SATURDAY/SUNDAY, MAY 22-23, 2021 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 WEEKEND EDITION Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM >> PREP FOOTBALL AUTO RACING SUNDAY + PLUS First Federal’s Branford Late donations set for legendary dirt make impact Monday night track racer showdown honored 6C during covid Sean of the South SEE 1C SEE 1B SEE 1B Belmont honors graduates in ceremony By TONY BRITT mony, which took place cipal, as he detailed how audience about how the and current and past teach- the school’s most recent [email protected] at Christian Fellowship many dual enrollment cred- school helped the students ers, faculty and staff for graduates. Church, lasted roughly its and volunteer hours learn how to deal with the helping to shape her and Once the exited the sanc- COLUMBIA CITY — an hour and began with students in the graduating unexpected as she relayed the person she has become. tuary, many were swamped Nervousness was one of the students getting to see class had amassed, before a story about how she was “Class of 2021 we finally with hugs, kissed and flow- the most common themes their youthful pictures as the dual enrollment stu- frightened of a butterfly as did it. We made it,” Myers ers from friends and family Friday night as 19 Belmont infants during a video mon- dents were recognized. a three-year-old youngster. said, as she ended her members. Academy students ended tage. Following other rec- Cady’s remarks were fol- speech. “It’s exciting. I was so their high school careers “The Class of 2021 has ognitions and awards, lowed by a speech from Moments later, the grad- nervous. I was like shak- at the school’s annual com- proven to be very hard Alexis Cady, 2021 Class 2021 Class Valedictorian uation candidates received ing the whole time, but I’m mencement exercises. workers,” said Ron Barker, Salutatorian, addressed Olivia Myers, who thanked their diplomas and tossed excited,” Cady said of grad- The graduation cere- Belmont Academy prin- her classmates and the her parents, grandparents their caps into the air, as GRADS continued on 3A US Cold Storage approved for county tax abatement By TONY BRITT [email protected] US Cold Storage’s product stor- age and distribution site in Lake City is gearing up for an expan- sion and will be the beneficiary of a 100% tax abatement incentive from the county for the project. MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter During Thursday night’s county Westside Elementary School principal Dennis Dotson (center) removes the plaque over a time capsule buried on May 21, commission meeting, county offi- 2001. The school unveiled the contents of the capsule on Thursday. cials unanimously voted in favor of approving a tax incentive for the company that will provide a three-year tax abatement for the Unearthing history expansion project. US Cold Storage plans to add Westside Elementary into the previously buried chest, retrieval — of a time capsule bur- labeled “Westside Elementary a finger dock, a dock with four digs up time capsule bringing out more plastic bag- ied on May 21, 2001. School Dedication Day” and doors and entry into the freezer, after 20 years. gies with then-unknown con- Even as the prizes of Westside’s dated November 19, 2000, 3 p.m. that will be able to accommodate tents. During his speech before time capsule continued to be The same label on that tape also up to four rail cars. the unveiling, Dotson said the brought to a nearby folding table, mentions the burial of this exact The company is making a $2.3- By MORGAN MCMULLEN treasures, whatever they may be, alumni and former faculty mem- time capsule on May 21, 2001. A 2.8 million capital investment for [email protected] spoke to the character of the bers who had witnessed the buri- stuffed brown bear with a down- the project, depending on the size school’s founding. al of these objects two decades ward frown wearing a black and of the finger dock. Dennis Dotson plunged his “It’s a pleasure to get to be earlier only had guesses as to red Dale Earnhardt No. 3 shirt Paul Boartfield, US Cold Storage hand into the ground. The fresh- here and be a part of this historic what they could’ve been. laid across the hind legs of Mel general manager, addressed coun- ly excavated land hadn’t been moment,” he said. “I’m just as When the stash had been com- the Koala. A black shoe with a ty officials Thursday night, tell- disturbed in exactly 20 years. As excited as everybody else to see pletely cased and laid bare on the raised heel with a zipper instead ing officials the details about the nearly 100 Westside Elementary what in there. To me, what’s in table, what stood in front of chil- of shoelaces. And more papers expansion as well as the benefits School students, parents and there, the artifacts that are in dren as young as 5 years old and sealed in brown-stained baggies of the project. alumni gathered around the cur- there, represent the foundation senior citizens with longstanding than any child in attendance had US Cold Storage has been in the rent Westside principal next to the that was laid for Westside being connections to the school was a the patience to sift through. community since 2008 and initial- flagpole near the front entrance what Westside is today and for glimpse into the lives of kids 20 As the bags were unsealed, ly expanded its Lake City facility of the school, Dotson arose with what it means to be a Wildcat, years ago. one finally caught Argie Crusaw’s in 2013 and Boartfield said they his fingertips clutching a ziplock which means a lot.” A 1998 McDonald’s Beanie attention: A bag within a bag. are looking to expand again. bag permeating with inky brown That was the general mood Baby — Mel the Koala Teenie A tote, donated to her students He said in the past the site’s water and a stench reminiscent of surrounding all the onlookers Beanie Plush — missing its trade- every year from business part- rotting seafood. during Westside’s ceremony hon- mark ‘TY’ tag on its left ear. A COUNTY continued on 2A Dotson continued his foray oring the burial — and eventual pair of VHS tapes, one of them CAPSULE continued on 6A Vol. 147, No. 46 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Obituaries . 2A (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A SUBSCRIBE TO 86 59 Sports . 1B THE REPORTER: Classifieds . 3B Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 Partly cloudy, 2A Business . 1C 2A SATURDAY/SUNDAY, MAY 22-23, 2021 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Florida will see three tax ‘holidays’ QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day News Service of Florida and CEO of the Florida Retail tax holiday, to stock up on sales taxes on clothes cost- Federation, on Wednesday your critical supplies.” ing $60 or less, school sup- “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our TALLAHASSEE — called the holidays gener- The other tax holidays, plies costing $15 or less and Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, Floridians preparing for the ous for Floridians and retail- meanwhile, are expected to the first $1,000 of the price and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye looming hurricane season ers as the state continues to have a bigger impact on of personal computers. be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in can avoid paying sales taxes emerge from the pandemic. state and local coffers. The tax package includes the same judgment.” — 1 Corinthians 1:10 (KJV) on many types of disaster “As we come out of covid, State economists pro- numerous other issues, gear starting late next week, and people are getting out jected that the “Freedom such as setting aside $17.5 after Gov. Ron DeSantis and about, we don’t want Week” tax holiday, which million for taxpayers that Thought for Today signed a $196.3 million tax them to forget about the fact will start July 1, will save clean up contaminated Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for package on Friday. that hurricane season is just $54.7 million for shoppers. brownfields, changing a worthless pebbles. Appearing at a Home around the corner,” Shalley During that week, people formula for distributing — Thomas Browne, 1605-1682, British scientist Depot in Pensacola, said. “It provides a good will be able to avoid pay- cigarette tax revenues to DeSantis said the pack- opportunity for Floridians ing sales taxes on tickets boost funding for the H. age, passed by lawmakers to prepare, but it also gives purchased for such things Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Winning Lottery Numbers in April, reflects the state’s the local retailer a little infu- as live music, athletic con- and repealing an unused economic recovery from sion of business that they tests, in-theater movies, cul- pool of state money that was Pick 3: (Thursday p.m.) 3-7-8 the coronavirus pandem- certainly need as we come tural events and entrance to approved in 2014 to help Pick 4: (Thursday p.m.) 0-1-3-7 ic. Along with a 10-day tax out of a tough year.” museums and state parks. build and renovate profes- Fantasy 5: (Thursday) 22-23-25-27-31 “holiday” for disaster-pre- The disaster-prepared- Tickets could be purchased sional sports stadiums. paredness supplies, it also ness tax holiday will run during the week for events Senate President Wilton See an error? includes a tax holiday for from May 28 through June that occur later in the year, Simpson (R-Trilby) said the The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news back-to-school shoppers 6 and is expected to save including annual passes.