News Archive

According to a report released by the Cross City Police Department, two arrests have been made in the battery on Doug Ward and Jeremiah Branch that took place on June 14th.
Jamario Teague and Richard Jenkins were positively identified by Branch and Ward as members of the group that attacked them  on NE 118th Street in Cross City.
In a sworn interview with Investigator Robert Owens, Teague claimed that Richard Jenkins was the “person who beat and robbed” Ward and Branch, inside a building referred to as “the Castle.”  Teague stated that although he was present at the scene, that Jenkins acted alone.  Teague also stated to Investigator Owens that Jenkins had told him prior to the incident that “he was going to rob” Ward and Branch.
Branch denied ever being inside the “castle” building, and stated that the fight had begun on the street.  Ward said that he was struck with some type of “blunt object” that caused injuries to his left eye and cheek and was knocked unconscious almost immediately.  Ward required medical attention and has scheduled reconstructive surgery.  Branch was not severely injured.
According to the report, numerous items were stolen from Branch during the attack.  
Both victims stated that there were two or three other African American males who took part in the attack, but who have not yet been positively identified.  An investigation is ongoing.
Both Teague and Jenkins are currently incarcerated in the Dixie County Jail.

by Kathy McKinney
 Have you read Sen. Dodd’s Housing Bailout bill?  No, and he’s counting on it that you haven’t, and that you won’t.  Aside from the ugly fact that he’s presenting a bill to give gazillions of your tax dollars to Countrywide, the lender who gave him a “special VIP deal” on his personal mortgage, there are other dirty deeds afoot.

Ms. Emma Glenn passed away on Saturday.  She was was a beloved matriarch of her family; the mother of 13 children, 102 grandchildren, 106 great grandchildren, 109 great-great grandchildren and 7 great, great great grandchildren.
She was born in Dixie County in 1908 and she was a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Eastern Star.  She was a member of Pickens Temple United Methodist Church.
She had many jobs over her long lifetime.  She worked at the Suwannee Gables Motel, cleaned houses, baby sat and did farm work.  
The Advocate interviewed Ms. Glenn back in September of 2007.   She said she loved Dixie County because “of the small community and everyone where I lived at in Old Town seemed like family.”
Services will be held at DCHS on June 28.

A reduced board of Commissioners sat early Monday morning to consider action on continuing the County’s 6 cent gas tax. They had the option to increase the tax up to 12 cents. The public audience of one asked what the generated revenues are used for. 

STATE PARK HOSTS FAMILY FUN DAYS
-Families and friends are invited to join park activities-

CHIEFLAND – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Manatee Springs State Park will host Family Play Day on July 19. Participants can enjoy games such as the three-legged race, sack hop race, horse shoes and more. There will be a competitive race for teams of adults versus children. Events are set up for every visitor to safely participate with little or no assistance required. All activities are free with park admission.

For more information, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.

The event will take place:

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Manatee Springs State Park
11650 NW 115th Street
Chiefland, Florida

Collette Hill Davidson, 81, of Gainesville and Horseshoe Beach passed away on June 18th, 2008 at her home in Gainesville with friends and family.  Her mother was the late Rebecca Frank of Gainesville.  Ms. Davidson grew up in Knoxville, TN and began her long and distinguished nursing career after graduating from Fort Sanders Hospital School of Nursing in 1950.  She went on to earn her Associate Degree at Lake City Junior College; her Baccalaureate and Masters Degrees at the University of Florida; and, completed additional graduate work at the University of Connecticut.

MR. STANLEY REED HORSLEY of Old Town passed away Sunday, June 15, 2008 at Shands at AGH.  He was 55.  Born in Tampa, Florida, he moved to Old Town in 1987 where he owned and operated Linda’s Aquatic Plants with his wife.  His hobby was fishing.

John David Clark, age 45, passed away at his home in Chiefland, Florida on June 14, 2008.  He moved here from Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1993.  He was a carpenter by trade and enjoyed woodworking as a hobby.  He was also a pastor of the Agape Christian Church of Old Town, FL for three and a half years.

Alton B. “Al” Parris Jr., 79, of Marianna died Tuesday, June 3, 2008 in Marianna.