Sulkowski Off to Tennessee Paper: ‘Impressive Resume’ Joel Addington News Editor [email protected]
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75¢ DECEMBER 19, 2013 THURSDAY ThE BakER COUNty PREss 84th Year, Vol. 34 | Winner of 11 state awards for journalism including General Excellence in 2012 Tough defense Dickie Ferry adds hands Cats first hall of fame to two season losses list of accolades See page 16 See page 11 Sulkowski off to Tennessee Paper: ‘impressive resume’ JOEL ADDINGTON NEWS EDITOR [email protected] Wildcat head football coach Ryan Sulkowski has accepted a new job with Coffee County Central High School in Tennessee. The Coffee County school district began looking for a new head football coach immediately after the 2013 season ended, a season the area’s local newspaper Manchester Times characterized as “dismal.” “Sulkowski comes from Baker County, Florida and by most all ac- counts brings an impressive resume with him. He led Baker County to 32 wins over the past four seasons, including top-25 finishes accord- ing to USA Today in each of his first three seasons at the school. In contrast, Coffee County would have to add up wins from each of the past 10 seasons to accumulate 31 wins,” wrote the Manchester Times’ Josh Peterson. The absence of Ryan Sulkowski and his wife Heather, the high school’s volleyball coach, leaves two key vacancies in the Wildcats’ athletic department. BCHS principal Thomas Hill said the head coach’s brother Joey Sulkowski, who coaches track for the Wildcats, is not leaving for Ten- nessee, and other assistant football coaches appear to be staying as PHOTO BY JOEL ADDINGTON well. “Whenever a head coach leaves, some assistant coaches typically leave as well,” he said. “At this point, that has not occurred.” Breakfast with Santa, concerts raise $1000 Mr. Hill said a nationwide search will begin to replace the coach. The annual fundraiser for local band programs by the Baker County Friends of the Instrumental Arts, Breakfast with Santa, raised an estimated $1000 the morning He added that several inquiries have been made about the position of December 14. Several hundred people bought tickets to the event at the middle school, which got them a freshly cooked hot breakfast, a photo with Santa and by phone and he looks forward to collecting resumes in the coming a chance to hear the middle and high school bands live on stage. See page 9 for full coverage of the benefit and visit www.bakercountypress.com for more photos and video of the performances. Pictured above is the BCMS band being led by conductor Heather Davidson. month. See page 4 FDOT may fund bypass design JOEL ADDINGTON NEWS EDITOR [email protected] Baker County got an early Christmas gift last week when the long-sought after US 90 by- pass road project was ranked number one by the Northeast Florida Transportation Plan- ning Organization for funding through a state program that helps build roads with region- Signs at the 8th Street entrance to City Park covered with graffiti, just one of al and economic development the nuisance problems city officials have cited there recently. value. The vote to do so, in which Baker County Commission- City turns attention er James Croft participated, means there’s a good chance that the state will award more than half-a-million dollars for to ‘duck pond park’ engineering and design of the MIKE ANDERSON tivities, including festivals, re- coveted roadway. PRESS STAFF unions, historic demonstra- The bypass, planned to con- tions, school field trips, visits nect US 90 east of Macclenny This is a tale of two city parks with Santa Claus or just stroll- near the Walmart Distribu- tion Center to South 5th Street in Macclenny, both of which are ing along the grounds. PHOTO BY JOEL ADDINGTON receiving unprecedented atten- Less than a mile away, at (228) near the interstate and This SUV had to reverse to allow the semi-trailer to make a right turn onto US 90 from South 6th Street last week. tion, though each for a different Macclenny’s City Park at the the Walmart Supercenter, reason. duck pond between West Bou- would not only give semi-trac- in regional transportation im- Bennett, FDOT’s urban trans- [REDI and TRIP] statutes that It is the best of times for Her- levard and Eighth Street, it is tor trailers a more direct route provements. portation development man- we’re confident we can move itage Park, which has sprung the worst of times. It has be- to I-10, but it would open up Typically the program will ager for the District 2 region forward without a match.” from humble beginnings as a come a place where few ven- large tracts of land between the pay 50 percent of a project’s headquartered in Jacksonville, With no local match needed, volunteer-created restored vil- ture at night, other than tran- two highways to new develop- cost, provided it addresses re- said in years past the county’s the project was ranked atop a lage on Lowder Street a few sients, vandals and others who ment. gional traffic needs and fosters RACEC status has allowed list of 11 potential ones in line years ago to become the town’s go there to hang out, drink and Most of the property in the economic development. The FDOT to waive the local fund- for TRIP funding by staff at the showcase for all sorts of ac- smoke pot. area is owned by the Knabb remaining share usually comes ing match for projects funded Northeast Florida Transpor- City officials have discussed Family’s Labeuna Farms, Inc. from local sources, whether through the state’s Rural Eco- tation Planning Organization both parks recently, heaping and the Barber family. they be public or private. nomic Development Initiative, (TPO). praise on Heritage Park for be- The $650,000 in potential But in the case of the US 90 or REDI, program. The bypass road received coming an attractive asset that funding to get the bypass start- bypass, the 50 percent match “Many projects we fund such high marks because it is rapidly becoming self-sus- ed would come from the Flori- requirement may be waived by with them we already waive the meets nearly all of the goals of taining through modest admis- da Department of Transporta- FDOT due to Baker County’s match, but [the TRIP] program the TRIP program, namely im- sion fees, while lamenting City tion’s Transportation Regional designation as a Rural Area of requires a local match,” said proving regional traffic flow. Abusive ex Park for becoming a less attrac- Incentive Program, also known Critical Economic Concern, or Mr. Bennett. “But we made Not only would it remove tive nuisance. as TRIP. The program was cre- RACEC. the determination that there’s troublesome semi-truck traf- ated by state statute in 2005 Macclenny resident James enough uncertainty in the two pummels See page 4 to encourage local investment See page 5 expectant bakercountypress.com COVERING BAKER COUNTY SINCE 1929 The county’s most professional and extensive source for news, classified, display and real estate listings ONLINE POLL RESULTS 52% Good mother Is it good news or bad news 25% Bad 904.259.2400 •• 904.259.6502 Fax See page 7 that head football coach www.bakercountypress.com Ryan Sulkowski is leaving? 23% Undecided Visit our website and vote each week in our online poll. [email protected] Page 2 The Baker County Press Thursday, December 19, 2013 The Baker County Press Page 3 COMMENT DECEMBER 19, 2013 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CONTacT US CROSSROADS SHOPPING CENTER Letters are welcome, but must contain the signature of the writer, a telephone number and city of residence. By phone at 904.259.2400 or by fax at 904.259.6502. You can stop by our office located at 104 S. Fifth Street, Letters must reflect opinions and statements on issues of current interest to the general public. Macclenny, FL or mail your submission to PO Box 598, Macclenny, FL 32063. 816 S. 6th St. | Macclenny The newspaper reserves the right to reject any material which in the newspaper’s judgement does not meet standards of publication. We are available online at www.bakercountypress.com Open 7 Days a week 8 am - 8 pm LETTER TO Prices good December 18-24, 2013 Lagging BCHS graduation rate a bit of a mystery THE EDITOR The numbers on public so that leaves variables like the road they’re taking is a down- grandchildren. graduates has trended upward school gradu- quality of teach- hill slide to nowhere. That Think about it this way: one since 2008-09 when it sank ation rates in ers, the admin- they’ll likely spend the rest of of every four students who to 64.5%, so there is improve- Florida were re- istrators and the their lives on the bottom rung show up as a freshman at BCHS ment. But it’s a stubborn pace GOP aims leased last week, IMPRESSIONS emphasis placed with virtually no chance of ever will not graduate. That means, and there’s that annoying sense and compared to on education climbing higher. at the very best, three gradu- it’s still not acceptable that one other counties in Jim McGauley in the homes. The earning power of drop- ates are destined to carry their in four simply aren’t staying to bolster this corner of the Which is it? outs is below a sustainable weight through adulthood. with the program. state, Baker High’s numbers And speaking of the influ- wage, which means they’ll end More likely in the ever-expand- What percentage of students local face were, well, just the other side ences at home, do you ever up in the ever-expanding pool ing welfare state, half the kids who don the cap and gown ev- of okay.