A3 SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM + PLUS >> SUNDAY The way Not the ball welcome bounces 1D here at CC Taste Buddies Opinion/4A VOLLEYBALL SEASON PREVIEW, 1B See 3A PUMPING COS. Transfers tricky in VA system City won’t Networks don’t always talk to each other, local man learns. Story, 2A. take their you-know- ‘Nazi not what any welcome’ 5A longer One company, Peloni’s, said hanging by thread. By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] The city says it ain’t taking any you-know-what from Charlie Peloni. Peloni is in the septic business, so that’s a problem. It’s been at least a year since the city stopped septic companies from dumping waste at Photos by CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter its sewage plant Florida League of the South, a Southern nationalist group that on St. Margaret promotes secession and white supremacy, held its annual state Street, and Peloni conference in Lake City Saturday, bringing out about 25 protest- says his business ers who set up across the street. The groups did not come into is hanging by a contact, but the online war leading up to the meeting was fierce thread. — and Lake City was the loser. Story, Page 5A. “It ain’t just me, Ford it’s every septic tank company in Columbia County,” Peloni said. City Manager Joe Helfenberger says he wasn’t sure exactly when FDOT may be looking at Services the decision was made, but it hap- pened under the administration of his predecessor, Wendell Johnson, widening Branford Hwy. are set for due to concerns over contamina- tion. But action is 5 years away “We’re looking at the traffic demand and Suwannee at least, say state officials. the growth in the area,” he said. “We see that WASTE continued on 2A there is a need for additional improvements, By TONY BRITT but the study is being done, and we’re trying fire chief [email protected] to find the improvements that will work best for the area.” By CARL MCKINNEY The Florida Department of Transportation According to FDOT, the traf- [email protected] School’s is exploring ways to address traffic congestion fic count on State Road 247 is on State Road 247 (Branford Highway) near about 12,000 vehicles per day, James “Jamie” Sommers, the back in the intersection of Bascom Norris Drive, and while the Bascom Norris Drive Suwannee County fire chief widening the road is one of the options. intersection at State Road 247 killed in a motorcycle crash Troy Roberts, FDOT District 2 communi- averages approximately 13,000 last week, is set to be bur- session cation specialist, said the agency is currently vehicles per day. ied Tuesday, as fellow first conducting a preliminary study of State Road Roberts Roberts said it appears that responders mourn the loss of Monday 247. a large number of vehicles an admired public servant. FDOT is collecting traffic data to see what heading west on Bascom Norris Drive, turn A viewing will be held from 5 By TONY BRITT will best improve the traffic corridor. left at the State Road 247 intersection, increas- p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Daniels [email protected] Roberts said the study will determine how ing the roadway’s traffic count. Funeral Home many miles and the amount of space the in Live Oak, And just like that, it was over. improvements will encompass. FDOT continued on 3A 1126 N. Ohio The summer break has given Ave. The way to the beginning of the 2019- memorial ser- 20 school year, and local students vice will start 10 attending Columbia County public a.m. Tuesday at schools will begin classes tomor- Christ Central Sommers row. Epiphany in Lake City, Catholic School 217 SW Dyal Ave. begins classes After the service, Sommers Tuesday. will be buried at the Live Oak “We believe city cemetery, 110 Northwest that we are fixing Winderweedle Street. to have the best Several roads will be closed school year in the day of the service from Carswell Columbia County 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Live history,” Lex Carswell, Columbia Oak Police Department School’s superintendent, said announced. on Friday afternoon. “Our facul- Winderweedle Street will ty, staff and everybody involved be closed from U.S. 129 west in Columbia County schools are to Houston Avenue. Same for ready.” Houston Avenue south to Duval School district officials are Street. Brown and Broome ave- expecting about 10,000 children to nues will be closed near the attend classes in the school district intersection with Winderweedle TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter this year. Motorists travel through the State Road 247 and Bascom Norris Drive intersection Friday. Street. MONDAY continued on 2A FDOT is conducting a study to finds ways to alleviate congestion on both roads. SERVICES continued on 6A Vol. 145, No. 107 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Sports . 1B UF dismisses Huggins SUBSCRIBE TO Classified . 5B Had been accused of choking tutor, 1B THE REPORTER: 93 75 Voice: 755-5445 Life . 1D Fax: 752-9400 A few showers, 2A 2A SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER LOCAL MAN LEARNS QUICK HITS Scripture of the Day “God is our refuge and strength, a very present Transfers tricky in VA system help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1 (KJV) Trouble began after Bass, 54, who served in like a brand-new grunt who “He’s ready to do the moving here from the Air Force from the mid- just walked in the door.” work on my feet, but the Thought for Today Fort Walton Beach. 80s to the mid-90s, has plan- The VA looked for a doc- government isn’t paying tar fasciitis, also known as tor it could outsource treat- their bills,” Bass said. Success — keeping your mind awake and your By CARL MCKINNEY policeman’s heel. ment to, but couldn’t find Weeks passed, and noth- desire asleep. [email protected] “And it hurts every time one close by, Bass said. ing happened. — Walter Scott, 1771-1832, Scottish novelist you put your heels on the “They told me the closest “So I had to take it upon Timothy Bass spent the ground,” he said. “So each one they could find around myself to start digging into prime of his life serving the time you get up, you go here was Miami,” Bass said. this,” Bass said. Winning Lottery Numbers military branch tasked with through severe pain.” “I told them I’m nowhere VA officials claimed the Pick 3: (Friday p.m.) 0-9-7 conquering the sky. These About VA officials claimed the near that.” doctor never sent all the Pick 4: (Friday p.m.) 8-2-1-5 days, his feet struggle to nine months doctor never sent all the Then necessary paperwork to Fantasy 5: (Friday) 12-14-20-30-35 stand on the ground. ago, Bass necessary paperwork to they offered move forward, Bass said, When Bass called the was get- move forward, Bass said, him a doctor but he doesn’t believe it. See an error? Lake City Reporter on ting ready but he doesn’t believe it. in Warner Approval for the surgery Tuesday to complain about to move to Robins, eventually expired, and The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news Approval for the surgery items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, the Lake City VA hospital’s Lake City eventually expired, and a city in Bass had to re-do the initial failure to move ahead with from Fort Houston exam in mid-July. please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will Bass had to re-do the run in this space. Thanks for reading. surgery for his foot condi- Walton initial exam in mid-July. County, About an hour after the tion, he said he’d already Beach in the Georgia, Reporter contacted a VA been in pain for months. On Panhandle, part of a sepa- about 200 miles from Lake spokesperson Friday, Bass Submissions Friday, less than an hour rate VA network. City. said he got a call from Jeff The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption after the newspaper con- They asked him if he That was the best he Moore, a VA patient repre- information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would tacted the VA for comment, wanted to seek treatment in could get, so he took it. sentative. like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture Bass got a phone call from the VA network that covers In February, Bass went in Moore said the regional and information to [email protected]. a VA representative who Fort Walton Beach, or clos- for an exam and X-rays. VA director’s secretary had promised a higher-up would er to Lake City. About a month later, Bass filled him in on the problem look into the issue. He chose Lake City. went back in for a follow- and officials would work on Lake City Reporter Bass isn’t jumping for joy “The VA networks don’t up, and the doctor started it, Bass recounted. HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 quite yet. really talk to each other,” paperwork to move forward All the VA has to do is CIRCULATION “We’ll see,” he said. “I’ve Bass said. “So when you with the surgery. schedule the surgery and Fax number ............ 752-9400 Circulation............