GOOFY STUFF: IN PLAIN SIGHT PART 1 OF 3 — page 19
THE
Feb. 22- 28, 2019 Volume V, Issue VIII
Hernando Sun
Y O U R
W E E K LY
L O C A L
N E W S PA P E R -
I N F O R M AT I O N
TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS
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What better way to plan for the recreational needs of Brooksville residents than to invite those residents to provide their input? Four different meetings were held; February 6, 7, 11 and 13 at the Enrichment Center at 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd. Two
meetings were held from 12:00 - 3:00 PM and two from 5:30 - 7:30 PM to accommodate different scheduling needs, and allow for greater participation. Presented by Parks and Recreation manager Mike Walker, participants used brightly-colored stickers to mark photographs of facilities and activities that See PLAN Page 6
In their corner:
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Coach Jackie shows a new student how to tape his hands.
‘Operation Turnaround’
BLEACHER TALK
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ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONNA SNAPP, HERNANDO SUN WRITER
Jackie Wilson was nine years old when his father died and eleven when his older brother died. He was close to his father and the brother he lost was the one who taught him basketball. He was hurt and angry at the whole world. Fortunately, not far from his home in Jersey City,
New Jersey, was a boxing club and there, Jimmy ‘The Cat’ Dupree, took young Jackie Wilson under his wing and mentored him. Boxing became an outlet for his energy, stress and frustration. Dupree spent time with Jackie and taught him things his father might have taught him had he lived. Wilson says he will always be grateful for Jimmy Dupree and for the lessons he learned as an AAU boxer. While serving in the Army, Wilson
was put on the boxing team, Team USA, and boxed throughout his service. Two brothers and two cousins of Wilson are pro boxers and several other family members are amateur boxers. Recently, Wilson wanted a new direction for his life; he wanted to help people and fight PTSD. He did a personal inventory and the best he could offer others was the skill he knew best – boxing, so he began teaching others to box in his garage.
See BOXING, Page 13
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
Local dog takes Best of Breed at Westminster by SARAH NACHIN Hernando Sun Writer
Brooksville dog owners and breeders Stacey Johnson & John Siebel are justifiably proud of their dog, Maximus. The three year-old Neapolitan Mastiff took Best of Breed at the 143rd Westminster Dog Show held in New York City on February 11 and 12, 2019. His handler, thirty-two year-old Ashley Cuzzilino, is also from Hernando County. She has been handling dogs since she was a child when her mother was a dog breeder. Ashley and Max make a good team, although the 170 pound Mastiff outweighs her by over fifty pounds. “He’s gigantic next to her. They wowed the audience,” Siebel stated. Johnson and Siebel flew all the way to Hun-
Handler Ashley Cuzzilino with Maximus as he receives the Best in Breed ribbon at the 143rd Westminster Dog Show. Photo courtesy of Stacey Johnson
gary to purchase Maximus when he was just sixteen months old. “He came off the plane the week before the Royal Canine AKC National Championship
hernandosun.com
HOMELESS SERIES
Ministering to the hungry and homeless By SARAH NACHIN HERNANDO SUN WRITER
Shaquille’s Boxing Club NATURE COAST ART SHOW
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City of Brooksville wraps up series of workshops on parks master plan
by LISA MACNEIL Hernando Sun Reporter
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Show in Orlando. That was his first show and he won Winner’s Dog Best of Winners, the best non-champion dog in the breed.” In addition to Max-
imus, the couple own two female Neapolitan Mastiffs. Stella is also from Hungary, while Olivia is from Russia. Both are champions, as well. John has been breeding and showing dogs for thirty-five years. He won National twice with the Neapolitan Mastiffs in the 1990’s and won the world show also. He and Stacey met on the show circuit and decided to team up. At that time, Stacey was showing Biewer Terriers, a breed of Yorkshire Terriers. She was a national winner with this breed. “We looked around the world to find what we wanted for showing and breeding. There are certain things you look for in each breed. Where we find our best dogs are in certain kenSee BEST, Page 20
Most people generally associate homelessness and poverty with large urban areas or the mountains of Appalachia, but Hernando County has a significant number of people who don’t have a permanent roof over their heads or enough food to eat. However, there are a number of local churches, organizations and individuals that are trying to do something about this social problem. This article will focus on three churches that are working to serve this population. Future articles will deal with agencies, nonprofit organizations and other churches that are doing their part in this effort. The Hernando Sun has recently published articles on the efforts of Jericho Road Ministries and the Nature Coast Community Services Foundation. Among the churches highlighted in this article, Redeemers Promise Ministry serves the largest number of hungry and has plans to expand their scope even more. When Pastor Perry Littlejohn started the food bank, located at 15120 County Line Road in Spring Hill, only two years ago, they served just twelve people. Now they are serving 1,200 people per month. There is no income qualification. Anyone who shows up on the second and fourth Saturday of the month can pick up canned goods, meat, milk, bread, non-perishable items and even fresh fruits and vegetables. The food pantry has been a lifeline to many people. “The face of hunger is not what most people think of. They think it’s someone that’s homeless and living in the woods and has no means. This population only makes up a small portion of the people that we help,” Pastor Littlejohn remarks. “I had a man who came to me and was quite upset. He was just diagnosed with an illness and would not be able to work. With no paycheck and not knowing when it would come or if it would come again, he turned to us. We’ve been helping him through this rough spot.” Redeemers Promise Ministry has been so successful that they are rapidly outgrowing the 400 square feet that they lease in an office building. Their goal is to build a See HUNGRY, Page 5 INDEX LOCAL & STATE 2 OUT & ABOUT 7 SPORTS 11 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 13 FUNNIES 18 OPINION 19 WEATHER: FRI
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