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By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

Just in time to help with New Year’s resolutions to eat healthy and be more physically active, the USDA just launched a new online program called SuperTracker.

This state-of-the art resource is available at ChooseMyPlate.gov; it is designed to assist individuals working on health changes in their lives.

The Myplate website is an updated version of the old MyPryamid. It provides practical information to individuals, health professionals, nutrition educators and the food industry to help consumers build healthier diets with resources and tools for dietary assessment, nutrition education and other user-friendly nutrition information. Since Americans are experiencing epidemic rates of overweight and obesity, the online resources and tools can empower people to make healthier food choices for themselves, their families and children.

A recent task force on childhood obesity reported simple actionable advice for consumers was needed. The US Department of Agriculture’s response was to launch MyPlate and this new computer tool; all part of the effort to provide easy to understand information to help consumers adopt healthy eating habits consistent with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

SuperTracker, the new tool on the website, is designed to assist Americans at all stages of life improve their overall health and well-being as they input dietary and physical activity choices into the tool. Individuals can set up an account to log in daily food choices and physical activity. The program will personalize how much food to eat according to your weight and activity. Other features that are helpful are goal setting, virtual coaching, weight tracking and journaling. Once a consumer sets up a personal account, it can be accessed any time of the day to track progress.

So many people start out the New Year with great intentions, only to slip by the time February arrives. SuperTracker is a great tool to help keep you on target with New Year’s resolutions to improve your food choice, stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact the Madison County Extension Service.

The University of Florida Extension/IFAS 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.

By Mark Mark Buescher, C.P.A.
Guest Columnist

Last week in this column, I indicated that 2012 could be a year of optimism relative to North Florida economic conditions. I addressed various segments of the economy including favorable Florida employment numbers recently released by the governor.

One area that I did not address was that of inflation. Fortunately, our current rate of inflation remains at historically low averages and has been a ray of sunshine as well. Through November, 2011, the average inflation rate for the year was 3.4%, based on the most recent figures produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. December figures will be available in the next few days, but are expected to be comparable.

When inflation is low, consumers and businesses are better able to make long-range plans because they know that the purchasing power of their money will hold and will not be steadily eroded year after year.

Low inflation also means lower nominal and real interest rates. Lower interest rates reduce the cost of borrowing and, in turn, encourages households to buy durable goods, such as automobiles and refrigerators. By keeping inflation under wraps, our economy will eventually gain a stronger foothold and we will eventually return to prosperity.

But we, as consumers and taxpayers, are not the only ones that keep a watchful eye on inflation. The IRS closely monitors the rate as well. Our tax laws require that certain tax numbers be adjusted for inflation each year. Most of these numbers are unchanged or change slightly for 2012 since inflation was minimal for 2011. However, there are a few worth noting as we consider tax planning this year.

For example, the standard mileage rate for business driving remains at 55.5 cents for 2012. For 2011, it was 55.5 cents for miles driven after June 30 and 51 cents for miles driven before July 1. This rate is important since employees use the rate for reimbursement purposes from their employers and business owners use it in computing their deductions.

The rate for medical and moving mileage decreases from 23.5 cents per mile to 23 cents per mile. The general rate for charitable driving remains at 14 cents per mile.

Unfortunately, the maximum earnings subject to social security tax increases slightly. Employees “max out” on social security tax withheld from their paychecks once their earnings reach $110,000, up by $3,300. The earnings limit for those under full retirement age is $14,640. For those at full retirement age, there is no earnings limit.

The “nanny tax” threshold increases to $1,800 for 2012, up from $1,700 in 2011. If you pay household workers more than this amount during the year, you are responsible for payroll taxes. Included are workers such as gardeners, baby sitters, nurses, or those that perform general household chores.

The “kiddie tax” on the other hand is unchanged for 2012. If your child under age 19 (under age 24 for students) has more than $1,900 of unearned income, such as dividends and interest income, the excess could be taxed at the parents top rate.

On the downside, certain limits that we would like increased, however, remain unchanged due to low inflation. The maximum individual retirement account (IRA) contribution you can make for 2012 remains unchanged at $5,000 if you are under age 50 and $6,000 if you are 50 or older.

The maximum amount of wages employees can put in a 401(k) plan for 2012 increases to $17,000. If you are 50 or older, you can contribute up to $22,500 to a 401(k) and $14,000 to a SIMPLE plan.

Tax legislation could change these and other important tax numbers at any time. Also, keep a watchful eye on inflation. If the economy tends to warm up a bit more, inflation could begin to raise its ugly head higher. After all, inflation affects our finances from many different prospective, including that of taxation.

Mark Buescher, CPA is owner and principal of Buescher and Ruff, LLC, a local full service accounting firm in Madison, specializing in tax preparation, business consulting and tax planning. Tax laws contain varying effective dates and numerous limitations and exemptions that cannot be summarized easily. For details and guidance for your specific situation, contact your tax advisor.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

The Straiht of Hormuz is a narrow shipping lane the empties the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman and then, the Indian Ocean. At its narrowest point, the straiht is only 34 miles wide and separates the United Arab Emirates and Oman in the south from Iran to the north. Strategically, that 34 mile gap of water is probably the most important straiht in the world: last year, 20 percent of the world’s oil supplies moved by tanker through Hormuz. International shipping follows the rules laid out by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Oil tankers regularly transit the Straiht, carrying petroleum from the Persian Gulf ports of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and the UAE to refineries in Europe and Asia. Each of these tankers is backed by high premium shipping insurance for the vessel and its precious cargo.

As the world’s protector of sea lanes, the United States has a strategic interest in keeping the Straiht of Hormuz open to worldwide maritime traffic. To do this, the Navy’s Fifth Fleet is stationed in Oman. Before the current Iranian crisis, the fleet consisted of twenty warships anchored by the USS Stennis (CVN-74), a Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier. The Stennis has about 85 aircraft in its air wing, consisting of F-18 Hornet attack and fighter aircraft, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters and electronic warfare aircraft. Around the Stennis is an array of warships including guided missile cruisers and submarines to protect the CVN. It is an impressive armada.

Ever since the Iranian Navy began military exercises and saber-rattling, our Navy has deployed two additional carrier battle groups centered about the USS Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) to the region. The Vinson will likely replace the Stennis since their cruise is scheduled to end. Each of these battle groups carry just as much capability as the Stennis.

Meanwhile as Iranian gunboats speed around the Straiht, their tin-hat admiral has announced that they might close the Straiht and warned the Stennis not to return to its port in Oman. Presumably, the Obama Administration will not succumb to this threat against international maritime law.

How might the Iranians close the straiht if they’re so inclined? They could do so either with anti-ship missiles or mines. The no-brainer approach is to mine the straight which is a passive means until a ship hits them. Missiles, on the other hand, require targeting and launch, a much more overt act of war. Regardless, we’ll allow the Iranians to make the first move, if they’re so inclined, so that our response is just that. We have to call their bluff and be prepared in case it isn’t.

My guess is that it is bluster and not much more. The Iranian radical Islamic government is known for saber-rattling. In the meantime, they are facing an internal crisis as someone is targeting their nuclear brain trust. Last week a speeding motorcycle attached a magnetic car bomb to the auto of one such scientist who quickly died in the resulting explosion. He’s the fourth nuclear scientist to die under violent and mysterious circumstances over the past year. The Iranians are sure this action and other similar to it are the work of Israeli/American intelligence, but who knows?

If the Iranians should decide to mine the Straiht, we have a secret weapon — dolphins. It seems as if the US Navy has been training bottle-nose dolphins for years to detect mines with their sonar and photograph them. It seems that the dolphins can detect mines from hundreds of yards away. Whether or not the dolphins are trained to actually detonate the mines is not known. Of course, this revelation has animal rights groups in a tizzy.

A more reliable, long-term approach would be to build sufficient oil pipelines across Saudi Arabia to a southern port which would give oil shippers an alternative and safer route. This would give the insurance companies much needed relief as well.

It is at times like this that we’re reminded that, although the Straiht of Hormuz is a small body of water, more than three-quarters of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Our Navy, the greatest in the world by far, is on patrol to ensure that sea lanes remain free and unimpeded. The world’s economy is dependent on this capability.

By Mark Buescher, C.P.A.
Guest Columnist

The year 2011 has officially ended. Downtown Madison’s Christmas decorations have been stored away for another year, party hats and horns bringing in the new year have been tossed, and New Year’s resolutions are in full swing.

Although 2012 has arrived and we are all looking forward to a fresh new start, the news media reminds us daily that we are facing major problems in this country. Our national debt is an alarming $15 trillion and climbing. Our economy is still struggling to produce jobs and get healthy again. Our politicians seem unable to grapple with even the smallest issue without partisan bickering that leads nowhere.

However, glimmers of hope are on the horizon. According to economic estimates ahead of the official Commerce Department figures coming out next week, December 2011 retail sales were up 5.5 percent over the previous year. This is especially good news since consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of our economy.

In the employment area, the unemployment rate and job numbers have shown continued improvement as well. Although still at high levels, the unemployment rate in the state of Florida has dropped two percentage points since January of 2011. According to Governor Scott’s office a total of 8,500 new jobs were added in November, 2011 (the most recent numbers available), making the total net new jobs for the year more than 120,000 in the state of Florida. Madison County statistics have shown comparable improvements as well.

The Florida unemployment rate, although still higher than the national rate, is at the lowest level in 31 months. The good news for Floridians can not come soon enough. The state of Florida has already borrowed over $1.7 billion from the federal government to pay unemployment compensation benefits. Florida businesses will continue to see higher unemployment tax rates for 2012 paid on behalf of their employees. However, with improved employment numbers, this figure will eventually begin to shrink, which in turn will benefit employment taxes for all businesses.

Another glimmer of hope: consumer confidence. Retailers and other businesses seem to be benefiting from a rise in consumer confidence. The Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan preliminary sentiment index rose this month to the highest level since June, according to the survey median before the official report due out this weekend. Of course, stock market gains have played a significant role in the optimism, along with the President’s deal with Republican leaders to keep social security tax rates from rising.

Investors in retail stocks are driving up share prices as consumer spending picks up. The Standard and Poor’s Supercomposite Retailing Index has gained more than 30 percent since June 30, 2010, compared with a 23 percent advance for the broader S&P 500 stock index. Even auto sales in December reached a 12.53 million annual pace, the highest since the government’s so-called cash-for-clunkers incentive program in August 2009.

On another front, the Federal Reserve is continuing their efforts to keep borrowing costs low, benefiting the business sector and indirectly the sluggish Florida real estate market. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke last week reiterated the central bank will buy an additional $600 billion of Treasuries through June in an effort to trim joblessness further and avert deflation, or an extended drop in prices. With the Federal Funds rate (the interest rate on overnight loans between banks) already close to zero, the Fed is buying securities in an effort to keep borrowing costs low.

All in all, there are continued areas of improvement in our economy and glimmers of hope at every turn. Without a doubt, 2012 is an important year. The presidential election coming up in November, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the new health care law expected this summer, and the expiration of the current Federal tax rates on December 31, 2012, are major coming events on the national level. On a local level, Madison County will start ground-breaking on a new hospital facility and several new employers will continue to fill the employee ranks. All of these events will have an impact on every one of us.

Keep a watchful eye. With continued prayers and the right amount of luck, 2012 could be the year that we make the big turn in our economy.

Mark Buescher, CPA is owner and principal of Buescher and Ruff, LLC, a local full service accounting firm in Madison, specializing in tax preparation, business consulting and tax planning. Tax laws contain varying effective dates and numerous limitations and exemptions that cannot be summarized easily. For details and guidance for your specific situation, contact your tax advisor.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist

Now that the holidays have come and gone, the bills will soon begin to arrive. You may be shocked at the total amount on your credit cards. Didn’t realize all the fun you had during the holiday season had such a price tag? You may have overspent like many other Americans. It can be difficult to avoid the traps of sophisticated marketing techniques utilized by retailers. Whatever the reason, overspending can leave us with a holiday spending problem – a large debt. Dr. Michael Gutter, Financial Management Specialist with the University of Florida highlights several strategies that may be helpful for you to do.

Now that January is here, you may need to give your credit cards a holiday. While you are planning out your repayment plan, you should put the cards away. Do not take them with you unless you need them for refunds or exchanges. Operate on a cash only basis for the next few months while you are paying off debts. One thing you want to avoid is the post holiday spending. We all know you can get some great deals, but you can go broke practicing this money strategy – you are still spending money. By not making purchases, you will be able to engage in real savings!

Determine the total amount of money you spent over the holiday season. Believe it or not, most people avoid looking at the total. Take time to sort out your bills and add up exactly how much money you spent. While this may not be a fun task, it will give you a clear picture of the money you now owe. A word of warning, you may be shocked at the total! Don’t be overwhelmed, you can pay off your debts with steady, consistent payments.

The next step is to set up a debt repayment plan and stick to it. This need not involve a third party, just an honest discussion and different choices on your part. Create a timeline to pay off your debts. One great tool for this is PowerPay. It is a free online program developed by Utah Extension to help you organize your debts, create a calendar for repayment, and show you how to most efficiently use extra money to pay down your debt more efficiently. A great tool to keep you on track with paying monthly bills is our Extension 2012 Money Management Calendar. For your free copy, stop by the Extension office.

There is always the question of what to do as a substitute for those shopping trips that occupied your time over the last 6 to 8 weeks. It is now a great time to work on those projects you have been postponing because of the holiday season. Get busy and organize your filing cabinet, clean out those closets and cupboards, transplant plants in your yard. You may want to start that daily walking program you’ve been meaning to do for the past 6 month. When you tackle these home and self improvements, you’ll find yourself productive and not tempted to go out and add to your debt load.

Part of your holiday repayment plan needs to include a way to start saving now for 2012. It becomes difficult to meet your expectations for the holidays year after year without planning ahead. By knowing what you spent this past year, you can set up a goal to have a certain amount in a savings account to use for the next holiday season. Some banks have special holiday accounts which allow you to put money into savings on a regular basis. If you aren’t a good saver, this type of account may be helpful.

For more information on money management or assistance with developing a debt repayment plan, contact the Madison County Extension Service.

The University of Florida Extension/IFAS 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.

By Jacob Bembry

God has been with me so many times that I cannot begin to tell you. He has even been there during the stupid times and the stupid things I have done.

I’m not sure if it was stupid what I did that night in 1986 but I’m not sure it was the wisest decision I had ever made. All I know is that God took care of me that night. If He had not done it, I would at least have been left with a black eye, a broken nose and a handful of teeth for the tooth fairy to come pick up and leave me a quarter a piece for.

I was a student at Florida State University at the time and lived in a dorm called Smith Hall. On several of the floors was a TV room. One evening, while I was coming back from dinner or maybe the library (yeah, let’s say it was the library anyway), I saw an encounter. Now, let me preface this by saying that I have been taught to be chivalrous. Even though the encounter was the girl’s fault, I felt I had to stand up for her.

There was a group of 10 or 11 fellows who were watching a show on television when a blue-haired girl (yes, she had blue hair; it was the 80s and many college students were into punk and new wave) went in and decided to turn the channel. As you can probably guess, tempers flared. Not only did the guys get mad, they threatened this girl who I didn’t even really know but I believe whose name was Lisa.

The major threat came from a guy who was a walk-on football player at FSU. He said that he was going to kill her. I heard enough and ran and got in between the two of them.

“No, you’re not,” I said.

Shoving me, he said, “Get out of the way or I’ll kill you too.”

Somehow I kept my voice from shaking, “You may do that but you won’t touch her.” The football player was much shorter than me but he was built like a Sherman tank. He was a running back and you could tell this guy spent hours in the gym.

Somewhere in the middle of my confrontation with the guy, who had the support of 10 other guys in the room, Lisa ran out. “Whew! Maybe she’s gone from help,” I thought. Of course, I didn’t see her until weeks later.

The football player pushed me again. I didn’t move. Again and I didn’t move. Again and my glasses flew across the room but I didn’t move. No matter how many times he shoved, I stood my ground. Finally, he said. “Aw. Forget it.” One of his buddies handed me my glasses and I went to my dorm room with relief washing over me.

The next time I saw Lisa, she was with a girl with half of her blonde hair shaved off. She grabbed me and hugged me and said I was her knight in shining armor. I am sorry to say that since she did not go get help, I was thinking some things about her that were not in line with my Christian character.

The next time I saw the football player was when he showed up to borrow money that my roommate had left with me. I’d had warning that he was coming but I guess that he didn’t expect to see me there. He couldn’t have been a nicer guy that day.

By Joe Boyles
Guilty — this is another one of my columns that doesn’t remotely deal with national security. But it’s my column and I have plenty of license, so here goes… Besides, this one is fun to write and requires no research.

The football world (any others too) is agog at the antics of Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow. Of course, we Floridians (and Gators in particular) are well versed in the heroics of Tebow – two national titles, Heisman Trophy, 48 wins including four drubbings of the Seminoles (sorry about that ‘Nole fans), first round draft choice, etc.

Along the way, we learned that Tim is a remarkable young man off the field as well. The son of missionaries; born in The Philippines; the youngest of five children; home-schooled; honor roll student; devoutly Christian. In fact, he wears his Christian values on his sleeve … as missionaries should. Never pass up the opportunity to confess the faith of Christ crucified nor evangelize, especially when you do it by example. He continues to make annual pilgrimages to the Philippine orphanage his father founded.

Part of the Tebow legend is that when his mom Pam was pregnant with her last child, she developed a blood disorder from poor drinking water. Her doctor in Mindanao recommended a medical abortion to protect her fragile health. Pam and her husband Bob prayed about the decision and decided to put God in charge of such matters. She survived the pregnancy and gave birth … to little Timmy. Little Timmy is now all grown up at 6’3”, 250 pounds. God answers prayer.

Tebow is now in his second season with the Broncos. He took over as the starting quarterback after the fifth game when the rabid Denver fans demanded change. At that point, the Broncos were in the cellar of the AFC western division with a 1-4 record. Over the next eight games, Tebow guided the team to a 7-1 record and first place in the AFC West, with many come from behind, last second victories. The fourth quarter comeback heroics became known as “Tebow Time.” Bronco mania returned to Mile High.

All of this thrust Timmy (as his mother Pam calls her youngest) into the international spotlight even more than the bright lights of Gainesville had. His characteristic pose on one knee, head bowed, fist to forehead thanking God for strength and deliverance earned him plenty of attention … and ridicule from the likes of late night loudmouth Bill Maher.

Some have suggested that he is the “most polarizing figure in professional football.” I suppose that’s true if you consider the important figures of the Bible – Isaac, Abraham, Paul, Simon Peter, Andrew, Isaiah, to name a few. – polarizing. They certainly were two thousand years ago. Many of them were put to death for their outspoken beliefs, so they must have been polarizing. It’s hard to imagine a man of God as polarizing, but maybe he is. If so, it is a sad commentary of our times

Here’s a funny story about Touchdown Tim. Four years ago, I was on the board of directors of a Tallahassee non-profit crisis pregnancy center. At one board meeting, we were discussing a banquet speaker for an upcoming fund-raiser when our executive director chimed in. “I’m in contact with the mother of a University of Florida football player who just won a nice prize. His name is Tim Tebo.” I kid you not! Of course, the prize was nothing less than the Heisman, the most iconic award in sports. Before the letter of invitation went out, we corrected the spelling to Tebow with a w. Don’t believe me? Ask Mark Branham. He’s my witness.

Sunday, after the Broncos had backed into the playoffs with three consecutive losses, the luster seemed to have worn off Tebow’s halo. So what does he do? Puts the Broncos ahead of the defending AFC champion Pittsburg Steelers, and on the first play of overtime, throws an 80 yard touchdown pass to win the first playoff game in Denver in five years. That nifty play was seen by no less than 45 million viewers. Hail Tebow; the legend continues.

Incidentally, while we’re on the subject, here’s an interesting piece of trivia that might win you a cold one at the local sports bar. The Florida Gators have had three Heisman Trophy winners; all quarterbacks; all the sons of preachers. The uninformed skeptics will try to correct you by saying that Steve Spurrier’s father couldn’t have been a minister. Oh yes he was … in Johnson City, Tennessee. For the record, number two was Danny Wuerffel whose dad John was an Air Force chaplain. We served together at both Edwards and Eglin in the 1990s when Danny was chucking the ball all across the SEC.

Maybe the Broncos and their young quarterback are the recipient of divine guidance. I know that many fans in Denver are true believers; they demanded change and their faith has been rewarded. Miracles do happen. And to those doubters: “oh ye of little faith.”

These days as we see politicians and other talking heads on television, we sometimes notice that they are talking out of both sides of their mouths. They pander to both sides of an issue so we don’t know where they actually stand. Many times, these smooth talkers will just stick to one lie. They use their mouths and their charm to manipulate their constituents.

Politicians are not the only ones who do this. There are others who do this. It may be a family member, a friend or even an enemy. They let words fall from their silver tongues like honey and people around them swarm like flies attracted to the honey. As soon as they taste it, though, they discover that it’s vinegar. It’s bitter and they try to spit it out but they are already so far into the trap that they just go ahead and swallow it.

The Bible tells us to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no.” That’s the way everyone should be.

I am not the kind of person who uses lies to attract people to me. Whenever I give a compliment to a person, they should believe it’s true because it is. I will not be a chameleon who changes his appearance to blend in with whatever environment I am in.

By Joe Boyles

On occasion, I’m invited to speak to a group about a variety of subjects – military history, economics, public policy, etc. I rarely turn these opportunities down and am always gratified that someone or group feels that I might have something valuable to say.

Just before Thanksgiving, Suzanne Griffin called me on a Sunday afternoon and asked me to speak to her 10th grade English class the next day about Carroll Agner’s service in World War II, as subject I wrote about in this column six years ago. We were able to work out the schedule so I spoke to a group of about 25 high school students. Teenie Cave represented the Treasures of Madison County and brought a number of Carroll’s photographs from the war for the class to see.

First of all, let me say that I love to speak to young people. I’m a futurist, so I’m always looking toward what lies ahead. Young people are our future. If I can make an impression and possibly inspire them, then these are goals that I value.

I spoke to the class for nearly an hour, relating Carroll Agner’s service as a member of the Army’s famous 2nd Infantry “Indianhead” Division, then answered their questions. At times, my Air Force service and Vietnam experience came up as well.

Last week, I received a package of thank you notes written by the students following my visit. Each contained a personal sentiment from the student. They were interesting and gratifying to read. Each was well written and contained very interesting insights.

It was obvious to me that the students learned a great deal from the presentation. The photographs certainly helped make those impressions vivid. Carroll had a fine camera when he was overseas, and he used it well. The students were able to see just how bitter that winter of 1944-45 was in Northern Europe and what wartime field conditions were like nearly seventy years ago.

Some of the letters mentioned that they learned more from this presentation about World War II than they did in history class. That’s just wonderful. When an event like the war is vividly described, it becomes much more real than a standard textbook. Although I am not a WWII veteran, I am the son of a vet and have studied the war and strategy closely over the years. Also, my combat experience in Vietnam probably helped describe these events in realistic detail.

Some of the students commented about my method of presentation. They appreciated my sense of humor (always important) and that I answered their questions directly. I really appreciate the question and answer period in any presentation. It turns a lecture into two-way communication. I would add that when you understand and value history, you can put events in perspective that might otherwise not be apparent.

One student commented that I had her complete attention. That’s a lot to ask of a high school student over an entire class period. Another thanked me for getting them out of a test. Now there’s someone after my own heart.

Several students commented on how brave they we were. I can speak for Carroll, myself and other vets here. We really don’t see it that way. We joined the military for various reasons. We were given a job to do and a lot of training to prepare us for war. When the bullets started to fly and things got tough, we simply reverted to our training. First responders like cops, firemen, and EMS techs will tell you the same thing. You do what you have to do when the stress level rises.

Several students commented that they wanted to join the military as well. Good for them. It is a great training ground and helps prepare young people for life. I’ve often said that the two greatest advantages of a military life are education and travel. If you value these two things, then the military has a lot to offer.

One point I made to the class was that war is an unnatural and temporary condition. It is destructive and something that we want to avoid if at all possible. It may be exciting, but it is also exhaustive. Peace is a much more satisfying and prosperous condition.

In conclusion, I really appreciated Suzanne’s offer to speak to her class and look forward to the next opportunity. You can be assured that I got just as much out of the experience as they did.

By Jacob Bembry

The past month has been one crazy month for me. A few weeks ago, it seemed that my death sentence had been pronounced. A few weeks later, I’m back at work.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who prayed for me, sent me cards, visited me in the hospital, visited me at home and have helped me financially during my walk with my illness. God heard those prayers and saw the kindness that was bestowed on my family and me. He honored those prayers and that kindness.

The support that I’ve gotten from everyone is wonderful. Although I have lived in Madison County for most of my life, I am still amazed at the wonderful people here and how they are always willing to help. I thank God for you each and every day.

I do not remember what happened and do not remember the first few days in the hospital. My sister, Debbie, said that I awoke on Sunday night, wanted the remote control to the TV and wanted to watch Chuck. She said she had no idea what TV show that was. That does sound like something I would do, though. I love that TV show, which is basically a comedy about a spy, and the TV show Criminal Minds. Those are my two favorite shows currently airing and I don’t like missing them.

I don’t know where my mind and my heart wandered during those first few days, because I have no memory of them. I do not remember what happened at work and my co-workers’ valiant attempts to revive me. I do not remember the trip to Tallahassee on the ambulance and how the paramedics and EMTs worked with me. I do not remember being in the emergency room or being on a respirator. I do not remember the doctors and nurses striving so hard and working with me. I do not remember my family and my friends being there for me. I do not remember the visits that I had. What I do know, however, is the love that I felt and the security I felt. I was safe in the love of God and of others and I was also secure.

As I head into the next year, I pray that I will never forget the love of God and the love of others and I want to proclaim to everyone about my miraculous healing that if God did it for me, He can do it for others.

By Becky Bennett
Guest Columnist

As the 2011 calendar year comes to an end, 4-H members are just getting warmed up. Each member is planning and preparing for the project goals they have set for themselves this year. Project goals are what a 4-H member decides to work toward during the year, based on interests and community involvement.

During the spring, each member has the option to present what they’ve learned to their peers in both competitive and non-competitive events. Some choose to do a demonstrative or illustrative talk during County and District Events. These talks are a show and tell, and are related to the project the members are enrolled in. Have you ever shown anyone how to tie a knot, lay out a pattern, or identify insects? If so, you have given a demonstration. Members usually show and tell about something they enjoy doing in their project.

For example, a member could talk about what it is like to raise a steer – some of the positive experiences as well as what they have learned. These talks are usually 3 to 7 minutes long and give members an opportunity to gain valuable experience in public speaking. Having members do a demonstration at the club level is a great experience for them before going to County Events. This is a good way for members to give others in their club first- hand experience as to what their project is all about. It also allows members to gain feedback from their peers and leaders.

With the dawn of a new year approaching and those dreaded “New Year’s Resolutions” looming on the horizon, take a page from a 4-Her’s handbook on how to reach your goals and have fun in the process! Here are some suggestions:
• Adopt goals and suggest ways to reach them.
• Have a trusted friend or family member suggest ways to improve.
• Set milestone dates for those small accomplishments your reach along the way to achieving your ultimate goals.
• Make a tentative schedule for achieving your goals. Don’t worry if you stray from the schedule…that’s why it’s tentative!
• Set tentative plans to meet with a friend or family member to go over where you are at reaching your goal. This will make you take responsibility and be held accountable.
• Teach others about what you are doing.
• Celebrate your accomplishments!

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season and a blessed and happy New Year!

Becky V. Bennett
4-H Youth Development Agent
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity—Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A.&M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.

By Joe Boyles, Guest Columnist

When tackling Social Security’s nagging problem of under funding and future insolvency, there is a steady drumbeat to raise the limit of income subject to the tax, also known as the Social Security wage cap. Most of us don’t reach that cap with our monthly wages and salary, so we’re not aware of the limit. This year, the cap is $106,800. Next year, it rises to $110K. Any income (wages and salary) above that amount is not subject to the 12.4 percent FICA tax.

It sounds so easy to advocate raising or even eliminating the wage cap. Why not do it? Let me give you a couple of important reasons why we shouldn’t.

Let’s review a little history. That’s always a good place to start when considering any problem. Here are two important questions to ask before we “jump off the wage cap cliff.” First, how long have wages been subject to a Social Security wage cap and second, why was a cap originally put in place?

Ever since Social Security was enacted and signed into law in 1935, there has been a cap on income subject to the FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act) tax. In 1939, the limit was the first $3000 of income. Today, it is more than $100K, but inflation takes its toll.

Why did the originators of Social Security establish an income cap in the first place? For one thing, they correctly reasoned that high earners were planning for retirement on their own without government assistance. But even more importantly, they guaranteed that everyone enrolled in Social Security would receive all they put in to the program plus interest. Without the income cap, that guarantee would fall apart.

Don’t believe me? In 1936, a well-meaning New Dealer by the name of Ethyl Smith wrote a four-page pamphlet explaining Social Security to the average American worker. It was given to every working American enrolled in the system. In the pamphlet, Ethyl wrote this: “What you get from the government plan will always be more than you have paid in taxes and usually more than you can get for yourself by putting away the same amount of money each week in some other way.”

Ethyl wrote some other pretty amazing things in that pamphlet which incidentally, you can find on the Social security website. It is easy to critique and criticize her statements, but I’m certain that when she wrote these words 75 years ago, she meant everything and believed it to be true. Ethyl was looking into a crystal ball and predicting the future. Today, we have the advantage of three-quarters of a century of experience – the crystal ball is much clearer.

But this much is clear – if there had been no cap on earnings subject to the payroll tax, Ethyl Smith could not have written those words in her pamphlet. Likely, there would have been no Social Security either. The income cap was a fundamental element of the original FICA.

If you’re an ardent student of what I’ve written about Social Security over the past six years, you know that I’m an advocate for reform to update the Depression era program to something that will work in the 21st Century. So this is what I would say to those who want to eliminate the income cap – fine, but my price is total reform of the system. To use the existing system and eliminate the payroll cap would be akin to removing the cornerstone from the foundation of a building – it undermines the foundation.

The income cap was a fundamental assumption that the FICA was based upon 76 years ago. I will fight its elimination tooth and nail.

By Jacob Bembry

When I finally came to myself again, I saw my father along with my friends, Benjie and Denise Dyal, and their daughter Cali in my hospital room. Soon, I was out again. I had regained my memory but there is a part of it that I will never get back again.

I do not remember much of what happened on December 8, 2011. My boss and my friend, Emerald Greene, said that I had been texting her some questions I had about a story I had proofed for someone in Monticello. All of a sudden, the texting stopped. She wondered what had become of me. She said that Kristin Finney, one of my reporters, began texting her that they were on the phone with 911 for me and that I was blue. Dana Williams, a sales associate, had begun mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and Lynette Norris, another reporter, and Dee Hall, a graphic artist, had begun chest compressions. Kristin gave them the instructions from the dispatcher. I remember none of this – I only share what has been shared with me.

In Monticello, apparently shaken by the news about me, Emerald started to head to Madison before she realized that she was 40 minutes away from me. She said that Russell Williams, one of our freelance photographers, had gone to the office and told her he had never seen anyone so blue in his life as I appeared to him.

EMS arrived on the scene. I was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where the prognosis didn’t look good. Doctors did not give me much hope but they started a process to bring my body temperature into a hypothermic state. This helps preserve brain function and is called Arctic Sun. Apparently, Arctic Sun worked on me.

I think of the women who helped me at the office, the EMTs who helped and the doctors and nurses and I am overwhelmed by it. More than that, I am overwhelmed by the fact that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost were in the background, directing each hand and each action and keeping me safe and protected.

Over the next few days and nights, a parade of pastors and a parade of Christian lay people walked through the doors of my hospital room. They were led by the steps of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Gently, each of them whisphered prayers of hope for me. Gently, they breathed prayers of hope for my family who breathed their own prayers for me. Even friends who I have not met in person also prayed for me. One friend named Pam had plenty of photos that she had taken of places, people and things and each looked a prayer and resounded in my heart like a prayer.

God has promised never to leave us alone or forsaken. He has delivered on his promise to me time and time again and this year just in time for Christmas.

In my 31 year military career, I had the opportunity to use many chapel programs for religious services. Chapels were all that was available during my three overseas assignments and some of the bases here in the US are so remote that chapels are more accessible. After all, when it is a 40 mile drive one-way to town (Edwards AFB in California’s Mojave Desert), the base chapel was more than a little convenient.

Most of the time, I didn’t have access to an Episcopal service, so most of the services I attended were non-denominational Protestant. The chaplain could be a Southern Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc. Regardless, the building blocks of the service – hymns, scripture, creeds, etc. – were universal.

Military chaplains do a lot more than just conduct a service or two on Sunday. They have a full work week like any religious professional – weddings, funerals, counseling, industrial ministry, education, etc.
When I was an Air Force Academy cadet (1966-70), chapel was mandatory – if I was on campus for the weekend (which was usually the case), I went to chapel on Sunday morning. The Cadet Chapel is an imposing and architecturally unique structure. Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and everyone else have their own chapels within the same structure. If you ever visit there, please stop in; you can’t miss it.

I fear that before long, the chaplaincy will fall under attack by anti-religious zealots using the doctrine of “separation of church and state” as their bludgeon. Where our government and courts will draw a line in the sand and refuse to further retreat is unknown. The plain fact is that our foundation of faith is slowly being chipped away. When will the rights of people of faith be recognized and protected?

Any student of the Constitution will tell you that “separation of church and state” is not worded anywhere in the document. Instead, this is a judicial interpretation taken from a letter by our third president, Thomas Jefferson, to the Danbury (Connecticut) Baptists.

The actual phrase in the first amendment to the Constitution comes in two parts: 1) Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, 2) or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. It seems to me that in enforcing the first clause, which ensures that we will not be a theocracy, that the rights of the individual are trampled in the second clause. In fact, we see numerous examples where free exercise is denied.

Imagine an atheist group in Wisconsin suing a community in Texas for displaying a Nativity scene on the public square! Will they sue Madison County next? What business is it of theirs? In a dramatic show of support, more than five thousand Christians and their supporters rallied this weekend to back the officials who allowed the display. But does the community have the money to fight the legal challenge that surely follows?
What usually happens in this situation is that the organization (local government, school district, etc.) folds because they simply don’t have the money in their tight budget to afford such a challenge. Who then is the loser and how long and dearly will we pay.

Back to the display of the Nativity; I think there is an underlying theme that makes this season so special to so many people. Hope is a wonderful thing. It can help elect someone to high office, but more often than not, that type of hope is a façade. The Nativity representing the birth of a Savior for all mankind is true, everlasting hope. It gives us something to look forward to that is larger than life itself. No one can rob us of that inspiration. “For unto us, a child is born…”

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist

The president has been beating up Republicans lately, urging them to pass his payroll tax extension “that would mean a thousand dollars more in the pockets of working-class Americans.” So, Barack Obama is running as someone who wants to cut taxes and Republicans are the Grinch. Huh; what’s this all about?

There are several different payroll taxes that employers withhold from their workers paychecks to pay for government-mandated benefits. The one that Obama is talking about is FICA – the Federal Insurance Contributions Act that we commonly refer to as Social Security. If you look on your pay stub, you’ll see where FICA taxes are withheld and how much that is.

The tax rate by law is 12.4 percent on the first $106,800 (the current cap) of wages or salary, half contributed by the employer and the other half by the employee. Last year the employee contribution was reduced by 2 percent. This reduction is what the president is saying should be extended for another year.

He makes the argument that this will leave more money in the hands of working Americans. That’s true, but will it help create more jobs by stimulating the economy? There is no evidence that last year’s payroll tax reduction had any stimulative affect on the economy. Are we trying to do more of the same, hoping for a better result? I thought that was the definition of insanity.

Here’s a really big problem I see with reducing the payroll tax – this is the only method by which Social Security is funded. When we reduce the money which funds FICA, we are gutting the so-called Social Security trust fund and hastening its insolvency.

When I began to study Social Security closely six years ago, the insolvency date was 2042 when the fund’s actuaries predicted that Social Security could only pay 77 cents on every dollar collected. The most recent report says that date has moved forward to 2037. Reducing the FICA tax will only accelerate the date of insolvency. In fact, I predict that until the feckless politicians actually accept the challenge of Social Security reform, the date of insolvency will continue to back up to somewhere around 2024. That’s just 13 years away!

I used the term “so-called” when describing the Social Security trust fund … because it is a mirage. For nearly a half century, FICA collections have gone into the Treasury Department’s general fund, from which Social Security benefits are paid. When there were surplus funds collected, the Congress spent the money on other things and issued promissory notes to the Social Security Administration at less than 2 percent interest.

Since we’re now paying out more benefits than receipts (otherwise called negative cash flow), those promissory notes are slowly being redeemed, adding to our federal debt. This will accelerate as more and more of the 70 million baby-boomers reach retirement age and begin to receive benefits. The “trust fund,” or lock box as Al Gore called it, has a hole in the bottom. It is a figment of the imagination of a crafty politician.

Politicians of both stripes are falling over themselves to approve the payroll tax reduction; most of the squabble is how to pay for it. You know, if we continue to approve these “temporary extensions,” pretty soon, they’ll become permanent. That would propel Social Security into an even finer mess than it is today!

This matter conflicts me. As you probably know, I’m a tax cutter, so I like the idea of Americans keeping more of the money they earn. But I lose sleep over the mess that is Social Security. I don’t want to see it get in more trouble than it already is. So many elderly Americans are totally dependent on Social Security. I hate to see their retirement put at any more risk.

My beef with Social Security is that it is a Depression-era social insurance program that badly needs updating for 21st Century economic realities. We are 75 years removed from its invention and we can do better. The reform needs to protect those who have planned their retirement around the program. And we need to keep the grubby hands of the politicians off the money. To my way of thinking, these are reasonable goals.

By Emerald Greene
Publisher

I had the pleasure of attending the State Championship game this past weekend. Of course, I went to Orlando to work, covering the game for the newspapers, but a pleasure it still was.

The Madison County Cowboy football team did an outstanding job on the field.

We didn’t come home with “the” state championship title – but we have ended this 2011 season as the State Champion runners-up, which is an awesome feat that all the football players should be proud of.

Although the boys were disappointed as soon as the game was over, I hope that they can now look back and realize what an awesome job they did this year, and that being the Class 3A state championship runners-up is something to hold your head high for, and be proud of.

We, Greene Publishing, Inc., will have a special tribute in this Friday’s Madison Enterprise-Recorder in honor of the Cowboys’ awesome year. Our hopes and desires are to give the citizens of this county a full inside view of the 2011 state championship game.

Be sure to pick up a copy of this Friday’s paper and see what a great job our MCHS football players did and what an honor it is to call them “our” Cowboys.

Until then….see you around the town.

By Jacob Bembry

Christmas is in the air. Churches are rehearsing for their cantatas. People are shopping for Christmas gifts as store after store have sales on items you never realized that you or a loved one needed until you saw it in the store or on television. People are making eggnog and planning their Christmas dinners early. Soon, the aroma of baked ham and roasted turkey will be in kitchens everywhere.

“What will Santa bring?” is the question on everyone’s mind. Below are some gifts that I wish for people in Madison County:
• Good health for everyone, especially my very own family and all my friends at work. So far, this year has been the only one the last four years that someone in my family has not had to spend in the hospital. May God’s mercy shine on each and every one of us and may He keep us safe in His arms and in His love.
• A state championship for the Cowboys. Those boys have worked hard and have earned their trip to the big showdown in Orlando against American Heritage. I will be watching the game from the comfort of my home but my heart will be in Orlando, with the Cowboys, as well as my alma mater, Jefferson County High School. I will be cheering both teams, along with North Florida Christian, on to victory.
• Salvation for the lost. Whether it’s an aging person who has never known the love of Christ or a young person who is lonely because they don’t feel that anyone loves them, I pray that they do know that God loves them and that Jesus Christ died just for them.
May each and every one of you have a very blessed Christmas and remember that it is Christ’s birthday that we are celebrating during this time of cheer.

By Diann Douglas
Guest Columnist
Food is always a big part of celebrating Christmas and New Year’s festivities. We prepare food for guests, take covered dishes to gatherings, present friends with our favorite prepared recipe and just eat every time people get together. A popular serving style is a buffet, where food is arranged in a serving line for people to pick and choose from a variety of dishes.

This means food is often left out for long periods of time, letting both hot and cold food reach room temperature, a place where unwanted bacteria can grow and reach unsafe levels causing food borne illness. As you prepare and serve food during holiday gatherings and meal, USDA reminds us to keep foods fresh and safe to eat.

First and foremost, keep everything clean. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for a full 20 seconds before and after handling raw food. Bacteria spread quickly with sponges, dishcloths or towels, so change them frequently. Use paper towels or freshly cleaned sponges or cloths and soap and hot water to clean food preparation surfaces.

Be sure to thoroughly cook all food to proper temperature. Beef, pork, and lamb steaks or roasts should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F and even higher for medium to well done.

Raw ground meat needs to reach 160°F and poultry must reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

When serving buffet style, keep hot food above 140° F with chafing dishes, slow cookers and warming trays. Cold foods can be kept cold by nesting dishes on larger bowls of ice and should be held at 40°F or colder. If you don’t have access to sources of heat or cold, serve food in smaller quantities and replenish from containers left on the stove or in the refrigerator.

If you have space, prepare extra serving platters ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator or in the over set at 200°F (be sure the platter is oven safe). Also keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and remember no food should sit out at room temperature for more than two hours. It is recommended you replace empty bowls rather than add fresh food to a serving dish that has been sitting out.

Another area of the buffet service we often forget about is the dessert table. Bacteria love moist dessert like cheesecakes, cream pies, cakes with whipped-cream or cream-cheese frostings. All of these foods should be kept in refrigeration until serving time.

Another holiday favorite that warrants attention is eggnog; which is often served in a large punch bowl. Because it contains eggs and dairy foods, the same rules apply; keep it cold. While commercially sold eggnog is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria, a homemade recipe may not call for steps to heat the mixture, especially if you are using an old family recipe. If you are making homemade eggnog, be sure to use a recipe that instructs you to slowly heat the mixture to 160°F, it will kill harmful bacteria that might be present in raw eggs. After the heating process, it can then be chilled in the refrigerator before serving.

When clearing your buffet table, divide large amounts of leftovers into shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator. Don’t over-fill the refrigerator either; cold air must circulate to keep food at a safe temperature.

We have limited copies of USDA’s Kitchen Companion, a comprehensive booklet on safe food preparation. For you free copy, stop by the Extension office. It is a great reference during the holiday season and throughout the year. As always, for more information on keeping your holiday food, contact the Madison County Extension Office.

The University of Florida Extension/IFAS – 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 or national origin.

By Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist
Today is the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack which launched America into history’s greatest conflict. The surprise attack caught America off-guard. Most of the 160 million Americans (about half our current population) couldn’t find Hawaii on a map. Few if any had ever heard of a place called Pearl Harbor.

In fact, the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet had been stationed at Pearl for only six months. Before that, San Diego was the home port, but with increasing tensions, the Roosevelt Administration decided to forward deploy the fleet to Hawaii. FDR hoped this move would dissuade the aggressive Japanese, but it only served to provoke the militant nation.

December 7th, 1941 was a Sunday and good weather prevailed across much of the United States. Hawaii is five hours behind Eastern Standard Time so most Americans had already been to church and were enjoying a pleasant afternoon. My mother was a single mom with two infant daughters. She was enjoying a lazy drive across the Kansas countryside with her parents and daughters.

They stopped at a drug store. Mother had ordered a lime phosphate which was a popular soda fountain drink at the time when regular programming was interrupted on the radio by a newsflash that American naval forces were being bombed in Hawaii. Confusion reigned. Reports were all over the map.

Later in the afternoon it became apparent that events in Hawaii had changed America and the world forever. The damage from the Japanese air attacks was devastating – great damage to the fleet and more than 2400 lives lost. But now, America was awake and filled with a terrible resolve.

World War II had been underway for more than two years since the fall of 1939 and thus far, America stood on the sidelines. Now we were in it. Our enemies terribly underestimated the strength of America – our wealth, population and industrial capacity. America became the “Arsenal of Democracy,” producing the planes, tanks, and guns to arm the British, Russia, as well as expand our own military.

We entered World War II very unprepared. In 1940, America ranked 16th in the world in military strength. Five years later, we were the greatest power on earth, the leader of the victorious coalition of allies. It took us nearly three years to train, organize, equip and deploy the divisions, wings and fleets necessary to face our enemies on two fronts and defeat them. By 1945, 16 million Americans, fully 10 percent of our population, were in uniform. We ruled the skies, seas, and the defeated Axis powers of Germany and Japan.

World War II changed America in so many ways. Women went to work in factories and their role as mother and homemaker was forever changed. Family and regional ties were broken – my Mother, a divorcee from the Midwest with two small children, fell in love with a farm boy from Live Oak. My parents came from completely different backgrounds, but as the cliché goes, love conquers all.

America was untouched by war (aside from 402 thousand dead and a million other casualties) and was the world’s industrial powerhouse for more than a quarter century until the 1970s. Pax Americana ruled. We won’t see those days again.

Every American who was alive and conscious of events on that lazy Sunday in late 1941 can tell you where they were and what they were doing when they heard that Japan had attacked our military forces in Hawaii. Do you recall where you were when you heard the World Trade Center had been struck by aircraft on September 11, 2001? That’s how it was on December 7, 1941, “a day which will live in infamy.” President Roosevelt’s words spoken to Congress the next day are forever etched in our psyche. We remember that fateful day and all the events that followed. God bless America.