LAKE CIY REPORTER LOCAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2009 Locals turn out for 'Rally for Truth' By ANTONIA ROBINSON arobinson@lakecityreporter.com Concerned citizens gathered at the "Rally for Truth" Saturday in Olustee Park. The Columbia County Republican Executive Committee sponsored the non-partisan event. Opinions on health care reform legislation, the stimulus plan and the Constitution, were shared from several citi- zens. The average American doesn't know the truth about government, said Tony Buzzella,.event orga- nizei. Citizens fail to do their homework and get informed on issues. Issues in government didn't just begin with the current administration, he said. "You can't blame Bush or Obama," Buzzella said. "Who cares whose fault it is? Let's quit pointing fin- gers and take a look at where America should be." The rally's purpose is to bring the truth to light, he said. The focus should not be on which party line is, right, but what is right for America. "All I want is the truth," Buzzella said; The next "Rally forTruth" is schedule to be held Feb. 27. U.S. Navy Airmen Michael Scott (left) and Columbia County Republican Party event organizer Tony Buzzela salute during the singing of the national anthem on Saturday during the downtown 'Rally for Truth' event. The next 'Rally for Truth' is set for Feb. 27. VIGIL Set for Monday Continued From Page 1A need to recognize the grow- ing number of community members that are homeless and at risk of being home- less. They could be in line in front of you at Wal-Mart or next to you at church." The community is invit- ed to learn more about the homeless in Columbia County. "Come out and show your support," Rivera said. "Come be a part of the solution." SNOW: Day festivities Continued From Page 1A and a giant pinball machine. The entire event was free. "Everybody can come out and it doesn't cost them a thing," Bertram said. "I hope we continue to do it." Festivities concluded Saturday night with the". Merry Christmas Lake City Concert and Santa Photo ' Night in Olustee Park. ken 150TH: Celebration concluded Saturday Continued From Page 1A dent. 'This is a lasting be the first of many to corn- , Seeing the 150th Johnson, he, said. memory of what we did memorate historical places. anniversary celebra- "It's a privilege to me," this year." in downtown Lake City, she 'tion meant a lot to City he said. "I know I'll neyer The plaque is hoped to said. Manager Wendell see it again." PRISON: Two finalist cities different in many ways Continued From Page 1A Smith-Olson, chairman and CEO of Lake-Osceola State Bank in Baldwin. "We were fortunate enough to have the GEO Corporation in business here previously. They were contracting with the State of Michigan and the state pulled their con- tract We have felt the severe pinch of the closure." Smith-Olson said that pinch amounted to 10 per- cent of the employment opportunities in the county - about 300 jobs 'at that time. She said the GEO Corporation's addition was completed last year and changed the facility from a maximum security facil- ity to a medium security facility. Smith-Olson also noted the Baldwin public hear- ings were filled with more than 100 people who spoke in support of the proposed facility. "Former GEO employees were speaking, and people who had had to leave the area because they couldn't find work," she said. "This will be a big economic boost for us. We want jobs of any kind in Michigan." Lake County Commission acting chairman Bob Myers' also said the Baldwin-area needs the prison. "We're really high on it," he said. "It's really the kind of thing we need here. Our whole county is a tourist county because we have so much state and federal for- est lands that were taken off the tax rolls. We have no big industry at all in this county. It's well-received to have the federal people. 7 /2 prW~� WIN- - A .~, 9 come in here." He said the Lake County area has a number of trout streams, lakes and road- ways Route 10 and Route 7 - and yet the region doesn't have a single stop light in the county. 'The GEO prison that is coming in here is a real Godsend," Myers said. 'We have the property, and the building is already built. It's a prison we had for teens that was shut down by the state three years ago. GEO expanded the prison and brought it up to federal specs." . Myers said the prison will add to the area's econ- omy. "It will bring up our eco- nomic base," he said. 'We had a great loss when we shut it down. We had a certain amount of people, and when they left it really put a big whole in our econ- omy. The feds bringing in more jobs would enhance it, too. We definitely want the prison here. It's been '100 percent positive. We've had no negative response to it." Lake County clerk, regis- ter of deeds and chief finan- cial officer Shelly Myers also said the proposal was favorably received. "Out of two public meetings for the prison to be located here in Lake County, we had zero neg- ative responses to this being their selected loca- tion," she said. "We would gladly welcome such an opportunity to be brought back into our area. Our question was mainly why would they wish to spend nioney and build a new facility,. when this facility is new and just been ren- ovated to their specifica- tions." About GEO Corporation The GEO Group, Inc. is deals in the delivery of correctional, detention and residential treatment ser- vices to federal, state, and local government agencies internationally. GEO work includes design,, construc- tion, financing, and opera- tions and the company represents government cli- ents in the United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the United Kingdom. GEO's opera- tions include 67 correction- al and residential treatment facilities with a total design capacity of approximately 60,000 beds. Smith-Olson said GEO Corporation was also a good corporate neighbor for the area. "They were very involved in fundraising, bought com- puters for fourth graders and people that worked for them always made. an effort to be involved in the non-profit efforts that were going on," she said. MAC JOHNSON ROOFING ^ 104 SOUTHWEST 266TH STREET NEWBERRY, FLORIDA 32669 352.472.4943 or 866.376.4943 website: www.macjohnsonroofing.com 752-6306 Residential * Commercial * Industrial Licensed & Insured CFC1427643 2744 SW Main Blvd. Lake City, FL rut over the phone? We offer a variety of specialized telephones to qualified applicants. And you won't have to -/leC1 out a dime. Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc., provides specialized telephone equipment at no cost to Floridians with hearing loss or speech disabilities. 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An authorization form may be obtained from your new physician or requested by mail to P. O. Box 2757, Lake City, FL 32056. I ,.,. Page Editor: Troy Roberts, 754-0427 '��~ ;1 I r ': U!' '