+ PLUS >> Calcium channel blockers and cancer risk, Health/8A PREP SOFTBALL PREP BASEBALL Columbia holds off Bell Suwannee routs Lincoln to snap losing skid in five innings See Page 1B See Page 1B WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Humane society: Pair stole $15K Finance, community The suit, which was filed the funds from Jordan Regar responsible for fundraising, mission or bonus based on $15,800. development heads March 17 in Columbia and Brian marketing funds raised or received by Regar and Hogue-Pau face suit for civil theft. County Court by the Hogue-Pua, and public the humane society. have since resigned from humane society, accuses following an relations Kris Robinson, Regar’s the humane society. By TONY BRITT the pair of conversion, civil unapproved for the attorney, could not be “Their actions, with [email protected] theft and unjust enrich- payment of humane reached for comment regard to the commission, ment. The suit also seeks $15,800 to society. Tuesday. were under investigation Two former Lake City- repayment within 30 days Regar as Court docu- Hogue-Pua served as and they both choose to Columbia County Humane or damages of $47,400 Regar commis- Hogue-Pua ments state the finance director of the resign before the board Society employees are fac- — triple the amount. sion off a she was a humane society and is could take any action,” said ing a lawsuit alleging they According to the court large donation to the shelter. salaried employee without accused of circumventing Meagan Logan, the humane stole $15,800 from the ani- documents, the Lake City As community develop- an employment agreement the agency’s protocols in mal shelter. Humane Society is seeking ment manager, Regar was or any agreement for a com- paying Regar the sum of HUMANE continued on 2A Woman Reopening soon? killed in LO hotel shooting Pennsylvania man arrested for aggravated battery; additional charges coming. By JAMIE WACHTER [email protected] LIVE OAK — A Pennsylvania man was arrested after shooting and killing his girlfriend in a Live Oak hotel on Saturday. According to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, a handgun was fired during a verbal argument Cain around 3 a.m. Saturday at the Quality Inn and Suites, with the victim being shot in the head. TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Sheriff Sam St. John said the victim, Shanice The marquee at Regal UA Cinema 90 in Lake City now proclaims the theater will be reopening soon. However, no open- Adams, did not survive, dying at an area ing date has yet been announced by Regal for the local theater. Select cinemas are opening Friday with more openings hospital. scheduled throughout April and May, including the Regal Royal Park in Gainesville on May 14. John Cain, a 29-year-old from Chester, Pa., was arrested and charged with aggra- vated battery, kidnapping-false imprison- ment and evidence tampering. He is likely Emergency avoided: city nixes meeting facing additional charges after investigators meet with the State Attorney’s Office, St. Mayor can appoint chair be held Tuesday evening, The lone item to be discussed Tuesday John said. it was canceled. was the chairman role on the utility advi- According to the SCSO report, Cain told for utility committee, City Manager Joe sory committee, which meets today at 2 officers the victim grabbed the gun, a Glock which meets today at 2. Helfenberger said the p.m. 9 mm handgun, during the argument and cancellation, which was During Monday’s special called city the two began to fight over the firearm. By JAMIE WACHTER announced around 10 meeting, the council approved replacing During the struggle, Cain was able to [email protected] a.m. Tuesday, came Councilman Chris Greene on the commit- gain control of the gun, the report states. Helfenberger after City Attorney Fred tee with Councilman Eugene Jefferson. Cain then pushed the victim down on the There wasn’t an emergency at City Hall Koberlein alerted city staff that the meet- Greene had asked to be removed earlier bed and the gun went off between them, the after all. ing was not necessary. in March. Little more than 12 hours after city offi- “Mainly it was legal advice,” SHOOTING continued on 2A cials called for an emergency meeting to Helfenberger said about the change. CITY continued on 3A EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Lake City Take home full size samples on April 3rd! Vol. 147, No. 8 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Advice & Comics . 5A Obituaries . 6A SUBSCRIBE TO 86 54 THE REPORTER: Health. 8A Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 Mostly cloudy, 2A Classifieds . 4B-7B 2A WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER SHOOTING Continued From 1A Legal protections for QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day report states he told officers. farmers moving in House The victim had an entry wound “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of on the bottom left side of her News Service of Florida eral environmental laws. sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid jaw and an exit wound behind Backers of the measure said farmers as it were our faces from him; he was despised, her right ear. TALLAHASSEE — A Senate-backed face increased pressures from residen- and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne According to the report, the proposal to expand the state’s “Right to tial and commercial development as our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did es- victim was alert, speaking and Farm” law continued to move Tuesday Florida attracts more people. teem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” breathing on the scene. through the House over objections that it “When we allow agriculture to exist — Isaiah 53:3-4 (KJV) A second SCSO report could block lawsuits about the potential in Florida, for the food that we eat, we states that Cain admitted to health impacts of burning sugar cane. actually do a lot of the things that people officers that he shoved the vic- The House Environment, Agriculture say they care about,” Rep. Randy Fine, Thought for Today tim onto the bed at the hotel & Flooding Subcommittee voted 14-4 to R-Brevard County, said. “If my sugar We have all the light we need, we just need to put it room and would not let her support the proposal (HB 1601), which comes from Florida or my oranges in practice. leave, snatching her belong- is a priority of Senate President Wilton come from Florida, or my grapefruit or — albert Pike, 1809-1891, American lawyer ings away from her and pull- Simpson, R-Trilby, and targets what my tomatoes or my celery comes from ing her away from the door. are known as nuisance lawsuits against Florida, that means it’s not coming from According to the second farmers. somewhere far away, doesn’t have to go Winning Lottery Numbers report, Cain admitted to hid- The proposal would prohibit nuisance on a boat, doesn’t have to be powered Pick 3: (Monday p.m.) 4-6-8 ing the gun in the trunk of the lawsuits filed by people who do not own to get here. It’s actually a more environ- Pick 4: (Monday p.m.) 9-7-5-2 victim’s car after the shooting property within one-half mile of the mentally friendly way to do that.” Fantasy 5: (Monday) 8-14-18-19-30 because he was worried he’d alleged violations. It also would limit Rep. David Smith, R-Winter Springs, go to jail for the shooting. damages that could be awarded to the said he anticipates similar legal protections See an error? St. John said Adams had market value of any property damaged. might be needed for other businesses. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news family in Columbia County The bill also would expand the long- “I think it’s one of those issues that items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, and the pair were visiting standing Right to Farm law to include we’re going to continue to see year after please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will them from the Northeast. issues related to agritourism and “par- year, as more people move to Florida,” run in this space. Thanks for reading. As of Tuesday evening, ticle emissions.” In addition, it would Smith said. “You come here and you Cain was still being held in require people who file lawsuits to show move next to a farm and you want to the Suwannee County Jail on a by “clear and convincing evidence” that complain and you want to sue somebody Submissions $100,000 bond. farms did not comply with state and fed- with a frivolous lawsuit.” The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to the editor: [email protected]. aware of the policy requir- Hogue-Pua paid the $15,800 made many attempts to ami- HUMANE ing a board member’s sig- to Regar through payroll cably resolve this situation, Continued From 1A nature for all expenditures and not by check. however, as such attempts over $1,000. “The essence of the dis- have been futile, it is left Lake City Reporter society’s outside counsel In February, a benefac- pute is whether there was an with no other option than HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING through the Douglas & tor donated $158,000 to the agreement for her (Regar) to pursue a claim for civil Main number .......(386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff Douglas law firm.