Friday, September 13, 2019 Vol. 13 number 7 Jeffersoncounty Journal75¢ +tax ECBPUBLISHING. COM A stab in the dark Local man leads law enforcement on chase after stabbing, burglary and battery Ashley Hunter scene, where they receive treatment. ECB Publishing, Inc. discovered a victim Law enforcement was able to locate the suspect's who had suffered vehicle near the scene of the stabbing, but when A Monticello man led several deputies from the multiple stab wounds, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) on a chase but was conscious. suspect fled from the scene in his vehicle. during the night of Sunday, Sept. 8, after attacking The victim was The suspect, who was later identified as Reginald and stabbing a victim that night. able to provide Walker, Jr., of Monticello, was pursued by the JCSO, According to a press release issued by the JCSO, information about the with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol, for the Jefferson County Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call at man who had an undetermined amount of time. approximately 8:26 p.m. in regards to a stabbing that committed the Walker's vehicle was eventually stopped and he had occurred. stabbing before being was arrested and taken into custody. Deputies from the JCSO as well as paramedics Reginald Walker, Jr. transferred to a local The JCSO Criminal Investigations Division from the Jefferson County Fire Rescue rushed to the hospital in order to See STABBING page 3 City taxes are School District cuts taxes going up But will citizens get a tax break? Lazaro Aleman Ashley Hunter The total proposed millage none of the gathered citizens ECB Publishing, Inc. ECB Publishing, Inc. will be 6.227 mills. deigning to speak. The revenues generated by The millage rate was The Monticello City Council last week held its During a special hearing on the school district from this approved by all board members first hearing on the budget and millage rate for the Monday, Sept. 9, the Jefferson millage rate will go towards the with a final vote of 5-0. coming fiscal year, and as in past years, the event County School Board finalized district expenditures of paying While the lesser millage rate attracted no public participation and lasted mere its annual budget and voted to the school board, running district that is remaining below the state- minutes. adopt the new 2019-2020 fiscal administration, maintenance and mandated rate may sound like a The millage rate, as advertised and tentatively year's millage rate for local operation of school district welcome tax-break for Jefferson approved by the council on Thursday evening, Sept. taxpayers. property and assisting with County residents who are looking 5, is 7.200 mills, In the presence of gathered for a little extra pocket change in or 2.18 percent citizens and school board Tentative the upcoming year, it might not higher than the members, Jefferson County play out in a way that saves rolled-back rate of Superintendent of Schools millage rates citizens money. 7.0463, or the rate Marianne Arbulu announced that For while the Jefferson that the state the upcoming fiscal year's County School District has kept recommends in millage rate would take a their millage rate below the state order to keep decrease for tax payers – level, both the City of Monticello revenue at the meaning property owners in and Jefferson County have same level as in Jefferson County will be given a approved tentative millage rates the previous fiscal bit of a tax break from the school School Board that exceed the state's roll-back year. district in the 2019-2020 year. rate. The council set the budget at $8,177, 816, a According to Arbulu, the below state level The state-mandated roll-back number that reflects the general fund, water and total millage rate that will be rate, which is defined as the sewer fund and grant revenue. levied during this school year City of Monticello millage rate that is necessary in A perusal of the budget figures shows that will be less than the state- order for the governing board to exceeds state level millage rate of 7.2 mills is expected to raise mandated roll back rate by 1.85 generate the same amount of $635,100 in property taxes in the coming fiscal percent. money it raised during the prior Jefferson County year, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 1. The millage rate for the fiscal year. The total projected budget for the general fund 2019-2020 school year, when exceeds state level The City of Monticello's rate and water and sewer fund in Fiscal Year 2019-20 is broken down, will be 3.979 mills is 2.18 above the roll-back rate, $3,747,816, of which the general fund comprises for required local effort – Somerset-purchased services. and Jefferson County is .0797 $2,317,766, and the water and sewer fund nonvoted levy (will raise “The final budget for fiscal above the roll-back rate. comprises the other $1,430,050. $2,607,731); 0.748 mills for 2019-2020, as presented, is in the This means both the council Meanwhile, the city's combined carried forward discretionary millage – nonvoted amount of $9,658,045.65,” in Monticello and the balance is $13,839,993, representing a carried levy (will raise $490,219); and announced Arbulu. commission in Jefferson can be forward balance of $690,063 from the general fund 1.500 mills for local capital Board Chairwoman Shirley expected to make a little more and a carried forward balance of $13,149,930 from improvement tax (will raise Washington called for questions money in the upcoming year – See TAXES page 3 $983,060). and in-put from the public, with but it may be at the expense of Fountain reflects Monticello's past Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. A currently little-noticed artifact from Monticello's not- too-distant past may be getting a bit more recognition in the future. Standing largely forgotten and neglected in the shade of the crepe myrtles on the west side of the 1914 Masonic Lodge on South Cherry Street is a water fountain that harkens back to the era of segregation. Commissioner Eugene Hall recently approached the Monticello City Council with a request that the fountain be recognized with a small token. In was his understanding, Hall said, that the fountain had been reserved for the use of black theatre patrons in the days when the Masonic Lodge was a movie house. “It'd be good to identify and acknowledge the fountain with a plaque,” Hall said. ECB Publishing, Inc. Photo by Laz Aleman, Aug. 20, 2019 Councilman Troy Avera alone responded. Avera Photo from Florida Memory During the era of segregation, African- (State Library and Archives of Florida) said he didn't have a problem with placing a small Americans who attended movies in the local The old movie theatre in Monticello circa the plaque near the fountain to recognize it, so long it theatre reportedly had to go outside to drink 20th Century. See FOUNTAIN page 3 water at this fountain. One Section -16 pages Did you know? Index Consuming a lot of energy Viewpoints...................................2 History.......................................10 Puzzle Page.............................14 drinks can stress you out, Community News....................4-7 Crime.......................................11 Farm & Outdoors......................15 make you depressed and cause you to lose sleep. Health.....................................8-9 Sports.................................12-13 Classifieds & Legals.................16 2 • JEFFERSON COUNTY JOURNAL • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 Viewpoints and Opinions Deb’s Notes Reporter's Corner: Drop a note to: [email protected] What are you looking for, Ms. Washington? • Happy Birthday today to Recently, a could generate hundreds, possibly “I was the first person who graduated Tony Hogg, Maghan school board thousands, for a broke school district. from Howard Middle School.” Malloy, Paul member But Washington's use of the word Shirley Washington's words lead Shepherd and Steven complained of 'animosity' is perhaps a bit strong, in me to believe that, when the citizens Sims! people stirring my opinion. she serves express concern over her • Tom and Terri up 'animosity' Shirley Washington is a child of the actions, she feels they are expressing Dunn will be set up due to their past – of a past that was, undoubtably, a racial animosity towards her. Debbie Snapp interest in time of racial tension and community Shirley Washington's words lead for the Flea Across Columnist school district upheaval. me to believe that she thinks that, when Florida yard sale Ashley Hunter properties, in But today, Washington is a people are concerned over the future of event this weekend, Sept. 13 and 14. Columnist particular, the government official and is tasked with Howard Middle School and the They'll have a large selection of high former elementary and middle schools doing right by Jefferson County's black, Jefferson/Mamie B. Scott Elementary quality Victorian (1800's) era and later that are located in the northeast and and white, families...the very same School, they are disregarding the past antique wicker, lighting, porcelain, southeast side of Monticello. families who elected her into office. of those two schools. framed art, German bisque dolls, doll Elected board member and At the recent school board meeting, When citizens come before the mic accessories, cast iron, doors, decorator chairperson for the board, Shirley Washington brought race into the during Monday night board meetings, fabrics, trims and pillows, lots of smalls, Washington practically outright cried picture. Shirley is tense, coiled for attacks from Christmas items, a utility trailer, a “racism” as the cause of this so-called Washington continued to dredge up her constituents – from the people who Craftsman toolbox and more for sale, in animosity...at the very least, she blamed history in order to give her explanation voted for her.