The County Record

Remembering Betsy
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CALHOUN COUNTY
Feb. 12: Jeremy Hazelwood, failure to appear
Feb. 14: Shane Coburn, county VOP; Lisa Welch, issuing worthless check under $150; Frederick Barfield, VOP (manufacture of meth, poss. of meth)
Feb. 16: David Attaway, battery; Jose Cruz aka Alfredo Guitennez, no valid drivers license, obstruction; Paul Bymes, VOP; Mark McGill, domestic battery
Feb. 17: Christopher Johnson, resisting arrest without violence, poss. of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief, escape, possession of meth.
Feb. 18: Kevin Lee Moore, out of county warrant
Feb. 19: Carla Causey, disorderly conduct; Maxwell Jack Helman, driving while license suspended or revoked

LIBERTY COUNTY
Feb. 13: Thomas Galloway, failure to appear
Feb. 16: Nehomi Cossey, hold for CCSO
Feb. 17: Timothy King, hold for Jackson County
Feb. 19: Carla Lea Causey, hold for Calhoun Co.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Shane Goff listed on last week’s Calhoun County Sheriff’s Log should have been listed as “Shawn” Goff.

The above individuals were booked into the Calhoun or Liberty County Jail over the past week. Although they have been charged with a crime, they are considered innocent until proven guilty.

State Representative Marti Coley (R) will no longer serve as the District 7 legislator following this term. New district lines have been drafted with Coley, who lives in Jackson County, now residing in District 5. A native of Blountstown, Coley says she hopes to serve one more term and will be seeking the District 5 seat in the next election. Check out the full story in this week's print edition on news stands tomorrow.

Robert Hill of Bristol has filed his letter of intent to seek the State Representative seat in district 7. Hill has served the past three terms as Liberty County's Clerk of Court. Check out this week's print edition on news stands tomorrow for more details.

Calhoun County Property Appraiser Terry Stone has filed his letter of intent to seek re-election. His is currently unopposed.

Calhoun County Judge Kevin Grover has filed his letter of intent to run for re-election. He is currently unopposed.

Mrs. Elizabeth Anne ( Betsy) Knight, 73, of Altha, FL, passed away Friday, February 17, 2012, in Tallahassee, FL.

Betsy was born on June 8, 1938, in Orlando, FL, and had lived in Calhoun County since 1962, coming from Tallahassee. She was a wife, mother and founder of Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary in 1988. Betsy made her debut in 1956 at the Rosalind Social Club in Orlando. Betsy also served as a librarian for two years. She was a member of Hill Crest Baptist Church near Altha.

Survivors include one son, Philip Barclay Knight, and his wife, Lana, of Altha; three daughters, Kathy Knight Varnum of Tallahassee, Mary Virginia (Ginny) Scott and her husband, Tom, of Ocean Springs, MS, and Sarah Elizabeth Westmorland and her husband, Adam, of Tallahassee; grandchildren, Jacob Carrington Knight, Zackery Varnum, Stephanie Gabrielle Boss, Katherine Elizabeth Boss, Josh Knight, Joshua Westmorland, Phillip Cushman Knight, Shelby Arminda Knight and Adam Barclay Westmorland; and one great-granddaughter, Adelin Anne Boss.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 21, at 2 pm (CST) at Peavy Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Steve Warren and Reverend Forrest Parker officiating. Interment will follow on Wednesday, February 22, at 1:00 pm (CST) at Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida. The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 21, from 1 pm until service time at 2 pm (CST) at Peavy Funeral Home Chapel.

All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).

BY TERRY MORSE, Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary

Betsy Knight fought off more than one illness in her life, but I am afraid that she lost the battle this time. Betsy passed away around 11:30 this morning with her family by her side.

This was shock to many of us because we thought she was on the road to recovery. However, when she had planned surgery this week, the doctors discovered a mass that was cancerous and it had rapidly spread through her body.

Betsy Knight had a beautiful soul and dedicated her life to conservation and wildlife. She loved the outdoors and some of you may not know that every year in March she would go kayaking with friends and some of her grandchildren. She raised and rehabilitated many native animals during her years as the Director of Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary. From all the stories I have heard, I don't think there is a species she hadn't cared for at one time or another.

If Betsy had to pick one accomplishment though, I think she would say she was most proud of the success she had with Florida Black Bears. She has raised or rehabilitated over 40 bears and returned them to all back the wild, even though she was told it couldn't be done. Few people told her no and if they did, it only made her WILL to prove them wrong all the stronger.

I will miss Betsy's stories and her wealth of knowledge. I hope I can continue her legacy with wildlife as many others are already doing. Betsy knew more about the natural history of each animal than I could ever hope to know. But mostly I will miss Betsy.

Thank you all for your prayers for Betsy and her family. The schedule for services has not been determined yet, but I will post that information as soon as I get it. I know Betsy had so many friends and I hope I have reached all of them either through phone calls, FWRA, Facebook or email but if anyone thinks of someone that might not know please pass this information on to them. I attached 2 of my favorite photos of Betsy.

Terry

Incumbent Margie Laramore has announced plans to seek re-election to her post as Calhoun County Supervisor of Elections. She will face Sky Scott on the ballot.