1A WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Internet cafe ban advances ber despite the colorful, tropical- free coffee. “But what can you has already passed the House the World charity. It was accused Seniors up in arms themed murals on the walls. do? The government runs every- and was expected to be taken up of running a $290 million illegal about possible loss The handful of folks inside thing. They don’t ask anybody by the Senate this week. Senate gambling business that directed of similar ‘arcades.’ playing the machines were upset anything anymore.” President Don Gaetz expects most of the proceeds into its that the Fun Center could close Annette Hopler, an 81-year-old them to pass the bill later this owners’ pockets. Lt. Gov. Jennifer if the state Legislature and Gov. Sarasota resident, was furious week. Carroll resigned after she was By GARY FINEOUT Rick Scott go ahead with a ban Tuesday to hear that the bill was Scott has so far been vague questioned about consulting and TAMARA LUSH on Internet cafes and senior nearing the governor’s desk. on whether he would sign the work she did for Allied. She has Associated Press arcades that pay out prizes with “Let the retirees have fun,” bill. At a stop in St. Augustine he been not been accused of any gift cards. she said, then used an expletive repeated: “I think everything is wrongdoing. SARASOTA — The name on “All they want to do is inter- to describe how she felt. “This is on the table right now.” The legislation targets Internet the outside may have been the fere in our lives,” said 58-year-old bulls---.” The Legislature is feeling pres- cafes: storefront operations that “Fun Center Senior Arcade,” Walter Debord of Sarasota, as It may be too late, unless the sure to act after an investiga- but the mood inside was som- he helped himself to a cup of governor stops the bill. The ban tion into the Allied Veterans of CAFES continued on 3A County Too much damage to lease office space Commission OKs renting part of old medical center. By DEREK GILLIAM [email protected] For the next two years, some county offices will rent space at the former Lake City Medical Center building, 1701 West U.S. 90, where the Supervisor of Elections already rents. The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners accepted a lease agreement with WSMDD Land Trust Tuesday. The lease will begin when renovations are complete and county offices are moved to the location. No move-in date was speci- JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter fied, County Manager Dale Jessica Peel (right), 18, helps her grandmother, Jennie Lee, work on a car seat at Lee’s Custom Upholstery at 776 E. Duval St. on Tuesday. The Williams said. The owners building, which houses two other businesses, was damaged in the March 23 storm and the owners have told Lee she needs to relocate because it would not begin renovations won’t be fixed. ‘I’m too old to quit,’ Lee said. ‘I can’t do anything else. When you get old, you really need something to do.’ until the lease was signed, he said. The county Extension Service, Tourist Development Three businesses being forced to relocate Council and Veterans’ Services will use the 9,149 square feet Replacing blown-off Wind tore the metal roof for $9 a square foot — includ- from the property on March 22 ing utilities. An additional roof would be too when a line of thunderstorms 5,787.82 square feet of space costly, owner says. produced gusts in excess of 70 will be leased to the county at mph. Lee’s Custom Upholstery, no charge. By DEREK GILLIAM Subsonic Sounds Car Audio and Although not county agen- [email protected] Installations and L.J.A. Salon cies, the American Red Cross and Things were told Monday and the Suwannee River Names scrawled across a they have to relocate because Economic Council will also have board on Jennie Lee’s cutting the buildings they rent are no offices within the leased space. table represent three genera- longer safe. Williams said those groups are tions of her family. The cut- Kyle Wardwell, owner of viewed as support organizations ting table at Lee’s Custom Subsonic Sounds, said he was at for the county. Upholstery is well worn from the building on March 23, and Also, the county agreed to use and has been in Lake City saw the roof tear away. The 25- send out a request for propos- for about 25 years. Soon, the year-old business owner started al to hire an engineering firm table and the business could be by working out of his vehicle in because the Detention Center headed to Destin because the 2008, but about two years ago COURTESY PHOTO tower, used for county commu- building they rent was damaged Roofing blown off buildings along East Duval Street by fierce winds on nications, is in need of repair. by a storm two weeks ago. DISPLACED continued on 3A March 23 is piled along Nassau Street immediately after the storm. COUNTY continued on 3A Chinese acrobatic troupe to perform twice at college By AMANDA WILLIAMSON times on Saturday — either going to be the same show, [email protected] a 3 p.m. matinee or a 7:30 it’s not,” Roberts said. “I p.m. evening show. think it is 60 to 70 percent Experience traditional “If you’ve seen Cirque new material.” Chinese acrobatics during du Soleil, it’s going to be Since 1985, the Golden Cirque Ziva on Saturday at very similar — except Dragon Acrobats have Florida Gateway College’s right here in Lake City, performed more than 200 Levy Performing Arts instead of in Gainesville shows annually, boast- Center. or Jacksonville,” said Troy ing the title of the only Golden Dragon Acrobats Roberts, FGC public infor- year-round Chinese acro- created Cirque Ziva in mation coordinator. batic touring company in 2011 for a 10-week show in After a sell-out perfor- the United States. Asian Ashbury Park. But after it mance in Lake City dur- Artists Productions Inc. earned critical acclaim and ing the 2011-12 season, has produced Golden packed houses, Golden FGC invited the troupe to Dragon Acrobats since Dragon Acrobats decided return. The audience can 1998, designing shows to share the performance expect a much larger show specific to local markets. with America. with Cirque Ziva, a news Those shows include Circo Now Lake City residents release from the college Magnifico, Dream, Pagoda who want to see the fam- says. and others. COURTESY PHOTO ily-friendly show can select “For people who came Chinese acrobats of Cirque Ziva will give two performances Saturday at Florida Gateway between two different out last year and think it’s ACROBATS continued on 3A College’s Levy Performing Arts Center. Vol. 138, No. 306 Opinion . 4A CALL US: People. 2A TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 79 59 Advice & Comics . 4B PEOPLE THURSDAY SUBSCRIBE TO Chance of Showers Puzzles . 2B-3B THE REPORTER: Elton John, part- Local news Voice: 755-5445 WEATHER, 2A Calendar. 5A ner honored. roundup. Fax: 752-9400 Classifieds. 5B 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013 Page Editor: Jim Barr, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Saturday: Saturday: n Actress-singer Doris son is 71. Afternoon: 6-3-0 Afternoon: 7-8-4-6 Saturday: Day is 90. Singer Wayne New- Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 16-25-27-28-29 n n Actress Marsha Ma- ton is 71. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Daily Scripture John, Taupin honored by Songwriters Hall “Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he NEW YORK lton John and his long- took the twelve aside and said time songwriting partner, to them, ‘We are going up to Bernie Taupin, will be honored at this year’s Jerusalem, and the Son of Man Songwriters Hall of Fame will be delivered over to the Einduction ceremony. chief priests and the teachers of John and Taupin, who teamed on most of the singer’s best-known the law. They will condemn him hits, will receive the Johnny Mercer to death and will hand him over Award during the June 13 ceremony “ in New York. to the Gentiles to be mocked A Tuesday news release says the and flogged and crucified. On award goes to previous inductees — John and Taupin were inducted in the third day he will be raised 1992 — whose body of work upholds to life!’” the standards set by Mercer, a co- — Matthew 20: 17-19 founder of Capitol Records. John and Taupin have teamed on ASSOCIATED PRESS some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most well- British pop star Elton John performing during the Euro 2012 soccer championship known songs, including “Rocket in Kiev, Ukraine. The Songwriters Hall of Fame announced Tuesday, April 2, 2013, Lake City Reporter Man,” ‘’Crocodile Rock,” ‘’Daniel” HOW TO REACH US that Elton John and Bernie Taupin will be the 2013 recipients of the esteemed Main number . .(386) 752-1293 BUSINESS and “Candle in the Wind.” Johnny Mercer Award. Fax number . .752-9400 Controller Sue Brannon. .754-0419 This year’s inductees are Steven Circulation . .755-5445 ([email protected]) Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, the country with women leaders in never set out to make a political Online . www.lakecityreporter.com CIRCULATION The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of business, entertainment and non- statement when sign- Community Newspapers Inc., is pub- Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter Foreigner, Holly Knight, JD Souther profit groups.