Lake City, Fla

1A SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Spiritual journey Observe the 5 ‘Ds’ SUNDAY EDITION leads Folston to keep insects back to college. 1B away this summer. 1D Fighting the sea Whitfield out at RMS at Cedar No reason given, but Key comp-time probe underway at school. SRWMD working By LAURA HAMPSON to fight saltwater [email protected] intrusion. Bessie Whitfield will not serve a By LAURA HAMPSON third year as principal of Richardson [email protected] Middle School. Whitfield, who like other school CEDAR KEY-The administrators was under a one- Suwannee River Water year contract, was not reappoint- Management District is ed to the position for the 2012-13 working with state and local school year, said Michael Millikin, agencies to address saltwa- Columbia County School District ter intrusion on Cedar Key’s superintendent. water supply. He declined to give specific rea- The Cedar Key Water sons for not rehiring Whitfield. and Sewer District officials Millikin said he believes “per- announced Tuesday that sonnel decisions should not be due to the aired in public.” d r o u g h t However, Millikin did confirm and low Saturday that the district is inves- groundwa- tigating Richardson’s use of com- ter levels, pensatory time, which is time off FILE r esidents with pay for overtime work, com- Richardson Middle School principal Bessie Whitfield (left) and teacher Bernice Presley discuss renovations to the should not monly known as comp time. school’s auditorium in 2010. drink the “The district has an ongoing trators. Approving the reappoint- In recent weeks, however, appar- ness at Richardson Middle School. Shortelle city’s tap investigation regarding comp ment list is on the school board’s ent tensions within the community The African American community water as it time at Richardson,” Millikin said. June 26 agenda. prompted local leaders to reach appears to be divided and disturbed tested almost three times Because the investigation is ongo- Whitfield resigned from the posi- out to Whitfield. over these issues. You realize that the allowable limit for sodi- ing, Millikin said he could not com- tion after she was not reappointed, On May 23, the Columbia County these issues if true could lead to an um. ment. he said. Branch of the National Association exodus from Richardson Middle “Cedar Key is a very spe- Millikin said it is the superin- Millikin said it was report- for the Advancement of Colored School,” the letter said. cial coastal community, and tendent’s prerogative to reappoint ed through personnel staff that People sent Whitfield a letter ask- “Kindly be aware that we are we recognize the urgency school leaders for another year or Whitfield is exploring the option ing for a meeting to discuss issues willing to assist you and the district to help them remedy this not, and would not say if the inves- to retire, but he has not confirmed dividing the community. wherever and whenever we can,” problem as quickly as pos- tigation is linked to the decision that. “At the Columbia County said the letter, signed by John F. sible,” said Ann Shortelle, not to rehire Whitfield. Whitfield served as Richardson’s NAACP Board meeting, May 21, Mayo, president and CEO of the district executive director. “There is always a variety of fac- principal for two years. An educa- 2012, the Executive Committee local NAACP. The District is working tors that play into that decision,” tor for more than 30 years, she also expressed concerns over innuen- The board asked for a meeting in cooperation with Cedar he said. served as principal at Fort White does, rumors, personnel issues, “in an attempt to ease tensions Key, Levy County, and the The district’s 14 other principals Middle School and the Challenge a lack of leadership, reported dis- Florida Department of have been reappointed as adminis- Learning Center. harmony and a lack of together- PRINCIPAL continued on 3A Environmental Protection to identify the possible rea- sons for recent saltwater intrusion at the community’s wellfield, which has Hudson now the longest-serving rendered the water unsuit- able for comsumption. school board member in Florida At the same time, the water management district By LAURA HAMPSON Some of today’s challenges are is providing assistance to [email protected] similar to those the school board help develop both short- faced 40 years ago, he said. term and long-term strate- Ready to enter his 10th term Maintaining facilities and man- gies to deal with the situ- as a school board member, aging tight budgets are issues ation. Columbia County resident Keith the district has faced in the past In the short-term, the dis- Hudson holds a state record. and continues to face today, he trict has coordinated with Hudson is the longest current- said. “It’s a juggling act,” he said Levy County Emergency ly serving school board member of the budget, “You can only cut Management to provide in the state with 36 years of so much.” bottled water for drinking. service, according to the Florida JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter During Hudson’s time on the It also is working with the School Boards Association. Columbia County School Board board the Florida Comprehensive water and sewer district At 26 years old, Hudson ran for member Keith Hudson has been in Assessment Test was introduced to identify possible tempo- -- and won -- a seat on the school office for 36 years and is running into schools and revised by the rary treatment options that board in 1976. This fall he is unopposed for a 10th term. state. Hudson said the test pro- would allow the system to running unopposed for another vides accountability for admin- get back on line. LAURA HAMPSON/Lake City Reporter four years as the District 4 rep- Elementary and graduated from istrators, teachers and students. In the search for long- resentative. Columbia High. Hudson said he “I believe in accountability,” he term, sustainable solutions, Health, safety fair The record for the longest time has served as a way to give back said. the district is providing Danielle Kessenger, child passenger safety on a school board in state history to the school system that was However, Hudson said he technical assistance, includ- is 46 years, held by a Jackson good to him while growing up. doesn’t agree with all aspects ing help with assessing instructor for The Players Center for Child County man who was 90 years Hudson said his teachers were of the high-stakes test, like the potential locations for new Safety at the Wolfson Children’s Hospital, old when he retired, said Dr. genuinely concerned with stu- stress students may feel. “I want wells, and is evaluating checks Keaiey Jones’ height Saturday dur- Wayne Blanton, executive direc- dents. “I was so grateful for that,” them to enjoy their childhood,” potentially available nearby ing a summer health and safety fair. Also tor of the Florida School Boards he said. he said. wells for temporary supply pictured is Emma Green (from left), Abbie Association. “I wanted to be part of that This year, the district will be to the water treatment facil- Green and Ashlie Green. See story on the A lifelong county resident, system and contribute at an HUDSON ity. specialty center, Page 1C. Hudson attended Melrose Park administrative level,” he said. continued on 6A LCPD’s claims of untruthfulness come to light with the department. of racial discrimination that he was untruthful when he said he did Ex-capt. Robert Smith failed The claims resulted in against the department. not know why he had been subpoenaed to to disclose allegations by Va. an internal affairs investiga- He has since filed a law- testify in the racial discrimination lawsuit prostitute, says Chief Gilmore. tion that ended when Smith suit alleging racial bias against LCPD by another former captain, refused to make himself and wrongful termination. Rudolph Davis. By HANNAH O. BROWN available for further ques- According to LCPD, [email protected] tioning and was fired. Smith Smith was untruthful PROSTITUTE FILES COMPLAINT said the investigation could Gilmore Smith when he failed to disclose An investigative report obtained by the not continue past 45 days claims that he exposed Lake City Reporter details claims by the Lake under LCPD rules, despite its having been himself to a prostitute when employed as According to Sgt. Andy Miles of LCPD, City Police Department that former Captain extended by Chief Argatha Gilmore. a police officer in Portsmouth, Va. before Robert Smith was untruthful in dealings Smith had previously lodged a claim coming to Lake City. It was also alleged LCPD continued on 3A Vol. 138, No. 108 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 BusinessPeople. 5A2A 9186 6472 Obituaries . 5A PEOPLE TUESDAY SUBSCRIBE TO T-StormT’storms Chance likely Obituaries . 6A THE REPORTER: Advice.Advice & . .Comics . .. 5D8B Rubio on Local news Voice: 755-5445 Puzzles . 5B Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A8A Puzzles . 2B immigration. roundup. 2A 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER SUNDAY REPORT SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2012 Page Editor: Rick Burnham, 754-0424 Friday: Friday: Saturday: Saturday: Saturday: Saturday: 11-23-31-44 6 4-10-13-21-30 Afternoon: 5-5-2 Afternoon: 3-8-3-7 N/A N/A Evening: 1-5-1 Evening: 6-0-0-2 AROUND FLORIDA Rubio calls for compromise on immigration LAKE BUENA VISTA — Republican this a brilliant political tactic?”’ Rubio Sen. Marco Rubio scolded politicians said. “I wasn’t looking for a talking point. from both parties Friday for using illegal I wasn’t looking to influence the election immigration as a political tool rather than in November.

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