A3 + PLUS >> CRC gets a little off course, Opinion/4A WEIGHTLIFTING SOFTBALL Tri-meet Gators host for CHS Florida State See Page 5A See Page 5A THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM Landlord jailed for tossing tenant’s things Virus in exchange for unpaid rent, Street around 12:30 p.m. Monday. By CARL MCKINNEY according to the Lake City Police Pierce evicted the tenant without [email protected] Department. State law has a name going through the proper process, according to an LCPD report. A landlord and former County for that, officers told the landlord On Saturday, the tenant was told hitting Commission candidate abruptly — grand theft. John Merle Pierce, 57, was she’d been evicted and given only kicked out one of his tenants 20 minutes to retrieve her belong- over the weekend, then tried to arrested after officers responded hold her possessions hostage to a call on Southeast Putnam LANDLORD continued on 2A Pierce close to TRIVIAL PURSUITS home Georgia woman in Alachua County has novel coronavirus. By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] Now officially a global pandemic, the novel coronavirus outbreak is hit- ting closer to home. In Alachua County, a 68-year-old woman visiting from Georgia has tested positive for the novel coro- navirus, health officials there con- firmed. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared a pandemic as the United States was grappling with more than 1,000 cases. Columbia County’s health director, Thomas Moffses, gave a statement in response to news of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel corona- virus, rearing its head in Lake City’s neighbor to the south. “The Columbia County Health Department is working with the state Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control to ensure all steps are followed to educate and serve all residents of Columbia County concern- ing COVID-19,” Moffses said. VIRUS continued on 3A TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter Veronica Putnel (from left), 13, Jeremias Sandoval, 14, and Adrianna Gomez, 13, compete in a game of Teen Trump: Travel Trivia at the Columbia County Public Library on Wednesday afternoon. ban will slow spread of virus City charter board to be named Monday Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Group will undertake state or federal law. bers have the discretion to ly, but staff is always there Donald Trump said Wednesday he is That time is once again upon suggest changes as they see to answer any questions that suspending all travel between the U.S. thorough review of LC’s and Europe for 30 days beginning us, as the City Council pre- fit, but voters they may have.” governing document. Friday as he seeks to combat a viral pares to appoint the five-per- will have the Issues with the city’s elec- pandemic. By CARL MCKINNEY son charter review board at its final say in tion codes are likely to come Trump made the announcement in [email protected] March 16 meeting. the fall when up this cycle, Sikes said. an Oval Office address to the nation, The process is similar to the proposals Considering the changes blaming the European Union for not Once every decade, Lake that of the county’s charter are put into Lake City has seen in the past acting quickly enough to address the City Hall tasks a small group review board. the form of a decade, City Manager Joe “foreign virus” and saying U.S. clusters of local residents with help- Each City Council mem- ballot referen- Helfenberger said this is an were “seeded” by European travelers. Sikes ing to update the city’s foun- ber picks one city resident to dum. especially important time to “We made a lifesaving move with dational charter, opening serve on the board, which has “It’s important to have that update the charter. early action on China,” Trump said. the door for essentially any 90 days to review the charter independent review,” said City “For the sake of having “Now we must take the same action with Europe.” tweaks and reforms that section-by-section and pro- Clerk Audrey Sikes. “We let don’t conflict with existing pose changes. Board mem- them evaluate independent- CHARTER continued on 2A TRAVEL continued on 2A SATURDAY MARCH 28 2PM-6PM FOOD TRUCKS - MAKERS MARKET - LIVE MUSIC OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Vol. 145, No. 260 Obituaries . 3A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Sports . 5A SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPORTER: 83 54 Advice & Comics. 7A Voice: 755-5445 Classified . 8A-9A Fax: 752-9400 Partly cloudy, 2A 2A THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 NEWS LAKE CITY REPORTER TRAVEL Continued From 1A QUICK HITS Trump said the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. would moni- tor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier. Scripture of the Day Trump said he was also directing agencies “Thou shalt have none other gods before me.” to provide unspecified financial relief “for — Deuteronomy 5:7 (KJV) workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus,” and asked Congress to take action to extend it. Trump said the U.S. will defer tax payments Thought for Today for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the impacts of the It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. virus outbreak. He said the Small Business — Niccolo Machiavelli, 1469-1527, Italian diplomat Administration will also make low-interest and author (“The Prince”) loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm. “This is not a financial crisis,” he said. “This Winning Lottery Numbers just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.” Pick 3: (Tuesday p.m.) 7-2-4 Trump also reiterated his call on Congress Pick 4: (Tuesday p.m.) 6-1-6-4 to pass a cut to the federal payroll tax in order Fantasy 5: (Tuesday) 19-22-23-26-33 to stimulate the economy. AP PHOTO Trump said “we are marshaling the full President Donald Trump speaks in an address to the nation power” of the government and private sector from the Oval Office at the White House about the coronavirus See an error? to protect the American people. Wednesday in Washington. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will to review it to make sure Though the charter board Maxwell, Fredrick Reed, Ann run in this space. Thanks for reading. CHARTER we’re serving the needs of hasn’t officially been appoint- Skinner and Rob Summerall. Continued From 1A our residents and business- ed, City Council members The board’s recommen- es to the best of our ability,” have put forward names — dations will appear on the Submissions good government, we need Helfenberger said. Sparkle Green, Hercules ballot in November. The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to Robert Bridges: rbridges@lakecityreporter. included a 52-inch televi- responded to the scene However, the television and com. LANDLORD sion, children’s beds, cloth- and confirmed with the other items, which had a Continued From 1A ing and gaming systems. State Attorney’s Office combined value of about On Monday, Pierce that Pierce committed a $2,000, were missing. Lake City Reporter ings, the report states. told officers that state law crime by seizing the prop- Pierce was arrested on a HOW TO REACH US ADVERTISING She made several allowed him to seize the erty. felony larceny charge and property as a lien. Pierce claimed the taken to county jail. He was Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 Director Chris Ratliff attempts to retrieve her Fax number ............ 752-9400 (386) 754-0417 property but Pierce refused Police said otherwise, dwelling had already been released 85 minutes later Circulation............. 755-5445 ([email protected]) but Pierce insisted that the emptied of the tenant’s on $5,000 bond. Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com to allow her inside, accord- CLASSIFIED officers were wrong, the property, but that was Pierce, who was well- The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate ing to the report. of Community Newspapers Inc., Kym Harrison (386) 755-5440 Pierce told the tenant report states. not the case, said LCPD known in Lake City social is published Tuesday through Pierce was told to return spokesperson Mike Lee. circles, sought the District Saturday/Sunday at 180 E. Duval ([email protected]) she could not collect her St., Lake City, FL 32055. Periodical BUSINESS OFFICE possessions until she paid the tenant’s property, but During a walk-through of 3 County Commission seat postage paid at Lake City, Florida, he refused, according to the apartment, police found in 2008 but finished fourth Member of The Associated Press Vickie Busscher her outstanding rent, the and the Florida Press Association. (386) 754-0419 the report. some of the tenant’s pos- out of six candidates in the ([email protected]) report states All material herein is property of An LCPD sergeant sessions were still there. primary. the Lake City Reporter. No part of The tenant’s possessions the contents of this publication may CIRCULATION be reproduced in whole or in part Director Sara Mercer without written permission of the (386) 754-0408 publisher. ([email protected]) U.S. Postal Service No. 310-880. The Lake City Reporter is home POSTMASTER: Send address delivered Tuesday through Saturday, changes to Lake City Reporter, P.O.