RiversRivers continuecontinue toto rise,rise, storystory belowbelow IveyIvey MemorialMemorial ParkPark BoatBoat RampRamp isis floodedflooded byby thethe SuwanneeSuwannee RiverRiver Tuesday.Tuesday. SuwanneeSuwannee DemocratDemocrat 129th YEAR, NO. 56 | 2 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES Friday Edition — April 18, 2014 50 CENTS Serving Suwannee County since 1884, including Live Oak, Wellborn, Dowling Park, Branford, McAlpin and O’Brien Auto parts store robbed session of a firearm by a 4 suspects convicted felon; Jadese arrested Antwann Taylor, 22, 505 Irvin Ave. SW, Live Oak, Places to Staff robbery with a firearm, Advance Auto Parts at conspiracy to commit rob- 1006 South Ohio Ave. bery and possession of a was robbed at gunpoint James Jenkins Taylor Watson firearm by a convicted worship Tuesday by four individu- felon; Donnie Anton Wat- als. The suspects were partment. acy to commit robbery; son, 20, 606 Webb Drive, Local churches caught and arrested and Arrested were: Justin Everette Maurice Jenkins, Live Oak, robbery with a no injuries were reported, Terrell James, 19, 820 SW 23, same address, robbery firearm and conspiracy to celebrate Easter according to a report from 7th St., Live Oak, robbery with a firearm, conspiracy By Andrew McGee the Live Oak Police De- with a firearm and conspir- to commit robbery and pos- SEE AUTO, PAGE 2A [email protected] Easter is Sunday and though many church- es are holding special services, some are do- ing even more. HANGING OUT IN A list of what some of the churches in our HATCH PARK area are doing is found on Page 12A. Colin Cummings Tax abatement enjoyed a visit with the Easter Bunny Wednesday goes on Nov. ballot at Hatch Park in Branford. By Bryant Thigpen Cummings is a VPK [email protected] student in Cara Howard's The Suwannee County Board of County Branford Elementary Commissioners voted unanimously recently School class. to authorize the ad valorem (economic devel- opment) tax abatement referendum to be placed on the general election ballot in No- vember. If passed by the electorate, the com- missioners will be able to offer tax abatement to companies seeking to locate in Suwannee County as an incentive to locate here. The tax abatement has to be renewed every 10 years by the election of the people. The language that appeared on the 2004 ballot SEE TAX, PAGE 2A Area rivers continue to rise Submitted More rain The Suwannee and See special Easter expected Santa Fe rivers contin- pages 6-7A Courtesy photo ue to rise due to recent this heavy rainfall here weekend and in Georgia. The National Weather Ser- vice (NWS) expects the Suwannee River to continue to rise. Malpractice suit against Decker dropped More rainfall is expected beginning today with a 100 percent chance of rain and 60 per- By Bryant Thigpen Commission (JQC). Third Circuit Judge Paul Bryan in var- cent chance Saturday. This could bring an ad- [email protected] On March 14, 2013, Union County ious real estate purchases, filed a law- ditional three to four inches to our area with residents Daniel Dukes and William isolated totals up to six inches. A lawsuit filed against Third Judi- Woodington, who were trustees with SEE MALPRACTICE, PAGE 2A A flood watch is in effect for North Flori- cial Circuit Judge Andrew Decker III da and South Georgia. concerning alleged legal malpractice The NWS flood warnings remain on the actions while working as a private at- FACEBOOK CHATTER torney was dismissed April 6 with both The 4 most talked about stories on Facebook recently. SEE AREA, PAGE 2A parties agreeing to the dismissal with Reached Story prejudice. 16.6K Photos of robbery suspect released. FEATURED INSIDE: Decker still faces formal charges 12.2K Breaking: First Federal Bank robbed. that were filed against him in February 11.5K Suspect of two Live Oak bank robberies captured. by the Florida Judicial Qualifications 8.3K Live Oak bank robberies: What we know right now. Gonzalez seeks office See SPORTS, 1B, for more. of Live Oak mayor Submitted Hello, my name is Andrew Gon- zalez and I’m running for mayor of Live Oak. I want to formally intro- duce myself to the people of this city, by telling you about myself, my past and what I believe. Some would call it political suicide, but I Gonzalez choose to think of it as honesty, openness and a chance to share my testimony. One OLE TIMES SEE GONZALEZ, PAGE 12A COUNTRY BUFFET The Old “Home cookin’ the way Mama does it” Dog Call 386-752-1670 says Lake City Mall F o r K i d s 12 & Under No Purchase Necessary Open: 10:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Daily Must Present Coupon “Happy Easter.” Limit 1 Per Person MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover 855466 856965 www.suwanneedemocrat.com PAGE 2A I SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT/LIVE OAK FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 HOW TO REACH US Malpractice suit against Decker dropped Continued From Page 1A Bryan under the pretense Decker represented Bryan in practice by Dukes against brought against Judge Deck- Switchboard, 386-362-1734 that it would avoid title is- filing for bankruptcy, de- Decker and Decker Firm er was frivolous from the Fax, 386-364-5578 suit against Decker and the sues that might arise due to spite still representing Count two - Breach of beginning,” Bush said. “We Email, [email protected] law firm he ran at that time judgments against Dukes Dukes and Woodington at fiduciary duty by Dukes took the depositions of the Mail, P. O. B ox 3 7 0 and demanded a jury trial. and Woodington individual- that time. against Decker and Decker two men who filed a suit Live Oak, FL 32064 In August of 2013, the ly, according to the lawsuit. While allegedly owing Firm against him and they took Office, 211 Howard Street East complaint was amended. On March 17, 2011, Wood- duties to Dukes and Wood- Count three - Legal mal- his deposition. Judge Deck- I Publisher, That same month, Decker ington executed a deed con- ington, Decker reportedly practice by Woodington er knew he didn’t do any- Myra Regan, ext. 122 filed a response regarding veying his interest to Bryan. made false representations against Decker and Decker thing wrong all along and is the allegations brought The following day, Dukes to the bankruptcy court and Firm glad that the case ended in a against him. signed his portion over to agreed to relief from the au- Count four - Breach of way that proved that. He’s On April 6, Dukes and Bryan. tomatic stay so that litiga- fiduciary duty by Wooding- glad it’s behind him.” CONTACT US WITH Woodington filed a stipula- On March 13, 2012, tion could continue against ton against Decker and Bush said the case was re- tion for dismissal with prej- Decker represented Bryan the property in which Dukes Decker Firm solved following a motion YOUR COMMENTS udice, which dismisses the in filing for bankruptcy, de- and Woodington had an in- that would assess attorney If you have any questions or case and cannot be re- spite still representing terest. Case closed fees as a sanction. concerns, call us at 386-362-1734 opened. Dukes and Woodington. The complaint cited upon On April 6, Woodington “We served a motion to or visit our Website at Prior to November 2010, Two days later, Decker and information and belief, prior and Dukes agreed to and assess attorney fees as a www.suwanneedemocrat.com Decker and the Decker Law his firm were authorized to to the bankruptcy filing, filed a stipulation for dis- sanction, in response, they Firm were retained on be- withdraw from representing Decker also allegedly ad- missal with prejudice. gave up and quit,” Bush half of Dukes, Woodington Dukes and Woodington. vised and assisted Bryan in said. “At the end, they rec- and Bryan, individually and arranging his assets in such Comments on ognized there was no merit NEWSROOM in their capacities as trustees Hamilton County a way as would be advanta- behalf of Decker to their lawsuits and quit in of BWD Land Trust, for a In October 2011, Dukes, geous to Bryan and disad- Attorney Richard Bush, order to not have to pay his I Editor, dispute involving a mort- Woodington and Bryan vantageous to creditors and of Bush & Augspurger, P. attorney fees.” Jeff Waters, ext. 131 gage and personal guaran- were sued by John K. Vree- co-debtors such as Dukes A., represented Decker and The attorneys for Dukes I Reporter, tees in favor of TD Bank. land as Trustee of the Le- and Woodington. told the Democrat by phone and Woodington did not re- Andrew McGee, ext. 132 land R. Bryan Revocable on Wednesday they’re satis- spond to an email or phone I Reporter, The lawsuit Living Trust, concerning Bryant Thigpen, ext. 133 Counts against Decker fied with the end result. call seeking comment as of I Reporter, debts owed by Woodington Count one - Legal mal- “The lawsuit that was press time. Joyce Marie Taylor, ext. 130 Land purchases and Bryan. It was alleged According to the com- that BWD trustees had used plaint, Dukes and Wooding- the borrowed money to pur- Area rivers continue to rise ton were involved in various chase real estate in Hamil- Continued From Page 1A inches of rain in the Santa flood stage next week. ADVERTISING real estate ventures with ton County. Fe basin by Friday could Ellaville and Luraville Judge Bryan. They all While continuing to rep- Santa Fe River from the cause more flooding up- could rise above flood I Advertising Manager, served as trustees of the resent Dukes and Wooding- Fort White gauge to the stream of Three Rivers and stage early next week and Monja Slater, ext.