PAGE2A HE ASPE NES. aspr. F THRSDY. MRCH25.201 The problem that won't go away Continued From Page 1A cats seeking refuge be- hind convenience stores and fed wild dogs, some of them starving, in several ar- eas of the county. At one point, she was even forced to take on a second job in order to cover the expense of caring for Hamilton County's stray ani- mals. The problem isn't a new one. Veterinarian Mike Huston first opened his practice in Jasper in 1989, a time when Huston said stray dogs were being euthanized with bul- lets by local law en- forcement. "That sort of thing was common- place in a lot of differ- ent places back then," said Huston. "Animal control in Hamilton County has drastically improved since then." Today, the city of Jasper has a dog pound and a dog war- den, there's also a PAWS program in Jen- nings which offers dis- counted spaying and neutering. Hamilton County does not have an animal shelter, however. "We still need im- proved animal control and we definitely need a community animal shelter," said Huston. Huston's own attempt at creating an animal shelter failed nearly eight years ago due to the lack of community and county involve- ment, in addition to a lack of money, said Huston. "It all boils down to funding," he said. And during such dif- ficult economic times as these, Jeff McGuire with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office IU. said that, sadly, ani- mals are not always a top priority. "These animals are God's creatures; they're not a low prior- ity. But it's just a fact of life," said McGuire as he stood in the mid- dle of the county's dog pound, which consists of a few worn pens set behind the sewer plant. It is the only pound in the county. "The conditions aren't the best, but we take care of them the best we can," said dog warden Mark Hawkins. McGuire said there is county land where a shelter was once discussed be- ing built. Those plans never came to fruition, however. Hawkins said other ideas have circulated, but little has been done. He said the entire community needs to come together to make change hap- pen. A lot of people just want to talk about the problem, not many are willing to get dirty, echoed Huston, who euthanizes 100-150 dogs and cats per year for the city. "Most come to us with no collar or means of identifica- tion," said Hawkins as two dogs barked in a pen beside him. "We're stuck between a rock and a hard place." Something's got to change, says Pedicini. And shelter would be a start, but it will take a community ef- fort, she said. Pedicini has already gone be- fore the county com- mission and asked for advice and assistance with a "Recycling for Pets" program of which she is in the preliminary stages of planning. "Recycling is an es- sential part of life to- day," she said. "Why not use it to raise mon- ey to support a shel- ter?" Pedicini said it would take the entire community -- from the county commission to the school district to local businesses -- to make an animal shelter happen. "It's going to take more than a few people feeding a whole bunch of animals," she said. "It's about com- ing together as a com- munity." "Currently, the coun- ty has tied the hands of the community by not providing enough animal services," she continued. Pedicini said with rabies on the rise, it is not uncom- mon for people to shoot stray animals. "That's what happens when there's not suffi- cient animal control." "It's a real need," said Huston. "If you see some- thing that's wrong day after day, you get to the point that you just walk by. People have gotten used to seeing stray animals. But I can't do that. I can't walk by," said Pedici- ni. Cotat CinyPdcn 38-46-68 ToIdoate S Norh Sloida Pas' spay aI neuer unI Sal h J-nn oficSa HAVE YOU SEEN THESE ABSCONDERS FROM PROBATION? Name: MELVIII JOJES Race: BLACK Sex: MALE Hair Color: BLACK Eye Color: BR)OWNl Height: 6 01 Weight: 222 LBS Birth Date: 11 06 r198': I'i p.;.l , %. - iL / Name: BILL,' B ROT H E RTOr l Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Hair Color: BROWi Eye Color: BROWll Height: 61: Weight: 193 LBS Birth Date: .09"23 19681 Target: A Continued From Page 1A Tobacco Division. How- ever, Hamilton County sheriff's deputy Jeramie Cheshire said drugs and alcohol are still a major problem. "I see it every time I come to work," he said. Cheshire said the key to creating a drug free community is creating an atmosphere in which drug use is unaccept- able. And when it comes to keeping kids off drugs, he said the most important factor is family. "The most important person in a child's life is the person they live with," said Judge Sonny Scaff. Scaff said it is impor- drug-free Hamilton tant for parents to pay close attention to who their children are associ- ating with. As they get older, who they hang out with shapes who they become. "If they hang out with riff raff, they'll turn into riff raff," said Scaff. Deputy Marvin Page said currently the most commonly abused drugs in Hamilton County are prescription drugs, while cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamines are also available and wide- ly used. Page said he is currently investigating 25 different drug-relat- ed cases in Hamilton County. The fight is long from over, he said. Other speakers in- cluded Mona Paine, RN, Hamilton County Health Department and Pastor Jerry Thomason. Paine discussed how drugs and alcohol are associated with the transmission of STD's and HIV, while Thoma- son spoke on the re- sponsibilities of reli- gious leaders when it comes to the issue of drug and alcohol abuse. Officials encouraged individuals to get in- volved in the coalition by attending coalition meeting and participat- ing in activities held throughout the year. For more information about this issue contact Grace McDonald at 386- 792-9388. RURAL TOURISM Continued From Page 1A farm, ridden a horse or even picked fresh fruit," she said in the press release. "Florida hasn't really developed this new emerging form of tourism, but other parts of the country have been very successful at it." Suggestions include an eco-lodge on the banks of the Suwannee River; a welcome cen- ter combining a farmer's market, bike rental shop and restau- rant that could feature Southern home cook- ing; and a 425-acre his- toric district in the town of Jasper. The area draws thou- sands to the annual Florida Folk Festival at the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park in White Springs. However, few concertgoers stay overnight because ac- commodations are lim- ited to cabins and camping. The UF design team proposed an eco-lodge next to the state park along the riverbank, with elevated trails to protect soil and vege- tation. "Especially as the baby boomers age, while some people like camping along the riv- er, there is another group who want a dif- ferent experience and can afford to stay in a lodge with hot show- ers and meals," Gu- rucharri said. Raising the visibility of Jennings, another Hamilton County town, is the aim of one proposal to convert an empty historic brick building along the 1-75 corridor at the city's entrance into a wel- come center where vis- itors could sample fresh produce and Southern cooking and rent bicycles, Gu- rucharri said. The idea is modeled after the old orange stops along the highway, befitting Jennings' location near the Florida-Georgia border, she said. The most extensive revitalization plans are suggested for Jasper, where UF students in- ventoried 150 historic buildings, many of them old Victorian homes, and proposed creating a pedestrian- friendly residential and commercial his- toric district. A redesigned central park would be the civic heart of the com- munity, with arts and crafts fairs and black- berry festivals, around which sidewalk cafes and retail shops could be built, Gurucharri said. Running through the park would be a greenway along an old railroad corridor that bisects downtown, with nearby county- wide biking trails, walking paths and a driving path for pa- rades of old cars. With extensive ef- forts from local citi- zens, the city is mov- ing ahead with some of UF's suggestions and is seeking a $500,000 Florida Department of Transportation grant for roadside trees, sidewalks, planters and various central park improvements. The Jasper communi- ty has come up with unique means of rais- ing funds for the pro- ject, such as its first blackberry festival, one of only 12 in the United States, sched- uled for June. Cindy Eatmon, co- owner of Bass Furni- ture and a lifetime Jasper resident, said UF's efforts in Hamil- ton County have in- spired her. "It's a super idea and one that's attainable" she said. "These are ideas that we can feasi- bly use to better our community. We're a dinosaur of our way of life in Florida. We want to preserve it, but we can also market this." Jasper City Manager Larry Cail said he feels life these ideas when put into motion will help Hamilton County grow. "This will bring people in and allow them to see what our town has to offer," he said. "By attracting people to our city, they will come and shop, eat, and, hopefully, spend the night," said Eat- mon. "A balance of everything is impor- tant to a community. Tourism is part of that." Name: Name: ALLE I LISA LAI[lI ATWOOID i Race: W HITE Race: Sex: FEMALE BLACK - Hair Color: Sex: MALE BR Hair Color: n Eye Color: BLACK K HAZEL Eye Color: Height: 51:'15 BROWN11 Weight: * Height: 6(,) 152 LBS Weight: Birth Date: S 215 LBS 11 28 1,.979, Birth Date: CALL CRIME STOPPERS, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REWARD! Do not attempt to apprehend, contact your local law enforcement agency 0 If your information leads to an arrest you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to S$1,000. You do not have to testify in court S and you will remain anonymous. a 386-792-TIPS (8477) HAMILTON COUNTY, INC. Paid for by the Office of Attorney General, Crime Stoppers Trust Fund 584949-F L You want the most in-depth coverage, the latest news and stories that touch home. We want to give it to you. 3- 1 Year In County Subscription 25 u1 Year $25 Out of County Mail or bring payment to: 3tiaspr ewtas 105 2nd Ave., Jasper, FL 32052 386-792-2487 1-800-525-4182 ext. 152 571513-F IN I I I.li�i-iliij�r�i�l�lC I r, IN PAGE 2A THE JASPER NEWS, Jasper. FL THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010