A3 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM >> SUNDAY + PLUS Also in today’s Reporter: Hotels What’s at n Olustee pageant pics, 7A to replace stake with campground, secrecy, n Love in the air at library, 8A gas station Taste Buddies Opinion/4A nOlustee descendants, 4C do BBQ, 1D PAGE 1C JENNY LANG ‘The tip of the Charges unlikely spear’ Dispatch dispute still going strong for county, CCSO. By CARL MCKINNEY for FW teacher [email protected] State attorney: Probably won’t face prosecution, 3A Deputies see things dis- patchers don’t, giving them a better idea of what actions will keep everyone at a crime scene safe, said Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter. But current protocols at the Saying goodbye to Beal county-run 911 center some- times run “It’s a little different contrary ‘Storybook ending’ than being a pet,” Lattin to the life- also a heartbreak. said. “You can’t let any- or-death one else play with him or decisions By CARL MCKINNEY feed him.” made by the [email protected] When he was around boots on the 15 months old, Beal was ground. The bond that Tom enrolled in a class with Hunter The sheriff Lattin developed with his four other dogs. K-9 partner Beal from The training process pointed to an incident earlier solving crimes together took 21 weeks. in the year as one reason for in upstate New York Beal passed a state cer- why he wants oversight over made it easy to tell some- tification in 2008. the law enforcement side of thing was wrong. “We were ready to the dispatch center. A week ago Saturday, In December 2007, a “We had to do some work the next day,” Lattin “This has been an ongoing Lattin, now retired and woman decided to donate tests on him to make sure said. issue for quite some time,” living in Lake City, Beal to the Ulster County he was worthy to be a One of their earliest Hunter said. “Recent events knew the moment he’d Sheriff’s Department police dog,” Lattin said. cases together happened been dreading was fast brought this to a head.” in Kingston, New York, Testing ensured Beal after a young boy won- In January, a deputy was approaching. He took a dered off from his house. where Lattin could drop COURTESY PHOTOS responding to a panic alarm cushion out to the patio worked as a objects on The parents searched Tom Lattin and his part- and patted Beal for the Beal lifted his the area. Unable to find deputy. command and ner, K-9 Beal, prepare to DISPATCH continued on 2A next three hours. Lattin had head, cried and wouldn’t be the child, they called law “In that whole time, I go on patrol. Latin and been part- moaned, then startled by enforcement about 90 Beal worked together was just talking to him,” nered with loud noises. minutes after his disap- Lattin said. “What a good took two final pearance. for several years until the same K-9 “Basic Beal retired in 2012 boy he was, what a good for years, but breaths. things like “Beal found him in Fight with protector. I didn’t want the dog was that just tell us probably 10 minutes,” due to a bad hip. Lattin him to be alone.” getting ready to retire and ‘you can build upon that,’” Lattin said. retired three years later, Finally, Beal lifted his he needed a replacement. Lattin said. The boy had gotten lost and the pair moved officer ends head, cried and moaned, He drove all the way Not yet old enough for chasing a squirrel and to Lake City together. then took two final to Maine to pick up Beal, training, Beal stayed at was in a wooded area not LEFT: Beal lies in the breaths before he lay only six months old at the Lattin’s house for nearly grass and enjoys some in arrest down by his master’s side. time. a year. continued on 2A BEAL time outdoors recently. By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] The Columbia County DOH: Flu on the rise Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday Brickwork afternoon A worker on reportedly in Columbia County Tuesday morning intervened in reinforces loose an altercation By CARL MCKINNEY Health. bricks at City Hall. between an [email protected] More than five out- City Hall was off-duty Lake breaks of influenza or influ- constructed on City Police Columbia County saw enza-like illnesses were the site of Fort Jordan Department moderate but increasing reported in the county as Lancaster, a relic officer and a influenza activity between of Feb. 3, according to the of the Seminole belligerent suspect. Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, hitting report. Wars. Steven Kyle Jordan, 27, two day cares, according One of the day cares of Southwest Tustenuggee to a weekly report from the Florida Department of FLU continued on 2A CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter FIGHT continued on 2A Vol. 143, No. 226 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Puzzles . 2-3B Holiday fundraiser SUBSCRIBE TO Business . 1C THE REPORTER: 79 63 For wounded warriors, 5A Voice: 755-5445 Life . 1D Fax: 752-9400 Mostly cloudy, 2A Lake City’s Only Family Owned and Operated New Car Dealership 386-752-2180 www.RONSONET.com HWY 90 • 3 BLOCKS EAST OF DOWNTOWN LAKE CITY A3 2A SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 DAILY BRIEFING LAKE CITY REPORTER tially had eight children children and staff members People at high risk for FLU and two staff members with at both facilities is currently complications are children, QUICK HITS Continued From 1A influenza-like illnesses. Like unknown, but an investiga- adults 65 or older and preg- the other facility, this one tion is ongoing. nant women. Scripture of the Day initially reported 26 children also later reported five addi- Statewide, flu activity Overall, the number of and nine staff members with tional cases. increased sharply for the deaths has been higher an influenza-like illness. The One person sought treat- fourth week in a row and than expected and is expect- "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, facility later reported five ment at an emergency remained higher than any ed to increase over the com- and a time of peace." additional cases. room. other recent flu season, ing weeks, according to the — Ecclesiastes 3:8 (KJV) The second day care ini- The vaccination status of according to the report. report. Thought for Today ing to the report, telling Cox saw Jordan had a Taser. FIGHT Cox to get off his property. knife on his side and tried The probes struck Smile, you don’t own all the problems in the world. Continued From 1A As the encounter esca- to detain him, but he Jordan in his right midsec- lated, Cox contacted LCPD retreated. tion and right lower thigh, — Seven Rules of Life Avenue, stood on the road dispatch and requested Cox was able to pin causing him to fall to the near his home and began that CCSO respond to the Jordan against a tree and ground. making obscene gestures scene. disarm him, according to Century EMS respond- Winning Lottery Numbers at LCPD Sgt. Tammy Cox, Jordan verbally threat- the report, but he refused ed to the scene and, after who was driving a marked ened Cox with hand ges- to place his hands behind medically clearing Jordan, Pick 3: (Saturday midday) 0-7-4 patrol car while off duty, tures and cursing, accord- his back. released him into CCSO Pick 4: (Saturday midday) 4-8-9-7 according to a CCSO ing to the report. A CCSO deputy, Randy custody. Pick 5: (Saturday midday) 6-6-9-1-6 report. After deciding Jordan Harrison, arrived at the Jordan was booked Bystanders were flag- wouldn’t likely calm down, scene shortly after and into Columbia County ging Cox for help, so the Cox decided to make an gave Jordan two verbal Detention Facility on See an error? sergeant stopped to inves- arrest. commands to surrender. charges of assaulting a law The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news tigate. Jordan resisted by plac- After Jordan refused, enforcement officer, bat- items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, Jordan immediately ing Cox in a head lock, according to the report, tery on a law enforcement please call the editor. Corrections and clarications will became combative, accord- according to the report. Harrison deployed his officer and resisting arrest. run in this space. Thanks for reading. became obvious when there was a Submissions BEAL problem. The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption “You notice things are going on,” information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would Continued From 1A he said. “That’s what happened Dec. like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture 13.” and information to associate editor Justin Caudell at far from the house. Beal wouldn’t eat his food that [email protected]. Later, Lattin and Beal worked a night, even though he always has rape case involving a 19-year-old man dinner at exactly 6 p.m. who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old “He just stopped eating, laid down Lake City Reporter girl. and started crying,” Lattin said. HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS..............754-0419 She waited several days to report Lattin brought Beal to the veter- Main number ........(386) 752-1293 CIRCULATION the rape, so investigators were not inarian, who found a tumor on the Fax number ..............752-9400 Circulation ...............755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter able to collect DNA evidence from dog’s spleen.