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  • CALL US:(386) 752-1293

    SUBSCRIBE TOTHE REPORTER:Voice: 755-5445Fax: 752-9400

    Vol. 143, No. 175 TODAY’S WEATHER Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3AOpinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4AFaith & Values . . . . . . . 5-6ATV guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2BAdvice & Comics . . . . . 3-4B

    77 54Partly cloudy, 2A

    FAITH AND VALUESThe Christian’s dilemma on politics, 5A.

    TodayWine/cheese reception

    Gateway Art Gallery (168 N. Marion Ave., Lake City) invites the commu-nity to a wine and cheese reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The reception is to recognize art by members of the Art League of North Florida. Select works from artists will be on display.

    Holiday playHigh Springs Playhouse

    will host a live radio play adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” begin-ning today. The play runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, Dec. 17. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the play begins at 8 on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday matinees are per-formed at 2 p.m. and the doors open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.highspringsplay house.com. The theater is located on Highway 27 South, two blocks south of the Great Outdoors Restaurant.

    SaturdaySea Cadets fundraiser

    A yard sale, car wash and bake sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 57, 2602 SW Main Blvd., Lake City. Funds raised will ben-efit the Liberty Sea Cadets.

    Holiday jamThe December gathering

    of the SongFarmers of the Suwannee River Valley of Florida will move from the Stephen Foster Center to a special “Old Fashioned Christmas Gathering of Song and Fellowship” from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 2423 Bascom Norris Drive. See the SongFarmers Facebook page for more or call Skip Johns at 386-344-2906.

    Holiday concertCommunity Concerts

    presents the “Three on a String Home for Christmas/Laughing All the Way” show at 7:30 p.m. at Levy Performing Arts Center on the FGC campus. It should be a fun show for the entire family, as these four (not three) guys embody “the perfect balance of enter-tainment and humor.” Open seating tickets ($20/adult and $5/student K-12 avail-able at www.communitycon certs.info, at the Chamber of Commerce or at the door one hour before show time. For more, call 386-466-2013.

    Lake City ReporterFRIDAY & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 & 2, 2017 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1874 | $1.00

    LAKECITYREPORTER.COM

    W E E K E N D E D I T I O N

    Lottery sting nets clerk, Story below.+ PLUS >>

    Lottery sting netsclerk

    By CARL [email protected]

    A convenience store clerk from Lake City became the not-so-lucky winner in a state lottery fraud sting Monday

    a f t e r n o o n , according to reports.

    Xiu Lan Zou, of S o u t h w e s t P i n e m o u n t Road, won a grand theft

    charge and a trip to jail after she tried to short an under-cover law enforcement agent $1,900 for a scratch-off ticket around 1:30 p.m., according

    LOTTERY continued on 2A

    False leads plague search for Caitlyn

    By CARL [email protected]

    Media outlets across the country have prom-inently featured pictures of the 17-year-old girl and her adult traveling com-panion since the search began Sunday, encourag-ing anyone with informa-tion to come forward.

    A con-venience s t o r e clerk in A r i z o n a s w o r e she had a match and called it in to her local police — but it couldn’t have possi-bly been them.

    It was a false sighting,

    HOLLY FRAZIER/Special to the Reporter

    Halpatter Brewing Company founders Jonny Frazier, left, Chris Candler, center, and Jeremy Gable share a toast during a small gathering at their business Thursday night. Located at 264 NE Hernando Ave., the brewery’s official grand opening starts today at noon and runs until midnight. Halpatter draws inspira-tion from local history in naming its craft beers as a tribute to the community.

    Tigers take on Chiles

    SPORTS

    See Page 1B

    False leads plague search for Caitlyn

    CAITLYN

    See BELOW

    Caitlyn

    ‘Dragging’case now subject of probe

    LCPD

    Officer injured after jumping into back of suspect’s pickup.

    By TAYLOR [email protected]

    Lake City Police Officer Stuart Robinson is back at work while an internal affairs investigation continues of his behavior during a July traffic stop, which led to a series of misstatements from the police

    department. T h e

    i n c i d e n t ended with R o b i n s o n thrown from a truck bed and in the hospital.

    LCPD Public Information Officer Mike Lee said that officers generally work while IA investigations are ongoing. He said he could not discuss details of the incident while the investigation continues.

    Officials said previously that the investigation was being delayed while Robinson recovered from his injuries.

    Robinson wound up in the hospital after being thrown from a fleeing suspect’s truck

    Robinson

    LCPD continued on 2A

    Teen never made it home from the riverFamily recounts life of boy hit, killed by car, 3A

    Zou

    Shorted undercover officer on winning ticket, report states.

    CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter

    False leads, and misinformation from some media outlets, have slowed and confused the search for a Fort White teen and a coach from her school.

    ‘Sighting’ in Arizona was obviously false.

    CAITLYN continued on 2A

    FIRST DRAFTS

    A1

  • 2A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 DAILY BRIEFING LAKE CITY REPORTER

    7a 1p 7p 1a 6a

    LAKE CITY ALMANAC

    SUN

    MOON

    UV INDEX

    EXTREME: 10 minutes to burn Today’s ultra-violet radiation risk for the area on a scale from 0 to 10+.

    FYI An exclusive

    service brought to our readers

    by The Weather

    Channel.

    SPONSORED BY

    City

    THE WEATHER

    WEATHER HISTORY

    Pensacola

    Tallahassee

    Panama City

    Valdosta

    Daytona Beach

    Cape Canaveral

    Gainesville

    Lake City

    Ocala

    Orlando

    Jacksonville

    Tampa West Palm Beach

    Ft. Myers Ft. Lauderdale

    Naples Miami

    Key West

    TEMPERATURES

    Normal high Normal low

    PRECIPITATION

    Month total Year total

    HI LO LO

    HI LO HI LO HI LO HI

    1 02 03 04 05

    Saturday Sunday

    Cape Canaveral 79/61/pc 79/64/pcDaytona Beach 77/59/pc 77/61/pcFort Myers 83/62/pc 82/62/pcFt. Lauderdale 80/69/pc 80/69/pcGainesville 77/55/pc 75/53/pcJacksonville 74/56/pc 72/55/pcKey West 80/72/pc 80/72/pcLake City 77/55/pc 75/53/pcMiami 79/69/pc 80/70/pcNaples 82/64/pc 82/64/pcOcala 77/56/pc 76/55/pcOrlando 80/60/pc 80/60/pcPanama City 73/56/pc 73/56/pcPensacola 72/53/pc 72/56/pcTallahassee 74/52/pc 75/52/pcTampa 80/61/pc 78/61/pcValdosta 74/53/pc 72/51/pcW. Palm Beach 79/69/pc 78/69/pc

    74/5477/58

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    81/61 77/61

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    79/72

    December of 1831 was the coldest month on record for the Northeast. New York City averaged just 22 degrees the entire month as only four days had a high temperature above freezing. Even colder was Burlington, Vt. which never did get above freezing the entire month.

    High ThursdayLow Thursday

    71

    86 in 199722 in 1959

    78

    48

    50

    Thursday 0.00"0.02"

    " Test

    44.93"2.06"

    7:10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:10 a.m. 5:30 p.m.

    4:17 p.m. 4:39 a.m.

    Dec 3 Dec 10 Dec 18 Dec 26

    Full Last New FirstQuarter Quarter

    Sunrise todaySunset todaySunrise tom.Sunset tom.

    Moonrise todayMoonset todayMoonrise tom.Moonset tom.

    Record highRecord low

    Normal month-to-dateNormal year-to-date

    FRI

    77 54

    SAT

    76 52

    SUN

    74 52

    MON

    74 54

    TUE

    77 56

    WEATHER BY-THE-DAY

    0

    40

    50

    0

    70

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    0

    100

    71 72 74 7480 78 78

    5145 47 44

    50 50 50

    REGIONAL FORECAST MAP for Friday, Nov. 1 Friday's highs/Friday night's low

    4 Moderate

    mins to burn40

    Partly cloudy Light wind

    Partly cloudy Light wind

    Partly cloudy Light wind

    Partly cloudy Light wind

    Partly cloudy

    5:46 a.m.

    HI LO HI LO HI LO HI LO HI LO

    39.36"

    5:04 p.m.

    Forecasts, data and graphics

    ©2017, The Weather Company, LLC

    HOW TO REACH USMain number . . . . . . . . (386) 752-1293 Fax number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 752-9400Circulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755-5445Online . . . www.lakecityreporter.com

    The Lake City Reporter, an affiliate of Community Newspapers Inc., is published Tuesday through Friday and Sunday at 180 E. Duval St., Lake City, FL 32055. Periodical postage paid at Lake City, FL, Member Audit Bureau of Circulation and The Associated Press.

    All material herein is property of the Lake City Reporter. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the permission of the publisher. U.S. Postal Service No. 310-880.

    POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Lake City Reporter, P.O. Box 1709, Lake City, FL 32056.

    Publisher Todd Wilson . . . . . 754-0418([email protected])

    NEWSEditor Robert Bridges . . . . . 754-0428([email protected])

    ADVERTISING . . . . . . . . . 752-1293([email protected])

    CLASSIFIEDTo place a classified ad. . . . . . 755-5440

    BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 754-0419

    CIRCULATIONHome delivery of the Lake City Reporter should be completed by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and by 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

    Please call 386-755-5445 to report any problems with your delivery service.

    In Columbia County, customers should call before 10:30 a.m. to report a service error for same day re-delivery. After 10:30 a.m., next day re-delivery or service related credits will be issued.

    In all other counties where home delivery is available, next day re-delivery or service related credits will be issued.

    Circulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 755-5445([email protected])

    Home delivery rates(Tuesday–Friday and Sunday)12 Weeks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $26.3224 Weeks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $48.7952 Weeks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $83.46Rates include 7% sales tax.

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    Lake City Reporter

    See an error?The Lake City Reporter corrects errors of fact in news items. If you have a concern, question, or suggestion, please call the editor. Corrections and clari�cations will run in this space. Thanks for reading.

    SubmissionsThe Lake City Reporter accepts photographs and caption information to run at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to see your organization in the newspaper, send the picture and information to associate editor Justin Caudell at [email protected].

    Scripture of the Day“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

    — Matthew 20:16 (KJV)

    Scars show us where we have been; they do not dictate where we are going.

    — David Rossi

    Thought for Today

    Winning Lottery NumbersPick 3: (Thursday midday) 0-2-6Pick 4: (Thursday midday) 9-2-1-2Pick 5: (Thursday midday) 0-7-1-5-4

    QUICK HITS

    to the Florida Department of State.Zou works at the Fast Mart Food Store

    on Ohio Avenue in Live Oak, the arrest report states.

    The Florida Lottery Division of Security sent an undercover agent to the business with a ticket known to be worth $2,000.

    The agent, who was wearing audio and video recording devices, handed the ticket to Zou, who scanned it into a lottery

    terminal, according to the report.The machine made a noise to signify

    the presence of a winning ticket and noti-fied Zou that the payoff was above $599, the report states.

    Zou only handed the agent $100 in cash, according to the report.

    The agent left the store and returned to find the winning ticket hidden behind the terminal screen, under a stack of doc-uments, the report states.

    Zou was placed in “double locked”handcuffs and taken to Suwannee County Jail.

    during a traffic stop on July 6.

    He had arrived to help an officer with a suspected DUI investigation of Breon Antoine Pope, 30, and learned during the stop that the driver had an arrest war-rant. Pope then attempted to flee, and Robinson jumped into the bed of his truck.

    Lee initially told the Lake City Reporter that Robinson had become “attached” to the truck and was “dragged” about a mile before being thrown from the truck.

    LCPD never used the word “dragged” in official press releases but repeated it to multiple news outlets after the incident.

    “Everyone kind of ran with it,” Lee said at the time.

    LCPD has declined to comment on when it would be appropriate for an officer to jump into the bed of a fleeing truck.

    “It serves no purpose for us to speculate what could have been,” Lee said in August. “What matters is what did happen, and we still don’t have those answers.”

    LCPD also initially claimed that the other act-ing officer on the scene during the July incident,

    Arielle Peterson, had her foot run over by the sus-pect’s truck as he sped off.

    However, dashcam video showed Robinson was standing at least a foot from Pope’s Ford F150 as he sped away from the intersection

    of U.S. Highway 90 and Southwest Sisters Welcome Road.

    Lee said an “adrenaline bump” might have caused the officer to mistakenly believe her foot had been run over.

    LOTTERYContinued From 1A

    LCPDContinued From 1A

    FILE

    In this still photo from dashcam footage, LCPD Officers Arielle Peterson and Stuart Robinson watch as a Ford pickup truck flees from a traffic stop. Robinson jumped in the bed of the truck, prompting Peterson to briefly give chase on foot before running back to her patrol car to pursue the runaway vehicle. Peterson backed away as the suspect started the truck and was well clear of the vehicle as he fled.

    said Columbia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Murray Smith, and inves-tigators expect to wade through many others in the search for missing Fort White teen Caitlyn Morgan Frisina and 27-year-old Rian Rodriguez.

    “We’re still getting leads,” Smith said. “We’re gonna check every one of them.”

    Local authorities say they are hoping a bombshell tip will come through that will help them find Caitlyn, whom they believe willing-ly ran off with Rodriguez, a soccer coach at her school, Fort White High.

    “It’s a waiting game at this point,” Smith said.

    Agencies along the Interstate 95 corridor, which stretches from Florida to Maine, are dis-tributing flyers about the missing pair, Smith said.

    “We’re working with our partners across the country to bring her home,” Smith said. “I got the impression all our law enforcement partners have taken it to

    heart and are doing their best to find them.”

    The “key” to closing the case will likely be informa-tion from a regular citizen, Smith said.

    “We’re just hoping some-one sees a flyer or sees a picture,” Smith said.

    The Arizona sighting was proven false by surveillance footage showing Caitlyn and Rodriguez in Georgia and North Carolina around the same time.

    Still, investigators would rather have too much infor-mation than not enough, Smith said.

    Smith encouraged anyone who thinks they might have seen Caitlyn or Rodriguez to report it, even if they are not 100 percent positive.

    “We never want some-one to say ‘I’m not sure’ and not call,” Smith said. “Because that may be the one sighting that allows us to find Caitlyn and return her home safely.”

    Authorities have set up a tip line at 877-419-0934.

    Caitlyn’s disappear-ance has gained nation-al attention, which can help increase the chance

    of someone spotting her, Smith said, but it can also lead to an increase in mis-information.

    “There’s always that bal-ancing act you have to do,” Smith said.

    Unsubstantiated rumors about the case are spread-ing on social media, and simple mistakes creep into the picture as well. The CBS affiliate in Jacksonville incorrectly reported the day on which Caitlyn and Rodriguez had been sight-ed in North Carolina.

    The missing teen’s moth-er, Scarlet Frisina, made an emotional plea for her daughter to return home during a CCSO press con-ference Wednesday after-noon.

    Caitlyn was last seen by her family Saturday night.

    Investigators believe she voluntarily left with Rodriguez after climb-ing through her bedroom window and walking to a nearby road, according to CCSO.

    She took a few items with her, but wiped all the data from her phone and left it behind.

    Caitlyn sent a text mes-

    sage to one of her friends hinting at a relation-ship between herself and Rodriguez, according to CCSO.

    The friend sent a copy of the message to Caitlyn’s parents, who provided it to deputies.

    Caitlyn and Rodriguez appear to be heading toward the Northeast, where they both have families, accord-ing to CCSO.

    Surveillance cameras recorded footage of them Sunday morning at an ATM in St. Marys, Georgia, a gas station later that morning in Saint George, Georgia, and finally a pawn shop Sunday night in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

    Caitlyn is a player on the girls soccer team at Fort White High School, where Rodriguez is head coach for the boys soccer team.

    During the CCSO press conference Wednesday, Sherif f Mark Hunter described Rodriguez as a “family friend” of the Frisinas.

    The Columbia County School Board on Tuesday terminated Rodriguez for going AWOL.

    CAITLYNContinued From 1A

    COURTESY CCSO

    Surveillance footage shows Rian Rodriguez walking in Parker Jewelry and Pawn Shop on Sunday in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It was the last confirmed sighting of him or Caitlyn Frisina.

    A3

  • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 LOCAL LAKE CITY REPORTER 3A

    NOTICE OF LAND DEVELOPMENT

    REGULATIONS CHANGEThe Town of White Springs proposes

    to adopt the following ordinance:

    ORDINANCE 2017-01

    AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF WHITE SPRINGS, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TEXT OF ARTICLE FOUR OF THE TOWN OF WHITE SPRINGS LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, AS AMENDED; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CON-FLICT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION OF THIS ORDINANCE IN THE TOWN CODE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE

    A Public Hearing on the Ordinance will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers in Town Hall at 10363 Bridge Street, White Springs, FL 32096. A copy of the proposed Ordinance may be in-spected by any interested persons at the O�ce of the Clerk at Town Hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Ordinance may be inspected between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Thursdays. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) persons needing special accommodations to participate in the proceedings should contact the Town Clerk’s o�ce not later than three days prior to the public hearing at 386-397-2310.

    Any interested person may appear and be heard with respect to the proposed Ordinance. All persons are advised that, if they decide to appeal any decision made at this public hear-ing they will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose, they may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

    OBITUARIESCarlos Bell

    Mr. Carlos Bell age 71, of Lake City, FL departed this life on November 24, 2017 at Haven Hospice in Lake City, FL. View-ing will be from 5-7 P.M. Friday, December 1, 2017 at New Day Spring MB Church, Lake City FL. Home-Going celebration will be held Saturday December 2, 2017, 11:00 A.M. at New Day Spring MB Church, Lake City FL. Professional mortuary services entrusted to ERIC A. BROWN & SON FUNERAL HOME.

    Ronald Dean Donaldson, JrMr. Ronald Dean Donaldson,

    Jr., 47, a lifelong resident of Lake City, passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2017, following a brief illness. Ronald was a mem-ber of the Columbia High School Class of 1988 and was employed as a trucking dispatcher with H&M Bay, Inc.. Ronald was a family man who dearly loved his children and spending time with all of his family. In his spare time

    he enjoyed fishing and anything to do with the Seminoles. Ronald was a member of the Northside Baptist Church. He was preceded in death earlier this year by his beloved mother, Virginia Diane Donaldson. Ronald is survived by his father, Ronald Dean Don-aldson, Sr.; his daughters, Holly Staley (Kyle)of Camp Lejeune, NC; and Leah Ashley Donaldson, Fort Bragg, NC; his sons, Trent & George Donaldson both of Oc-ala, FL; a sister, Lori Donaldson Harkey (Burl) and his nephew, Levi Harkey all of Lake City. Numerous other family members and friends also survive. Friends and family are invited to attend Graveside Funeral Services for Ronald this Sunday, December 3rd at 2:00PM in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery (locat-ed on Highway 100 East) in Lake City. Arrangements are under the direction of the DEES-PAR-RISH FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 458 South Marion Ave., Lake City, FL. 386-752-1234

    Marla Harrison Marla Harrison, 61, of Lake

    City, passed away October 27 at North Florida Regional Hospital following a short illness.

    Marla was a native of Bran-don, Florida, was a graduate of Lee High School in Jack-sonville and studied Psychology and Sociology at the University of Arizona. She was a resident of Lake City, having recently moved from Wellborn where she lived for the past 14 years on the Hogan family farm. Marla was a former store manager at Block Buster in Lake City and Jacksonville.

    Marla was a kind, compas-sionate and caring woman who would help anyone in their time of need. Marla loved everyone; she loved her friends, her fam-ily and knew no strangers. She loved her many pets and all of God’s creatures. She was a free

    spirit and loved the Lord. Her smile, laughter, and exuber-ance for life cheered so many and brightened all on her path.

    Marla was preceded in death by her father, Bob Nelms, and her brother, Lamar Nelms. Surviving is her mother, Mon-ica Montez of Pinellas Park.

    A Celebration of Life will be held on December 5 at 11 AM at the Wellborn Bap-tist Church, 4146 Lowe Lake Road, Wellborn, Fl 32094

    Obituaries are paid advertisements and should be

    received no later than 1 p.m. the day before the obituary is to be

    published .

    For details, call the Lake City Reporter’s classified department

    at 752-1293.

    Jim Nabors, TV's homespun Gomer Pyle and singer, dies at 87By AUDREY McAVOYAssociated Press

    HONOLULU — Jim Nabors, the Alabama-born comic actor who starred as TV’s dim but good-heart-ed Southern rube Gomer Pyle and constantly surprised audiences with his twang-free operatic singing voice, died Thursday. He was 87.

    Nabors, who underwent a liver transplant in 1994 after contracting hepatitis B, died peacefully at his home in Hawaii after his health had declined for the past year, said his husband, Stan Cadwallader, who was by his side.

    “Everybody knows he was a won-derful man. And that’s all we can say about him. He’s going to be dearly missed,” Cadwallader said.

    The couple married in early 2013 in Washington state, where gay mar-riage had recently been made legal. Nabors’ friends had known for years that he was gay, but he had never said anything to the media.

    “It’s pretty obvious that we had no

    rights as a couple, yet when you’ve been together 38 years, I think some-thing’s got to happen there, you’ve got to solidify something,” Nabors told Hawaii News Now at the time. “And at my age, it’s probably the best thing to do.”

    Nabors became an instant success when he joined “The Andy Griffith Show” in the early 1960s. The character of Gomer Pyle, the unworldly, lovable gas pumper who would exclaim “Gollllll-ly!” proved so popular that in 1964 CBS starred him in “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”

    In the spinoff, which lasted five seasons, Gomer left his hometown of Mayberry to become a Marine recruit. His innocence confounded irascible Sgt. Vince Carter, played by Frank Sutton.

    Audiences saw another side of Nabors in appearances in TV variety programs — his booming baritone.

    The contrast between his homespun humor (“The tornado was so bad a hen laid the same egg twice”) and his full-throated operatic arias was stunning.

    For two seasons beginning in 1969, CBS presented “The Jim Nabors Hour,” on which he joshed with guest stars, did sketches with Sutton and fellow “Gomer” veteran Ronnie Schell, and sang country and opera.

    Offstage, Nabors retained some of the awed innocence of Gomer. At the height of his fame in 1969, he admitted, “For the first four years of the series, I didn’t trust my suc-cess. Every weekend and on every vacation, I would take off to play nightclubs and concerts, figuring the whole thing would blow over some day.

    “You know somethin’? I still find it difficult to believe this kind of accep-tance. I still don’t trust it.”

    After the end of his variety show, Nabors continued earning high sala-ries in Las Vegas showrooms and in concert theaters across the country.

    Nabors

    His smile will ‘never leave anyone’By TAYLOR [email protected]

    On any given day, you could find the kids at the Suwannee River.

    The brothers and cousins tub-ing, fishing and just hanging out.

    “Those children were always together,” Andrea Slaughter said. “They always played together. They followed each other around even when they didn’t want the other following them.”

    Tuesday was no different. Branden Slaughter and some of

    his brothers and cousins were out at the river that day.

    “He didn’t want to wait for his uncle to get there to pick him up,” said Andrea, his aunt. “And he

    started walking.” Branden wouldn’t make it home

    that night. As he walked over a narrow bridge on U.S. Highway 27 east of State Road 349 about 6 p.m., he was hit by a car and killed.

    He was 15. “We wish we could hear his

    voice again,” Andrea said.Andrea, who lives in Georgia,

    came down as soon as she heard about the accident. She said Branden’s grandfather was the only one able to get to the scene and be with him when he died.

    “By the time we got here, every-thing was cleaned up,” she said.

    Branden, a home-schooled eighth-grader, was planning to enroll in school in Georgia next

    year where his parents work. On the weekends, they live in Branford.

    His father, Walter Shane Slaughter Sr., and stepmother, Victoria Slaughter, were not pre-pared to talk publicly, but Andrea said she want-ed to help peo-ple remember Branden as best she could.

    H o n e s t l y , Andrea said, he’ll be hard to forget.

    “That smile that he had will never leave anyone,” she said. “That’s what’s gonna be in their hearts, and that’s what they’re gonna see when they close their eyes and when they open them. That’s what I see when I close my eyes, and I’m pretty sure every-one that knows him will be the

    same way.” Andrea said Branden was some-

    one who loved making friends no matter where he went. He often approached people, smiling, and said, “What’s up, cuz?” He liked fishing, tubing and chasing his own desires.

    At the same time, Andrea said, whenever you asked him to do something, he would do it.

    “His heart was so big,” she said.

    When she heard the news, Andrea drove from Georgia to Florida as fast as she could. They had just been visiting town last weekend for Thanksgiving.

    “I had just seen him,” she said. “I had just talked to him, just seen him. Next thing I knew, he’s gone.”

    Andrea started an online fund-raiser for Branden’s funeral soon after she arrived in town. The

    fundraiser — at gofundme.com/branden-slaughter-funeral — has already raised almost $600.

    Andrea has not been surprised at the outpouring of support.

    “I wasn’t, because I knew how loved Branden was,” she said. “They thought they weren’t gonna get anything, but I knew that Branden was the type of kid everybody enjoyed being around.”

    In a difficult time, Andrea has been thinking a lot about a time when things were easier, perfect even.

    It was July 4 of this year. Andrea, Branden, parents, brothers, sis-ters, cousins were all together at the river. Tubing, just hanging out.

    “Nobody argued. Nobody fought. Everybody had a good time. It was a perfect day for our family,” Andrea said.

    “Everyone was there.”

    Branden Slaughter, hit by car and killed, loved the river and made friends easily.

    Slaughter

    Photos by KAYLA LOKEINSKY/Lake City Reporter

    Students turn science project into fundraiser for Belmont AcademyLEFT: Belmont Academy sixth grade students Tristen Bocanegra (left) and Kayla Bocanegra (right) stand with their project mentor Tomika Clements after presenting a check on Thursday to the Belmont Academy Science Department. Tristen did a science fair project on the incubation of chicken eggs and Kayla did her project on embreonics. The two incubated, hatched and cared for chicks after they hatched with the help of Clements and decided to sell the chickens and donate the money they raised — $42 — back to the science department at Belmont. RIGHT: Tristen and Kayla are pictured with Belmont Academy Assistant Principal Dominique Ward and science teacher Erin Adams after they donated the profits from their science fair project back to the science department at their school. 

  • T ake a moment to look towards your right. Is there a person there? Are they an enemy? Take a look to the left. Is someone there? Are they your enemy? If neither of them is your worst enemy, guess what, Your worst enemy could be you! For many, if not most of us, we get in our own way more than any problems caused by someone who doesn’t like us, or wishes us ill will!

    Psychologists call the phenom-enon of “getting in your own way” “resistance.” I believe that resis-tance is what happens when we really want something, or want to do something, but avoid it because of a fear of exposure or risking something that might change us in a way we’re not ready for, or that might jeopardize our quality of life. Freud first identified resistance as a “defense mechanism,” a resistance to change, and a way we protect ourselves, from risk of damage to our relationships or our lifestyle. Some defensive behavior can rea-sonably protect us. But the psychol-ogist’s manual, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, defines a mental health issue as a “disorder” when it severely affects one or more major areas of our lives — like our social life, career, or ability to function pro-ductively in our own lives. So, prob-ably all of us use some “resistance” in our lives, for self-protection.

    The recent psychology of positive thinking describes “resistance” in a more positive light: as an obstacle, or a challenge, that can be a positive way to view problems, learn to over-come them, and move in a positive direction towards self-development, self-fulfillment, and that happier, bet-ter life. Don’t we all deserve that? Here’s how you can use it and put it to work for yourself.

    First of all, there’s hope for each of us, no matter who we are, or what our situation is. A higher level of happiness is possible for anyone. Your future exists only as possibil-ities; things may happen to you, and fate may play a hand in your life. But your power to change, and

    become the best person you can be, is basically unlimited. Psychology is the scientific body of knowledge of how we think, what we do, and how we feel. And “positive psychology” tells us that we aren’t “victims” of our feelings and how we respond to those feelings; instead, it’s really about how you think, and what you do. You are what you think, and you are what you do with what you’ve got to work with.

    So, what can you do? Change your thinking. You really can choose to think about understanding and dealing with situations and chal-lenges that life throws your way. Instead of thinking, “I haven’t got the money or the time to fix this,” or “I wasn’t accepted, so I have to give up!” look for the positive side. “I can do this without spending much money.” “Life is long. I’ll take whatever time it takes, over the long haul, to reach my dreams!” “One step at a time!” Scientific research shows us that those who have pos-itive attitudes, and think positively, are much more likely to reach their goals, and improve both the quality and the length of their lives. On the average, positive folks live 7 to 10 years longer than pessimists!

    Also, change your behavior. To reach for your goals and dreams, what needs to happen? What do you need to do now, or this month, and how can you choose and schedule little steps every day to reach for those goals? What are some ways you overcome that obstacle, resolve it, go around it, climb over it, or plunge through it, and get some-thing done in the direction of your dreams? Schedule those small steps into your calendar. Watch for the good results. When your thinking and your actions are positive, your feelings will follow—and those results you want will begin to show up. And that better, happier life that we all deserve can happen. Go for it.

    OPINION

    Lake City ReporterServing Columbia County Since 1874

    The Lake City Reporter is published with pride for residents of Columbia and surrounding coun‑ties by Community Newspapers Inc.

    We believe strong newspapers build strong communities —‑“Newspapers get things done!”

    Our primary goal is to publish distinguished and profitable community‑ oriented newspapers.

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    Friday, December 1, 2017 www.lakecityreporter.com 4A

    Lake City ReporterServing Columbia County Since 1874

    The Lake City Reporter is published with pride for residents of Columbia and surrounding coun‑ties by Community Newspapers Inc.

    We believe strong newspapers build strong communities —‑“Newspapers get things done!”

    Our primary goal is to publish distinguished and profitable community‑ oriented newspapers.

    This mission will be accomplished through the teamwork of professionals dedicated to truth, integrity and hard work.

    Todd Wilson, PublisherRobert Bridges, Editor

    Dink NeSmith, PresidentTom Wood, Chairman

    Who is your worst enemy?

    Human progress is bound only by the limits of human imagination, and the boundaries are dis-appearing at warp speed. Information technology is lending an invisible hand to major sectors of human activity, and robots are muscling in on the rest. Whether it’s all, or just mostly, to the good is a subject for ethi-cists, philosophers and theologians. For everyone else, the challenge is simply how to adjust.

    Commerce makes the world go ‘round, and that’s not likely to change. Amazon, the world’s largest internet retailer, along with other Web-based sellers, moved a step closer to making rapid delivery via unmanned aerial vehicles a reality when President Trump signed an exec-utive order last month granting local governments more authority to test the use of drones for deliveries.

    The prospect of freeing the nation’s crowded road-ways from trucks and delivery vans is a welcome one. Pilot programs for drones, like Amazon’s Prime Air and Alphabet’s Project Wing, must earn their wings by demonstrating that a gust of wind or a dropped remote signal won’t send a whirligig laden with pizza and a six-pack into a tailspin that cracks a windshield or a pedes-trian’s skull. Truckers with foresight will practice drone skills in anticipation of the day when the boss hands them a remote control instead of the keys to the truck.

    Amazon is further experimenting with a store without cashiers, where customers simply collect their purchases and head for the door. Amazon Go, currently being tested in Seattle, uses “just walk out” technology that includes a tracking system equipped with product sensors and cameras to add up the bill and deliver it to the shopper’s smartphone. Designing the system requires the exper-tise of research scientists and engineers paid far more than the starter wages paid to teenage cashiers. Once the virtual employee is perfected, economy of scale is likely to steal the occupations of flesh and blood workers. Automation is expected to eliminate 73 million jobs by 2030, according to the McKinsey Global Institute.

    Americans are already bracing for the rise of the machines. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that two-thirds of those surveyed expect stores to be fully automated within the next 20 years, and 65 per-cent say they believe most deliveries in urban areas will be handled by drones.

    The armed forces are always on the scout for a few good men (and women, too) to fight the nation’s wars, but that, too, could change. Advanced nations are devel-oping fully autonomous weapons — “killer robots” — to serve as expendable mechanical warriors. Saving lives from the battlefield meat grinder is a worthy goal, but malfunctioning robots might kill with the indiscriminate abandon of a video game. The United Nations is current-ly drafting a set of rules governing weapons capable of destroying targets without human control. It’s a step that must precede further developments in the martial arts.

    The advent of robots that make war may be accompa-nied by robots that make love (or a reasonable enough facsimile). Companies around the world are manufac-turing lifelike sexbots (mostly female) that look and feel like the real thing. A brothel in Barcelona has replaced its live women with soft polymer models.

    In the era of hypersensitivity to sexual harassment, manufactured companionship may seem a safe alterna-tive. But with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, computer scientists say human-like machines are on the cusp of self-awareness. The day may not be far off when a comely robot jolts the world with cries of rape. “The future,” as the eminent philosopher Yogi Berra warned us, “ain’t what it used to be.”

    A N O T H E R V I E W

    Automation nation

    n Washington Times

    It wasn’t broke, so why “fix” it? That’s how Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, the University of Chicago-trained lawyer who is a passionate apostle of free-market capitalism, frames his push to repeal “net neutrality” rules for internet service providers (ISPs) adopted by the FCC in 2015. The rules ensure that ISPs can’t arbitrarily decide which websites load faster or slow-er, nor can they impose a surcharge allowing websites to load faster.

    “President Clinton got it right in 1996 when he established a free market-based approach to this new thing called the internet,” Pai told NPR this week. “We saw companies like Facebook and Amazon and Google become global powerhouses precisely because we had light-touch rules.”

    Pai was appointed chair of the FCC by President Donald Trump in January after serving as an FCC commissioner since 2012. He appears to have the votes to repeal net neutrality and replace it with his Restoring Internet Freedom Order plan, under which ISPs could charge websites and applications extra for faster loading, so long as they disclosed what they were doing. Pai’s plan would also move the authority to handle enforcement of proper ISP behavior back to the

    Federal Trade Commission, where it resided until 2015.

    But there is a fundamental prob-lem with Pai’s argument. Yes, it’s true that the free market and a lack of regulation did allow the internet to flourish. But 2017 isn’t like 1997 or even 2007. Instead of being an anything-goes Wild West, internet service is increasingly monopolistic. In 2015, the fact that 55 percent of consumers had only one option for high-speed internet to download movies and music was the most pow-erful argument for net neutrality.

    Two years later, Americans are more reliant than ever on high-speed streaming — and ISPs are not just getting more involved in creating content, they are beginning to become dominant sources.

    Comcast — the nation’s largest provider of broadband service — owns NBCUniversal, which churns out TV series and movies and also owns MSNBC, CNBC, the Golf Channel, E! and USA Network.

    Comcast rival AT&T is seeking to buy Time Warner and get hold of its vast TV and film production assets as well as its CNN, TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network cable channels. While the Trump administration may be able to block the AT&T pur-chase, the trend of broadband pro-viders seeking to own the content they stream is sure to continue.

    That this creates immense, inher-ent conflicts of interest doesn’t bother Pai. But it should bother anyone who values Americans’ reli-able, guaranteed, consistent access to the internet. That’s especially so given Comcast’s history of unethical behavior. In 2008, it was rebuked by the FCC for blocking and impeding internet access for customers using the BitTorrent file-sharing service — and for lying about its interfer-ence until it became undeniable.

    Pai has defenders among econo-mists like Tyler Cowen who don’t believe scrapping net neutrality will lead to “nightmare or dystopian scenarios.” But it’s difficult to see Comcast’s past behavior and expect good things to happen in the parts of the nation in which Comcast is the only high-speed broadband option for millions of customers — and the company can put its thumb on the scale to help or hurt select websites or apps.

    With society’s reliance on dig-ital data (telemedicine, anyone?), the internet has become a core utility akin to water or electricity. Americans wouldn’t tolerate a water grid or power grid that played favorites. It would be a dangerous gamble for the FCC to do so with internet service.

    Why repealing ‘net neutrality’ is a gamble

    Your future exists only as possibilities; things may happen to you, and fate may play a

    hand in your life. But your power to change, and become the best person you can be, is basically unlimited.

    n San Diego Union-Tribune

    Bob [email protected]

    n Bob Denny retired from counseling troubled youth and families in Florida, and from teaching psychology at Florida Gateway College in 2015. My book, “Happiness is looking for you!” is on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Please address your comments to [email protected] or phone 386 454 4950.

  • FAITH & VALUESFriday & Saturday, December 1 & 2, 2017 www.lakecityreporter.com 5A

    To have your church listed in the directory or to be a sponsor, call 386-755-5440.

    Church DirectoryBAPTIST

    First Baptist ChurchBecause He Cares We Care

    Sunday Bible Study .................... 9:15 am Sunday Worship ...........10:30 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Study & Luncheon .......12 pm

    Downtown Lake City • 386-752-5422Pastor: Robert C. Bass

    Lantern Park Baptist Church(Independent Baptist)

    239 SE Llewellyn Ave • 386-752-5140 Sunday School ..............................10 am Sunday Worship ............................11 am Sunday Evening ..............................6 pm Wed. Prayer Meeting..................6:30 pm Wed. Kids-A-Flame ....................6:30 pm

    Pastor: Joshua Haney

    Olivet Missionary Baptist Church541 N.E. Davis Street • 386-752-1990

    Sunday School ...........................9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship ..............11 am Wed. Mid-Week Worship ............6:30 pm

    “In God’s Word, Will & Way”

    Pine Grove Baptist Church1989 N US Hwy 441 • 386-752-2664

    Sunday Bible Study .................... 9:45 am Sunday Worship ................11 am & 6 pm Wed. Kids & Youth Ministry .............6 pm Wed. Bible Study ........................6:30 pm

    Pastor: Ron Thompson

    Tabernacle Baptist Church(Independent Baptist)

    144 SE Montrose Ave. • 386-752-4274 Sunday School ..............................10 am Sunday Worship ............................11 am Sunday Eve. .....................................6 pm Wed. Prayer Meeting..................7:30 pm

    Pastor: Mike Norman

    CATHOLICEpiphany Catholic Church

    1905 SW Epiphany Court • 386-752-4470 Saturday Vigil Mass .........................5 pm Sunday Mass ..................8:00 am, 10:30 am Spanish Sunday Mass ............... 12:30 pm Sunday School/ Religious Education ... 9:15 am -10:15 am

    CHURCH OF CHRISTLake City Church of Christ

    656 SW State Rd. 47 • 386-752-6010 Sunday Bible Study .........................9 am Sunday Worship ................10 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Study .............................7 pm

    Minister: Brandon Brittonwww.lakecitychurchofchrist.org

    Northside Church of Christ378 NW Gibson Lane • 386-755-0393

    Sunday Bible Study ........................9 am Sunday Worship ...............10 am & 6 pm Wed. Bible Study ............................7 pm

    Minister: Philip J. Mobley Sr.www.thenorthsidecoc.com

    CHURCH OF GODEvangel Church of God

    370 SW Monitor Glen • 386-755-1939 Sunday School ...........................9:45 am Sunday Worship ......10:50 am & 6:30 pm Wed. Spiritual Enrichment ..............7 pm

    “Shock Youth Church” Boys and Girls Clubs • Bible Study

    Pastor: John R. Hathaway

    Lake City Church Of God173 SE Ermine Ave. • 386-752-5965

    Sunday School ...........................9:45 am Morning Worship ..................... 10:45 am Sunday Evening Worship .................6 pm Wednesday Evening ...................6:30 pm

    Pastor: Carroll Lee

    LUTHERANOur Redeemer Lutheran

    Church LCMS1 ½ miles S. of I-75 on SR 47 • 386-755-4299

    Sunday Services (nursery provided) ...10 am Christian Education Hour (all ages) ...11:30 am

    Pastor: Stephen Fair

    Grace Lutheran Church (CLC)9989 CR 136 Live Oak • 386-364-1851

    Sun School, Bible Class ............... 9:30 am Worship ................................... 10:30 am

    The Church of the Lutheran Confession

    Spirit of Christ (ELCA)145 Sweetbreeze Dr. • 386-752-3807

    Sunday Services: ........................ 9:30 amPastor: Rev. Joy Bolander

    METHODISTWatertown Congregational

    Methodist ChurchU.S. 90 E. turn on Cortez (next to Quality Ind.)

    right on Okinawa. Sunday School ...........................9:45 am Sunday Worship ................11 am & 6 pm Wed. Night Service ..........................7 pm

    Pastor: Randy Ogburn • 386-288-6143

    PENTECOSTALFirst Full Gospel Church

    NE Jones Way & NE Washington St. Sunday School ..............................10 am Morning Worship ..........................11 am Evangelistic Service .........................6 pm Youth Services - Wed. ......................7 pm Mid-week Service - Wed. ................7 pm

    Everyone welcome • Call 386-755-3408Pastor: Rev. Stan Ellis

    PRESBYTERIANFirst Presbyterian Church

    697 SW Baya Drive • 386-752-0670 Sun. School ................................9:15 am Sun. Worship ............................ 10:30 am NURSERY PROVIDED

    Pastor: Rev. Kenneth GoodrichMusic Director/Worship Coordinator:

    Tim Reddingwww.fpclc.org

    NON-DENOMINATIONALChrist Central Ministries

    Celebration Services ................9 & 11 am Wednesday Service .........................7 pm

    217 Dyal Ave., from Hwy 90 takeSisters Welcome Rd., go 5 miles, South,

    church on left. • 386-755-2525Lead Pastor: Lonnie Johns

    “A Church on the Move”

    Falling Creek Chapel1290 NW Falling Creek Road • 386-755-0580

    Sunday School ...........................9:30 am Sunday Worship ....................... 10:30 am Children’s Bible Study Thursdays.....5:30 pm

    Dinner on Grounds the last Sunday of the month following Sunday Worship

    EVERYONE WELCOME!

    Lake City Christian Church2400 SW SR 247 • 386-755-9436

    Sunday School ..............................9:30 amSunday Worship .......................... 10:30 amWednesday Prayer Meeting ...............7 pm

    Minister: Seth Byrd

    755-7050FREE DELIVERY • OVER 180 FLORIDA LOCATIONS

    LAKE CITY1701 S. 1st Street

    in Lake City Plaza

    MIKELL’S POWER EQUIPMENT, INC.Your Lawn & Garden Headquarters

    MOWERS • CHAIN SAWS • TRIMMERS1152 US 90 WEST • LAKE CITY, FL.

    386-752-8098

    ANDERSON COLUMBIA CO., INC.ASPHALT PAVING

    COMMERCIAL •INDUSTRIAL

    Site Preparation • Road Building • Parking LotsGrading & Drainage752-7585

    871 NW Guerdon St., Lake City

    GW Hunter, Inc.Chevron Oil

    Jobber

    1798 US 90 West • 752-5890

    North Florida Pharmacy

    7 Locations to Serve YouLake City, Ft. White, Branford,

    Chiefland, Mayo & Keystone Heights

    Competitive rates, not-for-profit,right here in your community.

    Lake City District 386-752-7447clayelectric.com

    Central StatesEnterprises

    Columbia County's Feed HeadquartersFEED - PET SUPPLIES - LAWN & GARDEN

    ANIMAL HEALTH668 NW Waldo St. 386-755-7445

    HARRY’SHeating & Air Conditioning Inc.

    Harry Mosley, President

    the environmentally sound refrigerant 752-2308

    Tires for every need.US 90 West across from Wal-Mart

    752-0054

    Open 7 Days a Week1036 E. Duval St., Lake City FL. (386) 752-0067

    Fresh Meat, Fresh Produce!“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”

    Philippians 4:13

    SAVE•A•LOTFOOD STORES

    386-752-8656Family Owned & OperatedCommercial & Residential

    The sign of Jonah is all that is given

    J esus responds to the Pharisees and Sadducees exactly as they asked for in Matthew 16:1-3.

    These religious, political leaders demanded that Jesus perform a sign for them that was from heaven to prove that he was the Messiah. This group of leaders wanted to test Jesus. This so called test was designed to trip him into making a mistake so that they could deny that he was the Messiah. If Jesus fell for this test then he would have sinned against his Father and he would not be able to be the sinless substitute to pay for our sin debt.

    The Pharisees believed in strict obedience to the Old Testament law along with their interpretation of it and their man-made traditions. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Old Testament and did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. This is an interesting passage where these two groups come together to test Jesus by demanding a sign from him that is from heaven.

    Here is a question for us to ponder: Am I demanding a sign from Jesus before I will believe in him and put my faith in him alone for salvation? His response to them is correct. They know how to interpret the weather for the day by looking at the sky, but they cannot make the correct spiritual interpretation because their spiritual eyes were blind.

    We generally fall into one of two camps. We are either a Pharisees or a Sadducee. As a Pharisees we believe in everything but demand that I am kept saved by my good works and judge others by their outward works instead of resting in the finished

    work of Christ on the cross. Or I am a Sadducee that only believes in certain parts of the Bible but not the miracles of God that are written in it. True biblical faith will be as it is defined in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.”

    Even today we must understand that, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to him must believe that He exist and rewards those who seek Him,” (Hebrews 11:6). You see Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and Sadducees is the same one that he gives us. The only sign that will be given to an evil and adulterous generation is the sign of Jonah. The sign of Jonah is that Jonah was in the belly of the big fish for three days and three nights and then was vomited out on to dry land. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sin debt, was buried and then was raised back to life on the third day. This is the best gift of all forgiveness of sins by God. Now my obedience to God is because I love him. Have you opened your gift of salvation that God has provided you in Jesus Christ?

    n Robert Bass is pastor of First Baptist Church of Lake City.

    Robert [email protected]

    The Christian’s dilemma with politics

    A lan K. Simpson, former senator from the state of Wyoming, once said, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

    As a former public servant he was referring to how those who are in power should conduct the public’s business. Sadly, it seems that integrity is in short supply in our nation’s capitol.

    This shortage of integrity is seen prominently in the public arena of national politics, and Christians are increasingly forced to decide between candidates where there is no clear moral choice. For the Christian who takes his convictions into the polling booth it can create a dilemma of conscience about which candidate to

    vote for.In the last presidential

    election several evangelical leaders were critical of Donald Trump’s supposed Christianity in light of several statements he made. Russell Moore was among them. He took some heat in his own denomination as a result of holding Donald Trump accountable for the things he said, and justly so.

    Some thought he was

    unduly critical of those who supported Trump, who was elected with the help of 81 percent of evangelicals. Moore clarified his position when he said, “There’s a massive difference between someone who enthusiastically excused immorality and someone who felt conflicted, weighed the options based on biblical convictions, and voted their conscience.”

    This may be what the electoral landscape looks like for some time to come. Christians may find themselves conflicted

    on Election Day with the choices they have.

    I believe it is a Christian citizen’s responsibility to be informed on the issues at stake in an election as best as he can, and then vote his convictions at the ballot box. I do not vote for personalities, I vote for those who I think will enact the policies that will best serve the citizens of our nation.

    The evangelical voice was influential in this past election and has become a target. There will be those who curry

    CHRISTIAN CONCEPTS

    Gary [email protected]

    I believe it is a Christian citizen’s responsibility to be informed on the

    issues at stake in an election as best as he can, and then vote his convictions at

    the ballot box.

    Find peace during the troubling times

    O n Christmas Day 1864, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow composed the poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” that later became one of our best loved Christmas carols.

    The poem tells of Longfellow’s experience of hearing the church bells ring out “peace on earth, good will to men” on Christmas Day during the darkest period of the Civil War. Still months away from Lee’s surrender to Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse, and grieving the tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling war injury of his son Charles, Longfellow penned the second stanza of the poem, “And in despair I bowed my head — There is no peace on earth I said — For hate is strong and mocks the

    song — Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

    If that were the last verse in the song, it would indeed pronounce a bleak Christmas. No doubt many may be feeling this way this year. Peace on earth doesn’t seem the prevalent theme after a year filled with political division and our nation at odds on so many issues. Many days, the news reports that hate is strong

    and mocks the hope of peace on earth. And as Longfellow experienced, while national issues rage, personal issues don’t press pause. People I know are facing Christmas in the midst of painful loss: the loss of a job and financial security, the breakup of a marriage and grieving the death of a loved one. Yet, it was in his own despair that Longfellow then heard the bells ring “more loud and deep” proclaiming “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep — The wrong shall fail, the right prevail — With peace on earth, good will to men.”

    We need to be reminded of this truth during the Christmas season. Perhaps during these most difficult days, we see even more clearly. Peace on earth will not be the result of politics or even people just getting along. Celebrating the simplicity of the very first Christmas points us back to the baby in a manger some 2,000 years ago, a baby who was foretold hundreds of years before, in the greatest of detail: “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government shall

    Peace on earth doesn’t seem the prevalent theme after a year filled with political division and our nation at odds on so many issues. Many days, the news

    reports that hate is strong ...

    HEART MATTERS

    Angie [email protected]

    DILEMMA continued on 6A

    PEACE continued on 6A

  • 6A FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 RELIGION LAKE CITY REPORTER

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    New money market account must be opened during the time period of 11/1/17 – 11/30/17 and must be funded with money

    currently not on deposit at Florida Credit Union. **Minimum balance to open account is $5currently not on deposit at Florida Credit Union. **Minimum balance to open account is $50,000.00. Introductory APY will apply

    from account opening until 12/31/17 regardless of account opening date. Balances $10,000.00-$24,999.99 will earn 0.15% APY,

    0.15% rate; $25,000.00-$49,999.99 will earn 0.20% APY, 0.20% rate; $50,000.00 - $4,999,999.99 will earn 1.25% APY, 1.24% rate;

    $5,000,000.00+ will earn 0.15% APY, 0.15% rate. On 1/1/18, all introductory rates/APYs will adjust to the then current money

    marmarket rate/APY as stated on www.flcu.org at that time. Dividends are compounded and credited monthly. You may not make

    more than a combined six transfers and/or withdrawals per month from this account. Withdrawals may reduce APY and fees

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    Federally insured by NCUA.

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    CHURCH CALENDARFish fry

    Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (5056 SW State Road 47, Lake City) will hold a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. today. Proceeds benefit the church’s missionaries. The meals cost $7. For more information, call 386-755-4299.

    Plant saleOur Redeemer Lutheran Church

    (5056 SW State Road 47, Lake City) will sell unusual — mostly indoor — plants, from A (Amorphophallus) to Z (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

    Christmas partyLulu Advent Christian Church (254

    SE Gillen Terrace, Lulu) will hold its annual community-wide Christmas Party on Saturday. The festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a covered dish dinner. The party will culminate with a live concert featuring the Lumber River Gospel Quartet (concert begins at 7 p.m). There will also be a gingerbread house decorating competition, tree lighting and much more. All are invited. For more information, call 386-755-6574 or visit www.luluchurch.com.

    Gospel singingThe Baileys will be in concert at 7 p.m.

    Saturday at Watertown Congregational Methodist Church, 1024 NE Okinawa St., Lake City.

    Movie presentationOur Redeemer Lutheran Church

    (5056 SW State Road 47, Lake City) will present “Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World” at 3 p.m. The presentation is free and popcorn will be served.

    Christmas concertsFirst United Methodist Church

    (973 S. Marion Ave., Lake City) invites residents to experience what Christmas is really about by attending one of their upcoming Advent music organ and piano concerts. Music will be performed from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, 15 and 22.

    Spaghetti dinnerOur Redeemer Lutheran Church

    (5056 SW State Road 47, Lake City) will hold a spaghetti dinner from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Dine in or take out for $7 donation. Proceeds benefit the church’s missionaries. For more information, call 386-755-4299.

    Christmas cantataThe combined Elim and Cornerstone

    choirs will present “One Small Child” at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at Elim Baptist Church on County Road 238 in Fort White and Cornerstone Baptist Church (22297 State Road 47, Fort White) at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. For more information, call 386-497-1972.

    ‘Getting through the holidays’Grace Lutheran Church (9989

    County Road 136, Live Oak) will offer a time of encouragement for those who have lost loved ones over the last year from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 386-364-1851.

    Clothing ministryThe Angels of Mercy, the outreach

    ministry of San Juan Catholic Mission in Branford, will open its Community Outreach Clothes Closet from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 and Friday, Jan. 19 at the church, 304 SE Plant Ave. in Branford. Needy residents are invited to visit the mission to find the clothing, jackets or blankets they need — free of charge. Also, for any residents who would like to contribute to the closet, the mission accepts donations of clean, slightly worn items, including winter jackets, clothes and blankets for children and adults. There is always a great need for baby clothing.

    AWANA programsn Gateway Baptist Church’s AWANA

    program is held each Sunday. AWANA

    is a Bible-based club divided into age appropriate groups so children can learn and interact with other children their age. Children participate in Council Time (Bible story), Handbook Time (memorizing scripture) and Game Time (unique fun and games). AWANA begins each Sunday evening at 5 p.m. Each week there is a light supper and then activities begin. Dismissal is at 7 p.m. For more information, call the church office at 386-755-4447.

    n Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church offers an AWANA program for all children 2 years old through fifth grade on Wednesdays. A light supper is provided at 5 p.m., which is followed by the program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The name AWANA is derived from the first letters of “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed,” (ref. II Timothy 2:15). Boys and girls receive Bible teaching, have regular Bible memorization, do written Bible work and enjoy games and food. The church is located at 1272 SW McFarlane Ave. in Lake City, adjacent to Summers Elementary School. For more information, call the church office on weekday mornings at 386-752-3513

    GriefShare changes schedule for holidays

    First United Methodist Church offers a nondenominational Bible-based support group on Tuesdays for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The group meets from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in the church’s fellowship hall. The group will not meet Dec. 26 or Jan. 2 because of the holidays. Meetings are open to the community, and participants do not have to attend every session. For more information, call 386-752-4488.

    Wonderful WednesdaysWonderful Wednesdays are back

    at First United Methodist Church of Lake City, 973 S. Marion Ave., Lake City. Programs start at 5 p.m. and dinner is served from 5:45 to 6:45. The cost for dinner is $5/adult, $3/child and $15.00/family. RSVP by Tuesday afternoons by emailing [email protected] or call 386-752-4488. Forms may also be placed in the offering plates on Sundays.

    Catholic faith education programA “Catholics Come Home” and “Adult

    Catholic Education Inquiry Program” is presented at San Juan Catholic Mission (304 Plant Ave. SE, Branford) the first and third Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8:15 p.m. The program offers continuing adult answers to faith questions and is open to all who desire a fuller understanding of the Catholic faith.

    Free conversational English for Spanish speakers class

    San Juan Mission hosts a free weekly conversational English class to assist Spanish speakers to communicate more effectively with conversational English. The class begins with very basic language skills, but the actual content will be geared to the needs of those who enroll in the class. Classes are held each Thursday evening from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Classes are held at San Juan Mission, 304 Plant Ave. SE, Branford. Lourdes George, the instructor, is a U.S. native who speaks fluent English, Spanish and German, and basic French. She has a very extensive multi-lingual educational and professional background. Lourdes recently returned home from a stay in Spain, where she taught English and German. For more information or to register for classes, call Janet Samson at 386-365-4049.

    Religion classes Would you like to learn more of what

    Jesus has done for you? Do you have questions about the Christian faith? For more information, call Grace Lutheran Church at 386-364-2851 or email [email protected].

    Spiritual Life: Learn to let go

    G iven the myriad self-storage units around our com-munity, you might agree that we have a problem letting go of things. In draw-ers, closets, garages, shops, sheds and the above-men-tioned units we keep, col-lect, hoard and store far more stuff than we will ever need or use.

    It’s not just stuff we can’t release, but experiences, memories and life itself.

    We joke that “you can’t take it with you.” Yet we seem to want all good things to last for all time and eternity, including life on earth. Some such desires are built into so-called “permanent” structures from pyramids to plazas; others are codified into deeply held religious convictions.

    If you read the not-so-whimsical book by Robert Fulghum, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” you probably chuckled when recalling the inno-cent wisdom gained in childhood. You may also know of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” or now, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” as they gently teach children about what matters, including how to let go of things in life.

    Children do their “work” in playtime. Part of that work is learning how to stop without whining, clinging or prolonging. I’ve

    witnessed a vital lesson through a little ditty shared with a child prior to the end of a playtime activity: “It’s almost time to stop, choose one more thing to do”; then afterward, “that was fun, but now we’re done.” So effective for children and so essential for adults!

    “It’s almost time to stop” and “now we’re done” are statements that teach how to accept limitations and boundaries in daily life. “Choose one more thing” teaches autonomy and agency, that the child is not without choices even if they are now limited. “That was fun” honors the natural delight of celebrating and appreciating what was expe-rienced.

    You probably see where I am going here. This paren-tal saying is a powerful, necessary parable for living and for dying. Learning — now more than ever — how to honor that “it is almost time” and “it is done.” Limitations and boundaries

    are built into the created order, including our being, belonging and doing.

    Accepting restraints is part of adulthood and of being mortal. Also, learning to honor self-determination — the opportunity and abili-ty to choose what ultimately matters. And learning again to honor that “it was fun” (life’s events and experi-ences) — I don’t think we celebrate and appreciate enough; we are too serious and busy.

    In my hospice work, I’m acutely aware of this prob-lem with letting go.

    The grossly dispro-portionate demands and resources expended in the face of frailty and dying reveal our whining, clinging and prolonging tendencies. Even devout people of faith seem unable to release what is a short-term gift from the Wise One.

    My prayer is that we will receive the joys that grace our lives, lean into and learn from the sorrows and disappointments, and respect and accept the limits and endings that will come. In this light, may we choose what matters most before we go home.

    And none of this will be found in a storage unit.

    n Timothy J. Ledbetter, DMin, BCC serves as a board certi�ed chaplain helping people in crisis e�ectively cope and �nd their hope in hospital and hospice settings.

    Timothy J. Ledbetter

    GUEST COLUMNIST

    the favor of evangelical voters and others who will try to silence it. As a voting block, evangelicals need to be wary of both possibilities. With the politics at stake, and when power is secured by the popular vote, many will resort to unscrupulous measures to win our votes.

    I am concerned when I see those who are called to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ becoming overly involved in the political arena. We need not sell our spiritual birthright for a mess of political pottage.

    We need to remember what Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” John 18:36. It was several years ago that Billy Graham commented on the

    state of things in America and his words ring true still today. In an interview with Christianity Today, he said, “The central issues of our time aren’t economic or political or social, important as these are. The central issues of our time are moral and spiritual in nature.”

    To that I say, amen!

    n Gary B. King can be reached at [email protected].

    be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The Prince of Peace is the One who will bring peace on earth. Isaiah 9:6 reminds us that indeed God is not dead, nor does He sleep; as He left heaven to come to earth, all because our hearts really do matter.

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

    n Heart Matters is a weekly column written by Angie Land, director of the Family Life Ministries of the Lafayette Baptist Association, where she teaches bible studies, leads conferences and o�ers biblical counseling.

    PEACEContinued From 5A

    DILEMMAContinued From 5A

    It’s just what the doctor ordered ...

    WEDNESDAYH E A LT H

    I N T H E L A K E C I T Y R E P O R T E R

    The latest healthcare and Medicare news.

    Diet and exercise tips.

    Health information for people of all ages.

    Physical & emotional health-related events happening locally.

    World health news.

    Subscribe today!386-752-1293

  • Lake City Reporter

    SPORTSFriday, December 1, 2017 www.lakecityreporter.com Section B

    Story ideas?

    ContactEric Jackson or Tony [email protected]@lakecityreporter.com

    PREP SOCCER: CHILES 7, COLUMBIA 1

    WHAT’S NEXT

    Columbia looks ahead the 8th annual Maclay Invitational this weekend. The Lady Tigers try to bounce back versus Florida High, Santa Fe and North Bay starting on Friday.

    WHAT IT MEANS

    Chiles is sitting steady at No. 2 behind undefeated Leon in District 2-4A standings. CHS and Gainesville remain winless in district play while Lincoln is pegged at No. 3.

    WHAT HAPPENED

    The Lady Tigers hosted the Lady Timberwolves Thursday. Chiles completed the regular season sweep on Columbia winning 7-1. Chiles picked up its fifth straight over CHS.

    FOUL MOOD Columbia girls not up to the challenge as Chiles pulls away in second half Thursday night

    BRENT KUYKENDALL/Special to the Reporter

    Columbia’s Lauren Hutcherson and Chiles’ Gabrielle O’Sullivan go up for a 50/50 ball during the district matchup at home Thursday night. The Lady Timberwolves rolled past the Lady Tigers in the Jungle.

    By ERIC [email protected]

    Columbia came out with spunk, looking for its first win over Chiles since 2015, but the Lady Timberwolves had other plans as they maintained their grip on the district series.

    In their first action since Thanksgiving break, the Lady Tigers struggled to stop the Lady Timberwolves’ offensive attack. Chiles forward Lindsey Scaringe led the way scoring her team’s first two goals in the 7-1 blowout victory over Columbia in the Jungle Thursday night.

    Chiles (5-2) dominated possession against Columbia (3-4) registering over nearly 20 shots during the league matchup. The Lady Tigers record-ed just five shots total as the Lady Timberwolves scored four goals after halftime to earn the lopsided league win.

    “If you don’t possess the ball, you’re going to lose,” said Columbia head coach Chip Garner. “Our possession had a lot to do with desire tonight. We had some players in new positions and it just did not click. We got to make some changes.”

    Columbia goalkeeper Emily Lamereaux did everything she could in a eight-save outing. Her performance was overshadowed though by the Lady Tigers’ constant shortcomings offensively. Columbia suffered down the stretch without standout scorer Irene Carrillo, who was out of town competing in a regional showcase.

    “It hurt a lot ,” Garner said of the absence of the top scoring threat. “When you lose somebody like that in the midfield, it’s hard to work around that. We don’t build around a single player though. Sometimes you just have those off nights, and this is one of them.”

    Chiles won its fifth straight over Columbia with help from Scaringe. The sophomore found the net as early as the 7th minute and followed with another goal just five minutes later. The Lady Tigers kept the Lady Timberwolves scoreless for most of the rest of the half until Margaret Harris scored in the team’s third goal in stoppage.

    Columbia’s offensive woes didn’t stop after half-time – and the once stout defense began to unravel in the early minutes of the second half.

    “They’re just really aggressive and our forwards we need to be more aggressive,” said Lauren Hutcherson, who scored Columbia’s lone goal.

    More photos from Thursday night’s match 6B

    PREP SOCCER

    McPeak takes over for boys coach RodriguezBy ERIC [email protected]

    Fort White assistant Clayton McPeak has been named interim head coach of the boys soccer team in the wake of Rian Rodriguez’s termination from the position. Rodriguez was fired Tuesday after going AWOL.

    McPeak will remain at the helm of the program for the remainder of the season, according to athletic director John Wilson. Rodriguez continues to be at-large with Fort White soccer player Caitlyn Frisina, who was last seen on Saturday evening.

    Ward Frisina, the father of the miss-ing 17-year-old, is expected to hold his position as Fort White girls coach. Frisina is in his fourth-year as the girls head coach. He and the Lady Indians don’t take the field again until next Tuesday.

    “As far as I know he wants to keep coaching,” said Wilson. “He’s still our coach.”

    While Fort White girls gear up again at Columbia next week, the boys team resumed its season Thursday night against Wakulla Christian.

    Fort White boys were defeated by Wakulla 4-3. The Indians will try to bounce back tonight against Baker County. Wilson says Tuesday night’s cancelled game versus Lafayette may still be rescheduled on a later date this season.

    Frisina will keep coaching Fort White girls

    COLLEGE FOOTBALL

    Frisina

    Rodriguez

    COURTESY

    FSU coach Jimbo Fisher stands on the sidelines at Florida last week. Fisher is expected to be the next head coach at Texas A&M, according to AP.

    By JOE REEDYAssociated Press

    TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher reiterated Thursday that he expects to be on the sideline Saturday for the regular-sea-son finale against Louisiana-Monroe.

    Many are anticipating it will be his final game with the Seminoles.

    A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that they think Fisher will leave Florida State for Texas A&M and that the school has started the process of vetting potential candidates. They spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Texas A&M nor Florida State has publicly discussed details of the Aggies coaching search.

    While Florida State was holding its final prac-tice for Saturday’s game, Texas A&M’s Board of Regents was meeting to discuss the hiring of a new coach. Athletic director Scott Woodward and chancellor John Sharp were also in the meeting when the board went to executive ses-sion.

    Fisher was seen talking to someone on his phone right before addressing the media.

    When asked what he expects the atmosphere to be like on Saturday, Fisher said “hopefully, great. Cheer loud, guys will play well and we’ll get a bowl game.”

    The Seminoles (5-6) need a win on Saturday to become bowl eligible for a 36th consecutive season.

    They were ranked third in the AP preseason poll but lost quarterback Deondre Francois in the opener against Alabama and were 3-6 at one point before winning their last two. Florida

    AP Source: FSU expects Fisher to leave for Texas A&M

    FISHER continued on 6B

    CHS continued on 6B

    B1

  • 2B FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 SPORTS LAKE CITY REPORTER

    TV LISTINGSToday

    AUTO RACING2 a.m. (Saturday)

    FS1 — FIA Formula E, HKT Hong Kong E-Prix, Race 1, at Hong Kong

    COLLEGE BASKETBALL11:30 a.m.

    CBSSN — Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, Holy Cross vs. Manhattan, at Belfast, Northern Ireland

    2 p.m.CBSSN — Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, La Salle vs.

    Towson, at Belfast, Northern Ireland7 p.m.

    BTN — Purdue at Maryland8 p.m.

    ESPN2 — North Carolina vs. Davidson, at Spectrum Center

    9 p.m.BTN — Illinois at Northwestern

    10 p.m.ESPN2 — Creighton at Gonzaga

    COLLEGE FOOTBALL8 p.m.

    ESPN — Pac-12 championship game, Southern Cal vs. Stanford, at Santa Clara, Calif.

    GOLF5:30 a.m.

    GOLF — European PGA, Sunshine & Asian Tours, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, second round, at

    Bel Ombre, Mauritius12:30 p.m.

    GOLF — Hero World Challenge, second round, at Albany, Bahamas

    9:30 p.m.GOLF — PGA Tour of Australasia, Australian

    PGA Championship, third round, at Gold Coast, Australia

    3:30 a.m. (Saturday)GOLF — European PGA, Sunshine & Asian

    Tours, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, third round, at Bel Ombre, MauritiusMIXED MARTIAL ARTS

    8 p.m.FS1 — The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale, prelims,

    at Paradise, Nev.10 p.m.

    FS1 — The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale, at Paradise, Nev.

    NBA BASKETBALL8 p.m.

    NBA — Minnesota at Oklahoma CityRUGBY

    4 a.m. (Saturday)FS2 — Rugby World Cup, final, Australia vs.

    England, at Brisbane, AustraliaSKIING

    12:30 p.m.NBCSN — FIS World Cup, Men’s Super G, at

    Beaver Creek, Colo.2:30 p.m.

    NBCSN — FIS World Cup, Women’s Downhill, at Lake Louise, Alberta

    SOCCER10 a.m.

    FS1 — FIFA, 2018 World Cup, Final Draw, at Moscow

    2:30 p.m.FS2 — Bundesliga, Freiburg vs. Hamsburg

    NBA GLANCEEASTERN CONFERENCE

    Atlantic Division W L Pct GBBoston 18 4 .818 —Toronto 13 7 .650 4Philadelphia 12 8 .600 5New York 11 10 .524 6½Brooklyn 8 13 .381 9½

    Southeast Division W L Pct GBWashington 11 10 .524 —Miami 10 11 .476 1Orlando 9 13 .409 2½Charlotte 8 12 .400 2½Atlanta 4 16 .200 6½

    Central Division W L Pct GBDetroit 14 6 .700 —Cleveland 14 7 .667 ½Indiana 12 10 .545 3Milwaukee 10 9 .526 3½Chicago 3 16 .158 10½

    WESTERN CONFERENCESouthwest Division

    W L Pct GBHouston 17 4 .810 —San Antonio 14 7 .667 3New Orleans 11 10 .524 6Memphis 7 13 .350 9½Dallas 5 17 .227 12½

    Northwest Division W L Pct GBPortland 13 8 .619 —Minnesota 13 9 .591 ½Denver 11 9 .550 1½Utah 10 11 .476 3Oklahoma City 8 12 .400 4½

    Pacific Division W L Pct GBGolden State 16 6 .727 —L.A. Clippers 8 11 .421 6½L.A. Lakers 8 13 .381 7½Phoenix 8 15 .348 8½Sacramento 6 15 .286 9½

    NFL GLANCEAMERICAN CONFERENCE

    East W L T Pct PF PANew England 9 2 0 .818 325 220Buffalo 6 5 0 .545 224 260N.Y. Jets 4 7 0 .364 228 257Miami 4 7 0 .364 174 289

    South W L T Pct PF PATennessee 7 4 0 .636 242 269Jacksonville 7 4 0 .636 269 168Houston 4 7 0 .364 283 285Indianapolis 3 8 0 .273 195 300

    North W L T Pct PF PAPittsburgh 9 2 0 .818 258 193Baltimore 6 5 0 .545 236 187Cincinnati 5 6 0 .455 199 215Cleveland 0 11 0 .000 166 289

    West W L T Pct PF PAKansas City 6 5 0 .545 272 236L.A. Chargers 5 6 0 .455 249 202

    Oakland 5 6 0 .455 225 261Denver 3 8 0 .273 197 280

    NATIONAL CONFERENCEEast

    W L T Pct PF PAPhiladelphia 10 1 0 .909 351 191Dallas 5 6 0 .455 248 270Washington 5 6 0 .455 258 276N.Y. Giants 2 9 0 .182 172 267

    South W L T Pct PF PANew Orleans 8 3 0 .727 322 222Carolina 8 3 0 .727 248 207Atlanta 7 4 0 .636 265 230Tampa Bay 4 7 0 .364 223 262

    North W L T Pct PF PAMinnesota 9 2 0 .818 271 195Detroit 6 5 0 .545 294 264Green Bay 5 6 0 .455 232 261Chicago 3 8 0 .273 177 252

    West W L T Pct PF PAL.A. Rams 8 3 0 .727 329 206Seattle 7 4 0 .636 266 212Arizona 5 6 0 .455 203 278San Francisco 1 10 0 .091 187 284

    Agent contests Tennessee fine for violation of state law

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Florida-based sports agent is contesting a fine imposed by Tennessee of more than $25,000 for representing a pitching prospect from the state before registering as an athlete’s agent with the Tennessee Secretary of

    State’s office.David Sloane had been facing a $50,740 fine for representing Jordan Sheffield and Justus

    Sheffield. The fine was reduced to $25,740 last week when the counts involving his representa-

    tion of Jordan Sheffield were dropped.Sloane, who no longer represents either

    Sheffield brother, said he was unaware of the Tennessee state law requiring registration at the

    time and that he assumed his Florida license would carry over to other states. He noted that he’s been representing major league baseball players for over four decades and that he reg-istered in Tennessee once he became aware of

    the law.“That is a law that is not widely known to the business community, as well as to the public

    at large,” Sloane said Thursday at a hearing. “As soon as I became aware of the requirement to

    register, I registered immediately. Within 10 days of becoming aware of the requirement, the state of Tennessee had my application and my check for $500. As to any acts I committed, they were acts of omissions, not commission. They were

    unintentional.”A ruling on the fine will come at a later date.

    Sloane cited a 2011 press release from Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office about

    an update to the state’s sports agent law that acknowledged: “It isn’t widely known, but the

    State of Tennessee does play a role in regulating the activities of sports agents who operate in

    our state.”

    No. 12 UCF hosts No. 16 Memphis in rematch for AAC title

    No. 16 Memphis (10-1, 7-1 AAC, CFP No. 20) at No. 12 UCF (11-0, 8-0, CFP No. 14), American Athletic Conference championship, Saturday,

    noon ET (ABC)

    Line: UCF by 7.Series record: UCF leads 10-1. Knights won Sept.

    30 in Orlando 40-13.

    WHAT’S AT STAKE?A spot in a New Year’s Six game is up for grabs in a matchup of the nation’s top two scoring

    offenses. UCF, which joins Wisconsin as the only remaining unbeaten teams, leads the nation at 48.3 points per game and Memphis is second

    at 47.0.

    KEY MATCHUPUCF Adrian Killins Jr. vs. Memphis run