SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.50 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM CHS, Creekside Coming back SUNDAY in Regional better EDITION Finals. 1B than ever. 1C Surprises by session’s end Some bills considered longshots early be expanded. Military veterans flames. Some of them happened would be given benefits in some- in an unexpected way, such as on now headed to the governor’s desk. thing dubbed the “Florida GI the voucher expansion, which Springs Bill.” Public-employee pensions seemed dead 12 hours before it By DARA KAM and When lawmakers decamped would be overhauled. And, if all was revived. BRANDON LARRABEE to Tallahassee at the beginning went well, Gov. Rick Scott would But other items that weren’t on bill dies The News Service of Florida of March, the agenda was full be placed on a glide path to the radar or at best looked like of conservative red meat. Taxes re-election. long shots before the Legislature From staff and wire service reports TALLAHASSEE — In some and fees would be slashed by Most of those things happened was gaveled into session in ways, it was a session of the $500 million. The state’s de facto -- though, it should be noted, the A comprehensive bill to pre- unexpected. school-vouchers program would pension changes went down in SESSION continued on 3A serve and protect Florida’s freshwater springs won’t make it to the governor’s desk this session. The bill (SB 1576) sought to control the amounts of fertilizers Thousands came to allowed into waterways, redirect waste water, replace septic sys- tems at no charge to homeown- ers and have the Department of Environmental Protection rank the needs of the various critical springs projects. It passed the Senate unani- mously but was never taken up by a single committee in the House. JAM SPRINGS continued on 3A Murder suspect may face death Photos by JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter Fans cheer on performers at the 24th Annual JJ Lawhorn performs at the Suwannee River Jam at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Suwannee River Jam. Indicted Friday for More than 25,000 were expected to turn out for this year’s Jam, which ended Saturday. first degree murder. From staff reports Carlis Lindsey III was indict- ed for first degree murder by a Columbia County grand jury Friday in the stabbing death of his girlfriend. Prosecutors have not decid- ed whether to seek the death penalty. Lindsey Police say Lindsey, 31, of 375 NW Bascom Norris Drive, stabbed Chaquasha Shawntey Avinger repeatedly after meeting her at the corner of NE Jackson Avenue and NE Morgan Street shortly after midnight on Friday, April 11. Fort Lauderdale residents Luis Luna and Andrea Nikki Sheerer, of Sattler’s Leather & Hats, shows Jeremy Bass, 22, of Orlando, his reflec- Avinger, 36, was found bleed- Lowery dance on their way to join the audience. ‘I’m tion at the Suwannee River Jam. Bass, a first time visitor, said that he is looking forward to ing in the street and taken to a salsa and merengue kind of guy, but I love country watching Brantley Gilbert play and that he ‘wishes the rain would go away.’ Gilbert performed music,’ Luna said. Saturday evening. LINDSEY continued on 3A ‘Perseverance’ common theme for FGC grads By TONY BRITT [email protected] ‘It’s a very No two people travel the emotional same path to graduation, moment for me. but a common pebble on that path for the FGC class I wanted to lead of 2014 was persevernce. by example for Florida Gateway College Photos by TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter my child and my held its annual commence- Graduates turn their tassels, ending commencement exercises. ment exercises Friday at granddaughter.’ its Howard Conference importance of persever- Weatherspoon explained Center. The school had 690 ance, both in getting this how he quit a job he held — Jacqueline Williams, graduation candidates, but far and in going further for eight years to go back White Springs only 250 students walked toward their goals. to school to get his degree. across the stage to get their Cyril Weatherspoon, “It meant a lot to be one tion. It was an honor.” credentials — certificate, one of the speakers at the of the speakers,” he said. Weatherspoon said he degree or diploma, during afternoon commencement “I was asked to — it wasn’t quit his job with the Florida Friday’s morning and after- exercise, used rap lyrics to something I signed up for, Department of Corrections noon commencement exer- make his point. but I’m glad I did it. It so he could pursue college cises. “Started from the bot- shows my kids that you can full time. He completed Several of the commence- tom now we here,” he said, go out, get a degree and go Jill and John Moore show off the signs they made to ment speakers spoke of the quoting rapper Drake. up there and talk at gradua- GRAD continued on 3A congratulate Heidi Moore on her graduation. Vol. 140, No. 08 Opinion . 4A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER LOCAL LOCAL (386) 752-1293 Obituaries . 5A Support the Visitors flock to SUBSCRIBE TO Derby Dash . 7A THE REPORTER: 70 54 Puzzles . 2B Troops donates Haven Hospice Voice: 755-5445 to local vets, 2A. Derby Dash, 7A. Fax: 752-9400 Sunny, 8A Advice & Comics . 3D 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014 Page Editor: Emily Lawson, 754-0424 QUICK HITS AROUND FLORIDA Scripture of the Day Trapper removes 4 gators from school campus “Let love be without OSPREY shots were fired, is in the hos- 45-year-old Dewitt McDonald President Angel Cabrera also will hypocrisy. Abhor what fficials say a wildlife pital after later being shot by a pleaded guilty in federal court receive honorary degrees during is evil. Cling to what is trapper removed four deputy. last week. McDonald is an officer the ceremony. good. Be kindly affec- O alligators from a school The Palm Beach County with the West Palm Beach Police tionate to one another campus in one day this week. Sheriff’s Office says it is inves- Department. Teen guilty of fatally with brotherly love, in Pine View School principal tigating the incident, which Authorities say McDonald also shooting police dog honor giving preference Stephen Covert says alligators occurred early Saturday morning. operated a pair of health and well- to one another; not lag- have been spotted on the sprawl- Authorities say deputies ness clinics. Through these, he WEST PALM BEACH — A ging in diligence, fervent ing Osprey campus in the past, responded to the area of the acknowledged illegally selling ste- South Florida teen has been con- but the four that were captured suspected robbery near Sixth roids and other prescription drugs. victed of fatally shooting a police in spirit, serving the Thursday was an unusually high Avenue. Later, a patrolling depu- McDonald also admitted in dog during a burglary. Lord; rejoicing in hope, number. ty later encountered the suspect, March that he delivered drugs to A Palm Beach County jury patient in tribulation, Covert says the trapper played whose name was not released. A another police officer while car- found 17-year-old Ivins Rosier, continuing steadfastly a mating call from a recorder, foot chase ensued into an alley, rying his weapon and on duty. who was tried as an adult, guilty in prayer; distributing to removed them from the school where officials say the suspect McDonald faces a sentence Thursday of animal cruelty, the needs of the saints, and let them go at an unknown pointed a gun toward the deputy, of between five years and life in armed burglary and shooting given to hospitality.” location. One of the gators was prompting the deputy to shoot. prison. A Fort Lauderdale federal into an occupied building. He — Romans 12:9-13 more than 8 feet long. The man was taken to Delray judge is scheduled to sentence previously declined a plea deal The animals were caught Medical where he was listed in him on July 18. that would have sent him to pris- during the school day, but Covert critical condition with non-life on for 20 years. Thought says it was not a disruption to threatening injuries. Biden to speak at Authorities say Rosier was one the students. The deputy, whose name commencement of three teens who broke into for Today Covert told The Sarasota was also not released, has been the home of Florida Highway Herald-Tribune reports that placed on administrative leave. MIAMI — Vice President Joe Patrol Trooper Robert Boody Summing up,it is the alligators likely came from Biden is set to give a commence- in November 2012. During the clear the future holds fenced-in nearby retention ponds Police officer guilty ment speech in South Florida. break-in, a 5-year-old German great opportunities. It in search of mates. of selling drugs Biden is among the speakers Shepherd who lived at the home also holds pitfalls. The who will be addressing nearly was shot several times. The Robbery suspect WEST PALM BEACH — A 15,000 Miami Dade College grad- retired K-9 had to be euthanized trick will be to avoid the South Florida police officer has uates Saturday. five days later. pitfalls, seize the oppor- shot after chase pleaded guilty to selling drugs He will address graduates One of Rosier’s co-defendants tunities, and get back LAKE WORTH — A man sus- illegally while in uniform and car- from the college’s InterAmerican is still awaiting trial.