ONTICELLO EWS M 151 Years of Serving the Monticello N Community www.ecbpublishing.com Wednesday, November 27, 2019 No. 39 75¢+Tax Up to $10,000 reward Marko Earl Age: 26 aka Weight: 197 offered “Termite” Height: 5’10” Investigation continues for murdered man WANTED Fugitive on the run after shots fired Therell Wayne Hall, Jr. Ashley Hunter ECB Publishing, Inc. On the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 2, deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) responded to a call regarding the body of a man found near the edge of Springfield Road, in Lloyd. ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo By Emerald Greene Parsons, November 25, 2019 When first responders arrived at the scene, they found the body of Therell Wayne Hall, Jr., of Ashley Hunter Tallahassee, lying in the roadway. ECB Publishing, Inc. After beginning an investigation into Hall's death, law enforcement investigators were able to determine It was an eventful start of the week for Jefferson County law enforcement on that Hall's death had been the result of a possible Monday, Nov. 25, when the Jefferson County 911 Dispatch Center received a report of homicide. shots being fired in the area of Roostertown, just outside the City of Monticello. Nearly a month later, information into Hall's death At 11:46 a.m., dispatchers received a call from concerned citizens regarding shots still remains limited, but investigators have released that that had been fired near the vicinity of East Clark Avenue; within two minutes, Hall was last spotted alive on Friday, Nov. 1, at a Dairy deputies and police officers were on the scene and worked quickly to investigate the Queen restaurant that was located on Capital Circle scene and secure a perimeter. Northwest, in Tallahassee. Once it was evaluated that there were no injuries sustained during the shooting, While law enforcement continues to pursue leads the search for the suspect began. into Hall's death, Big Bend Crime Stoppers and the Law enforcement quickly determined that the suspect was Marko Earl (also See $10,000 page 3 known as “Termite”), and that Earl had fled the scene while traveling on foot. See WANTED page 3 First in the nation: Florida students to receive child trafficking prevention ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo By Emerald Greene Parsons, November 25, 2019 training Ashley Hunter ECB Publishing, Inc. In 2016, it was estimated that 40.3 million people around the world were victims of human trafficking, and with each year, the victim-count climbs higher as individuals become trapped in forced labor or sex trafficking. Christmas is coming to town Residents of the United States, while they may feel a sense of safety, are no less safe from the perils Ashley Hunter Parade, hosts Santa Claus, keeps shoppers busy of human trafficking rings; the Human Trafficking ECB Publishing, Inc. with the vendor village and officially lights the Hotline reports that in 2018, over 10,000 trafficking Christmas tree that will brighten Dogwood Street. cases were reported in the United States. Christmas is just around the corner, and with it, The event will be offering up several vendor Florida's large population of immigrant workers, is MainStreet Monticello's annual Christmas event spots for local and visiting business owners who are coupled with the state's agricultural economy, has that is expected to light up and bring the holiday interested in setting up booths and selling their made the Sunshine State a prime environment for spirit to town. wares during this holiday event. illegal trafficking and forced labor. This year, the festivities will be merry and The Monticello MainStreet Christmas In 2018 alone, 767 cases of human trafficking bright as MainStreet puts on their annual Light See CHRISTMAS page 3 were reported within Florida. Of those cases, 428 were adults and 149 were minors. It is these statistics that have earned Florida a See TRAINING page 3 One Section - 16 pages Index Did you know? Viewpoints..................................................2 Faith & Family.....................................10-12 The word laser stands for 'Light Amplification Community News...............................4-7,16 Farm City Week.......................................13 by Stimulated Emission of Radiation'. Home Improvement...............................8-9 Classifieds & Legals............................14-15 2 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019 • MONTICELLO NEWS Viewpoints & Opinions Emerald’s Gem Box... Christian Concepts... Happy Birthday, Cheltsie The chicken Today (November 27) and truly cannot believe that it has been 27 years ago marks the 27th birthday of my that she was such a small baby. For she is such a in Chick-fil-A oldest daughter, Cheltsie. tremendous, outstanding woman now, that sometimes I To say the least, my life cannot believe she is “mine.” Recently, Chick- changed dramatically 27 years And now… she is a mother herself. The joy of fil-A, the third largest ago. At the young age of 23, I watching her grow into a woman manifested as I fast food restaurant in became a first-time mother. watched her become a mother herself. The love and America, bowed to Everything about her was so dedication she has for her family is more than LGBT intolerance Emerald Greene exciting and yet so scary. I was awesome! and announced it Parsons so afraid of doing I could not be more proud of the lady that Cheltsie would no longer be Publisher something wrong and has become. Her moral values, her Christian making charitable hurting her. standards, her work ethics and her dedication to donations to three As all parents know, those fears never her family and friends are all so astounding. Nor, Gary B. King Christian really leave us. As our children grow, we too could I succeed in this business without her by Guest Columnist organizations that have to learn new things and cross new my side! have stood for obstacles, with them. The fears of doing So, on this very special day, I would like to biblical marriage and sexuality: the Salvation things wrong or of knowing all the right say, “Happy Birthday, Cheltsie! I Love You Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes answers are still present in so many and I Am So Very Proud Of You!” and Focus on the Family. aspects of our lives with them. I am so glad God gave you to me – 27 Chick-fil-A’s president and Chief I sometimes watch Cheltsie now years ago!!! Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos offered this explanation: “As we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.” Well, Tim, as you “move into markets” I think you should have given some consideration to the old markets you have left behind. Letters John Hirschauer writing for National Review said, “If anything, this type of to the Editor equivocation makes it less clear what, exactly Chick-fil-A is. It certainly bears little Letters to the Editor are typed word for word, comma for comma, as sent to this newspaper. Please keep letter to 600 words or less. resemblance to the business founded by Truett Cathy, who famously stated that he ‘was not so committed to financial success that’ he True Leadership ‘was willing to abandon’ his ‘principles and priorities.’ That’s exactly what Chick-fil-A has Jefferson County citizens have witnessed true Force is currently, Chair Barfield, who has missed the done: It has abandoned their principles and leadership in the fight against the proposed toll road and opportunity multiple times to interact with constituents betrayed the consumers who buoyed their rise that person is Jefferson County Clerk and Comptroller, and listen to their concerns. We are at a critical point in from relative obscurity into a multibillion- Kirk Reams. When the voters of Jefferson County the toll road planning process. Jefferson County cannot dollar colossus that it is. Those consumers wanted information about the toll road, it didn’t come afford to send mixed messages to decision makers. stood by the company as it faced furious from our current Task Force designee, but rather it came Chair Barfield’s thinly veiled support of the toll road is opposition at colleges, municipal centers, and from Mr. Reams. in direct conflict with the overwhelming majority of shopping malls around the country and helped Now we see his leadership again. Mr. Reams has Jefferson County residents. If Chair Barfield cannot or make it the third-largest fast-food chain in the placed on the agenda a resolution for consideration at the will not represent the Citizen’s of Jefferson County, she country.” next County Commission meeting, where the document needs to remove herself as the designee. Former Arkansas governor Mike is asking the Florida Legislature to consider removing So, thank you Clerk Reams. It is refreshing to see Huckabee tweeted: “Chick-fil-A betrayed Jefferson County as the terminus for the Suncoast an elected leader listen, then act, on the will of the loyal customers for $$. I regret believing they Connector. voters! would stay true to convictions of founder This resolution was specifically requested by our Truett Cathy. Sad.” Chick-fil-A may make a Legislative Delegation, Senator Montford and Sincerely, Representative Shoaf during the legislative delegation Doug Darling, President good chicken sandwich but their capitulation meeting held October 2, 2019. Citizens for Responsible Government to those who hate what they stood for has left The Commission appointed designee to the Task of Jefferson County a bad taste in the mouths of their loyal customers. GLAAD, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, was not appeased by the Change Causes Fear announcement. GLAAD spokesman Drew Anderson said Chick-fil-A needs to do more “Mommy, can you leave the light on?” It’s a the equivalent of adding a city the size of Orlando every and “speak out against the anti-LGBTQ common request of small children at bedtime.