A4 + PLUS >> Piecemeal privatizing at VA? Story below CHS HOOPS NASCAR HALL OF FAME Buchholz visits Stewart, Labonte, on Senior Night Gibbs earn entry See Page 1B See Page 1B FRIDAY EDITION FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM One sloppy smooch CHARTER REVIEW Voting rights at risk, Today board Weekly dances Every Friday in the mul- told tipurpose room of Wesley Memorial United Methodist But others say countywide Church, there will be an voting is fairer way to go. evening of dancing, featur- ing music from the ’50s, ’60s By CARL MCKINNEY and ’70s, including waltzes, [email protected] country line dancing and Talk of an attempt to overhaul rock ’n’ roll. Doors open at 6 the way county officials are p.m., and the dancing begins elected came to a head Thursday at 7 p.m. and runs to 9 p.m. night, when several dissenters Bring a covered dish for and a few supporters assembled the 6:30 p.m. dinner. Sodas to speak their and snacks will be provided. Seven spoke minds at a char- Dress casual. There is a $7 against at- ter review board admission charge. Wesley large voting, meeting. Memorial is located at 1272 while three The county’s charter review SW McFarlane Ave. in Lake supported City. board, which the idea. is empaneled once every eight Saturday years to recommend changes to SongFarmers the county charter, heard from The February Gathering members of the public about a of the SongFarmers of the proposal to elect county commis- sioners in countywide elections, Suwannee River Valley of Photos by TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter rather than district-by-district. Florida will be Saturday Thomas Lashley, Five Points Elementary School principal, kisses Daisy, “The World’s Most Famous from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at St. The issue of an at-large voting Pig,” after students in the school exceeded their Accelerated Reader goals. Paul Minor, known as system for county commission- James Episcopal Church, “Farmer Minor” from the “Pig Out on Reading” program, brought Daisy to the school. ers wasn’t on the agenda, but 2423 SW Bascom Norris the charter board has an outside Drive, Lake City. Acoustic attorney researching the idea. jam style format. Musicians, Kyle Green, who is run- friends and families wel- ning against incumbent come. All ages and skill LEFT: Five Points levels, multiple genres. CRC continued on 2A No charge. For additional Elementary information, contact Skip School stu- Johns at 386-344-2906, or dents react visit the Suwannee Valley to seeing Dunn’s STEM SongFarmers Facebook school prin- page at https://www.face- cipal Thomas bill passes book.com/songfarmersoft- Lashley kiss hesuwanneerivervalley/ Daisy, “The World’s Most House, heads Miss Olustee Festival Famous Pig,” to Trump On Saturday from 3 p.m. on the lips. to 5 p.m., the Columbia From staff reports County School Board com- Congressman Neal Dunn’s plex will be the site of the bill to help veterans build STEM 2020 Miss Olustee Festival careers has passed the House of Pageant. There are eight Representatives and is on its way age divisions. Awards to President Trump’s desk. include educational scholar- The ships, trophies, crowns and Piecemeal privatizing at VA? “Supporting banners. The first-place win- Veterans in ners will ride in the Olustee By TONY BRITT STEM Careers Festival Parade on Feb. 15. [email protected] Act,” instructs the National National Nurses United, Science Alli-Walk the largest nurses union Foundation to The Four River Audubon in the country, said some Dunn develop a vet- is holding its monthly Alli- medical services once erans’ outreach Walk, led by an expert bird offered at the Lake City VA plan to connect them with sci- watcher, on Saturday at 8 Medical Center have been ence, technology, engineering, a.m., meeting at the Pavilion transferred to the VA facility and mathematics (STEM) job parking lot at Alligator Lake. in Gainesville, while two and educational opportunities. The walk is expected to last new federal laws have led to “Our service members concerns about future privat- until 11:30 a.m., but feel free should have every opportunity ization. TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter to succeed when they transi- to come and stay as long as Nurses here are looking to Jay Morrow, a retired Marine, asks questions during a you like. Loaner binoculars tion to civilian life,” said Dunn, prevent additional services town hall meeting on services that are no longer avail- who represents southern are available. Make sure to from leaving the local facility able at the Lake City VA Medical Center. Columbia County in Congress. bring comfortable walking and claims that depleting “This important legislation shoes, a hat, something to the amount of services could people attended a town hall to be offered at the Lake ensures our government goes drink and perhaps a snack. ultimately result in the hospi- meeting at Southside Baptist City VA Medical Center above and beyond to bring tal’s closure, they say. Church, where they were WEEKEND continued on 2A Thursday night about 60 told some services that used VA continued on 3A DUNN continued on 2A Vol. 145, No. 231 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Sports . 1B SUBSCRIBE TO Advice & Comics . 3B-4B THE REPORTER: 66 49 Classifieds . 5B Voice: 755-5445 A few showers, 2A Fax: 752-9400 2A FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER him gone and people use Peeler dismissed the spoke earlier in the meet- CRC this committee as a polit- idea that at-large voting ing, said voters in Fort ical tool to settle beefs,” is an attempt to remove White won’t be familiar with QUICK HITS Continued From 1A Warren said. Commissioner Williams issues affecting the north- Philip Mobley said from office. ern part of the county, such Commissioner Ron at-large voting would lead “So let’s not make this a as which areas are prone Scripture of the Day Williams for the District 1 to an all-white County race issue about one coun- to flooding. If the at-large seat, was the first commu- Commission. ty commissioner,” Peeler voting proposal truly is “Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that nity member to speak out “What we’re doing is said. “And watch what you being spurred by a desire to walketh in his ways.” against at-large voting. going backwards and not say about me from now remove Williams from the — Psalm 128:1 (KJV) “As a Columbia County forward,” Mobley said. “It on.” office he’s held for several native, I believe that if you promotes discrimination.” Ed Hunter, the third and decades, then George said don’t live in a district, you Ron Williams Jr., the final supporter of at-large the discussion should be Thought for Today can’t possibly understand son of Commissioner Ron voting, urged the communi- about term limits. the struggles it’s facing,” Williams, said ty to move past “Somebody’s in office for People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer Green said. he remembers Ed Hunter urged discussions on 40 years because the peo- when they’re happy. — Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904, Green warned that the what things the community race. ple put them in office for 40 Russian playwright (“The Cherry Orchard,” “Three cost of campaigns would go were like before “We’re living years,” George said. Sisters,” “Uncle Vanya”) up in an at-large election the county was to move past in the year Charter board member system, creating a barrier forced to adopt discussions on 2020,” he said. Glenel Bowden was one of that makes it impossible for district-based by race. ‘We’re liv- “The people the members of the black Winning Lottery Numbers many residents to run. a 1980s federal in Columbia community who filed the Toby Strawder was one ing in the year Pick 3: (Wednesday p.m.) 9-3-3 court ruling. County want 1980s lawsuit which result- Pick 4: (Wednesday p.m.) 4-0-8-1 of three people to speak in “I remember 2020,’ he said. good gover- ed in a federal judge forc- favor of at-large voting. all the racist ‘The people nance.” ing the county to abandon Fantasy 5: (Wednesday) 10-13-17-21-23 “All five county commis- phone calls, I in Columbia Hunter said at-large. The judge cited sioners cover the whole remember my County want commissioners a disparity between the county, I feel like we See an error? mom and I and good gover- “are supposed voting power of white and should be able to vote for my sister being to be represent- minority voters. The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news all five county commission- run off the road nance.’ ing the entire Bowden vowed to fight items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, ers,” Strawder said. and being called county,” so “the any push to switch back to please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will Sylvester Warren, who n*****,” Williams said. entire county should have an at-large voting system. run in this space. Thanks for reading. frequently speaks at Lake Hunter Peeler, an input” on electing them. At-large voting is contrary City Council meetings, alternate for the charter Hunter said officials who to the idea that members called the idea “very dis- board, spoke in support of perform well will be voted of a community should be Submissions turbing.” Warren and other at-large voting.