1A WEEKEND EDITION FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JUNE 29-30, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Health WORST STILL TO care law upheld by high Purple Heart COME FOR SOME Chapter 772 of the Military court Order of the Purple Heart, Lake City, will conduct an Roberts casts awards ceremony at 11 a.m. June 30 in the Lake City deciding vote VA Hospital Auditorium. on key issue. The organization will pres- ent military medals to local Korean War veteran David By MARK SHERMAN C. Hinson, who enlisted in Associated Press the U.S. Army in 1950 and served in Charlie Company, WASHINGTON — 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Obamacare lives. Regiment, 7th Infrantry America’s historic health Division. care overhaul, derided by Republicans as intrusive, costly “Obamacare,” nar- rowly survived an election- Magic show year battle at the Supreme Court Thursday with the The Columbia County improbable help of conser- Public Library will host the vative Chief Justice John Great Loudini Magic Show Roberts. Friday, June 29 at 10 a.m. at The 5-4 ruling now the Fort White Community makes it certain that major Center and again at 3 p.m. health care changes will at the Main Library. move ahead, touching vir- tually every American’s life. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter And Democrats, who have Melons, music Floodwaters leave residents with few options to travel to and from their homes in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby. learned to accept if not love the GOP label for the law, Watermelons and music heartily praised the deci- come together at the Lake sion. DeSoto Farmers Market But the ruling also gave June 30 as folks get ready for County braces as rivers rise Republicans unexpected the Independence Day cel- ammunition to energize sup- ebrations next week. Free By LAURA HAMPSON and the community is expect- porters for the fall campaign watermelons for the first 50 HANNAH O. BROWN ed, roads will be cut off against President Barack customers, a bounce house and many homes will be Obama, the bill’s champion for the kids and live music While floodwaters surrounded by water, — and for next year’s vigor- with Quartermoon should continue to block roads according to historical ous efforts to repeal the law help folks get up early and and saturate homes in data from NWS. as a new federal tax get to the market to pick Columbia County, some Near Fort White the Roberts’ vote, along with up their Independence Day residents are bracing for Santa Fe reached 27.11 those of the court’s four food supplies. more. feet by Thursday at 5 liberal justices, preserved Peak Summer Harvest Officials predict rivers p.m. The river reached the largest expansion of the season is upon us and there in southern Columbia flood stage Wednesday. nation’s social safety net in is plenty of great local food County to crest this week- Downstream, the Santa more than 45 years, includ- ready for your holiday cel- end or early next week. Fe at Three Rivers Estates ing the hotly debated core ebration. Melons, corn, “The worst is expected requirement that nearly tomatoes, potatoes, squash, conditions to crest at everyone have health insur- and much more can be may not be Efforts 25.2 feet by ance or pay a penalty. The found at the market this past every- continue to late Sunday. aim is to extend coverage to week. Plus, Quartermoon, body,” said It reached more than 30 million people featuring talented husband Jon Dinges assist those 15.73 feet by who now are uninsured and wife team John and of the in need, 3A T h u r s d a y The decision meant the Raven Smith, will be play- Suwannee at 8 p.m. It huge overhaul, still taking ing their folksy bluegrass River Water is expected effect, could proceed and and include a special treat Management District. to be above flood stage, pick up momentum over with the addition of premier The Santa Fe River near 19 feet, beyond next the next several years, dobro guitar player, Tuck Fort White is predicted to Saturday. with an impact on the way Tucker. rise another 6 feet to 33.5 Emergency officials are that countless Americans Upcoming events at the feet by Sunday, consid- urging residents in flood- receive and pay for their Farmers Market include ered a major flood level, prone areas along the personal medical care. the LifeSouth Blood Bank according to the National Suwannee and Santa Fe The ruling handed at the market on July 7; the Weather Service. rivers to voluntary evacu- Obama a campaign-season David Herringer Project It is expected to remain ate their homes. Those victory in rejecting argu- July 14; and performer Ted above 30 feet until next residents are asked to JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter ments that Congress went Wright July 29. Friday. At 30 feet major CR 247 is completely engulfed in water, leaving one man too far in approving the damage and disruption to RIVERS continued on 3A with a difficult trek. plan. Political rally A coalition of Tea Party, 912 and Conservative grass- Ordeal leaves teen cold, scared – but alive roots organizations in the North Florida Region will be Brandy Sistrunk, 14, held Creek Road in northern told him she was sorry. He told her to not let hosting an Old Fashioned Columbia County into a swift go of the tree. She held on tight for more than Political Rally June 30 from tight to tree as Debby’s river by Tuesday. Floodwaters an hour. 11 a.m. until about 3 p.m. floodwaters roared past. made trees look more like Brandy was rescued Tuesday by fast-acting at Olustee Park, 173 NE shrubs and yards along the neighbors whose brave actions kept a trau- Hernando Ave. in down- road were chest-high in matic situation from becoming a tragedy. town Lake City. The event By LAURA HAMPSON water. Before the accident, Brandy and her cousin, will feature U.S. Senate can- [email protected] “I was really, really scared,” Tyler Sistrunk, were in their uncle’s backyard Sistrunk didates, candidates from said Brandy, an incoming wading in the water. Had he known they would the District 3 U.S. House of Clinging to a tree as floodwater rushed past tenth-grader at Columbia High School. The wander to the front yard near the fast-moving Representatives. All other her, 14-year-old Brandy Sistrunk was scared, rushing water was so loud her uncle, Bernie water, Thrift said he could have never let them candidates have been invit- cold and crying. Thrift, waded out as deep as he could so ed. Intense rains Monday night turned Falling Brandy could hear that help was coming. She TEEN continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 112 CALL US: Opinion ............... 4A TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 97 70 People................. 2A SUBSCRIBE TO Mostly Sunny Obituaries ............. 5A PEOPLE SUNDAY THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics ..... 2C, 3C Grammys to Local News Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles ............. 2C, 3C honor Bruce. Roundup. Flood Relief Help for Our Neighbors FLOOD RELIEF Details on 5A 2A 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JUNE 29-30, 2012 Celebrity Birthdays Thursday: Thursday: n Actor Gary Busey is 68. n New Zealand musician Afternoon: 6-0-0 Afternoon: 2-5-8-1 Wednesday: n Comedian Richard Lewis Bret McKenzie is 36. Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 10-14-23-31-34 is 65. n Bassist Sam Farrar is n Actor Fred Grandy is 64. 34. n English snooker player n Australian Rules football PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Joe Johnson is 60. player Matthew Bode is 33. n Actress Maria Conchita n English singer Abs Breen Alonso is 55. is 33. n Actress Melora Hardin n Welsh Soprano Katherine Grammys to honor Bruce is 45. Jenkins is 32. Thought for Today Springsteen next year “The Lord is not slow in keeping LOS ANGELES States to new wave before his promise, as some understand — Bruce Springsteen is the bands Blondie and The being recognized for his Cars made it on to the air- slowness. Instead he is patient with creative and philanthropic waves. you, not wanting anyone to perish, contributions by the group that puts on the Grammy but everyone to come to repen- Awards. LeBlanc, ‘very sexy’ The Recording Academy co-star return tance.” announced Thursday that Springsteen has been LOS ANGELES named its 2013 MusiCares — Matt LeBlanc wants - 2 Peter 3:9 NIV person of the year. The to do something the fic- Boss will be feted at a tional, self-absorbed Matt private fundraising dinner LeBlanc on Showtime’s ceremony on Feb. 8 in Los “Episodes” would jeer — Lake City Reporter Angeles. make amends to British co-star Tamsin Greig. HOW TO REACH US Recording Academy Main number ....... .(386) 752-1293 BUSINESS President Neil Portnow In a gaffe that Fax number ............. .752-9400 Controller Sue Brannon... .754-0419 Circulation .............. .755-5445 ASSOCIATED PRESS could play nicely on ([email protected]) called Springsteen a Online .. www.lakecityreporter.com “renaissance artist of our the Hollywood satire, CIRCULATION Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performs at the The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of LeBlanc told the U.K. Lake City Reporter time, a national treasure, Apollo Theater in New York. Springsteen will be honored as Community Newspapers Inc., is pub- Home delivery of the and an exemplary humani- media that his on-screen lished Tuesday through Friday and should be completed by 6:30 a.m.