¢ CALHOUN-LIBERTY 50 THE includes tax OURNAL Wednesday JCLJNews.com FEB. 27, 2013 Office located in Bristol, FL Vol. 33, No. 9 BHS weightlifting champ killed in Oklahoma shooting Thursday by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor for the shooting is not known. “The way he was always smiling • • • • • and laughing, it just seemed like he “He was a jokester,” BHS Coach Youngsters gather around James “Bobo” Fay, a cast member with the Animal Planet show had all his stuff together. Nothing Greg Jordan said about Chaz. “He “Finding Bigfoot” for autographs last week in could make him mad,” says liked to clown around but he Hosford. Bobo and the other stars of the show Blountstown High School knew when to be serious.” took part in filming a Town Hall Meeting seg- senior Christian Pierce One thing he was ment of their series at Hosford’s Wesleyan about his friend Chaz very serious about Church. See page 14 for the story and more Fain. was weightlifting. “It photos. TONY SHOEMAKE PHOTO The two friends was his passion,” the shared the nose guard coach said. The 5’5” Suspect’s DNA goes in system position on the school competitor won a state after she is put on probation football team. “I was title in the 154-lb. weight his backup last year class. when he was a senior,” “We played football DNA match made he said. but our main thing was “We went fishing weightlifting,” said close over three sometimes, rode around town Chaz Fain is shown in a photo with his father friend Ryan Hathcox, who and went to the volleyball games posted on his Facebook page in December. went on to win a state title years after where we flirted with most of the himself the next year. cheerleaders when we were on the sidelines,” “Chaz taught Ryan a lot about weightlifting Christian recalled. after he won his state title,” said BHS teacher burglary He learned last week that he will never share Michele McClellan Futch. “He aggravated and by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor another laugh with Chaz, tease him about his teased Ryan for a whole year. He encouraged Despite collecting DNA evidence at the scene of a height or hear him offer encouragement to him to do what he needed to do and was a good, burglary in Calhoun County, another weightlifter. positive role model.” it took more than three years SHIRLEY A. LUCAS • • • • • She called Chaz “a little stick of dynamite,” to make an arrest because the Chaz Fain was killed during a shooting at pointing out that despite his size, when he was suspect’s DNA wasn’t in the system at that time. an apartment complex in Tulsa, OK, where the on the football field, “He wasn’t scared to tackle The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office reports that 18-year-old had moved to attend Spartan School guys twice his size.” Shirley White Lucas, 62, of Wewahitchka, has been of Aeronautics. When he heard Friday morning that Chaz had charged with burglary of a structure for a break-in When police arrived at Spartan Landing been killed, Ryan didn’t believe it. “I called his that happened at an unoccupied residence on CR 274 Apartments Thursday night in response to a cell phone twice,” he said. in Altha in late 2009 after a match was made with her DNA and DNA found at the scene. report of gunfire, they found Chaz dead. Three He said the tragic shooting death of his good The suspect’s DNA was recently entered into the other men - two just 18, another 19 - were friend has given him a little perspective. Now, as Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. a senior getting ready to graduate in a few weeks, when she was placed on supervised probation this past A man identified as Mark Hopkins, 41, was he said he, “doesn’t take stuff lightly” anymore. November following her arrest on felony drug charges. arrested about 90 minutes after fleeing the scene. Coach Jordan saw Chaz just three weeks When Investigator Mark Mallory was called to The five men attended school together and earlier when he was home for a visit. He realized the scene Dec. 3, 2009 by property owner Broward knew each other, according to the Tulsa Police that making the move alone to Oklahoma was a Vickery, he found someone had entered the residence Department. Two of the injured men shared an big step for Chaz, and saw that he was preparing by breaking a window. Several drops of blood found in the home gave apartment with the alleged shooter. for his future with hopes of becoming a jet engine them plenty of evidence to work with. Samples were Hopkins is being charged with one count of mechanic. taken from a drop found on the inside bottom of the first degree murder and three counts of shooting And until last week’s tragedy, the coach said, window, from the refrigerator handle and from a with intent to kill. The police said the motive “He had his whole life ahead of him.” small amount of blood found on the tip of a knife that had been left in a chair. A piece of stereo equipment covered with smeared fingerprints, an empty bleach jug left on the kitchen counter and a back door knob were also swabbed for DNA and submitted for processing. A 19-inch t.v., two red tool boxes with tools, an antique clock and a microwave were among several items taken from the home. Two months before the break-in, Vickery discovered that some things had been taken from a nearby shed including a push mower, gas can and battery RIVERS RISING charger. He said he did not Following several days of heavy rainfall, Liberty County Emergency Management Director Rhonda Lewis estimates report that theft because it the county received between 10 and 12 inches of rain alone on Monday and Tuesday. “The rivers are still rising,” she was unlikely the property said Tuesday afternoon. She said the Apalachicola River is expected to crest at 24 or 25 feet by Friday. The Och- could be identified. lockonee River, shown here, is expected to do the same. JOHNNY EUBANKS PHOTO Reddick,Severance win Bristol City logo contest The winning entry in the City of Bristol Logo Contest, pictured at right, was submitted by Frank Severance and Laurie Red- dick. When Bristol Mayor Steve Cutshaw notified Severance to share the good news, he gave all the credit to Reddick. The logo will go on signs, vehicles and letterhead. The con- test was sponsored by the Bristol City Council. Several great entries were considered before the winner was selected. LEFT: Mayor Cutshaw congratulates Reddick and Severance. Sheriff's Log.....2 Arrest Reports..............2, 8 Cartoons, Commentary and Letters................6 PEOPLE: Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries...4 Outdoors Down South.....7 Obituaries.........11 Community Calendar and Events....................5 The Suduko Puzzle & Horoscope return........12 Page 2 THE CALHOUN-LIBERTY JOURNAL FEBRUARY 27, 2013 Clerk charged with petty theft for stealing lottery tickets A clerk at the Texaco Convenience by customers. She played the remaining Store on Central Avenue in Blountstown Including one ticket that won $1,000 30, which were valued at $132. was arrested on petty theft charges After speaking with a lottery agent, after she allegedly stole lottery tickets - the register drawer to open transactions totaling Bryant learned that Coleman won including one that gave her $1,000 in and close, but no money is $159.27 even though all $1,168 from the scratch off tickets taken winnings - and canceled cash register put in. of her customers left with on Jan. 20. She claimed her winnings transactions to cover the thefts. After reviewing store purchased items. She was from the lottery office in Tallahassee on Cynthia Leigh Coleman, 39, of security video, Blountstown found to have played 30 Jan. 22. Blountstown, was taken into custody Police Department scratch-off tickets during In a recorded interview after she was Feb. 18 for violations of the Florida Investigator Michael her eight-hour shift. Each charged, Coleman “admitted she had Communication Fraud Act. Bryant found that during time she scanned the ticket somewhat of an addiction to playing the According to the arrest report, store Coleman’s eight-hour shift to see if it was a winner lottery,” according to the arrest report. security video documented her ringing on Jan. 17, she canceled and then would go to the Coleman was first arrested in 1995 up sales from customers, then going back $229.14 in sales. That register to process the sale and convicted of theft of personal to the register to cancel the transaction. timeframe would usually without putting any money property by an employee. She is seen walking to the scratch- have an average of $15 in CYNTHIA L. COLEMAN in the cash drawer. She was later arrested four times for off lottery ticket dispenser, where she canceled transactions. Shift summaries retail theft, was charged with 13 cases removes tickets and returns to the register. On Jan. 20, a review of Coleman’s showed she sold 106 lottery tickets. of worthless checks and one count of She then processes a transaction, causing activities revealed she had 10 canceled Approximately 70 tickets were purchased forging a prescription. compiled by Journal Editor Teresa Eubanks Blountstown man charged with choking estranged wife with belt ARREST A 24-year-old hematoma around her she started to walk backwards and Blountstown man right eye. She had said he began pushing her down the is charged with ligature marks around hallway, still cursing and calling REPORTS domestic battery her neck and scratches her names.