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[email protected] www.StarkeJournal.com Deadline Monday 5 p.m. before publication Phone 352-473-2210 Fax 352-473-2210 Lake Region Monitor USPS 114-170 — Keystone Heights, Florida Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 43 rd Year — 14 th Issue — 75 CENTS Y M C K Y M C K Principals gear up for new school year 2 new administrators in Keystone Heights, Melrose relaunches music instruction Clockwise from top left: Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School Principal, Angela Gentry; Melrose Elementary Principal Jason Reeves; McRae Elementary Principal Marcus Dooley and Keystone Heights Elementary Principal Melanie Sanders. Photos: Hildebran. BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - The new school year is bringing changes to Lake Region public schools, including new principals at two campuses, growth pains for one elementary and after a 13-year hiatus, the return of music instruction to another primary school. Melrose: shorter school day, music instruction Melrose Elementary is entering its 129 th year, the second for Principal Jason Reeves. Raised in Orange Springs, Reeves still resides there today. He has worked in the Putnam County school system for 20 years. Reeves started his teaching career at Robert Jenkins Jr. Middle School in Palatka. He remained there for five years, and then spent six years at Interlachen High School before moving to Interlachen Elementary, where he spent seven years. Reeves said that this year, Melrose Elementary, along with other Putnam County schools, will return to the six hour, fifteen minute school day. Last year, the school board lengthened the day to six hours, fifty minutes. Reeves said the longer day fit well with high schools, giving students a chance to earn an extra credit and giving teachers additional planning time. However, elementary school parents found that the longer day complicated transportation and scheduling after-school activities. In addition, teachers of kindergarteners, and first, second and third graders said their students showed signs of fatigue as the longer day wore on. Reeves said that district officials listened to parents and reverted back to the shorter schedule. This year, Melrose classes start at 8:50 and end at 3:05. Reeves said the most welcome change in Melrose this year will be the return of music instruction. Over the past decade, many public schools cut back on music and arts instruction due to state-mandates and budget cuts. Melrose last taught music 13 years ago. However, parents have consistently requested the addition of a music program, according to the principal, and this year, the school is funding a fulltime music teacher by using Title I money. Reeves said the school is also cutting back in other areas to pay for the new classes. Eddie Carter, a current teacher at the school, will teach music. The school’s strengths from prior years remain in place, including a strong safety patrol, a stable and experienced faculty, close ties to the Melrose Youth Sports Association and a student population that draws from four counties, with some parents driving their children from Gainesville to the Putnam County campus. “People want to go to Melrose,” Reeves said, “even if they’re not close by.” Also continuing is Melrose’s sixth-grade honors class, now entering its third year. Acceptance into the class is based on grades and attendance. After completing sixth grade at Melrose, many students move onto the Cambridge honors program at Q.I. Roberts Junior/Senior High School. Gentry begins first full year at high school Angela Gentry said that as she begins her first full year as principal at Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School, she has one primary goal for each of the school’s two divisions. In junior high, Gentry is adding character education to the seventh and eighth grades. The curriculum will focus on developing communication and interpersonal skills, how to deal with bullying and how students can respond when someone hurts their feelings. Guidance counselors will lead the program. Gentry said she witnessed positive results with character education programs in the elementary schools where she served. After graduating from KHHS in 1991 and earning a bachelor’s from the University of North Florida in 1994, she started her teaching career at Keystone Heights Elementary School. She also taught at McRae before helping to open Oakleaf Village Elementary in See SCHOOLS 3A DOC officers blocked from raises, Van Zant says Not considered LEOs; other factors to blame BY VINCENT ALEX BROWN Times Editor UNION COUNTY At Town Hall meetings at Raiford and Lake Butler on July 16 and 21, respectively, Rep. Charles E. Van Zant said that for three years he has “fought hard” for raises for correctional officers at the Florida Department of Corrections. Van Zant gave reasons why that hasn’t happened yet. “It’s not fair for you all to keep on, after every other law enforcement is given a raise. But I can tell you Sen. Joe Negron does not want you to have a raise, and he carefully writes in what defines law enforcement officers and purposely leaves out correction officers,” Van Zant said at the Raiford meeting. “I have fought for the correctional officers to have a raise now for the past three years when I found out where they stood on the economic ladder…” Van Zant reiterated at the Lake Butler meeting. “(Negron) passed a raise for every law enforcement officer in Florida, and then, in the conferencing, they defined what law enforcement officers are. So he wrote everybody … but he left out, carefully left out, department of corrections officers. That’s not right.” Reception and Medical Center Warden Steve Wellhausen and two of his correctional officers were present at the Lake Butler meeting. Negron is chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice. Confirming that, James W. Preston, President of the Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, posted an article on the Florida Public Employees website over two years ago titled, “Sen. Joe Negron Files Bill That Will Exclude FDOC From Equal Raises Given To Other State Law Enforcement.” Van Zant added that he was told a couple of years ago by the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations that correctional officers weren’t getting a raise like other law enforcement officers were because they selected the Teamsters as their union to represent them instead of the Police Benevolent Association. “But that should never, ever be a reason,” he stated. “You have a right to negotiate.” It’s the law, he said. Van Zant is chair of the Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining. “I read them the riot act in committee about that,” he said. “You have the right to whatever representation you want. You have a right to collective bargaining, you have a right to whatever union you want to subscribe to.” He said he has talked to the Teamsters about getting help for Florida’s correctional officers. Van Zant then shared that two companies seeking to privatize prisons in Florida were also to blame for blocking raises. “I was told that there’s a big movement underway by a couple of large corporations — one GEO Group, for instance, that operates prisons nationwide, privately — and that there’s a big movement underway to privatize Florida’s prison system. “I resent that. I think there are two things we cannot privatize in See VAN ZANT, 3A

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[email protected] • www.StarkeJournal.comDeadline Monday 5 p.m. before publication • Phone 352-473-2210 • Fax 352-473-2210

Lake Region Monitor USPS 114-170 — Keystone Heights, Florida Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 43rd Year — 14th Issue — 75 CENTS

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Principals gear up for new school year2 new administrators in Keystone Heights, Melrose relaunches music instruction

Clockwise from top left: Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School Principal, Angela Gentry; Melrose Elementary Principal Jason Reeves; McRae Elementary Principal Marcus Dooley and Keystone Heights Elementary Principal Melanie Sanders. Photos: Hildebran.

BY DAN HILDEBRANMonitor Editor

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - The new school year is bringing changes to Lake Region public schools, including new principals at two campuses, growth pains for one elementary and after a 13-year hiatus, the return of music instruction to another primary school.

Melrose: shorter school day, music instruction

Melrose Elementary is entering its 129th year, the second for Principal Jason Reeves.

Raised in Orange Springs, Reeves still resides there today. He has worked in the Putnam County school system for 20 years.

Reeves started his teaching career at Robert Jenkins Jr. Middle School in Palatka. He remained there for five years, and then spent six years at Interlachen High School before moving to Interlachen Elementary, where he spent seven years.

Reeves said that this year, Melrose Elementary, along with other Putnam County schools, will return to the six hour, fifteen minute school day. Last year, the school board lengthened the day to six hours, fifty minutes. Reeves said the longer day fit well with high schools, giving students a chance to earn an extra credit and giving teachers additional planning time. However, elementary school parents found that the longer day complicated transportation and scheduling after-school activities.

In addition, teachers of kindergarteners, and first, second and third graders said their students showed signs of fatigue as the longer day wore on.

Reeves said that district officials listened to parents and reverted back to the shorter schedule.

This year, Melrose classes start at 8:50 and end at 3:05.Reeves said the most welcome change in Melrose this year will

be the return of music instruction. Over the past decade, many public schools cut back on music

and arts instruction due to state-mandates and budget cuts. Melrose last taught music 13 years ago. However, parents have

consistently requested the addition of a music program, according to the principal, and this year, the school is funding a fulltime music teacher by using Title I money.

Reeves said the school is also cutting back in other areas to pay for the new classes.

Eddie Carter, a current teacher at the school, will teach music.The school’s strengths from prior years remain in place, including

a strong safety patrol, a stable and experienced faculty, close ties to the Melrose Youth Sports Association and a student population that draws from four counties, with some parents driving their children from Gainesville to the Putnam County campus.

“People want to go to Melrose,” Reeves said, “even if they’re not close by.”

Also continuing is Melrose’s sixth-grade honors class, now entering its third year.

Acceptance into the class is based on grades and attendance. After completing sixth grade at Melrose, many students move onto the Cambridge honors program at Q.I. Roberts Junior/Senior High School.

Gentry begins first full year at high school

Angela Gentry said that as she begins her first full year as principal at Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School, she has one primary goal for each of the school’s two divisions.

In junior high, Gentry is adding character education to the seventh and eighth grades.

The curriculum will focus on developing communication and interpersonal skills, how to deal with bullying and how students can respond when someone hurts their feelings.

Guidance counselors will lead the program.Gentry said she witnessed positive results with character education

programs in the elementary schools where she served. After graduating from KHHS in 1991 and earning a bachelor’s

from the University of North Florida in 1994, she started her teaching career at Keystone Heights Elementary School. She also taught at McRae before helping to open Oakleaf Village Elementary in See SCHOOLS 3A

DOC officers blocked from raises, Van Zant saysNot considered LEOs; other factors to blame BY VINCENT ALEX BROWN

Times Editor

UNION COUNTY — At Town Hall meetings at Raiford and Lake Butler on July 16 and 21, respectively, Rep. Charles E. Van Zant said that for three years he has “fought hard” for raises for correctional officers at the Florida Department of Corrections. Van Zant gave

reasons why that hasn’t happened yet.

“It’s not fair for you all to keep on, after every other law enforcement is given a raise. But I can tell you Sen. Joe Negron does not want you to have a raise, and he carefully writes in what defines law enforcement officers and purposely leaves out correction officers,” Van Zant said at the Raiford meeting.

“I have fought for the correctional officers to have a raise now for the past three years when I found out where they stood on the economic ladder…” Van Zant reiterated at the Lake

Butler meeting. “(Negron) passed a raise for every law enforcement officer in Florida, and then, in the conferencing, they defined what law enforcement officers are. So he wrote everybody … but he left out, carefully left out, department of corrections officers. That’s not right.”

Reception and Medical Center Warden Steve Wellhausen and two of his correctional officers were present at the Lake Butler meeting.

Negron is chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice.

Confirming that, James W.

Preston, President of the Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, posted an article on the Florida Public Employees website over two years ago titled, “Sen. Joe Negron Files Bill That Will Exclude FDOC From Equal Raises Given To Other State Law Enforcement.”

Van Zant added that he was told a couple of years ago by the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations that correctional officers weren’t getting a raise like other law enforcement officers were because they selected the Teamsters as their union to represent them

instead of the Police Benevolent Association.

“But that should never, ever be a reason,” he stated. “You have a right to negotiate.” It’s the law, he said.

Van Zant is chair of the Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining.

“I read them the riot act in committee about that,” he said. “You have the right to whatever representation you want. You have a right to collective bargaining, you have a right to whatever union you want to subscribe to.” He said he has talked to the Teamsters

about getting help for Florida’s correctional officers.

Van Zant then shared that two companies seeking to privatize prisons in Florida were also to blame for blocking raises.

“I was told that there’s a big movement underway by a couple of large corporations — one GEO Group, for instance, that operates prisons nationwide, privately — and that there’s a big movement underway to privatize Florida’s prison system.

“I resent that. I think there are two things we cannot privatize in

See VAN ZANT, 3A

1. On June 8, a window was damaged by a pellet at a residence on Klare Drive.

2. On June 9, items were stolen from a vacation residence on Virginia Beach Lane in Melrose.

3. On June 11, items were stolen from a residence on Southwest Dove Street.

4. On June 18, posts were torn down at a residence on Bellamy Road in Melrose.

5. On June 19, soccer uniforms were stolen from washing machines at a laundromat on S.R. 21.

6. On June 30, cash was stolen from the easy card money box at a laundromat on S.R. 21.

7. On July 3, items were stolen from a vacant residence on Honeydew Circle in Melrose.

8. On July 6, two firearms were stolen from a pickup truck parked at a residence on Campo Drive. There were no signs of forced entry into the vehicle.

9. On July 8, an enclosed trailer was stolen from the front of a residence on White Sands Road.

10. On July 9, the air conditioning unit was stolen from a residence on Oak Forest Road.

11. On July 9, a side window was broken on a vehicle parked in the driveway at a residence on Firetower Road.

12. On July 12, a Florida license plate was stolen from a trailer parked at a residence on Cascade Drive.

13. On July 13, a Florida license plate was stolen

from a flatbed utility trailer parked at a residence on S.R. 100.

14. On July 14, a firearm was reported stolen from a residence on Little Lake Geneva Road.

15. On July 14, a Jon boat was stolen from the shoreline of Little Lake Geneva behind a residence on Little Lake Geneva Road.

16. On July 14, there was a forced entry into a shed in the backyard at a residence on C.R. 352. Nothing was reported missing from the shed.

17. On July 14, a vehicle was damaged in the carport at a residence on Southwest Pecan Street.

18. On July 17, an air conditioning unit was stolen from a residence on Melrose Road in Melrose.

19. On July 21, firearms, jewelry and other items were stolen from a residence on Acadia Street.

20. On July 27, a window air conditioner was stolen from a shed and other items stolen from a vacant residence on Beloit Avenue.

2A Lake Region Monitor • Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015

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Lake Region MonitorUSPS 114-170

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Southwestern Clay County property crimes, June 8 to July 27 Sheriffs office: Take care at railroad crossings

BY DAN HILDEBRANMonitor Editor

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said, in a press release, that motorists and pedestrians should exercise greater caution when crossing railroad tracks.

The agency said that there are approximately 150,000 miles of railroad track in the United States and that a person or vehicle is hit by a train about every three hours.

The office added that while around 50,000 railroad crossings are equipped with a gate that lowers when a train approaches, 90,000 are only equipped with warning lights, signs or pavement markings.

“Trains cannot stop quickly,” the office said. “It takes almost a mile and a half for a train traveling at normal speed to stop. Trains can also move in either direction and are often pushed by locomotives rather than pulled. Never cross tracks unless there is room on the other side to completely clear the tracks.”

In May, a $300,000 sports car was damaged when the truck

driver hauling the car tried to cross a railroad with insufficient undercarriage clearance. The trailer hauling the McLaren bottomed out on the tracks, near Orange Park, before a CSX freight train struck the trailer, leaving the McLaren with $50,000 in damages. No one was injured in the crash.

On July 13, a 34-year-old Clay County woman was killed when she tried to cross the CSX tracks near Doctors Lake. The Florida

Highway Patrol said the woman died after she drove around the track’s lowered, crossing gate and her SUV was struck by Amtrak’s

Silver Meteor, traveling between New York and Miami. None of the train’s 256 passengers or 13 crew members were injured.

The sheriffs office recommended that motorists and pedestrians only cross railroad tracks at designated crossings.

“When crossing tracks, listen and look both ways,” the office added. “Never race a train to the crossing. It is illegal to go around lowered crossing gates. If a train is approaching the crossing, stop at least 15 feet from the rail.”

“It takes almost a mile and a half for a train traveling at normal speed to stop.”

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 • Lake Region Monitor 3A

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2006, in her first administrative position. She then returned to Keystone Heights Elementary and served as the assistant principal for six years.

In 2013, she was appointed principal at Wilkinson Elementary in Middleburg, before once again, returning to Keystone as the high school principal near the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

For the senior high, Gentry said her major goal is to foster the second year of the school’s three academies.

This year, every ninth and 10th grader will be within one of the school’s three academies: business, leadership and advanced studies; agriscience, manufacturing and technology or arts, health and human services.

The academies, now in every Clay County senior high school, are the centerpieces of the school district’s effort in redesigning high schools to engage students.

Academies are schools within schools, designed to align with a student’s vocational ambitions. Students within academies work with the same teachers and smaller groups of colleagues throughout their entire, high school stay. The smaller learning environments allow them to develop relationships and a sense of community that, hopefully, will engage them.

Gentry said she believes that developing connections is a key component for student success. It’s also an important part of her own life.

She schedules her paperwork and other administrative duties either before or after business hours, leaving the school day free to meet with teachers, parents and students.

She added that being available to parents and returning every phone call are essential in building bridges to families and the community.

“Communication is very important,” she said, adding that while she may not return every phone call personally, she will make sure every call is answered.

The 2014-2015 school year was the first one in which every ninth grader in the county was in an academy. This year, the wall-to-wall academy approach will cover the ninth and 10th grades.

Gentry said she does not want students to view the schools-within-schools as just one more program the district has imposed on them. She wants to generate excitement in the concept and persuade students to appreciate the value of the program with pep rallies, T-shirts and other promotional efforts.

She added that in today’s competitive, global economy and the myriad of choices students and parents have for primary and secondary education, public schools like hers, must constantly improve services and promote themselves to succeed.

“They don’t have to come to a brick-and-mortar school,” she said of today’s students. “As a principal, I’ve got to up my game and make parents want to send their children to my school.”

One key to that effort may be Gentry’s success in communicating her own personal passion for teaching.

“I’ve always had a natural love for learning,” she said, “and a love for people.”

She added that she saw, as a high school senior, that teaching

was the best way to engage those dual passions. She went against the advice of her guidance counselor to pursue a career in accounting.

“I saw teaching as one way I could touch lives,” she said, “and at the same time enjoy what I was doing.”

McRae sees growth spike, continues iPad rollout

Marcus Dooley, principal at McRae Elementary, said that with a couple of retirees and an influx of students, his school is seeing a higher number of new teachers and support staff this year.

Dooley said that now, enrollment is 25 students higher than last year’s ending head count. He added that he expects two more waves of new students: the first, when McRae residents start to see cars in the school’s parking lot and realize that the school year is imminent, the second, after Labor Day.

“We will get a little September rush,” he said. “People moving into the state from up north are always surprised we start school in August.”

Dooley said many northern school districts likely still adhere to the traditional post-Labor Day school opening. He added that some new families may not even make the move to Florida until close to or during the Labor Day weekend.

“They will get down here on Sept. 7 and we will have been in school three weeks by then,” he said. “But that’s O.K.”

Dooley said that this year, his school is continuing to focus on the Clay County School District’s emphasis on professional learning communities, an effort to encourage collaboration and cooperation among teachers.

Dooley said district leaders do not want teachers to try to figure everything out for themselves, but to rely on colleagues for support.

“We want to be all on the same page,” he said, “so all the children are getting an equal opportunity and they benefit from the teachers putting their heads together.”

“We have outstanding teachers in Clay County,” he added, “so if they are working together and coming up with ideas and plans and how they want to do things it is certainly beneficial to everyone in the group.”

Like Melrose, McRae is a Title I school and receives additional federal funding because many of its students are on free or reduced lunch.

Last year, the district used Title I money to equip some McRae and Clay Hill Elementary students with iPads. Dooley said that this year, every McRae student in grades three through six will have an iPad for classroom use. He added that the extent to which the technology is used will depend on teachers in each class.

Dooley has been on the C.R. 315C campus since the school opened in 1996. He was raised in Gainesville, is a University of Florida graduate, and holds two master’s degrees, one in social studies from Mississippi State and one in educational leadership from the University of North Florida. He taught in west Florida and central Georgia before getting a teaching job at Middleburg High School. He moved into administration while at Middleburg. He was the

assistant principal at McRae for three-and-a-half years before taking over the top job.

Sanders steps up to lead elementary school

Last year, School Superintendent Charlie Van Zant promoted Melanie Sanders to principal at Keystone Heights Elementary School after then-principal Jackie Cory left for a job at the district office.

Sanders grew up in Melrose and attended Putnam County schools until the 10th grade, when the family moved to Keystone Heights. She graduated from Keystone Heights High School and went onto the University of Florida where she majored in special education.

She said that while in high school, she wanted to be a guidance counselor and someone advised her to major in special education because guidance counselors complete a lot of ESE paperwork. However after volunteering in a few special education classes, she discovered fulfillment in helping students with learning disabilities and behavioral issues. She also found that she had a talent for working with students with behavioral issues.

Sanders started her teaching career at Keystone Heights High School, teaching ninth through 12th grade ESE science, while at the same time, studying for her master’s degree. She also taught seventh and eighth grade intensive math and learning strategies for two years.

She then moved from the high school to the elementary grades where she taught second and third grade ESE classes before opening KHES’s pre-k program. She then taught regular education kindergarten for three years before moving back to special education as an inclusion teacher, where she supported ESE students who were in regular classes.

Around that time, she started working on certification for administration and also moved to Swimming Pen Creek Elementary School to get some experience outside of Keystone. At that school she was a behavioral resource teacher for a group of 40 students that all had emotional behavioral disabilities. The position was officially an instructional one but she actually managed the unit. The principal, longtime administrator Lenore Paulk, knew Sanders wanted to go into leadership, so she gave Sanders additional administrative responsibilities.

While at Swimming Pen Creek, Sanders finished her leadership certification, so she applied for an assistant principal’s job at Lake Asbury, where she was hired by Cory.

Cory later left Lake Asbury for Fleming Island. The two were reunited last year in Keystone.

Sanders said she spent much of last year familiarizing herself with the school’s staff, and this year she plans to dig a little deeper. She also said she wants to continue the school district’s collaborative classroom concept in which students learn to cooperate, communicate with respect and develop their social skills.

Sanders said Keystone Elementary has a strong group of parents who always turn out in large numbers for school events. She hopes to parlay that enthusiasm into a more active parent/teacher group.

Sales tax holiday begins FridayBY DAN HILDEBRAN

Monitor Editor

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s 2015 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins on Friday, Aug. 7 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 16.

During those 10 days, merchants will not collect sales tax on purchases of clothing selling for $100 or less per item, most school supplies selling for $15 or less per item and personal computers and certain computer-related accessories on the first $750 of the sale price, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

The holiday does not apply to any item of clothing selling

for more than $100, any school supply item selling for more than $15, books, rentals or leases of any items, repairs or alterations of any items or any items sold in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Clothing that qualifies for the sales tax exemption includes footwear, wallets, bags, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs and diaper bags.

However, briefcases, suitcases, garment bags, watches, watchbands, jewelry, umbrellas and handkerchiefs do not qualify for the break.

Athletic and school uniforms do qualify for the exemption, but athletic accessories such

as baseball gloves, elbow pads, protective masks, swimming masks and weightlifting belts do not qualify.

Most school supplies, except books, paper, tape and staplers, will be tax-free during the holiday.

Computer equipment that qualifies for an exemption on the first $750 includes desktops, laptops, tablets, electronic readers, monitors, printers, printer cartridges, scanners, speakers and web cameras.

However, mobile phones, video-game consoles, digital cameras, furniture, projectors, surge protectors and televisions do not qualify.

SCHOOLSContinued from 1A

government. I think that we can privatize a lot of things and, yes, we can save some money doing it that way. But there are two things we should never privatize: One is prisons, because you incarcerate human beings.

“There’s something inherently wrong in my spirit about that. If the state of Florida’s going to

incarcerate human beings then the state of Florida needs to be responsible for those human beings.

“And the second group that I will never vote to privatize is mental hospitals — and for the same reason,” Van Zant added. “You also incarcerate people in mental hospitals. Whether or not they broke the law knowingly, they get incarcerated because they are out of control just like the inmates.

“And so, those two groups I always fight against privatization

for.”When Van Zant met with

Gov. Rick Scott after last year’s legislative season, Van Zant said Scott told him there is no pressure to privatize prisons

and Van Zant has also seen no movement as well.

The state representative — who terms out next fall — also said that said that if a correctional officer were to appear at the capitol in a uniform, say to petition for a raise, they would be breaking somebody’s rule.

“I don’t think that’s right,” Van Zant said, especially when state troopers and deputies, firefighters and police officers, the National Guard and others, can come to the capitol in uniform.

He encouraged retired correctional officers to go to Tallahassee in uniform “and fight for the rest of you.” Van Zant credited his wife Katherine for the idea, who is running for his seat in the House. “She’s a lot smarter than I am. … And that’s her idea.”

The representative said he is going to talk to retiring DOC Deputy Secretary of Institutions Tim Cannon about the idea. Cannon’s last day is July 31.

“There’s a lot of things that I believe that can be done, but you’ve got to be organized,” Van Zant said, “because legislators listen to voters.

“Please come to Tallahassee. Get yourselves organized and come up there. Start the conversation. … After a while, you’ll be on the front end of the thing instead of on the caboose.”

VAN ZANTContinued from 1A

Van Zant

“If the state of Florida’s going to incarcerate human beings then the state of Florida needs to be responsible for those human beings.”

Junior High Football Parent Meeting, Monday, Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m.

The meeting will be in the high school cafeteria. For any questions, please contact Coach Dickinson at (352) 473-1517.

Community Church Rummage Sale

It’s rummage sale time at Community Church, located behind Ace Hardware in Keystone Heights.

The popular, early-bird shopping time is Thursday, Aug. 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. Admission for early shopping is $5 per family. There is no admission charge for the regular sale dates on Friday, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. till noon. Saturday is also Dollar-a-Bag Day. Many quality items are available including clothing, shoes, books, kitchen necessities, tools and items you cannot find anywhere else. We promise something reasonably priced for everyone. Proceeds serve many needy projects.

Super Power Summer at the Melrose Library

Teacher and scientist, Holly Thomas, will be at the Melrose Library for summer to unlock the superpowers of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math in a hands-on, minds-on way. The subject will be Wonders of the Natural World, spanning earth sciences, environmental sciences, and weather. She will be at the Melrose Library on Thursday, August 6 at 2PM. For more info, please call Darlene at 386-329-0126 or the Melrose Library at 352-475-1237. Also, check out our website—FunInPutnam.com—for our calendar of events and many other resources.

AARP Smart Driver Course, Park of the Palms, Aug. 6

Park of the Palms, 691 Hebron Avenue in Keystone Heights, will host an AARP Smart Driver Course on Thursday, Aug. 6, beginning at 8:45 a.m. and continuing to 3:30 p.m. The AARP Smart Driver Course is a refresher class in safe driving, designed specifically for drivers 50 years old and older. Anyone can take the course, whether a member of AARP or not. Most participants will receive discounts on their automobile insurance. There is a $15 registration fee for AARP members, $20 for non-members. Participants should bring a sack lunch (coffee provided), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and AARP card if members.

To pre-register for the class, or for additional information, call 352-473-6100.

Girl Scouts Rally, Aug. 8, 3 p.m.

Girl Scouts Gateway Council will be hosting a Community 3 Winding Trails volunteer rally Aug. 8 from 3-6 p.m. at Keystone’s United Methodist Church. The rally will include volunteer resources, networking opportunities, refreshments, door prizes and future event information for new and current volunteers. There will also be an opportunity to sign-up to become a new Girl Scout Gateway Council volunteer. If you are interested in sharing your time, talent and passion with the Girl Scouts, join us at the rally. For more information, please contact Michelle McCreary, [email protected].

Speedville Back-to-school Event, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Medical screenings, school supplies, backpack giveaway, bounce house, hotdogs and hamburgers.

Keystone Heights High School 7th-grade Orientation, Aug. 14, 9 a.m.

Orientation will be held in the cafeteria. Students will not get a schedule if the school does not have an up-to-date shot record including a TDAP (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, also known as the 7th-grade shot) and two doses of the Varicella.

Also, there is not a specific school supply list for incoming 7th graders. Students should come to the first day of classes with basic supplies: writing instrument, paper, and something to keep papers in. Teachers will inform students of additional supplies needed for each class.

Are you 50 or older and looking for full-time work?

Start the next step of your job search with Back to Work 50+ at Santa Fe College. Our team can help you update your job search strategies, practice for interviewing and networking, and enroll in training programs that employers value.

Call toll-free 855-850-2525 to get the AARP Foundation’s free job search guide and to register for a local information session where you can learn about smart strategies for job searching after age 50. You can also apply for the Back to Work 50+ coaching and training program that includes tuition assistance for qualified applicants. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/backtowork50plus.

Art Walk features child artists

Melrose’s First Friday Art Walk on Aug. 7 will debut a month-long exhibition of children’s artwork.

All of the artists, ages 5–12 years old, were participants in Gayle Bone’s 2015 Art Camp. Featured artists will be at the

art walk to discuss their work in various media.

Bone, a retired kindergarten teacher, has taught the art camp for 15 years.

On the first Friday of every month, from 6–9 p.m., the Melrose Art Walk encourages patrons to visit exhibits at each of the town’s six galleries. The Art Walk is sponsored by the Melrose All Arts Council.

LRM Legals 8/6/15

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,IN AND FOR CLAY COUNTY,

FLORIDA CASE NO.: 2015-DR-670

IN RE: THE NAME CHANGE OF JEROD ISOM,a minor child,NOTICE OF ACTION FOR NAME

CHANGETO: JERRY NELSON ISOM, whose residence is unknown but whose last known address is249 Swan Lake DriveMelrose, Florida 32666.YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for name change of a minor child has been filed and you are required to serve a copy of your written defens-es, if any, to it on VERONICA R.OWENS, ESQUIRE, counsel for the PETITIONERS, RAYMOND ROBIN-SON and JUNE ROBINSON, at 189 South Lawrence Boulevard, Key-stone Heights, Florida 32656, with-in thirty (30) days after the date of the first publication of this NOTICE, and file the original with the Clerk of Court at 825 N Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043, before service on the PETITIONERS

or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the PETITION. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Courts office. You may review these docu-ments upon request.You must keep the Clerk of the Cir-cuit Courts office notified of your cur-rent address. (You may file Desig-nation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e-mailed to the addresses on record at the clerk’s office.WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, re-quires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Fail-ure to comply can result in sanc-tions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.WITNESS my hand and seal of this Court on this 29 day of June, A.D., 2015.

TARA S. GREENCLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

BY: Taylor SolomnDeputy Clerk

7/16 4tchg8/6-LRM

4A Lake Region Monitor • Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015

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