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The 2016 Miss Altha Pageant was held Saturday night in the school gym. [Full Story »] 

An Altha woman has changed her plea and will avoid a trial on child neglect charges in the death of her two-year-old daughter. [Full Story »] 

BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor

The body of Scott McCormick of Altha has been recovered from Ocheesee Pond in the Shady Grove Community.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office confirms a body surfaced late Monday near where McCormick's boat was found. An autopsy was performed Tuesday, but results have not yet been announced. However, it has been confirmed to be McCormick. His obituary states that he died as a result of a boating accident.

As previously reported, a concerned friend of McCormick, 59, contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 11 when he failed to return from a duck hunting trip. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with assistance from the JCSO, launched boats and began a search, soon finding McCormick's boat and gear on the pond. His truck was located at a public boat landing.

A memorial service is planned Feb. 13 in Live Oak, his hometown.

More details in next week's print edition.

BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor

A Blountstown man is behind bars accused of shooting another man at a home south of Altha Sunday night.
Mathew Hunter Tolley, 21, has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
According to Lt. John W. Scheetz of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, investigators responded to a residence on State Road 71 North just before 8 p.m. Russell Allen Peterson, 44, was found inside the entrance to the home bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound to his lower abdomen and upper left thigh area. Peterson was taken by ambulance to a regional hospital where he remained at press time undergoing treatment for his injuries. They are not believed to be life threatening.
Witnesses at the scene gave conflicting statements. Tolley refused to give a statement without an attorney present.
The incident remains under investigation. More details as they become available.

BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor

One Liberty County woman was killed, while a child and another local woman were seriously injured, in a two-vehicle crash in Bristol Thursday afternoon.
Shereen E. Shuler, 38, of Bristol, was taken to Calhoun-Liberty Hospital where she passed away. Her 18-month old son and only passenger, was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the other vehicle, Barbara A. Traylor, 63, of Bristol, was also transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident occurred at 5 p.m. Traylor was behind the wheel of a 2015 Toyota Rav4, traveling west on SR 20. At the same time, Shuler was driving a 2001 Ford Escort, headed east on SR 20. As both cars approached Hoecake Road, Traylor initiated a left turn and drove into the path of Shuler’s oncoming car, resulting in a head-on collision.
Trooper M.P. Kauffman and Cpl. R.B. Highsmith are investigating.
More details in next week’s print edition.

BY KELLI PEACOCK DUNN
News Editor

A search is underway for an Altha man who disappeared while duck hunting on Ocheesee Pond in Jackson County.
A concerned friend of Scott McCormick, 59, contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Monday night.
“We were called to do a welfare check on him Monday night,” Jackson County Chief Deputy Donnie Branch tells The County Record. “One of our units found his truck.”
McCormick’s vehicle was at a public boat ramp on Arkansas Road in the Shady Grove community.
“A friend of his knew he had gone hunting and had not seen him,” says Branch. “They knew he was coming here to hunt. We launched two boats that night - an FWC boat and one of ours.”
Searchers soon found McCormick’s boat. “There were life preserver cushions in the boat, but we don’t know what he had on,” Branch remarks.
Jackson County Sheriff Lou Roberts says, “The boat was swamped. There was water inside the boat and we had to bail it to get it to go. It wasn’t sunk, but it wasn’t operational.”
Sheriff Roberts says the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was brought in Tuesday afternoon to fly over the area since his pilots were away at training.
It is unclear exactly how long McCormick had been hunting. “We’ve heard he told some people he was going Sunday and then some people who understood he was going Monday morning, but he hadn’t returned Monday night,” Branch reports.
Sheriff Roberts notes the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is the lead agency in the case and his department is assisting.
“No foul play is suspected at this point,” says Branch. “I think it’s just going to be a boating accident.”
Branch adds, “We’re still looking. We’ve got some cadaver dogs coming in to help us search. We still have divers here. We’re going to look today and hope and pray we find him.”

Scott Daniels was apprehended last night at 11:38 pm at a home off Wrennie Moody Road. Hats off to all those who worked to peacefully end this situation. Watch for all the details in this week's print edition.