Archive for Editorials

The Power Of Way Back When

January 30, 2013 Editorials, Letters To The Editor Comments Off

The old news in this feature in the Enterprise Recorder stirs memories, usually pleasing to recall. That was my anticipation as I read an item in the January 25, 2013 issue. The lead appeared routine: January 29,1943. Pvt William F. Brooks of Lovett finished training at Aerial Gunnery School and was given the rank of sergeant. From Lovett? THAT’S FRANK BROOKS! The good looking, blonde, blue-eyed neighbor . . just ahead of my sister’s class at Greenville High School, one of those older kids who awed us small fry. Frank Brooks brought home the reality of WWII.
The war in my childhood had been saving tin cans and aluminum gum wrappers, saving enough pennies to buy savings stamps for my filled book to get a war bond ($18 bond would grow to $25), seeing the rail cars full of pine stumps (pine tar for what?), doing without sugar and using white stuff for butter (color came later to margarine) — our every day overshadowed by knowing that one of us was on a Navy ship in the Pacific war zone. BUT FRANK WAS MISSING! FRANK WAS KILLED IN ACTION! Word filtered through my childhood fog that Frank was the gunner in that front bubble on a bomber that had been shot down. The Brooks family’s tragedy ratcheted up our anxiety although unaware of Midway and Coral Sea battles where the carrier Yorktown was sunk and my brother spent hours in the water before rescue. My cousin’s wounding in North Africa had been alarming, bearable because he would be back stateside. It was Frank Brooks who made even a little country kid comprehend how terrible war is.
Marianne Green

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Presidential Election Shows Heartwarming Success In Marriage

November 13, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

Our presidential candidates starred in a sometimes vicious, factually distorted, too long campaign which obscured a heartwarming example of life in our country today:  success in  marriage.  Two dedicated men, so goal-oriented that each achieved a pinnacle of success in his chosen field, reveal a parallel in lifetime choice for marriage.  Each chose a woman to cherish and to complete life for him.  Romney knew when he was eighteen and she was fifteen.  Two and a half years’s separation did not diminish their deep understanding. Obama knew during his internship for law school that his directing lawyer was essential to complete his life.  He returned to Chicago to achieve professional goals and present a winning case for marriage to his former directing lawyer. Each of these high level achievers had some challenges to totally happy married life (Mrs. Romney developed chronic severe illness; Mrs. Obama’s private life changed to public, political life).  The integrity of the husbands and the wives stand out among today’s media chronicles of infidelity and scandalous behavior by political leaders and entertainment celebrities. Regardless of our political affiliation, we can applaud national leaders who live married life with commitment and loyalty to each other, as do most people we meet every day.  Media broadcast the sensational, permeating our lives, picturing us as much less than we are.  In reality, we are a people living by ethical standards, keeping our commitments and responding to opportunities with ingenuity and hard work.  These national political couples are excellent reminders of these facts.  Marianne Green

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Letter to the Editor: My Vote is “No”

August 27, 2012 Letters To The Editor One comment

Dry Vs. Wet…
This is my perspective and opinion. We have a system where majority rules. Like it or not. Except when there is voter fraud, the majority rules. I am against making it easier for irresponsible people because it is wrong and I am against paying for their irresponsible behavior. I have spent countless hours prying twisted, mangled bodies out of wrecked vehicles. I have picked up pieces of bodies off of our county roads… many of them children… transported them to the morgue and attended their autopsies… hundreds of them. I have had to wake up next of kin to inform them that their drunk loved one killed themself. I have refereed countless violent domestic disputes between drunk parents as horrified children looked on. I have bagged up the pieces of suicide victims who, while highly intoxicated, apparently lost their vision and hope for the future. I have worked many homicides. Most of them were alcohol related. I have been in life or death fights with intoxicated idiots in the middle of roadways during arrest situations while everyone else was asleep. Most of the rapes, robberies and other violent crimes I have worked in the last 23 years have been alcohol related. I have been shot at many times by drunks. The property damage that irresponsible drunks create is unbelievable. We often pay for this property damage. We pay the welfare, S.S.I. and we often pay to raise their victimized children and families. We pay to warehouse the abusers in jails and prisons. We pay with the lost lives of our loved ones and friends. We often pay the medical bills and for the autopsies. They often make excuses and blame others for their irresponsible behavior. Many drinkers and drunks keep it reasonably under control. Fine. That’s on them, but their inner circle of loved ones pay in countless ways.
It is my opinion that alcohol makes people much more stupid than they would normally be. They generally make extremely poor choices. I know a lot of good people who are in prison and jail as a direct result of their alcohol and substance abuse issues. I have friends that are not reaching their God given potential because of their alcohol and substance abuse issues. In all circumstances their families suffer dearly. We all pay for this… at least those of us who work. I do not judge them… Luke 6:37… There is only One True Judge, but I am also not going to enable them . My God gives us all free will to make good choices or bad choices… Deuteronomy 30:19. I pay enough for my own poor choices, but I am tired of paying the “stupid tax” for others and their careless behavior. I wish people would consider the impact on our society instead of their self-interests and agendas.
I don’t believe alcohol is the problem. I believe alcohol abuse is a symptom of the underlying problem. It’s people not willing to take personal responsibility for their words, their actions, their feelings and their emotions. It’s people not willing to face, and deal with, their inner demons, hurts and pains. It’s generally self-inflicted pain, suffering and drama. This is what tears relationships, families and careers apart. It’s a poverty builder and multiplier. It’s self-imposed slavery. I have seen countless numbers in our county, who can’t afford to keep a roof over their head without government assistance… our warped assistance… but they will spend “their” last cent for cheap booze. A majority of our repeat criminal activity comes from these same people. II Thessalonians 3:10… These facts are easy to confirm, but most prefer to pretend they don’t exist. It’s not quite as glamorous as the white collar drunks and country club drunks. In the past, these were released from jail before the arrest paperwork was done. These are some of the repercussions for a selfish, greed, power and control focused, God-less society. Galations 6:7… We reap what we sow, more than we sow, later than we sow. Most of these people have no vision or hope for the future. Proverbs 29:18…
As far as alcohol sales boosting our local economy, I believe the main reason our county fails to thrive is because we have a few people with lots of money choking out and blocking new, positive growth. Once again, I feel that this is so they can protect their own self-interest… greed, power, control and self-centered agendas. Proverbs 16:18… It also doesn’t help that we have more “tax suckers” per square inch than we do tax payers. In closing, I feel that easier access to alcohol is giving meth to a meth head. Until our nation collectively decides to cut the freeloading and enabling, and until we all take personal responsibility for ourselves, the anarchy will continue. II Chronicles 7:14… God gives each of us free will to make good choices or bad choices. I will not make things easier or enable the ones that I feel are making the poor choices. Yep, my vote is “No” on our county going wet.
Jude 1:2
With His blessing I serve, Mark W. Joost

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Letter to the Editor: Former Sheriff Urges People To Vote Against Wet County

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

I have never written a letter to the editor before but I feel after reading so much overblown articles as to the benefits of Madison County voting yes to go wet and legalizing sale of liquor, I have been in Madison County through one of these votes before and also attempted vote several years ago. The earlier vote was no and I took a stand against legalized liquor sales and still do.
I spent 16 years as a Florida trooper in Madison County, followed by being elected sheriff for 28 years and have seen my share of drunks and families being killed and buying liquor when their children went hungry. No one can convince me availability does not make more problems for law enforcement and broken families.
You have heard about the economy. The only people who to benefit from the sale of liquor are the businesses that sell it. We know that it has cost thousands of dollars to promote this election to go wet.
The benefit will come to those businesses because of more drinking because of availability.
I can attest to the fact that DUIs will double and law enforcement will have to be increased. As far as the taxes to Madison County, the taxes derived from taxes in Madison County, the tax rate in Florida is divided 67 ways throughout the state of Florida. The idea of restaurants coming to Madison, such as Ruby Tuesday’s and Olive Garden, these have to have metropolitan numbers to come to a town. I can attest to many advantages to vote no, but to vote yes,
I cannot think of any advantage it would be to Madison County. Please vote no if no other reason we won’t make it readily available to our children and the citizens of the county.
Former Sheriff Joe Peavy

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Letter to the Editor: Time-Bomb In Disguise

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

Alcohol is a drug, considered by some to be the most dangerous drug in America because of its wide acceptance and the ease of access, resulting in major problems on the job, in the home and on the streets.
It seems to be acceptable to argue against cocaine, heroin, meth or whatever other names are given to abusive substances, but alcohol is being wrapped in a pretty package and sold to us as a cure-all for ills of Madison County. Using some of the expressed reasoning, someone might question – “Why not legalize all drugs? Would that not bring even more business to Madison County?” I would say that businesses attracted to Madison because of the ability to sell alcoholic drinks, may not be very beneficial to the quality of life in our community and just where can we expect all those projected jobs to come from?.
How many of the 20,000 plus or minus, citizens of our county are adults with the financial ability to support “upscale” restaurants? I for one, cannot, and I believe a majority of our county residents also walk a similar tight budget line. A lot of restaurants come and go in wet counties, also, so it’s not just because “drinks” cannot be sold, that we have had that happen in Madison.
Some say going “wet” will encourage development at the Interstate exchanges as in Live Oak. Really? Take a serious look at the Highway 129 exit and tabulate just how much development has actually been established in the last couple of years, or due to access to alcohol?
A whole lot of money is being spent on this issue, including more than $33,000 of county taxes. Who is really going to benefit? It is my understanding that beverage taxes are state collected. However, Madison would receive a “trickle” and there should be some new jobs in the city police and county sheriff’s departments. Sounds like more taxes to me!
The word “drink” is generic in that it can refer to water, juice, punch, coffee, an alcoholic beverage, or — even what you take before a colonoscopy. In response to “Bible scholar” statements, according to the late Adriane Rogers, Bible scholar extraordinaire, in scripture, the word “wine” is generic. When Jesus turned water into “wine” it was “oynos”, meaning “fruit of the vine” or “grape juice”, but definitely not “shekar” which was an intoxicating “wine” to be used ONLY as a narcotic for illness and otherwise, not even in moderation.
We should definitely think twice before opening that “pretty package” we are being sold. It could be a time-bomb in disguise!
VOTE NO AUG. 28
Claudia Anderson

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Letter to the Editor: Reader’s Brother Killed By Drunk Driver In Wet County

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

Dear Editor,
This letter is dedicated to the memory of my brother, Ed Smith, who was murdered by a drunk driver on August 24, 2008. Ed’s murder occurred in Hamilton County, a wet county. The driver of the vehicle that hit Ed head on was killed that day because he was so drunk he forgot to put on his seat belt. Ed had his seat belt on but he didn’t stand a chance against the SUV. I didn’t talk to Ed that day, I didn’t tell him I loved and admired him the last time I saw him. It’s too late now. God works in mysterious ways.
I am sure by now; those of you that support the wet issue have probably stopped reading. But, I’m not done.
Hamilton County: Has anyone been to their new Wal Mart lately? How about Applebee’s or Texas Roadhouse? Seen the drop in their unemployment rate? Oh that’s right, there is no growth. Just like there will be no growth in Madison County just because we are a wet county. Anyone have a clue how long Hamilton county has been wet?
I find it interesting that of the 3 people listed on the Madison Yes website, I cannot find where any of them own property in Madison County, or at least in their names. There seems to be some kind of shell game with the office that Madison Yes is working out of. Three fictitious corporations (LLC’s) owned by the same people? Each building listed as a separate corporation? What are they hiding? Why do they seem to have a problem paying their taxes every year? I didn’t realize that you could pay property taxes on an every other year or every third year basis. This information is readily available on the Madison Property Appraiser’s website. (madisonpa.com) Search the addresses provided and see what comes up.
It seems that most of the people that are being so vocal in their support for this issue are not from here at all. If you don’t like it here or the way we want to live, I will personally transport you to the nearest Greyhound station and buy you a one way ticket back to where you came from. It’s kind of like wanting to change your partner’s behavior after the wedding….
I personally love life in Madison County. I have lived in a wet county and there were no chain restaurants except fast food. There was a Wal-Mart but life didn’t seem any better there than here. I don’t mind driving a little to Wal-Mart and I don’t have to worry about driving to the liquor store. If either had been a consideration, I would not have come back home to Madison.
As far as the quote from the owner of Music Park concerning having more customers since they began serving liquor by the drink, that just tells me there are more drunks on the road now. Who cares if a few cyclist can’t get an alcoholic drink with their meals?
And how can the former “homeless drug user turned millionaire” who read the bible and became a Christian speak in favor of liquor sales? Could it be because he hopes to profit greatly from the sale of liquor at his establishment?
I have been a Law Enforcement Officer for over 30 years. I have seen firsthand the destruction caused by alcohol on a professional level. Nothing good can come from this lie. The only people that are going to profit from this are the people pushing so hard for it. You remember them, the ones who are not from here.
Whether this passes or not, I know I can count on one of you three people contacting me in reference to purchasing a nice home and lot that sits right next to an establishment that you want to help grow and support. That way you can actually own something here and be close to what you want for the rest of us.
I miss you, Brother. Tell Pop I said Hi….

Russell Smith

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Letter to the Editor: Wieland Urges Yes Vote

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor 2 comments

To the Educated Concerned Citizens of Madison County:

I don’t know how much I can add to Bob Williamson’s letter to the editor. He made some very good points. However, I still hear people making ignorant statements concerning the Wet/Dry issue.
No one “running” Madison Yes is there for financial gain. The fact is, it has been a hard road raising enough money for the signs (that are being stolen), mailings, paperwork, etc. I know! I have been part of this from the beginning. We would like to see Madison prosper. Moving here in 1987, Madison downtown seemed a “growing” city. Today it looks like a pending “ghost town” We love it here and want to see Madison grow.
If we become WET, only two liquor stores will be allowed in Madison County. Hopefully we will get a restaurant or two… like “Cheddars”…good food/great prices! They can do that because a good part of their profit comes from their bar. (you don’t have to drink alcohol, to eat there and enjoy)… Will we get a Cheddars in Madison County? Maybe not. But if this county stays “dry”, you can be guaranteed you will never see that here. We just want to see a nice restaurant or two come in where you can get a glass of wine with your meal, instead of having to drive to Valdosta or Tallahassee to get that.
Someone said being “wet” would not bring in much money. Almost everyone I know here drinks. They go to Georgia or to other counties to get their spirits. I say keep that money here! For those who oppose it, that’s money in the tax coffers that they don’t have to put in themselves!
I saw one of the signs against Madison Yes that stated “Don’t be fooled” and in a letter to the Chamber… “Common sense tells me if intoxicating liquor was more readily available (especially by the drink, No. 2 on the ballot) there would be more impaired drunk drivers on our roads. Sheriff Ben Stewart agrees.” I typed into Google: “more dui in wet counties”. Most feedback read “Dry Counties have higher DUI/DWI related crashes or fatality rates.” “Research has long demonstrated that the existence of dry counties increases alcohol-related automotive accidents and fatalities.” The analysis suggests that residents of dry counties have to drive farther from their homes to consume alcohol, thus increasing impaired driving exposure. One site was even a study from a news channel. When specifically looking at DWI’s, NewsChannel 11′s investigation appears to back up his claim. “Two out of three dry counties we showed you have more DWI’s than the wet or partially wet counties.”
So, who is fooling who? Do you want to protect your loved ones? ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN??? Then vote YES!!
Common sense would suggest …
The bible does not tell us it is a sin to drink. (It does state, however, you should not steal…. for those taking the signs).
Prohibition ended in 1933. It did not work!!! If people want a drink, they will get one. Again, common sense would tell you it is better for them to drive 3 miles for a drink and then home than to drive 30+ miles. …Not to mention, that in a bar (located in Madison County) you would have a greater chance of people you know, who would care enough to get you home without letting you drive impaired!
Madison Yes was formed solely with the intent for economic growth of Madison County! That is why I am involved. I believe this will bring more businesses to Madison. Who wants to start a business in a county that is “behind the times”…. Let’s move forward.

Robert Wieland

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Letter to the Editor: Does the World See Us (Christians) United as One?

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor One comment

Dear Editor,
Recently the Founder and CEO, S. Truett Cathy, came under fire because of his stance against same sex marriage, which caused an outcry of the media and an attempt to boycott Chick-fil-A. The response to the outcry brought the Christian community together in support of Chick-fil-A. Together the Christian community, as well as others, showed their extraordinary support and helped break a sales record of all fast food restaurants. The Christian community standing together in support of Chick-fil-A proved, to the outcry of a Christian businessman stance against same sex marriage, standing for what is right is greatly rewarded.
Jesus prayed an important prayer recorded in the Book of John that we, as Christians, should never forget and heed to in our daily walk. In John 17, Jesus prayed for Himself, the apostles, and for all believers. The core of Jesus’ prayer was that all Christians be unified as one as He and the Father are as one (John 17:21-22), so that the world may believe (John 17:21). If Jesus took the time to pray to the Father asking Him to grant us such unification, we need to take heed to the prayer and stand together as one (a Christian community) and do what is right in the sight of our Savior and Lord so that He might be glorified in and through our lives.
In the coming days there will be people asking you to return to the polls on August 28 to cast your vote concerning the wet/dry alcohol issue facing our great county of Madison. Some will try to persuade you to vote yes, claiming it will help the economical growth of our county. Some will try to persuade you to vote no, claiming it will glorify God for the stance you are taking against such a terrible thing (issue), which I personally agree with. Who is right? First of all, having hard drinks (liquor, whiskey, vodka) sold in our county will not bring in industry like some may claim. An industry does not base whether to establish themselves in a community or not based on alcohol sales. Secondly, no matter how one may interpret Scripture, alcohol does nothing but destroy lives. Jesus came to give life, not destroy it. So, I have to agree that taking a stance against alcohol is glorifying to God.
As the Christian community, along with others, sent a message by supporting Chick-fil-A, we too, can send a message by taking a stance and casting a NO vote regarding the wet/dry issue in our great county. The world (especially our community) needs to see us (Christians) unified as one, glorifying our Savior and Lord. But the message can only be sent by returning to the polls on August 28 and casting a vote of NO, so PLEASE citizens of Madison County return to the polls on August 28 and cast your vote in favor of what is truly right and glorifying to God!

III John 2,
Rev. Benjie Dyal
Pastor, New Home Baptist Church

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Letter to the Editor: The Liquor Debacle

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

THE LIQUOR DEBACLE

Currently there are 4 “dry” counties in Florida. These counties include: Madison, Lafayette, Liberty and Washington. Sixty-three have decided to be “wet”. Our neighbors Hamilton and Jefferson have not only been “wet”, but also had gambling and card rooms for several years and it certainly has not been an economic boom for them. A petition drive failed in Washington County within the last two years, as it did here 3 years ago.

You have no doubt recently seen articles in the local newspaper regarding the Local Option Election for the purpose of legalizing liquor sales in Madison County to be held on August 28, 2012. Two questions will be on the ballot regarding legalizing liquor sales: first, shall the sale of intoxicating liquors, wine or beer be prohibited or permitted?; and second, if liquor sales are permitted, what method of sale shall be used?. There is wide discretion under the law as to the method of sale, but my understanding of the intent of the petitioners is for it to be as full blown as the law allows. If so, this would allow package stores, bars, lounges, and sales by the drink in a number of venues if the measure is voted in.

Let’s take a look at Florida Statute 561.20 which covers Beverage Law Administration. Liquor licenses are allocated based on population to counties which have voted to become “wet” on a ratio of 1 license per 7500 people. This would only give Madison County 2 licenses, but the statute further states that all “wet” counties will be permitted at least 3 licenses. These are referred to as quota licenses. Apparently Madison Yes has not read the entire Statute as they advertised in their facts in the 8/17/12 Enterprise Recorder we would only have two licenses.

To get one of these three quota licenses there will be a 45 day application period, after which a lottery type drawing from the applicant pool will determine who gets them. These will cost the regular license fee for the first year ($624 for drinking on premises facilities), plus the Hughes Act Fee of $10,750. Normally these go to the package stores, bars, and lounges.

Businesses which now have beer licenses will be allowed to upgrade their license to beer and wine. I personally believe this is will be the biggest change we will see due to the number of establishments that currently have beer licenses.

There are any number of scenarios under which additional special licenses may be secured for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises: hotels, motels or motor courts with at least 80 guest rooms; condominiums with at least 100 units, condominiums with at least 50 units in a county having home rule; restaurants with at least 2500 square feet of service area and can serve 150 persons full course meals at one time; caterers who generate 51% of revenue from food and non-alcoholic beverages; specialty centers with at least 50,000 square feet of leasable space and near a navigable body of water; bowling establishments with at least 12 lanes; county commissioners for county establishments; special airport license; public fair or exposition; civic center authority; sports arena authority; performing arts center; certain clubs, lodges, and fraternal or benevolent associations.

My point in listing all of these is to show that in Madison County we have very few establishments that qualify for the licensure applicant pool. There would be 0 hotels and motels, 1 restaurant,(and it is not Honey Lake as their restaurant license is for 74 seats), 1 country club, 2 lodges and 2 or 3 American Legion Posts that would qualify assuming they wanted a license. Only one of these would satisfy the quest to get a restaurant (assuming the owners want a license) that could serve after dinner drinks which is what the proponents of this issue say is their driving force.

Revenue to the county would be minimal from licenses. The county retail business license is only $30 per year, restaurant licenses are based on seating and range from $18.75 – $75 for existing effective licenses, and all other license revenues go to the state. Currently there are 20 licensed restaurants in Madison County. There would be City licenses if the business is located in a municipality. The county would receive 1 1/2% of the sales tax generated as a result of the sales. The 1/2% would go to the new hospital construction debt retirement fund and the 1% would go toward the EMS and infrastructure debt retirement. One percent of sales tax in Madison County currently produces $1,038,651.00 annually from taxable sales. We have no way of knowing what liquor sales would generate in addition to current revenues. Based on experiences nationwide for every $1 received in taxes from the sale of alcohol the cost to society is $3 to $5. To make it come even closer home, in a recent year alcohol cost you (each taxpayer) $479, and that ‘s if you didn’t buy any. We are already financially strapped as a county, state, and nation, so how could we afford this extra drain on our resources?

We can’t afford alcohol because of the cost to business-$4 billion in absenteeism and poor performance on the job.
We can’t afford alcohol because of it’s contribution to auto deaths-50 percent of the fatal accidents are alcohol related.
We can’t afford alcohol because of what it does to our health-alcoholism is surpassed only by cancer and heart disease as a health problem.
We can’t afford alcohol because alcohol is America’s number one drug problem-it is used and abused more than all other drugs combined.
We can’t afford alcohol because of what it does to our homes- in 90 percent of cases in domestic courts one or both partners are guilty of using large quantities of alcohol. Think of the molested, abused and neglected children in these homes.
We can’t afford alcohol because of what it does to the appearance of our community-litter (bottles, cans, cartons) on the streets and roads multiplies 3 to 5 times after alcoholic beverages are legalized.
We can’t afford alcohol because of its contribution to crime-up to 90 percent of the inmates in prison are drunk or drinking when committing the crime that sent them to prison. Alcohol lowers resistance and reduces the ability to make rational decisions.
We can’t afford alcohol because availability brings increased consumption-that brings more of the problems mentioned above.
We can’t afford alcohol because drunkenness places one’s soul in jeopardy-I Corinthians 6:10.

Alcohol sales offers nothing positive for Madison County, but gives the opportunity for many negatives!

Please join me in voting against liquor sales in Madison County on August 28th!

Gene Stokes
Lee, FL

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Letter to the Editor: Vote Yes and Give Me My Freedom to Choose

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

I have been a resident of Madison County for the past nine years and feel I am a respected, contributing member to our community. The main issues I take exception to with people trying to limit my choices are as follows:

1) My vote of “Yes” does not take away your ability to say no when being offered liquor. Consequently, your no vote does directly stop my ability to say yes to ordering a drink with dinner within my county.

2) Stifling a person’s ability, especially our youth, to make their own informed decision does not prepare them for life outside our county lines – let alone college, new job locations, etc. People tend to overindulge when something has been a taboo.

3) Making a county wet does not make a person an alcoholic, abusive, nor a drug addict. These are personality traits not direct results to liquor access. It is a huge leap to lump together having a drink with dinner to cocaine use and abuse.

4) Lastly, I too know my Bible and Christ’s first Miracle turned water into wine. Stating that I am not a Christian or even a good Christian if I vote Yes is ridiculous. One has nothing to do with the other. I am a Christian that shows my caring and strength of faith daily. My husband and I have raised our children in a faith based environment.

Everything comes back to family and how you were raised. Abuse in any form is wrong- we know and teach this. Trying to limit choices through scare tactics or peer pressure is wrong – we teach this to our children or at least I did in my family.

Linda Bezick

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Letter to the Editor: I Voted To End Madison Dry

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

Madison County people are as smart and discipined as people in the rest of the United States. The Madison Yes objectors expressing their fears in statements and signs are selling short the people who keep themselves and their children off drugs and behave themselves drinking beer at backyard barbecues. People who do not drink and fear alcohol besides beer evidently do not know people who enjoy wines as well as a mixed drinks on occasion. Madison citizens can use alcohol in moderation as successfully as they use automobile speed semsibly.
Another reason I voted FOR is that I despise hypocrisy and wilful blindness. Objectors say nothing about the alcohol sold here in umlimited amounts of beer at groceries. Worst, gas stations sell beer, too. Beer can addle the brain, interfere with safe driving, prompt family altercations and lead to addiction through a pattern of abuse. Attack the legal sale of stronger spirits and ignore beer sales? That is hypocritical and not logically defensible.
Marianne Green

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Letter to the Editor: MadisonYES – The Journey (Why it’s your turn)

August 23, 2012 Letters To The Editor One comment

This morning as I was preparing to head to the MadisonYES office, I found myself thinking about the roots of the MadisonYES effort and how far we have come. I realized that unless you were involved in the effort, you could have no idea of the work that has gone into this effort, nor could you really understand our motivation.
MadisonYES started to become a reality in early January of this year, 219 days ago. During this period, dozens of Madison County citizens have donated literally thousands of hours to get us to this point in time. Today, we are just one week away from Election Day. Our efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
The volunteers of MadisonYES were also tasked with raising many thousands of dollars. Through corporate donations, receptions, cookouts, golf tournaments and individual donors, we have raised the necessary funding to run an above-average campaign. Additionally, an amazing amount of in-kind donations have been received.
All of this work and money was expended in an attempt to raise Madison County up.
You see, virtually everyone involved in this campaign has a vision for Madison County that we believe is obtainable. Expanding the sale of alcohol is not a silver bullet to end all woes, we know that. It is however, the elimination of yet another impediment to our potential growth.
We have heard people say that Madison County will never be able to be home to a chain restaurant like Applebee’s or Olive Garden for various reasons. Well, simply put, we don’t believe that. Right now, over 22,000 vehicles pass through Madison County daily on Interstate 10. That number will continue to increase. You can take that to the bank. Our Highway 53 exit off of Interstate 10 is already a huge business area for our county. All of our four exits have growth potential, especially the Highway 14 interchange, the one that is closest to the city of Madison.
Several people have also stated that the jobs created by this initiative will be minimum wage jobs, insinuating that those types of jobs are not important. Really? In a county that has documented unemployment at almost 11%, are there really any bad jobs? How do we expect our young people to get experience, if we do not provide for them entry level employment?
I know for a fact that three of our existing restaurants have plans for expansion when this vote passes. That equates to construction jobs and the addition of several more hospitality jobs.
We all share a love for Madison County. All we ask is that our business community be given a fighting chance.
So, with all this being said, the foundation for change has been laid. Now it’s your turn to act. Please make every effort to vote on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Vote YES! Vote “FOR” the sale of alcohol over 6.243% and vote “FOR” the sale of alcohol by package and by the drink. Thank you.

Ted C. Ensminger
MadisonYES!

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Jacob’s Ladder: Sometimes You Don’t Know What Hits You

July 12, 2012 Editorials Comments Off

Sometimes you just don’t know what hits you.
That’s what a player for the Houston Cougars found out in 1970 when he was playing against the Florida State Seminoles.
I wish I could hav
e seen the hit. I wish it were on YouTube like a lot of clips from old football games are. I bet the Cougars’ player wished he had seen it coming but he didn’t. No one knew it was going to happen except for a Seminole player named Dan Whitehurst.
It was during the last game of the 1970 season and Houston was trouncing FSU when the Houston player intercepted a pass and took off bound to make another touchdown. Bill Parcells, who would later coach the New York Giants and New England Patriots to Super Bowl victories, was an assistant coach at FSU at the time. He began yelling, “Somebody, do something!”
Whitehurst, who played linebacker for FSU, did do something. He left the sidelines and tackled the Houston player.
Like that Houston player, I have had times when I didn’t know what hit me. I didn’t know what hit me in December when I went into cardiac arrest and woke up the next week in the hospital in Tallahassee. I had always thought that there would be pain and warnings associated with anything like that. The only thing I can remember before it happened that day was that I was tired. I didn’t know that a linebacker was going to step off the sidelines and knock me flat out.
We don’t always get warnings, so isn’t it better to be prepared? We take our lives in our hands every day when we get in a car and head to work. Others have to take their lives in their hands at work.
I am glad that when I got blindsided, I was healed but I am happier that I was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. If I had not been rescued from death’s door, I know what would have been on the other side of that door – eternity in Heaven with my Savior.
What is the alternative for those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? An eternity in a lake of fire, filled with everlasting torment.
There’s your warning. If you have not, make a decision to accept Jesus Christ today.

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Jacob’s Ladder: Amazingly Awesome, Awesomely Amazing

July 6, 2012 Editorials Comments Off
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I have seen some amazing things in my lifetime. I have been a part of some awesome things myself. Awesome and amazing are not words that can describe what people must have seen in Galilee 2,000 years ago.
I remember sitting at an FSU baseball game. It was being broadcast live to the nation (at least the cable subscribers back in 1986 or 1987) on ESPN. FSU vs. LSU. An epic battle between two teams ranked number one and two. Mike Martin had removed the FSU pitcher (it seems that it was Richie Lewis) from the game with FSU leading 2-1. I may have the score wrong. Anyway, in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 2-2, Paul Sorrento launched a rocket over the fence with a runner on base and FSU won 4-2.
I remember watching on TV as Byron Wells, a reserve FSU senior with very little playing time, hit the shot of his life and FSU beat Duke for the first time 89-88.
I even know that I was on the brink of death and Jesus brought be back to life. That was awesomely amazing. It was amazingly awesome.
All these amazing and awesome things cannot compare with what those people in Galilee and Nazareth and Jerusalem saw. They saw God incarnate as Jesus Christ performing miracles. He was a man who was God. He was God, yet He was a man. How amazingly awesome and awesomely amazing is that?
Today, we read the Bible and find that God insists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Awesome. Amazing.
I look forward to that awesomely amazing day and that amazingly awesome day when I will get to see Jesus, who paid the price for my sins, face to face.
Amazing.
Awesome.

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Jacob’s Ladder: The Hurricane

June 7, 2012 Editorials Comments Off
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I can feel your hurt, I know your pain,
You’re walking against the wind,
Walking in the hurricane.
You need someone to erase the stains
You can’t hide, you can’t pretend,
Walking in the hurricane.
So many nights you spend on bended knees,
Crying tears, saying, “Lord, help me please,”
Your broken heart you can’t explain
To anyone not walking in the hurricane.
And, your heart breaks like it never has before,
The rain keeps falling and you watch it pour,
No umbrella, no raincoat you walk through the storm,
With nothing there to keep you warm.
Looking to Heaven for answers, not knowing if there’s one,
You pray to God in the name of His Holy Son,
“Lord, help me please, come and take this pain,
I’m so tired of walking through the hurricane.”
As you tread through the streets, you see the toppled trees,
But through the power lines you hear a hum like a symphony,
You can make it, Jesus can conquer your pain
And send a dove to lift you out of the hurricane.
Keep walking on water, with your head held high,
Remember always God is there in the night,
He’s there in day, He’s there in the pain,
Helping you walk through the hurricane.

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POSTAL SERVICE: “BIRTH CERTIFICATE NOT ACCEPTABLE ID”

May 31, 2012 Editorials, Front Page 2 comments

Submitted by Pat Lightcap
If you have a post office box in Madison, Florida and want to pay your annual renewal fee you may be asked to complete a United StatesPostal Service Form 1093 “Application for Post Office Box Service”. This form requires you also bring a photo indentification card and one non-photo ID. On page one of the instructions it states, “NOTE: Social Security cards, credit cards, and birth certificates are not acceptable forms of ID”.

This reporter became aware of the ID requirements when he took a friend to the Madison post office on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 to check his mailbox after the Memorial Day holiday. He found a notice stapled to the Form 1093 in his box. The notice said the PO Box Application files were being updated and he would have to bring the completed Form 1093 and a photo ID and non-photo ID to the window clerk no later that Tuesday, May 29, 2012 (the day before he received the notice).

Here is the problem, my friend has no acceptable ID’s. The only photo ID’s the US Postal Service accepts are: 1) Valid driver’s license or state non-driver’s identification card (he has no car and has no driver’s license or state ID card). 2) Armed Forces, government, university, or recognized corporate identification card (he has never been in he military nor worked for the government, nerver worked for a corporation and is not in school). 3) Passport, passport card, alien registration card, or certificate of naturalization (he has never been out of the United States and was born in the USA).

Now the non-photo ID criteria was also problematic. Here are their acceptable documents: 1) Current lease, mortgage, or deed of trust (he has no lease, no mortgage, and he doesn’t know what a deed of trust is). 2) Voter or vehicle registration (he does not own a vehicle and is not a registered voter). 3) Home or vehicle insurance policy (he does not own a vehicle and cannot get home insurance).

My friend just wanted to renew the post office box he has used for decades. Because he does not have any of the acceptable identification cards or documents he cannot do this. He has lived all of his life in Madison, pays Federal income tax but cannot have a post office box! He does have a birth certificate–but that is not acceptable.

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Jacob’s Ladder: The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

May 10, 2012 Editorials Comments Off
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Sunday is Mother’s Day and my mind thinks back on my beautiful mother who did so much for me, Debbie, Danny and Abbie and for our daddy. I have written before that she told me to love books and to love reading. We used to have a great time reading the same books. Either I would read a book first and recommend it to her or she would read a book and recommend it to me. The year before she died, she had read through the Bible two or three times. A few years later, I read through the Bible three times in one year.
Mama had not only taught me to love reading, she also taught me to read. This led to some confusion for me when, a few years later, I was practicing for the school-wide spelling bee and my mother was reading the words to me. She read the word “rendezvous.” I had never heard it and had not seen it on my list of words. RON-DAY-VOO Mama had read to me. I told her that word was not on the list. She showed it to me. “Oh, that’s ren-dez-vious,” I said. Mama laughed and said, “No, it’s not.”
Mama had taught me to read phonetically so that word just about blew her whole teaching technique out of the water.
Although I am six years older than my sister, Abbie Gail, sometimes she can be a mother figure to me. Sunday evening, I was not feeling well, so she came and took me by the hand to try and make me feel better. She was worried about me.
My sister, Debbie, can be a mother figure to me also. She inherited our mother’s dark hair and dark eyes and her talent for cooking. When I was in the hospital, Debbie stayed near watching out over me.
I have other mother figures in my life, including aunts, church members and an adopted mom who I have never met before but will the next time she is in Madison County. I adopted her after her daughter would post these pictures of food that her mom brought her, along with the fact that she is a really sweet woman, just like my mama was.
I am glad that mothers have been given their own day to celebrate. One of my favorite songs of all times is “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,” which was sung by Steve Wariner and Glen Campbell. Let us always remember “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”
Thank you, Lord, for the good, kind mothers of this world.

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DASH Your Way To A Lower Blood Pressure

May 3, 2012 Editorials Comments Off

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month, a time to get your blood pressure checked and know your numbers. Consumers are often confused by products on the market that claim to reduce blood pressure. One proven meal plan is DASH, a researched based guide that can reduce blood pressure.
First conducted in the early 90’s, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), was a scientific dietary study to determine if a diet plan without medication could reduce blood pressure. The study was funded by the National Institute of Health and conducted at Harvard, Duke, John Hopkins and Louisiana State University. Results showed that both men and women eating the DASH plan experienced a significant drop in both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.

The DASH eating plan emphasizes fresh fruit and vegetables and low fat dairy products. It is moderate in total fat and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It also includes whole grains, poultry, fish and nut. It also recommends reducing salt and sodium intake.

Starting on the DASH eating plan is easy. It requires no special foods and no recipes to follow. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Reduce your intake of sodium and foods high in sodium
Make gradual changes like adding a serving of fruit or vegetables at lunch and dinner.

Gradually increase your intake of fat free and low fat dairy products to 3 servings a day.

♦If you eat large portions of meat, cut them back by a half or third at each meal.
♦Try two or more meatless meals each week.
Try serving casseroles and stir-fry dishes, which have more vegetables, grains and dry beans.
♦Eat baked or grilled fish during the week but be careful of bottled marinades, they are often high in sodium.
♦Eat fresh fruit, raw vegetables, or low fat and fat free yogurt for snacks.

Use herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of you foods instead of sodium.

Limit your meals eaten out, since most prepared food is high in sodium.

Make one or two changes each week. Eat a variety of foods and cut back on serving sizes. For more information about the DASH eating plan and recipes, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s “Your Guide to Controlling High Blood Pressure at www.nhlbi. nih.gov/hbp/index.html and click on Prevention.

If you are under a doctor’s care for high blood pressure, be sure you take you medication and follow the doctor’s recommendations. Your efforts to reduce sodium intake will help you overall health.

The Madison County Extension office has several fact sheets on eating to reduce sodium and alternative seasonings, which will give you creative ideas for seasoning food without salt or sodium products. For a free copy of our Extension fact sheets, call or stop by the Extension office.

The University of Florida Extension – Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.

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Jacob’s Ladder: The Game Ended In A Tie

May 3, 2012 Editorials Comments Off

By Jacob Bembry
Editor

A cold December night. 20 degrees in Monticello, Florida and I am standing outside in the freezing cold.
I am in the west end zone at Tiger Memorial Stadium. The place is packed. Fans from Jefferson County are here as the Fighting Tigers host the 1982 Class AA state football championship. We are all cold. The fans who have made the trek from Clewiston have to be even colder than we are. To a point, we are all used to it because when it gets cold in Monticello, it feels like the coldest place on Earth, even if it is in the Sunshine State.

The game is a nail biter and Clewiston is leading until our All-American tailback James Massey crashes into the end zone, tying the score.

Massey is also the kicker on extra points but all season long, the Tigers have run for two-point conversions and almost every time, the Tigers have converted those two-point conversions. This time, however, Tiger Head Coach Blair Armstrong makes the decision to kick the extra point. The Clewiston Tigers’ defense is tough, like the Jefferson defense. In close games, you play your cards close to the vest.

The Jefferson Tigers go for the kick. Randy Dixon, Clewiston’s All-American defensive tackle, jumps off sides, which is good because the kick was bad. Surely, we will go for the two-point conversion now.
Nope. Coach Armstrong calls for the kick again. Center Ricky Watson snaps the ball over quarterback Kelly Lynch’s head. Massey picks up the football and tries running with it but he has a kicking shoe on and for one of the few times all season, he is stopped dead in his tracks.

The game ends in a tie. Fans from both sides were expecting a tiebreaker. Assistant Coach Bill Brumfield (who would later become Jefferson County High School superintendent) runs alongside the fences telling everyone to go home. The game is over.

That game ended in disappointment for me and thousands of other fans that night. We were state champions and both teams played with all their heart but we had to share the title. A tie. The game was over.

Don’t let your life end in disappointment. Get out and enjoy your family and things while you can. If you are not a Christian, give your life to the Lord today.

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National Security: Okinawa

May 1, 2012 Editorials Comments Off

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

Okinawa is the main island in the Ryukyu group located in the central western Pacific south of Japan. The island is 60 miles long, oriented north to south and pinched together in the middle. While the north end of the island is remote and contains great natural beauty, the southern end is heavily populated. Once I recall landing at the civilian airport at Naha on the southern end of the island and taking nearly two hours on very crowded roads to drive thirty miles north to Kadena Air Base.

In the spring of 1945, the Marines and Army landed on the island to wrest control from the Japanese defenders. This great battle would foretell the difficulty associated with invading the four main Japanese islands to the north. The Americans suffered one-third casualties — 13 thousand dead and 39 thousand wounded. The Japanese Army lost 95 thousand dead and more than one hundred thousand native Okinawans lost their lives in the bloody contest.

The four-star American commander of the operation, General Simon Bolivar Buckner was killed in the battle as was the great correspondent Ernie Pyle. One local veteran told me that he survived the bloody campaigns at Guadalcanal and Peleliu unscathed only to be wounded on Okinawa. Simply put, it was a bloodbath. Things did not bode well for invasion of the home islands. The subsequent use of the atomic bombs in August made invasion moot as the Japanese unconditionally surrendered. American servicemen preparing for the upcoming invasion like Pete Studstill felt they had been reprieved at the eleventh hour – a new lease on life.

In the aftermath of the battle, the island of Okinawa became an American possession and military outpost for all of the services. Major military installations were built on the island to project American military power in the western Pacific and keep the peace that had been won at such great cost.

In 1972, after nearly three decades of American possession, the island reverted to Japanese control. Sensitive chemical and nuclear weapon stockpiles were shipped from the island to other destinations in anticipation of the changeover.

Today, United States servicemen, particularly airmen and marines, are stationed at this strategic outpost. It is ideally located at a mid-point in the western Pacific. Korea, Japan, and Taiwan are all easily accessible. It is particularly important because of the excellent airfields. Kadena located at the island’s narrow waist is a major Air Force installation. In addition to many airmen, nearly 20 thousand Marines are stationed on Okinawa.

For whatever reason, the Marines have been a sore point with local authorities for many years. It seems that most instances of disruption that grab headlines have been at the hands of Marines, so it came as no surprise last week when the Pentagon announced that half the Marines stationed on Okinawa would be relocated in the near future to other Pacific bases. I cannot see how this move will make either us or our allies less secure.

The Pacific threats to peace are a militaristic China and belligerent North Korea. American servicemen are stationed in Guam, Okinawa, Japan, and South Korea to counter the threat. Additionally, we have important allies in Australia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea who possess their own military capability. We cannot afford to take our eyes off the Western Pacific region.

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