Kimblin NeSmith introduced herself as a candidate for county commission district three. She outlined three key issues she plans to focus on: improving recreation and parks, repaving roads, and partnering with businesses for community development and jobs to end the food desert and provide opportunities. NeSmith asked for voters' support so that together they can unify the district and bring about positive change.

1. WWW.GADCOTIMES.COM GADSDEN COUNTY TIMES • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 - 5A
friend-of-the-court brief, it writes
they’re concerned the “expansion
of gambling devices” will “encour-
age casino-type gambling contrary
to public interest.” They also wrote
they plan to offer legal analysis and
public policy arguments to the court
to help with interpreting the law.
The Florida Supreme Court de-
cided in December to decide the
fate of Creek Entertainment’s slot
machine hopes. In May, the First
District Court of Appeals approved
slots being added in a 2-1 vote, but
then reversed that decision in an-
other 2-1 vote in October.
The October ruling decided a
2012 referendum where Gadsden
County voters approved slot ma-
chines at the facility wasn’t enough
to begin the implementation of the
slots, and that slots would have to
first be approved by the state Leg-
islature. In Gadsden County’s re-
quest to file a friend-of-the-court
brief, it writes the matter address-
es Gadsden County’s ability to call
and conduct a legal referendum.
Gretna Commissioner Clarence
Jackson said after the May ruling
that successful implementation
of slots could bring 2,000 jobs to
Gretna. Board of County Commis-
sioners Chairwoman Brenda Holt
has put the number closer to 800.
The projected, created jobs
would include additions to Creek’s
staff and new jobs created once
Creek’s owners, the Poarch Band
of Creek Indians, proves the area
to be a viable market.
SLOTS
Continued from Page 1A
-Janet
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office
Arrest Report
January 4, 2016
1. Christopher Rashod Fain: VOP/Burglary
2. Jermaine Terrell Hadley: Aggravated Battery
3. Brittany Dianna Harrison: Felony Theft
4. Daltonica Wilson: Burglary and Grand Theft of a firearm
QUINCY — The
Gadsden County Chap-
ter of National Hook-
Up of Black Women
Inc. in partnership
with the FAMU Na-
tional Alumni Associ-
ation – Gadsden Coun-
ty Chapter will host a
celebration in honor
of Dr. Martin Luther
King’s life and legacy.
This is the 10th an-
nual Unity in Commu-
nity Breakfast Cele-
bration. The public is
invited to attend — a
full breakfast will be
served.
The event will be
Monday, Jan. 18. The
schedule includes:
7:45 a.m. Free-
dom Walk starts at Joe
Ferolito Recreation
Center, 122 N. Graves
Street, Quincy
8 am. to 10:30 a.m.
“A Day ON — Not a
Day OFF” —A Day of
Service!
Community Cel-
ebration & Breakfast
at the Joe Ferolito
Recreation Center in
Quincy features key-
note speaker the Rev.
Dr. Torrey Phillips,
pastor of Saint Marks
Missionary Baptist
Church in Quincy.
P e r f o r m a n c e s
include solos by
students(s) of Legacy
School of Performing
Arts in Quincy.
For informa-
tion, contact Lau-
ren S. Wright at lau
wright944@gmail.com
or 860- 874-8137.
Annual MLK celebration
includes walk, breakfast
ty years of planning
and construction,
the Quincy Bypass
opened in February
at a ceremony attend-
ed by local and state
legislators from Gads-
den County. The By-
pass cost $13 million
to construct. It was
officially named in
May for the late Julia
Munroe Woodward.
Commissioners vot-
ed to allow The Quin-
cy Municipal Airport
to build two new han-
gars on their facility
under the condition
that new hydrants are
installed at the air-
port during the 2016-
2017 fiscal year and
that pipes for the new
hydrants are installed
now. The city had told
the airport to install
new hydrants in 2008,
and decided to allow
the airport to build
the new hangars al-
though it hadn’t in-
stalled new hydrants
so business wouldn’t
be stifled.
Two official meet-
ings were held in
Quincy to receive
public opinion on the
proposed Arts Trail.
No one spoke in fa-
vor of the trail at the
meeting held in May
while a few attend-
ees spoke in favor of
the trail at the meet-
ing held in Novem-
ber. At both meetings,
at least 10 people
spoke in opposition
of the trail, which
is expected to make
right-of-way acquisi-
tions from at least 30
residences and two
businesses. The trail
would connect Ha-
vana and Quincy with
a path for biking and
walking.
QUINCY
Continued from Page 1A
TALLAHASSEE
— In observance of
Florida First Responder
Appreciation Week,
Tallahassee Commu-
nity College will have a
ceremony to recognize
first responders at 11
a.m. Thursday, Jan.
7, at the Florida Pub-
lic Safety Institute in
Havana.
Governor Scott de-
clared the week of Jan.
4 to 8 as Florida First
Responder Apprecia-
tion Week. This is the
second year Governor
Scott has made the
proclamation.
This event will be
an opportunity to show
appreciation for local
law enforcement of-
ficers, firefighters and
EMTs who protect and
serve the community.
The event is open to the
public.
For information or to
RSVP, contact Kim Allen
at 850-201-7964 or
allenk@tcc.fl.edu.
TCC to honor first responders
Farm Bureau fundraiser to fight hunger
Gainesville — Florida
Farm Bureau’s Women’s
Leadership Program has
partnered with the Florida
Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services
(FDACS) and the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Wom-
en’s Program to host a
Chef’s Night on Jan. 8 to
help citizens in need at
the Second Harvest Food
Bank in Orlando.
The benefit gala will
feature an array of fresh
dishes prepared by
Chef Paula Kendrick of
FDACS. Guests will en-
joy a menu that includes
a blue crab and tarragon
salad, a Florida beef filet
with vegetables and a
strawberry coconut trifle,
among other delights.
Chef’s Night is a
true Farm-to-Fork Fresh
from Florida experience.
Food products will be
locally sourced from
Florida farms. Farmers
and ranchers will be on
hand to meet with event
attendees to share their
story of American agricul-
ture and where their food
comes from.
All proceeds will sup-
port the Second Harvest
Food Bank’s operation
and benefit its Culinary
Training Program, which
provides students with
the skills and inspiration
they need to obtain entry-
level positions in food
service establishments.
More than 50 million
Americans – that’s 1 in
6 – including nearly 17
million children, are food
insecure, meaning they
live at risk of hunger.
Throughout the year,
farmers and ranchers
across the nation donate
food, funds and people
power to create a hunger-
free America.
The Chef’s Night will
kick off the American
Farm Bureau Conven-
tion, Jan. 8 to 12, at the
Orange County conven-
tion center. More than
8,000 farmers and ranch-
ers from across the coun-
try are expected to attend
the national conference.
Second Harvest Food
Bank is located at 411
Mercy Drive. Chef’s Night
will begin at 6 p.m.
The final school
board meeting of 2015
touched on serious
issues facing Gads-
den County’s public
school leaders.
Attention was fixed
on the Florida De-
partment of Educa-
tion’s (FDOE) pro-
jection that Gadsden
County will see a de-
crease in student en-
rollment in 2016, and
teachers gathered to
voice their concerns
about needing higher
pay and better work-
ing conditions.
Assistant Superin-
tendent of Business
and Finance Kim
Ferree reviewed the
school board’s budget
and shared her con-
cern about the dis-
trict’s future finances
after receiving pro-
jections of a decline
in student enrollment
for 2016.
Since 2015, five
Head Start centers
have closed due to
lack of enrollment.
According to FDOE,
Gadsden County will
lose approximately
121 students, but Fer-
ree projects the coun-
ty will lose more than
200 after the dust
settles.
“We have the pro-
jections, so it’s time
to plan for the worst
and hope for the
best,” said Ferree.
“Our biggest problem
is budgeting. We need
to think long-term,
plan and manage our
finances.”
Ferree attribut-
ed low birth rates,
students attending
schools in different
counties and people
moving to different
counties for more em-
ployment opportuni-
ties as factors affect-
ing projected school
enrollment.
Due to the project-
ed enrollment drop,
the county would re-
ceive less funding,
which could lead to
the closing of some
Gadsden County
schools.
School Board Mem-
ber Charlie Frost Sr.,
is in favor of giving
teachers raises, but
believes the district
cannot survive if stu-
dents continue to
leave.
“We are losing stu-
dents because par-
ents are sending them
to different counties.
We lost approximate-
ly 80 students to the
opening of a charter
school this year. We
can’t keep all of these
schools open with no
students in them,”
said Frost.
Ronte Harris, pres-
ident of the Gadsden
County Classroom
Teachers’ Associa-
tion, is a proponent of
closing down schools
in order for students
to receive a quality
education and teach-
ers to receive an in-
crease in salaries.
Critical issues, opportunities
face school district leaders
ASHLEY E. SMITH
Correspondent
See DROP/Page 9A
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Kim Ferree presents the
Florida Department of Education (FDOE) projections for a decreases in stu-
dent enrollment in Gadsden County. Photo by Ashley E. Smith

2. Candidate introduction for Education Now in Greensboro
Good afternoon, my name is Kimblin NeSmith. It is great to see you all here today at Education
Now. Thank you Pine Bloom Missionary Baptist Church for hosting such an amazing event to
prepare our parents and children for an awesome school year!
I am running for county commission for district three (3). Why vote in your local election or for
me at all? Because I plan to focus on three (3) key issues in this community:
One (1), recreation, building and enhancing our parks and community activities. We want and
need to live in a better maintained community.
Two (2), better roads, allocating funds to repave and resurface our roads. No more of these
broken roads throughout our district and neighborhoods.
Three (3), community development. Partnering with local businesses to create and end the food
desert in our community and steady jobs for our families. In order for us to be a successful
district we need good jobs to provide a better future for children and ourselves.
Things CAN and WILL be better for us. No more delayed growth!
My hope, with your help at the polls, is to become your commissioner and together we unify our
district and bring about change for a BETTER DAY HEAD.
If you would like to ask me any questions, voice your concerns, or would like to sign up to
volunteer, please stop by to see my team and I at our booth. (Point to the table)
Have a great day Greensboro!

3. 1
Diversity and Inclusion Plan
Research:
(A) The LeMoyne Chain of Parks (CoP) Art Festival must implement diversity amongst the
fine arts festival. The collected feedback has discovered the following:
1. Obtained information on the need for diversity and inclusion from the festival
director.
2. Minority artists, entertainers, and vendors in the Big Bend area are either
hesitant to participate due to preconceived notions of acceptance or unaware of
the art festival.
3. Met with former minority outreach coordinator with the City of Tallahassee to
evaluate the best development strategy of the diversity and inclusion plan.
Problem Statement:
CoP needs to enhance its outreach to various communities in the North Florida and South
Georgia areas to increase diverse participation to its yearly art festival.
Situation Analysis:
The festival began with local artists interested in having an opportunity to participate in an
outdoor fine art festival in our region. The festival has grown into the LeMoyne Center for the
Visual Arts’ top fundraiser.
However, recent research has shown the art festival can reach more communities in the Big
Bend Area. In 2017, the festival plans to broaden its marketing and public relations strategy to
merge minority groups in participation with the art festival.
Goals:
(A) Brand CoP as the festival for everyone.
(B) Create and execute field initiatives to target local minority businesses, organizations and
communities to form relationships with these groups who contribute to the culture of
Tallahassee.
Measurable Objectives:
Minority communities in the Big Bend Area
(A) Approve and implement a diversity and inclusion plan by January 2017.
(B) Increase awareness of the festival in minority groups/organizations by five (5) percent
by April 2017.
(C) Increase minority attendance at the festival in minority groups/organizations by five (5)
percent by April 2017.

4. 2
(D) Have three (3) minority entertainment groups added to the entertainment line-up by
April 2017.
(E) Have two (2) minority vendors participate in the festival by April 2017.
Media:
(A) Attain coverage from minority media outlets in Tallahassee area for the art festival by
April 2017 to include:
1. Three (3) articles in local minority newspapers.
2. Interview with one (1) minority radio station.
3. Interview with one (1) local television show.
Target Audiences:
Minority businesses and communities
Minority media outlets
Young professionals
Food vendors
Florida A&M University (FAMU) (students and artists)
Florida State University (FSU) (students and volunteers)
Tallahassee Community College (TCC) (students and volunteers)
Sorority and fraternity organizations
Graduate and undergraduate organizations (Jack and Jill, The Links, etc.)
Key messages:
(A) The LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival continues to add layers of cultural enrichment
by being the festival for North Florida and South Georgia.
(B) The LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival continues our commitment to provide and
expand educational awareness of the arts to Northern Florida and Southern Georgia
residents.
Strategy:
(A) Foster relationships with minority businesses, organizations, and communities.
(B) Create awareness about the festival through minority outlets (groups, organizations,
and media).
Tactics
Minority communities in the Big Bend Area:
(A) Compile contact list of minority businesses and organizations to reach.
(B) Partner with minority groups to cross promote artists and the festival on websites,
social media platforms and other mediums of outreach.
(C) Use LeMoyne’s listserv to promote minority artists to the art community.
(D) Distribute festival flyers to minority businesses, organizations Set Friday at FAMU and
Market Wednesday at FSU in March and April.

5. 3
(E) Post art festival event on minority community calendars.
(F) Send volunteer announcements to TCC and universities.
(G) Draft marketing materials to be distributed to minority businesseses and organizations
to promote and increase awareness of the festival (email, newsletter articles, social
media posts, etc.)
(H) Partner with organizations and business owners to promote, attend and sponsor the art
festival.
(I) Direct potential entertainers and food vendors to the respective chairs.
Media:
(A) Create media contact list.
(B) Develop media materials (press release, media advisory, etc.)
(C) Pitch to the FAMUAN, Capital Outlook, Havana Herald Newspaper, Conexión, and the
Gadsden County Times Newspaper.
(D) Set-up interview with a radio station to educate targeted listeners on the art festival and
the diversity and inclusion component for the art festival.
Social media:
(A) Highlight minority artists, entertainers and food vendors that have been approved to
participate in the festival.
(B) Post artists via CoP social media channels: Facebook and Instagram.
(C) One (1) “Facebook Live” broadcast showcasing the festival’s diversification.
Evaluation:
Minority communities in the Big Bend Area:
(A) Did the diversity plan get approved and implemented by January 2017?
(B) How many groups and organizations partnered to advertise the festival?
(C) How many minority vendors were added to this year’s festival?
(D) How many artists made the CoP Entertainment line up?
(E) Did we have a five (5) percent increase in attendance?
(F) Based on the survey given to attendees, how many minorities attended the festival?
Media
(G) Did we secure three (3) media hits in minority markets?
(H) Did we secure one (1) minority radio interview?
(I) Did we secure one (1) local television interview?