Archive for February 2012

Williams to Announce Candidacy

February 13, 2012 Front Page Comments Off
campaign 006

Local businessman Mike Williams is expected announce on Monday that he will begin a campaign for the Florida House of Representatives District 7. His announcement will take place at the Madison County Republican Club which meets at noon at Shelby’s Restaurant. Williams is a 5th generation north Floridian and has served the community, region and state in many capacities. Redistricting was just completed last week and District 7 will consist of Madison, Lafayette, Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla, Franklin, Gulf, Calhoun, and Liberty Counties and a small portion of Leon County.

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Water management staff to spread word on water supply strategies

February 13, 2012 Front Page, Outdoors Comments Off

Over the next two months, David Still and Hans Tanzler, the executive directors for the Suwannee River and St. Johns River water management districts respectively, and other senior staff will speak at county commission meetings within the Suwannee District’s (SRWMD) region to inform the public about water resource issues.

Jon Dinges, SRWMD director of Water Supply and Resource Management, provided a preview of those meetings when he spoke to the Suwannee County Commission on Jan. 17 about water supply planning.

“The District is actively addressing water resource impacts that are occurring across north Florida as a result of groundwater withdrawals,” Dinges said. “We believe the Alapaha River Basin, Upper Suwannee River Region, and Upper and Lower Santa Fe river basins may be short of groundwater within 20 years.”

“We’re working hard to find new water sources and ways to replenish the Floridan aquifer system to meet water demands in those areas,” he added.

Dinges noted that as far back as 1988, the United States Geological Survey has documented significant declines in the aquifer.

“Though these water levels go up and down, there is a long-term declining trend felt in some areas within our District, and these statistics are significant,” Dinges said. “Though we have been in a drought for some time, we don’t believe lack of rainfall is totally responsible for the trends we’re seeing. The only other possibility is pumping from the aquifer system.”

A schedule of upcoming meetings is available on the District’s calendar at www.mysuwanneeriver.com. For more information, call SRWMD at 386.362.1001 or 800.226.1066 (FL only).

Water Supply Presentation Schedule

Please be aware that the times and dates of these meetings are subject to change. Check the District’s calendar at www.mysuwanneeriver.com where any changes will be announced.

Madison County
February 15, at 4 p.m.
Madison County Courthouse Annex
229 SW Pinckney St.
Madison, FL 32340

Union County
February 20, at 7 p.m.
Union County Courthouse Annex
15 NE 1st St.
Lake Butler, FL 32054

Hamilton County
February 21, at 6 p.m.
207 NE First St.
Jasper, FL 32052

Lafayette County
February 27, at 5:30 p.m.
Lafayette County Courthouse
120 W Main St.
Mayo, FL 32066

Alachua County
February 28, 9 a.m.
Alachua County Administration Building, 2nd Floor
12 SE 1st St.
Gainesville, FL 32601

Jefferson County
March 1, at 9 a.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse Annex
435 W Walnut St.
Monticello, FL 32344

Columbia County
March 1, at 7 p.m.
Columbia County School Board Administration Complex
372 W Duval St.
Lake City, FL 32055

Gilchrist County
March 5, 1:30 p.m.
Gilchrist County Courthouse Annex
209 SE 1st St.
Trenton, FL 32693

Suwannee County
March 6, at 9 a.m.
Live Oak City Hall
101 SE White Ave.
Live Ok, FL 32064

Dixie County
March 15, at 6 p.m.
Dixie County Courthouse
214 NE Hwy 351
Cross City, FL 32628

Bradford County
March 15, at 6:30 p.m.
Bradford County Courthouse
945 N Temple Ave.
Starke, FL 32091

Baker County
March 19, at 5 p.m.
Baker County Administration Building
55 N 3rd St.
Macclenny, FL 32063

Levy County
March 20, at 9 a.m.
Levy County Courthouse
355 S Court St.
Bronson, FL 32621

Taylor County
TBA
Taylor County Administrative Complex
201 E Green St.
Perry, FL 32347

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Man Arrested On Cocaine Charges

February 13, 2012 Crime, Front Page Comments Off
Charles Lamar Kendrick

Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that On Tuesday the 7th day of February 2012 at approximately 1:07 AM, Agents with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a 2008 Chrysler 4 door sedan for a faulty equipment violation. The vehicle was being operated by Charles Lamar Kendrick and traveling Westbound on Interstate 10.
While Officers were taking enforcement action, they detected signs of possible criminal activity. Agents deployed canine “Dare” and a positive alert for the presence of narcotic odor was indicated. Agents conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located a black bag under the front passenger seat. The black bag contained powder and crack cocaine.
Charles Lamar Kendrick, B/M, DOB: 01/16/1972 of Tallahassee Florida was arrested and charged with the following:
1. Possession of cocaine
2. Possession of crack cocaine
At the time of this arrest Kendrick was currently on Federal Probation for narcotic offenses.

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Four Pounds of Pot: Man Charged With Possession With Intent to Distribute

February 13, 2012 Crime, Front Page Comments Off
Kelly Thomas Dunaway

Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that On Wednesday night February 8, 2012 at 8:45 PM, Agents with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a 2008 Chrysler 300 for unlawful speed. The vehicle was traveling westbound on interstate 10 in Madison County and being operated by Kelly Thomas Dunaway.
While Agents were taking enforcement action for the speeding violation, they detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and additional signs of possible criminal activity. Agents conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and located a black duffle bag inside the trunk. The black duffle bag contained 4 pounds of high grade marijuana.
Kelly Thomas Dunaway, W/M, DOB: 07/22/1989 of Tampa Florida was arrested and charged with the following:
1. Possession of marijuana more than 20 grams
2. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

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Drug Task Forces Seizes $52,000

February 13, 2012 Crime, Front Page Comments Off

Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that On Wednesday night February 8, 2012 at 11:58 pm, agents of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 Nissan Altima for a traffic violation. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on interstate 10 in Madison County and was being operated by Kenitra Gilmer and occupied by one passenger Porscha D. Thomas.
While Agents were taking enforcement action, they detected signs of deception and possible criminal activity. Canine “Arko” was deployed and a positive alert for the presence of narcotic odor was indicated. The driver, Kenitra Gilmer, admitted that they had just recently smoked marijuana inside the vehicle prior to being stopped.
Agents conducted a probable cause search on the vehicle and discovered a small amount of marijuana. The search further discovered a large amount of U.S. Currency concealed in three bags and a large amount of Turbo Tax refund visa cards, each in the name of different people in the same type of bags as the currency.
Both, Gilmer and Thomas did not know the amount of the currency and stated that only a portion of the currency was actually theirs and were unsure of how much belonged to them. Gilmer and Thomas further denied knowing any of the people or how the cards got into the vehicle.
Agents contacted the Department of Homeland Security Investigations which responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. The currency totaled $52,194.00 and was seized with the Turbo Tax visa cards.
Currently, no formal charges are being filed on Kenitra Gilmer, B/F, DOB: 02/17/1985 of Charlotte, NC. and Porscha Thomas, B/F, DOB: 06/23/1985 of Jacksonville, Fl. However, the investigation into multiple identity thefts and fraudulent income tax returns continues and the case is being adopted by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations for possible Federal prosecution.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will be entitled to its portion of currency and other potential assets seized as a result of initiating this investigation.

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Drug Task Force Seizes Firearm

February 13, 2012 Crime, Front Page Comments Off

Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that On Thursday night February 10, 2012 at 11:58 PM Agents of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 Chevy 4 door sedan for unlawful speed. The vehicle was traveling westbound on interstate 10 in Madison County and was being operated by Norris Antonio Baker Jr.
While Agents were taking enforcement action for the speeding violation, they detected signs of possible criminal activity. Canine “Arko” was deployed and gave a positive alert for the presence of a narcotic odor. Agents then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and discovered a small amount of marijuana residue. The search further discovered a Taurus .45 caliber semi automatic hand gun concealed within the vehicle.
The driver, Antonio Baker, denied owning the handgun, how it got into his vehicle or to whom the gun may belong to. Agents seized the handgun for further investigation and to have analyzed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (F.D.L.E.) Crime Lab to verify that the gun has not been previously used in a crime.
Currently, No formal charges are being filed on Antonio Baker and he gladly relinquished possession of the firearm and was released. The investigation remains pending.

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