The County Record

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The former president of C&L Bank of Bristol, has been indicted
on federal charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making false entries into the books and
records of a federally-insured bank.
By an indictment filed yesterday afternoon, Jed Hiers, 50, of Bristol, was charged with one count of
conspiracy to defraud The Bank, also doing business as C&L Bank, in Bristol, Florida, and nine
counts of making false entries into the books and records of the bank. The indictment alleges that
between 1999 and 2004, Hiers, a bank officer, conspired with others to conceal the true financial
picture of the bank from bank examiners and the bank’s own management. Hiers is alleged to have
made loans and extensions of credit to borrowers who were unable to repay, and that he attempted,
through a variety of means, to conceal the borrowers’ actual indebtedness from bank examiners. The
allegations include charges that Hiers falsified borrowers’ financial statements, that he made loans
to third parties for the purpose of paying off the loans of other borrowers, and that he made false
statements in response to audit questions of a bank employee examining existing loans.
Hiers’ initial appearance on the charges is set for 4:00 today before United States Magistrate Judge
William C. Sherrill, Jr. in Tallahassee.
United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement whose joint investigation led to the charges in this
case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Rhew-Miller.
An indictment is merely a charging document. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr. James Andrew Crutchfield, 61, of Altha, FL, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011, in Marianna, FL.
[Full Story »] 

Mrs. Geraldine Martin, 85, of Altha, FL, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011, at her home in Altha.
[Full Story »] 

Mary Etta Rollins of Blountstown passed away Thursday, June 30, 2011, at her home at the age of 98. [Full Story »] 

The Weekend Guide
All that’s hip & happening in the Apalachicola River Valley.

WALK IT OUT
The annual Walk to Liberty is set for Saturday, July 1, beginning at 8 a.m. CT across Trammell Bridge. Gather at Minnie Lee’s on the Blountstown side at 7:40 a.m. or meet in Bristol at Veterans Memorial Civic Center to ride to the west side for the trek across. If walking is not your thing, you can catch a ride across to Bristol, parade style. A patriotic program will follow at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center. The event is sponsored by the local VFW and American Legion chapters.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Get in the gift-giving spirit (or just hoard stuff for yourself) at the Christmas in July Craft Fair Saturday, July 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement.

FRESH PRODUCE, ANYONE?
The River Valley Marketplace, typically held just once a month, is now open every Saturday in downtown Blountstown. Check it out in the greenspace next to Centennial Bank. Open 8 a.m. to noon, this event is sponsored by Blountstown Main Street. Booth spaces are free and open to anyone with arts, crafts, produce or business products. No flea market items allowed. And if you can sing a tune or strum a guitar, come pick and grin! Entertainers are needed and invited to join the festivities. Call Kelli at 674-1004 for more.

LIGHT UP THE SKY
A fireworks show is set for Monday, July 4, in Blountstown. The show gets underway around 8:45 p.m., but the fun starts sooner than that.
The Blountstown Historic Preservation Committee will be selling hot dogs and drinks beginning at 6 p.m. in front of the old M & B Train on Hwy. 71 to raise funds for the Depot Museum. This is a great spot to watch the fireworks and grab a snack.
The BHS Tiger Booster Club will be selling barbecue sandwiches at Magnolia Square beginning at 6 p.m. Football players will also be on golf carts selling sandwiches up and down SR 20 and Main Street.

CALHOUN COUNTY
June 20: Cavon T. Cox, DWLSR with knowledge; Tim Hatten, VOP
June 21: Vicki Lynn King, VOP; Cavon T. Cox, VOP; Cherie C. Mosley, VOP; Kristi L. Grumbling, battery (domestic), criminal mischief
June 22: Calvin Lee Pouncy, VOP; Billy Ivory, petit theft; Chip Ward, failure to appear
June 23: Karen D. Styron, failure to appear; Timothy A. Copeland, Jr., felony battery, petit theft, false imprisonment
June 24: Joseph Baker, theft under $300
[Full Story »] 

Blountstown artist Jeff Vickery is creating another fabulous mural. [Full Story »]