Click on images to view larger size
Archive for February 2011
Video: Jennifer Beckham to Lead Women’s Conference at Madison Church of God
Jennifer Beckham, a former princess at Disney World, will be the guest speaker at a women’s conference at Madison Church of God on Friday, Feb. 25. All ladies are welcome. The conference begins at 7:30 p.m.
Video footage from Life Todaywith James Robison. Visit Jennifer’s website at www.jenniferbeckham.org
Third Annual Charity Bass Fishing Tournament Set
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Clint Minter’s Friends and Family team and the Hopewell Baptist Church team are hosting the Third Annual Charity Bass Fishing Tournament. Proceeds will benefit the Relay for Life of Madison.
Registration for the fishing tournament will begin on Saturday, March 12, at 6 a.m. at Cherry Lake. Registration cost is $30 per person. Lunch is included.
The launch for the fishermen and fisherwomen is set for 7 a.m.
The weigh-in will be held at 1 p.m.
There will be a 25 percent payout to all who win or place in the tournament and the American Cancer Society will receive 75 percent of the payout.
For more information, please call Adam Sampson at (813) 267-7510 or email him at asampson@aol.com.
Happy fishing!
Meeting Held First Thursday Each Month To Address Community Concerns
Every first Thursday of the month, there will be a Concerned Citizens meeting each first Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Hickory Hill Auction location, 224B SW Range Ave., between Madison Eye Clinic and Ashlyn’s Rose Petals. Open discussions of community concern. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 850-973-2328
Madison Academy Hosts 3rd Annual Clay Shoot
On Friday, January 21st, Madison Academy’s Board of Directors held its third Annual Clay Shoot at Southwind Sporting Clays and Quail in Quitman, Ga.
This year’s event hosted a total of 13, four person teams competing 12 rounds of skeet. After finishing the course, shooters participated in a friendly, but lively, “Flush and Flurry” competition.
The winning teams were Madison Dental Associates and Tri-State Utility Products, Inc.
The high shooter honors went to Dan Rutherford and Matt Webb, and the team of Clint Rogers. Clint Roberts took home the “Flush and Flurry” prize. The big winner of the day was Jay Fraleigh of Madison. Jay’s name was drawn as the winner of this year’s Rifle Raffle.
Following the shoot, participants enjoyed an excellent lunch prepared and served by the Madison Academy Parent and Teacher Club members.
The lunch featured Boston butts that was smoked by Glen Frith and seasoned to perfection by Melinda Smith.
Photo submitted Team Ameriprise Financial Mark Branham, Donnie Bass, Kevin Anderson and Joey Knight are enjoying the clay shoot.
The day’s rainy weather certainly did not dampen the spirits of the participants or the volunteers!
Event Sponsors included, Madison County Community Bank; Browning & Sons, Inc.; Cass Burch Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep; Deep Roots Meat; Fortis Environmental Group; Greenville Timber Corp.; Justin Davis Logistics, Inc.; Siegers Seed Company; Tri-State Utility Products; Wendy Anderson-Ameriprise; Madison Dental Associates;, Fourstar Freightliner; Madison Scrap Metals; Odiorne Insurance; Crosby Enterprises, Inc.; Jayson’s Heating and Air; Smith Abstract & Title Co.; CF Webb & Son Logging; Hall’s Muffler Service; Davis, Schnitker, Reeves, & Browning, Copeland & Schnitker PA; We Insure Florida; Conners Sign and Nextran Lake City.
Proceeds from this event will ensure that Madison Academy students and faculty members stay current with technology trends.
Re: George Pouliotte’s Letter To The Editor – Madison Enterprise-Recorder – February 4, 2011
This is my first letter, ever, to the Editor of a newspaper. However I felt it necessary to address the expression that Mr. Pouliotte used to let the readers know his level of poverty as a boy. There are many analogies he could have used that would not have been crude or offensive. And, by the way, Jesus was not Mary’s “only begotten son”. She was chosen by God to be the vessel for God’s “only begotten Son”.
Bootsie Cone
Greenville, Fl
Save Our Monument
National Security
Joe Boyles
Guest Columnist
The greatest cultural gift bestowed upon our community is the Four Freedoms Monument. Commissioned by President Roosevelt in the early days of World War II, the monument serves to honor two ideas. First, there are a unique set of values which define our nation, symbolized by the four freedoms. Second, these ideas are worth fighting and dying for as was the heroic example of Colin P. Kelly, Jr. whose name graces the pedestal of the monument.
On January 6, 1941, FDR delivered what presidential historians recently hailed as the third most important State of the Union address in our nation’s history. In this speech, Roosevelt painted a grim picture of a world at war and suggested that sooner or later, America would need to pick sides. By focusing on the freedoms that define our nation, we would know which side best represented our core values.
Eleven months later, the Japanese attacked and America entered the war. One of the war’s first casualties was Madison native Colin P. Kelly, Jr. who valiantly sacrificed his life to save his B-17 crew after attacking a Japanese warship in The Philippines. The nation was inspired by Kelly’s heroic sacrifice as was the President who proclaimed Colin Kelly our nation’s first war hero.
Roosevelt commissioned a monument to be constructed to honor both the ideals of the Four Freedoms and Captain Kelly’s sacrifice. Walter Russell created the monument which was unveiled at Madison Square Garden in 1943 to more than 60 thousand admirers. Then the monument was shipped south. It was dedicated on Flag Day, June 14, 1944 at the spot where it resides today on the corner of Base and Range Streets. Governor Spessard Holland gave the keynote address to what was likely the largest crowd to gather in Madison’s history.
Today the monument sits on a pedestal at the center of town, largely untouched since its dedication seven decades ago … and it is slowly crumbling before our eyes. The Four Freedoms Monument was not sculpted from a piece of durable North Georgia marble but rather formed from a plaster and marble ship composite. The biggest culprit to the monument’s slow disintegration is rain. You see, the monument was never designed to be placed outdoors among the elements of weather.
If nothing is done, the monument will continue to deteriorate and the four angels will eventually become unrecognizable. How long will this take? Who knows; the problem with gradual deterioration is that it is slow but always taking place. We get used to the wear and dirty color, not realizing what is happening over time.
What can be done to preserve this important and priceless treasure, the very symbol of our community? I think the answer is a structure to keep the direct rain off the monument. It would need to be architecturally designed to add rather than detract from the beauty of the monument. And in the process, it could be much more. With proper lighting, it could present an even more magnificent presence at night than it does today. We could also fix a press-to-hear speaker that would briefly tell visitors about the significance of the monument and include excerpts from the speech in Roosevelt’s own voice. We could also build a civics and history program to introduce the relevance of the monument to our school children.
How much would this project cost? I don’t really know but I shouldn’t think it would be terribly expensive. First we would raise the funds for a design which would also include a cost estimate. Once the design was approved by local authorities, we would begin fund raising to construct the structure. We might find some grant money to augment local fund raising.
It seems like a worthwhile project to protect and preserve this iconic symbol of freedom and sacrifice. Are we willing to make a modest sacrifice of time, resources and energy to honor our legacy?
Postscript: Last month, I wrote an article critical of public sector unions that stirred up some passion. That article turned out to be prescient. What you are seeing unfold in Wisconsin is literally the tip of the iceberg. One state after another has come to the realization that politicians have over promised and then kicked the can too far down the road. These public sector contracts are bankrupting the states and they simply must be reigned in — there isn’t enough money to pay the obligations.
Maximizing Your Tax Benefits Through A Home Office
Business & Tax Insights
By Mark Buescher, C.P.A.
Guest Columnist
Throughout Madison County and North Florida, there are many individuals that are self-employed. If you look around, there are florists, farmers, insurance salesmen, plumbers, small contractors, consultants, and even health care providers, to name a few. Our area is loaded with self-employed individuals and small businesses. These individuals represent the backbone of our local economy, employ hundreds of people, and pay a large portion of our overall taxes.
However, like all segments of our economy, the self-employed have been hit hard during the economic downturn. Sales have been squeezed, government and banking regulations have increased, and taxes are on the rise. The self-employed need every break they can get.
One of these breaks is the home-office expense deduction. If you’re self-employed (or in some cases even an employee of someone else) and work out of an office in your home, you may be entitled to favorable “home office” deductions. However, the rules can be quite tricky and there are strict requirements that must be met.
The first requirement is that you have part of your home that you use regularly and exclusively for business purposes. It doesn’t have to be a separate room, but it must be a clearly defined area. The exclusive use requirement is very important. The area must be reserved only for business use, which means if you also use it for personal activities, it will not qualify. The only exceptions, to the exclusive use test are if you store business samples or inventory at home, or if you run a home daycare business.
The other requirement is that your home office be any one of the following: your principal place of business; a place where you regularly meet customers, clients or patients; or a separate building, not connected to your home. Keep in mind, your office must meet only one of these tests to qualify.
Your principal place of business. To meet this test, your office must be where you conduct most of the management and administrative activities of running your office. You may travel to meet customers at their business or confer with patients in the hospital, for instance, but your principal place of business is where you do most of the work actually managing your business.
A place where you regularly meet customers, clients, or patients. Even if you run the business from elsewhere, a home office can qualify if you regularly use it for meeting with customers, clients, or patients.
A separate building, not connected to your home. A freestanding garage or workshop will qualify for this test if it is used exclusively and on a regular basis for business.
If you have an area of your home that qualifies, you can generally deduct a percentage of your total costs, including mortgage interest, insurance, taxes, utilities, and possibly some depreciation. The percentage is calculated as the area used for business divided by your home’s total area. For the self-employed, however, home office deductions are limited to the net income of the business.
What if you are not self-employed and you are an employee of someone else? Are the rules the same? Yes, but with an added requirement. An employee’s home office must be for the convenience of the employer, which should be documented in writing. Furthermore, deductions for employees, other than mortgage interest and taxes, are available only to the extent they exceed two percent of adjusted gross income.
As with most tax laws, these rules can be a bit complicated. However, proper planning can be the key to nailing down the optimum tax treatment for your home office expenses.
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.
Dalton Lee Needs Support For Japan Trip In Summer 2011
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Beginning on June 13, Dalton Lee will get to experience a trip that most only dream of. The organization People-to-People has invited Dalton to join them in the summer of 2011 to travel to Japan.
Dalton Lee will be traveling to Japan with People-to-People this summer.
Her trip will last two weeks and she will travel all through Japan. The group will hike on Mt. Fuji, visit Hiroshima and Tokyo and many other exciting places. Dalton said, “I want to learn about the culture, and I am really excited about hiking Mt. Fuji.
There were 37 students chosen throughout the entire state, and Dalton is the only student chosen from Madison for this trip. For one Saturday each month, until her trip, Dalton travels to Tallahassee to take a class teaching the students about the Japanese culture. In her upcoming classes, they are teaching the students how to use chopsticks and bowing instead of shaking hands.
Dalton explained, “They don’t touch over there. You have your own little bubble.”
They have also studied the Japanese culture and learned some of the Japanese language. Dalton stated, “I am only nervous about being away from Mom and Dad for the first time. Other than that, I am not really nervous…I don’t mind flying.”
Dalton is in the ninth grade at Madison County High School. She has a 3.8 GPA and is active in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She is also active in the Pinetta Baptist youth group and is a member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church. Her parents are Davis and Tamera Lee.
People-to-People was organized in 1956 by President Eisenhower. The group was designed to exchange American students all over the world to show that if students can get along, then countries and governments should be able to interact and get along as well.
Dalton’s trip will last two weeks. The cost of the trip is $8,000, without spending money, clothes, luggage or supplies. So far, she has raised $7,500, but she expects to need at least another $2,000.
Her family has had many fundraisers to raise money for Dalton. They have been taking, and are still taking orders for cakes. They estimate that they have made nearly 200 cakes.
Dalton shared, “My mom, dad, grandma and ladies at the church have helped. Dad helps put the frosting on them.”
They are also taking orders for Boston Butts until March 11.
The Boston butts are $25 each and the orders will be delivered on March 12. If you are interested in ordering a Boston butt call (850) 929-2465 and leave a message.
Donations can also be made directly to Dalton by mailing your donation to 982 NE Pineapple Street, Pinetta, FL 32350.
Dalton would like to extend her deepest appreciation to anyone who would like to help support her trip. She would also like to thank everyone who has helped her so far.
Just An Old-Fashioned Love Song… Or Two…Or Three… At The 39ers’ Club
By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
It was the day after Valentine’s Day, but you wouldn’t know it from all the beautiful decorations. Rose pink tulle, held in place with pale roses, graced the windows of the Grace Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, and more tulle, tea lights and tulips decorated the tables, thanks to the hard work of Jan Ledsome, Thelma DeHart and Alice Hammond. People had brought in framed wedding photos and set them on small tables and shelves around the edge of the room. More photos of couples and families adorned the walls.
Bob Smith serenades his wife, Louise, with “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
Scatter a few rose petals on the tables,and what more could you ask for a trip down a musical memory lane…with Ginger Jarvis in a bright red dress, leading the way and tickling the ivories as you sing all those old classic love songs?
Well, song sheets, of course. Red ones. You needed them to keep up with Ginger.
“This is one of those programs where that tiny little voice inside you says, ‘Sing! Sing! Sing!’ ” She said. “And the louder you sing, the less you’ll have to listen to me sing!”
Also, she joked, the CD’s, tee shirts and bobble-head dolls were on sale in the men’s room.
The songfest began with “Tell Me Why the Ivy Twines” and a short narrative of two fictional sweethearts, beginning with their childhood. The rest of their story was told in short segments between songs, taking them through grade school, high school and their youth group at church….
“Y’all remember youth group, don’t you?” Ginger asked. “That was before ‘Kum Bah Yah’ for most of us.”
After everyone had sung “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” Ginger announced, “I believe we need a demonstration of a man and woman in love (for this song). Do I hear an ‘amen?’ Bob, come on up here and bring your lovely lady.”
Sweethearts for 60 years and counting, Charlotte and Jack Hollingsworth were recognized for being the longest-married couple present.
“Bob” was Bob Smith, reprising “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” and singing beautifully to his wife of 59 years, Louise, accompanied by Ginger’s stylish, enthusiastic piano playing. His solo brought a round of applause, lots of smiles and a little teasing from friends in the audience.
Then, the sweethearts’ story moved on to WWII, marriage, children and old age, with Ginger weaving classic love songs into each period of their lives, including “For Me and My Gal,” “Side By Side,” “Harvest Moon,” “I’ll Be With You at Apple Blossom Time” and several others.
The sing-along concluded with Rev. John Hopwood asking which couple there had been married the longest; it turned out to be Jack and Charlotte Hollingsworth, who have been married for 60 years.
Rev. Hopwood awarded them one of the tulip arrangement centerpieces, and awarded the other one to Bob Smith for his impromptu solo.
The meeting ended with several people still humming those old songs and talking about other favorite songs from bygone eras, as they embraced friends and said goodbye.
Ginger Jarvis opens the show with a Valentine’s story.
The 39ers’ Club meets every third Thursday of the month at noon in the fellowship hall of Grace Presbyterian Church, 1200 N. Washington Street.
The Club is nondenominational and meetings are open to everybody, because, as Jack Benny once said, everybody is 39 years of age until proven otherwise.
The Club will meet again on March 15. There are no dues or other fees, so if you love music, good food and fellowship, mark your calendar for the next meeting.
Miss Madison Dream Doll “Dreaming For A Cure” Pageant
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
On Saturday, March 12, at the Madison County Central School, contestants will be able to walk on stage in honor or in memory of someone who has, or has had, cancer. Age Divisions are: Baby, 0-1; Little, 7 – 9; Sweetheart, 1-2; Junior, 10 – 12; Princess, 3 – 4; Teen, 13-16; Petite, 5-6; Miss, 17- 21. There will also be a Charity Queen and a People’s Choice winner.
Check-in begins at 1 p.m. on pageant day, and the pageant will begin at 2 p.m. It is open to all contestants, regardless of other titles they may hold. Winners from the competition will not be required to make appearances. Contestants are asked to please not ask who is competing in their age division; that information will not be given out.
Line-up for the pageant will be based on applications received; first in, last in line. There will be a limit of 15 contestants in each division. Attire will be as follows: all contestants must wear blue jean bottoms (jeans, shorts, capris, etc.) and any plain, white shirt (no design). Attire will not be judged for this pageant.
Girls may wear only age appropriate make-up; powder and lip-gloss are allowed, but no make-up is preferred. Hair must be worn natural; it can be up or down, but not stiff. Judges will be judging on natural facial beauty, poise/personality, modeling and stage presence.
Contestants may come early to practice, but there will be no rehearsal. They will perform a walk of their choice to upbeat music. Modeling turns are acceptable, but not necessary for this pageant.
There will be one Charity Queen crowned. The Charity Queen will be the contestant who collects the most donations before or during the pageant for the American Cancer Society (A $100 minimum must be collected to qualify). The Charity Queen will receive a crown and a very nice goody bag.
There will also be an overall People’s Choice winner. This is for the contestant who has the most $1 votes on the day of the pageant. The People’s Choice winner will receive a crown and a large trophy.
Prizes include: beautiful, rhinestone tiaras, an embroidered sash and trophy. Optional winners and runners-up will also receive awards. Participation trophies will be awarded to contestants not placing.
All money raised during the pageant will benefit the Relay for Life and American Cancer Society.
Admission is $5 per person. No refunds will be given unless the event is cancelled. For more information, call the director of the pageant, Channah Galbraith, at 850-973-0759, or email her at cgalbraith@lowndes.k12.ga.us.
Madison County Begins Work On Its 13th Solid Waste And Recycling Collection Site
It has long been recognized that “progress, sometimes slow, is measured by the result of continuous and dedicated effort.”
The long term goal of the Solid Waste and Recycling Department is to eventually remove all of the non-monitored industrial containers from the roadways of Madison County.
Thanks to some strategic planning by Allen Cherry, County Coordinator; Jerome Wyche, Coordinator, Solid Waste; and Recycling Department and the unparallel support of the Board of County Commissioners, the reality of accomplishing that objective is now only a short time away.
The citizens of the northwest quadrant of Madison County, specifically on Highway 150 North and Highway 146, will soon have controlled access and the same services afforded citizens at the other 12 managed collection sites throughout the county.
Even better, a massive amount of out-of-county dumping will come to a halt. Finally, after locating a parcel of property in the ideal location on Highway 150 north, also known as Lovett Road, work to clear the property and get it ready for surface preparation has begun.
The Solid Waste and Recycling Department takes great pride in the management and maintenance of the sites in the county and do their very best to provide the best services possible.
The Board of County Commissioners has agreed to name the site “Live Oak Bottom.” The services that will be provided to the citizens at that collection center will be no different than other sites.
Plans are underway to have the site fully operational, equipped with an on-site compacting system and ready to provide services on or about mid spring 2011, weather permitting. The Solid Waste and Recycling Department would like to thank the citizens who reside in those particular areas for their patience in waiting; “We know that it has been a long time coming, but the end is in sight,” they said.
“Please help keep Madison County clean.”
Team Corine Schedules Auction For Relay For Life
Team Corine is asking for any donations for their auction for Relay for Life on March 12. There will be things for the living room, kitchen, dining and bedrooms.
There will also be things for big children and little children during the auction.
Items can be dropped off at Granny’s Auction House, 201 SE Rutledge, in Madison from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only.
For pickup of the items, call Kathy Register at (850) 973-0410 or Jenny Martin at (850) 971-7202. They will be happy to pick up the items.
Please help Team Corine in their fight against cancer.
All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.
2011 Thomasville Antiques Show & Sale
February 25, 2011 to February 27, 2011
Often called the finest small antiques show in the country, the Thomasville Antiques Show and Sale hosts its 22nd annual event this year. The show brings together more than thirty of the most respected antique dealers in America. These dealers will showcase their finest pieces, including furniture, jewelry, ceramics, prints, paintings, sporting art and silver.
Please visit www.thomasvilleantiquesshow.com for all the details on events during the show, directions and other information.
About the Show
The Thomasville Antiques Show Committee is pleased to present thirty of the country’s most prestigious dealers, who will offer the opportunity to view and purchase exquisite antiques. The dealers will showcase antique furniture, paintings, rugs, jewelry, tableware, accessories and collectibles to suit the taste of the casual and the serious collector.
The Show and Sale will be accompanied by several highly acclaimed speakers: Carolyne Roehm, sought-after interior designer and author; Richard Keith Langham, whose clients include Jacqueline Onassis and Hilary Swank; and William Stahl, Jr., the former Vice Chairman and Head of Decorative Arts for Sotheby’s.
The 2011 Thomasville Antiques Show is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Paul J.Vignos who died last June. Dr. Vignos, the father of Kathy Vignos Folsom, was a leading rheumatologist, known worldwide for his medical contributions to the treatment of children, as well as an avid art and antiques collector.
The personal art collection of Dr. Vignos and his wife, Edith Ingalls Vignos, will be donated to the Cleveland Art Museum. Dr.Vignos was a long-time supporter of the show and will be greatly missed by everyone – but especially the antique dealers who loved his wit and keen interest in their objects.
A gala black tie evening will kick-off the 2011 Thomasville Antiques Show & Sale with a benefactors preview, giving patrons the earliest opportunity to view and shop the twenty-nine booths for gifts and personal treasures while enjoying an elegant seated gourmet dinner.
For twenty-one years, the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation, Inc. has focused on the single aim of benefiting local children. The Foundation continues to provide funding for quality programs that enrich and assist children in Thomasville and Thomas County, Ga. Over $1,500,000 has been raised by the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation to ensure that the children’s programs of Thomasville continue to thrive. Some of the organizations that have benefited from this event include:
Brookwood School
Halcyon Home
Hands & Hearts for Horses
Literacy Program of Southwest Georgia
Local School Scholarships
MNW Boys & Girls Club of Thomas County
Rescue Mission Ministries
Safe Haven
South Georgia Ballet
Thomas County CASA, Inc.
Thomas County Historical Society,
Inc. Summer Camps
Thomasville Community Resource Center
Thomasville Cultural Center
Thomasville Junior Service League
Thomasville Landmarks
Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe
Thomasville Scholars Academy
The Vashti Center for Children & Families
YMCA
Schedule Of Events
February 24, 2011 – 5:30 PM
2011 Benefactor Preview Party
February 24, 2011 – 7:00 PM
Patron Preview Party
February 25, 2011 – 10:00 AM
Lecture – Carolyne Roehm
February 25, 2011 – 11:00 AM
Thomasville Antiques Show
February 25, 2011 – 6:00 PM
Cocktails + Collecting
February 26, 2011 – 10:00 AM
Thomasville Antiques Show
February 26, 2011 – 11:00 AM
Lecture – Richard Keith Langham
February 26, 2011 – 2:30 PM
Lecture – William W. Stahl, Jr.
February 27, 2011 – 12:00 PM
Thomasville Antiques Show
Through With Chew Week February 20 – 26, 2011
Tobacco Free Madison is encouraging our community partners to raise awareness of the dangers of smokeless tobacco, by participating in Through With Chew Week, February 20 – February 26. Through With Chew Week (TWCW) is an educational campaign to decrease spit tobacco use and increase awareness of the negative health effects of using these products.
All tobacco products contain nicotine, which is very addictive. The most harmful carcinogens in spit and chewing tobacco are called tobacco-specific nitrosamines. These are formed during the growing, curing, fermenting and aging of American tobacco.
If you look at the types of spit, chew and snuff sold in retail outlets, you will notice different products for the beginner; they are easily identified by their sweet, fruity flavors (apple, cherry, peach, etc.) and often come in easy-to-use pouches. Over time, the spit and snuff user graduates to products that contain more nicotine. Someone who has chewed for a long time uses a stronger product and uses it more frequently to receive the same effect.
Even though smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence, many youth are unaware of the dangerous consequences. Many believe that “smokeless” means harmless, but in fact, it contains 28 cancer causing agents that could lead to oral cancer. Oral cancer is the sixth-leading cancer in males and one of the most difficult types of cancer to diagnose, treat and cure.
The Florida Youth Tobacco Survey indicates that Madison exceeds the state averages for youth smokeless tobacco use where 7.2 % of our middle school students report using smokeless tobacco in the past 30 days compared to the state average of three percent. Madison County High School students report that 12.3 percent of them used smokeless tobacco in the past 30 days, greater than the state rate of 6.4 %. Efforts are being made to prevent initiation of tobacco use and to help those who have already developed a habit to quit.
Recently, Tobacco Free Florida launched a new website dedicated to smokeless tobacco, www.SmokelessKills.com. It is designed to expose the dangers of smokeless tobacco with hard-hitting statistics and graphic images while leading users to free support that is available to help quitting.
Tobacco Free Madison and SWAT recognize that tobacco dependency is an addiction. They assist by referring tobacco users to the most evidenced-based help that is available, the combination of counseling supported by nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like patches and gum.
Be FREE today and contact the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW or floridaquitline.com for free counseling and NRT (for those that meet the medical screening requirements). Individual and small group counseling is available at the Madison County Health Department Monday evenings at 5:30 pm.
Please contact Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) representative Preston Mathews to register at (850) 728 – 5479.
NAHU Awards Florida Insurance Commissioner A Top Honor
The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) recently presented Florida Insurance
Kevin McCarty
Commissioner Kevin McCarty with the Spirit of Independence Award for his work in preserving the role of the health insurance agent.
Every year, NAHU awards an individual for exhibiting an independent spirit and providing outstanding service to America with a focus on health care issues. McCarty is the first insurance commissioner to receive this prestigious award, and joins an esteemed list of past recipients who include key policymakers, White House advisors, and other health care leaders.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” remarked Commissioner McCarty. “Rather than view this award as a culmination of service, I see this award as an inspiration to continue to confront challenges posed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
McCarty is president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In August of 2010, he was instrumental in promoting the passage of the unanimous NAIC resolution recognizing the importance of agents and brokers and the need to ensure their role as health reform implementation moves forward. A few months later, he helped lead a bipartisan attempt to amend the NAIC’s recommendations to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements to include a pass-through to exclude agent and broker commissions from the MLR calculation.
Though the NAIC ultimately had to table its pass-through efforts due to concerns about legal authority, McCarty negotiated the creation of a taskforce to address producer compensation arrangements in MLR with HHS.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation also held two public hearings and solicited testimony from industry experts as to how medical loss ratio requirements imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act could potentially negatively impact Florida’s insurance marketplace.
NAHU represents 100,000 professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for millions of Americans.
NAHU is headquartered in Arlington, VA. For more information, please call Kelly Loussedes at 703-276-3835 or e-mail kloussedes@nahu.org.
