Archive for June 2011
Video: Date Tentatively Set For Completion of Sewer System In Lee
A date is tentatively set of July 8 for completion of the wastewater system in Lee. The Lee Town Council, Town Manager Sarah Anderson, engineer Joe Mittauer and construction workers meet to discuss ongoing and completed work.
Obituary: Vivian Tuten
Vivian Tuten, age 67, died Monday, June 20, 2011 in Tallahassee.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 Thursday, June 23, 2011 at New Home Baptist Church with burial at San Pedro Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, from 6 – 8 PM at Beggs Funeral Home.
She was born on January 30, 1944 in North Carolina and lived in Madison since 1974 coming from Perry. She was a Homemaker and was a member of New Home Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband: Donnie Tuten of Madison: 1 daughter: Alise Johnson (Richard) of Perry; 3 grandchildren: Cade Johnson, Beth Flower, and Cori Johnson; 3 Great Grandchildren: Bralyn Flower, Grayer Johnson, and Drayden Flower.
NEW LIONS CLUBS OFFICERS TO BE INSTALLED
Photo and text submitted by Lee Monroe FerDon
(Madison, Florida)– An installation ceremony will be held on June 28 at Noon at Shelby’s Restaurant for incoming officers of the Madison Lions Club. Jay Lee was elected as the club president for 2011-2012. Lee has been an active member of the Madison Lions Club for the past 4 years.
The Rev. Lee Monroe FerDon was elected to serve as the club secretary and Tim Dunn will serve as treasurer. The club’s vice-president will be Tom Moffses. Jim Catron will serve as “Tail Twister” and Wes Reeves will renew his role as the club’s “Lion Tamer.”
According to Lion President Jay Lee “I am looking forward to leading various projects and continuing the Madison Lion Club’s commitment to serving the community.”
Since the club’s chartering in 1949, its members have worked on a variety of projects in the local community, such as providing eye glass exams and glasses for those who can’t afford them and assisting with other vision needs, Proceeds from past fundraising events have gone to provide clear vision for many folks in the Madison Community.
The Madison Lions Club has 16 members and meets on Tuesdays at noon at Shelby’s Restaurant. Lions clubs are a group of men who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Madison Lions Club, please contact The Rev. Lee Monroe FerDon at 850.929.7527 or e-mail at padrelee@yahoo.com.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with nearly 1.35 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.
Statement from Governor Rick Scott Regarding Florida’s Fallen Firefighters
“As Florida faces a significant threat from more than 400 wildfires across our state, we are saddened to learn of the tragic loss of two of our veteran firefighters, Josh Burch and Brett Fulton. We pray for the comfort and strength for their families and fellow firefighters.
“I had the privilege of meeting many of our dedicated firefighters last week, and am not at all surprised to learn of the heroic efforts of co-workers to rescue them. The selfless commitment displayed by all of the firefighters across the state deserves our utmost respect.”
Blue Ribbon Fire Takes Lives of Two Florida Firefighters
~ The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Mourns the Loss of Two Forest Rangers Who Had Served More than Ten Years Each ~
Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released the names of two firefighters of the Division of Forestry who were killed yesterday. Josh Burch and Brett Fulton lost their lives while fighting the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County.
“The wildfires have ravaged our state, burning more than 200,000 acres, and now, they have taken the lives of two of our very own men,” said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, two courageous heroes who sacrificed their lives for the safety of others.”
Burch, 31, was a Forest Ranger who lived in Lake City with his wife and two children. He worked with the Division of Forestry for more than ten years. Fulton, 52, began as a professional welder with the Division 12 years ago. He has been a Forest Ranger with the Department for more than nine years. Fulton leaves behind a wife and two grown children in White Springs.
Two other Division of Forestry firefighters – Robert Marvin and Stephen Carpenter – were injured yesterday, while attempting to assist their fellow firefighters. Both were treated for smoke-related injuries and released last night.
The Blue Ribbon Fire started on June 16, 2011. The fire had previously been declared contained, but recent extreme fire weather caused the fire to flare up again on Monday, June 20. The local field unit has been actively working the fire since early Monday afternoon.
Florida’s dry weather since the beginning of May has caused extreme fire activity. Since May 1, the Department’s Division of Forestry has battled more than 1,500 wildfires that have burned nearly 200,000 acres across the state, making it one of the busiest wildfire years in recent history. Florida firefighters face an average of more than 31 new wildfires every day.
For more information about the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com or follow Commissioner Putnam on Facebook, www.facebook.com/adamputnam, or Twitter, @adamputnam.
My Dad
National Security
Joe Boyles Guest Columnist
I’m writing this column on Father’s Day. I lost my Father to cancer 20 years ago shortly after he turned 71, but he is still my Dad and I will always be his son.
Eugene Harry Boyles was born on February 27, 1920 about 27 hours before Leap Day in Erikson, Nebraska, the first born to Harry and Olive Boyles. Two sisters would follow his birth. His Father was an orphan and his Mother was born to immigrant parents in a sod hut.
They moved their young family to Florida in 1926 only to find that the land they had purchased to farm was in the middle of a Baker County swamp. My Grandfather was hired at Penny Farms in Clay County.
In 1931, the family moved to Live Oak. Young Gene became very involved in 4-H. By his junior year in high school, he was the most accomplished 4-H student in the state. It was 4-H – the prizes, scholarships, and earnings – that permitted him to attend the University of Florida in 1937.
UF was an all male, land grant college in those days. Following in his father’s footsteps, he majored in animal industry in the College of Agriculture. ROTC was mandatory for freshmen and sophomores. In the spring of 1939, Gene decided to continue his ROTC program for another two years because of the deteriorating situation in Europe and Asia.
When graduation came in June 1941, he was quickly commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army’s field artillery. Six months later, America was at war.
On January 2, 1943, while stationed at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, Gene met Frances Holdren on a blind date in Tulsa. She was a single mother and worked at the Douglas Aircraft Factory. 14 months later, they married at the post chapel at Camp Maxey, Texas. Shortly after, he shipped overseas with the 758th Field Artillery Battalion.
Gene was overseas for fourteen months. During that time, the newlyweds exchanged letters every day. That’s how they did things back in those days. His battalion entered combat on New Years Day, 1945, at the north end of the Battle of the Bulge. Four months later, they were engaged in occupation duty using martial law. By November, they returned to the United States – mission accomplished.
Eugene’s first post-war job was as the county agent in the least populous county in Florida – Glades on the west side of Lake Okeechobee. I came along in 1948.
We lived for a couple more years in Moore Haven and for a short period of time, Lakeland, but most of my formative years were spent in Gainesville where Dad worked in the state USDA office. I spent quite a bit of time with my Grandparents on their farm near Live Oak and with family in Punta Gorda. In fact, the only year I spent outside the state was my 8th grade year where we lived in Raleigh as my Dad pursued a master’s degree from North Carolina State.
Our family was a traditional, two-parent household. Dad said to Mother, “I’ll make the living; you make life worth living.” It was a simple formula and it worked. I looked no farther than my family for role models. Discipline, education, and religion were important values that were instilled in all of us.
One of the things I learned from my Dad was what I like to call “strategic thinking.” My Father could think more than a few steps ahead of the current situation. He realized that his career mobility in the Department of Agriculture would be limited, so he thought about how he might use his ability for other pursuits. He began to buy farmland and plant pine trees. In 1986, he incorporated his holdings in a family partnership we call Boyles Tree Farm. Twenty-five years later and two decades after his death, BTF is an important unifying enterprise for his children and grandchildren.
The modern culture downplays the role of men. Hollywood and advertising portray men as dummies and bumbling fools, propped up by clever women. This is both damaging and a disservice.
Never forget this: the building block of society is the family. It takes two parents to form an effective family unit and men … dads just like mine — are an integral cornerstone of the family. Thanks Dad … and Happy Father’s Day.
Beulah “Marie” Powell Zelesky
Mrs. Beulah “Marie” Powell Zelesky, 85, of Lake City, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday morning, June 18, 2011.
A native of Troy, New York, Mrs. Zelesky was the daughter of the late Harry and Beulah Stranahan Powell. She had been a resident of Lake City since relocating here with here husband from Melbourne, Florida in 1998.
Mrs. Zelesky was retired from the American Hospital Supply Company. She was also a wonderful homemaker who together with her late husband, Anthony J. “Tony” Zelesky raised two daughters. In her spare time Mrs. Zelesky enjoyed talking books, traveling to Mississippi, Vegas and the Bahamas. She was a member of the Epiphany Catholic Church, Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post, Cooties.
Mrs. Zelesky is survived by her two daughters, Cindy Quiros of Lee and Joan Maus of Lancaster, Pa.; and a step-sister, Sandra Dickerson of Pensacola. Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive.
A funeral mass for Mrs. Zelesky will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in the Epiphany Catholic Church with Father Michael Pendergraft officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-7 Wednesday evening.
Interment in the Jacksonville National Cemetery will follow at 2 p.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of the DEES-PARRISH FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 458 S. Marion Ave., Lake City, FL 32025, (386) 752-1234 please sign our on-line family guestbook at parrishfamilyfuneralhome.com
Project Safe Zone Committed To Rebuilding PTO
Parent participation is essential to sustaining academic success, especially when behavior challenges are present. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by Project Safe Dozen of dozens of middle school parents from Madison County Central School, over 97 percent agreed that connecting with teachers should be a top priority. In spite of this overwhelming sentiment, however, parent participation in the Central School PTO was very limited during the 2010-11 school year.
The Madison County High School Drama Team, under the direction of Teacher of the Year, JerriAnn Webb, provided a powerful presentation that brought the audience to its feet.
Project Safe Zone, which is concluding its second year as a Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant recipient, is committed to addressing issues of safety and misbehavior, such as campus and bus security, bullying, mental health, and all forms of violence. In order to promote the parent and community involvement needed to achieve its mission, Project Safe Zone employs a communications plan that utilizes parent focus groups, among other outreach tools, in order to develop promotional media, both print and web-based, which are thematically designed to support these goals.
Working closely with Communications Consultant Michael Curtis to launch this strategic media plan, Project Coordinator Octavious Tookes and the Project Safe Zone staff noted that the Central School PTO was experiencing extremely low participation.
The lovely ladies of the Madison Youth Initiative, the DREAMERS, provided support to ensure the Parent and Mentor Appreciation Dinner was a great success
Recognizing the obstacle this gap presented to achieving successful implementation of their objectives, the team quickly organized a Parent and Mentor Appreciation Dinner, which was held on May 12 at 6 p.m. at the Central School cafeteria.
To begin the PTO rebuilding process, Curtis raised $1,200 in community donations from Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Madison County Community Bank, The Lee Day Committee, Madison Masonic Lodge, Madison Shrine Club, Steve McHargue, Tim and Mary Ann Sanders, Ksena Zipperer, and Madison Media Group, which allowed organizers to provide a catered barbecue dinner and hundreds of dollars in awards and prizes to ensure adequate attendance.
These sponsors were joined by a host of volunteers, including the lovely young ladies of the Madison Youth Initiative, Karen Pennington, Doug and Cecilia Freer, and Shelly Renfroe, who gave generously of her photography expertise to ensure the evening’s success.
Each of these supporters served almost one hundred parents, twenty mentors, and several dozen guests in attendance. Local officials and civic leadership were also well represented, including Madison County School Board Chair VeEtta Hagan, Superintendent of Schools Lou Miller, Madison Mayor Jim Catron, Madison County Commissioners Renetta Parrish and Alfred Martin, Supervisor of Elections Jada Woods-Williams, Clerk of the Court Tim Sanders, Waste and Recycling Coordinator Jerome Wyche, MCHD Administrator Kim Barnhill, Chamber Director Cindy Vees, MCCB President Ed Meggs, and NFCC President John Grosskopf. These community stewards were complemented by Judge Augustus Aikens, a Madison County native currently serving as Leon County Judge, who traveled to Madison to echo the message that few things more important to achieving a healthy and financially secure future for Madison County than parent involvement in their children’s education.
The event focused on middle school grades. To set the stage, Teacher of the Year, JerriAnn Webb, graciously brought her Drama Club from Madison County High School to perform. Heather Welch’s Journalism students also supported the cause, creating numerous posters that were placed throughout the cafeteria.
Following opening remarks by Principal Sam Stalnaker and Superintendent Miller, NFCC President John Grosskopf encouraged parents to not only recognize the importance of parental involvement, but also to take advantage of the local college resources that are available to all successful graduates. SRO Officer Maurice Alexander then introduced Judge Aikens ,who skillfully combined humor with a serious message, connecting well with the audience. Tookes and Mentor Coordinator Jodie Price then rotated with Curtis to complete several practical elements of the evening, including recognition of the men and women who served in the mentoring program during this school year, with a special recognition going to Mentor of the Year Merv Mattair.
Over the summer, those in attendance and other parent volunteers will be recruited for the middle school PTO. Focus groups and parent committees will also be formed around specific student and classroom goals. For more information or to volunteer a few hours a month as a mentor, please phone Project Safe Zone at (850) 973-5037.
MCHS Cheerleaders Need Your Help
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Though school is out, the junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders at Madison County High School are working hard. They are spending the summer trying to raise enough money to attend an NCA (National Cheerleader Association) summer camp. The camp will be held at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
The girls need the community’s help to make this possible. They will be hosting two fundraisers during the break from school. One will be a smoked meat sale by Johnston’s Meat Market of Monticello. The other will be a chicken and rice dinner sale.
For the smoked meat sale, by Johnston’s Meat Market of Monticello, the cost is $25.00. Those who wish to help the girls by participating in this fundraiser can pick from either a Boston butt, picnic ham, turkey breast or sausage. The meats are smoked on a rotisserie for 4-5 hours and are extremely tender and flavorful. The meats can feed between 10 and 15 people. The meats will be available June 24, between 2 and 4 p.m. at the Madison County Courthouse. They will be packed and tagged and ready to go.
The chicken and rice dinners will be on sale for $6.00. Each plate includes chicken and rice, green beans, bread and butter pickles, bread, dessert and a drink. The day of the fundraiser is July 8. The meals will be ready from 11 am until 2 pm at the Madison County Courthouse. The cheerleaders are also offering to deliver the meals if needed.
To place an order or for questions, contact any MCHS cheerleader or Ruth Ann Latner at 973-4650.
Senior Center Offers New Yoga Class
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Come one, come all, and join the Madison Senior Center for their newest community outreach. The Senior Center has begun hosting yoga classes, a first in the center’s history. The best part about the class is that all ages are welcome. You do not have to be a member of the Senior Center to join them in the class.
The instructor for the course is Nicholas Roberts. He is a Master of Yoga and has spent much of his life in California. He is now in Madison and using his skills to help the residents of Madison County become healthier.
The cost for the class is a donation of $5 per person. The class is geared towards improving a persons yoga abilities and helping their body become more fit. Yoga is not only good for muscle strengthening and flexibility, it is also good for your heart health.
Everyone can benefit from yoga. There is no age limit on beginning a new and healthy chapter in life. No matter how old or young a person is, he or she can benefit from these classes. If you are interested in attending one of the classes, you can either show up at one of the classes, which are held from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday nights, or you can call the Senior Center and they will save you a spot. Their phone number is 973-4241.
Senior Fun Day Sizzles
The Senior Citizens Council of Madison County teamed up with the 30 Club for a sizzling grilled chicken meal at Senior Center Fun Day on Saturday, June 4, at the Madison Senior Citizens Center, 1161 SW Harvey Greene Drive.
Special guest was Thelma Crump from the Florida Public Service Commission in Tallahassee with information on how to cut utility and phone bills.
Phil Fisher of the 30 Club said, “We started out as a social club, but then we decided to give back to the community.”
The 30 Club showed up at 8 a.m. at the Madison Senior Center with their large cooker, tents, music and nine “chefmasters” to cook a lunchtime meal that included chicken with all the fixin’s, potato salad, green beans and bread and cakes of all kinds for dessert.
“We really had a fantastic time,” said Mosely Barfield. Numerous dinners were picked up to take to homebound senior citizens. Priscilla’s Produce of Greenville donated fresh squash and cucumbers, which were given away to attendees.
The 30 Club members cooked a great meal at the Madison Senior Center. Left to right are: Johnny Bullard, Eric Howard, Phil Fisher, David Poe, David Charles, Ronnie Dunn, George Hart, A.J. Jones and Isaac Mobley.
The 30 Club meets in Valdosta, but two of its Madison members, Isaac Mobley and George Hart, came up with the idea to start a new tradition at the Madison Senior Citizens Center: a free meal for seniors each year. The 30 Club has sponsored meals at Senior Centers in Georgia for over a decade.
Volunteer servers for June 4 were Madison Senior Center’s Kitchen Manager, Betty Johnson and Lonnie Robinson. The guests, including newcomers to the Senior Center, gathered in the spacious dining hall and later took tours of the seniors’ Computer Lab with 10 stations open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the community, seniors’ Fitness Room and multipurpose rooms dedicated to senior wellness, information and fun social events.
The Activities Calendar for June is now available at the Madison Senior Citizens Center. One new addition is Art and Craft classes with Joan Beck, Older American Act Coordinator, weekdays at 10 a.m. Another new offering is Yoga classes with certified instructor, Nicholas Roberts, on Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Each class is a $5 donation per student. All ages are welcomed.
Flapjacks for Breakfast made its debut on Mondays and Fridays for seniors over 60. The morning eye-opener is available to everyone signed up with the Madison Senior Center: another great way to meet new friends. Call (850) 973-4241 for more information.
![Florida_Weekly_Gas_Price_Update[1]](http://www.greenepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Florida_Weekly_Gas_Price_Update1-150x150.jpg)
Man Life-Flighted After Saturday Crash
![FHP_Press_Release_06-18-11[1]](http://www.greenepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FHP_Press_Release_06-18-1111-150x150.jpg)
Photos submitted by Photos and More
City Commission Discusses Renovating Four Freedoms Monument
At the City Commission Meeting on Tuesday, June 14, Cindy Vees, Executive Director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, asked about plans for the renovation of the Four Freedoms Monument. The Commission discussed the condition of the monument at the workshop on June 7.
Prior to the June 14th meeting, the City Manager and Mayor/Commission met to discuss appropriate steps. These were presented to the Commission at the close of the meeting when Ms. Vees asked about the monument.
Plans include: [1] Initial assessment by Madison Marble & Granite Works, a local business;
[2] Review and suggestions by the Director of Community Development of the City of Madison;
[3] Technical assistance to the extent possible by the Bureau of Historic Preservation in the Florida Division of Historical
Resources;
[4} Review of options available;
[5] Discussion of priority of repairs and/or renovation of Four Freedoms Statue by the Commission.
Mr. Hitchcock’s suggestions as well as Roy Smith’s comments have been excellent. The statue was originally designed for inside display. It was constructred primarilly out of concete. Several years ago Madison Marble & Granite Works made minor renovations at the request of Howell Waring who was the Executive Director of the Greater Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
The assessment of the monument is the first step. After the condition of the monument has been established professionally, alternative options will be presented. Private funding will be encouraged. Readers interested in
helping with renovation are encouraged to send a letter of support to:
Jim Catron, Mayor/Commissioner,
City of Madison
321 SW Rutledge Street
Madison, Fl 32340
County Commission Approves New Animal Control Ordinance
A measure that had been discussed at the last meeting, limiting the number or dogs and cats county residents could have without a permit, was approved 5-0 at the June 15 County Commission Meeting. The measure applies mostly to “basic pet owners” and varies according to the amount of land the resident owns: a resident with 1.5 acres or less could have up to 10 dogs or cats; someone with1.5 to 2.5 acres could have up to 20 dogs and cats; someone with 2.5 acres of land or greater could have up to 30 animals without needing a permit. To apply for a permit, the resident would have to show the county that he or she had the means and ability to care for the animals, pay the permit fee and receive a certificate.
“This ordinance does not prohibit people from having excess animals,” said County Attorney Tom Reeves. “It just says they have to have a permit (if they go above that number).”
Prior to the measure being passed, there was no regulation on the number of dogs and cats Madison County residents could have on their property; the ordinance exempts veterinarians and veterinary clinics/hospitals, county animal shelters, the Humane Society, private stables and hobby breeders who do not exceed two litters of animals, or 19 animals older than eight months per household per year.
The measure drew considerable response from members of the public. Fran Charlson of Goliath and Bebe’s World, a 45-acre no-kill animal shelter located on Alaskan Way, took the floor to ask what prompted this ordinance after all this time. “We already have the animals and we adhere to all provisions necessary for their care. Has someone complained? What about grandfathering?” Charlson also questioned why puppy mills were not specifically mentioned as needing a permit, what would happen if an organization had a permit and didn’t pass an inspection.
The board discussed a fee of $100, to be paid annually, and said that a grace period of six months from the date of the ordinance being passed, or Dec. 15, should give existing facilities and county residents with large numbers of dogs and cats time to get in compliance with the requirements. If a permitted facility was found in violation afterward, the county could revoke the license.
Marianne Green said she was pleased with the cooperative living system that county resident had for dogs, but free-roaming cats were another matter. Currently the animal control office handles nuisance cats by delivering traps to the affected property to catch them.
Tommy Greene took the floor to protest the new ordinance as unnecessary intrusion of government into the lives of private citizens. Describing himself as an animal lover, Greene said that he had several animals on his property and declared, “we talk about government in Washington, and I’ve always said that no man’s freedom was safe as long as the legislature was in session, but it’s the local level…local folks are bringing in government on top of us. Our main freedoms are being encroached upon at the county and city level. We’ve already got animal control and we’ve got the police. Why bring in more?”
Counties surrounding Madison have varying levels of animal ownership regulation for their county residents. In more densely populated Lowndes County (Valdosta), people can own up to five animals, dogs and cats, and must keep their animals on their property. It is primarily “a nuisance-driven issue,” said Linda Patelski, director of animal control, who said that the county has a lot of people who own hunting dogs. Six or more animals constitute a “kennel” and the owner must be licensed as such and meet all kenneling standards. The fee for a kennel permit is $400, and the permitting is done through the Department of Agriculture. The ordinance has never been challenged, said Patelski, because many county residents live on long, narrow lots and cooperate to keep their dogs – and cats – from becoming a nuisance. Free-roaming cats are seldom a problem, she added, because with so many dogs and coyotes around, they would not survive long.
Brooks County (Quitman) currently does not have any permitting requirements for its county residents, but is in the process of trying to draw one up; the process has been ongoing for a couple of months, and is primarily driven by noise and vicious dog complaints.
Jefferson County has no limit on animal ownership by county residents. Neither does Lafayette County or Hamilton County. Suwannee County, with the majority of its county acreage zoned as agricultural, also has no regulation on ownership, but does have ordinances concerning nuisance, at-large or dangerous animals, especially those believed to be rabid.
Taylor County’s Director of Animal Control Carrie Tucker says that although she would like to see a similar regulation on the books in Taylor County, “right now you can have as many as you can take care of, as long as they’re being taken care of.”
“We’re just being stifled,” said Tommy Greene after the Madison County Commissioners Meeting. “Every time I go to a board meeting, they’re talking about some new rule or regulation. We’re losing our freedoms one board meeting at a time.” Referencing his earlier remark to the board, he added, “no man’s freedom is safe as long at the County Commission is in session.”
