Union County reels from shooting spree

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Union County Times
USPS 648-200 — Lake Butler, Florida
Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013
101st Year — 18th Issue — 75 CENTS
Union County reels
from shooting spree
Lake Butler’s Marvin Pritchett among
victims, killed by former employee and friend
BY VINCENT ALEX BROWN
Times Editor
Saturday mornings in Union County are
supposed to be quiet. It’s the smallest county
in the state, a tight-knit community rich with
family, many people related to each other or
long-time friends. The only activity might
be a few fruit and vegetable growers selling
their produce at the farmer’s market, or
folks setting up at the unofficial flea market
at Sprinkle Field that sits between the
county’s only three public schools. Farmers
are working their hay crops, and some are
taking care of their cattle.
That’s exactly what Marvin Pritchett,
80, was doing the morning of Aug. 24
when he was shot and killed by a former
employee, a man who was friends with his
victim and known by many.
Hubert Allen Jr. then turned the gun
on himself, but only after shooting three
others, including fatally wounding 28-yearold Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado who came
to the U.S. nine years ago from Nicaragua
to begin his own American Dream in order
to support his family back home.
Shortly after 9 a.m., the community
experienced the kind of horrific tragedy that
only occurs elsewhere—the kind residents
only hear about in the news and are thankful
they don’t live in places like that.
Allen, 72, a longtime employee of
Pritchett Trucking went to the Rolling
Oaks Farm owned by Marvin Pritchett off
of C.R. 18A and encountered a former coworker, Gonzalez-Delgado, and killed him
with multiple gunshot wounds. Then just a
short distance away, Allen fired twice and
killed his former
employer,
the
owner of Pritchett
Trucking,
who
was driving to a
barn to bottle-feed
some calves, which his wife of 45 years,
Margaret, said he loved to do.
Just minutes later, Allen confronted
another former employee driving a farm
tractor on C.R. 18A. Allen pulled over and
exchanged words with a Lewis “Buddy”
Mabrey Jr., 66, and fired one shot from
a small-bore shotgun, striking Mabrey
in the left arm and side. Union County
Emergency Medical Services rushed
Mabrey to UF Health Shands Hospital in
Gainesville where he underwent surgery
for a broken arm and other injuries.
As of Tuesday, Mabrey was in stable
condition and expected to be released
very soon.
Allen then went to Pritchett Trucking
located at 1050 S.E. Sixth Street in Lake
Butler and shot the third co-worker, David
Griffis, 44, in the stomach. Griffis was
SPECIAL
REPORT
rushed to the Shands Trauma Unit for said, “On Saturday afternoon we recovered
immediate surgery.
a note from the Hubert Allen residence and
In spite of numerous surgeries, Griffis it established some facts for us. One of the
died Tuesday morning at 7:39 a.m., things in the note that he indicated was that
becoming the fourth fatality.
he was going to harm the individuals that
Since
the
incident,
LifeSouth he did shoot. So some premeditation was
Community Blood Centers had set established during that time.”
Whitehead said, “It was what I would
up at various locations in and around
term was a suicide note. It did
Lake Butler to receive
indicate that he was going to
blood donations for Griffis.
“What Allen take his own life.” He added that
LifeSouth Donor Recruiter
Tony Hudson said that over did was cold, investigators have determined
calculated,
that the note, which filled three
175 donors had given blood
to Griffis’ account. He added premeditated quarters of a page, was written
over time, possibly in two
that Sunday was a scheduled
murder.”
or three different segments,
blood drive at Christ Central
Sheriff Jerry
though it was not dated.
south of Lake Butler, but
Whitehead
Additionally, there was
that Monday’s and Tuesday’s
another target indicated in
blood drives at Spires IGA
were due to an overwhelming amount of the letter. “We’ve interviewed him,”
Whitehead said, “and he’s fine.”
calls for them to come back out.
Law enforcement investigators recovered
Additionally, before Griffis’ death, an
online medical expense fund was set up a .22 cal. rifle and a .410 small-bore shotgun
at GiveForward for him and his family. along with an unfired .32 cal. handgun.
“There have been and continue to be
They are planning a softball tournament
prayer vigils throughout the community,”
as well in order to raise funds.
After shooting Griffis, Allen returned UCSO said. “This is a tragic impact on
to his residence off of southeast Sixth our community and we will update you as
Avenue in Lake Butler where he took his more information is available.”
News of the first and subsequent shootings
own life while standing by his truck.
Investigators interviewed numerous quickly spread through phone calls, text
Pritchett Trucking employees and witnesses messages and social media. Most were,
and remain, in shock and unbelief about
as to the reason behind the shootings.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office what they were being told. While there was
called in Investigators from the Florida much conjecture and unsubstantiated rumor
Department of Law Enforcement to assist circulated along with that and continues to,
it was quickly confirmed at the time that
with the five different crime scenes.
Other agencies assisting included: Florida three were dead and two injured, including
Department of Corrections, Union County one critically, right here in North Central
Emergency Medical Services, Union Florida. Later a fourth victim would die
County Sheriff’s Emergency Management, from gunshot wounds.
And it was right here in Union County
Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Bradford
County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County where this kind of thing doesn’t happen
Sheriff’s Office, Eighth Circuit Medical and has never happened.
Because the victims and the suspect
Examiner’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol
and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. were co-workers and friends, and known
Within an hour and a half UCSO had to so many, and no motive for Allen’s
the support of 120 officers. Together actions have been determined, many in the
they secured crime scenes and processed community remain in shock and disbelief.
“This is probably the biggest crime
them till one in the morning. Sheriff Jerry
Whitehead continued to thank all the Union County has ever experienced,” said
agencies involved for their support and UCSO Lt. Lyn Williams.
Whitehead agreed.
cooperation. He said local sheriffs were
“We don’t think about this kind of thing
here instantly. “That’s what small counties
happening in Union County,” Whitehead
do: We help each other.”
said, “and it just brings you closer to reality
and what a violent world we live in. …
A Note Provides the First Clue
“We like to think that the citizens of
In a statement released on Monday, Union County are different and better,
Aug. 26, UCSO said it “believes that and I feel that way, but every now and then
Allen acted alone in these shootings. something like this happens,” he said.
“I’ve been sheriff 29 years and this is the
Investigations will continue as to the
cause and reason for this heinous crime.” worst case that we’ve had when it comes to a
At a press conference on the steps of
See SPREE, 2A
UCSO on Tuesday afternoon, Whitehead
Businessman and philanthropist Marvin Pritchett was
gunned down by former employee and friend Hubert
Allen Jr. who later turn a gun on himself in a planned
murder-suicide. Farmhand Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado
and employee David Griffis were also shot to death.
Lewis “Buddy” Mabrey Jr. is the only survivor.
Timeline: A horrific
Saturday morning
• Saturday, Aug. 24, 9:21 a.m. – Union County Sheriff’s
Office received a call at the dispatch center that there had
been a shooting at Pritchett Trucking. Officers proceeded
there where they found that David Griffis had been shot in
the stomach area, later determining it was from a .410 smallbore shotgun by Hubert Allen Jr.
• 9:34 a.m. – UCSO received a call from Rolling Oaks Farm
from Lewis “Buddy” Mabrey Jr., that he had been shot
and other people had been shot.
• Sheriff Jerry Whitehead, Major Garry Seay and other
officers proceeded to Rolling Oaks, arriving at the scene
where Allen had shot Marvin Pritchett, and where Mabrey
went to after being shot himself.
• Five minutes later, after paramedics determined that
Pritchett was dead, officers determined through information
from Mabrey that Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado was also
on the farm. They found him shot dead at the cattle barn
by Allen.
• During that time UCSO received another call that someone
had shot themselves in the city limits of Lake Butler. Officers
proceeded to the residence of Allen and determined that he
had taken his life there, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot
wound.
• Tuesday, Aug. 27, 7:39 a.m. – Griffis dies in spite of
multiple surgeries and transfusions of blood from many
community donors. He becomes the fourth fatality. As of
Tuesday, the only survivor, Mabrey, was in stable condition
and expected to be released soon.
The flag flies at half-mast in front of Pritchett Trucking in Lake Butler as employees go back to work on Monday, Aug. 26, after company founder Marvin Pritchett was fatally
shot by a former employee and friend just two days before on Saturday, Aug. 24, along with four others including the suspect who turned the gun on himself.
News trucks from regional news organizations were stationed outside and seen throughout the community over the weekend and during the week.
Deadline Monday 5 p.m. before publication • Phone 386-496-2261 • Fax 386-496-2858
[email protected] • www.StarkeJournal.com • www.facebook.com/unioncountytimes
2A
Union County Times • Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013
1
5
4
Tragic path: Shooter hits
five areas in Union County
1. Cattle barn at Rolling
Oaks Farm – 9:21 a.m.
2. Dirt road that runs along
Rolling Oaks – 9:34 a.m.
3. One mile west of Rolling
Oaks on C.R. 18A.
4. Pritchett Trucking
5. Suspect’s house
3
1
2
SPREE
Continued from 1A
criminal case.
“Of course, naturally, the bus
wreck will always be remembered,
although that was not of a
criminal nature,” Whitehead said,
“Although (the truck driver) was
charged, and he was sent to prison,
it was somewhat different—
carelessness more so.”
On Jan. 26, 2006, seven
children from the same family
died when their car was stopped
behind a Union County school
bus and burst into flames after a
tractor-trailer slammed into them
on S.R. 121. Nine children on the
school bus were injured.
Seven years later the community
must once again grapple with
‘why’ as they remember their
loved ones now gone forever.
“Every individual that was
involved in this I knew personally.
Some of them I’ve known for
many, many years—30, 40, 50
years. It just makes it hard to
fathom that we’d have something
like this happen right here in little
Lake Butler and Union County,”
Whitehead said.
“But we see violence here like
they do everywhere else,” he
added, “but just on a smaller scale.”
The Word Spreads Beyond Our
Borders
Others also noticed magnitude
of Saturday’s events in this rural
community and word quickly
spread.
By early midday, local news
agencies were picking up the story
and then it went national and even
international, at one point.
Friends and family all over
the country were offering
their condolences and asking
for assurances of safety since
seemingly every news outlet had
picked up on the tragedy.
News trucks began to make
their way to Lake Butler,
probably prompting drivers to
double-check their GPS device,
wondering just where this once
safe haven was.
And reporters began to appear
nearly on every corner, waiting
for officials to come out of
buildings or citizens to come
out of church services, even
knocking on the door during one.
As reality set in, the community
began the slow process of
digesting the news and coping
with the loss, wondering how
such a thing could happen here.
Fortunately for many, they
could attend their weekly
Sunday morning church service
for solace and to hopefully find
answers.
But that could take weeks,
months, or years, if it ever can be
resolved.
“The community is in shock,”
Art Peterson told one reporter
on the steps of First Christian
Church of Lake Butler where he
has served as the minister since
1985. Pritchett was a longtime
member there too.
And his wife, Margaret,
lost her sister and fellow
church member, Vivian Crews
Whitehead, just nine days before,
to a sudden illness. That’s also
Jerry’s mother, making Marvin
his uncle.
Jerry had not even finished
grieving over the sudden
death of his mother when he
was called upon to deal with
the more sudden death of his
uncle—a friend, deeply loved,
and highly respected member of
this community.
In spite of the circumstances
involving family Whitehead said,
“I’m doing fine. Marvin has been
a special person in my entire life.
He was married to my mother’s
sister, and my mother passed
away two weeks ago. It’s been a
tough couple of weeks. My aunt,
my mother’s only living sibling,
she’s hanging in there, but it’s
been tough.
“But we’ll get through it, if the
good Lord’s willing.”
Major Garry Seay has been
heading the investigation, with
Whitehead speaking at the press
conferences and visiting family
members.
Peterson, too, was still
grieving over one of his biggest
supporters, Vivian, and now was
called upon to help the Pritchett
family grapple with the loss of
his friend Marvin.
When asked how he’s doing,
Peterson said, “The standard
stock answer is, ‘Hey, I’m fine.’
The honest answer is, ‘No, I’m
not fine. I’m really not.
“You know, I need my own
time to grieve, and I haven’t had
any time.
“Well, that’s part of the nature
of the beast.”
And
Williams
echoed
what many others said, “The
community has lost a great man
in Mr. Pritchett.”
These kinds of deaths are hard,
harder when sudden, and all the
more when it involves family
members who are so connected
in such a tight-knit community.
It’s not a cliché, but the real
deal here.
In this space last week, on
the front page of the Union
County Times, the featured
story announced, “LB splash
park on its way,” along with a
photorealistic 3-D rendering of
what it might look like when
completed by Dec. 1.
It’s the kind of “big news” this
community is used to, and wants.
Now it wrestles with something
other, much larger places have
dealt with, too.
Looking for Answers in Church
On Sunday, a mere 24 hours
after the tragic events, Peterson
spoke to his congregation on
how to cope with such, having
changed his original sermon on
the fourth chapter of the book of
Ruth, “the climax of a beautiful
love story,” as he described it.
“But I trust that you understand
that I cannot preach that message
today, not in light of the tragedy
of yesterday,” he told them.
“I was with the family, not long
after the event occurred, and it
was an awful place to be, in one
sense. Words like, ‘I can’t believe
it.’ ‘Art, tell me this isn’t true.
Tell me this hasn’t happened,
this nightmare.’ ‘Not here, not
our family, not our town.’ ‘Why,
why, why?’
“It goes without saying that
our prayers are with the Pritchett
families today,” he said, along
with the other families, which
Peterson mentioned.
“We are connected in a major
way to all these people, but more
specifically to the Pritchett
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family. I don’t need to tell you
that it is a tough time for them.
Margaret was not even finished
grieving over Vivian’s passing,
and now this on top of that.”
Peterson called on the church
to respond to whatever needs
to be done, which he said he
knows they will do, beginning
with prayer and encouraging the
family.
“About the horrible events
of yesterday, there are so many
questions, and so few answers,”
he began. “Like you, I am
still trying to process the unprocessable.
“I think it’s appropriate for
us to gather here today, in this
place,” he continued. “Because
while we don’t have the answers,
we are here to worship a God who
not only knows all the questions,
but also has the answers. And
we will trust him about those
answers. …
“Yes, there are many questions,
and very few answers at this time.
There’s so much about yesterday
that we do not understand. But
there are some things we do
understand, and those are the
things we need to hold on to.
“It is clear in God’s Word,
that the world that we live in is a
fallen world.
“Now I don’t need to tell you
that what happened yesterday is
not the way God wanted this world
to work. When we hear about other
tragedies in other communities,
rest assured that it breaks God’s
heart even more than it breaks
ours. This is not how God planned
for our world to work.
“Our world is a world that is
corrupted by sin and evil and
fallenness,” he said. “We say
that from time to time, and we
kind of know what it means. But
usually when we say those things
it’s in reference to some tragedy
in another place, to somebody
else. But when it strikes here,
with people that we know, people
that we love, our neighbors, it’s
quite different. It hits home.”
He reminded them, “Terrible
things will and do happen on this
planet. We have heard of them
happening in other places. Now
it’s out turn.
“So we need to remember
that we have access to a ‘peace
that also passes understanding’
and that is provided by the Holy
Spirit, who is our comforter.
“When tragedy occurs, that’s
the time that we need to ‘draw
near to God,’ and as the book of
Hebrews says, ‘to find grace to
help us in our time of need.’
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Williams
personally
interviewed Mabrey at the
hospital, who was “at a loss.
He does not know why this
occurred.” Mabrey was very
close to Allen, Pritchett, to
everyone, and was also a longtime employee.
Mabrey was working for
Pritchett that morning and “he
never saw this coming and has
no reason to know why this
happened. It’s just a mystery,”
Williams said.
Peterson agreed, telling a
reporter on Sunday: “I just talked
to Hubert Allen a week ago and
never in a million years would I
have thought he’d do something
like this.”
“Thomas Watson wrote, Hubert Allen Jr.: Murder‘Tears melt the heart of God.’ Suicide
God’s heart is melting today.”
After discovering a letter that
Sheriff Whitehead said was
Looking for Motive
written over several occasions,
The question continues to Williams could say with
come up is, Why did Allen certainty, “It was premeditated.
do what he did? What was his He definitely had a plan.”
In fact, by the third day,
motive?
It’s even more baffling because Whitehead could emphatically
all the victims and suspect were say, “The rage that Hubert went
friends who worked together daily. into was cold and calculated,
At a press conference on premeditated murder.”
Whitehead said that in the
the steps of UCSO on Tuesday
afternoon, Sheriff Whitehead letter, Allen wrote that his
said, “I would have told you, if victims “didn’t deserve to live”
you asked me last week if they and “that he intended on killing
were friends, yes, they worked them all.”
As he rushed to the first crime
together in a farming operation,
so I felt like that they all were scene Saturday morning, “I
friends. I know every one of them thought, if you would have called
personally. I’ve never heard a me and told me that Hubert Allen
cross word from any of them. So it stepped in front of a bullet of a
totally shocked me and the whole worker who was trying to shoot
Marvin Pritchett,” Whitehead
community, quite honestly.”
Whitehead worked with Allen recalled, “that would have made
over the years, especially as sense to me. This made no sense.
“I’ve watched the relationship
part of cook crews Whitehead
and Pritchett had, serving the over the last 40, 50 years…and
community, schools and different Hubert’s feelings for Marvin
were always outstanding. He
political events.
“The only thing I knew that seemed to be just appreciative of
was wrong with Hubert is that him and very loyal to him, very
he had severe bouts of gout, loyal to him,” Whitehead added,
and he had it in his feet and “And that was the take that I had.
“I knew of nothing that
hands,” Whitehead said. “Like
most 70-year-olds he took blood changed, so I was in absolute,
pressure medicine,” but added total shock.”
Whitehead said that since
that officials believe that any
rumored severe health issue Saturday they still had not seen
being a reason for his shooting anything definitive that would
have caused Allen to go to this
rampage is not “the story.”
UCSO has never had a run- extreme. He added that Hubert
in with Allen, “not one time,” was a loner and didn’t talk to
Whitehead said. “I’ve dealt with many people, so no one has come
him for 35 years and have never forward, and that no one saw him
writing his note.
seen any type of anger.”
Rumors continued to abound
Allen came to Union County
about 40 years ago, working for to the tune of about 300 of them,
Pritchett that whole time—35 Whitehead estimated, but none
years of it at Pritchett Trucking. of them have actually provided a
In spite of rumors, investigators motive.
“It was a bizarre incident,”
had no indication that Allen had
a problem with his employer. Whitehead said. “I’ve tried to
He retired nine days before the make sense of it, and I haven’t
shootings and Pritchett Trucking been able to do it.”
The question continues to
“knew of no difficulties,”
come up: “Why?”
Whitehead said.
“But I will tell you, again, that
“We still at this time have not
established a motive,” Whitehead what he did was cold, calculated,
said. “I know that is a question premeditated murder,” Whitehead
that all of you are seeking and we said. “That’s my take on it.”
Allen didn’t “flip out” as
are too. We’re working around
initially reasoned, but planned it.
the clock to get to that.”
Others haven’t been able to
Early on Williams stated
that, “We can say that he had it make sense of it either.
“I don’t understand it. I don’t
planned. We believe he had this
planned out, he knew what he get it,” said Bill Thomas, who
was doing, he knew what he was worked at Pritchett Trucking
going to do and he knew what his for nine years, most of those as
a dispatcher. “Because, when I
mission was.
“But why he was doing all worked there, Mr. Hubert and
this? It’s still a mystery. We don’t Mr. P. were like this (close).”
Thomas said that Allen took
know that.”
He added that a lot of times care of Pritchett’s farm, his yard,
when both the victim and suspect and other things. Thomas’ son,
are dead, officials cannot ever Ben, worked under Allen during
determine motive because you two summers, mowing grass,
farming hay, helping to feed the
can’t interview anyone.
cows, and Pritchett was there
alongside them half the time.
3A
“About Mr. Hubert, the thing
I remember about Mr. Hubert
the most, of wondering since all
this occurred, is trying to figure
out why a mild-mannered man,”
would do this, Thomas said. “I’m
not saying he didn’t have a temper.
I never saw it. Ben’s told me, he
said, ‘Yeah he can get a little
gruff with you, like get this done
or whatever.’ But you literally you
had to get (within two feet) to hear
him. That’s how soft-spoken he
was. I don’t get it.”
A son of Allen said Saturday
night that he and his family
are reeling from the news that
his father shot four people that
morning before taking his own life.
The relative, who asked not
to be identified, spoke to the
Union County Times in the front
yard of the family home while
investigators removed evidence
from Allen’s Ford F-150.
The son said he is puzzled
and in the dark about the details
of what happened to his father
earlier in the day.
He said his father has worked
for Pritchett for over 40 years,
starting out with Pritchett when
he was in the pulpwood business.
The son said that as Pritchett’s
business and real estate holdings
grew over the years, Allen took
on work at Pritchett’s farms
including tending hay. He also
did work at the trucking company
where he worked for 35 years.
The relative described Pritchett
as a generous employer, recalling
many Christmas mornings when
Pritchett supplied the Allen
family with gifts.
He said his father had an
admiration and appreciation for
the boss and that his family’s
grief is compounded by the
mystery over his father’s actions.
He, too, added that the family
just wants some answers.
Whitehead said that a number
of years ago Pritchett built
Allen’s home for him. “Take into
consideration that Mr. Pritchett
owns a lot of property and a
lot of rental homes and a lot of
homes,” Whitehead said. “He has
a number of employees living in
homes of his.
“Hubert was always right there
with (Pritchett) and he built him
a nice home right there in the city
of Lake Butler, and that’s where
he lived. The house actually
belongs to Mr. Pritchett.”
He added that like a rental
property, the house would return
to the Pritchett family upon
Allen’s death.
Allen was the step-grandfather
of NFL star and Union County
High School football favorite C.J.
Spiller. The Friday night football
game at UCHS was scheduled to
be “C.J. Spiller Night.”
However, that has been
postponed, as announced by
the school district: “The Union
County School District and C.J.
Spiller are working together to
reschedule the event for a future
date in order to properly honor C.J.
and his support for Union County
while not detracting from setting
time aside to honor those who lost
their lives and were injured in our
community’s recent tragedy.”
Marvin Pritchett: Slain
One can’t really talk about
Union County and its history
without talking about Pritchett.
Through his vision, enthusiasm,
and hard work—the hallmarks
of an entrepreneur in any era—
helped turn Lake Butler and
the surrounding area from a
sleepy town to one that boasted a
richness beyond its pedigree.
Pritchett founded Pritchett
SMITH & SON’S
FEED AND SEED
New Location:
Lake Butler, FL 32054
(Suwannee Medical Building)
386-496-9656
386-755-4328
(12 miles west of Lake Butler)
Trucking in 1980 and Nextran
Corporation in 1992. He served
on various boards and was an
integral part of the community at
the school and government level.
He met the charitable needs
of the community, Peterson
said. “He’s helped in the school
system. Many times through
the years I know personally that
he’s provided free tickets for the
elementary school kids to go to
the circus. He’s involved in the
sports program.”
“He’s just an upstanding part
of our community, and he’s
gonna be missed, deeply.
“We’re losing one who was
cared about in Union County,
cared about in Lake Butler, and
we’re losing somebody that
really was very influential in a
lot of things that go on here.
“We’re losing a leader and
pillar of our community.
“He has been a deacon here at
the church, some years ago. …
“He’s been a part of our church
family. His wife and children
have been a part of our church
family, even some of his extended
family. Sheriff Whitehead, who
is his nephew, his family who is
very much involved in our church.
“And so, yeah, he’s been an
integral part of the church.”
Whitehead said, “Marvin’s a
fine man, a good man, he was
good for our community.”
On Facebook, Kaci Tetstone
observed: “As we sit and talk about
Mr. Pritchett, it is hard to explain
to people outside of our town how
significant he is to our community.
If you asked who is the leader
of community, I would without
hesitation say ‘Mr. Pritchett.’ He
is the pillar and biggest supporter
of our community.
“Marvin Pritchett is a name
known in every home of Union
County. Even if you did not
personally know him you knew
he loved our hometown.
“He wanted our town to succeed
and wanted its people to succeed
and would do whatever it took so
that it was possible. He was an
unselfish, generous and kind man.
“Pray for his family, along with
the families of the others who
were involved in this tragedy. So
many families are hurting.
“We know that God is where
the healing begins and the
provider of comfort that everyone
needs.”
First Christian Church member
Wayne Metz saw Pritchett in
action firsthand.
“In my personal experience
with Mr. Pritchett, while he was
generous to people that would
come to him who had needs, he
also was aware of needs and went
to people,” Metz said. “When I
was scout coordinator, he came
and said, ‘Hey, does anybody
need help buying uniforms.
Hey, does anybody need a place
to camp?’ And offered without
having been approached.”
The Odens, who are longtime
friends with Pritchett and his
family, also noted his generosity.
“He was a wonderful, caring and
giving man who loved his family
and church,” said Eddie Oden. “He
loved to feed people and provided
See MOTIVE, 6A
Football
game
changes
STATEMENT
FROM
UC SCHOOLS: In light of
the events of last Saturday,
“C.J. Spiller Night” will
be rescheduled. The Union
County School District and
C.J. Spiller are working
together to reschedule the
event for a future date in
order to properly honor C.J.
and his support for Union
County while not detracting
from setting time aside to
honor those who lost their
lives and were injured in our
community’s recent tragedy.
Also, the Quarterback
Club has cancelled the pregame meal.
4A
WO RT H
NOTING
Union County Times • Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013
Jason Crabb performing at
UCHS on Aug. 29 for fundraiser
Substitute teacher
training Aug. 29
Substitute training is set
for new substitutes and for
current subs that did not
substitute for at least 10 days
during the 2012-13 school
year. The training will be
held Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. at the adult education
building. You must attend
one of these days.
If you attended training
last year and substituted in a
classroom for at least 10 days
during the 2012-13 school
year, you will not need to
attend training again this
year.
To sign up or for more
information
call
Pam
Pittman 386-496-2045 ext.
230.
Babe Ruth sign-ups
Sept. 7 and 14
Sign ups for Babe Ruth
fall baseball will be Sept. 7
and 14 from 9:00 a.m. until
noon in front of Spires IGA.
Cost will be $45 for T-ball
and $60 for all other age
groups, ages 5-12 (playing
age as of May 1, 2014).
Deadline for sign-ups is
Sept. 17 at the O.J. Phillips
Rec Center at 7:00 p.m.—no
exceptions.
Coaches and any person
wishing to volunteer, please
attend the meeting on
Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the
complex.
Congratulations to the
newly elected officers of
Union County Babe Ruth:
• Pres. – Beverly Lasseter
• Vice Pres. – Brett Parrish
• Secretary – Maria Kish
• Treasurer – Darlene Seay.
Feel free to contact
Beverly
Lasseter
at
[email protected]
or
Steve
Lynch
at
[email protected].
Girls softball sign-ups
every Sat. thru Sept. 7
Girls softball (8u-12u)
sign-ups will be Saturdays
at Spires IGA from 9:00
a.m. to noon thru Sept. 7.
WS Senior Citizens
bake sale Sept. 7
The Worthington Springs
Senior Citizens Program
will have a bake sale at
Spires IGA on Sept. 7, from
8 a.m. till sold out.
Also, bingo on Friday,
Sept. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Grammy-winning
gospel
recording artist Jason Crabb will
perform at the Union County
High School auditorium for a
benefit fundraiser for a local
young man, Chris Crosby, who
is a longtime resident of Lake
Butler and the grandson of the
late Billy Brown.
Crosby graduated from UCHS
in 2000 and played football for
the Tigers from 1996 to 2000. In
1999, Chris sustained a fractured
neck while on the Baker County
High School football team. He
underwent two surgeries and
made a complete recovery.
However, on January 2, 2009,
he sustained a fracture above the
earlier repair, which has left him
a complete C3-C4 Quadriplegic.
In an effort to continue
some normalcy in his life, he
is desperately trying to raise
enough funds to purchase an
off-road wheelchair which will
enable him to be more active
around his family farm, be able
to hunt easier and allow him to
attend the Cowboy Church in
Lake Butler, which he loves.
While trying to raise these
funds, Crosby and his family
came up with the idea to have a
benefit concert. It was a dream
come true to be able to have
Crabb perform. With a lot of hard
work and the wonderful support
of the community, especially Mr.
and Mrs. Jack Cason and the
late Mr. Marvin Pritchett, this
concert was made possible.
Chris and his family extend
their deep appreciation to these
families and everyone else that
has helped to make this possible.
Crabb will be performing on
Thursday, Aug. 29. The doors
will open at 6:30 p.m. and he will
be available for a meet-and-greet
Church News
Providence Village Baptist starting
AWANA Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Providence Village Baptist Church is calling all kids
ages 3 through 12th grade for AWANA starting on Sept. 11.
Dinner and registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the main
AWANA event goes from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Please have
children wear tennis shoes.
The church is located at 4504 W. S.R. 238 in Providence.
For more information, contact the church at
386-758-2040 or [email protected].
Fellowship Baptist in
Raiford hosting free family
clothes drive
New socks, shoes and underclothes
for school-age children will be available
for a short while and in limited sizes at
the free family clothes drive hosted by
Fellowship Baptist Church in Raiford.
Their clothes closet is open the second
Saturday from 9 to 11:00 a.m.
from 7 p.m. till approximately
7:45. The concert will begin at
8 p.m. Tickets are $30 and still
available, and can be purchased
at the door.
The family is looking forward
to a blessed evening.
UPPER LEFT: At the 2011
Dove Awards Jason Crabb
received Song of the Year
for “Sometimes I Cry.”
RIGHT: Chris Crosby
at Gatornationals in
Gainesville on
March 11, 2012.
Over $4,000 raised at 4-H dinner and auction
BY COLAN COODY
4-H Program Assistant
On Aug. 16 the Union County
4-H Foundation’s annual dinner
and auction was held at Lakeside
Community Center.
Paul Waters and company
cooked excellent pulled pork,
which was joined by Sheriff Jerry
Whitehead’s famous chicken
and rice, 4-H green beans and
potatoes and desserts from 4-H
youth and volunteers. Carolyn
Parrish provided the sweet tea to
complete the meal.
Colan Coody and 4-H thanks
the City of Lake Butler for the
use of the Lakeside Community
Center.
About 200 Union County
residents and supporters came
out and enjoyed this annual
fundraising event, 4-H’s one and
only fundraiser with 100 percent
of all proceeds going to support
the 4-H programs.
Two
$1,000
collage
scholarships were presented to
Amy Hicks and Morgan Dukes,
respectively. Over the past three
years, Hicks and Dukes have
worked with the 4-H program
through a variety of projects.
They have spoken at Lake Butler
Rotary, made Mother’s Day
cards, planted trees, transplanted
plants, made butter and ice
cream, served meals, assisted the
elderly and put up with Coody.
Over all they have interacted
with over 2,500 youth, helping,
and being positive role models.
Forty-four 4-H youth went to
Camp Cherry Lake this summer.
Never before has Union County
had so many youth attend. This
was only possible with the
support of the 4-H Foundation,
our volunteers and community.
Each member of the board
of directors invested about 30
hours of their time gathering
donations, putting up signs and
setting up the community center
to receive guests. Throughout
the year each member will spend
another 20 hours sharing about
our Union County 4-H programs
and assisting our youth.
When you see members
of the board, please stop and
thank them for giving freely of
their time and resources: Lisa
Underhill, Lisa Parrish, Jennie
Reed, Carolyn Parrish, Bill
Own for Less than Rent
•
McGill, Billy Woodington, Don
Hicks and Danny Thomas
Overall, 4-H sold about 115
items that were donated by
businesses, friends and 4-H
supporters. Our auctioneer, Mr.
Kilgore, did a wonderful job and
4-H’s supporters were generous.
Over $4,000 was raised to help
the local 4-H program grow and
prosper.
Union County 4-H is growing,
expanding and involving more
youth than ever before.
Thank you to everyone for
your support. You make your
community better, stronger and a
better place to live by supporting
our 4-H Youth programs.
For more information about
Union County 4-H, contact
Colan Coody at 386-496-2321 at
[email protected].
LOWER LEFT: Auctioneer
H. Lake Harris sells the
BB’s & Bows basket.
ABOVE RIGHT: Colan
Coody presents college
scholarships to Amy Hicks
and Morgan Dukes.
Alachua Properties, Inc.
Office at 14721 Main Street, Alachua, Florida
Palm Harbor on 2+ Acres in Worthington Springs
with creek-side view on paved road
Triple-wide 4BR/2BA with upgrades throughout
Front Porch, All-Season Porch, 2 Decks,
2-car garage/workshop & storage building
Call Jean Calderwood, Realtor, 386-588-4309
100% USDA Financing Available
LB Social Club dinner
and dancing
Lake Butler Social Club
sponsors a potluck dinner at
7:00 p.m. and dance at 8:00
p.m. each Saturday at the Lake
Butler Community Center for
music lovers over 18. The cost
is $7 for members and $8
for guests. First-time visitors
will be admitted free for the
month of August. Southern
Magic band will provide the
music Aug. 24, and LockStock & Barrell on Aug. 31. For more information call
Sandra Tyre at 352-258-2803.
CCC#1328866/CRC#1329952
www.HendricksCustomHomes.com
email: [email protected]
UC August food drive
Union
County
is
conducting a food drive in
August to make it easy to
donate non-perishable items
to the food pantry.
They may be dropped
off directly at the food
pantry and at the following
locations:
• Roberts Insurance
• Union County Times
• Tax Collector’s Office
• Clerk of Court
• Property Appraiser
• County Judge
• Sheriff’s Office
• Emergency Mgmt. Office
• Supervisor of Elections
• State Attorney’s Office
• Board of County
Commissioners Office
• Road Department
• Any Fire Station
• Library
The food pantry is located at
125 E. Main St. in Lake Butler
and is open every Monday,
Wednesday and Friday from 8
a.m. to noon. The food pantry
is an accredited 501(c)(3)
public charity.
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Call Toll Free (800) 960-4255
Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013 • Union County Times
5A
Lake Butler Rotary recognitions
TOP LEFT: RMC Warden Steve Wellhausen gets help
with his new Rotary member pin from his wife, Genia, as
president Scott Roberts looks on. TOP MIDDLE: Region
2 Warden Brian Riedl is also inducted into Rotary. TOP
RIGHT: Ginny Bird receives the Eagle Award, given
to members who go over and above the call of duty.
Roberts said, “She does a lot behind the scenes. She is
greatly appreciated. BOTTOM LEFT: Norm Stephenson
receives the Service Above Self Award for both him and
his son Joseph. LEFT: Zack Smith and Larry Clyatt are
recognized for serving as past presidents of Lake Butler
Rotary, with Smith being Robert’s predecessor.
LEGALS
UCT LEGALS 8/29
Case No: 201120356
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
TO: Robert E. Lukatz,
A Notice of Suspension to suspend
your license and eligibility for licensure has been filed against you. You
have the right to request a hearing
pursuant to Sections 120.569 and
120.57, Florida Statutes, by mailing a
request for same to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing,
Post Office Box 3168, Tallahassee,
Florida 32315-3168. If a request for
hearing is not received by 21 days
from the date of the last publication,
the right to hearing in this matter will
be waived and the Department will
dispose of this cause in accordance
with law.
8/8 4tchg- 8/29-UCT
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, EIGHTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR
UNION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
CASE NO.: 63-2013-CA-0054
COUNTRY FEDERAL CREDIT
UNION
PLAINTIFF,
-vsTHE ESTATE OF MARZILLIE R.
THORNTON AND ANY UNKNOWN
HEIRS ASSIGNS, WIDOWER, DEVISEE, GRANTEES, CREDITORS
OR OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING THROUGH, BY UNDER OR
AGAINST HER.
DEFENDANTS,
AMENDED NOTICE OF
ACTION
TO: MARZILLIE R. THORNTON AND
ANY UNKNOWN HEIRS ASSIGNS,
WIDOWER, DEVISEE, GRANTEES,
CREDITORS OR OTHER PARTIES
CLAIMING THROUGH, BY UNDER
OR AGAINST HER.
YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Suit to
Quiet Title has been filed on the following described property:
Commencing at the SW corner of
the SW ¼ of NW 1/4 and run North
on land line 315 feet for Point of Beginning, thence run North on land
line 210 feet, thence East 210 feet,
thence South 210 feet, thence West
210 feet to the Point of Beginning, being one acre, more or less in the SW
1/4 of NW 1/4 Section 9, Township 5
South, Range 21 East.
TOGETHER WITH easement for ingress and egress described as follows:
Commence at the SE corner of the
SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 8,
Township 5 South, Range 21 East.
Union County, Florida, and run N 00
degrees 06’19” E along the East line
of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 for a distance of 425.79 feet to a set 1/2” iron
rod for the Point of Beginning. From
the Point of Beginning thus described
run N 89 degrees 53’41” W for a distance of 28.77 feet to a set 1/2” iron
rod located on the Easterly right of
way line of State Road 121 being in a
curve concave to the Northwest having a radius of 2042.72 feet; thence
run in a Northeasterly direction along
the arc of said curve as measured
along a chord having a bearing of N
01 degrees 42’25” E for a chord distance of 24.01 feet to a set 1/2” iron
rod; thence run S89 degrees 53’41”
E for a distance of 28.10 feet to a set
1/2” iron rod located on said East line
Death Comes To All
The book of Ecclesiastes teaches us death comes to all people.
The wise as well as the fool die (Ecclesiastes 2:14-16). We read,
“One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the
good, the clean, and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him
who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; and he
who takes an oath as he who fears an oath” (Ecclesiastes 9:2).
Again, the book would tell us, “All go to one place: all are from
the dust, and all return to dust” (Ecclesiastes 3:20). It does us
good to contemplate the reality of death and to remember that all
people including you and me will die. Since all die, how should
we live our lives? What should be our purpose? The end of
Ecclesiastes tells us to, “Fear God and keep His
commandments” (12:13-14). Are we living in such a way that
we are prepared for when we die?
Danville Church of Christ
Bible Study at 9:00 AM on Sun and 7:30 PM on Wed
Worship at 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Sun.
of the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 thence
run S 00 degrees 06’19” W along said
East line for a distance of 24.00 feet
to the Point of Beginning.
You are required to serve a copy
of your written defenses, if any, to
the action on the Plaintiffs Attorney
whose name and address is HUGH
D. FISH, JR., at P.O. Box 531, Macclenny, Florida 32063, on or before
Sept. 13 and file the original with the
Clerk of Court, either before service
on the petitioner’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a Suit to
Quiet Title will be entered for the relief
demanded in the petition.
WITNESS my hand and the Seal of
this court on this 9th day of August,
2013.
Kellie Hendricks Connell
As Clerk of the court
BY: Crystal Norman
8/15 4tchg 9/5-UCT
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
8TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR UNION COUNTY,
FLORIDA.
CASE No. 63-2012-CA-000085
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Plaintiff,
THOMAS, CLINTON W., et al. Defendants.
RE-NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE
SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to an Order of Final Judgment
entered in Case No. 63-2012-CA000085 of the Circuit Court of the
8TH Judicial Circuit in and for UNION
County, Florida, wherein, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, is Plaintiff, and, THOMAS, CLINTON W., et al., are Defendants, I will sell to the hiehest bidder
for cash in the Courthouse lobby at
55 West Main Street, Lake Butler, FL
32054, at the hour of 11:00 a.m., on
the 12th day of September, 2013, the
following described property:
A parcel of land lying in the N 1/2 of
NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 19,
Township 5 South, Range 21 East,
Union County, Florida; said parcel
being more particularly described as
follows: Commence at the NW comer
of the N 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of the SW
1/4 of said Section 19 and run South
00° 10’ 07” West, as a basis of bearings, along the West line of the N 1/2
of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4, for a
distance of 60.17 feet to the Southerly R/W line of George Anderson
Road; thence run North 85° 49’ 39”
East, parallel with the North line of
said N 1/2 of NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 and
along said Southerly R/W line, for a
distance of 866.03 feet to the Point of
Beginning. From the Point of Beginning thus described continue North
85° 49’ 39” East, along last said R/W
line, for a distance of 130.06 feet;
thence run South 00° 11’ 39” West,
parallel with the East line of the N 1/2
of the NW 1/4 of the SW 1/4, for a
distance of 335.90 feet; thence run
South 85° 49’ 39” West, parallel with
said North line of N 1/2 of NW 1/4 of
SW 1/4, for a distance of 130.06 feet;
thence run North 00° 11’ 39” East,
parallel with said East line of N 1/2 of
NW 1/4 of SW 1/4, for a distance of
335.90 feet to a Point of Beginning.
Together with that Certain 1997 Shad
Doublewide Mobile Home with Vin#;s
FLA14611759A&B,
Any person claiming an interest in
the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the
date of the Lis Pendens must file a
claim within 60 days after the sale.
DATED this 20 day of August, 2013.
Clerk Circuit Court
By: Crystal Norman
Deputy Clerk
GRRENSPOON MARDER, P.A
IMPORTANT
If you are a person with a disability
who needs any accommodation in
order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to
you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Clerk
of the Court’s disability coordinator
at 55 WEST MAIN STREET, LAKE
BUTLER, FL 32054 at least 7 days
before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving
this notification if the time before the
scheduled appearance is less than 7
days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.
8/22 2tchg 8/29-UCT
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR
TAX DEED
TAX DEED # 63-2013-TD-0001
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that J
R Davis the holder(s) of the following
certificate has filed said certificate
for a tax deed to be issued thereon.
The certificate number and year of
issuance, the description of the property, and the names in which it was
assessed are as follows:
CERTIFICATE #: 200
YEAR OF ISSUANCE: 2009 DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: 26-0619-00-000-0015-0
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
A parcel of land lying, being and situate in Section 26, Township 6 South,
Range 19 East, Union County, Florida, more particularly described as
follows: Commence at the Northeast
corner of said Section 26, and run
South 89 degrees 43 minutes 08 seconds West, along the North line of
said Section 26, a distance of 30.01
feet; thence continue running South
89 degrees 43 minutes 08 seconds
West, continuing along said North line
of Section 26, a distance of 420.00
feet to the Point of Beginning of the
hereinafter described parcel of land:
Thence run South 00 degrees 54
minutes 28 seconds West, a distance
of 244.88 feet; thence run South 87
degrees 49 minutes 20 seconds West
a distance of 208.71 feet; thence run
North 00 degrees 54 minutes 28 seconds East, a distance of 251.79 feet
to the intersection with said North line
of Section 26, thence run North 89
degrees 43 minutes 08 seconds East,
along said North line of Section 26, a
distance of 208.45 feet to the Point of
Beginning.
NAME IN WHICH ASSESSED: Mark
A. Kincaid
Said property being in the County of
Union, State of Florida. Unless such
certificate shall be redeemed according to the law, the property described
in such certificate will be sold to the
highest bidder in the Courthouse lobby at 11:00
A.M., the 23rd
day of September, 2013.
Dated this 20th day of August, 2013.
Kellie Hendricks Connell
Clerk of Circuit Court
Union County, Florida
Persons with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations to
participate in this proceeding should
contact (386) 496-3711.
8/22 4tchg 9/12-UCT
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR UNION COUNTY,
FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 63-2012-CA-0097
DOYLE M. ARCHER and
MARY N. ARCHER,
HUSBAND AND WIFE,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
ELIZABETH ATHANASAKOS;
ELIZABETH ATHANASAKOS,
TRUSTEE OF THE REVOCABLE
TRUST AGREEMENT, DATED THE
17™ DAY OF OCTOBER, 2009;
MARGARET WETZEL; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; BUTLER SEAFOOD HOUSE, L.L.C., a
Florida Limited Liability Company;
LIZ HYLAND A/K/A ELIZABETH
A. HYLAND; and all unknown parties claiming by, through, under or
against the herein named Defendants, who are not known to be
dead or alive, whether said unknown
parties claim as heirs, devisees,
grantees, assignees, lienors, creditors, trustees, spouses, or other
claimants.
Defendants,
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that,
pursuant to the Final Judgment of August 19, 2013, in this cause, I will sell
the property situated in Union County,
Florida, described as:
All that parcel of land which lies North
of the West 1/2 of Block 9, Original
Town of Lake Butler and between the
North right of way line of State Road
S-238 (formerly Sanderson Road)
and the water’s edge of Lake Butler
Lake, in the North 1/2 of Government
Lot 11, Section 30, Township 5 South,
Range 20 East; said parcel fronting
105 feet, more or less, on State Road
S-238.
EXCEPT the South 194.60 feet thereof and EXCEPT the right of way of
Lake Street (now Lake Avenue).
Property Address: 315 N. Lake Avenue, Lake Butler, FL 32054 November 21, 2013 at 11:00 am, EDST in
the lobby of the Union County Courthouse, 55 Main Street, Lake Butler,
FL 32054, to the highest bidder for
cash, in accordance with Section
45.031, Florida Statutes.
Any person claiming an interest in
the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the
date of the lis pendens must file a
claim within 60 days after the sale.
Dated at Lake Butler, Florida this 21
day of August, 2013.
Kellie Hendricks Connell
Clerk of the Circuit Court
By: Crystal Norman
Deputy Clerk
Attorney for Plaintiff:
G. Gregory Hale
Attorney at Law
3426 NW 43rd Street, Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352)376-9576
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
REQUESTING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS PROCEEDING SHOULD
CONTACT (386)496-3711 OR VIA
FLORIDA RELAY SERVICE 1-800955-8771
8/29 2tchg 9/5-UCT
IN THE CIRCUIT CIVIL COURT OF
THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OF FLORIDA, IN AND FOR UNION
COUNTY
CIVIL DIVISION
Case No.
Division
63-2012-CA-000037
MIDFIRSTBANK
Plaintiff.
vs.
ROBERT BONESIO A/K/A ROBERT
S. BONESIO, UNION, COUNTY,
FLORIDA, WELLS FARGO BANK,
N.A. F/K/A. FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF FLORIDA, CHASE
BANK USA, N.A. F/K/A CHASE
MANHATTAN BANK USA, AND UNKNOWN TENANTS/OWNERS,
Defendants.
NOTICE OF SALE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
Final Judgment of Foreclosure for
Plaintiff entered in this cause on December 19, 2012, in the Circuit Court
of Union County, Florida, I will sell the
property situated in Union County,
Florida described as;
PARCEL “B”
A PARCEL OF LAND LYING, BEING
AND SITUATE IN GOVERNMENT
LOT 10. SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 5 SOUTH, RANGE 20 EAST,
UNION COUNTY, FLORIDA, MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS
FOLLOWS: COMMENCE AT THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SAID
GOVERNMENT LOT 10, SECTION
31, AND RUN NORTH 00 DEGREES
15 MINUTES 04 SECONDS EAST,
ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID
GOVERNMENT LOT 10, SECTION
31, A DISTANCE OF 520.00 FEET
TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE
NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF
A COUNTY MAINTAINED PAVED
ROAD (ALSO KNOWN AS SOUTHEAST 91ST STREET, WIDTH OR
RIGHT-OF-WAY. AS USED. IS 40
FEET); THENCE RUN NORTH 83
DEGREES 38 MINUTES 03 SECONDS EAST, ALONG SAID NORTH
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF A COUNTY
MAINTAINED PAVED ROAD, A DISTANCE OF 400.00 FEET; THENCE
CONTINUE RUNNING NORTH 83
DEGREES 38 MINUTES 03 SECONDS EAST, CONTINUING ALONG
SAID NORTH
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE A DISTANCE
OF 100.59 FEET TO THE POINT
OF BEGINNING OF THE HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED PARCEL
OF LAND: THENCE RUN NORTH
00 DEGREES 10 MINUTES 56
SECONDS WEST A DISTANCE
OF 200.00 FEET; THENCE RUN
NORTH 83 DEGREES 38 MINUTES
03 SECONDS EAST A DISTANCE
OF 100.59 FEET; THENCE RUN
SOUTH 00 DEGREES 10 MINUTES
56 SECONDS EAST A DISTANCE
OF 200.00 FEET TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE AFORESAID
NORTH RIGHT-OF- WAY LINE OF
A COUNTY MAINTAINED PAVED
ROAD; THENCE RUN SOUTH 83
DEGREES 38 MINUTES 03 SECONDS WEST, ALONG SAID NORTH
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF A COUNTY MAINTAINED PAVED ROAD, A
DISTANCE OF 100.59 FEET TO THE
POINT OF BEGINNING.
and commonly known as; 16727
SOUTHEAST 91ST STREET, LAKE
BUTLER, FL 32054; including the
building, appurtenances, and fixtures
located therein, at public sale, to the
highest and best bidder, for cash, on
November 21, 2013 at 11:00.
Any persons claiming an interest
in the surplus from the sale, if any,
other than the property owner as of
the date of the lis pendens roust file
a claim within 60 days after the sale.
Dated this 23 day of August,
2013.
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Kellie H. Connell
By: Crystal Norman
Deputy Clerk
Edward B. Pritchard
(813)229-0900x1309
Kass Shuler, PA.
P.O. Box 800
Tampa, FL 33601-0800
8/29 2tchg 9/5-UCT
PUBLIC NOTICE
Union County will submit the Annual
Report required by the State Housing
Initiatives Partnership Program for fiscal years 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and
2012/2013 by September 15, 2013. Copies of the reports are available for
public inspection and comment at the
Office of the Chairman of the Union
County Board of Commissioners,
Lake Butler, Florida.
8/29 1tchg-UCT
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6A
Union County Times • Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013
MOTIVE
Continued from 3A
jobs and help to many. I lost a very
good, close and dear friend and
will miss him forever.”
Eddie’s brother, Wayne Oden,
and his wife, Bobbie, agreed:
“Marvin was a great, kind and
loving man. He was always willing
to listen if you had a problem and
help find a way to solve it. He was
very compassionate.
“It shook him to the core of
his heart when the school bus
accident happened. He loved
to laugh and be with friends
especially to go out to eat. We
always said he didn’t want
anyone in Union County to go
hungry.
“There is big hole in our hearts
now and no one else can ever fill
it. Marvin was our best friend.”
Having known Pritchett his
whole life, Thomas said, He’s
probably one of the most generous
people I’ve been around. I know
what he did for everybody,” for
all of his employees.
Pritchett would host First
Christian Church of Lake Butler’s
annual Fall Festival at his Rolling
Oaks Farm, providing plenty of
food for all who wanted to come.
Ironically, Mabrey and Allen
would cook together for the
festival. “It was like a family,”
Thomas observed. “It just
makes absolutely no sense to
me why, one, he would shoot
Mr. Pritchett, and why would he
shoot (Mabrey)?”
Pritchett was also key in
helping the church grow its
facilities to what they are today
through his unique vision.
“Without Mr. P’s passion and
drive, that church would have
never been built. I’m not talking
about his money; I’m not talking
about any of that.
“It was his idea. ‘We need
to do that. We need to build a
new church. We need to build a
new sanctuary.’ It was his idea,
originally.” Thomas said it grew
from there through others.
“He had the vision. With his
enthusiasm, his vision, look
at what he did here (in Lake
Butler).”
Thomas remembers when
Pritchett owned what was then a
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904-964-5764
Gulf Oil gas station diagonally
across from the courthouse, about
40-something years ago. “That
was his office when he was into the
turpentine and forestry business.
“Look at what he built.”
That was the kind of
entrepreneurial weight that
Pritchett threw behind helping
his home church that had
outgrown its original, small
sanctuary that sits on the current
property.
“I’m not saying it was totally
his idea, but to build that big of
a building—we’re all looking
at each wondering where we’re
going to get the money. I keep
saying ‘vision,’ but he knew we
could do it.”
That was around 1995 and the
church moved into its current
facility in 1998—the same place
that’s hosted many a church
service, wedding, and large
funerals, including his own this
coming Friday.
Thomas added that Pritchett
made “unbelievable donations”
to various groups, including
his church, and helped school
children and families and so
many in the community.
“I think he understood his
roots and how to pay it back,”
Thomas said. “I just, I don’t get
it. I just don’t get it. Not from that
guy, because he was more than
generous with Hubert. I know
that for a fact.”
Thomas
concluded
that
Pritchett took care of his people
and instilled that in his children.
They shared this with the
community: “Yesterday, we lost
our father and our children’s
grandfather in a senseless act
of violence. He was our best
friend, role model and a warm
and caring man who loved our
family, our employees and his
friends. His loss is immeasurable
for all of us, including Margaret,
his wife of 45 years. It is difficult
to fully comprehend that he is
gone. …
“We would like to express our
sincere appreciation for those
near and far who have expressed
their sympathies and support
in our loss. It is a testament to
the impact our father had on
the community and the many
lives he touched. We will find
strength in each other and in the
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knowledge that dad lived a truly
honorable and full life.”
Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado:
Slain
Gonzalez-Delgado,
from
Nicaragua, was a close friend of
the Perez family and engaged to
be married in the U.S.
“He was a fine young man,”
said Whitehead. He recounted
how Pritchett told Whitehead
that Gonzalez-Delgado gets his
paycheck and sends two-thirds
of it to his mother in Nicaragua,
who lives in poverty and cares
for her children there. “That’s
what kind of guy he was.”
On Facebook, family friend
Ryan Perez said, “Rolando
moved to Lake Butler at 19
years old knowing no English
and having no family here. My
grandfather and the Perez family
helped him jumpstart his shot at
an American dream. He wanted
to learn the language and be a
successful person.
“Being a loving, familyoriented man, he wanted to
share his successes and support
his family back home in
Nicaragua. Rolando was a very
driven person. He was always
determined and self-proficient
(sic). He was outgoing and
bubbly, always making everyone
laugh. He was definitely a joy to
be around.
“Rolando was always there
with and for us. You could
guarantee his energy at family
get-togethers and his heart
of servanthood whenever we
needed him.
“Whether it was around our
homes or even at the county fairs
you could count on him.
“I commend Rolando for his
courage, and his success. Coming
to this country with nothing and
building a life is something to
be proud of. I am glad to say he
did accomplish great feats in his
young life.
“Being 28, he learned our
language, he became financially
stable and began building his
American dream.
“Rolando was more than
just a working man. He was a
dreamer, he was a risk-taker, he
was gallant, he was happy...and
he was family.”
A connected county. LEFT: Sheriff Jerry Whitehead lost
his mother VIvian Crews Whitehead (upper left) to a
sudden illness nine days before the fatal shooting of his
uncle Marvin Pritchett. ABOVE: Margaret Pritchett lost
her sister and husband.
Lewis “Buddy” Mabrey Jr.:
Sole Survivor
Whitehead recently presented
a Distinguished Service Award
to Chandra Mabrey on behalf
of her husband, Lewis, for 30
years of dedicated service to the
Florida Sheriff’s Association.
Lewis is the only survivor
from the Saturday shooting
spree. As he was being shot
from about 14 feet away, Mabrey
raised his arm and turned
sideways, shielding himself with
his arm, which received most of
the pellets discharged from the
same shotgun used by Allen to
shoot Griffis. Whitehead said
that move probably saved his
life.
David Griffis: Slain
Griffis is survived by his
wife Deanna and three children
who each attend one of Union
County’s public schools.
“David Griffis I’ve known for
all of his life,” Whitehead said.
“His mother used to babysit my
oldest child. David and him were
about the same age.”
Good People
The local ministerial association
met on Monday to schedule
another community prayer service
because the one held on Sunday
night at First Christian Church
happened too fast to really get the
word out very well, Peterson said.
The next one was held on
Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Victory
Christian Center on S.R. 121
across the street from Lake
Butler Elementary School.
During his prayer at the
service, Pastor Patrick Maxwell
said, “We are a family here in
Union County.” He was joined
throughout the service for
scripture reading, inspirational
thoughts and prayer by other
pastors throughout the county,
including Steven Wells and Jason
Johns from First Baptist Church
of Lake Butler, Paul Osteen
from Sardis Baptist Church in
Worthington Springs, Larry
Clyatt from Harmony Freewill
Baptist Church near Worthington
Springs and Peterson.
On Monday, Peterson had just
spent an hour and a half with the
Pritchett family to make funeral
arrangements, and said they were
doing OK. “They are coping.
They are coping.”
And, hopefully, so is the
community.
“We lost some good people,”
Whitehead said. “These people
Lake Region Monitor Editor
were good people, and just Dan Hildebran and former Union
so uncalled for, but we’ll get County Times Editor Tiffany
through it.”
Clark contributed to this report.
THE OFFICE SHOP
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Viewing, Memorial
Schedules
The viewing for Marvin
Pritchett is scheduled for
Thursday, Aug. 29, from
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at First
Christian Church of Lake
Butler, located at 155 NW
First St.
The memorial service for
Pritchett will be on Friday,
Aug. 30, at 2 p.m., also at
First Christian Church. The
family expects more than
1,000 attendees. The two
main Pritchett companies
alone employ about 800
people.
For Rolando GonzalezDelgado, viewing will be on
Saturday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m.,
at Archer Funeral Home,
which is located at 55 N.
Lake Ave. in Lake Butler.
His memorial service will
follow at 11 a.m.
After the service, family
and friends are invited to
the Lulu Community Center
for a gathering. It is asked
that they bring a side dish,
dessert or any kind of food
dish they like.
For Griffis, visitation will
be on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 3
p.m., also at Archer Funeral
Home.
His
memorial
service will follow at 4 p.m.
FAX
904-964-5764