser- vice has announced the rate for At the Jan. 13 meeting of the Hamil- stamps will increase to 49 cents ton County School Board, the matter effective Jan. 26. The new rate of the contract between the school approved late December has district and the Department of Juve- been said by US Postal officials nile Justice (DJJ) to provide a 40-bed to be a measure taken to recover moderate risk resi- from the economical downturn Youth dential facility and that began in 2008. program was met According to a USPS report, treatment with much discus- the new price increase is expect- Shirley Heath receives recognition from her fellow city clerks. -Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor center on sion and no resolu- ed to generate $2 billion in new hold for tion. revenue to improve the financial now “As you are status of the service. Retiring town clerk gets huge aware, the DJJ Letters (one ounce) will in- would like to open crease from 46 to 49 cents; letters send-off in White Springs a facility here in Hamilton County,” (additional ounces) will increase By Joyce Marie Taylor ty inside town council chambers. Moffses told the members of the just one cent to 21 cents; letters [email protected] More than 50 friends, neighbors, school board and the audience. “As to all international destinations town officials and other guests were such, there is an agreement that (one ounce) will be $1.15; and On Tuesday, Jan. 14, White Springs on hand to salute Heath’s 18 years of should be in place between the school postcards will increase by one Town Clerk Shirley Heath was treat- cent to 34 cents. ed to a huge retirement send-off par- SEE RETIRING, PAGE 5A SEE SCHOOL DISTRIC, PAGE 7A The new postal rates will take effect Sunday, Jan. 26. Sen. Montford and School board rejects phase 3 of redistricting plan Rep. Porter in By Joyce Marie Taylor Hamilton Jan. 28 [email protected] Senator Bill Montford, along Phase 3 of the county’s proposed with Representative Elizabeth redistricting plan was discussed Porter will be holding a Hamil- again at the Jan. 13 meeting of the ton County Delegation Meeting Hamilton County School Board, and on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. against Superintendent Thomas at the county commission cham- Moffses’s recommendation to pro- bers in the Hamilton County ceed with phase 3, the board made Courthouse, 207 NE 1 St., Attorney Cliff Adams spoke to the school board members and county commissioners about Jasper. redistricting at the second joint meeting in November, 2013. -Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE 3A MLK event packs White Springs community center By Joyce Marie body here and I think Taylor More than 100 peo- every year this event joycemarie.taylor@ ple turned out for the grows larger and larg- gaflnews.com 3rd Annual Dr. Martin er, as we come together Luther King Jr. celebra- to celebrate something tion and event in White truly wonderful for our Springs on Monday, nation and our com- Jan. 20. munity. Dr. King will In Mayor Helen always be a role model Miller’s opening re- for all of us. His F o r K i d s 12 & Under marks, she said, “We’re These beautiful centerpieces were made by Rhonda John- No Purchase Necessary Must Present Coupon son. See more photos, Page 2A. -Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor Limit 1 Per Person thrilled to have every- SEE MLK, PAGE 3A 846471 PAGE 2A THE JASPER NEWS, Jasper, FL THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 Scenes from MLK Jr. Day celebration in White Springs LThe Sunrise Communi- ty Choir sang some uplifting songs for the crowd. L Sista Hattie Mae Jankins (Letitia Bristol) entertained the crowd. -Photos: Joyce Marie Taylor L Rev. Fred Scippio from Sweet Home Baptist Church gives the invocation. L Winner of the essay contest, Azaria Thompkins with Mayor Miller. Beautiful Dreamer Awards (L-R) Dorothy L. Bryant, Mayor Helen Miller and Eleanor Bradley. Armed suspect sought in domestic dispute Continued From Page 1A rounds. The victims said CCSO SWAT to the resi- Williams told them he dence and deployed an patched to a single fami- would shoot it out with armored vehicle to se- ly residence off SE 87 police, reports state. cure the residence and Terrace in White Springs Back-up units and a property. Once the scene in reference to a domes- Department of Correc- was secured, the K9 tic violence battery. tions K9 unit were dis- team was notified to While enroute to the patched to the scene due come in and the hunt be- scene, dispatch advised to the subject fleeing gan for the suspect, who responding HCSO into the woods. For offi- was tracked for several deputies that the victims cer safety, EMS was also miles through swamps, had fled the residence dispatched to the scene, flatwoods and open and the suspect was due to the severity of the fields. The end track was armed with a .243 cal- situation. at a location where it ap- iber rifle with scope. For officer safety, a he- peared the suspect was Upon arriving at the licopter was requested picked up by a vehicle scene, deputies learned to respond, but none waiting for him, reports from the victims that the were available, so Co- state. suspect was Chain Lee lumbia County Sheriff's The investigation is Williams, who had fled Office SWAT Team re- ongoing and an arrest into the woods with a sponded to assist. HCSO warrant has been re- 849979 loaded rifle and extra deputies accompanied quested for Williams. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 THE JASPER NEWS, Jasper, FL PAGE 3A MLK event packs White Springs community center Continued From Page 1A the National Anthem by King and the older stu- monetary gift cards. nine grandchildren and mor. Ever the comedic Johnny Bullard. dents submitting written “For the writing con- two great-grandchil- storyteller, Jankins had courage, his persever- The Sunrise Commu- essays. The essay assign- test, the first place win- dren. the entire audience in ance and his commit- nity Choir, accompanied ment was for the stu- ner wrote a very moving The second Beautiful stitches. ment to doing the right on piano by Ms. Earnes- dents to write about tribute,” said Miller. Dreamer award was giv- Sabrina Marshall has thing no matter the ob- tine, sang “We Shall someone they know “She wrote about her en to Dorothy L. Bryant, been married to her hus- stacles.” Overcome” who reflects the best friend who passed away an educator and com- band Richard for 24 Rev. Fred Scippio As in past years, the characteristics of Dr. last year from a gunshot munity leader, as well as years and she had the from Sweet Home Bap- students at South Hamil- King. accident. The writer a loving wife and moth- honor of introducing tist Church provided the ton Elementary were There were blue rib- talked about how good er. him as the guest speaker. invocation, which was asked to participate in a bons for all the winners her friend was, how he Bryant also attended The Marshall’s, who followed by the Pledge contest with the younger and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd looked after others, FAMU and received a have four children, have of Allegiance and a students submitting col- place winners of the es- stood up for what was Bachelor of Science de- been operating an assist- beautiful rendition of ored drawings of Dr.