Serving Gilchrist County and Surrounding Area for over 89 Years 207 North Main Street, Trenton, Florida 32693 Phone (352) 463-7135 • Fax (352) 463-7393 $25.00 Digital Only, $25.00 Gilchrist County Price $30.00 Tri-County Area, $40.00 Out of Area Vol. 89 –– No. 8 www.gilchristcountyjournal.net Thursday, July 18, 2019 50¢ FDLE: Gilchrist Crime Rate up 75.8% SchoolSchool GradesGrades By Carrie A. Mizell the FDLE crime report shows a Sheriff Schultz said his department Gilchrist County residents realize The Florida Department of Law discrepancy in his department’s has changed reporting systems twice that this is not Chicago,” Schultz Enforcement’s 2018 Uniform Crime reporting of accurate crime statistics. since 2016 and he knows that only said. “We live in a safe community. Report has found Gilchrist County’s “The numbers that were reported half of the 2017 crime statistics were Anyone who has questions about 2018-20192018-2019 overall crime increased 75.8 percent for 2017 were not as accurate as reported. The sheriff said he typically our crime numbers, come sit and from 2017 to 2018. According to they should have been,” Schultz feels that the FDLE Uniform Crime talk with me, I can show you the real FDLE, robbery was down, while explained. “Whether it was computer Report gives a good representation numbers.” SCHOOL GRADE murder, rape, aggravated assault, or human error, only half of the of crime statistics in a county, but he In April 2018, local residents were burglary, larceny and vehicle theft numbers for 2017 got reported. We does not believe that the latest report rocked when two Gilchrist County was up in 2018. knew there was a discrepancy in the is a good gauge, because the reporting Sheriff’s deputies were ambushed Bell Elementary Sheriff Bobby Schultz said crime numbers that were reported, but we of numbers was not as accurate as it and killed inside a Trenton restaurant A has gone up in Gilchrist County, did not know the report would show should have been. while eating lunch. The murders of but not by 75.8 percent. He feels a 75 percent increase in crime.” “I think the vast majority of Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 29, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey, 25, were noted on the Trenton Elementary A FDLE Crime Report, which showed that the county’s murder rate jumped from 0 percent in 2017 to 200 percent Bell High A in 2018. Prior to the homicides of Ramirez and Lindsey, Sheriff Schultz said his Trenton High A department was already shorthanded due to retirement and pay issues. “We had a lack of manpower in Overall District Grade 2017,” Shultz said. “Since then 10 A new deputies have been hired.” *Source: Florida Department of Education In addition to homicides, the FDLE Crime Report showed that rape was also up in Gilchrist County. Four cases were reported in 2018. There were no rapes reported the year prior. Robberies dropped from six Gilchrist Schools cases in 2017 to two cases in 2018. The number of local aggravated assault cases reported went from 19 in 2017 to 20 cases in 2018. Burglary receive an A and larceny saw the most significant increases last year. There were 38 By Janet Bradley forward to another year at BES”. reported burglaries in 2017 and 63 Last week when the Florida Trenton Elementary Principal Construction underway on burglary cases in 2018. Larceny Department of Education released Ronda Adkins gave accolades to increased from 28 cases in 2017 to school grades for 2018-2019, school her Trenton Elementary staff and 69 reported cases in 2018. In 2018, officials were pleased with the results. students for keeping their “A” school county’s first solar farm there were 7 reported motor vehicle Bell Elementary, Bell Middle/High grade. She stated, “It is the goal and thefts in Gilchrist County, up from 4 School, Trenton Elementary, and determination at TES to continually Duke Energy has begun construction on a 795-acre solar farm on the outskirts of northwest Trenton. cases in 2017. All of these statistics Trenton Middle/High School all make a difference to reach all The Gilchrist County Commission approved a special use permit application for the solar farm, which were outlined in the FDLE Uniform received an “A” grade, and the district students so they are successful.” specified five parcels of land that border US Highway 129, County Road 307A, SW 20th Avenue Crime Report. received an overall “A” grade. The She also praised all stakeholders and SW 17th Court, a connector road between CR 307A and US 129. According to Duke Energy The report also showed that the Gilchrist County School District has and commented, “I am proud of our representative, Danny Collins, Duke Energy purchased the proposed solar farm from a third party Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office had received a District grade of an “A” teachers, staff, students, parents, and a 32.3 percent clearance rate on cases nine out of the past ten years. community, because it takes everyone group, Trenton Solar, Inc. The lease on this solar farm is for 30 years. Once installed, the solar panels in 2018, which is well above the state are expected to last for 25 years of operation. The solar panels will turn daily to receive the highest School grades provide a way working together to achieve these average of 25.3 percent. to measure the performance of a accomplishments.” TES received volume of sunlight during the day. “The clearance rates shows that in school by breaking the score of each 502 points which was a 33-point 30 to 40 percent of cases we are able school into components. There are increase from 2018. to make arrests or clear the cases,” four achievement components, four Bell Middle/High School received Schultz said. learning gains components, a middle an “A” with a total of 741 points. This year, Sheriff Schultz said his school acceleration component and Principal Lisa Barry praised all of department has seen a rise in local components for graduation rate and their students, parents, staff, and thefts, particularly over the last college and career acceleration. community members. She said, “At month. The four achievement components Bell Middle/High School we strive According to Investigator Todd are English Language Arts (ELA), to create a culture that inspires every Holder, of the Gilchrist County mathematics, science and social child and staff member to be their Sheriff’s Office, appoximately studies, and the learning gains best, and we are honored to be part of $70,000 in stolen property has been components are in English Language Gilchrist County and the work that is recovered. Arts (ELA) and mathematics. Each being done”. She is looking forward “There is no rhyme or reason as to component is worth up to 100 to another successful year and stated, where the thefts are occurring in the points in the overall school grade “We are committed to work tirelessly county,” Holder said. “Most of my calculation. to reach every child that walks our suspects in these thefts are not part Schools also receive points for halls in the 2019-2020 school year.” of our community, they cross county middle and high school students Trenton Middle/High School kept lines.” who pass an EOC (End of Course) their “A” with a total score of 722 Two weeks ago, the Gilchrist assessment and industry certification points. Principal Cheri Langford County Sheriff’s Office filed a sworn exams. The graduation rate for high expressed her appreciation to all complaint against Melton Cannon, schools, and students passing AP, IB, involved. She said, “Maintaining of Levy County, who was already or AICE exams, and students earning school excellence doesn’t come incarcerated. Cannon will be charged a grade in a dual enrollment course without hard work. The teachers, with stealing a tractor from North that qualifies them for college credit, students, staff, administrators, These young soccer players had a great time at Bell’s first soccer camp. Florida Peanuts, Investigator Holder all add points to the school grade. coaches, food service, bus drivers, said. The tractor was recovered, Bell Elementary improved their custodians, and district office staff though it had extensive mechanical grade from a “B” in 2018 to an “A” work as a team to ensure the success damage. in 2019. They received a score of of our students”. She stated, “Even 28 kids attend Bell’s “We are an agriculture based 441 points which was 20 points though we are an “A”, we have not county,” Holder said. “These thefts higher than 2018. Bell Elementary been successful with every child, are hitting the heart of our county. Principal Suzanne Mathe gave praise therefore there is still work to be first soccer camp We’ve been able to focus our to her faculty and staff and stated, done and our school is up to the resources on these investigations.” “They are dedicated and committed challenge.” Submitted Investigator Holder said suspects to their students and community. We The Gilchrist County School Local kids had a great time at the first ever Bell Soccer Camp. Thank you have been identified and arrests are are grateful for the parents who make District continues to provide an July 18, 2019 to the 28 kids (kindergarten-6th grade) who attended and the 10 Bell Middle/ pending on several other agriculture- it a priority to get our students to education that values student High soccer team members who helped out. related thefts in the community. school each day and support us in our learning and works hard to ensure This coming season BHS is excited to host home games for the first time in When asked if the majority of the mission to provide them with a world they are reaching all students, which history.