A4 + PLUS >> UF’s Mr. Two Bits dies at 97, Sports/1B GATORS NASCAR Stokes leaving Goodbye to Florida hoops DIS in July See Page 1B See Page 1B WEEKEND EDITION FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JULY 5 & 6, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM CCSO: Woman lied about abuse to Saturday get free SongFarmers The July gathering of Arby’s the SongFarmers of the Suwannee River Valley of By CARL MCKINNEY Florida will be Saturday, [email protected] July 6, 7 to 9 p.m., at St. James Episcopal Church, Photos by CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter A shoplifting suspect with 2423 SW Bascom Norris $11 worth of stolen beer also Drive, Lake City, Florida lied about being a domestic 32025. Acoustic jam style violence victim to get a free format. Musicians, friends meal at Arby’s, and families welcome. A fine 4th deputies say. All ages and skill lev- Juanita els. No charge! For more Futch, 38, of information, contact Skip — then the Memphis, Johns at 386-344-2906 or Tennessee, visit the Suwannee Valley was arrested SongFarmers Facebook by Columbia Futch page at www.facebook. rains came County depu- com/songfarmersofthesu- ties Tuesday afternoon. wanneerivervalley/ The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Cookout One minute, festival-goers Shell station on U.S. Highway Southside Baptist Church, were enjoying face-painting, 90 late Tuesday morning in 388 SE Baya Brive, will be family games, food trucks response to a reported case having a hamburger, hot dog, and flags. Then the rain of shoplifting, according to an peanut boil on Saturday at moved in on the county arrest report. 5:30 p.m. Call 755-5553 to fairgrounds in the evening, Deputies reviewed securi- reserve your seat or if you dampening a July 4th cele- ty footage at the gas station have any questions. bration. Though the festival and spoke to a possible sus- itself was canceled, the pect, who said “the female half grand finale was not extin- Farmers market guished. During a respite that was with him was at the The Lake DeSoto from the weather, the Lake Roadway Inn Rm 138,” accord- Farmers Market is open City-Columbia County ing to a CCSO report. every Saturday from 9 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, to 1 p.m. in the parking lot which organized the event, SUSPECT continued on 2A at the corner of Marion seized the moment to put Avenue and Duval Street on the fireworks display as across from the Courthouse planned. The parking lot, Annex located. The Lake sparsely populated just two Don’t get DeSoto Farmers Market is hours before, was packed as pyrotechnics burst in the air. a project of the Lake City The fireworks occasionally scammed Community Redevelopment had to share the sky with Agency (CRA). For more bursts of lightning, but the this storm information about the Lake weather otherwise didn’t DeSoto Farmer Market call interrupt the show. season 386-719-5766 or visit market. lcfla.com. — Carl McKinney By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] Pancake breakfast Wellborn Community TOP: Earnest Burch waves down festival-go- The Columbia County Association’s monthly ers with his Old Glory cape Thursday during Sheriff’s Office is promoting a blueberry pancake break- Independence Day festivities at the fairgrounds. new tool from the state to help fast will be held Saturday NEXT: Elijah Nila, 10, left, and Issaiah Nila, 12, Floridians fight gouging at the at the Community Center rock the Stars and Stripes on their faces. Credit gas pump. from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for the face-painting job goes to Arieal Hingula. Sheriff’s officials are shar- $5 adults, $3 children. The ABOVE: The Mercy Mountain Boys play a set for ing information about a new Community Center is locat- eager listeners. LEFT: The fireworks were worth phone app that allows residents ed at 1340 8th Avenue in the wait. More photos, 3A. Wellborn. APP continued on 3A Vol. 145, No. 81 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Obituaries . 3A (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A FAITH AND VALUES SUBSCRIBE TO Faith & Values . 5-6A THE REPORTER: 89 73 Advice & Comics . 3-4B The oxymoron of gay Christianity, 5A Voice: 755-5445 A few showers, 2A Fax: 752-9400 GW HUNTER 1130 WEST US 90 386-752-5890 VISIT YOUR LOCAL CHEVRON STATION 2A FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019 LOCAL & STATE LAKE CITY REPORTER LEGISLATURE QUICK HITS Dems: Law resolves ballot signature fight Scripture of the Day “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and By DARA KAM to cure, and no process to ty to county,” the lawyers their claims,” the state and the people whom he hath chosen for his own News Service of Florida challenge the rejection --- wrote. national Democrats asked inheritance.” — Psalm 33:12 (KJV) passes constitutional mus- The new law, however, Walker to toss the case. TALLAHASSEE — ter. The answer is simple. It requires all signature match “Voluntary dismissal Agreeing with the state, does not,” Walker wrote in rejections to be made by without prejudice is appro- Thought for Today attorneys represent- the November order. a majority of the canvass- priate here as it is clear Being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of ing national and Florida In part to address ing board and to be subject that the amendments to being drowned. Democrats have asked a Walker’s ruling, the to a “beyond a reasonable the signature match laws — Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English writer federal judge to dismiss a Legislature included chang- doubt” standard. in SB 7066 were enacted lawsuit challenging how es to the ballot-signature The new law also address- in response to plaintiffs’ elections officials handle process in a es another of lawsuit, in order to address Winning Lottery Numbers mismatched signatures on sweeping the plaintiffs’ the specific defects identi- Both sides in the Pick 3: (Wednesday p.m.) 0-6-3 provisional and mail-in bal- elections complaints fied by plaintiffs and cited Pick 4: (Wednesday p.m.) 8-7-5-0 lots. package (SB case say a new law, by creating a by this court in issuing its Fantasy 5: (Wednesday) 6-17-22-24-28 Both sides in the case say 7066) that signed by Gov. Ron way for vot- November 15, 2018 order a new law, signed by Gov. DeSantis DeSantis last Friday, ers who cast granting plaintiffs’ emer- Ron DeSantis last Friday, signed last fixes the disputed provisional gency motion for prelimi- See an error? fixes the disputed issues by Friday. ballots to nary injunction,” the law- The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news establishing a uniform pro- The law- issues by establish- “cure” signa- yers wrote. items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, cess for canvassing boards suit contin- ing a uniform pro- ture match While the omnibus elec- please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will to compare signatures and ued after the cess for canvassing rejections. tions package appears run in this space. Thanks for reading. extending deadlines for vot- preliminary boards to compare And the to have resolved the mis- ers to “cure” ballots. injunction signatures and law extended matched-signature issue, Submissions The new law also creates was issued, extending deadlines the deadline other provisions in the bill a way for voters who cast but Walker for voters have sparked more legal The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption provisional ballots to “cure” put it on for voters to ‘cure’ to submit a fights. information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send signatures that don’t match hold after the ballots. cure affida- A number of plaintiffs the picture and information to Michael Philips at mphilips@ those on file with elections bill passed vit to resolve --- represented by groups lakecityreporter.com. officials. in May. signature dis- such as the American The changes resolved He ordered both sides to crepancies. Under the new Civil Liberties Union of concerns that led to a respond within 10 days after law, voters who cast mail-in Florida, the Southern lawsuit filed by former the governor acted on the ballots and those who used Poverty Law Center and Lake City Reporter U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson bill. provisional ballots have the NAACP Legal Defense HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 and Florida and national The plaintiffs’ motion until 5 p.m. the second day and Educational Fund --- are Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 Fax number ............ 752-9400 CIRCULATION Democrats, in anticipation for dismissal Tuesday mir- after the election to submit challenging parts of the Circulation............. 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter of a statewide recount last rors a request made earli- the affidavits. law aimed at carrying out Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 year in Nelson’s re-elec- er by lawyers for Attorney The plaintiffs also had a constitutional amendment a.m. on Sunday. tion campaign against for- General Ashley Moody and challenged the absence of restoring voting rights to of Community Newspapers Inc., is published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any mer Republican Gov. Rick Secretary of State Laurel “guidelines to ensure that felons. Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at Scott, who eventually won Lee. voters are timely notified Under the new law, Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should the Senate race.