DETAILS NEXT WEDNESDAY Join the hunt! Suwannee FFA hosts national FFA officer, 11A Suwannee Democrat 129th YEAR, NO. 41 | 2 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES Wednesday Edition — February 26, 2014 50 CENTS Serving Suwannee County since 1884, including Live Oak, Wellborn, Dowling Park, Branford, McAlpin and O’Brien County to offer non-emergency medical transport “We’re not See page 6A for a inter-facility transfers for the gency transporting in the trying to citizens of our county eighties before it was phased citizen’s response. again,” Sommers said. reinvent The county did non-emer- SEE COUNTY, PAGE 14A the wheel. By Bryant Thigpen Other [email protected] counties all over the The Suwannee County Board of County Commis- state of sioners gave the nod to Pub- Florida use lic Safety Director James inter-facility Sommers to begin non- transfers as emergency transport ser- vices within the county. The a way to service is now available for fund their county residents by way of budgetary county resources. means.” “Suwannee County Fire An ambulance that was used as a backup will now be used as a - Public Safety Director Rescue is happy to announce James Sommers that we will start providing non-emergency medical transport service. BBQ Mafia wins top honors at Tampa contest Katherine Allen, Suwannee County Extension Office di- rector, speaks at the chamber luncheon Thursday about getting involved in the community and moving economic development efforts forward. - Photo: Bryant Thigpen Economic development Live Oak's own Wooley Bully BBQ Mafia won the 2014 Local Grand Champion in Tampa Saturday at The Sam's Club Na- tional BBQ Tour. Congratulations, guys. BBQ Mafia is headed by Damon and dad Johnny Wooley. The win qualifies BBQ Mafia to compete in the regional championship in Southaven, Miss. on Sept. 6. The top 10 teams at that contest will ad- vance to the national championship in Bentonville, Ark. Courtesy photo highlights chamber Top 3 selected for Man arrested for county’s economic attempting to luncheon By Bryant Thigpen smuggle contraband [email protected] development director into local prison By Bryant Thigpen lected their top three to Several officials and business owners gathered bryant.thigpen@ begin negotiations with. By Bryant Thigpen proximately 7:20 p.m., Thursday for the Suwannee County Chamber of gaflnews.com Out of 20 applicants, bryant.thigpen@ an officer was dis- Commerce quarterly luncheon held at Suwannee- Shane Farnsworth of gaflnews.com patched to 180 NE Gum Hamilton Technical Center with guest speakers, The Suwannee Coun- Columbus, Ohio was se- Swamp Rd. in reference Katherine Allen and Mark Yarick. Both Allen and ty Board of County lected as the top candi- A Live Oak man was to a report of a suspi- Yarick talked about moving Commissioners held in- date. Alvin Jackson of arrested recently for at- cious vehicle. A Lake Suwannee County forward, terviews last week for Boynton Beach fell in tempting to smuggle City resident observed a Good to economically speaking. the county’s new eco- second place and Allan contraband into the Co- truck drop off a hooded The chamber board vot- male who proceeded to know: nomic development di- lumbia Correctional In- Do you own a ed in the fall of 2013 to rector position and se- SEE TOP 3, PAGE 14A stitution, according to a go through bushes and business in partner with the Small report by the Lake City then enter a maintenance Suwannee Business Development Police Department. facility of Lake City County? Do you Center at the University of According to the re- want your voice North Florida which result- port, on Feb. 17, at ap- SEE MAN, PAGE 14A heard on ed in naming Yarick economic Suwannee County’s small development? business development con- Call the Extension sultant. Office at 386- C H A T T E R COMING FRIDAY: Yarick greeted those in – The first reading of a city of Live Oak ordinance 362-2771 to be part of a survey. attendance and spoke to place charter amendments on a ballot was briefly about his experi- The most viewed, recent posts on facebook.com/SuwanneeDemocrat Tuesday night. The amendments call for an ences working with the elected police chief and a city manager form of Small Business Development Center and how it 1.6K government. helped him build a small business. Former Hamilton corrections officers arrested. “With my wife, we were going to start a non-profit – DEP kicks off statewide meetings in Live Oak to support some of the volunteer work that we were 1.4K Democrat Says: Police chief should not be elected. on water restoration work plans. doing, and I wanted to do it right,” Yarick said. 1.1K – Sports highlights. SEE ECONOMIC, PAGE 14A Rant & Rave for Feb. 21. 1.1K SHS soccer athlete Grace Brett signs with VSU. WES HANEY 919 Sawmill construction imminent? WES HANEY JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN WES HANEY LIVE OAK, FL SPORTS, 1B 3 6 2 - 2 9 7 6 Bulldog WWW.WESHANEYCHEVROLET.COM FRIENDLY, NO HASSLE, baseball wins BUYING EXPERIENCE Save up to PPower ower Pack, Cruise, CD home opener $7,350 $7,350 851617 $7 ,350 www.suwanneedemocrat.com PAGE 2A I SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT/LIVE OAK WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 HOW TO REACH US Justin Case Band & Band of ON THE SIDE Brothers this weekend, Feb. 28 Switchboard, 386-362-1734 FLIP Fax, 386-364-5578 & March 1, at Spirit of the Email, [email protected] Mail, P. O. B ox 3 7 0 Suwannee Music Park Live Oak, FL 32064 Arrest Record Justin Case Band plays at jor part of the show so come Office, 211 Howard Street East Suwannee Democrat Feb 20, Kenneth William Sgt. T. Ford The Spirit of the Suwannee prepared to get out on that I Publisher, Myra Regan, ext. 122 prints the entire arrest Kubernac, 51, 11483 SE Feb 23, Troy Charles Music Park (SOSMP) in dance floor. If you’re look- record. If your name ap- 76th Trl, Jasper, FL, Poss Lancaster, 22, 320 Eric Av- Live Oak Friday, Feb. 28, ing for some of the greatest pears here and you are later Cocaine, Poss Drug Para: enue, Jacksonville, FL, followed Saturday night, music around, you’ll find it CONTACT US WITH found not guilty or the LOPD- T. Faller VOP (No Valid D/L), Cash March 1, by The Band of here when Justin Case Band charges are dropped, we Feb 20, Bobby Fitzgerald Only to SVPS, 1st App-No Brothers. Folks, it just does is in the house. YOUR COMMENTS will be happy to make note Freeman, 49, 13720 92nd PD Per Fina not get any better than this. Band of Brothers of Mayo of this in the newspaper If you have any questions or Terrace, Live Oak, FL, Feb 23. Rego Perez- Two of your favorite bands is among the best in country concerns, call us at 386-362-1734 when judicial proof is pre- VOP- Battery Dom Viol, Sanchez, 27, 15207 213th playing at the SOSMP play- music in North Florida. This or visit our Website at sented to us by you or the Cash Bond to SVPS: Road, Live Oak, FL, Bat- ing this weekend. band of brothers and cousins www.suwanneedemocrat.com authorities. SCSO- A. Sutton tery-Domestic Violence, Get those boots and danc- used to enjoy just getting to- The following abbrevia- Feb 20, James Lee Rus- Battery, Criminal Mischief, ing shoes ready…it’s going gether to play for their own tions are used below: sell, Jr., 33, RMC, Lake Resisting Arrest W/O Viol, to be a great weekend. enjoyment until they were NEWSROOM SCSO-Suwannee County Butler, FL, Return for 1st App-PD App Per Fina It wouldn’t hurt to make “discovered” playing gigs in I Edit or, Sheriff’s Office Court: SCSO- T. Lee Feb 23, Michael Neal reservations for both nights and around Lafayette Coun- Jeff Waters, ext. 131 LOPD-Live Oak Police Feb 20, Danielle Leanne Ramser, 28, 12003 SR 51, as large crowds are expect- ty. Band of Brothers now I Reporter, Department Bailey, 28, 336 Richardson Live Oak, FL, Disorderly ed. Come early and enjoy a packs the house at the Music Andrew McGee, ext. 132 I Reporter, FDLE-Florida Depart- Ave, Live Oak, FL, Order Conduct, Obstruct Ofcr delicious dinner, friendly Hall when they take over the Bryant Thigpen, ext. 133 ment of Law Enforcement Revoking Bond on VOP W/O Viol: SCSO- W. Kelly service, warm atmosphere stage and rocks the house I Reporter, FHP-Florida Highway O/C DWLS, 1st App PD Feb 23, Demetrius and meet your friends for an from 8 p.m. - midnight. If Joyce Marie Taylor, ext. 130 Patrol Appt Per WFW Per Judge Rashad Cason, 21, 505 SW evening of dancing and mu- you haven’t enjoyed this FWC-Florida Wildlife WFW Bond Reinstated & Irvin Ave, Live Oak, FL, sic enjoyment. band‘s music yet, now’s the Commission Released I/M: SCSO- C. Disorderly Conduct: SCSO- Justin Case Band of Live time. You will love this ADVERTISING DOT-Department of Smith W. Kelly Oak has been playing coun- band. I Advertising Manager, Transportation Feb 21. Delvelence Feb 23, Roberto Perez try music forever in North SOS Café and Restaurant Monja Slater, ext. 105 OALE-Office of Agricul- Romer Burgess, 46, 5604 Guzman, 23, 1405 NE Du- Florida, but more impor- will open at 6 p.m. for din- I Sr. Advertising Representative, tural Law Enforcement Charles Drive, Tampa, FL, val St, Live Oak, FL, Expo- tantly, they have been regu- ner Friday and Saturday, Bill Regan, ext.