News Archive

Tuesday afternoon, a Dixie County Grand Jury issued an unsealed indictment for John William Kalisz in the shooting death of Captain Chad Allan Reed on January 14th.  Kalisz was charged with First Degree Murder While Armed, a Capital Felony.  The indictment reads that Kalisz “unlawfully and from a premeditated design and intent to effect the death of Chad Reed, or any human being, did kill the said Chad Reed, by shooting him with a firearm, thereby inflicting in and upon the said Chad Reed, mortal wounds and injuries, of and from which said mortal wounds and injuries Chad Reed died, and during the commission of said murder, John William Kalisz used a firearm, to-wit: a pistol, contrary to Florida Statutes 782.04(1)(a) and 775.087.”

(Here’s wishing him a “fair trial and a FINE hanging.”–Ed)

My name is Denise Williams (former Sergeant with the DCSO).  I am a friend of Chad Reed’s and I traveled down from Atlanta, GA to attend his funeral services.  As you know at the funeral Pastor Brown advised that Chad wanted to have a Well built to help poor impoverished people receive clean water.

I had a conference call with the organization that builds the wells in India and Guatemala(World help & Your Cause).  I spent the entire day working to get Chad’s website up and running.  I am happy to say today they are able to take donations to get the “Chad Reed Well” built. You can make a donation by going to www.yourcause.com/ChadReed.  All donations will go directly to the organization on Chad’s behalf.  Our goal is to raise $15,000 in Chad’s honor to build a Deep Bore Well that will provide clean water to 1,000 people for the next 20 years.

I was hoping to run a ad in the Dixie County Advocate to inform all the residents of Dixie County about our fund-raising goals.  Also,  I would like to plan a Walk-a-thon and Fish Fry in Cross City to raise money.  Unfortunately,  I now live in Atlanta so ground work in Cross City will be pretty challenging.  I would like to ask for any volunteers that would like to help email me at: info@gimonline.org.  I will be traveling back and forth between Cross City and Atlanta until this Well is built.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Denise Williams-Butler

Tragically, Officer Chad Reed has reportedly passed away at the hospital.

Please keep his family and coworkers in your prayers.

At least one suspect in the shooting of four people in Brooksville, in which two elderly women were killed and a pregnant juvenile was wounded, has been apprehended in Cross City at the Foodland intersection.  There was a shootout after the suspects were chased from Fanning Springs. Apparently the suspect was wounded in the face and his on his way to Shands.  The story is breaking and exact details are difficult to confirm.

According to witnesses on the scene, DCSO Officer Chad Reed was seriously hurt –witnesses on the scene are reporting that he was shot in the face–while apprehending the suspect and is on his way to the hospital.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

According to the Hernando County Sheriff’s office, the suspect’s name is John Kalisz and at least two of the women shot were his own family members.

Good lord.

Former County Commissioners Alton Land and “Big John” Driggers were sentenced today to three years and one month (why the extra month?) and three years of probation today in Gainesville.

In Monday night’s meeting, the Cross City City Council decided to keep Johnny Greene on the City payroll until his appeals are exhausted. Mr. Greene was convicted last week of taking bribes and then lying to investigators about it.

Sorry, folks, but they just sent us this on Monday night. It won’t make it in the paper on time.  Please help spread the word to people who may need it:

Farm Share Inc. is on a mission to continue feeding Florida ’s families.  This evening, Farm Share is delivering a tractor trailer load of fresh cantaloupe, watermelon, mango, tomatoes, and eggplants to three different locations in North Central Florida for a massive food distribution that will benefit residents living in 8 different counties.  The 1st distribution will take place on Tuesday, January 12th at 8:00am at the Bradford County Fair Grounds located at 2300 North Temple Avenue in Starke .  The 2nd distribution will be at Bronson’s Town Hall located at   660 East Hathaway Avenue  in Levy County    between 9:00am-10:00am . 

The 3rd distribution will take place at Mount Pleasant Baptist church located at 310 Southwest 5th Street in Chiefland from 11:00 AM til Noon.

“We expect this load to provide fresh produce to  more than 2,000 families”, said Bill Brown of The Children’s Table.  “This donation is all part of Farm Share’s mission to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food to Florida ’s needy”, said Yvette Rodriguez of Farm Share.  “The best part is that it will not cost them a penny.  Each recipient will receive these items completely free of charge”, added Rodriguez.  We expect this load to provide nutritious produce to residents living in the following counties: Bradford, Lake Butler , Union, Citrus, Levy, Alachua, and Dixie .  For more information on Farm Share’s cause log on to  www.FarmShare.org .

All Dixie County roll-off sites will be OPEN on Christmas Day if they’re normally scheduled to be open on Fridays.

From Scott Garner, with the Emergency Management Office:

The National Weather Service has some concern about a storm system approaching from the west. While there is some uncertainly in the forecast, they have a “Slight Risk” for severe storms in the forecast for Thursday.

Below is an excerpt from the 3:26 AM Area Forecast Discussion produced by the National Weather Service - Tallahassee Forecast Office, which explains the current thinking of their meteorologists.

VERY CHALLENGING FORECAST THIS CYCLE AS THE MODELS ARE INDICATING A VERY STRONG STORM SYSTEM HEADING OUR WAY BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
THIS SYSTEM LOOKS TO PRESENT A MULTIFACETED HAZARDOUS WEATHER THAT WILL INCLUDE NOT ONLY SEVERE POTENTIAL…BUT HEAVY RAIN…COASTAL FLOODING AND MARINE HAZARDS. FOR A SYSTEM THAT IS BETWEEN 48 AND 60 HOURS AWAY…THERE IS STILL SOME SUBTLE DETAILS TO WORK OUT…BUT WHAT IS REMARKABLE IS THAT THE MODELS ARE DOING A REASONABLY GOOD JOB WITH THE SYNOPTIC DETAILS AND DELIVERING SOME RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY.

You can monitor forecasts from the National Weather Service on their website: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tae/

On Tuesday, 24 November 2009 the Lafayette State Bank in Mayo, Florida was robbed by Jacob P. Launius of Murphysboro, Illinois. Launius entered the bank at approximately 11:24 am and approached a bank teller, placing a handwritten note on her counter. The teller read the note that stated that Launius had a gun and was robbing the bank. The note also stated that the teller was to place the money in a bag and further demanded that she give him the keys to her vehicle as well as write down the make, model, and location of her vehicle. The final statement on the note demanded that she tell no one or he would shoot somebody. After receiving $8,274.00 in cash and the keys to the bank teller’s car Launius exited the building, entered the bank teller’s car, and fled the scene. Lafayette County deputies quickly responded to the call and immediately began a county-wide search. Also at this time a BOLO (Be On Lookout) was issued for surrounding counties. Approximately 45 minutes later Dixie County Sheriff’s deputies located the suspect vehicle and followed it into Taylor County. At this time Taylor County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. A pursuit ensued and ended a short time later when the suspect vehicle crashed and Launius attempted to flee on foot. Oficers quickly apprehended Launius, who was still in possession of the money. Launius is currently in custody in Taylor County. The following Law Enforcement Agencies were instrumental in assisting the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office with the apprehension of this felon:

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office

Dixie County Sheriff’s Office

Perry Police Department

Cross City Police Department

Florida Highway Patrol

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

The DCSO is currently involved in a high speed chase in Jena and Steinhatchee involving a car that is suspected in a Lafayette County Bank robbery earlier today.

The car was pursued from Steinhatchee Falls into Steinhatchee by Officer “DK” Danny King, where he was joined by other officers.  The chase continued around Steinhatchee and the car was eventually wrecked.  The officers are chasing the suspect on foot.