The Spirit of Greenville will be hosting a lunch on Saturday, June 15, to help raise funds for the Fourth of July fireworks, which are scheduled for dark on July 4. There will be concessions and a BBQ plate lunch available. All of the proceeds will go to benefit the Fourth of July fireworks in Greenville.
For more information about the softball tournament please contact Kenny or Red Braswell at 948-6128. The fundraiser will be held at J.A. Lane Field in Greenville.
Elesta Pritchett, former Mayor of Greeneville, spoke to the Town Council at their June 10 meeting to thank the Public Works Department, headed up by J.C. Fead, for all the work they did to help get the boyhood home of music legend Ray Charles “camera-ready” for the film crews of The Florida Channel.
The modest home had been restored and dedicated in September of 2009, and open for tours since then, but the house needed a little sprucing up. Pritchett read a letter of gratitude, listing all the work Fead and his team had done to make the place look nice for the television crew, including planting flowers in the flowerbeds, replacing some steps on the porch, and thoroughly cleaning up the yard.
“I was so impressed, I didn’t what to do,” she said, smiling.
The Florida Channel, operating out of Tallahassee, is a public television channel that broadcasts the legislative session live every year, along with several news shows about Florida politics, current events and documentaries about significant historical figures in the state’s history. Pritchett didn’t know when the Florida Channel plans to air the special on Ray Charles, but said that there might be some updates in the near future on the website http://thefloridachannel.org.
In September of this year, there is also a Ray Charles postage stamp due to be released, on or near birthday, Sept. 23.
Three days after most of them had attended the community-wide Hurricane Preparedness Expo at Van H. Priest Auditorium, the Board of County Commissioners and Tom Cisco, Director of Emergency Services convened in a special meeting Thursday afternoon, June 6, to declare a “State of Emergency” for Madison County.
Tropical Storm Andrea, which had been stomping around in the Gulf since Wednesday, causing some problems with heavy rain and tornadoes along the west Coast of Florida, was due to make landfall in Dixie County, almost mirroring the tracks of Tropical Storm Debby last summer.
The Commissioners discussed a few memories of the tornadoes of ’88, which had destroyed the Van H. Priest Auditorium and much of downtown Madison, and that the new auditorium built, where the Hurricane Preparedness Expo had been held, and the irony that the new auditorium built to replace the destroyed one was not storm-safe either.
The commissioners unanimously passed the state of emergency resolution, which will expire after seven days.
“We’re just being a little proactive,” said Cisco afterward. “Trying to save a little time, so I won’t have to call these guys at three in the morning and say ‘hey, we need to meet and declare a state of emergency.’”
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MADISON COUNTY, FLORIDA
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Board of County Commissioners of Madison County, Florida will hold a special meeting, to which all persons are invited to attend, as follows:
Date & Time: Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 3:30 P.M.
Place: The Board of County Commissioners Meeting Room, Room No. 107
Madison County Courthouse Annex
229 S.W. Pinckney Street
Madison, Florida 32340
Purpose: To consider local State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Andrea.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in any of the above meetings is asked to advise the Board at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting Tim Sanders, Clerk, at Post Office Box 237, Madison, Florida 32341, telephone:(850) 973-1500. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Clerk by calling 711.
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Note Next update will be at 2:30 p.m.
Andrea is expected to make landfall between 5 and 8 PM along with Taylor/Dixie coastline and continue on a northeasterly track. Sustained winds of 55-60 mph with higher gusts are expected near the coast.
Madison County residents can expect peak winds late this afternoon into early evening with 35-45 mph sustained winds and gusts to 50 mph. Heavy rain (3-4″ ) and scattered power outages can be expected. Slight risk for tornadoes through tonight.
Tri-County Electric advised that with the higher severity of impact on their service area on the coast, response in Madison County may be impacted. Use caution with downed power lines as they may be hot even without indication.
~ Drivers should use caution before hitting the road before and after a storm ~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol urges motorist to be cautious as the first tropical storm of the hurricane season moves through Florida. Motorists are advised to closely monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Andrea and follow instructions from emergency management officials.
The Florida Highway Patrol urges drivers to follow safety tips that can save lives:
For real-time traffic and road condition reports, as well as maps and additional safety tips, FHP encourages motorists to visit www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/. Florida drivers also can call 511 on their cell phone or visit http://fl511.com/ for up-to-the-minute updates on traffic congestion, road construction, lane closures, severe weather and travel delays on interstates and major highways.
For more information and updates on Tropical Storm Andrea, visit: http://www.floridadisaster.org/DEMpublic.asp
Stay put. – Avoid driving in heavy storms, and stay in a safe place after the storm. Be prepared to remain where you are for an extended period. Often, injuries and deaths occur in the aftermath of storms. Sightseers impeding roadways cause obstacles for emergency personnel responding to those in need.
Slow down. – Roadways remain slick after storm so if you have to drive, decrease your speed to avoid hydroplaning.
Be cautious of high winds. – Windy conditions adversely affect all vehicles, particularly high profile vehicles, such as buses and trucks, as well as motorcycles. Gusty wind makes driving difficult, especially when it is rapidly changing speed and direction.
Pay attention. – You may come up on an intersection that is no longer controlled by a traffic control device. If a law enforcement officer is directing traffic, follow his directions. Otherwise, treat the intersection as you would treat an intersection governed by a four-way Stop sign.
Flooding Safety. –Never drive into moving water. If you cannot see the roadway beneath the water, do not drive through it! The water may be deeper than it appears and the road may already be washed away.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov or follow us on Twitter @FDHSMV. You can find us on Facebook, too.
Note: The campus itself will close at 3 p.m.
Due to the increasingly hazardous weather conditions, North Florida Community College classes starting after noon. today are cancelled (including any NFCC classes held at off-campus locations). NFCC will resume its regular hours and classes on Monday, June 10, 2013, unless otherwise noted. Current information will be posted on the NFCC website home page at www.nfcc.edu and on the NFCC facebook page at www.facebook.com/nfcc.edu.
Local fisherman found human remains on the Madison County side of the Suwannee River, just south of Highway 90, on Saturday afternoon, May 25.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said the remains were decomposed due to being in the river for an extended amount of time.
So far, the remains have not been identified. We will give updates at www.greenepublishing.com when we have them.
It’s that time of year again; time for the community to show their support to the talented students of Becky’s Dance Step Studios during their annual recital. This year’s recital will be held this Saturday, May 18. The first show will begin at 1 p.m. the evening performance will begin at 7 p.m. The recital will be held at North Florida Community College’s Van H. Priest Auditorium.
This year’s theme is “Coast to Coast” with the dancers performing their way across the United States. Price of admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children under the age of 12. There will be no reserved seating, however, tickets will be available at the dance studio as well as at the auditorium one hour prior to the show.
During the show there will be no flash photography or video taping of any kind. If you are interested in taking pictures of the performances, please feel free to stop by the dress rehearsal performances, which will be held on Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m.
AGENDA
MAY 14, 2013
MADISON CITY COMMISSION MEETING
CITY HALL
321 SOUTHWEST RUTLEDGE STREET
MADISON, FLORIDA 32340
5:30 P.M.
1. Call to Order
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Items Removed from Consent Agenda
4. CONSENT AGENDA:
(a) Minutes of April 9, 2013
(b) Minutes of May 6, 2013
(c) Fire Report
(d) Police Report
(e) Financial Report
(f) Revision to City Vehicle Policy
(g) Proclamation Recognizing Police Week and Peace Officer Memorial Day
(h) Proclamation Recognizing Viva Florida 500 Celebration
(i) Proclamation regarding Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness
(j) Re-Appointment to Tourist Development Council
5. Citizen’s Participation (6 p.m.)
6. Acceptance of Donation of Property (City Manager)
7. FY 11-12 Annual Audit (City Manager)
8. USDA Project to Renovate the 2nd Floor of the Police Facility (Architect Will Rutherford)
9. Traffic Safety Recommendations Regarding Area in and around Site of New Hospital and New Charter School (Police Chief Gary Calhoun)
10. Wastewater Agreement with Department of Corrections (City Manager)
11. Proposed Recreation Park near Jeanette Circle (City Manager)
12. Playground Equipment at Recreation Park Located on Martin Luther King Drive (City Manager)
13. Proposed Directional Signage for Intersections (City Manager)
14. Proposed Expansion of Tax Increment Finance District (City Attorney)
15. Proposed Golf Cart Crossings (Police Chief Gary Calhoun)
16. Change Date of July 2013 City Commission Meeting (Commissioner Thompson)
17. City Manager’s Report
18. Other Items of Interest to the Commission
19. Adjourn
Texting and driving will soon be illegal in the State of Florida, following the Legislature’s passage of a bill.
In April, the Florida Senate voted 36-0 to outlaw texting and driving. On Thursday, May 1, the bill (CSSB 52) overwhelmingly passed the Florida House of Representatives.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice) enjoyed bipartisan support.
The bill, which had earlier been passed by the House, had to be sent back to the Senate, because of an amendment to the bill. Sen. Detert concurred with the amendment and the bill was reconfirmed by the Senate.
Senate Bill 52 now goes to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.
The law bans anyone from typing on a device while operating any moving vehicle. First offenses will be a $30 fine and any additional tickets within a five-year period will be a $60 fine and take three points off an offender’s driver’s license.
There is a clause in the law, which allows texting while stopped at a red light.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has re-opened for business after a threatening letter led officials to close the building this morning. Following standard protocol, the building was temporarily evacuated until deemed safe by the Regional Domestic Security Task Force.
After conducting field tests on the letter and the office in which it was received, members of the task force believe no credible threat was posed. However, exercising an abundance of caution, the letter will undergo confirmatory laboratory testing by the Florida Department of Health.
Julie L. Jones, Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said, “We appreciate the quick response of the first responders to the Kirkman Building, especially the Tallahassee Fire Department, Tallahassee Police Department, FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Leon County Emergency Medical Services. I am proud of our employees who displayed their professionalism throughout the process.”
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter @FDHSMV or find us on Facebook.
AGENDA
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD HEARING
CITY OF MADISON, FLORIDA
APRIL 25, 2013
4 p.m.
1. Call to Order
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Approval of March 21, 2013 Minutes
4. Status update regarding Violation of the City of Madison’s Nuisance Ordinance Article IV
5. Hearing regarding Violation of the City of Madison’s Health and Sanitation Ordinance, Chapter 13, Article II
6. Adjourn
Abstinence isn’t cool with students, community leader Merv Mattair, founder of Boyz 2 Kings, told the school board. It’s not exactly what most parents and school officials would like to hear, but it is mostly true.
Mattair, along with Pam Robinson of the Madison County Health Department, spoke to the Madison County School Board about a sex education curriculum that not only covers the science and biology, but also puts it into a context students can readily understand…how it can effect their lives.
The first unit of the program begins by asking the student to “get to know your dreams” and look closely at their hopes and plans for the future. What do they want to do, study or be? What kind of work and effort will it require to reach that goal?
However, the consequences of sexual activity, i.e., pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, are not consequences teenagers are well equipped to handle. Plans for college, vocational school, or even finishing high school become difficult, if not impossible. Time, energy and resources are diverted to dealing with childcare or medical expenses. Dreams are derailed, education suffers and earning power drops.
Even if a few students are fortunate and manage to escape the pitfalls of early sexual activity, it still has a negative impact on schoolwork.
“When students are sexually active, their mind is not on the FCAT,” said Mattair. “It’s on sex.”
There is also the problem of peer pressure, even for students who might not normally become sexually active. Abstinence is seen as the deviation, not the norm, and that is a challenge the proposed curriculum will meet by making abstinence the ultimate “cool.”
Using the slogan “Abstinence is my Swag,” Mattair and Robinson hope that by getting students to see that choosing not to engage in sexual activity while they’re still in school is not only cool, it is something positive, something that they do for themselves because they understand that their dreams are important.
The program is an eight-hour course that also includes such things as role-playing and developing negotiation skills that help students say “no.”
Students can opt out of particular chapters or the entire program if they or their parents wish; the course is not mandatory.
It is, however, something that would be suitable for churches to use with their youth groups, in getting young people to look more realistically at early sex and the effect it could have on their lives. With the backing of the Health Department, which “110 percent behind this,” Mattair hopes the message reaches the young people of Madison County, especially the ones who most need to hear it.
Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that on Tuesday the 16th day of April 2013, Sgt. Doug Haskell stopped a 2 door Volkswagen for two separate traffic violations on Interstate 10 in Madison County. The driver and sole occupant was identified as Walter Eric Holmes of Quincy, FL.
While taking enforcement actions Sgt. Haskell detected signs of deception and other indicators of possible criminal activity. After completing the enforcement actions for the traffic violations committed, Sgt. Haskell inquired of Holmes if he was transporting any drugs, weapons or large amounts of currency. Holmes stated that he was not. Sgt. Haskell asked Holmes for consent to search the Volkswagen and Holmes granted permission.
During the search Sgt. Haskell located a large amount of bundled U.S. Currency concealed inside a plastic bag containing men’s clothing. The currency was packaged in a manner indicative of drug courier’s method of transporting currency either for or from the purchase of illegal narcotics. Holmes claimed the bag and clothing but denied owning or having any knowledge of the currency discovered therein. Holmes could not provide an explanation on how the currency became wrapped in his clothing or concealed in his bag.
Holmes signed a disclaimer of ownership and the currency was seized pending further investigation.
On April 22, 2013 at approximately 7:30 AM, the Florida Highway Patrol investigated a series of crashes on Interstate 10 in the area of the 217 mile marker in Jefferson County. There were 4 individual crashes involving 10 vehicles including one Commercial Motor Vehicle. Traffic was affected both eastbound and westbound on Interstate 10. There were no significant injuries as a result of these crashes.
The Florida Highway Patrol was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Fire-Rescue, Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services, Leon County Emergency Medical Services, Madison County Emergency Medical Services, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The playground equipment at the Madison city park across from Lake Frances will be removed by City Public Works personnel beginning the week of April 29, 2013.
Jimmy Davis Enterprises Inc., owner of the property, has given the city a 60-day notice that it will terminate the lease between the city and Davis Enterprises regarding the property. The 60-day notice is effective April 4, 2013.
The playground equipment has been in place since approximately 1992.
The playground area will be roped off by Public Works personnel as a construction site. Access by the public will not be allowed during the removal.
The city and Davis Enterprises signed the lease in 1992. The original lease was for 10 years, and the property, according to the lease, was to be used by the city “as a children’s playground and recreation area for the general public.”
In its letter notifying the city of the lease termination, Davis Enterprises wrote: “We have been pleased to extend the time frame for an additional 11 years (beyond the original 10), however now we have decided to demolish the old warehouses on this property and incorporated the park parcel to entertain the idea of building apartments or commercial offices fronting Rutledge Street and Lake Francis.”
The letter goes on to say: “We have been proud in partnering with the City to provide this playground for our community all these years. We appreciate your understanding as we look forward to building something that will make us all proud to live here in beautiful Madison.”
A chicken dinner fundraiser for Michael Gaston will be held on the courthouse lawn on Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Gaston was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Lake Park, Ga. two weeks ago. He is unable to work due to having surgeries. Tickets for the fundraiser are available for $7.50 each and are available at local churches. If anyone is unable to purchase tickets in advance, they are urged to call Cyrus Bachari at (229) 506-2743 to reserve their plate. Plates will include chicken with two sides, a roll and a drink. Bachari said, “Thanks to all for your help and God bless.” An account has also been set up for Gaston at Madison County Community Bank for anyone who would like to donate to it, drop in and tell one of the cashiers to place a deposit in the account for you.
