Serving Gilchrist County and Surrounding Area for over 83 Years 207 North Main Street, Trenton, Florida 32693 Phone (352) 463-7135 • Fax (352) 463-7393 $22.00 A Year In Tri-County Area (Gilchrist, Vol. 84 –– No. 2 Trenton, Florida 32693 Thursday, May 29, 2014 Price Dixie & Levy Counties), $28.00 Other Areas www.gilchristcountyjournal.net 50¢ Of Florida, $32.00 Out Of State A tribute to the American soldier By Carrie A. Mizell Members of the United States armed forces come from various regions and all walks of life, but they share several fundamental qualities: Courage. Pride. Determination. Selflessness. Dedication to duty. Integrity. “These are all the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s David Klingbeil Tricia Klingbeil self,” said Bobby Crosby, Gilchrist County administrator. Crosby spoke Monday at a Memorial Day Remembrance program held at the Gilchrist County Memorial Courtyard in Trenton. Trenton siblings “We’re here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for arrested for their sacrifices,” Crosby continued. “Thinking of the heroes who join us in this group today and those who are here only in spirit, a person can’t help burglary but feel awed by the seriousness of A Trenton brother and sister have and gave our kids nightmares!” said what we encounter. We stand with been arrested and charged with Vera Brecken-Marquis. patriots and the family and friends of committing residential burglaries An update will be provided as those who have nobly served. throughout the area. information is developed. Known In his welcome address, Crosby Tricia Klingbeil, 35, of Trenton victims have been notified, Manning asked all service members and was arrested on May 22 by Detective said. veterans to stand, as applause rang Julie Gironda. Klingbeil was charged Please contact Det. Julie Gironda out. with residential burglary that at (352) 463-4612 for additional “Thank you for answering the call occurred in the High Springs area information. to duty,” Crosby said. “Our gathering of north Gilchrist County. During Additional charges will be today is just one small spark in the the course of the investigation, Det. forthcoming. flame of pride that burns across the Gironda and Det. Michelle Jones nation today and every day. It’s not developed additional suspects who a lot, but it’s one small way we can were subsequently taken into custody. honor those who have made the Members of Bell High School JROTC present the colors during the 10 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony. Tricia’s brother, David Klingbeil, 39, Hurricane ultimate sacrifice so that we can live of Trenton, and Amanda Ritchey, 31, in freedom.” of Branford, were arrested. According to Lt. Jeff Manning of season starts the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation is continuing. “It appears that David Klingbeil is Sunday responsible for numerous burglaries The 2014 Hurricane Season is right throughout Gilchrist County and around the corner. After a very slow the surrounding counties including season last year, it is important that Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee, we don’t make the mistake of being Columbia, Alachua, and Dixie,” complacent. We can never forget that Manning stated on Tuesday. it only takes one storm to change Det. Gironda and Det. Jones everything. are coordinating efforts with other After the buildup of the 2013 agencies in an attempt to recover as season, many began questioning the much stolen property as possible. accuracy of the National Hurricane As news of the arrests broke, several Center in their predictions of how area residents spoke out thanking the busy a season will be. After all, last Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office for year they predicted that it was going their efforts. to be one of the busiest seasons on “Thank you again, GCSO, for record, when in fact; it turned out to catching the person that broke into my be one of the slowest. I want to remind house,” said Susan Gascon Howard. everyone, it doesn’t matter what “Nice to know the names of the the prediction is. When Hurricane scumbags who burglarized our home Andrew devastated south Florida, it didn’t matter what the predictions were. When Sandy wreaked havoc on the Northeast, no one was looking at statistics and forecasts. If we only get one storm, but it devastates us, then we have a busy season. Everyone that lives in Gilchrist County knows that we have more standing water than we have seen in During the Historical Society and Veteran a long time. The rivers are high and May 29, 2014 Service Office sponsored ceremony, wreaths were flooding has been an issue for over a Lucy Lacy sang the National Anthem as her grandson Ryder, Veterans Serivce Officer Jim placed on each monument. year. We must be prepared to deal with Mash and Ted Henley of the Marine Corps League look on. any issue that arises. FEMA Director Craig Fugate sums up preparedness with one simple statement: “We must prepare for the world we live in now, not the world we grew up in.” That Stephen simple statement shines a light on our need to be prepared. So, what are some of things that you Smith can do to keep you and your family safe? The answer is simple. First, get together a FAMILY DISASTER PLAN and practice it. That plan signs with should include, at a minimum, the following: • Discussing the hazards that VMI could affect your family, including storm surge, Trenton High School senior flooding, and wind. Stephen Smith, son of Shannon • Locate a safe room or area in and Christine Smith, signed with your home or community Virginia Military Institute on May • Determine escape routes from 21, 2014. your home After moving to Lexington, • Consider using out of state Virginia, Stephen will play baseball friends or family as a point of for the Keydets. contact A noted athlete, Stephen • Make a plan on what you will proudly showed off his 2013 Class do with your pets (Gilchrist County A Championship baseball and DOES NOT have footballs rings during his signing. a pet shelter) After graduation, Stephen will • Post emergency numbers by attend the summer transition phones, make sure your kids program in July at VMI. Cadets know how and when to call 911 at VMI participate in academic, Stephen Smith is shown with his proud parents, Shannon and Christine Smith, last week as he signed • Check your insurance policy. military, and physical training with Virginia Military Institute. throughout the school year. Continued to page 12 THE GILCHRIST COUNTY JOURNAL WAS PLACED IN THE MAIL TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. IF IT ARRIVES LATE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR POSTMASTER. Page Two GILCHRIST COUNTY JOURNAL THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 Community Events Make, Share™ will be joining with Florida Organic Growers to help the Library SHINE community learn to can and vacuum seal food, make recipes and use fresh local produce to enjoy and share Book Sale is volunteers favorite dishes with friends all year long. June 7 available The program will be held from The friends of the Luther Callaway Want to see if you can save money June through August at two farmers Public Library in Chiefland will on your prescription drug costs? markets in Alachua County – the be conducting a used book sale Can’t afford to have the Medicare Wednesday Downtown Union Street in conjunction with the Chiefland Part B Premium come out of your Farmers Market in Bo Diddley Watermelon Festival on June 7, 2014. check every month? Are you new Community Plaza and the Saturday There will be hundreds of hardcover to Medicare and not sure of your Alachua County Farmers Market on books, paperbacks, audio books, options? 441. videos in VHS and DVD format, Whether you are a Medicare The Wednesday Union Street jigsaw puzzles, and children’s books beneficiary, family member of Farmers Market will hold their for sale at bargain prices. There will caregiver, SHINE, a volunteer workshops on June 11, July 9 and hardly be anything over a $1.00 and program under the Florida August 13. The workshops will begin most for much less. Buy a reusable Department of Elder Affairs, provides at 5:30 p.m. The Saturday Alachua County American Legion 383 honors fabric tote bag for only $6.00 and you with free, unbiased confidential take away as many books as you information. Farmers Market on 441 will hold can load into it. Book sale is 9 a.m. For assistance, please call the Elder their workshops on June 21, July 19 to 4 p.m. The location is the white Helpline at (800) 262-2243 to have a and August 23. The workshops begin at 9:30 a.m. veterans in Fanning Springs octagon building on NE 1st Ave. volunteer return your call, or come visible from US 19 and next to the fire see us at: The education program is Submitted station. Look for signs and banners. Wednesday, June 18, 10:00 a.m. to particularly timely as the ever- Members of the American Legion And while you are there, why not noon, Bell Community Center growing farm-to-table and home- Post 383 in Old Town, were on hand consider joining The Friends of the Wednesday, June 18, 1:30 p.m. to canning and vacuum sealing Friday to honor our veterans in a Luther Callaway Library. Students 3:30 p.m., Chiefland Senior Center movements continue gaining ceremony at Tri-County Nursing in and senior citizens can join for $5.00, Wednesday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. to momentum.