A3 COLUMBIA COUNTY Back2School IN TODAY’S PAPER SATURDAY/SUNDAY, AUGUST 22/23, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 WEEKEND EDITION Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM >> COLLEGE SUNDAY + PLUS BASKETBALL Storms pose Jones to NCAA possible play at gives double threat Santa Fe athletes 6B to Gulf Coast College extra year Sean of the South News/3A SEE 10A SEE 10A SUW. TEACHERS BRIBES TAKEN TO REDUCE CHARGES, THEY SAY Union chief Feds allege corruption in under fire for video State Attorney’s Office Tape showed crowded halls, no Focus is on ‘J.S.,’ a ‘high-ranking’ official social distancing at SHS; UTSC prez facing possible discipline. By CARL MCKINNEY Jeff Siegmeister, who could not be reached By JAMIE WACHTER [email protected] State Attorney-elect John Durrett for comment. [email protected] said there’s only one official with Siegmeister resigned as state attorney A federal probe uncovered high-level those initials who had that power — in December, citing an impending divorce corruption at the State Attorney’s Office, as his reason for leaving office with a LIVE OAK — Eric Rodriguez his predecessor, Jeff Siegmeister. newly filed court documents allege. little more than a year left in his term. couldn’t believe his ears. Ernest Maloney Page IV, a former crim- District Court for the Middle District of Siegmeister’s now-ex-wife disputed that The veteran Suwannee High inal defense attorney based in Madison, explanation at the time, calling it “false” Florida. School teacher is accused of participating in a bribery and an “insult.” The high-ranking official is identified and president of scheme with a “high-ranking agent of Beginning in July 2017, Page conspired only as “J.S.” in the charging documents. United Teachers the State Attorney’s Office” who had the with J.S. in a bribery scheme, according State Attorney-elect John Durrett said of Suwannee “authority to bring, reduce and dismiss to the charging documents. Because County was told criminal charges,” according to charging there’s only one official with those initials Wednesday that documents filed Thursday in the U.S. who had that power — his predecessor, FEDS continued on 2A he was being Rodriguez placed on adminis- trative leave by the BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE COLUMBIA SCHOOLS Suwannee County School District. “I laughed and said are you kid- ding me,” said Rodriguez, who is in Humane Society looking to Students charge of the computer lab at SHS but has also taught spanish at the school since his hiring in 2009, raise funds for new building return about his reaction to the news. “I By TONY BRITT honestly couldn’t believe it.” [email protected] The district alleged Rodriguez to class violated school board policy when Looking to construct a build- he filmed a crowded hallway at ing, the Lake City-Columbia SHS the week prior that appeared County Humane Society is Monday on NBC Nightly News in regard also trying to build up some to the re-opening of the schools funding. Block scheduling, staggered during the covid-19 pandemic. As it prepares to begin start times implemented at In an email notifying Rodriguez construction on the James district’s secondary schools. of an investigation into the video, Montgomery Wellness Center By TONY BRITT the district said it violated policies on the humane society’s NW [email protected] 6.371, which oversees employee Shelter Glen campus, the use of social media and electronic organization is also hoping to The long wait is over. communication, and 9.02, provid- raise $130,000. Columbia County students last ing public information about the Robin Tobak Ward, Lake attended classes in brick and mor- district. City Humane Society execu- tar school buildings on March 13, Ted Roush, the superintendent tive director, said the metal one day before their spring break of the Suwannee County Schools, building that will be used for was scheduled to begin, because said he could not comment on the facility is scheduled to be TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter of the coronavirus pandemic. Rodriguez being placed on admin- delivered to the site by the end Ashley Gerondale, Lake City Columbia County Humane More than five months later, istrative leave due to the open of the month and engineers Society animal adoptions manager, plays with a smiling students are scheduled to return investigation. are working with contractors “Boomer” on Friday afternoon after a walk. The humane to classes Monday morning when Rodriguez, though, said the to complete the appropriate society will start construction on the James Montgomery the 2020-21 school year begins. video is not the only — or real — paperwork for permits. Animal Wellness Center in the next few weeks. Hope Jernigan, a Columbia reason. Ward anticipates the building School District assistant superin- At the start of the week, will be erected around the first cal, adoption, kennel, and more animals, not only from tendent, said district officials are Rodriguez emailed members of the or second week of September. spay-neuter services. Humane the shelter, but also from currently uncertain how many chil- teachers union asking them for a Once completed, the 5,000 society officials are looking to the community,” said Jordan dren will return to the school sites. count of the number of email noti- square-foot building, which hire a new veterinarian, as well Regar, the humane society’s As of Friday afternoon, dis- fications they have received about will nearly double the size of as keeping its current veteri- community development man- trict officials were optimistically the current adoption center, narian on a part-time basis. VIDEO continued on 2A will provide space for clini- “We’ll be able to service HUMANE continued on 6A STUDENTS continued on 2A Vol. 146, No. 112 Obituaries. 3A CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER (386) 752-1293 Opinion . 4A Classifieds . 5A-6A SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPORTER: 86 72 Sports . 10A Voice: 755-5445 A few showers, 2A Business . 1B Fax: 752-9400 2A SATURDAY/SUNDAY, AUGUST 22/23, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day Feds allege corruption “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” — Psalm 44:21 (KJV) accessories, according to is leading the office until If they have done wrong, I FEDS the documents. Durrett is sworn in. hope they’re thrown in jail Continued From 1A It was Page who recom- Page was terminated and the cell doors are weld- Thought for Today mended that J.S. visit the Thursday, the same day he ed shut.” client’s dealership, the doc- was indicted. The Public Defender’s I shut my eyes in order to see. the Third Circuit State Attorney’s Office receives uments allege. “Even though the Office sees about 9,000 — Paul Gauguin, 1848-1903, French Post-Impres- clients each year, most of funds from the federal The client agreed to the charges are just charges sionist painter and he’s presumed inno- whom are already pessi- government, the case falls $20,000 discount, according to the documents. cent, I can’t have some- mistic about the system, under federal jurisdiction. On September 20, the body represent the state of Payne said. J.S. used his position to wife of J.S. purchased a Florida facing charges like “If this scheme in fact Winning Lottery Numbers solicit a bribe, with Page tractor and accessories that,” Phelps said. occurred, I think it will Pick 3: (Thursday p.m.) 1-6-9 acting as an intermediary, from the dealership, the Phelps elaborated in an reinforce the thoughts that Pick 4: (Thursday p.m.) 0-4-9-0 the documents allege. price of which was dis- email to Third Circuit State a lot of clients have — that One of Page’s clients Fantasy 5: (Thursday) 6-10-15-17-34 counted by the agreed Attorney Office staff on you can buy your way managed a family-owned upon amount, the docu- Thursday. out of trouble if you have tractor dealership. The ments allege. “It saddens me that the enough resources,” Payne See an error? client retained Page after Eight days later, the cli- office is suffering another said. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news he was arrested on two ent signed a plea deal for black eye, but we need In December, federal items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, separate occasions and charges of reckless driving to just move forward,” he officials confirmed the exis- please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will charged for driving under with alcohol and refusal to wrote. “The office reputa- tence of a probe involving run in this space. Thanks for reading. the influence. submit to a blood alcohol tion is based on the actions Jeff Siegmeister. Page relayed messages test and was sentenced of all of us. Fortunately, The exact nature of the from J.S. to the client offer- to 12 month’s supervised I am proud of our staff. investigation hadn’t been Submissions ing favorable treatment in probation — with no jail or When one strays from the made clear, but a federal The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption exchange for a discount on prison time. path, our action must be grand jury in Jacksonville information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would a new tractor, according to Property that Page swift.” spent months hearing evi- like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture the charging documents. acquired as a result of the If true, the allegations dence.