Happy Groundhog Day! JeffersonFriday, February 2, 2018 Vol. 11Journal number 27 county 75¢ +tax ECBPUBLISHING . COM CRIME Suspect in multiple burglariesLazaro Aleman, of the person believed arrestedGifford, of Valdosta, GA, burglarized were able to ECB Publishing, Inc. Monticello responsible for the recent whose photo the provide camera footage of a News rash of burglaries in town. carried the week prior subject inside their stores,” Herman Lamar Gifford The Monticello Police MPD Chief Fred Mosley as a person-of-interest. Mosley said Tuesday. “With Department (MPD), earlier on Tuesday, Jan. 30, reported “Several of the the help of the community, See BURGLARIES page 3 this week, reported the arrest the arrest of Herman Lamar businesses that were the Monticello Police NATIONAL DONATIONS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED STATE Flu Senior Center Clerks of cases on verge of closing court still hurting rising financially Lazaro Aleman Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. ECB Publishing, Inc. When Clerk Flu activity remains high in of Court Tim Florida and continues to Sanders increase, according to the latest addressed the bulletin from the Florida Jefferson County Department of Health (FDOH). Legislative In its summary report for Delegation in late ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo By Lynette Veit, January 31, 2018 the week of Jan. 14-20, the December and Tim Sanders department noted that flu The Jefferson Senior Citizen's Center, located at 1155 N Jefferson street needs Clerk of Court the community's help to raise funds and continue serving the county's elderly. One told the activity was high and continued of the fundraisers planned includes a series of fish fries every Friday during Lent. lawmakers that the budget model to increase sharply, putting it that is currently funding the state's ECB Publishing, Inc. above the peak activity of Lynette Veit, center to close and the building to revert 67 clerk of court offices was previous flu seasons. The back to the state, and broken and in need of repairing, he department also reported that The board members met at the lose what many wasn't saying anything new. the increases were observable in Jefferson Senior Citizens consider an often The problem, in fact, is a all age groups and across all Center to discuss “Keep us mindful that- fromwe are the overlooked asset in longstanding one, as Sanders tells regions of the state, with the several options and our sisters' and brothers' keepers the community. it, stemming from the repeated panhandle continuing to ideas for fundraising in times like these.” They were willing slashing of constitutional clerks' opening prayer at the Jefferson experience the largest increases to keep its doors open to talk to friends, budgets over the years and the in flu activity. Senior Citizens Center board meet- and continue serving ing, January 31. contacts and connections to budgets not being made whole In Jefferson County, County the elderly citizens of ask for help, and discussed a range of again. It's a problem, Sanders says, Health Department (CHD) Jefferson County. No fundraising options to keep the lights on that has proven “a hard nut to See SENIOR CENTER page 3 Administrator Kimberly one on the board was willing to allow the crack.” Allbritton reports that in the last “The clerks of court have been 30 days ending Jan. 25, LOCAL trying to crack this nut for 10 Jefferson County had 16 years,” Sanders said, referring to confirmed cases of influenza, Structure Fire in the Clerk of Court Operations with type A being the most Corporation (CCOC), the entity common. that -- among other duties -- “Most of the 16 were under Piney Woods Area reviews, certifies and approves the age five or over age 65,” budgets for Florida's 67 clerks of Debbie Snapp, Allbritton said. “This is an ECB Publishing Inc. circuit courts. increase over the previous 30 The problem that Sanders cites, days.” in fact, is underscored in the latest Jefferson County She listed among the CHD's annual report of the CCOC that it Fire Rescue was dis- community outreach activities: submitted to the Florida patched to a fully en- Distributing flu advice and Legislature and Governor just gulfed structure fire at prevention information to all before Jan. 1, as required by law. 880 Piney Wood in long-term care and correctional The report's purpose, as stated Monticello on January facilities, daycare centers, in the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Annual 26, at 2:47 p.m. They schools, community partners, Photo Submitted Report, is to share the COCC's arrived at 2:54 p.m., doctors and adult family-care An outdoor storage shed was completly distroyed operations and activities, as well as along with the Lloyd homes, among others. See FIRE page 3 during a recent fire. to detail the budget developments Providing information and for the 67 clerks and the end-of- guidance to Somerset School K- LOCAL year reconciliation of actual versus 12 on routine influenza projected expenditures for their outbreak control measures, such Fire at operations. as vaccination, surveillance, In the report, CCOC Chair personal hygiene, cleaning and Ken Burke doesn't mince words disinfecting, etc., that should be Egret about the difficulties that clerks of implemented to prevent or court face, calling 2016-17 a reduce infections. Marsh particularly challenging year Offering vaccinations to because of funding problems. Debbie Snapp, students and school faculty on ECB Publishing Inc. “Unfortunately,” Burke writes Jan. 25. in report's introduction, “clerks Monitoring the availability Jefferson County Fire continue to face extremely difficult of flu vaccines and antivirals Rescue was dispatched to Photo Submitted budget issues that are threatening throughout the county. a forest/woods fire at 255 Local firefighters fought a brush fire at Egret Marsh to severely impact our ability to See FLU page 3 See MARSH page 3 last Saturday afternoon. See CLERK page 3 Jefferson INDEX Chamber Cheerleaders VIEWPOINTS 2 SCHOOL 9 Membership win OBITUARIES 5 TV THIS WEEK 10 Meeting competition COMMUNITY NEWS 4-7 FARM & OUTDOORS 11 see page 7 see page 9 FFE 8 CLASS. & LEGALS 12 2 • JEFFERSON COUNTY JOURNAL • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018 VIEWPOINTS Deb’s Notes Letters To The Editor Drop a note to: [email protected] ***Shannon Lambert-Ryan is The Science of What Animals Leave manager of the Celtic Roots band, Behind.' The 'Watch Your Step! 5K' Letters to the Editor are typed word for word, comma for comma, as sent to this newspaper. RUNA. She tells me that the band will begins at 8:30 a.m. in the University of be performing as part of the 2nd annual Florida Cultural Plaza commuter lot Please keep letter to 600 words or less. Irish Festival at the on Hull Road across from the SW Monticello Opera House Recreation Center. For more on February 3, to start the information or to register visit St. Patrick's Day season! www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/wat Thank You Firefighters RUNA won Top Group ch-your-step-5k or call 352-273-2055. It is with gratitude that I take this means to commend the Jefferson County and Top Traditional This event is different than other 5K Debbie Snapp Fire Department, and even more specifically its Lloyd Volunteer Division, led Groups at the Irish Music races because it is run on the beautiful Columnist thankfully for so many years by Mr. John Cooksey. Awards, and Best World trails of the UF Natural Area Teaching On Saturday last my wife exclaimed that she heard a noise, getting louder, Traditional and Best Bluegrass Songs Laboratory, as well as campus roads. at the Independent Music Awards. The It’s also unique because participants and coming toward our house. We looked out a window and saw a wall of band recently released a new album, will be entertained with exhibit-related flame, remarkably sounding just like a train, not a hundred yards from us. The 'LIVE', and a new Music Video, 'The puns and trivia throughout the course. woods were on fire! Our field was already aflame and the flames heading di- Ruthless Wife', featuring Ron Block, Participants will receive a long- rectly at us, blown by a brisk east wind. with Alison Krauss & Union Station. sleeved tee-shirt and free entry into the The call was made to "911." In the nick of time, the fire now within 50 feet The performance will be from 5 to 10 'The Scoop on Poop!' exhibit on race of our highly inflammable house, arrived like the Cavalry in an old western film p.m. on Saturday. For more about day, which is when the Florida the Lloyd Fire Brigade, followed swiftly by the Monticello trucks. RUNA visit www.runamusic.com or Museum is celebrating the exhibit Our home, and all we so much love within it, was saved! How do we thank contact [email protected], or call opening. The race is open to all ages those firefighters? Whatever I say or do falls so far short of our appreciation. 215- 915-3124. Contact Kevin and skill levels. Participants may pick Charles and Lynn Moore Matthew Carr, director of the up early registration packets at the Monticello Opera House, at 850-997- museum on February 9 from 3:00 to 4242 for more about upcoming events. 6:00 p.m. Registration is $30 for adults ***The Monticello Heritage and $25 for youth or UF students. Camellia Exhibit will be held on Race day registration will begin at February 3, at the Monticello Woman’s 7:30 a.m. if spaces are available. Only Club on East Pearl Street, hosted by cash or checks will be accepted on the Jefferson County Historical race day and checks should be made Association (JCHA.) Bloom Entries payable to the University of Florida.