MIDDLE SCHOOL BREAK-IN COMING UP 14 SIGN IN ‘14 Athletes ‘Explore College’ iPods, digital move on to with Florida camera and college ball Gateway laptops stolen. next month. next year. See Page 2A. See Page 5A. See Page 1B. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Contraband flooded prison FDLE: Inmate in shooting scheme bragged partial shipment of cell phones within the prison for $12,600, he made $12,600 off one partial shipment. according to a probable cause affi- davit. Shipments of cell phones and By EMILY STANTON seven people for a scheme in drugs entered the prison about [email protected] which two inmates would shoot every two weeks, the affidavit said. themselves then sue the state Inmates Deshandre Billups, The massive scope of a con- for failing to protect them, court 26, and Kirk Cartwright, 33, JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter traband ring at Columbia documents show. were shot on March 22 by an Columbia Correctional Institution was the site of a staged shooting March Correctional Institution came to One of the inmates bragged 22, say authorities. Seven people, including three inmates, face charges. light following the indictment of on Instagram that he had sold a PRISON continued on 3A Crash claims Live Oak CATHOLIC CHARITIES man From staff reports FEED A SUWANNEE COUNTY — A Live Oak man died in a two-vehicle crash early FAMILY Wednesday on I-10, according to a Florida Highway Patrol Mobile Outreach media release. By MEGAN REEVES Jeffery N. Russell, 48, was [email protected] headed west in a 1978 Chevy van at about 4:40 a.m. when To some, summertime means heat. he was struck from behind by To Susanne Edwards, it means hunger. a 2012 Hyundai Genesis driv- As chief operating officer of Catholic en by Angela M. Meadows, Charities in Lake City, Edwards real- 41, of Wesley Chapel, the izes that the summer season only release said. increases her agency’s responsibility Russell, who was not wear- in serving food to its community. ing a seatbelt, was ejected “Hunger is a 365-day event,” she from his vehicle when it over- said. “It’s not a pretty event --- it’s a turned, the release said. reality.” Russell died at the scene of In conjunction with the ongoing the crash and Meadows was economic downturn, the months of transported to UF Health with June and July make it difficult to hear minor injuries, according to the grumblings of community hunger, the release. Edwards said. This summer, her office will contin- ue to supply food to those in Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette and Primary Union counties. However, they will be using a new and improved program to do so. qualifying “The problem has been with pub- lic transportation,” she said. “People Lake City Reporter continues were having a difficult time getting to to Friday CHARITIES continued on 5A By EMILY STANTON Sherry Hardin (left) [email protected] & Suzanne Edwards. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/ JASON MATTHEW Candidate qualifying for the Columbia County primary elec- tion continues until noon Friday. The following candidates had qualified for local races as of American lotuses spruce up Alligator Lake Tuesday, according to state, county and city records: By TONY BRITT ple of weeks ago and the lotus [email protected] were just beautifully in bloom,” STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST 10 she said. “They have this wonder- Elizabeth Whiddon Porter Acres upon acres of American ful fragrance.” Barbara Ann Prince (write-in) lotuses are flowering in the east She said Hamm told her COLUMBIA COUNTY marsh of the Alligator Lake the FWC had been working to ATTORNEY Public Recreation area, creating reduce lotus populations in the Joel Fletcher Foreman a picturesque background remi- past because there were too Bruce Wayne Robinson Photos by JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter niscent of yellow Easter flowers. Thousands of Nelumbo lutea plants are seen in Alligator Lake. many plants. COUNTY COMMISSION DIST 2 The American lotus has enor- Jacono said she is uncertain Marc. W. Kazmierski mous circular leaves and fra- of Natural History, said she why there is such an abundance COUNTY COMMISSION DIST 4 grant, pale yellow flowers that and Ryan Hamm, Florida Fish this year in the marsh. Richard J. Keen arise from the long, slender stems and Wildlife Conservation “I would have expected them, Everett A. Phillips rooted in a lake’s bottom. The Commission invasive plants biologically, to have been less- Clifton O. Ward, Jr. Toby L. Witt flowers are typically 4-6 inches biologist, recently visited the ened this spring because we’ve wide and are centrally attached marsh. Jacono said the number had so much rain,” she said. SCHOOL BOARD DIST 1 like an umbrella. of American lotuses flowering in “With the high water levels I Daniel C. “Danny” Green Dr. Colette Jacono, a bota- An insect passes by a Nelumbo the marsh is higher than normal. PRIMARY continued on 2A nist with the Florida Museum lutea plant at Alligator Lake. “We were out there just a cou- LOTUS continued on 5A Vol. 140, No. 98 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Local . 3A LOCAL LOCAL SPORTS Obituaries . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO 4 local farmers win Woman faces charge Rookie Qualifier begins THE REPORTER: 92 67 Advice & Comics . 3B ‘CARES’ award, 2A. for prostitution, 3A. today at Southside, 2B. Voice: 755-5445 Puzzles . 2B Fax: 752-9400 Storm chance, 2A 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014 Page Editor: Emily Lawson, 754-0424 K. Finnell; CITY COUNCIL PRIMARY DIST 10: Eugene Jefferson; CITY COUNCIL DIST 14: Continued From 1A George Ward The election is set for Allison Lashea Scott; August 26. Early voting will SCHOOL BOARD DIST 3: Steve Nelson; SCHOOL be Aug 16-23 from 8:30 a.m. BOARD DIST 5: Stephanie to 4:30 p.m. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Today June 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the Coalition Office, 1104 SW Main Florida Lawns Blvd. Call Stacey DePratter at The UF/IFAS Extension 386-752-9770 for more. Master Gardeners will offer a presentation about main- June 20 taining Florida-friendly lawns with tips to growing grass Fair deadline and ground covers in shady The deadline for hogs to areas. The presentation will be entered into the Columbia be at the Fort White Branch County Fair is Friday, June 20 Library Thursday, June 19 at at 5 p.m. Children entering 5:45 p.m. hogs to be judged must be between the ages of 8-18 and JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter Early Learning be enrolled in any Columbia Splish-splash The Early Learning County school. All entries Sara Harrington (left), 6, slides into an above-ground pool as she plays with her 2-year-old sister Chloe in front of her Coalition will have an Executive must be turned in to the fair- grandmother’s home on Wednesday. Committee Meeting Thursday, grounds office. FGC to host Exploring High school students learn about College events in July water quality with SRWMD grants From staff reports Management. “The infor- From staff reports LAKE CITY — Florida mation sessions are fol- grantees are Columbia resources and ecosystems, (calcium and magnesium), Gateway College is going lowed by an informal ques- High School, Fort White and to promote water stew- pH-balance (acidity), chlo- on the road this summer tion and answer session LIVE OAK — The High School, St. Francis ardship among youth. rine, chemical pollution, Suwannee River Water for its Exploring College which includes hands on Catholic High School, and Columbia High iron, and water softeners. Management District Suwannee High School. School leveraged their The highlight, according events. assistance with the enroll- recently allocated $10,000 Teachers and students funding allocation to to Ms. Sheppard was, FGC representatives will ment process.” in grants to five high developed a rain garden, evaluate water quality “Students were very excit- visit each of the counties Three of the events have school projects and initia- retrofitted a school farm in the school’s storm ed to have hands on expe- in its five-county service already been scheduled: n July 7: Columbia County tives that encouraged water irrigation system, incor- water pond, for students riences in the lab.” In total district to provide informa- conservation, efficient porated fertigation into enrolled in Advanced 120 students were reached tion about enrollment, reg- Wilson S. Rivers Library and Media Center at Florida irrigation management, or a school farm irrigation Placement and honors school wide. istration, and college pro- implemented water quality system, and other water Chemistry classes in There is still an oppor- Gateway College grams to those who may improvements during the quality and water quantity grades 10-12. tunity for high schools n July 8: Gilchrist County have questions about the 2014 school year. projects. Under the leadership of within District boundaries Florida Gateway College college. Events will take Educational projects The purpose of the Tredina Sheppard, CHS to seek funding for STEM place in Columbia, Baker, Gilchrist Center in local schools are one program is to establish set out to “provide relevant – Ag projects addressing Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union n July 10: Dixie County way the District invests hands-on experience and quality, project-based water conservation, water counties during the month Florida Gateway College in the future of water opportunities for students, science through inquiry quality, or efficient irri- of July. Dixie Center conservation. In January to increase awareness of based learning and crit- gation management. The “Our Exploring College n July 14: Union County the District accepted pro- the importance of sustain- ical thinking.” Students District will continue to events provide individuals Union County Public Library posals focused towards able water supplies for conducted over seventeen accept applications from with an excellent opportu- All Exploring College science, technology, generations, to increase tests on the school’s storm District high schools nity to learn more about events will take place engineering and mathe- the understanding of how water retention pond.