A3 SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $2 Lake City Reporter LAKECITYREPORTER.COM SUNDAY + PLUS >> Taking Famous one 1D After- pig snags school a smooch for the freedom or two team See 4A TRAVEL TALES SEE 6A 6A CITY ELECTION ORIGIN UNCLEAR Verbal $40,000 sparring CRICKET’S in wake of mystery grand jury A-OK IN LC account findings has city By CARL MCKINNEY [email protected] puzzled While looking into vote-by- mail fraud allegations against Locals Anonymous complaint to Betty Jefferson, the wife of FDLE brought the matter Lake City Councilman Eugene keep a to city officials’ attention. Jefferson, Third Circuit State Attorney’s Office investigators tradition never asked CARL MCKINNEY Attorney the probe’s from their [email protected] for Betty target for Jefferson, who information homeland Forty grand and change is sitting was cleared regarding the in a bank account belonging to City of voter fraud accusations. alive. 1B Hall, but officials can’t touch the allegations, After a money until they figure out where it cites ‘sour grand jury came from. grapes.’ declined to They have a general idea — the indict Betty cash was seized by the Lake City Jefferson this week, her attor- Police Department at some point. ney, Rod Smith, released a state- But none of it can be spent until the ment declaring she has been city figures out which case or cases “exonerated of any wrongdo- are associated with the war chest, ing.” According to the state- ERIC JACKSON/Lake City Reporter officials say. ment, Jefferson had “shown Batsman Rashmikaka Patel takes a swing during a recent cricket match in Lake City. Local “It’s a missing document,” said her willingness to provide any players use a tennis ball instead of a cricket ball to avoid injury. Story, 1B. Assistant City Manager Grayson information or documentation Cason. “And we’ll find that out.” regarding the supposed allega- The money — $40,073.30 — is tions against her.” However, “[t] BLANCHE RENOVATION in a First Federal account. Cason o date, no investigator has ever and his boss, City Manager Joe requested any such materials.” Helfenberger, don’t know exactly Third Circuit State Attorney when the cash was first logged, Jeff Siegmeister said his office Behind schedule, over budget but it predates Police Chief Argatha “generally doesn’t ask for state- Gilmore, who started 10 years ago ments from the accused if we Historic hotel won’t be finished About half of the 22 residential units already this fall. don’t rise to the level of some- by May as contractor originally have tenants signed on. “It’s been a long time,” Cason said. told Valdosta-based developer. “It’s much more than just a building open- SPARRING continued on 7A ing,” Decker said. “The worry that I feel is $40K continued on 7A people are depending on my word and what I By CARL MCKINNEY told them. We have people that are planning on [email protected] living there.” Most are not in a dire situation due to the ‘Habitat’ Two die “Lipstick comes last.” delay, Decker said, but a few A construction contractor used those words are. in local to assure the renovations to downtown Lake “And what I can say with delivers 7th City’s historic Blanche Hotel were still on track confidence is we will make it to wrap up early May. right by them,” Decker said. local home crashes That no longer appears to be the case, as the IDP hasn’t worked out how Blanche Hotel lags behind schedule. it will do so yet, she said. By TONY BRITT By ROBERT BRIDGES “Turns out we apparently don’t have the Decker Anybody wishing to back out [email protected] [email protected] foundation on,” said Integrity Development of their deposit will receive a Partners spokesperson Dennille Decker, con- 100 percent refund. For the past few years, Christina A teenager and an 80-year-old tinuing the makeup analogy. The building was constructed in 1902, cre- Fees has dreamed of owning a her man died in separate traffic acci- IDP was told by construction contractor ating a number of complications, Decker said. own home. She’s worked to make dents in the area Friday. True North on several occasions the project “Every day is a new surprise,” Decker said. her dream a reality and Friday it The dead have been identi- would wrap up by May 4, Decker said. Workers and equipment on the upper floors came to fruition when the Habitat fied as Chandler Lancaster, 17, “We had planned on May 4 on many levels, ended up being more weight than the struc- for Humanity of Lake City/Columbia Mayo, and William I. Kirkwood and as we get closer, it’s just obvious that that’s ture could handle, Decker said. County held a home dedication cere- of McAlpin. not going to happen.” “That caused more problems than they mony for her new house. The historic building will be mixed-use with WRECKS continued on 2A apartments, offices and commercial spaces. BLANCHE continued on 7A HOME continued on 2A Vol. 145, No. 11 CALL US: TODAY’S WEATHER Opinion . 4A (386) 752-1293 Obituaries . 7A MITIGATION CREDITS SUBSCRIBE TO Puzzles . 2-3B THE REPORTER: 80 52 No end in sight for court fight, 1C Voice: 755-5445 Sports . 1B Fax: 752-9400 Mostly cloudy, 2A STOP IN AND CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW 8,000+ sqft SHOWROOM! DOWNTOWN LAKE CITY! ◆ THE BEST PRODUCTS ◆ THE BEST PRICES WE DON'T SELL FLOORS, ◆ THE BEST SERVICE WE HELP PEOPLE BUY THEM! 72 YEARS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED 386-752-3420 164 NW Madison St. Lake City, FL VannCarpetOne.com 2A SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER Habitat, Publix house family QUICK HITS HOME Scripture of the Day “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who Continued From 1A knew no sin; that we might be made the righ- teousness of God in him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21 “I’m overwhelmed, excit- ed, scared and have all kinds of emotions today, but Thought for Today mostly excited,” she said after the ceremony. “This My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn’t need is an amazing opportunity, glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. and I’m humbled by the — Henny Youngman, 1906-1998, U.S. comedian support and everything that Habitat has done for me and my family.” Winning Lottery Numbers Fees said she and vol- unteers spent about a year Pick 3: (Friday p.m.) 8-3-8 building the home. Pick 4: (Friday p.m.) 4-3-2-8 “The process, from start Fantasy 5: (Friday) 9-18-26-29-32 to finish, has been a little bit longer than that,” she said, noting she and her family See an error? were first approved for a The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news house at the beginning of items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, 2016. “It’s been a long pro- please call the editor. Corrections and clarifications will cess, but it’s been worth it.” run in this space. Thanks for reading. This is the seventh house that Habitat has built locally since 2005. Submissions The Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption “Publix was the whole information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would house sponsor for this part- like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture ner family,” said George and information to [email protected]. Burnham, Habitat board member. “They donated $80,000 and filled her pan- try today. This took care of Lake City Reporter most of the cost of this home HOW TO REACH US BUSINESS ........... 754-0419 Main number ....... (386) 752-1293 less the land. First Federal CIRCULATION donated the land to our affili- Fax number ............ 752-9400 Circulation............. 755-5445 Home delivery of the Lake City Reporter ate. It takes a lot of donors to Online .... www.lakecityreporter.com should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 complete a home, so it was a COURTESY The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate a.m. on Sunday. huge shot in the arm for our Chloe Fees, 12, Cali Fees, 10, and Christina Fees stand on the front porch of their of Community Newspapers Inc., is published Tuesday through Friday and Please call 386-755-5445 to report any small affiliate who is made new home. The Fees had their home presented to them during a Habitat for Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, problems with your delivery service. FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at up of all volunteers.” Humanity home dedication ceremony and open house on Friday. Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of In Columbia County, customers should During the past year, Circulation and The Associated Press. call before 10:30 a.m. to report a Fees and her family were in knowing they helped front porch. “What I like Fees was thankful to All material herein is property of the service error for same day re-delivery. Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery on site at the Northwest build the house. most about my new home is finally have her home com- whole or in part is forbidden without or service related credits will be issued. Ethelind Court lot nearly Fees said after the expe- that it’s mine. I don’t have to pleted. the permission of the publisher. In all other counties where home delivery U.S.