nflaonline.com Hornets down Bulldogs Mayo ACD Free Press SPORTS, 12A Vol. 125, No. 29 USPS 334-600 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 , Lafayette County, Florida 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 50¢ Pill shoppers abusing 911 system By Joyce Marie Taylor in substance seekers abusing averaged about 10 a week have [email protected] the 911 system in the county,” been calling 911 to have EMS said Hicks. “There’s not a lot we take them to the ER to get their At the Sept. 9 meeting of the can do about them calling 911. prescriptions filled. Lafayette County Board of They’re tying up your ambu - “They want us to haul them County Commissioners, Emer - lance is what they’re doing...for to a different hospital each gency Medical Services Director pain pills,” he told the commis - time,” said Hicks. “We’ve pret - Trevor Hicks advised the board sioners. “They’ll tell you flat out ty much taken the stand of no, that some local residents have when you get there, ‘I’m out of we’re not tying up the truck, been abusing the 911 system to my pain medicine.’” we’re not going to do it.” feed their prescription drug A larger number than usual Hicks said some of them are habit. of those type calls, Hicks said, (L-R) Trevor Hicks and Robert Spindell talk to the commis - “We’re seeing a huge increase have been coming in lately. He SEE PILL, PAGE 8A sioners about EMS. -Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor SHIP funds FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED AG’s Office arrests local available Steve Braswell family is Farm Family woman for for housing of the Year in Lafayette County exploitation of The Lafayette County elderly person assistance Farm Bureau recently held 20 percent of their Annual Membership From the Attorney funds to be Meeting at the Mayo Com - General’s Office spent on special munity Center with nearly A Suwannee County 90 members and guests at - woman was arrested by needs families tending. Those in atten - Attorney General Pam By Joyce Marie Taylor dance enjoyed a great Bondi’s Office recently for joycemarie.taylor@ chicken pilau dinner with one count of exploitation gaflnews.com all the fixings. of an elderly person who The highlight of the resides in Lafayette Suwan - evening was the annual County. nee River presentation of the Christin Dawn Hender - Economic Lafayette County Farm son of Live Oak was ar - Council Family of the Year. County rested on a felony war - (SREC) Di - Extension Agent Chris rant by the AG’s Medic - rector of Vann had the pleasure of aid Fraud Control Unit. Housing announcing the Steve According to an investi - and Trans - Braswell Family as this gation, Henderson, 31, portation Matt Pearson year’s recipient. stole money from a man Matt Pear - from SREC. Receiving the award was in a healthcare facility in son recent - -Photo: Joyce Steve Braswell, along with Lafayette County over ly spoke Marie Taylor his son Lance Braswell, whom she had the power about the daughter in law Holly and of attorney. State Housing Initiative his two grandchildren, The alleged theft result - Partnership (SHIP) and Blake and Mia. ed in the elderly adult be - some changes in state re - Steve was the agency quirements this year. manager for the local Farm SEE AG’S, PAGE 8A All 67 counties in Flori - Bureau for many years and da have a SHIP program The Steve Braswell family is Farm Family of the Year in Lafayette County. and they all get the same SEE STEVE, PAGE 8A Courtesy photo UW Suwannee amount of money from Valley kicks-off the state. The program is funded through the campaign William E. Sadowski Af - $600,000 goal set fordable Housing Act en - $36M designated to acted in 1992 that created Staff a dedicated source of rev - preserve regional springs The United Way of enue for housing from a Your story wanted Suwannee Valley kicked lion will directly benefit portion of documentary $6.5 million for October is Breast Cancer off their 46th campaign two local projects - stamp taxes on the trans - local projects Awareness Month. We are season re - Ichetucknee Springshed $165K fer of real estate. It is sup - seeking survivors or those cently By Bryant Thigpen Water Quality Improve - contributed that are still battling the dis - with a [email protected] ment Project and Middle so far by SEE SHIP, PAGE 8A ease to share their story with kick-off Suwannee River and us for publication. Your story breakfast PotashCorp State Senator Charles Springs Restoration and may help someone else be - at Florida -White Dean, among other digni - Aquifer Recharge Project come more aware, and you Gateway Springs taries, recently an - - both in the Suwannee Little and could help save a life. Please College’s nounced $36 million has River Water Management contact reporter Joyce Marie Howard Conference been approved for pro - District. Tiny Miss Taylor at joycemarie.tay - Center. tecting springs in North The funding for these [email protected] or call her United Way of Suwan - and Central Florida. Pageant is at 386-362-1734. nee Valley seeks a cam - Of that share, $6.5 mil - SEE $36M, PAGE 8A paign fundraising goal Saturday of $600,000 for the orga - Lafayette Elementary nization’s “Imagine Me” School Little and Tiny campaign. The money Miss Pageant is this Sat - ELECTION 2013 will directly benefit over urday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. Colson 20 local community or - in the Lafayette High Thomas seeks Council Seat 4 ganizations in Columbia, School cafeteria. drops Submitted Thomas. We have been Hamilton, Lafayette and Admission is $5 and council I, Mamie Thomas, am married for 30 years and Suwannee counties. kids 2 and under are free. seeking the office of have two children, An - “While our United Funds from the pageant bid Town Council member, gela and Tavaress, and Way engages in various will go toward fifth grade seat 4. I moved to one grandson, Jayden. community impact ini - graduation activities. Lafayette County in Please contact any fifth 1983 and married Robert SEE THOMAS, PAGE 8A Mamie Thomas SEE UW, PAGE 8A grade teacher for ques - tions. Fifth grade teachers are Kacia Colson, Ruby McCray, Joy Padgett and Alicia Prine. Telephone Gordon T. Colson number is 386-294-2882. Gordon T. Colson with - 8 0 drew from the 1 0 0 race for Mayo 3 Town Council F o r K i d s 12 & Under 6 Seat 2 citing No Purchase Necessary 4 8 3 Must Present Coupon 9 health reasons. Limit 1 Per Person 7 Lafayette County’s news source since 1888. We’re proud to serve! PAGE 2A ~ THE MAYO FREE PRESS , Mayo, FL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 Farm Bureau women donate Social Security Take care of your $1K to Ronald McDonald House September business online By Mary Kate Vang from the comfort of your your reported wages from Social Security Manager in Lake home or office computer at past years and projects your City, FL www.socialsecurity.gov. current earnings into the fu - If you’ve been to our web - ture to give you an instant, Summertime is over, and site before, you’ll notice that personalized estimate of your it’s time to face the fall. the new homepage is even future benefits. You can Hopefully, your family has better. We’ve revised the change the variables, such as enjoyed a nice vacation and homepage and made it clear - date of retirement and future you’ve had your share of fun er and easier to use. You’ll earnings estimates, to see in the sun. You may even now find what you want, what you can expect in dif - reminisce about the popular without the need to read ferent scenarios. song, “See You in Septem - through a lot of links. If you’re ready to say ber,” which was written by If you’re starting to think goodbye to the daily grind of Sid Wayne and Sherman Ed - about a retirement that is in working and you’re ready to wards and made memorable the far-off future, a good apply for Social Security re - by The Happenings in 1966. place to begin is with Social tirement benefits, it’s exciting As children, teenagers, and Security’s Benefits Planners to know that you can apply young adults return to school, at from the comfort of your now is a good time for you to www.socialsecurity.gov/plan home or office in as little as take a look at the books, too ners. You can use the plan - 15 minutes. Once you com - Ronald McDonald Courtesy photo — whether that means start - ners to help you understand plete the online application The Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Farm Bureau women in Lafayette Coun - ing your retirement planning, your Social Security protec - for benefits, in most cases, Committee recently donated $1,000 to the ty have a “New” project for the next few making sure your retirement tion as you plan your finan - that’s all there is to it. No pa - Ronald McDonald House in Tallahassee, months, and that is collecting beverage can plans are on track, or taking cial future. In fact, you can pers to sign or documents to and the District Women’s Chairman Bren - pop-tops. The goal is for all 10 counties in the plunge and applying for learn about survivors and dis - provide. Give it a try when da Gayle Land was on hand to make the District II to collect a 5-gallon bucket of Social Security retirement ability benefits as well as re - you’re ready to retire at presentation in Tallahassee.