1 TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | 75¢ Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM FEMA opens Pitching in to its doors to flood put things right victims Fifty-plus have applied thus far Georgia Baptist for federal aid. group helping with cleanup. By HANNAH O. BROWN [email protected] By TONY BRITT [email protected] The Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Center opened its oel Vazquez and his doors yesterday morning to a family started mov- handful of residents waiting to ing their furniture register for FEMA assistance. out of their Branford “It’s been pretty steady,” Highway home over FEMA public information offi- J the weekend. cer Mary Margaret Walker Most of it was still wet, said of the crowd. and there is at least two Eligible residents can apply feet of water in his back- for FEMA assistance at the yard, with traces of mold center and receive consulta- beginning to show on the tion throughout the process interior walls where his by the DRC staff. home was flooded follow- Grants are available ing Tropical Storm Debby. through FEMA for immedi- However, by Monday ate disaster related expenses afternoon, a huge pile of while the Small Business debris from the home was Administration offers low on the roadside as mem- interest loans for more long- bers of the Georgia Baptist term recovery expenses. Convention Disaster Relief Walker said people also team pulled the flooring, come to the center when they drywall as well as water- feel lost and confused. logged appliances and “A lot of people want to talk furniture from the Vazquez about what happened,” she household. said. Vazquez thinks it will In the 11 Florida counties take at least six months designated for federal disas- before he and his family ter assistance, around $5.2 are able to move back into million has been doled out their home. so far. “We have to redo the In Columbia County, just floor, put all the walls back over 50 residents have regis- and the insulation,” he tered for FEMA assistance as said. “We’re going to try of yesterday afternoon. to put everything back the To register, visit the DRC way it was or even better. at 484 S.W. Commerce Drive. They (Disaster Relief Team The center will be open from members) have been a 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a real big help. We weren’t week. expecting this.” Registration can also be A crew worked on the completed over the phone by Vazquez home Sunday and calling 1-800-621-3362. another crew returned “We’ll be here as long as Monday. people keep coming,” Walker “Me, my wife and the said. kids really appreciate County officials were this — we’ve really been informed yesterday afternoon blessed through this dev- that the county has been astation with help from granted Public Assistance by people from Georgia and the federal government. Florida because I couldn’t Public Assistance provides do it by myself,” Vazquez TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter grant assistance for items said. “So much as been Douglas Rowland, of Rincon, Ga., (left) and Nat McCalvin, of Tifton, Ga., members of a Georgia Baptist Convention taken away from us. Disaster Relief Team, pull water-logged cabinets out of Joel Vazquez’s home Monday afternoon. FEMA continued on 3A It’s been real hard. My wife and kids have been depressed. I’ve been here 11 years in this state and this is the first time we’ve seen something like this.” Mike Tatem, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church pastor, said the church is part of the Florida Baptist Convention, which has disaster relief teams that came in and made assess- ments for some of the local flood damaged homes. “Since it was such a wide area of damage, the Photos by HANNAH O. BROWN/ Lake City Reporter Florida Baptist Disaster ABOVE: Cecil Byrd and Chris Craft hang a sign for Relief has concentrated the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Monday morn- their efforts in Live Oak ing. RIGHT: County residents register at FEMA’s and Starke and the Georgia DRC on the center’s first day open. HELPING continued on 3A Suspect in sex crime confronted by crowd By TONY BRITT Saturday were forced to remove the (unnatural and lascivious act) in con- site. [email protected] suspect from the scene due to an nection with the case, which also Lake City Police officer Louis angry mob of family members. involved an 11-year-old girl. He was Troiano was called to a Bascom Norris Law enforcement officials respond- Timothy Keith Chortkoff, 33, 1716 booked into the Columbia County Drive apartment where a woman told ing to a report of lewd and lascivious NE 808 St., Old Town was arrest- Detention Facility on $15,000 bond, SUSPECT continued on 3A behavior on Bascom Norris Drive ed and charged with a sex offense according to the sheriff’s office web- Chortkoff Vol. 138, No. 119 CALL US: Opinion . 4A TODAY IN COMING (386) 752-1293 People. 2A SUBSCRIBE TO Isolated95 T-Storms71 Obituaries . 5A PEOPLE WEDNESDAY THE REPORTER: Advice & Comics . 3B Cruise, Holmes Local News Voice: 755-5445 Fax: 752-9400 WEATHER, 2A Puzzles . 3B settle things. Roundup. 2AWEATHER 2A LAKE CITY REPORTER DAILY BRIEFING TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 Page Editor: Rick Burnham, 754-0424 Celebrity Birthdays Saturday: Monday: Monday: n Singer Arlo Guthrie is n Actor Jacky Cheung 2-6-17-26-31-40 Afternoon: 3-5-7 Afternoon: 8-2-9-7 Sunday: 65. is 51. Evening: N/A Evening: N/A 2-21-30-31-32 n Actress Phyllis Smith n Football coach Urban is 61. Meyer is 48. n Baseball player Andre n Singer Gary Levox is PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Dawson is 58. 42. n Political activist Cindy n Actress Sofia Vergara Sheehan is 55. is 40. n Football player Roger n Singer Jessica Simpson Cruise, Holmes reach settlement Craig is 52. is 32. Thought for Today NEW YORK — Tom Heavensbee, the new head Cruise and Katie Holmes game-maker overseeing “Now to him who is able to do im- reached a settlement in an annual televised fight their divorce case, put- to the death staged by a measurably more than all we ask ting an official end to the repressive government or imagine, according to his power much-scrutinized romance in post-apocalyptic North less than two weeks after America. that is at work within us, to him be Holmes unexpectedly filed “Catching Fire” takes for divorce. place a year after the glory in the church and in Christ Je- “The case has been blockbuster “The Hunger sus throughout all generations, for settled and the agree- Games,” with game sur- ment has been signed,” vivors Katniss Everdeen, ever and ever! Amen.” Holmes attorney Jonathan played by Jennifer - Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV Wolfe said in a statement. Lawrence, and Peeta Cruise’s rep Amanda Mellark, played by Josh Lundberg confirmed the Hutcherson, hurled into settlement. the government’s machina- Lake City Reporter An assistant in Wolfe’s tions over the 75th annual HOW TO REACH US office who would not give games. Main number ....... .(386) 752-1293 BUSINESS Fax number ............. .752-9400 Controller Sue Brannon... .754-0419 her name would not elabo- ASSOCIATED PRESS Circulation .............. .755-5445 ([email protected]) rate on the agreement. Actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes arrive at the Vanity Fair Online .. www.lakecityreporter.com “We are thrilled for Oscar party, in West Hollywood, Calif. Cruise and Holmes Judith Ivey joins CIRCULATION The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Lake City Reporter Katie and her family and have reached an agreement in their divorce case, according ‘The Heiress’ Community Newspapers Inc., is pub- Home delivery of the are excited to watch as she to her attorney. lished Tuesday through Friday and should be completed by 6:30 a.m. embarks on the next chap- NEW YORK — Two-time Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 as parents,” read the state- or Cruise to file to have Fla. 32055. Periodical postage paid at a.m. on Sunday. ter of her life,” the state- Tony Award winner Judith ment from Lundberg and their status changed to Lake City, Fla. Member Audit Bureau of Please call 386-755-5445 to report any ment from Holmes’ attor- Ivey is returning to two Circulation and The Associated Press. Holmes representative divorced, but that the actu- familiar places — she’s back problems with your delivery service. ney said. “We thank Tom’s All material herein is property of the Lake Nanci Ryder. al financial and child custo- on Broadway and revisiting In Columbia County, customers should counsel for their profes- City Reporter. Reproduction in whole or call before 10:30 a.m. to report a ser- The resolution was dy details won’t get filed in an old work. in part is forbidden without the permis- vice error for same day re-delivery. After sionalism and diligence sion of the publisher. U.S. Postal Service notably quick, particu- court unless there’s some Producers said Monday 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery or ser- that helped bring about No. 310-880. larly in Hollywood terms. later dispute. that former “Designing vice related credits will be issued. this speedy resolution.” POSTMASTER: Send address changes In all other counties where home delivery By way of comparison, Women” star Ivey will join to Lake City Reporter, P.O. Box 1709, Cruise, 50, and Holmes, is available, next day re-delivery or ser- Kim Kardashian and the cast of “The Heiress,” Lake City, Fla.