SPECIALSUWANNEEIn today’sSECTION RIVER Reporter: JAM Special to the Reporter PATRICK SCOTT/ PATRICK Crash on 1-75. See story, 3A. SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.50 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Indians bring Teachers are SUNDAY home district AVID about EDITION 4-5A title. 1B education. 1D Answers still few Rivers on in Baya crash the rise PATRICK SCOTT/Special to the Reporter Thursday’s crash on Baya Drive sent three children to the hospital. Unnamed infant still hospitalized Photos by JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter in Gainesville. Ron and Lana Jones navigate through flood waters from the Santa Fe River in their Polaris Ranger, the only way to reach some areas without a boat. From staff reports An infant airlifted to a Gainesville hospital follow- Three Rivers Estates could see ing a Baya Drive accident severe flooding by next weekend. Thursday remained in the pediatric intensive care By STEVEN RICHMOND result in “severe flooding of most unit as of Friday, accord- [email protected] homes.” ing to a Lake City Police In northern Columbia County the Department spokesman. Rising flood waters from the Santa rising Suwannee has locals on alert A 10-year-old, also airlift- Fe and Suwannee Rivers have driven as well, though projections there are ed out, has been released Brandon Padgett, 23, a Florida Gateway College student, is some people from their homes, but more modest. from the hospital, the on his way to class with a change of clothes after boating his the few that remain share a common “It’s a pretty darn moderate flood sentiment — it’s just a way of life. within [the White Springs area],” spokesman said. way from his house to dry land on Everett Road on Friday. No names or other Ouida Bowens, who visits her sister Commissioner Ron Williams said. Padgett said that the water from the Suwannee River rose in Three Rivers Estates, stopped by “There are people who will not leave details of the accident had almost overnight, but he wasn’t surprised to see flooding. been released by LCPD as Hodor Park with her two grandsons, their property. They will boat in and ‘This crap right here gets old. We’re supposed to be on a lounging in the sun and watching the out to protect their valuables.” of Saturday. The spokes- 10-year flood plain, but this is like the fourth time in nine river run. Williams said the flood waters man said a news release years it’s been like this.’ BELOW: A pickup is parked in front “My sister, she’s seen it like this adversely affect well-water quality in had been completed but of a flooded street along NW Null Road in Columbia County. before,” Bowens said, pointing to the the area, and cause mosquitoes to was not yet approved by flood waters. “There’s some barbecue come out in force. command staff. grills underwater over there.” “We’re working with Emergency The crash occurred As of 3 p.m. Saturday, the Santa Fe Management, getting [residents] around 2:46 p.m. at the River at Three Rivers registered 24.15 water and bug spray,” said Williams. intersection of Southeast feet, making it the 15th highest flood The Suwannee River forms the west- Baya Drive and Southeast ever in the area, just below 24.33 feet ern border of his district. Baker Avenue when a sil- in March 2003 and about 10 feet below As of 3 p.m. Saturday, the Suwannee ver Chevrolet Lumina was its all-time high of 34.2 feet in April River at White Springs registered struck broadside by a green 1948. 81.66 feet, but was believed to have Toyota Tacoma. However, it could get worse. peaked, according to projections by A third child was also The National Oceanic and the National Weather Service. injured in the crash, police Atmospheric Administration predicts As of 3 p.m. Saturday at Fort White, said Thursday. the river will rise to 25.7 feet by Friday. According to NOAA, levels of 26 feet FLOODING continued on 6A Housing market on the rise Hundreds take trees Friday By TONY BRITT contains data about single family home Kim Best (left) and Rose [email protected] sales in the county compared to last year McClure hold the free trees at this point, the local housing market they received from the The Columbia County housing market remains active. Lake City/Columbia County continues to rebound with increases in There were 48 cash sales in March, National Arbor Day event at cash sales in both the single family home compared to 38 cash sales in March 2013, Memorial Stadium on Friday. and manufactured housing markets. a 26.3 percent increase. Best got a dogwood and crab “Half of the homes that were sold in In addition, 24 of those closed sales in March were cash sales, which says there March were paid in cash, representing apple tree; McClure received are a lot of investors in the market,” a 20 percent increase from March 2013. a red maple and red bud. said Dan Gherna, Lake City Board of New listings were also on the rise. 'This is awesome. My moth- Realtors executive vice president. “It kind There were 86 new listings last month, er's house has some ground of comes in spurts, but cash generally compared to 76 in March 2013, a 13.2 erosion around it, so this is indicates it’s an investor purchase.” percent increase. perfect timing,' Best said. 'It's According to the Florida Board of all because they keep strip- Realtor’s Monthly Market Detail, which HOUSING continued on 3A JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter ping the pine trees away.' Vol. 140, No. 60 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER LOCAL SPORTS (386) 752-1293 Local . 6A CHS wind ensemble Columbia High’s SUBSCRIBE TO Obituaries . 5A THE REPORTER: 90 63 Advice & Comics . 5D receives superior Springborn claims Voice: 755-5445 rating, 6A. state title, 1B. Fax: 752-9400 Storms, 8A Puzzles . 2B 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2014 Page Editor: Emily Lawson, 754-0424 Scripture of the Day “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, sep- arate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.” — Hebrews 7:24-26 Thought for Today The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the President. You realize that you control your own destiny. — Albert Ellis, American psychologist (1913-2007) Winning Lottery Numbers Cash 3: (Saturday) 5-8-0 JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter Play 4: (Saturday) 2-7-1-7 Wedding at the Lake Fantasy 5: (Friday) 2-4-11-18-32 Alyssa Neveils, of Live Oak, snaps a photograph of Tammy and Joshua Walters, both of Live Oak, near Alligator Lake after Florida Lotto: (Wednesday) 13-22-23-35-39-48-x3 their wedding on Thursday. ‘We love this area and all of the wildlife,’ Tammy said. ‘We met at a lake.’ PowerBall: (Wednesday) 19-25-29-36-48-12-x4 AROUND FLORIDA State gets $70 million in grants to help homeless MIAMI ers are facing off this weekend. industry has opposed ride-sharing The other honors the late as violent sexual predators. lorida is getting more than The National Sweet Corn services in the state due to strin- author/songwriter and island $70 million in federal grants Eating Championship is slated gent government requirements. resident Shel Silverstein, who Former prisoner F to help the homeless. for Sunday at the South Florida Taxis and limos must have specif- penned the best-selling chil- may get $1 million The federal government asked Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach. ic licenses, vehicles and rates. Lyft dren’s poetry book “Where the local communities to compete Major League Eating’s No. 4 and Uber have rates 20 percent Sidewalk Ends.” TALLAHASSEE — A former for dollars to support homeless competitor, Miki Sudo is taking lower, though drivers typically farmworker who spent 21 years projects that offer services on No. 6 Bob Shoudt, the reign- have only gone through a back- Sex predators may in prison after he was convicted including transitional and perma- ing sweet corn champ known as ground check by the company. be on licenses of killing his 7 children is a step nent housing, street outreach, “Notorious B.O.B.” Officials at Lyft have said they closer to getting more than $1 job training, health care, mental Other top eaters are also com- will cover the cost of fines. TALLAHASSEE — The words million from the state. health counseling, substance peting. They’ll have 12 minutes “sexual predator” would be The Florida House on Friday abuse treatment and childcare. to consume all the corn they can Poets to be featured stamped on the driver’s licenses unanimously voted for a bill that Miami-Dade County received for a piece of the $5,500 purse. on sidewalks of sexual predators under bill would let James Richardson the largest grant in the state. language that was approved in qualify for $50,000 for every year Miami-Dade County’s Homeless Ride-sharing drivers KEY WEST — Poetry has hit the Florida House. he spent in jail.