The Wakulla WILD ABOUT WAKULLA A special pull-out section featuring information about the week’s festi- vals, tours and events is inside. Starts on Page 5B news Photo by LOU KELLENBERGER Our 117th Year, 14th Issue Published Weekly, Read Daily Two Sections Thursday, April 12, 2012 Serving Wakulla County For More Than A Century 75 Cents A soldier returns County could A Crawfordville woman’s owe $52,000 in uncle, killed in Korea in 1950, has his remains identified by DNA and Medicaid bills returned to the family for By JENNIFER JENSEN burial after 62 years. [email protected] By JENNIFER JENSEN [email protected] A legislative bill that was approved on March 9 and signed by Gov. Rick Scott could end up When Wakulla County costing the 67 counties in the state around $325 resident Shirley Moreno was 4 million, with Wakulla County’s share being years old, her uncle was killed around $52,000. in the Korean War. House Bill 5301 will require each county to Army Sgt. William “Gene” pay its share of disputed Medicaid bills for the Brashear was just 24 years last 12 years. The total backlog for each county old when he died on Nov. 2, is determined by the Agency for Health Care 1950, during a battle south of Administration. Unsan, North Korea. The bill revised the methodology for collecting Almost 600 other soldiers each county’s with the 8th Calvary died contribution to alongside him. Brashear’s Medicaid. For body and the others were un- past due bill- able to be recovered and were ings, those from the call from her cousin who GARY EMORD-NETZLEY/Messenger-Inquirer likely buried on the battle- November 2001 told her Brashear’s remains field by Chinese or North The U.S. Army honor guard through April had been identifi ed and he Korean forces, according to from Fort Campbell, Ky., in- 30, 2012, each would be coming home. the Department of Defense cluding a lone bugler, stand county must “It sent goosebumps POW/Missing Personnel Of- at attention as they wait for pay 85 percent through me,” Moreno says. fi ce. the start of the funeral for of the amount An urn with Brashear’s ash- Now, 62 years later, Army Sgt. William Eugene due over the es was fl own into the Evans- Brashear has finally been Brashear, above. Brashear next fi ve years. ville Regional Airport with laid to rest. was killed on Nov. 2, 1950, County Ad- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Raymond County Administrator David On March 31, Brashear, during the Battle of Unsan. ministrator Schuck on March 30. A motor- Edwards calls the bill an un- who also served in Europe The military photo was pub- David Edwards cade of nine police agencies, a funded mandate. during WWII, was buried with lished with his obituary in said AHCA is unit from the Airport-Sorgho military honors beside the late 1950. going back 12 Fire Department and 26 mo- graves of his parents, Gilbert years, but state statute requires counties to de- torcycles from three chapters Eugene and Porter Lou Petri Although Moreno was too stroy their records after fi ve years. of Rolling Thunder escorted Brashear, in his hometown, young to truly have known “That’s a problem,” Edwards said. the remains of Brashear to Owensboro, Ky. her uncle, she was extremely AHCA met with the county last Wednesday to the Kentucky National Guard “It was a long time wait- close with his wife, Thelma discuss the amount owed. The county was the Armory in Owensboro prior ing,” Moreno says. Lee. fi rst to meet with AHCA. At that meeting, Ed- to his burial. Moreno says she received Continued on Page 12A wards said AHCA said the county owed $52,000 and they pointed out that county records show the state owes the county $95,000 because of double billing. AHCA has until Aug. 1 to certify payments to Worm Gruntin’ Festival is Saturday each county. Continued on Page 3A By BILL LOWRIE Special to The News OBITUARIES It’s that time of year again! The weather is warm and the Michael Lafayette Jett worms are squirming. Shirley ‘Ann’ Vause Moulton Our local bait harvesters are doing a booming busi- Betty Marie Roger ness as veteran fi shers love Rodger Stephen Smith our feisty bait. Joice Jane Satterfield Ventry It must be time for the Grover ‘Sonny’ Cleveland Whaley Jr. Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival. And so it is. On Saturday, April 14, the festival will kick off at 8 a.m. INDEX with registration for the 5K Public Notices ................................................................. Page 3A “Run with the Worms Race” The Opinion Page ........................................................... Page 4A which will start at 8:45 a.m. Church............................................................................. Page 5A At 9 a.m., more than 100 Community ..................................................................... Page 6A vendors of arts and crafts, School ............................................................................. Page 7A great food and children’s games will be open for busi- Sports ............................................................................. Page 8A ness. Outdoors ........................................................................ Page 9A And, of course, our awe- Water Ways....................................................................Page 10A some T-shirts will be on FILE PHOTO Sheriff’s Report ............................................................. Page 11A sale. Kids try their luck gruntin’ for worms at last year’s festival. Green Scene ....................................................................Page 1B The full schedule can be Week in Wakulla ..............................................................Page 2B com where you can also see Quartet will lead us into kids 12 and under who have seen in our ad in this issue Wild About Wakulla .........................................................Page 5B this year’s T-shirt design. the unique worm gruntin’ the best luck. of The News or visit our web- Classifi eds ........................................................................Page 9B site wormgruntinfestival. At 9:30 a.m., the Sop- demonstration and contest choppy Southern Baptist which awards cash prizes for Continued on Page 2A Legal Notices ...................................................................Page 9B Kimball Th omas will run for Superintendent of Schools By WILLIAM SNOWDEN is a candidate for Wakulla Thomas remembered to fi le his intent to run. [email protected] County Superintendent of vividly the feeling of open- Efforts to contact Miller Schools. ing that brand-new, glossy for comment about his Kimball Thomas an- A native Wakulla Coun- book. He was so excited, plans were unsuccessful. nounced last week that he tian, Thomas is currently he broke the rules by tak- Thomas attended Wakul- principal of East Gadsden ing it home to show to his la High School and was High School. He lives in mother. elected junior and senior Ochlockonee Bay and com- “There was a promise, class president. During high mutes to Gadsden County a hope, and a dream” that school he worked at Pigott’s daily. sprang from that moment, Cash & Carry and remem- He was speaker at the he said, the belief that he bered Steve Pigott gave him Wakulla Christian Coali- could do anything. a chance to work in the tion’s banquet back in Feb- Thomas points to the front of the store, which sur- ruary and commented at American flag lapel pin, prised some customers who the time that his ambition saying he believes in the perhaps weren’t prepared to was to one day be Wakulla’s promise it symbolizes. “If see a black face there. superintendent of schools. you work hard, if you give He later attended Florida He admitted in a recent it your best, you may not A&M University and was interview that he was talk- get everything, but you having diffi culty trying to ing about running in 2016, have a chance to come out decide on a major. He had but said the reaction he on top.” tried journalism, then com- got from people is what WILLIAM SNOWDEN Current Superintendent puter science. He recounted convinced him to run this Kimball Thomas announced his intent to run last week. of Schools David Miller has one day in the middle of year. yet to announce whether class trying to figure out Thomas grew up in the to the newly integrated him, new books that didn’t he will seek re-election. what he should do, and Bethel community and at- Crawfordville Elementary have other students names But Thomas’ move to run thought of how he enjoyed tended fi rst through fourth – and remembered the in them. appears to have prompted teaching Sunday School in grades at the old Shadev- shock of going to a school At Shadeville School, former Medart Elementary church – and decided to go ille School, back during where there was carpet on the students had hand-me- Principal Bobby Pearce, cur- into education. the fl oor and air condition- down books that came from segregation. In the fifth rently on special assign- Continued on Page 2A grade, Thomas was bused ing and, most stunning to the white schools. ment at the district offi ce, Page 2A – THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, April 12, 2012 www.thewakullanews.com Crawfordville man is killed in traffi c crash Staff report and Fire-Rescue worked Due to poor weather together to conduct a conditions, Smith and Pig- A Thursday, April 5 traf- lengthy extraction free ott were transported to the fi c crash at Emmett Whal- Smith from the overturned hospital by Wakulla EMS ey Road and U.S. Highway SUV. ground transportation. 319 claimed the life of a An off-duty fi refi ghter The afternoon rainstorm 72-year-old Crawfordville drove up on the crash prevented the launch of a man as Wakulla County immediately after it oc- medical helicopter. Sheriff’s Offi ce deputies curred. Fire Chief Mike Smith died at the hos- and Florida Highway Pa- Morgan was at the library pital several hours later. trol troopers arrived on attending a class when the Pigott’s injuries were not the scene at 2:16 p.m.