A3 + PLUS >> Hollywood the hard way, Opinion/4A EDUCATION LOCAL Enrollment Rising stars jumps at FGC at LCCA See Page 5A See Page 5A THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Invaders are everywhere. DEERSLAYER This Burmese python killed Not all of them are creepy. and swallowed a deer in the Pythons are invasive species definition of an invasive species. Everglades. in Fla., but so are local ducks. But creatures don’t have to be The snakes creepy to qualify as invasive. haven’t yet By TONY BRITT Muscovy ducks, commonly found learned to thrive [email protected] around Lake DeSoto and elsewhere in Columbia in Lake City, are hardly the stuff of County, though, Burmese pythons, slithering nightmares, but they, too, are an due to the through the Everglades eating alli- climate. gators and deer, are the textbook SPECIES continued on 2A Courtesy NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/Everglades National Park STATE He Gun bills won’t coming to give an floor today, inch to tomorrow Senate, House to take up cancer school safety legislation. From staff and wire reports The Florida Senate is expected to take Matthew Mazza, 14, up a wide-ranging school safety bill today, stands firm in face of while the House is set to take up a similar bill Friday. difficult prognosis. Senate Bill 7026 and HB 7101 will go before both chambers as lawmakers react to the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman By CARL MCKINNEY Douglas High School in Parkland, which [email protected] left 17 dead. Crystal West thought the two Both bills moved through House and years she spent praying for Senate committees her 14-year-old son, Matthew Both bills this week. Mazza, had worked. raise the The Senate bill So when she learned in legal age for establishes a commit- January his brain cancer had purchasing tee to investigate “sys- returned, meaning he had rifles or long tem failures” related slim chances of surviving past to the Parkland shoot- guns to 21 ing and creates a pro- the next five years, she felt and ban the numb. Then gram to help schools sale of bump- prepare for emergen- another emo- fire stocks MORE tion took hold. cy situations. within the Both bills raise the INSIDE “I was angry COURTESY PHOTOS n Fundraiser because I state. legal age for purchas- set, Page 2A. believed and TOP: Crystal West embraces ing rifles or long guns prayed that her son, Matthew Mazza, to 21 and ban the sale of bump-fire stocks he was healed,” West said. “I whom she is cherishing within the state. was angry at God a little bit. I every moment with. The bills include numerous other issues, hate to say that.” Matthew, who has brain including allowing specially trained teach- But anybody who spends cancer, only has a one in 20 ers to bring guns to class. The bills do enough time around Matthew chance of surviving past the not include bans on assault-style weapons. will find it impossible to stay next five years. LEFT: Well- Lawmakers need to pass a final version that way, she said. wishers send their regards before the scheduled March 9 end of the “His attitude is contagious,” to Matthew, who found out annual legislative session. she said. in January that his brain Florida Commissioner of Agriculture cancer had returned. Adam H. Putnam released a statement MATTHEW continued on 2A GUNS continued on 2A Vol. 143, No. 239 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Obituary . 3A Opinion . 4A SUBSCRIBE TO STUDENT FOCUS THE REPORTER: 83 54 Advice & Comics . 3B Meet Cindy Kim, 6A. Voice: 755-5445 Puzzles . 5B Fax: 752-9400 Mostly cloudy BUSINESS MONEY MARKET SPECIAL TAKE YOUR BUSINESS HIGHER. CALL FCU’S LAKE CITY BRANCH AT (386) 755-4141 OR VISIT US ONLINE AT FLCU.ORG %APY* 1.25 $50,000 - $4.9 mil. | Rate Expires 12/31/18 *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 2/5/18. You must ask for this offer. Terms, restrictions and conditions apply. See account agreement for current rates, terms and account requirements. Open to both personal and commercial members. New money market account must be opened during the time period of 2/5/18 – 12/31/18 and must be funded with money currently not on deposit at Florida Credit Union. **Minimum balance to open account is $10,000.00. Introductory APY will apply from account opening until 12/31/18 regardless of account opening date. Balances $10,000.00-$24,999.99 will earn 0.15% APY, 0.15% rate; $25,000.00-$49,999.99 will earn 0.20% APY,AP 0.20% rate; $50,000.00 - $4,999,999.99 will earn 1.25% APY, 1.24% rate; $5,000,000.00+ will earn 0.15% APY, 0.15% rate. On 1/1/19, all introductory rates/APYs will adjust to the then current money market rate/APY as stated on www.flcu.org at that time. Dividends are compounded and credited monthly. You may not make more than a combined six transfers and/or withdrawals per month from this account. Withdrawals may reduce APY and fees may reduce earnings. Limited time offer subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice. Rates are subject to change at any time including after the account has been opened. Visit www.flcu.org for membership eligibility requirements. Federally insured by NCUA. A3 2A THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018 DAILY BRIEFING LAKE CITY REPORTER SPECIES QUICK HITS Continued From 1A Scripture of the Day invasive species, native to Mexico, Central and South "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, America. bless his holy name." Nonnative species are — Psalms 103:1 (KJV) animals living outside captivity that did not his- torically occur in Florida. Thought for Today More than 500 nonnative fish and wildlife species Happiness is a by-product. You cannot pursue it by and 1,180 nonnative plant itself. species have been docu- — Sam Levenson mented in the state. Invasive species, on the other hand, are nonnative species that harm the envi- Winning Lottery Numbers ronment and reduce pop- Pick 3: (Wednesday midday) 4-0-5 ulation numbers of native Pick 4: (Wednesday midday) 9-6-8-4 species. Pick 5: (Wednesday midday) 7-4-9-7-3 National Invasive Species Awareness Week, which runs through tomor- Correction row, lets officials to address KAREN PARKER/Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission A story in the Feb. 16 edition of the Lake City Reporter the issues caused by the The brown anole, a lizard native to Cuba and the Bahamas, is primarily responsible indicated Justin Moses is 46 years old. He is 41. introduction of plant and for reducing the number of native green anoles in Florida, and has been spotted animal nonnative species. throughout the county. Columbia County, too, has its share of invasive cies in Columbia County ted throughout the county. exotics arrived by natural Submissions species. include: Blue tilapia, Columbia County range expansions and oth- The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption Karen Parker, Florida oscars (chilids), the Cuban doesn’t have the same ers escaped from research information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would Fish and Wildlife Tree Frog, cane toad, issue with invasive species facilities during tropical like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture Conservation Commission Cogon grass, water hya- such as pythons and con- storms and hurricane, oth- and information to associate editor Justin Caudell at public information coordi- cinth, water lillies, hydrilla, strictors due to its climate, ers are pets that have been [email protected]. nator, said there is even Brazilian pepper trees and Parker said. released. nonnative species living in wild hogs. “Cooler winters prevent “The best way to prevent her yard. Some of the more exotic the animals from thriving new introduction of non- Lake City Reporter “The homeowners that animals seen in Columbia up here,” she said. native species into Florida HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS..............754-0419 had the house before we County include some from If anyone sees an exotic is to be a responsible pet Main number ........(386) 752-1293 Fax number ..............752-9400 CIRCULATION bought it planted trees, South America. animal, report the sighting owner and not turn them Circulation ...............755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter and although they are Capybaras, rodents to FWC, take a photo if loose into the wild,” Parker Online ... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. lovely, they are nonnative,” indigenous to South possible and call the agen- said. “Anyone having an The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 of Community Newspapers Inc., is a.m. on Sunday. she said. “We are in the America, have been seen cy’s hotline, 888-483-4681. exotic pet they can no lon- published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any process of attempting to in Columbia County at Additional information can ger care for, the animals can Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at replace all the nonnative Alligator Lake, Parker said. be found at www.myfwc. be turned-in at the FWC’s Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should with native species.” In addition, the brown com/wildlifehabitats/non- Pet Amnesty Days around Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m.