50¢ Friday/ Saturday January 18-19, 2019 www.perrynewspapers.com Three children found unresponsive in small chest freezer: Search lasted 30 minutes Three young children That was the timeline three children ranging in grandmother, Elaine were reportedly trapped established by the age from 19 months to six Richardson, in Live Oak inside a small chest freezer Suwannee County Sheriff’s years at a home in Live Oak after being removed from for 30-45 minutes before Office (SCSO), which is Jan. 13. their mother’s custody, being found unresponsive investigating the tragedy “The mother of the Sheriff St. John said. Sunday. that claimed the lives of four-year-old (Stephanie “The grandmother was Jackson) said she left the the guardian over them after children outside and went they were taken from their inside to use the bathroom. biological mother (Lucy She said she was gone for Meeks), who was not able to five to 10 minutes. When take care of them,” he said. she discovered the children The third victim, missing, they searched for Brook’Lyn Leigh Jackson, about 30 minutes before 4, was living at the home finding them,” Suwannee with her mother, Stephanie County Sheriff Sam St. Jackson. John said. “They had only been there “According to the for two to three weeks,” St. medical examiner, taking John said. into account the size of the He said that Richardson freezer (which was 5 cubic had picked up the freezer feet) and other factors, it from her home in Taylor would be 10-12 minutes County less than a week ago tops (before a child would and brought it to Live Oak. become unresponsive).” “It was sitting in the front The family of four-year-old Brook’Lyn Leigh While the tragedy yard. She said she needed Jackson plan to hold a celebration of life service occurred at a home in Live help to get it inside,” St. for her at a later date. Oak, the loss has been felt John said. deeply in Taylor County, Richardson, who works grandmother and they liked to hide and jump out where all three children the night shift at the Dunkin’ started looking for the and scare people, it was a have strong family ties. Donuts in Live Oak, was children. They searched a game to him. He’d hid in The 19-month-old, inside sleeping when the vacant trailer next door and the shower, behind bushes, Joint funeral services for Kayliegh Mae Meeks, Kayliegh Mae Meeks, children went missing. down the road,” St. John chairs.” 19 months, and her brother, Dawlton Lee and her older brother, “When the mother said. Funeral services for the DelBridge, 6, will be held today (Friday) at San Dawlton Lee DelBridge, couldn’t find them, she “In our interviews, we ➟ Please see page 2 Pedro Baptist Church. 6, were living with their went inside, woke up the were told that the little boy Final hurdles cleared for Jefferson St. hand over It has been a long and winding road, but the end is finally in sight for the City of Perry to take ownership of a 1.665- mile stretch of Jefferson Street. City Manager Taylor Brown said last week that all of the necessary documents have been signed and returned to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for a final review by the state secretary. Once that is complete and the secretary signs off on the agreement, the handover will be official, Brown said. FDOT officials estimated the process should be completed within the next three to four weeks. Taking ownership of Jefferson Street was the final piece of the puzzle the city needed to move forward with a planned downtown canopy/balcony project that has been in the works for more than five years. Out of commission The $1.4 million project calls for the installation of A large section of fencing surrounding the basketball courts at the Taylor County Sports Complex freestanding balconies and canopies in front of businesses was torn down sometime this past weekend when a vehicle apparently crashed into the chain-link ➟ fence. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reportedly turned the crash investigation over to the Florida Please see page 2 Highway Patrol. Details of the crash were not available as of press time. Crime rate rose 7.6% in 2017 According to Florida the county 53rd out of 67 based on the number of times in the past five years surrounding counties, half County’s crime rate was Department of Law Florida counties, although offenses committed per -- translating into a 74% of which saw a decrease in 2,422.8 (19.5% increase), Enforcement’s (FDLE) the local case clearance rate 100,000 people in the city increase since 2013. their rates in 2017. Dixie County was 2,212.1 uniform crime report, nearly doubled the state and county combined – has Taylor County had the Madison County’s crime (9.3% decrease) and Taylor County’s crime rate average. now increased for three highest crime rate (3,426.8) rate for 2017 was 3,111.9 ➟ Please see page 3 rose 7.6% in 2017, ranking The local crime rate – straight years and four among its neighboring and (0.4% increase), Jefferson FWC to adopt new 3-buck, 2 doe annual bag limit for deer hunters Courtesy of total deer, including three commission also supported under consideration include: WOODS ’N WATER antlered and two antlerless) the proposals. 1. Antlered Deer Annual The Florida Fish and and mandatory reporting of FWC solicited public Bag Limit – establish an Wildlife Conservation all harvested deer. comment through an annual bag limit of three Commission (FWC) The commissioners who online survey, which is antlered deer per hunter. approved a series of draft spoke during the Dec. 13 still active and will remain The limit of three proposals at its December meeting all expressed their so until the commission’s bucks would include any meeting that could greatly support of the proposals, February meeting. Those harvested during all three affect the way hunters target which will come back who wish to comment on seasons (archery/crossbow, deer in Florida. before the commission for the proposals can fill out muzzleloading gun and The proposals, which a final vote in February. a survey online at: https:// general gun). Deer taken would begin with the 2019- A slight majority of the www.research.net/r/2019- under depredation permits, Kim Bethea killed this 10-point buck during 20 season, include an annual approximately 20 or so 2020ProposedChanges. muzzleloader season on private land in Taylor ➟ bag limit for deer (five people who addressed the The specific proposals Please see page 2 County. 5 Index One section 130th Year, No. 3 Weather Looking Back ......... A-4 Sports .................... A-8 Friday 70˚ Saturday 72˚ Sunday 56˚ Community... .......... A-5 Classifieds ............ A-9 45˚ 55˚ 49˚ Entertainment ....... A-7 TV Guide ............ A-11 80% p.m A-2 Perry News-Herald January 18-19, 2019 FWC will vote on bag limits at Feb. 20-21 meeting BAG LIMIT coincide with the second data is important to make of Florida hunters who will there are various opinions Continued from page 1 weekend of muzzleloading adjustments to regulations be directly affected by the on that. I think we’re gun season (first weekend to achieve harvest goals change. moving in the right direction by permit on lands enrolled in Zone D) and youth would and to meet management According to the 2015-16 there, too. I’m not sure if in the private lands deer be allowed to use any legal objectives.” hunter survey, only 2.1% we’re quite there yet, if management program, or method of take for deer. Morea said the of hunters killed more than this is the right number. A research permits would not 6. Private Lands requirement would provide three bucks that season. one-size fits all (approach) count toward the bag limit. Antlerless Deer Permits additional information Others argued that FWC -- that’s an interesting thing 2. Antlerless Deer (Reporting) – require while also helping to ensure should implement the I’d like to explore with the Annual Bag Limit – antlerless deer permittees compliance with the new reporting system first and commission. Overall, I think establish an annual bag limit to report the number of bag limits. use the resulting data to base this is great work.” of two antlerless deer per antlerless deer harvested “In addition, it would any decision on a future “I do agree that certain hunter. Again, deer taken annually. capture harvest distribution annual bag limit. areas in Florida should under depredation permits, 7. Private Lands during the season, allowing On the issue of the 3/2 have a different bag limit,” by permit on lands enrolled Antlerless Deer Permits staff to identify high-harvest split, several speakers from Commissioner Sonya Rood in the private lands deer (Harvest Limitation) – This days to aid in efficient CWD South Florida said the said. management program, or proposed rule would limit sampling. lack of doe hunting in that “I want to recommend we research permits would not the number of antlerless “Harvest reporting is region meant they would move forward with the rule, count toward the bag limit. deer that may be harvested common nationwide,” effectively have a three-deer but there was a lot of good 3. Deer Harvest on private lands enrolled in Morea said. “Hunters in over bag limit. Instead, those who discussion today on 3/2 Reporting System – this the antlerless deer permit 40 states have to report deer were not opposed to bag versus (other proposals),” would require hunters program to the number of harvest, and half of those limits altogether suggested Commissioner Michael W.