A3 + PLUS >> Beating ’em at their own game, Opinion/4A FOOTBALL LOCAL Who will step up Man, 20, critically at wide receiver? injured in crash See Page 1B Story below THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Top honors in state No 4th term for for sports complex county Outranks facilities of judge its size across Florida 3A Coleman opts not CARL MCKINNEY/LCR to seek re-election. By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] In January 2021, Columbia County Judge Tom Coleman will have sat on the bench for 18 years, and he figures that’s long enough. Coleman has announced he will retire at the end of his term. “I think you just come to a point where Folk fest fun Coleman you realize this is a good time to make this tran- sition,” Coleman said. starts Friday One challenger has current- ly filed campaign paperwork to 67th annual event runs mances will go well into the run for Coleman’s office — Lake night. City attorney Sara Jane Carter. through the weekend at Andrea Thomas, Stephen Stephen Foster Center. Foster Folk Culture Center Coleman said he had decided State Park park service not to seek re-election previ- By TONY BRITT specialist, said event prep ously, but a state constitutional [email protected] work has been ongoing for amendment passed last year WHITE SPRINGS — months. gave him a reason to consider Whether it was setting up “As for field preparations, the choice more carefully. temporary fencing, stages in mid-April we started Amendment 6 raised the or exhibit areas — staff, building stages and putting mandatory retirement age for volunteers and contracted everything down on the judges from 70 to 75 — but workers were putting the ground,” she said. “For over final touches on the park a year we’ve been working JUDGE continued on 2A for the annual Florida Folk on getting performers, Festival. volunteers and vendors. The Florida Folk Festival It’s definitely a year-round will take place Friday- project.” Sunday at the Stephen This weekend’s event FILE PHOTOS marks the 67th Annual Critical Foster Folk Culture Center Lita Swindle of Tampa works on a spinning wheel as she gives a State Park. The gates open Florida Folk Festival. demonstration at the 2015 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. at 8 a.m., the stages open TOP: Visitors stroll through the exhibits and displays during a injuries at 10 a.m. and the perfor- FOLK continued on 2A previous Florida Folk Festival. in crash By CARL MCKINNEY Toys for Tots program here looking for a new home [email protected] coordinator for Columbia and Current location, which had Inga Dwyer, A 20-year-old Fort White been made available at no Suwannee counties, said the agen- cy only has a few weeks left at the local Tots for man is in critical condition after charge, is being leased out. location on Main Boulevard. Tots coordina- a single-car wreck Wednesday “Somebody showed interest tor, and John morning in Columbia County, By TONY BRITT in the building, and of course it Gates, former troopers say. [email protected] was an understanding between Toys for Tots Jordan Rhodes was driving us since Day 1, if it came up for coordinator north on SW Tustenuggee The local Toys for Tots pro- lease, I would be asked to leave,” for Columbia Avenue approaching CR 240 gram, which serves children in she said. “I was asked to leave.” Columbia and Suwannee counties Use of the building was donat- and Suwannee in a 2012 Mazda around 11:45 with gifts during Christmas, is on ed to the Toys for Tots program counties, place a.m. the verge of being homeless. last year and the local agency has donated toys Rhodes veered left for rea- The local affiliate is looking for been housed there since July of in boxes in this sons unclear, according to a a new HQ because the building it 2018. October 2018 Florida Highway Patrol report. used last year was recently leased Dwyer said the local agency file photo. by the property owner. Inga Dwyer, Toys for Tots TOYS continued on 2A FILE CRASH continued on 2A Vol. 145, No. 50 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Obituaries . 3A Calendar . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO COMMUNITY CALENDAR THE REPORTER: 93 65 Sports . 1B Big weekend of events ahead, 5A Voice: 755-5445 Partly cloudy Advice & Comics . 3B Fax: 752-9400 LOWEST PRICES FREE DELIVERY GUARANTEED! & SET UP! DOWN Your Largest Lark Dealer In North Florida! $ ON RENT TO OWN FREE DELIVERY & SET UP! 0FOR ALL ACTIVE, RESERVE, OR RETIRED MILITARY 4 Acres of Buildings to Choose From! 25-50 Year Warranties! $ 386-755-6449 Rent-To-Own >> No Credit Check! OR Bank Financing >> 0 Down WAC www.BuildingsAndMore.com 2A THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” — Galatians 5:13 (KJV) Thought for Today When in doubt tell the truth. — Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), 1835-1910, U.S. writer Winning Lottery Numbers Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 0-4-1 Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 4-9-9-6 Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 2-4-10-33-36 See an error? CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news A tow truck operator secures the Mazda 3 of Jordan Rhodes, 20, Fort White following a crash Wednesday. items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will The vehicle traveled into the west shoul- He was not wearing a seatbelt, accord- run in this space. Thanks for reading. der where it collided with a tree, the ing to the report. The force of the colli- CRASH report states. sion ejected him from the car. Rhodes was transported to UF Health Troopers do not know if alcohol was Submissions Continued From 1A The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption Shands. involved, according to the report. information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to Robert Bridges: rbridges@lakecityreporter. com. year’s event include: John Dwyer said she will Anderson, John McEuen TOYS continue with the agen- FOLK cy’s planned fundraisers Continued From 1A and the Stringwizards, Rod Continued From 1A MacDonald, Ben Prestage, and other events as the Lake City Reporter search goes on for a HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 “The Florida Folk Firewater Tent Revival and has no back-up location country music star Billy nor does it have funds to new site. Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 Festival is the best of Fax number ............ 752-9400 CIRCULATION Dean. secure one. “If it means I end up Florida music, arts and running Toys for Tots out Circulation............. 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter culture,” Smith said. “We Park officials are antici- “I would like to have Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. of my own home — I’m Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 are serving to pay tribute pating 12,000 or more peo- a permanent location for The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate not sure how I’d do it, but of Community Newspapers Inc., is a.m. on Sunday. to Florida’s lands, people ple will attend this year’s the parents to know they festival. can come to every single I’d figure out a way,” she published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any and everything that makes said. “But if I have to run Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. Florida so great. With such a year and know that we’re FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at large amount of going to be there,” she it from my home, then I Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should We’re showcas- Park officials Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m. to report a visitors gathering said. will, but I’m hoping that ing all of these are anticipating will not be the case. I’m All material herein is property of the service error for same day re-delivery. folk lives and 12,000 or more at the park for Dwyer said that for Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery hoping that by the time whole or in part is forbidden without or service related credits will be issued. folk cultures people will attend one event, during now she has stored the a holiday week- that time of the year rolls the permission of the publisher. In all other counties where home delivery that create the this year’s festival. Toys for Tots furniture, U.S. Postal Service No. 310-880. end, Thomas said tables, toys and other around, we’ll have a per- is available, next day re-delivery or state. There’s manent building.” POSTMASTER: Send address changes service related credits will be issued. things can get materials to her home to Lake City Reporter, P.O. Box 1709, so many different things Last Christmas the Lake City, FL 32056. Circulation............. 755-5445 in the state that people just hectic at times. and barn. ([email protected]) “Yes, we’re running “All the toys that I have local Toys for Tots pro- Publisher Todd Wilson ..