By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Austin Fairchild was driving his company work truck when a Wakulla County Sheriff’s deputy came up behind him with lights and siren. He moved off the road to let the vehicle pass, but it pulled in behind him.

It was on July 28 at around 3:30 p.m. in front of the courthouse.
Unknown to Fairchild, a Flock camera U.S. 98 at Ochlockonee Bay had hit on the work truck’s tag and it was reported as a stolen vehicle.
Deputy Arturo Cordoba used his loud speaker to order him: “Driver, roll your window down” and “Driver, put your hands out the window.” Fairchild was then told to open the vehicle door and approach him.
Fairchild was alarmed that the deputy had a one hand on his weapon.
Eventually, it was determined that the stop was the result of a misread tag.
But Fairchild was shaken by the incident, and said he now suffers from anxiety and difficulty sleeping. He has filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

It is with great sadness I note the passing of retired Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls on Saturday, Aug. 28. He was the circuit judge assigned to Wakulla County for many years.

Back in the old days, I’d sometimes bring one of my three daughters to work with me, usually on court days, and we’d sit in Judge Sauls’ courtroom. My youngest daughter, Harper, misunderstood the judge’s last name and called him “Judge Saucer.”
He gained notoriety in the 2000 election debacle and presided over Gore v. Bush in Leon County. When the Florida Supreme Court rejected his decision, he stepped down from the case without explanation.
A lot of news stories from that time described him as “folksy.” I always thought he was down-to-earth, and didn’t have time for folderol. And he had a wry sense of humor.
I recall one time he ordered bailiffs to take a disruptive defendant and duct tape his mouth shut.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Golden Eagle in Tallahassee at 2 p.m.

William Snowden is the editor and publisher of The Wakulla Sun.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The Wakulla War Eagles got their second victory of the season, a hard-fought 25-19 win over a tough Taylor County Bulldog team.
Head Coach Derek Allen Jr. said it was a “sloppy” game – lots of mistakes and penalties. “Difficult playing in that environment” of Perry. But he was pleased that War Eagle fans packed the stands as well, and credited the fans with helping get the win.
Some of the sloppiness included four unsportsmanlike penalties on Wakulla – with two of those going against Ryheem Moore, receiver and safety, which led to him being ejected.
The first call was after a receiving touchdown. Coach Allen said players get 5 seconds to celebrate and Moore exceeded that limit, according to referees.

The second foul came after referees met with both coaches and warned there was lots of unsportsmanlike conduct. Right after that, Moore made a tackle on the scrambling Bulldog quarterback and appeared to flex as he stood up, drawing a flag and ejection.
The game was notable as well in seeing Coach Allen’s rushing attack with multiple running backs. Quarterback Ashton Brooks shared time with Jaylen Jones, who played quarterback for Coach Allen last season in Blountstown, and RB Danny Godbolt came in and ran a wildcat play.
With the game on the line in the 4th quarter, the War Eagles up by 6 points, they took over with about 4 minutes left.
“I told the boys we only need one or two first downs to run out the clock,” Coach Allen said.
And that’s what they did.
The team combined rushing totaled 281 yards. Offensive player of the week was RB Nigel Cloud who gained 90 yards on 17 carries, including a touchdown.
QB Brooks was named MVP of the week, going 10 of 13 passing for 158 yards and a TD.
Defensive player was linebacker Cedric Hicks who had 3 tackles and a forced fumble.
A special teams player was Jaylen Jones with a blocked PAT and a tackle. (He also scored an offensive touchdown.)

GAME RECAP

Wakulla took the opening kickoff and the first drive stalled behind numerous penalties. On the punt, the ball sailed over the punter’s head and was a scoop and score by the Bulldogs. Extra point was blocked. Taylor up 6-0.
Taylor tried an onside kick, but Wakulla recovered it at midfield. The War Eagle drive was feeding running back Nigel Cloud, who completed the drive with a touchdown run, dragging defenders into the end zone with him. War Eagles go for 2 point conversion but come up short. Tied at 6.
Bulldogs couldn’t move the ball and punted. Wakulla takes the punt at the 45 and drive down and score on a 10-yard TD pass to Rhyeem Moore. He’s called for unsportsmanlike on celebration. Extra point missed. Wakulla 12-6.
Bulldog next drive: long pass to inside the 20. Couple of plays later it’s first and goal at the 4. Halfback pass for a score. PAT good. Taylor up 13-12.
On Wakulla’s next drive, they get a 27-yard field goal by kicker Colby Carrranza to take a 15-13 lead.
Bulldog fumble on their next drive, but Wakulla can’t move the ball. Punt from deep in their own territory goes off the side of the punter’s foot, downed at 25. Bulldogs take advantage of the short field and score on a touchdown pass. Extra point no good. Taylor up 19-15 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Jaylen Jones as QB scores on a rushing touchdown. Extra point makes it 22-19.
In the 4th quarter, Carranza added a 30-yard field goal to make it Wakulla 25-19 with 6 minutes remaining.
Bulldogs forced to punt on their next possesion and Wakulla ran the ball to run out the clock. Final: Wakulla 25, Taylor 19.
While it was sloppy, Allen said “It’s always good to find a win.”
War Eagles are 2-0 on the young season.

UP NEXT: CHILES
TIMBERWOLVES

Wakulla travels to Tallahassee this Friday night to play the Chiles Timberwolves.
Coach Allen noted Chiles is 1-1. He noted they won their first game by 50 points and then were locked in a 14-14 tie with Florida High last week before falling in the second half 24-14.
“They’re no pushover,” Allen said, addding that his War Eagles would have to play more fundamental football.
“We’ve got to play more disciplined,” he said.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The county administration released a plan last week that looks at how the county government would reduce costs if Amendment 3 passes in November.
Amendment 3 is the property tax plan proposed by the state Legislature that would increase Homestead Exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 the following year.

The proposal would have devastating conequences on Wakulla County’s budget, which is dependent on property taxes to pay for general services. The county anticipates a $5.5 million impact to revenues the first year.
How County Administrator David Edwards and Assistant Administrator Somer Pell propose to deal with this was outlined in a 172-page report released on Thursday, Aug. 20, just before noon.
“As a fiscally constrained county, careful long-term planning is essential,” according to a press release announcing the plan. “This plan reflects the County’s commitment to fiscal responsibility as we prepare for potential changes in available resources. Opportunities for public engagement to be announced shortly.”
The press release notes that the priority is to “protect mandated services that the County is required by state or federal law” over services that are authorized by law but not required.
The highest priority, the plan states, is to protect public safety – through the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and Wakulla Fire Rescue and other services.
Some “amenity services,” while they “significantly enhance the community,” would be reduced to focus on core government services.
To that end, the county would have a hiring freeze and seek to achieve reductions in staff through attrition.

• It’s proposed that the public library would be reduced to four days a week, and programs reduced.
• The Veterans Service Officer position, currently part-time, would be cut and seek to outsource that role to the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars, with $10,000 from the county to help pay for it.
• Stop offering county recreation sports leagues, and shift that to athletic associations like the Cal Ripkin Assocation. The county would still maintain the Medart Rec Park.
• Reduce services to certain county parks by locking bathrooms, removing trash cans and disconnecting utlities at Azalea, Hickory and Guy E. Revell Conservation parks in Crawfordville, Shell Point Beach Park in Shell Point, Woolley Park in Panacea, and Mash Island Park in Ochlockonee Bay.
  Facilities would remain open and available for continued rental opportunities as long as they remain financially self-supporting at Hudson Park and the Community Center in Crawfordville; and the Newport Park, Panacea Community Center and Medart Rec Park.
• Reduce Animal Control to emergency calls only – no call-outs for strays – and either close the Adoption Center, or have another organization take it over.
• Privatize county probation office, which oversees probation for misdemeanor offenders.
• As for the Wakulla Airport, the grass airstrip at Tarpine, the county would either seek to have the Tarpine Homeowners Association take it over or else close it.
• The plan would also see the county seek to get rid of some properties that cost money for maintenance – the Old Courthouse, for example, which is the headquarters of the Wakulla Chamber of Commerce; and the Old Jail, which is a historical museum operated by the Wakulla County Historical Society.
  The Old Jail, for which the county pays for utilities, insurance, plan suggests transferring to the historical society; and look at a long term lease or transfer of the Old Courthouse to the Chamber.
  The full report is available on the county’s website, mywakulla.com

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Former County Commissioner Mike Kemp filed a federal lawsuit last week against the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and named individually Wakulla Detective Chris Ormerod, claiming the detective was biased in his investigation that led to two felony criminal charges against Kemp.

Kemp was charged with using a public record to harass and tampering with a witness, both felonies, for providing the voter ID of a Wakulla resident to the administrator of Wakulla Citizens Page as they sought to identify an anonymous troll known by the name “Thunder Lightening” (sic) who was highly critical of them.
A third person, Deputy Don Newsome, was charged with aiding Kemp by providing information.
Kemp’s lawsuit, filed by attorney Anthony Sabatini, a former representative at the Florida House, claims that Detective Ormerod was out to get Kemp, and that his investigation of the matter was biased against Kemp.
The lawsuit claims Kemp was falsely arrested without probable cause by Detective Ormerod and the sheriff’s office “in response to his political expression and discussion of information connected to a public political dispute.”
The lawsuit also claims that Kemp’s status as a reserve deputy with the agency was exculpatory as far as his dealings with Newsome. (The presiding judge in the felony case, Jeremiah Hawkes, dismissed that contention in a hearing, noting that Kemp was not communicating with Newsome on official business related to the sheriff’s office.) Kemp retired as major with the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office before running for county commission.
Kemp’s lawsuit claims that Ormerod’s conduct was “intentional, malicious, reckless and/or undertaken with callous indifference to Kemp’s federally protected rights.” It seeks compenstory and punitive damages against Ormerod as an individual.
The Facebook page administrator, Becky Whaley, and Deputy Newsome entered a deferred prosecution with the state to drop the charges in exchange for admissions and an agreement to testify against Kemp.
Circuit Judge Hawkes dismissed the charge of use of a public record to harass finding that Kemp was within his rights as a candidate to respond to political speech on the internet from a critic. The state attorney’s office appealed the decision – and it is still pending at the 1st District Court of Appeal.
The tampering charge was dropped days before Kemp was to stand trial.
When Thunder Lightening account posted something about his wife being nearly hit by a speeding white panel truck, Kemp asked Newsome to look up the case. It was, however, a different case and a different victim. County Commissioner Ralph Thomas provided the voter ID to Kemp from WebElect, an app for Republican elected officials to use for campaigns.
Kemp began responding to Thunder Lightening posts by referring to him as Craig Rawlings – the wrong name for the person behind the account.
At one point, Whaley, outraged over a posting by Thunder Lightening, asked Kemp to send her the name again as she was “about to bust him out.” Kemp sent her the voter ID but advised her not to put all the info out there.
But she did, and soon Craig Rawlings’ wife was communicating with Whaley to take the information down and eventually filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office.
Because it dealt with an elected official, Ormerod’s investigative report went up to State Attorney Jack Campbell and others for review. Because Kemp was up for re-election, Campbell ordered his office to hold off on arrests until after the vote. Kemp lost his election to Valerie Russell.
Kemp was represented in his felony case by Tallahassee defense attorney Steven Webster.
Craig Rawlings and his wife have filed a federal lawsuit of their own against Kemp, Whaley and Newsome, claiming to have suffered emotional distress and other harms as a result of the their actions. That case is being handled by Tallahassee attorney Marie Mattox.

The Wakulla Economic Development Council honored Hoyt Schmidt of Point Blank Enterprises with the Economic Development Champion award.

The company, which manufactures body armor, will open a plant in Opportunity Park using $21.5 million in grant money, and has committed to create 300 jobs paying more than $50,000 a year. The event was held Thursday, Aug. 20 at Wakulla Springs Lodge. Quincee Messersmith was MC, Schmidt’s wife, EDC president John Shuff, and EDC coordinators Beth Chichetti and Julie Dennis.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Joseph Ronnie Raker appeared in court in Hidalgo County, Texas and waived extradition back to Wakulla on two charges of murder.
Raker was captured on Thursday, Aug. 13 in Mexico, across the river from Brownsville, Texas, by U.S. Marshals and Mexican police.

Raker had been on the run since he was identified as the primary suspect in the murders of Rebecca Lynn Thomas, 58, and John William Luper III, 49, at a home on Otter Creek in Sopchoppy a couple of weeks ago. Both died as the result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office. The bodies were found concealed on nearby property covered with underbrush in separate locations.
At a press conference to announce Raker’s arrest on Aug. 13, Wakulla Sheriff Jared Miller said more arrests were expected, noting that some people may have aided Raker in attempting to cover up the crime or to escape from Wakulla.
Many details about the case are still unknown and have not been revealed by the sheriff’s office, citing the ongoing investigation.
It’s been reported that there was a structure fire at the Otter Creek Road property where the murders occured. The cause and circumstances surrounding the fire remain under investigation; however, based on the information currently available, it is being treated as a separate incident from the homicides.
The sheriff’s office first confirmed the murders on Aug. 4. The next day, the sheriff’s office reported it had obtained arrest warrants for Raker, 46, on two counts of homicide, and offered a $10,000 reward.
A couple of days later, with social media blowing up and citizens posting comments critical of the sheriff’s office’s handling of the case, Sheriff Miller and Major Eddie Wester, head of Criminal Investigations Division, posted a 15-minute video on Facebook with the sheriff expressing his concern about the family and Wester laying out a timeline of events.
Wester said the case began on Aug. 2 with an intoxicated man, who could barely be understood, telling deputies that someone had been shot in the Otter Creek Road area. Deputies found signs of a struggle in the yard. They retreated to obtain a search warrant. No bodies had been found at the time.
Later, in the early morning, a fire was reported at the scene. Raker was inside the house and transported to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. In an interview with detectives at the hospital, he indicated someone else was responsible for injuring Luper and Thomas.
Raker came back out to the scene and volunteered to help with evidence, but no evidence was discovered, Wester said. Raker was allowed to leave because he was considered a witness, not a suspect.
K9 teams from the state Department of Corrections and human remains detection K9s came out that morning and a man’s body was found on neighboring property of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The body had been concealed and covered with underbrush, Wester said. It was identified as Luper. Later, about 100 yards away, a deceased female was discovered in heavy brush and concealed with underbrush. The body was identified as Thomas.
It’s not clear yet when Raker will be transported from Texas to Florida.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

I think election night is one of my favorite events to cover: There’s the excitement of the returns, and usually some socializing.
I will admit that the old days were better – when the Supervisor of Elections office was at the courthouse and spectators gathered on the lawn to see results on a color TV rolled out the front door.

The goal was to catch the moment with a camera when one candidate approached his rival to concede with a handshake.
But I will also admit that returns took much longer back then than today’s technology, which usually has results within 30 minutes or an hour.

Congratulations to Joe Finch, the maintenance guy at the courthouse, who retired on Friday, Aug. 21, after 21 years on the job.
When I was at the courthouse, he always greeted me with a smile.
Asked what he plans to do in retirement, he said he would be riding his Harley-Davidson and playing with grandchildren.

Congratulations to our own Lynda Kinsey, who was nominated by Farm Bureau as the a Farm Bureau Newsperson of the Year. In an email, Lynda was told: “Each year, we can nominate a newsperson in our area that we feel goes above and beyond to publish information as it pertains to Farm Bureau and/ or agriculture. You are always so good about attending our Annual Meeting and publishing an article after and we believe your efforts should be recognized.”

And lastly, Senior Center Director Lara Edwards said that a person in the community read her recent profile in the monthly Wakulla Neighbor and brought in a sizeable donation to help the center.

William Snowden is the editor and publisher of The Wakulla Sun.

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

The Wakulla War Eagles and their new head coach got their first victory of the season, a 27-7 win over the Gadsden Jaguars in a weather-shortened game.
There were two lightning delays. The first delay came in the third quarter, and the game went on until the second lightning alarm, which sounded with 9:18 left in the fourth quarter.
The game was eventually called.

Head Coach Derek Allen Jr. was somewhat disappointed with his team’s performance.
“We didn’t play our best football, but still able to get the job done,” he said.
He attributed the off-play to lack of a preseason game – last week’s exhibition game against Evans High from Orlando was cancelled due to weather.
“Us not having an opportunity to play a preseason game (took away) time to clean up mental mistakes,” Coach Allen said.

GAME STATS

Cornerback Ryheem Moore had an amazing game: three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Plus a 41-yard touchdown catch on offense.
“I’ve never seen numbers like that from a corner,” said Allen, noting that it’s usually a safety who’s sitting back and able to react to a pass and make a pick.
Quarterback Ashton Brooks went 7 for 10 passing for 115 yards, plus rushing for 72 yards, most of that picked up on scrambles.
Jaylen Jones, known for his defensive play, also took some snaps as quarterback and rushed three times for 29 yards.
Running backs got some work: Danny Godbolt carried 6 times for 34 yards; Nigel Cloud had 5 carries for 10 yards; Bryce Manning had 4 carries for 39 yards.
Offensive Player of the Week Jarell Randolph had one catch for a touchdown. RB Danny Godbolt had one catch for 31 yards.
Defensive Player of the Week, lineback Rayshon St. Hilaire, had 10 tackles in the game, 7 solo and 3 assists.
Allen was pleased with his team’s defensive play, saying they played really well.
The lone Gadsden touchdown was on a play where the corner got caught looking into the backfield and the Jaguar receiver got in front of him and caught the ball and made it to the end zone.

GAME RECAP

Wakulla took the opening kickoff and drove the field – rushing plays only, no passes, and capped by a 15-yard run by RB Armon Lindsey. Kicker Colby Carranza kicked the PAT. Wakulla 7, Gadsden O.
Gadsden scored on their possession, a 96-yard TD pass and run that Coach Allen attributed to the corner looking in the backfield and letting the receiver get by him. Extra point good, tied at 7.
Wakulla responded with a 41-yard TD pass to Ryheem Moore. Wakulla up 14-7.
The War Eagles drove down to the 5 but couldn’t score; Jaguars take over on downs. A few plays later, Moore makes a diving interception, his first of three.
The offense scores on that, RB Jarell Randolph starts one way, shakes a defender and cuts back across the field to score. Extra point was hindered by a 5 yard penalty for false start. Wakulla up 20-7 and that was the score at halftime.
Gadsden got the second half kickoff, and Moore got his second pick of the night.
There was the first lightning delay at 4:51 in the third. When play resumed, Wakulla was driving and attempted a field goal to start the 4th quarter, but it was no good.
Moore had his third pick and took it to the house. Wakulla up 27-7 when second lightning delay happened.

UP NEXT: TAYLOR COUNTY BULLDOGS

Wakulla travels to Perry this Friday to take on the Taylor County Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have won the past two meetings, and Allen said the team is well-coached and disciplined.
The War Eagles have to stop the Bulldogs’ athlete who wears the No. 1 jersey and plays QB, RB, receiver and some defense.
And they have to win upfront. Against Gadsden, Wakulla’s O-line was moving people around.

Coach’s Corner

From the coach

Last week: First game was not our best. Lack of preseason game meant no time to clean up mental mistakes.
Scouting: Taylor County Bulldogs are a well-coached and disciplined team. On the road, so crowd will be into it.
Key to victory: Win up front, and stop the Bulldogs player wearing No. 1 who plays quarterback, running back, receiver and defense.

MVP

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor

Candidate Carrie Hughes upset incumbent Quincee Messersmith in the Republican primary for Wakulla County commission seat 4.
And she did it in convincing fashion, taking 75% of the votes cast in the Aug. 18 primary election.

Hughes had 3,851 votes to Messersmith’s 1,278.
Hughes could not immediately be reached for comment, but earlier in the evening, her supporter Sue Damon was at the supervisor of elections office and called Hughes at her watch party at El Jalisco to let her know she had an insurmountable lead with 10 of 12 precincts reporting. Damon held up her phone so a reporter could hear the happy whoops! from Hughes.
Messersmith said she was pleased with the result: “I’m so flipping over the moon and ecstatic that I don’t have to deal with any negative drama and can just go back to doing what I have been doing my whole life,” she said. “I’m on Cloud 9.”
Hughes faces two opponents in the November general election: Democrat Beverly Keister and NPA Patricia Dyszer.
Supervisor of Elections Joe Morgan said the turnout for the election was just under 30%, placing Wakulla at 30th of 67 counties in the state.
“I’m very surprised at the turnout,” he said, indicating a bit of disappointment. “But I’m also happy that the folks that showed up let their voice be heard.”
There were a few glitches with the election: a couple of precincts lost power for a period of time and while power came back up, one of those precincts was unable to upload results to the office and officials had to wait for the backup stick. And there were problems with the state Division of Elections getting results from the counties.

OTHER RACES

Closely watched races for Congressional District 2 to replace Neal Dunn, who is retiring, saw saw Austin Rogers collect the most votes in Wakulla from the Republican field – and the Republican nomination overall.
With eight GOP candidates, Rogers took 27.8% – amassing 1,419 votes, and the only candidate among the Republicans to hae more than 1,000 votes. Second place went to Luke Murphy with 18.6% followed by Keith Gross with 18.56%.
Rogers will face Democrat Amanda Marie Green in the November election.
Green won the Democratic vote for Congress in Wakulla with 36% of the vote followed by Brice Barnces with 32%.
Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for governor to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Donalds squeaked by in Wakulla, taking 33% of the vote over next closest opponent Jay Collins, who had 32.4% of the vote.
But the margin was narrow, just 42 votes separated those two candidates.
Donalds will face Democrat David Jolly in the November general election.
Jolly won 71% of the Democratic votes over a field of lightly known candidates.
In the judicial races for circuit court judge, which are non-partisan, the incumbents appeared poised to win:

• Jason Jones had 62% of the Wakulla vote over challenger Stephanie Cager;
• and Lee Marsh held a 70% margin over challenger Rashad Green.