Archive for April 2011

Representative Leonard Bembry Welcomes Ms. Savannah Salter As A Page At The Capitol During The Week Of March 7-11

April 7, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off
Savannah Salter and Representative Leonard Bembry

Savannah Salter and Representative Leonard Bembry

Representative Leonard Bembry (D-Greenville) was pleased to sponsor Ms. Savannah Salter from Madison County, to serve as a page at the Capitol in Tallahassee, for the week of March 7-11 Legislative Session. Ms. Salter is the daughter of Donny and Mickie Salter, and she has four brothers, Chris, Cole, Steven and Dillan. Her grandparents are Sam and Sybil Hodge of Englewood, and Gracie Adams of Suwannee County. Ms. Salter is an honor roll student in the seventh grade at Madison County Central School. She participates in the Saddles and Spurs 4-H Riding Club and shows steers through FFA and the Madison County 4-H Livestock Club and also participates on the Livestock Judging Team for Madison Central School FFA.
“The Florida House of Representatives has allowed interested middle and high school students the opportunity to participate in the legislative process for many years.  The Page and Messenger Program is a wonderful learning experience for our young people to see their state government in action. In my own personal experience, I was sponsored to participate in a similar program during session in my seventh grade year. I was truly inspired by that opportunity and knew that I would one day run for political office,” said Representative Bembry.

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Madison Chapter OES Installs New Officers

April 7, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off
The new 2011 officers from Madison Chapter #109 are (Front row, left to right:) Edith E. Terry, Worthy Matron; Richard Terry, Worthy Patron; and Jennifer Stanley, Assoc. Matron. Back row, left to right: Karen FerDon Secretary; Albert “Bert” Banks, Chaplain; April Lundell, Marshal; Mary Helen Studebaker, Ruth; Nancy Banks, Esther; Imogene “Yvonne” Smith, Electa; and C.D. Agner, Jr., Sentinel. (Not pictured: Homer Melgaard, Assoc. Patron; Beth Ward, Treasurer; Marcia Sawin, Conductress; Stacy Lundell, Assoc. Conductress; Judith Lundell, Adah; and Roy Hibbs, Sentinel.)

By Emerald Greene
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Madison Chapter of the Eastern Star entertained visitors and members, Thursday evening, March 17, and installed its new slate of officers for the ensuing 2011 year. The special event took place at the Masonic Lodge/Eastern Star building in downtown Madison.

The new 2011 officers from Madison Chapter #109 are (Front row, left to right:) Edith E. Terry, Worthy Matron; Richard Terry, Worthy Patron; and Jennifer Stanley, Assoc. Matron. Back row, left to right: Karen FerDon Secretary; Albert “Bert” Banks, Chaplain; April Lundell, Marshal; Mary Helen Studebaker, Ruth; Nancy Banks, Esther; Imogene “Yvonne” Smith, Electa; and C.D. Agner, Jr., Sentinel. (Not pictured: Homer Melgaard, Assoc. Patron; Beth Ward, Treasurer; Marcia Sawin, Conductress; Stacy Lundell, Assoc. Conductress; Judith Lundell, Adah; and Roy Hibbs, Sentinel.)

The special slated meeting began at 5:00 p.m. with the 2010 officers of the local chapter opening the chapter in long form.
The installing officers, Helen Miller, Past Grand Matron of GA; Edward Morrow, Past Patron; Carolyn Boles, Past Matron; Mary Alice Dowdy, Past Matron; and Linda Peace, Past Matron, installed the new Madison Chapter officers with style and grace.
The Order of the Eastern Star, Madison Chapter 109 officers for 2011 year include: Worthy Matron, Edith E. Terry; Worthy Patron, Richard Terry; Assoc. Matron, Jennifer Stanley;  Assoc. Patron, Homer Melgaard; Secretary, Karen FerDon; Treasurer, Beth Ward;  Conductress, Marcia Sawin; Assoc. Conductress, Stacy Lundell;  Chaplain, Albert “Bert” Banks; Marshal, April Lundell; Adah, Judith Lundell; Ruth, Mary Helen Studebaker; Esther, Nancy Banks; Electa, Imogene “Yvonne” Smith; Warder, Roy Hibbs; and Sentinel, C.D. Agner, Jr.
Following installation all guests, members and visitors enjoyed delicious refreshments downstairs, and then the regular March meeting was held at 7 p.m.
The Madison Eastern Star is a service organization, a sister group of the Masons.
The Order of the Eastern Star, or OES, is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry with its philosophy clearly based on the Holy Bible.  Its objectives are charitable, and benevolent.  OES is a social order, comprised of persons with spiritual values, but it is not a religion.  Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the refreshing and character-building lessons that are so sincerely portrayed in its ritualistic work.

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Madison Junior Auxiliary Celebrates Service In April

April 7, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off
JA members and guests at the Fitness Fair, chaired by Cathy Rogers.

15,039 – The number of women serving their communities through the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries.
106,767 – The number of service hours Junior Auxiliary members worked in their communities in 2009-10.
$2,430,656 – The amount of money Junior Auxiliaries invested in eight southeastern states in 2009-10.
Return on that investment – priceless
The hard work goes on year-round, but during the first week of April each year, the Junior Auxiliary of Madison pauses to say thanks to the community for another great year.
A year packed with service to families and children through service projects that include everything from Coat Drives and Thanksgiving Baskets to “Caroling with the Elderly” and having “Cookies with Santa” for the children.
This month JA of Madison County will be working with area youth at our annual Fitness Fair on Thursday, April 21, at MCHS, capping a year of emphasis on healthy lifestyles.  Other activities have included speakers Sarah Panzau, making smart decisions and driving safety, FutureNow presentations, and suicide prevention training by the Jason Foundation for area teachers.
JA of Madison has 25 members who each donate over 1,000 service hours every year to the chapter’s various projects. The chapter raises funds each year through their JA Jewels (corporate sponsors) and a big event – this year’s Luau at the Lake scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Barksdale Farm. .
“This is such an exciting week for us, because it gives us a chance to thank all of the citizens of Madison for supporting us in this work, and to recognize our wonderful corporate sponsors who finance these projects,” Janis Bunting, president, said. “The families and children we serve are so deserving and thankful for this assistance, and none of that would be possible without the support of the entire community.”
Junior Auxiliary has a rich history of service, and the Junior Auxiliary of Madison, is carrying on that tradition. This Chapter embraces the founding principles of our national organization, “helping children and making a difference in their lives,” said Charlotte Seals, NAJA President.
Madison Junior Auxiliary is a part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA), a non-profit organization founded in 1941 with headquarters in Greenville, Miss. NAJA has more than 15,000 active, associate, and life members in 101 chapters in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.
The NAJA slogan is “Care Today – Character Tomorrow” and when teamed with the current focus of the Association, Junior Auxiliary Chapters are working more than ever before to increase awareness of child health and welfare and how it affects their futures.
For more information, or to make a tax deductible donation to JA of Madison County, contact incoming President Cathy Rogers or incoming Treasurer Wendy Anderson.  For more information on NAJA, visit www.najanet.org or call (662) 332-3000.

JA members and guests at the Fitness Fair, chaired by Cathy Rogers.

The 2010-11 Junior Auxiliary chapter members.

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NTCS Hosts Career Day

April 7, 2011 Education Comments Off
Tinka Brannon of Madison EMS explains ambulance procedures to Kallai Collinsworth, Baleigh Gray and Jeremy Scott.

On Wednesday, March 23, New Testament Christian School held its first Career Day.
The theme of Career Day for all seventh through 12th grade students was “M.A.P. it Out” which represented the Motivation and Abilities of each student and the Pursuit of each student’s dream.  Maritza and Raul Dominguez, members of New Testament Christian Center from Miami and Madison, gave very motivational talks entitled “It’s Your Time!” and “Pursuing Your Dream”. Maritza gives  leadership training and motivational presentations around the world as an employee of Ken Blanchard Companies. In her talk, she used video clips from “Chariots of Fire,” the story of Eric Liddell.
Raul was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and is now a charter jet pilot and helicopter instructor and pilot.

Tinka Brannon of Madison EMS explains ambulance procedures to Kallai Collinsworth, Baleigh Gray and Jeremy Scott.

Two others who presented very interesting and educational talks included Tinka Brannon and Vicki Stanton, a paramedic and EMT, from Madison County’s Emergency Medical Services.  These ladies also gave the students a tour of the ambulance. Presenting an informative talk on Agriculture was Dan Fenneman, Agent from Madison County Extension Office. Then Julie Townsend from NFCC gave an enlightening and enjoyable presentation on the different aspects of Nursing.
She was followed by Gary Calhoun, Chief of Police, who used a PowerPoint presentation on Law Enforcement.
Chief Calhoun also relayed some of his personal experiences in his pursuit of becoming a law officer.  A short portion of the video, “Working in Your Strengths” by Dave Ramsey, was also watched by the participating students.
After a lunch buffet for students and guests, Cecy Sessions, a radiologist at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, gave an overview of Radiologic Technology and answered specific questions.  Ron Dressman, member of NTCC, gave a talk on his career as an engineer and also presented information about other fields of engineering. Ron Zant, also of NTCC, shared some of his life experiences and wisdom on Learning and Law.
Following the speakers for the day, students were given brochures from various colleges and the armed forces, sample resume forms, and information on Bright Futures Scholarships. Adrian Peters, graduate of NTCS, former NFCC Student of the Year, and senior at FSU, gave a brief breakdown of the differences  between loans, grants, and scholarships.
Elaine Doyle, Principal of NTCS, said, “Our students were excited about Career Day, and we look forward to seeing the impact that this day makes in the lives of our young people.”

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Renowned Author And Speaker, Dr David Jeremiah, To Host Rally In Tallahassee

April 7, 2011 Church Comments Off

FREE EVENT ON APRIL 14
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

 

The heart of Turning Point is to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost, encourage the church, strengthen faith, deepen understanding, and share life-changing Biblical truths throughout the world. Dr. David Jeremiah has a message heavy on his heart to share, where the sole intent is to build-up the body and grow God’s kingdom, the local church.
Turning Point ministers to people all around the world through its radio and television ministries. The purpose of “An Evening With David Jeremiah“ Rally in Tallahassee on Thursday, April 14, is not only for the people who faithfully tune in each week to come to a live Turning Point event, but to provide another bold avenue for the truth of Jesus Christ, to be heard in Glendale and across the nation!
When attending “An Evening with David Jeremiah,” individuals will be encouraged by Christ-centered worship, special musical guests, and powerful teaching by Dr. David Jeremiah. This event in Tallahassee at the Leon County Civic Center is also a great opportunity to invite friends and family who don’t know the Lord. During this evening, they will hear, with urgency, the importance of knowing Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
This Tallahassee Rally on April 14 is offered to the public at no cost. Invite friends and family to come join and be encouraged by the promise and hope in Jesus Christ! Complimentary tickets may be requested online at www.davidjeremiah.org /rallies.

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On This Day In History April 8th History Channel History.com

April 7, 2011 History Comments Off

Hank Aaron Hits Career Home Run

 

On this day in 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s legendary record of 714 homers. A crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, was with Aaron that night to cheer when he hit a 4th inning pitch off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Al Downing. However, as Aaron was an African American who had received death threats and racist hate mail during his pursuit of one of baseball’s most distinguished records, the achievement was bittersweet.

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NFCC, 4-H Continue Tradition Of Educating Area Third Graders About The Great Outdoors

April 7, 2011 Outdoors Comments Off
Tony Hogg shows third grader Erin Taylor a bee hive during Ecology Day 2011.

For the past 21 years, North Florida Community College has opened its campus to Madison County third graders for a one-day exploration focused on the environment and preserving our natural resources. Ecology Day 2011, sponsored by Madison County 4-H and NFCC, kept that tradition alive with almost 250 area third graders visiting the NFCC campus and Ladell Brothers Outdoor Environmental Center on March 25.
“It gets kids out of the classroom and into nature’s classroom where they can learn to respect nature while they are having fun,” said Beth Moore, Principal of Pinetta Elementary School.

Tony Hogg shows third grader Erin Taylor a bee hive during Ecology Day 2011.

Coordinated by NFCC instructor Bonnie Littlefield, Becky Bennett and Diann Douglas of the Madison County Extension Office, this year¹s Ecology Day consisted of seven outdoor stations that children rotated among to learn about recycling, entomology, forest ecology, water quality, fish and insects, plants, beekeeping and overall preservation of the environment.
“We learned about recycling, fresh water, ponds and lakes; we learned about bee hives and honey and different kinds of trees,” said Karissa of Lee Elementary School. “I learned you can recycle many things and if you recycle you can keep Madison beautiful,” said Gregory Denson of Madison County Central School.
Many community and student volunteers assisted with Ecology Day including approximately 45 NFCC students and S.O.A.R. (Save Our Animal Resources) club members. S.O.A.R. also sponsored lunch for Ecology Day volunteers, presenters and assistants. “S.O.A.R. members feel that this outdoor educational experience is extremely important to support for future generations,” said Littlefield. “Many of them remember when they were 3rd graders and enjoyed the experience.”
Most of the presenters at Ecology Day return year after year to share their knowledge and love of nature with area students. Madison County Recycling representative James Fudge spoke to the children about the importance of recycling and explained what items can and can¹t be recycled. Area foresters led discussions on forest ecology teaching the children about forestry and fire safety.
NFCC instructor Barry Barnhart spoke to the third graders about early pioneers, American Indians and plants. He explained how nature is used in everyday foods, beverages and medicines. Tony Hogg, owner of Full Moon Apiary of Jefferson County, led a beekeeping station and shared information on the life of bees and the important role they play in pollination.
Jan Peters of Florida A&M University¹s Department of Entomology, identified insects and bugs caught by the students and set up a butterfly and insect display for the children to view. Dr. Sharon Fitz-Coy of the University of Florida¹s Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences helped children capture small pond creatures with nets and then identified the creatures and answered questions from students. Representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection were also on site teaching the young students about water quality and preservation. “Kids are pretty disconnected with nature these days and it’s important to get them out into their local environment where they can make observations and learn,” said one DEP representative.
The hands-on approach to learning is very popular among area elementary teachers and third graders who attend Ecology Day each year. Schools attending Ecology Day 2011 were Madison County Central, Pinetta Elementary, Lee Elementary, Greenville Elementary, Madison Academy, LATMA Christian Academy and New Testament Christian School.
The NFCC Ladell Brothers Outdoor Environmental Center is open year round to visitors. School groups or other groups interested in a guided tour should contact Bonnie Littlefield, (850) 973-1687 or LittlefieldB@nfcc.edu, or Dr. Michael Stine at (850) 973-1645 or Stinem@nfcc.edu. More information is also available at http://www.nfcc.edu/community-programs/ladell-nature-center. For more information on Madison County 4-H, visit http://madison.ifas.ufl.edu/4h.shtml.

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Base Street (US 90) Repaving Set to Begin

April 7, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

Construction Open House Scheduled Tuesday Afternoon

LAKE CITY – The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin resurfacing Base Street (US 90) through downtown Madison in the next couple of weeks. The work includes traffic impacts such as daytime lane closures and some 24-hour sidewalk closures during the four-month long project.
The FDOT will host a construction “open house” on Tuesday, April 12 from 4-5 p.m. at the Madison City Hall in Commission Chambers (prior to the regular Commission meeting). FDOT staff will be available with design plans and handouts to provide details of how the work will be done, including work around the century oak tree located at the corner of Base and Range streets.
The project also includes adding an eastbound left turn lane Country Kitchen Road in addition to resurfacing the four-lane section west to Captain Brown Road.
More information will be provided at the “open house” on Tuesday. If unable to attend, residents and business owners can contact the FDOT Public Information Office toll-free at 800-749-2967 (Ext. 4714).

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The Seven Decisions

April 7, 2011 Editorials Comments Off
Jacob Bembry, Editor

Jacob Bembry, Editor

I carry the words on a key chain and they are on the mouse pad on my desk. The words are from the book The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews. He calls them the Seven Decisions. They are as follows;
1. The Buck Stops Here; Adversity is preparation for greatness.
2. I Will Seek Wisdom; I will choose my friends with care.
3. I Am a Person of Action; I can make a decision and I can make it now.
4. I Have a Decided Heart; My destiny is assured.
5. Today I Will Choose to Be Happy; I am the possessor of a grateful heart.
6. I Will Greet This Day With a Forgiving Spirit; I will forgive myself.
7. I Will Persist Without Exception; I will find a way where there is no way.
I think I’ve just about mastered a couple of the Seven Decisions; others are somewhat harder.
As I study these decisions and put them into action along with God’s Word, I know that I can become a better person. The list all boils down to what is found in the Bible.
One must never give up working each day to become the person God wants them to be.

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County Still Recovering From Tuesday’s Storm

April 7, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

In the early morning hours on Tuesday Madison County and hundreds of other counties across the southeast, were hit by a violent storm system. The storm began to effect Madison at about 4 a.m. and did not see a break until almost 6:30 a.m. Wind gusts upwards of 50 mph were reported, rain ravaged the streets, some even reported hearing tornados, though none of these claims have been confirmed.
Tri-County Electric reported that approximately 2000 homes, mostly in Cherry Lake, were left without power following the storm. As of press time Thursday there were only two homes in Madison that remained without power. Progress Energy reported that almost 1100 of their Madison customers had reported losing power; they serve a total of 3700 in the county.
Pinetta Elementary School did not have power on Tuesday morning, but decided not to cancel class this close to FCAT. They overcame the lack of power by opening the blinds and using window light to light the classrooms. Lee Elementary School was without power until 11 a.m. Tuesday morning. However, despite the lack of electricity the teachers hunkered down and continued to do lessons. They, like Pinetta, used window light to light the classrooms, and several classes rearranged to get closer to the windows. Principle Jack McClellan stated of the teacher’s response to the storm, “They went above the call of duty, they had a hardship and could have used it as a chance to coast but they continued teaching, and quality teaching at that. They didn’t have any technology that they could use, so they went to the old school way of teaching. They were great.”
Dorothy McKinney, of Greene Publishing, Inc., told this reporter, “We were without power for two days. It wasn’t fun, especially since we live out in the boonies. That means we had no water, no air conditioner and no heat. Which was awful because I am always cold, so I nearly froze during the night. I am really glad we finally have power again.”
Valdosta Highway, Rocky Ford, State Road 53 and several other major roads in the county were covered with debris. Though much of the destruction has been cleaned up, the bike trail along Valdosta Highway is still covered with overturned trees and huge limbs.
In order to be better prepared for storms such as this, all homes should keep emergency kits. These should contain bottled water, batteries, a battery operated radio and nonperishable food items. Other tips for keeping safe during large storms include avoid being outdoors or driving if weather conditions are dangerous. Stay in rooms in your home that have few or no windows such as a bathroom or a hallway. Pet owners should also remember to bring all pets indoors so that they are safe during the storm.

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Stahl-Meyer, Annett Bus Lines Coming To Madison

April 7, 2011 Front Page 3 comments
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At the April 6 meeting of the County Commission meeting Commissioners voted unanimously to grant Mr. Guillermo Gonzalez a ten-year ad valorem tax exemption to relocate his business from New York City to Madison County.
Gonzalez, who has owned and operated Stahl-Meyer Meat Processing Plant in New York since 1936, is looking to move to an area where he can expand his operation. In the Bronx neighborhood where it is currently located, he has literally run out of room, with nowhere to go but up – not an efficient design for meat processing.
With the ad valorem exemption offsetting some of the costs of relocating, he will be closing his 60-employee plant in New York and reopening in the old Smithfield/Dixie Packers building. He made no guarantees, but he hopes to eventually expand to far more than 60 employees during the ten years the ad valorem exemption remains in effect.
In another effort to bring more jobs to Madison, the commission also voted to donate five acres of land near the Interstate exchange to Annett Bus Line, for a new 6000-8000 square foot bus terminal/operations facility. Brian Annett, who moved to Madison four years ago, addressed the commission and spoke about the need to expand in the North Florida market, choosing Madison for a rural connecting route from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.
“I think this company is a great fit for this area,” Annett told the Commission. “We’re a family owned company.”
When people used ask him why his business started out in Sebring, “in the middle of nowhere,” Annett would tell them it was because the little town was central to both the east and west coasts of Florida, as well as Miami and Orlando. In the same way, Madison is also the ideal location for a north Florida expansion of their coach lines. Rural, yes, but right where it needs to be for their company, central to Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Valdosta.
When asked if the new jobs would go to local people and not transfers from Sebring, Annett, who played baseball at North Florida Junior College and married the former Christie Webb of Lee, replied that he believed local people were the key. “It’s important to me to hire local people. You always hear ‘location, location, location.’ Our business is about ‘people, people, people.’ We don’t sell a product, we sell a service.”
Eddie Bell, Mayor of Lee, the town that has annexed the property in question, said the Lee Town Council had voted the previous evening to help with getting paperwork together in support of the bus line coming to Madison, if the County Commission ended up agreeing to donate the property.
Annett hopes the new facility, with eight to ten motor coaches, will be up and running “by football season, if that’s realistic.” It will provide about 15 jobs at first, but he hopes to hire more people eventually.
“We’re here to grow,” he said.

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Cheerleader Tryouts Set At MCHS

April 7, 2011 Education, Front Page, Sports Comments Off

Tryouts to become a part of the Madison County High School junior varsity or varsity cheerleading squads are just around the corner. On April 18-21 everyone trying out should report to the MCHS gym at 3:30 p.m. Practices will last until 5 p.m. There will also be a mandatory pre-tryout meeting on Wednesday, April 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the MCHS gym.
Any eighth grade students coming into the high school as well as any current high school students are invited to try out. During the tryouts, those attempting to be a part of either squad will be taught a cheer, chant, dance, stunting and a few jumps.
Junior varsity cheerleaders are anyone who will be in the ninth or 10th grade next year. Varsity is anyone who is going to be in the 11th or 12th grade. The final squad list will be posted on tryout day following the completion of tryouts.

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