The Mayo Free Press office will be closing at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24 and all day on Friday, Dec. 25 in honor of the Christmas holiday. We will reopen Monday, Dec. 28 at 8 a.m.
nflaonline.com
Mayo Free Press ACD
Vol. 127, No. 50
USPS 334-600
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015, Lafayette County, Florida
1 SECTION 16 PAGES
75¢
Local sheriffs talk guns Sheriff Lamb and others discuss upcoming gun legislation By Carl McKinney carl.mckinney@gaflnews.com
Lafayette County Sheriff Brian Lamb speaks to a Tea Party meeting in Lake City. - Photo: Carl McKinney
County partners with Suwannee in mutual aid
Three Florida sheriff’s stood in front of a Tea Party crowd in Lake City to talk about upcoming gun legislation. On Dec. 10, Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron, Lafayette County Sheriff Brian Lamb and Columbia County Sheriff Mark
Hunter spoke about their stances on bills in the state legislature allowing firearms on campus and open carry. Sheriff Hunter started out by declaring support for gun ownership in front of the Tea Party meeting. “I’m a gun guy,” he said. However, neither he or the other two sheriffs were in favor of the campus carry bill the legislature will vote on in 2016. It would allow guns in public schools, as well as colleges. If public school teachers, college students and professors have guns,
law enforcement would have a harder time differentiating lawabiding citizens from threats, he said. “Now you’ve got a dilemma,” Hunter added. Authorities can either take time to check that each weapon is lawfully owned, or confiscate them to return later. The first option could be too time-consuming in a crisis, he said. The second, he added, requires law enforcement to account for every weapon until they can be SEE LOCAL, PAGE 2A
Business ‘lures’ state tour
By Jessie R. Box
jessie.box@gaflnews.com
Lafayette County’s Emergency Medical Services Director Marty Tompkins presented the Board of County Commissioners with a mutual aid agreement between Lafayette County’s EMS and fire department and Suwannee County Fire Rescue. According to Tompkins, with the agreement, Suwannee and Lafayette counties agree to give aid to one another for medical and fire calls. The counties will not bill one another for costs incurred will rendering aid during a call. The commissioners approved the mutual aid agreement, which became effective Dec. 14.
INSIDE: Jesse Panuccio, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, toured Bass Assassin Lures in Mayo. Pictured left to right, are: Jesse Panuccio, Robin Shiver and Teresa Shiver. - Photo: Jessie R. Box
Bass Assassin Lures Inc. gets visit from economic chief By Jessie R. Box jessie.box@gaflnews.com
Lafayette FFA cleans up at sub-districts, 5A
Mayo company Bass Assassin Lures Inc. was site to a tour from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) recently. FDEO Executive Director Jesse Panuccio has been touring manufacturing facilities all over
Florida and made a stop at Bass Assassin Dec. 9. Bass Assassin is a family business in Mayo that makes soft plastic fishing lures for fresh and saltwater. Bass Assassin has been open since the 1970s, and Robin Shiver’s family took the business over in 1988. Robin and his wife Teresa now run the business with 28 employees,
many of who are family. During the tour, Teresa informed Panuccio that Bass Assassin lures are not only used in the United States, but are also shipped internationally. According to Teresa, the company is currently working on orders for Sweden and Russia. SEE BUSINESS, PAGE 2A
Schools website has new look Subm itted by Ro bby Ed w ard Lafayette Co unty Scho o ls sup erintend ent If you want to know what is going on at Lafayette Elementary School or Lafayette High School, a quick visit to the district’s website will be worth your time. Lisa Hancock, the instructional technologist, has completely redesigned the website giving it a fresh new look. When you visit, you will see current pictures from athletic events as well as
weatherunderground. Students can also use real time information from the weather station to conduct research on weather patterns, predictions, etc. You will find a link to our weather station on the district’s home page. The website can be found at www.lafayette.k12.fl.us or just search on Google for Lafayette County Schools.
Lafayette County Schools has a redesigned website.
Lafayette County’s news source since 1888. We’re proud to serve!
919313
what is going on in the classroom. Lisa, along with various other school personnel, ensure the information is up to date and meaningful to you. If you are looking for game schedules, school calendars, upcoming events, information on graduation requirements, lunch menus, school board meetings, policies, etc. you will find it on the website. The district also has its very own weather station with current conditions and predictions for Mayo. The weather station is located at the football field and is used to send updates to major weather sources such as