In The The Wakulla Huddle A weekly look at college football in the Sunshine State See Page 1B See Page 9A news Coastal Cleanup is Sept. 17 Published Weekly, Our 116th Year, 36th Issue Thursday, September 8, 2011 Two Sections Read Daily Serving Wakulla County For More Than A Century 75 Cents County reduces utility tax By JENNIFER JENSEN the Communications Services Tax enue neutral. Commissioners Alan revenues will be coming in higher would take that portion because [email protected] to 5.22 percent, implement a solid Brock, Randy Merritt and Lynn Artz for this year and anticipate an extra there are two elections next year. waste assessment of $196 and is were not as keen on that idea. A $250,000. The commission agreed Merritt said the county’s pro- After initially deciding to levy also looking at increasing the fi re compromise was hatched and the to include that in the budget, posed budget is at 2005-06 operat- the Public Services Tax at the MSBU to $75 per household. commission decided to impose a which would mean $96,259 would ing levels, meaning it had reduced maximum amount of 10 percent, Stewart brought up the idea 7-percent tax with an exemption still need to be cut. its budget to pre-Pingree. He added the County Commission rescinded at the August meeting to lower included. Artz said if jail bed revenues that the county is dealing with that action and decided to lower the tax after the board voted four “I think this is the best com- end up not being over what was a decrease in revenues, trying to it to 7 percent, with a 500 kilowatt to one, with Commissioner Jerry promise we can hope for,” Stewart projected then the sheriff’s offi ce increase its reserves and not pull exemption included. Moore opposing, to levy the full 10 said, although he added he wasn’t should be held accountable and money from other funds to support “I can’t do this to people,” said percent at the June 21 meeting. entirely happy about it. make up for the defi cit. the general fund. County Commissioner Mike Stew- Stewart originally wanted the Lowering the PST would mean The $96,259 would be spread “The can got kicked down the art. “This is another new tax.” PST to be lowered to 5 percent the budget would decrease by out across all constitutional of- road and it’s in our laps now,” For the next fi scal year, the com- and also lower the millage rate by $346,259. However, the sheriff’s fi ces, except for the supervisor of Merritt said. mission has decided to increase the same amount to make it rev- offi ce has projected that jail bed elections. The commission said it Continued on Page 3A Promise Land War Eagles defeat Mosley plans to open in season opener, 31-14 a thrift store PHOTO BY HERB DONALDSON/Special to The News A founding member of The Promise Land Ministries Lighthouse, Billie Davis, along with Pastor Glenn Hamel, are in the process of opening a thrift store in Crawfordville. The store will open on Oct. 1. By HERB DONALDSON Land was developed and Special to The News a mobile home was moved onto the acquired property. Many in the Wakulla The ministry, the facilities, County area know, or have along with the land area PHOTO BY KEN FIELDS/Special to The News heard of, The Promise Land itself, have been carefully Wakulla’s Willie Thomas breaks free during the game against Mosley High School on Sept. 1. Ministries Lighthouse. The cultivated ever since. In fellowship hall is located 2010 they served close to at 20 Church Road, not far 18,000 meals to hungry from Shell Point. On Oct. 1, individuals and helped to By WILLIAM SNOWDEN is a punishing runner, had 14 car- had a catch that was an 80-yard run Promise Land will launch support almost 4,000 fami- [email protected] ries and gained nearly 120 yards in for a touchdown. its latest outreach endeavor: lies in their time of need. the game. Deonte Hutchinson scored on a a thrift store in the heart of A great deal of prayer The War Eagles kicked off their “We got off to kind of a sluggish fi ve-yard run. Crawfordville. and community support season with a big win on the road start in the fi rst half,” Head Coach In the third quarter, Thomas The original efforts of have gone into getting against Mosley High School, 31-14, Scott Klees said. A fumbled punt busted off a long run and the War the ministry – which de- the new thrift store (3299 on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Tommy Oli- return gave the Dolphins good Eagles scored to go up 19-7. They fi nes itself as non-denomi- Crawfordville Highway) ver Stadium in Panama City. fi eld position and they were able went for a two-point conversion but national – began in 1991 location in position for Marshane Godbolt had three to score. it was caught out-of-bounds. when the Spring Creek the grand opening, and it touchdowns in the game. He was The War Eagles did lead at the Later in the quarter, the War Community Church real- seems the efforts of the few able to fi nd creases in the Dolphin end of the half, 13-7. Eagles got a fi eld goal to go up ized the growing need for a are quickly bearing fruit. defense and then outrun them to Godbolt had four rushes for 65 22-7. homeless shelter to be built the goal line. yards, and two rushing touchdowns in Wakulla County. Continued on Page 2A Running back Will Thomas, who -- including one 60-yard run. He also Continued on Page 12A Inside Jackie Fulford is Wakulla’s new circuit judge This Week By WILLIAM SNOWDEN When she was fi rst appointed [email protected] to the bench, two years ago in July, Public Notices ..............Page 3A she was given a post over civil cases Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford isn’t in Leon County. There was such a Comment & Opinion ....Page 4A new to Wakulla County. backlog of cases, Fulford said, and Church..........................Page 5A She was chief prosecutor in the moving things forward hampered School...........................Page 6A county for several years. by trying to set hearings in which With the retirement of Circuit attorneys often had scheduling Outdoors .....................Page 7A Judge N. Sanders Sauls at the end of confl icts. Sports ..........................Page 8A August, Chief Judge Charles Francis She decided to offer early morn- In The Huddle ..............Page 9A gave Judge Fulford the assignment ing hearings, noting that it was less to cover Wakulla County. likely for a scheduling confl ict at Water Ways...............Page 10A Sauls had been assigned Wakulla 7:30 a.m. Sheriff’s Report ..........Page 11A for the last 13 years and stepped She quickly cleared the backlog Green Scene ................Page 1B down after reaching the mandatory and got her cases better managed. retirement age of 70. Fulford also reasoned that it’s Week in Wakulla ..........Page 2B Fulford is already making some important for the public to have Classifi eds ....................Page 7B changes – including allowing mem- access to the courts. Since Leon Legal Notices ...............Page 8B bers of the jury to submit questions County is home to the state capitol, during trials, something that has there are frequently constitutional been done for the past year or so challenge cases that take a priority in Leon County trials after a state over other types of cases. Supreme Court decision. WILLIAM SNOWDEN But, Fulford says she realizes that Perhaps one of the biggest Wakulla Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford in her judicial chambers. when people have a pending court changes is that Fulford, who de- case, it’s often the most important scribes herself as a morning person, ing set at 6 a.m. in the courthouse, by lunchtime. thing in their lives – and she didn’t starts court early. and had another major hearing and “I think people will get used to think it fair to bump those cases for For her fi rst full day in Wakulla selected juries for three felony trials it,” Judge Fulford says of the early the high-profi le cases. on Monday, Aug. 26, she had a hear- to be held later in the week. All that start. Continued on Page 3A Page 2A – THE WAKULLA NEWS, Thursday, September 8, 2011 www.thewakullanews.com Promise Land plans to open a thrift store Continued from Page 1 lend a hand for an hour or so At the time, Hamel was cramps. Unable to go back to sitting in Wakulla churches The thrift store will offer a before going about the rest of working on a number of com- sleep, a different conversation every Sunday who never tell range of items, from clothes Upon my arrival at the their day. munity projects based primar- with God begins to develop - you the truth about their and handmade jewelry, to fur- thrift store location, I was The deliveryman, Terrence ily in Tallahassee. “I said, ‘Lord, it’s not good situation, so it’s hard to know niture and kitchen appliances. greeted by a huge truck. Their Jones, is also from Leon Coun- We had a food bank there enough – I’ve got to eat. I need how many there are without a The goal, of course, is to reach latest food delivery had just ty. He fi nds the work that he in our house,” says Hamel.