Archive for January 2011
Madison Babe Ruth League Hosting Signups
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Madison Babe Ruth League will be hosting signups on two different weekends.
The first signups will be held this Saturday, Jan. 29. The second signups will be held Saturday, Feb. 5. The times will be from 9 a.m. until noon each day at the Madison County Courthouse.
A meeting for anyone interested in coaching will be held Sunday, Feb. 6, at the Courthouse. Anyone interested in coaching this season needs to attend the meeting, which will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Team tryouts will be held on Saturday, Feb. 12, beginning at 9 a.m, at the Madison County Recreational Park, located west of Madison County High School off Highway 90.
Babe Ruth League Baseball is open to boys, ages 4-15, and Babe Ruth Softball is open to girls, ages 4-16. The registration cost is $40. Players will need a birth certificate with them at the signups.
Obituary: Revedy Delahunt
Revedy Delahunt, age 67, died Monday, January 24, 2011, at home in Greenville.
He was born in Greenville, Florida in 1943 and worked at USG for 36 years and served in the Army for four years.
He is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Owens of Greenville, and Candice Turner of Jacksonville; one sister, Clara Orten; grandchildren, Amie Mitchell (Joshua) of Jacksonville and Amanda Owens; three nephews, Billy Delahunt (Michele), Danny Delahunt and Burt Delahunt; great nephews and nieces and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. Tallahassee, Florida 32308
Pouliotte’s Logic Does Not Sound Like Reason
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the God of the Founding Fathers’ Natural Law, calls us to “Come, now, let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18).
The logic (?) of one George Pouliotte does not sound like reason because he leaves questions unanswered about the issue of wet and dry in Madison County. (High Business Turnover in Madison, 1-7-11, Madison Enterprise-Recorder).
If Mr. Pouliotte did his research, he’d find that for every $l.00 of liquor tax received, it will cost taxpayers (and the County) a minimum of $3.00 for extra law enforcement, court costs, lost hours at work, family problems, health care, etc.
There is nothing illogic about wanting Madison County to grow and prosper…but at the expense of social problems, and the extra tax dollars…just so Mr. Pouliotte can wine and dine his bureaucrat friends in town, rather than cross the County line?
It is a given that the more proliferated the liquor outlets, the more liquor is consumed.
In one study, we learn that more than 18 Million people live in about 10% of the U. S. that is dry, (forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages in some form). Almost half the counties in Mississippi are dry. Alabama has at least 13 counties that are dry. And other states have dry jurisdictions. Many are dry on Sunday. (Prof. David J. Hanson, State Un. NY, Potsdam).
The people of Madison County have already demonstrated from a recent failed attempt to put the issue on the ballot, and a failed wet-dry election some 30 years ago, that they want their county to remain dry – thus safe for their families. They should concentrate on those politicians and elected County officials who support the wet law, by removing them from office.
Years of working at the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce revealed that the very first question asked by those wishing to relocate to the area is: What is the quality of the schools? Madison voters would do well to concentrate on improving the quality of education instead of depending on booze to “improve” the County.
Tax breaks to businesses that want to relocate to Madison County is another incentive.
Mr. Pouliotte bragged about bringing a company “…from a mere twenty million dollar a year to over a hundred million dollar a year.” Why did he leave such a successful career? Why didn’t he stay with “prosperity?”
Mr. Pouliotte says welfare is a problem with the County. I challenge him to go to any County and check out the massive welfare there. It doesn’t seem to keep those Counties from doing better than Madison. “We’ll always have the poor with us.” Welfare, he says, is the reason there are no “customers” in Madison.
This is just another distracting excuse to say that alcohol will cure all evils. It won’t!
He asks: “Where does one go for entertainment?” The easiest answer is to move to an area where the “entertainment” (alcohol, to Mr. Pouliotte) is readily available.
Proliferation of alcohol outlets (wet laws) will not reduce crimes that are alcohol-related.
The Prohibition Party of Florida is ballot-qualified in this State. Visit our web site at: prohibitionparty.org .
Respectfully,
Bill Bledsoe, Chairman
Re: Pouliotte’s Letter
Obviously Mr. Glaser misunderstood or misread my article on High Business Turnover in Madison. I don’t need a place to have a drink; I had a whole beer at home last year. With that said, I’ve played the business game for better than fifty years. Oh yes, I’ve been to bars. I’ve been to bars located in Hotels, Restaurants, Sports bars etc. These are the places that business is often times finished. I’ve taken orders worth hundreds of thousands of dollars written on the back of a napkin in some of these bars. However, bars are not what I tried bringing up.
Business Men/Women need a place to go after the day’s work to go over the day’s accomplishments, problems, planning a five-year program on where their company plans on going. Some call this entertainment, bonding, feeling one another out, etc. I have never seen anyone intoxicated, at these business gatherings, ever.
The businesses I tried enticing to Madison, are not new start-up companies. All have been in business a minimum of thirty years. I do not have permission to use their names therefore they will stay anonymous at this time. The company I mentioned that decided in moving to Idaho Vs. Madison has an employ of 436 people. This company ships their product to countries all over the world, and including our Armed Forces. This is a manufacturing company with high excellence in their products. In order to produce these products, one must have skills in Laths, Milling Machines, Jig Bores, Bore-Matics, Computers, CNC Automated Machines, and the list goes on. These skills are not found on street corners, I know of two people here in Madison that could walk in and perform this type of work and I am one of these people. One must train their personnel to fill these jobs. Thousands of dollars are spent on training per person, just for the very basic operator. Companies wish to keep these people happy, and working. Good restaurants with a bar in house are places that attract these highly paid personnel.
Madison County is known for four things, and I am proud of three. The Sheriff’s department is known all over Florida for giving out speeding tickets and one gentleman in Fort Myers told me the “Deputy was so nice he was almost happy to pay the ticket”. The second is, “the Cowboys beat the pants off us every year” Go Cowboys. The third, “Madison people are all so nice and friendly”, and lastly, “why are your gas prices so high?
Our town is drying up, and it breaks my heart. We talk of bringing businesses to our County; yet do little to entice the businesses to come here. I spoke of forgiving taxes for a few years, in order to perhaps bring in a prospective company, of course that was like bringing the 800-pound gorilla in the room, or worse yet, your Mother In Law to live with you. The answer by our City Commissioners was a “NO”
We spent eight million dollars (grant money) for a water tank on I-10 in order to bring in new businesses; two Restaurant/Gas facilities burned down and were replaced by, two Restaurant/Gas facilities. We just spent a “gazillion dollars re-surfacing State Road 53 but didn’t fix the really bad area of Intersection US-90 and SR-53. Why not finish the job?
There are hundreds of businesses all over the United States that are unhappy with where they are, perhaps with a little enticement, a little encouragement, a little push in the right direction; one would move to our County and bring in good paying jobs?
Oh! And before I forget, “the no booze thing” Mr. Glaser mentioned we should advertise in order to bring in businesses, haven’t we done this since prohibition?
Our county is dying, and we need help. We need to cut our operating budgets; I honestly think we should try the following.
Dump the City Commissioners, Mayors, Managers then merge one each representative into the County group from Lee, Greenville, and other townships. We certainly don’t need all these different groups, making demands from we tax payers. Do we?
Dump our County manager, that’s what we pay our Commissioners for. If the commissioners can’t handle the job, then get out and we will get someone that can.
Bring the Police department, into the Sheriff’s office. Why do we need two different groups doing the same job? Of the duplicity jobs, keep the best and let the others go. The money saved in this action should go to the remaining Deputies/Police. The pittance we pay these gallant Men and Women is absurd. Wal-Mart pays more than we do.
Our road department; other than routine repairs, why not go to the open market and bid these jobs out?
These actions would save us hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, in taxes.
George Pouliotte
National Security: Public Sector Unions
By Joe Boyles
There’s an economic storm brewing across the country that, for the most part, Florida is spared, at least so far. I’m referring to the growth of public sector unions and their outlandish pensions which threaten to bankrupt many municipalities and even some states. The same phenomenon is causing social unrest in Greece and other cash-strapped, over committed European nations.
Organized labor began in this country in private industry mining and manufacturing sectors. In the early years of the Eisenhower Presidency, unions reached their nadir when 37 percent of our nation’s workforce was organized. Today, that figure is below 12 percent. The one place where unions have steadily grown is the public sector – people who work for the government in one capacity or another. Today, public sector unions far outnumber those in the private sector – a warning.
In some cases, these public sector unions have extracted huge concessions from politicians in the form of pensions and health care plans. Now, to quote the Reverend Wright, the “chickens have come home to roost” in the form of economic factors and debt that are simply unsustainable. Some cities and counties have already declared bankruptcy (like Vallejo, CA) – they cannot pay their debts. Are the states of Illinois, California and New York far behind? Now that the Illinois legislature has addressed the problem by increasing their state income tax by two-thirds, how many of their citizens will leave and move to another state that lets them keep more of their own money?
I might have included New Jersey in that list if it were not for the tough, draconian measures that its new governor, Chris Christie, is forcing on the legislature and individual unions. Christie was voted into office two years ago to meet these problems head-on. Garden State voters drew the line at liberal attempts to balance out-of-control spending with more taxes. Like his supporters, Christie knows that it is impossible to spend your way out of debt and more taxes represent a fiscal death spiral.
It isn’t coincidental that most of the state and local governments in fiscal hot water are Democrat bastions. The Obama Administration is under a lot of pressure from both officials and unions to bail out the financially irresponsible. About a quarter of the failed 2009 Stimulus Bill was devoted to just such reckless spending, but it only postponed the fiscal day of reckoning. Republicans who now control Congress will appropriately counter with this question: Why should responsible taxpayers in places like Texas and Florida pay for the mistakes of irresponsible lawmakers and union officials in place like California and New York? Good question!
There is something inherently wrong with government unions where the workers are at odds with the taxpayers who hire them to provide services. The insanity of this became evident in the New York City Christmas blizzard where city sanitation workers were ordered by their union to “go slow” to protest cost-cutting measures. People actually died because EMS personnel were prevented from responding because streets weren’t cleared of snow drifts. So much for the notion of “public service.”
One of my biggest complaints about unions is that, too often, their agenda benefits the labor bosses rather than the workers they supposedly represent. The unions served their purpose a century ago when workers were often exploited, but they have outlived their usefulness and the union has become more about the bosses and less about the people.
I saw this first-hand 20 years ago in California where I had to frequently negotiate with the local chapter of AFGE – the American Federation of Government Employees. The chapter president, who had been elected by a whopping majority of 12 votes to seven, represented more than nine hundred wage grade employees at Edwards Air Force Base. He was on an ego trip. Although he was a highly paid jet engine mechanic, all he did was union work; he hadn’t set foot in the engine shop for more than 10 years.
At the beginning of this piece, I said that Florida was in relatively good shape with respect to this issue. We are a Right-to-Work state (you aren’t required to join a union in order to work) so only about six percent of our state’s workforce is organized. Also, our ratio of state workers to population is among the lowest in the nation and our new governor says that he will cut the state workforce by another five percent. But we cannot afford to be complacent; public sector union employees far outnumber those in the private sector – taxpayers beware!
Sign Up For Yoga, Aerobics Or Private Guitar Lessons Through NFCC Community Education
North Florida Community College’s Community Education department is offering four new classes beginning the last week of January: Basic Yoga, “Just Dance” low impact aerobics, “Just Dance” high impact aerobics, and Private Guitar Lessons.
Basic Yoga begins Jan. 26 with instructor Dottie Price. The six-week course runs Jan. 26-March 2 with classes held each Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Colin P. Kelly Fitness and Wellness Center. Following six-week sessions begin March 16 and May 4.
Looking for an aerobic workout? Choose between a low/medium or high impact “Just Dance” class. The “Just Dance” class is a fun mix or aerobics and urban dance workout and will be held at NFCC’s Colin P. Kelly Fitness and Wellness Center. The low/medium impact sessions will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 24-March 9, with instructor Talinda Mitchell. The more intense high impact sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m., Jan. 25-March 10, with instructor Chanta Brown. New seven-week sessions will begin the last week of March.
Instructor Jay Hicks is offering private guitar lessons on Tuesdays or Thursdays at NFCC’s Career and Technical Education Center. Students will receive a total of 14 one-half hour lessons between Jan. 25-May 5. Student must have his/her own guitar. Specific lesson times will be scheduled with the instructor.
Other upcoming classes include an All Ages AED CPR class on Monday, March 7 from 6-10 p.m. and a Basic First Aid class on Wednesday, March 9 from 6-10 p.m.
For more information and a complete list of classes and course fees, visit http://www.nfcc.edu/community-programs/commu-nity-educationcontact. NFCC Community Education is also looking for new instructors and new course ideas. Contact NFCC Community Education Coordinator Denise Bell at (850) 973-9481 or email belld@nfcc.edu for additional information.
39er’s Club Enjoys Musical Variety Show
The January meeting of the 39er’s Club at Grace Presbyterian Church, with birthday wishes sung to Bob Smith and Sarah Jeanne Copeland, was a Winter Wonderland treat, with snow-themed decorations by Jan Ledsome gracing the tables. Snowmen in jaunty striped hats smiled at everyone from amid their nests of frosted white twigs with bunches of wine-colored berries and pale blue snowflakes.
Sarah Jeanne Copeland, AKA “Suzie Jeannette,” performs at the 39er’s meeting.
The club includes members from all faiths and denominations, who just want to get to together, share a meal with old friends, meet new friends, and enjoy music. This month was a musical variety show starring Sarah Jeanne Copeland, William Winter, Kirk Pittman and Rev. John Hopwood.
Copeland, the “rock star” of the group, dressed in a black shawl, black cap and dark glasses, introduced herself as her alter ego/twin “Suzie Jeannette” and opened with show with Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” following up with “Desperado” by the Eagles.
Next up was Kirk Pittman on the acoustic guitar. “I don’t know how you follow that,” he said of Copeland’s soulful, husky-voiced performance. “Very carefully!” Replied someone in the audience to a round of laughter. Pittman played an instrumental version of “I’ll See You in My Dreams” that soon had the audience humming and singing along.
Pittman and Copeland the performed “Last Letter Home” and “You Belong to Me” with Pittman on guitar and Copeland on keyboard.
Rev. Hopwood performed an old Irish folk song and one of his own original compositions.
As the concert progressed, performers traded jokes about CD’s and T-shirts on sale in the lobby, and Pittman opened his guitar case on the floor to a round of laughter. “That’s what the street performers do!”
After a few more songs, the show concluded with Copeland singing a reprisal of “Landslide” to a round applause.
The 39er’s Club Meets at the Grace Presbyterian Church, 1200 N. Washington Street at noon on the third Sunday of every month. There are no dues or fees, and everyone is invited. For more information about next month’s meeting, call the church office at 973-2692.
Little Miss, Pre-Teen Miss Essence Pageant Held
The Little Miss Essence of Madison County and Pre-Teen Miss Essence of Madison County Pageant was held Sunday, Jan. 16, at the Madison County Central School Gymnasium. The pageant was held for young girls between the ages of 6-8 years old (Little Miss) and 9-11 years (Pre-Teen), who were competing for savings bonds, trophies, 8 x 10 portraits and other gifts.
Damesia McQuay was the winner of the Little Miss Competition.
Mykerria Williams was first runner-up and Zar’Reyon McDaniel was the second runner-up.
Ke’Shauni Johnson was the winner of the Pre-Teen Miss Essence competition. Janisya Cone was the first runner-up and Charmesia McQuay was the second runner-up.
Competing for the title of Little Miss were Nykerria Williams, Mykerria Williams, Zar’Reyon McDaniel, Damesia McQuay and Keosha Cuthbertson.
Competing for Pre-Teen Miss were Zorreya Lee, Ke’Shauni Johnson, Aaliyah Rowe, Ahyauna Jackson, Charmesia McQuay and Ja’Nisya Cone.
There was fun and entertainment for the entire family, as the contestants presented themselves to the audience during their introductions, modeling and styling, evening wear, individual talent and interview sessions. Each contestant was scored on a scale from 1 to 10 in each category by a panel of judges.
The pageant was opened by reigning Little Miss Essence, Kennedy Fogle, and the Pre-
Ke’Shauni Johnson, left, was crowned Pre-Teen Miss Essence 2011 and Damesia McQuay was crown Little Miss Essence 2011.
Teen Miss Essence, Desja Smiley, who introduced the Mistress of Ceremonies, Tawanna Christian, a sixth grade teacher at Madison County Central School. She also introduced the pageant committee, consisting of Minister Joe Rowe and his wife, Olisia, who coordinated t
he contestants’ group dance, along with LaTrail Smith.
Other committee members were Ralphine Ghent; Tina Rowe; Hattie Cherry; Talecia Solomon; Cynthia Rowe; Michael Robinson, music director; Deacon William Martin; Deaco
n Randy Ghent; Sandra Collier; and Oliver and Jackie Bradley.
Brother Jakarti Brown stirred the audience of over 200 with an inspirational prayer and song, after the National Anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” were played, as the audience
stood in honor of God and country.
The theme for this year’s pageant was “In Living Color” and Miss Sasha Turner was the pageant photographer.
Pastor Bradley and the committee want to express appreciation and thanks to Principal
Sam Stalnaker and the staff at MCCS; School Superintendent Lou Miller and the Madi
son County School Board; Betty Everett and WMAF Radio; and all the parents, guardians, sponsors and patrons, who helped make the pageant possible.
The Junior Miss Essence and Miss Essence Pageant will be held Sunday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. at the Van H. Priest Auditorium on the North Florida Community College campus.
The Lowe Family Performs Thursday, Feb. 3 At NFCC
Join the North Florida Community College Artist Series for a high-energy, fast-paced variety show by The Lowe Family on Thursday, Feb. 3 at NFCC’s Van H. Priest Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.
Versatile on many instruments, the nine Lowes offer an amazing blend of show-stopping classical, Broadway, Irish, jazz, bluegrass, old-time favorites, spectacular dance, six-part harmony, gospel, a stirring patriotic tribute, and more.
“Think colossal. Then think beyond that,” says entertainment reporter Julie Kilmer. “Only then do you have an idea of the titanic amount of talent within the Lowe Family. They’re a miraculous combination of every kind of musical, theatrical and dance talent you can dare to imagine, and then some!”
The Lowe Family has been entertaining hundreds of thousands around the world for over 25 years. All seven of the Lowe Family siblings began studying and performing the music of the masters from very young ages. Soon additional instruments, dance classes, and vocal lessons were added… along with more teachers and more practice time. The rest is history.
Featured on ABC, CBS, PBS, Time-Warner, and other stations worldwide, the Lowe Family has distinguished themselves as consummate performers across the globe, giving select concerts in Europe, Canada, Latin America, and China, while continuing to captivate audiences throughout America. Most recently, the Lowe Family appeared with the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and orchestra on their national TV and radio broadcast. They also have been featured as special guests during the Olympics and on China’s New Year’s celebration televised internationally.
“The musical capabilities of the entire family are amazing,” said Cincinnati Post writer Johnnie Wolfe. “They have honed their skills so that they can perform any type of music-and do it with exceptional skill.”
Don’t miss The Lowe Family at NFCC on Thursday, Feb. 3. Tickets are on sale now, $12 for adults and $6 for NFCC students and children ages 12 and under.
The performance is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information visit http://www .nfcc.edu/community-programs/artist-series – or contact the NFCC College Advancement office at (850) 973-1653 or ArtistSeries@nfcc .edu.
Update On MCHS Cowboys Basketball
By Eddie Richie, Head Varsity Basketball Coach
Madison County High School
As of Jan. 20, Madison is currently 7-11. The record does not indicate the way we are playing recently. We have won two of our last three games. Our last loss was at home to East Gadsden 65-63.
Let me give you all an analogy: East Gadsden is to basketball as Madison County is to football. We could have and should have won that game.
We missed a few “gimmees” and free throws that would have gave us a bigger lead in the final minutes. It was an intense game that left the players heartbroken in the end. As a coach, there is no such thing a “good loss,” but this one wasn’t exactly bad. We learned that we can play with one of the best teams in the state, especially in 3A, and they are in our district. The travesty of the game, besides the loss, was there was only about 100 people there to see real good basketball.
On another exciting note, Madison’s JV boys team has a record of 13-1 — clearly one of the best records, if not the best record for JV boys thus far. They still have six more games, and they have won all 13 in a row after dropping the first game to Godby before they had all the players from football. I’m excited to see how long they keep it going. The future of Madison County basketball looks bright, thanks to Head JV Coach Allen Demps. In only his second year of coaching, he has done extremely well, not only preparing the players for their games, but preparing them for varsity level competition. He is a huge asset to the program and a lot of our success is because of his hard work and dedication.
ACA Warriors Baseball Schedule
By Fran Hunt
Special to Greene Publishing, Inc.
With action beginning soon on the baseball diamond, the schedule has been determined for the Aucilla Christian Academy varsity Warriors.
Aucilla will man the field against Hamilton County, February 15 at 4:30 p.m., away; Altha, February 18 at 6 p.m., away; Bell, February 21 at 1 p.m., away; Lanier County, February 22 at 4 p.m., away; and John Paul II, February 25 at 3:30 p.m., home.
March will see the Warriors facing off against FAMU, March 8 at 5 p.m., away; Altha, March 10 at 3:30 p.m., home; Westwood, March 11 at 4 p.m., home; Malone, March 14 at 4 p.m., home; Georgia Christian, March 15 at 4 p.m., away; FAMU, March 18 at 3:30, p.m., home; Munroe, March 22 at 6 p.m., away; and John Paul II, March 31 at 6 p.m., away.
April has action slated against Maclay, April 1 at 3:30 p.m., home; Bell, April 4 at 3:30 p.m., home; Maclay, April 7 at 4 p.m., away; Munroe, April 8 at 3:30 p.m., home; Malone, April 12 at 5:30 p.m., away; Lanier County, April 14 at 3:30 p.m., home; Hamilton County, April 15 at 3:30 p.m., home; Echols County, April 18 at 2 p.m., home; and Georgia Christian, April 21 at 3:30 p.m., home will wind up the regular season.
The District Tournament will be held at Munroe and is slated for April 24 and 25, times to be announced and April 28 at 6 p.m.
Lee Library Has Great Opportunities For The Community
Public libraries: home to hundreds of books, movies and computers. They are safe havens from the outside world, allowing readers to find a quiet and comfortable place to enjoy a good book. Anyone with a library card can check out a book, research for a homework assignment or even check out a movie.
The Lee Library is now extending their welcome to children and toddlers. Every Monday Linda Hesketh is teaching a program to young children. The program envelops children into a new world, a world of reading, entertainment
Mary Dye (right) and Josia Greathouse (left) are the ladies who keep the Lee Library running. They are in charge of checkouts and returns, organizing the shelves and calling customers.
and fun. The programs are from 9-9:30 a.m. 9:30-10 a.m. 12 -12:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join in the fun at Lee Library.
At the Lee Library, book lovers can check out some of their favorite books. Avid readers can also donate some of their old books to the library. New or used books are accepted, but they must be in good condition.
Students from Lee Elementary School come to the library several times a month to read books and watch programs. The fifth graders come over every other Friday and can check out books and research for projects.
Around Christmas, the Lee Library put up a Christmas tree in the lobby. The students from LES got to decorate the tree. They made popcorn strings, paper chains and hand colored ornaments. Josia Greathouse shared, “The only thing we put on the tree was lights. After the kids got done decorating it, it didn’t need anything else. It looked beautiful.”
Lee Library is trying to begin several new programs as well. Mary Dye, manager at Lee Library explained, “One of the programs is going to focus on helping and encouraging children to read more challenging books, instead of only reading the lower level books.”
JV Cheerleaders Holding “Sweetheart Mall” Fundraiser
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Want something special for Valentine’s Day?
The Madison County High School junior varsity cheerleaders invite everyone to come by the Avon “Sweetheart Mall” at Damascus Church Annex on MLK Boulevard in Madison from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29.
“These young ladies have supported the athletic programs all year long, now it’s time to show them some love,” said Tami Brown Wilson, the JV cheerleading sponsor.
There will be free popcorn at the Sweetheart Mall.
For more information, call Tami Brown-Wilson at (850) 973-5022, ext. 243 or (850) 673-6702.
Madison to Host Military Covenant Signing
By Ginger Jarvis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Military officers, state officials, local dignitaries, and area residents will gather at the Madison County Courthouse on Saturday, February 5, for the signing of a military covenant among the military, the state, and the City of Madison. Governor Rick Scott is expected to participate in the 11 a.m. ceremony in the courtroom; if he is unable to attend, Lt.-Governor Jennifer Carroll will represent the state.
Prior to the ceremony, city residents and others who wish will sign a guest book showing their support of programs to assist service members as they return to the community. Participating groups will include the Boys Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and veterans’ organizations as well as members of Madison’s Board of Commissioners.
The covenant is not a contract for services; rather, it is an agreement that the community will work with military officials to support veterans and assist them in a variety of which may include education, employment, counseling, housing, and medical issues. With the signing, Madison will join over 600 other American communities in actively supporting veterans and their families. The covenant will recognize Madison as the City of Four Freedoms and will state that the city is committed to “building partnerships that support the strength, resilience, and readiness of service members, veterans, and their families.”
The public is invited to attend and participate in this notable, occasion.
Kelsi Reams To Host 8th Annual Hot Chocolate Sale
Kelsi Reams will host her 8th Annual Hot Chocolate Sale to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Kelsi came up with the idea when she was seven years old. Her baby sister, Abby was diagnosed with CF the year before and she began asking questions about when Abby would not need therapy anymore. Her parents, Joe and Kathy explained that there was not a cure for CF and that Abby would need continual treatment until there was one. Kelsi replied that they should get some “cure” and give it to her. Her parents then explained that the limiting factor was money, that scientists were very close to developing a cure but that funds were needed to continue the research.
Kelsi’s first idea was to sell lemonade but was told she wouldn’t have many customers with it being winter so she decided to go with a hot chocolate sale. Joe and Kathy supported this idea and the rest is history. Kelsi’s cousins, aunts, uncles and friends have pitched in every year to help work the sale. Kelsi’s sisters Chloe, 9 and Abby, 8 are now on board and will be working the sale.
Abby gets numerous medications daily as well as chest percussion therapy 2-3 times a day to keep her lungs clear. She goes to Shands hospital every 4 months for a battery of tests to see how the disease is affecting her body and so far is doing extremely well.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetically inherited disease which causes the endochrine glands of the body to produce secretions that are drier than normal. This results in plugged airways in the lungs and leaves them susceptible to bacterial infection and progressively severe lung disease. It also interferes with digestion and requires pancreatic enzymes to be taken with meals and snacks.
The Hot Chocolate Sale will be this Saturday, Jan 29, from 8am – 2pm at Scott Realty in Greenville. If you are unable to attend but would like to send a donation please mail to 418 NW Sand Dollar Way; Greenville, Florida; 32331 and make checks payable to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Today’s Weather Outlook
A weather pattern favorable for severe weather will develop over the region today and will persist through the overnight hours. A low pressure system off the Central Gulf Coast will move east today and will bring widespread rain to the state this morning. Some of these showers may become locally heavy this afternoon with rainfall amounts forecast to be around 1-2 inches statewide with locally heavier areas that may receive up to 3 inches of rain by tomorrow morning. As we head into the afternoon hours, the atmosphere will become more favorable for thunderstorm development. TheStorm Prediction Center has placed most of the state under a Slight Risk of severe weather today. The Slight Risk area extends from a line roughly from Apalachicola through Jacksonville and south through the southern tip of the Peninsula.
Rocky Springs M.B. Church To Celebrate Homecoming
Rocky Springs Missionary Baptist Church will host its annual homecoming celebration on Sunday, Jan. 30, beginning at 11 a.m.
Pastor Williams of Charles Chapel of North Carolina will be the guest speaker.
There will be praise and songs from the Providence Baptist Church of Jacksonville.
Everyone is invited to help them celebrate their homecoming.
Dinner on the church grounds will be served.
MURPHY PLACES IN STATE CORN YIELD CONTEST
Jimmy Murphy of Jennings recently won first place in the No Till/Strip Till Irrigated division of the 2010 National Corn Growers’ Association’s (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest in Florida. Murphy won with Pioneer® brand hybrid 31P42, which yielded 241 bushels per acre.
Murphy earned one of the 359 state titles won by growers planting Pioneer hybrids. The NCGA awarded 522 state titles in this year’s contest. Growers planting Pioneer hybrids dominated the contest and won 69% percent of all state awards presented.
The NCGA Corn Yield Contest is an annual competition among corn producers with the goal of producing the highest yields. In the contest, growers compete within a broad range of corn production classes, including non-irrigated, no-till/strip-till non-irrigated, no-till/strip-till irrigated, ridge-till non-irrigated, ridge-till irrigated and irrigated classes.
“Each year, we continue to see growers planting Pioneer corn hybrids succeed in the NCGA Corn Yield contest, and we’re thrilled that these growers choose Pioneer products for these winning yields,” says Pioneer President Paul E. Schickler. “These results continue to demonstrate the impressive yield potential that Pioneer genetics bring to our customers, and it also demonstrates what growers can achieve by planting the right product on the right acre.
“We’re excited about the diversity of hybrids represented in this year’s contest by growers planting Pioneer products,” he says. “It shows that Pioneer is advancing hybrids locally to help growers’ succeed across diverse environments.”
Pioneer Hi-Bred (www.pioneer.com), a DuPont business headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success(TM).
DuPont (www.dupont.com) is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
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