’s Florid rby a St Authorities Need Help on l I or il ie s Missing Motorcycle Hit & Run W Air Conditioner A black motorcycle with raised chrome handle bars Bandits hit a woman and dislocated her foot on US 129 south of I-10 and fl ed the scene Jan. 2 at 7:50 p.m. FHP is Caught in the Act Illustration by Alexander Key looking for public assistance, call 1-800-387-1290. Finally! See page See page 2A Buster’s Big Splash See page 5A Levy Life 8B Your Locally-Owned Paper of Record since 1923 VOL. 88, NO. 27 THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 50 CENTS Recreation Vehicles Can Be Deadly Arrested PTSD Veteran a Victim of the War and Maybe the System By Kathy Hilliard Editor Army veteran Arthur Pipes, 25, is a veteran of the war in Iraq who returned home to his family not realizing that his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was going to turn that happy homecoming into a sad and diffi cult event. And this is also the story of many other returning soldiers and maybe many more as the war in Iraq is closing down. According to Pipes’ wife and her family, Pipes had some diffi culties after his fi rst tour in Iraq but the second tour took him much further into the condition known as PTSD. Upon returning home to Chiefl and Pipes was diagnosed by the VA with PTSD and put on medications for that and stomach problems. Last week he erupted after some familial altercations which ended in shooting the family dog and surrendering to Levy County sheriff deputies who confi scated his guns, arrested him and transported him to Photo is a representation of a mud bogging event elsewhere courtesy of Mud Boggin USA. the Levy County Jail. Th is family is trying to help Pipes but his estranged wife is afraid now after By Kathy Hilliard Pipes showed violent tendencies. She decided to move in with her parents for the camp site next to the tent at the time and safety at the time and took the money from the savings account for herself and Editor Higginbotham backed the truck up not knowing left Pipes with all the money from the checking account and the debit card the child was by playing nearby. Bystanders yelled to retrieve those funds. Pipes was also supposed to sign up for about $551 in Th is weekend proved that playing with vehicles out to Higginbotham just she had just run over the unemployment funds but, as is the case with many PTSD suff erers, he did not can be fatal. child. She immediately stopped and remained at the step into the world of strangers and strange things very easily and did not fi ll On New Years Eve day about 5 p.m. people were scene. Th ree-year-old Landon was transported to out the necessary paperwork. Now Pipes is incarcerated in the Levy County pullin’ and muddin’ at the Hog Waller Mud Bog and Putman Community Hospital where he died from Jail and is no longer entitled to the UE compensation because he is in jail and ATV Park on CR 310 in Palatka during a two-day his wife has since returned to their home. the injuries. Charges are pending along with alcohol Pipes had also been off of his usual type and quantity of medications for New Year’s event. If you have never been to one of test results. about 6 days, according to the family, which contributed to his instability. these they are exciting and dirty but no one much On the same day, Dec. 31, at 8:30 p.m. Jeff rey Th e family said that his meds had been changed and cut back by the nurse cares about that. Th e kids are out in the open and Spradley, 44, of White Springs, was operating his practitioner that was treating him. Th e family states that he had tried to get play in the mud to their heart’s content. 3-wheel 1986 Honda ATV on private property when another appointment but could not get one and was being sent medications for Little Landon Teitloff , 3, of Pomona Park, was he collided with Angela Kent, 43, of Jacksonville. his stomach, not his PTSD. After the violent episode landed Pipes in jail, the one of those kids and all he wanted to see was the Th at collision was fatal to Kent who was pronounced family says they fi nally received a 4-month supply of PTSD medications. monster trucks. Landon was playing with his toy dead at the scene by Hamilton County EMS. No According to the Veteran Administration’s information on PTSD, these veterans need a lot of help besides the medications and many families are just trucks in the mud on Saturday at the makeshift alcohol arrest was made but charges are pending not knowledgeable about the condition and what type of care is needed to camp site when his aunt, Victoria Higginbotham, investigation. work through it. Many soldiers are trying to work through it on their own 32, of Pomona Park, Fla. got in a 1997 Chevy Vehicles can be fun while recreating but the not taking advantage of the many other off erings the VA has available to them Silverado with Lisa Smith, 33, of Bunnell, the vigilance of noting who is where cannot be relaxed. and their families. passenger. Th e Chevy was parked adjacent to PTSD will leave the suff erer with many physical reactions such as trouble continued on page 3 Take a Bite Out of PTSD In the Dec. 15 issue of the Levy County freedom. Medical service dogs have been able Journal we covered the ‘Passing of the Leash’ to interrupt the anxiety attacks, stop the night ceremony for Guardian Angel Medical terrors, fl ashbacks and explosive behaviors of Service Dogs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization in PTSD suff erers before they get out of hand. Williston that raises and trains service dogs While these dogs are not a cure, they are an for PTSD veterans. In the article there was excellent tool for managing the symptoms. a misspelling of candidate for Levy County If you know of someone with PTSD and are Sheriff , Bobby McCallum, who attended interested in this program available through the event, which we are correcting here. the VA or other means you can visit the Pictured is veteran Michael Gaither with website at www.medicalservicedogs.com Honey the Wonder Dog who is a Guardian Angel medical service dog trained to help Veteran Michael Gaither with his dog, her PTSD owner Michael live his life in Honey. DCF Announces New Leadership Department of Children and Families Secretary continue to enhance oversight of our structure and in Fort Bliss, Texas, and then as chief of staff for David Wilkins announced today the appointment our contracted partners," Secretary Wilkins said. the Iraq Assistance Group in Baghdad. of two new leaders in the agency's regional offi ces. "Dennis has been a valuable part of our successes Abramowitz graduated with a bachelor's Col. David Abramowitz, an Inspector General in the Southeast Region and will continue to degree in science from the United States Air with the United States Armed Forces Command, provide solid leadership." Force Academy, and has a master's degree in will be in charge of the Northeast Region, Regional Managing Directors oversee all international security strategy studies from the which covers 20 counties including Jacksonville, operations in each of the six regions throughout United States Army War College and a master's Gainesville and Daytona Beach. In the Southeast, the state. Th is includes child welfare, adult abuse degree in military art and science from the United Dennis Miles, the region's current Director of and neglect, economic self-suffi ciency benefi ts, and States Army Command and General Staff College. Family and Community Services, will be the substance abuse and mental health services. "David has a legacy of service to this country interim regional director and head up operations in Abramowitz has 30 years of experience with and will be a great addition in our Northeast Palm Beach and Broward counties. the U.S. Army, starting as an aviation offi cer, then Regional offi ce," Secretary Wilkins said. "We "David's experience as a leader of talented men serving as a battalion commander in Germany and are proud to have someone of his caliber join our and women in a complex organization will be a brigade commander in Korea. In 2007, he served agency and work with us to protect children, a wonderful addition to our Department as we as commandant of the Sergeants Major Academy families and continued on page 2 www.levyjournalonline.com 2A The Levy County Journal Your Locally-Owned Paper of Record since 1923 January 5, 2012 Levy County Levy County’s Most Wanted Sheriff ’s Offi ce Jail Report Allen, Jonathan Maurice, 23, of Chiefl and: AGGRAVATED BATTERY ON A PERSON USING A DEADLY WEAPON; POSSESSION/SALE/MANUFACTURE OF METHAMPHETAMINE WITHIN 1000 FT OF Bristol, Valrize L Harris, Mashana Hill, Neil Allen Pettigrew, Th omas Santerfeit, Sara Taylor, Timothy SPECIFIED AREA; POSSESSION AND/OR USE OF Bronson Michelle Morriston M Adele James Th omas VOP FELONY Williston FALSE Trenton Bronson Bronson DRUG EQUIPMENT. DWLSR & DUI VOP GRAND STATEMENT VOP PETIT VOP FRAUD CONVICTED Boyle, Krystal Lynn, 29, of Chiefl and: BATTERY NO BOND THEFT, RWOV TO OBTAIN THEFT INSUFF FUNDS FELON W/ WITH INTENTIONAL TOUCH OR STRIKE NO BOND UNEMPLOYMENT $5,000 BOND $2,000 BOND FIREARM x 2; OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE WITHOUT ROR BOND $10,000 BOND VIOLENCE.