Top Stories
NEWS ALERT - Another Candidate Announcement
Calhoun County School Superintendent Tommy McClellan has filed his letter of intent to seek re-election. He will face Logan Barbee, Julie Leonard-Smith and Ralph Yoder on the ballot.
NEWS ALERT - Suspect Surrenders
Wilson
Keldrick Trenaud Wilson, 17, is facing charges in Calhoun, Liberty, Jackson, and Gadsden counties, as well as Decatur County, GA. Wilson was initially apprehended in Chattahoochee Feb. 15, along with Xavier Darcus Parks, 18. However, after being booked into the Jackson County Jail, Judge Woody Hatcher set bond at $50,000. Sources say there was a delay in warrants from other counties being processed. Wilson made bond on Feb. 20 and walked out of jail.
Authorities in other counties learned the following day Wilson was back on the streets and began searching for him. By week's end, the Fugitive Task Force with the U.S. Marshal's Office joined the hunt. Wilson turned himself into the Gadsden County Jail on Saturday.
NEWS ALERT - New Candidate Announcement
Lee Shelton has filed his letter of intent to run for county commissioner in district 3. He will go up against Nick Stone and incumbent Don Miller on the ballot.
NEWS ALERT - U.S. Marshals Hunting For Burglary Suspect
BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor
A suspect wanted in over two dozen burglaries in Calhoun, Liberty and surrounding counties remains on the run with the U.S. Marshals joining in the hunt to bring him into custody.
As reported earlier this week by The County Record, Keldrick Trenaud Wilson, 17, walked out of the Jackson County Jail Monday after posting a $50,000 bond that had been set by Judge Woody Hatcher. Warrants from the surrounding counties were being processed at the time.
Authorities tracked Wilson to a housing project in Quincy Thursday, but have not yet found him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact local law enforcement.
Wilson and his alleged partner in the burglaries, Xavier Darcus Parks, 18, were first apprehended Feb. 15 when a group of investigators from Calhoun, Liberty, Jackson, and Gadsden counties gathered at the BP Station in Chattahoochee to discuss the case. The pair pulled up and authorities noticed their car matched the description of a suspicious vehicle reported by eyewitnesses in Liberty County. Stolen jewelry, cash and firearms were discovered in the vehicle.
News Editor
Wilson
As reported earlier this week by The County Record, Keldrick Trenaud Wilson, 17, walked out of the Jackson County Jail Monday after posting a $50,000 bond that had been set by Judge Woody Hatcher. Warrants from the surrounding counties were being processed at the time.
Authorities tracked Wilson to a housing project in Quincy Thursday, but have not yet found him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact local law enforcement.
Wilson and his alleged partner in the burglaries, Xavier Darcus Parks, 18, were first apprehended Feb. 15 when a group of investigators from Calhoun, Liberty, Jackson, and Gadsden counties gathered at the BP Station in Chattahoochee to discuss the case. The pair pulled up and authorities noticed their car matched the description of a suspicious vehicle reported by eyewitnesses in Liberty County. Stolen jewelry, cash and firearms were discovered in the vehicle.
NEWS ALERT - Candidate Announcement
Calhoun County Tax Collector Becky Trickey-Smith has filed her letter of intent to seek re-election. She is currently unopposed.
NEWS ALERT - Clarksville Man Killed in Crash
BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor
A Clarksville man was killed in a single vehicle crash Thursday night.
James Swain, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Swain was northbound on County Road 69A just after 10 p.m. in a 1986 Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicle ran off the road onto the southbound shoulder and entered a wooded area, colliding with several trees and a utility pole. The truck then caught fire.
Trooper N.T. Russell is investigating the crash.
News Editor
A Clarksville man was killed in a single vehicle crash Thursday night.
James Swain, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Swain was northbound on County Road 69A just after 10 p.m. in a 1986 Chevrolet Silverado. The vehicle ran off the road onto the southbound shoulder and entered a wooded area, colliding with several trees and a utility pole. The truck then caught fire.
Trooper N.T. Russell is investigating the crash.
Captured Suspects in 25 burglary cases fall into the laps of investigators
If it was a movie, the ending would sound unbelievable.
[Full Story »]
Calhoun & Liberty Sheriff's Logs - Feb. 14-20
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.
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.
NEWS ALERT - Marti Coley Will No Longer Represent District 7
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.
NEWS ALERT - Bristol Man to Run For State Representative
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.
NEWS ALERT - Burglary Suspect Walks on $50k bond; Still Wanted in Calhoun, Liberty
Wilson
Parks
News Editor
A 17-year-old accused in over two dozen burglaries in Calhoun, Liberty and surrounding counties walked out of the Jackson County Jail Monday after posting a $50,000 bond.
According to officials at the Jackson County Jail, Keldrick Trenaud Wilson, 17, of Quincy, made bond yesterday and there were "no holds" on him. However, Wilson is wanted for two burglaries in Calhoun County, as well as several in Liberty and surrounding counties. A Jackson County Jail Officer told The County Record there were no warrants in the case file. Judge Woody Hatcher reportedly set the bond for Wilson. Parks remains in custody on a $100,000 bond and was in court at press time today.
The County Record contacted authorities in both Calhoun and Liberty counties this morning and learned they had no idea Wilson had been released from jail yesterday. An attempt is being made at this moment to take him back into custody.
As reported Thursday, a group of investigators from Calhoun and surrounding counties gathered in Gadsden County mid-morning last Wednesday to compare notes and strategize following a string of 25 burglaries spanning from Bainbridge, GA, all across Northwest Florida. As they sat outside the BP in Chattahoochee talking in unmarked vehicles, a Calhoun County investigator noticed something. A car fitting the description of the one they were looking for after an attempted burglary in Bristol Tuesday afternoon pulled into the parking lot. Two black males matching the description of the suspects stepped out of the dark green car. Sneads Police Chief Burt McAlpin quickly boxed them in, preventing the vehicle from leaving.
Within minutes, Wilson and Xavier Darcus Parks, 18, Quincy were in custody. Their car contained firearms, as well as some of the jewelry missing from homes around the region.
NEWS ALERT - Announcement in Property Appraiser's Race
Calhoun County Property Appraiser Terry Stone has filed his letter of intent to seek re-election. His is currently unopposed.
NEWS ALERT - Candidate Announcement
Calhoun County Judge Kevin Grover has filed his letter of intent to run for re-election. He is currently unopposed.
NEWS ALERT - Calhoun County Woman Dedicated To Wildlife Passes Away
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
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
NEWS ALERT - Announcement in Supervisor of Elections Race
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.

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