Archive for August 2011

Pray, Fight, Win: Come Out And Support “Cat’s Blood Drive”

August 23, 2011 Front Page Comments Off
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

“Pray, Fight, Win.” That is the motto that has pulled Catherine Maultsby and her family through the last six months. Catherine, or Cat, as she is known by friends and family, is a Madison girl that has taken over the hearts of so many through her powerful story.

Now it is time for the community to give back a little of the hope and strength that Cat has shown. On Saturday, Sept. 24, there will be a blood drive called, “Cat’s Blood Drive.” It will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie parking lot.

Catherine, daughter of J.P. and Julie Maultsby, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her left lower leg on March 10. Her leg was amputated on June 2, and she now refers to it as “Peggy.” On Aug. 11 Cat got her “bionic leg,” or “bobonica,” as Cat affectionately refers to it. This gave her the ability to walk for the first time in five months. Cat and her parents and family have relied heavily on the prayers of this community to help her pull through her battle. Now is the community’s chance to make a difference in other people’s lives as well.

All blood types are welcome and everyone is asked to come help out. Not only will you be helping out Cat, who gets “credits” for each donation, but you will also be helping someone in need of blood.

To make an appointment to be a part of “Cat’s Blood Drive,” call Summer Jones at (850)673-9719.

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Hurricane

August 23, 2011 Editorials One comment

No, this isn’t a diatribe about another sports scandal at the University of Miami, although I’m not certain who is more professional, the Canes or the Dolphins.  And can anyone tell me why the UM mascot is a duck?  Some things just defy explanation.

Instead, this is about Florida’s most serious natural threat – tropical cyclones or hurricanes.  With Irene bearing down on the southeast, I’m worried about a couple of issues.

First, we have a lot of new Floridians who have never experienced a hurricane.  After getting blasted in 2004 and 2005, we haven’t seen a hint of a big storm since.  And in those six years, Florida has continued to grow.  The 2010 census lists our population at 18.8 million.  In a couple of years, we’ll pass New York as the third most populous state.  That means a whole lot of folks don’t understand the intensity of these storms and how to prepare for a big blow.

They don’t understand how to plan for an approaching hurricane – food; medications; cash; a full gas tank; batteries and a radio; food and water for three days; etc.

They don’t understand the counter-clockwise rotation means that the worst area of the storm is in the northeast quadrant.  They don’t understand how you need to evacuate way ahead of time so you’re not caught in the mother-of-all traffic jams in deteriorating conditions.  They don’t understand that you need a place to evacuate to and people who will take you in.  They don’t understand that you might need to drive for 500 miles to find a vacant hotel room.

They don’t understand that the wind will destroy things but water kills.  They don’t have a plan to take care of their pets.  They don’t understand that once you evacuate, it may be weeks before you’re allowed to return to your home.

In short, they are green, and that is a dangerous thing on the peninsula of Florida during the second half of the year – the Atlantic hurricane season.

Second, a lot of real estate, particularly in coastal zones, is insured by the taxpayers of the state of Florida.  After those two devastating years (in 2004, we were hit by five storms including three major hurricanes; four struck Florida the next year including two major storms), property insurance rates went through he roof.  Homeowners complained to the politicians who were all too quick to put a band aid on the mess.

Led by newly elected Governor Charlie Crist and a compliant Legislature in 2006, the Florida CAT fund became the primary source of insurance and reinsurance in what was then a booming real estate market.  Private insurers bailed out of the Florida market faster than illegals in an ICE raid.  As we’re discovering with health insurance, private companies cannot compete with the government behemoth because politicians make sure that the government doesn’t charge market rates.  Instead, government goes belly-up when the bill comes due.

The Legislature has been pecking away at this problem for the past three years, but I’m deathly worried that when (not if) we get smacked by a big storm, the resultant bill will devastate our state budget.  Then watch our bond rating dive like opening day of scallop season.

Here in North Central Florida, it is easy to be complacent.  Nowhere in the peninsula is there anyplace more protected.  The shallow waters of the Big Bend are not conducive to attracting big storms.  Ernest Page, who was quite a historian, once told me that the only storm that was still a hurricane (winds above 75 mph) when it arrived in our county was the 1935 hurricane that first devastated the Keys.  If memory serves me correctly, that was the most powerful storm to strike the US mainland in the 20th Century.

But the damage from a major hurricane striking an urban area like the Gold Coast would affect us all in ways we cannot imagine.  The people who live in these hurricane-vulnerable areas must pay the insurance tab to protect their property.  The fact that vote-greedy politicians bought their support by buying down insurance rates betting  the state wouldn’t get struck, at least on their watch, is just another example of political malfeasance.

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New Weekly Support Group For Women Meeting At Public Library

August 23, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off
By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Beginning Wednesday evening, Aug. 24 and continuing every Wednesday evening after that, from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m., a brand-new support group for women will begin meeting in the conference room of the Madison Public Library, at 378 NW College Loop.

The group is being organized and hosted by Candida Rogers, and is free and open to all women who wish to attend and talk about the kinds of pressures and stresses they face in their lives as women.  Rogers is using her own personal experience to organize this group to help other women, and said the group will address a wide range of topics, from abuse and domestic violence, to stress management, weight loss, marriage, parenting, child care and work-related issues.

The very first meeting on the 24th is a “get-to-know-you” meeting, where women can register with whatever name they would like to use during the group sessions; Rogers will ask that everyone write down goals they would like to reach, but need encouragement for, so  she can plan the next meeting to address those issues.  After seeing how that meeting goes, she will plan for the third meeting, and from there, the fourth meeting, and so on.  Some meetings might even have a guest speaker addressing whatever topics of concern the group has.

The meetings are intended to offer encouragement and support, and anything said in the meetings is private and confidential.

For more information about the support group, email Rogers at awsgroup.670@gmail.com.   For directions to the library, call the attending librarian at 973-6814.

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Bill Bunting Writing Book About Madison Confederacy

August 23, 2011 Around Madison, History Comments Off
Bill Bunting scrolls through page after page of records concerning Madison and the surrounding area during the Civil War years.

Bill Bunting scrolls through page after page of records concerning Madison and the surrounding area during the Civil War years.

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.

In the Treasures of Madison County Museum on Range Street, next to the RATT Pact Theatre, Bill Bunting sits amid tangible pieces of Madison’s history, greeting museum visitors as he pores over volumes of reference books, history books, letters, diaries, and countless other materials.  His goal is to compile as complete a history as possible on the Confederate Units that formed in Madison County.  How many men were there in these units?  Who were they?  Where did they come from?  And what eventually happened to them at the end of the Civil War?

It is a huge undertaking, and Bunting estimates  he is about 35 to 40 percent finished.  In the end, he hopes to have a day-by-day account of each and every man who came to Madison for the Confederate Army; what day he joined up, what company he was assigned to, what battles he was in, when he got sick, what day he died, where he died, and where he was buried – or, if he survived the war, what day he came back to Madison to be paroled, take the oath of allegiance back to the United States and reapply for the right to vote.

There were perhaps 10, or maybe even 11 Confederate Army companies formed in the Madison area, each comprised of roughly 120 men.  Armed with rosters for each company, Bunting can determine which battles the men fought in, and by cross-comparing the dates of those battles with lists of men who were sick and wounded in area field hospitals, he can also determine which battles they were not in, how many people were actually present at a battle, and which companies were not able to fight at full force that day.  In any given battle on any given day, a company could be down by as many as 30 or 40 sick and wounded.  From various other records, it is possible to determine which companies fought to the left and right of each other, how many men they were able to muster, how many were wounded and how many died.

Through this intricate matching of lists of names and dates, it is possible to trace the path of one soldier (he enlisted in Madison on this day, was wounded on this day, was in the hospital on this day) from day one to the end of the war; or to the date of his death, if he did not survive until the end of the war.

In addition to army records and countless reference books such as the six-volume Biographical Roster of Florida’s Confederate and Union Soldiers, by David W. Hartman and David Coles, Bunting also finds much information in other history books such as Wiregrass to Appomattox, by James Parrish, and Florida Cowman, A History of Cattle Ranching in Florida, by one of Madison’s own, the late Joe A. Akerman, Jr.

There are papers from the archives of the University of Florida, Florida State University and the State of Florida Library – old records as well as more recent theses and dissertations on the Civil War years in Florida.

There are letters from soldiers to their families which prove to be a rich source of detail and information, such as the collection of letters the three Livingston brothers, Archie, Albert and Theodore, wrote back and forth to each other (present day Livingston Street in Madison is named for them).  Bunting has an entire binder filed with copies of other soldiers’ letters from the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.  From these letters, it seems most of the young men who enlisted in the Confederate Army, did so for three basic reasons: for the honor, glory and adventure of war; for Southern Independence; or for the right to keep their slaves.

Diaries and journals, from the soldiers and from the townspeople, are another window into the daily happenings of the Civil War years and what the people of Madison saw.  There are details of meals and sometimes even banquets that were prepared for groups of soldiers coming through by train, as well as stories of days when there was no time for meals and the soldiers had to grab what they could and eat on the way.  There are accounts of units that smuggled in guns up through Smyrna (Daytona).  There are anecdotes of the young woman who took off the shoes she was wearing that day and gave them to a young recruit, the company drummer, who was barefoot.  There is the story of the sleeping soldier who woke up to find flowers on his chest, and wondered if someone thought he had died.  It was only a gift from a local girl who did not have the heart to awaken him, and simply left the flowers with him while he slept.

There will be parts of the book that will deal with what happened on “this date in history.”  For example, on May 15, 1865, there is a list of all the activities that took place that day in Madison, including a complete list of men who were paroled, with names, ages and descriptions.

With another five or so units to go through, laboriously checking and cross-checking hundreds of names against endless lists, Bunting still has an enormous amount of work ahead of him.  As of yet, he has no idea when his book might be finished and ready for publication, but he keeps steadily working on it.

“It’s a hobby, a thing I enjoy doing,” he said.  “It’s really interesting to find out what happened to all these people.”

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Bob Williamson: From The French Quarter To Honey Lake Plantation

August 23, 2011 Around Madison, Church Comments Off
Teresa and Bob Williamson enjoy the good life at their new home, Honey Lake Plantation, located west of Greenville.

Teresa and Bob Williamson enjoy the good life at their new home, Honey Lake Plantation, located west of Greenville.

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Bob Williamson can sit in his library and look out at part of the vast domain that belongs to him. On one side, he can see beautiful trees and hills. If he glances out of his office to the windows on the other side, he can see Honey Lake.

Although things of beauty surround him, there is nothing pretentious about the man or the things in his home. Things that may cost much surround him but this writer’s eyes are drawn to a football signed by Mark Richt and a guitar, which sits on a stand in a corner. To the writer, the football and guitar seem to fit the easygoing attitude of the man he is interviewing.

Bob Williamson has not always had it so good. He grew up in a family, where his father served in the military and was always having to move. Even after his father left the armed services, the family continued to move. He had gone to 19 different schools. Bob became an alcoholic by the time he was 15. At 19, he became an intravenous drug user and was walking the streets of New Orleans, La., packing a .357 Magnum. He used methamphetamines to get high and heroin to bring him back down. He was booted out of the Army after being diagnosed as a sociopath. He became a hardened violent criminal, committing armed robberies and ending up spending time in Parish Prison in Louisiana. He recounts the tales of his violent life in his autobiography, Miracle on Luckie Street.

How did this former drug addict and alcoholic kick those nasty habits and end up where he is today?

During the interview, Williamson recounts how he learned the law was after him in New Orleans, so he headed to Atlanta, Ga., in order to hide out. When he got there, the first thing he did was sell a pint of blood, because he was flat busted. He got a job cleaning bricks. One day, he borrowed a car from someone and ended up totaling it. During the long stay at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, he befriended a nurse, who would bring books to him from the library every couple of days. She would also bring him the list of the bestselling books in the world. He noticed the Bible was always at the top of the list and although he did not believe in God, he asked her to bring him a Bible.

“I began reading it,” he said. “I started with the Old Testament, but it was too boring, so I began reading the New Testament.”

When Williamson got to Philippians 4:13, he read: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” He got angry and tossed the Bible aside.

When the nurse who had befriended him entered the room, he told her, “That thing is full of lies. God can’t do anything with me. I’m a drug addict and an alcoholic.”

“Listen here,” the nurse answered. “He is God and He can do anything.”

Eventually, Williamson surrendered his life to Christ.

“I found God was different than what I had been told,” he said. Finding Jesus to be kind and fair, Williamson decided to follow his lead.

Later, Williamson got a job in a paint factory, keeping up with labels. The job was not glamorous.

“I was stuck in a dark basement all day,” he said. “I asked them if I could paint the room.”

Working at nights and on weekends, for no pay, he painted the room white.

Following six promotions at the paint factory, Williamson decided to start his own business. His wife and his friends tried to dissuade him from doing it, but he went on anyway.

An artist, Williamson went into the airbrushing business and invented a new airbrushing tool that was recognized as the best in the world.

Williamson was about to go public and put the company he had started on the New York Stock Exchange when he had his heart ripped out. He learned that some of his employees had been stealing from him and plotting to start their own company.

Bankrupt, disheartened but undaunted, Williamson made payment arrangements with all his creditors and began paying them off. He also embarked on a career as a serial entrepreneur, founding 11 companies, which he was able to sell for millions.

Williamson sold his last business for $70 million and decided to retire, but it was too much for the man who admits he is an insomniac, sleeping only three to four hours a night. He decided to expand Honey Lake from just a private residence for him and his family into a resort area. He acquired 2,000 more acres to add to 2,700 acres he purchased from Pansy Poe, owner of Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Ga.

Williamson said Honey Lake Plantation would officially open for business in late October or early November.  He plans to add more people to the company’s payroll, including people who can clean rooms, cook and other things.

The beautiful plantation has an antebellum theme throughout and features include a conference hall, which will be built soon, horses, a smokehouse with wild game processing, a salon and spa and a wedding chapel. The wedding chapel features the stained glass windows from the old Presbyterian church in Madison. At the front of the church, behind the speaker’s rostrum is a cross in the center, with picture windows looking out on beautiful Honey Lake.

Today, Williamson is happily married and has three sons, who are all college graduates. One of his sons helps run Honey Lake with him and another is developing software with him that will help schools. The software will compare each school in the country and show what each failing school needs to do to pull up its grades.

On Nov. 4 and 5, Williamson will teach a success seminar at Honey Lake Plantation west of Greenville. He will share what he has learned in his 40 years of business. To learn more about it, go to www.seminar.williamsongroupusa.com.

Among the principles he will share during the seminar are principles he has learned since becoming a Christian.

Williamson said one thing he had learned from Philippians 4:13 was that it said. “I can do all things through Christ,” not that Christ can do it. He said we have to be willing to do our part.

“If I can do it,” Williamson said, “then I know that anyone can.”

To learn more about Williamson, you can visit his blog at www.wordstoliveby.com or www.miracleonluckiestreet.com. To learn about Honey Lake Plantation, please visit www.honeylake plantation.com.

 

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Obituary: Wilmarie Dickey Gilbert

August 22, 2011 Front Page, Obituaries One comment

Wilmarie Dickey Gilbert, age 63, died Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Tallahassee.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, at Beggs Funeral Home Madison Chapel with burial at Macedonia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 PM Wednesday at Beggs Funeral Home.

She was born on June 24, 1948 and lived all of her life in Madison. She retired from ARC after 30 years of service. She was a member of Lee United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband: James N. “Jim” Gilbert of Lee, 2 sons: Arthur “Artie” Gilbert (Maria) of Madison and Shane Gilbert (Kristina) of Lee; 1 daughter: Diane Gilbert Smith (Stuart) of Madison: 2 brothers: Charlie Dickey (Jane) of Lee, and Roy C. Dickey (Gail) of Greenville; 2 sisters-in-Law Lois Wood (Art) of Illinois, and Julia Sterchi (Ed) of Missouri; Brother-in-Law Paul Biggers of Illinois; 8 Grandchildren: Alicia , Huston, and Taylor Smith, Hannah, Tyler, Jared, Garrett and Parker Gilbert.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Carroll Edward and Wilma Park Dickey; and 1 son: David Neil Gilbert.

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Obituary: Barton L. “Burton” Rye

August 22, 2011 Front Page, Obituaries Comments Off

Barton L. “Burton” Rye, age 55, died Sunday, August 21, 2011 at his home in Lee.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at Beggs Funeral Home Madison Chapel with burial at Corinth Cemetery. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at the funeral home.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a faithful servant of the Lord.

He retired from VSU and was a active member of Beulah Baptist Church where he assisted the Pastor. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

He is survived by his loving wife, Diane Bennett Rye; one daughter, Leann Wirick (Shannon) of Lee; four sons, Barton Rye, Jr. (Mitzi) of Sopchoppy, Mike Woods (Wendy) of Tifton, Ga., Johnny Woods (Leslie) of Lenox, Ga., and Donnie Woods of Lenox, Ga.; two sisters, Betty Hunter (William) of Vero Beach and Belinda Chason (Carlos) of Tallahasssee; two brothers, Bobby Rye (Annette) and Benny Rye (Lonette) both of Lee; and eight grandchildren, Shan, Victoria, Stetson, Ada, Kegan, Melanna, Nathan, and Abigail.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Berry and Myrtice Rye.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beulah Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 52, Lee, Florida 32059.

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Wilmarie Gilbert Passes Away

August 21, 2011 Around Madison, Front Page One comment

Wilmarie Gilbert, who spent years working at ARC with mentally challenged people and who recently served as secretary at Lee United Methodist Church, passed away last night at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. She had suffered a massive stroke. Funeral details and obituary will be posted as soon as I get them at the Greene Publishing website.

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Barton Rye, Former Madison Policeman, Passes Away

August 21, 2011 Front Page, Obituaries Comments Off

Former Madison Policeman Barton Rye passed away at 4 a.m. this morning (Aug. 21). The obituary and funeral arrangements will be posted after we have received them. Rest in peace!

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Bembry Announces Legislative Delegation Hearing Dates

August 18, 2011 Around Madison, Front Page Comments Off

Tallahassee – State Representative Leonard Bembry is pleased to announce the dates for the Legislative Delegation hearings that he is chairing. Because the 2012 Legislative Session will start early next year, beginning January 10th and ending March 9th, the hearings will be in September. Committee meetings begin mid-September through early December.

Representative Bembry stated, “I am convinced that delegation hearings present the general public and local government leadership with a tremendous opportunity to express their needs, and to allow an exchange of information. We can do more as your legislator if we better understand the local problems and concerns.”

Dixie County – Dixie County Commission Chambers located at 401 N. Cedar Street in Cross City, September 26, 2011 from 9:00 – 12:00am.

Levy County – Levy County Commission Chambers located at 355 South Court Street in Bronson, September 26, 2011 from 3:00 – 5:00pm.

Hamilton County – Hamilton County Commission Chambers at the Hamilton County Courthouse, located at 207 NE 1st Street, Jasper, September 28, 2011 from 10:00 – 12:00am.

Madison County – Madison County Courthouse Annex, Room 107, 29 SW Pinckney Street, Madison, September 28, 2011 from 3:00 – 5:00pm.

Franklin County – Franklin County Commission Room in the Franklin County Courthouse Annex Building, located at 34 Forbes Street, Apalachicola, September 29, 2011 from 4:00 – 6:00pm.

House District 10 is the largest geographical district in the state, and spans from Franklin County, east to Columbia County, and down the coastline to Levy County.

If any member of the public would like to address the delegation, please contact Teresa Watson in Representative Bembry’s office at (352) 493-6848 or teresa.watson@myfloridahouse.gov, to be placed on the agenda. Appearance cards will also be available at the hearing for anyone who wishes to be heard.

NOTICE REGARDING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding should contact the OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEONARD BEMBRY no later than seven (7) days prior to the proceeding at (352) 493-6848, Chiefland, Florida.

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Madison Has New Weapon In Its Firefighting Arsenal

August 18, 2011 Front Page One comment
Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo by Lynette Norris, August 17, 2011. Fire Inspector Juan Williams, City Manager Harold Emrich, and Training Officer Bruce Jordan stand beside the new aerial ladder truck recently acquired by cooperative effort of the City of Madison, the County of Madison, and North Florida Community College.

Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo by Lynette Norris, August 17, 2011. Fire Inspector Juan Williams, City Manager Harold Emrich, and Training Officer Bruce Jordan stand beside the new aerial ladder truck recently acquired by cooperative effort of the City of Madison, the County of Madison, and North Florida Community College.

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.

“This truck will not be used to get cats out of trees,” said Fire Inspector Juan Williamson of the brand new 25 ton, 75-foot aerial ladder truck recently acquired for the Madison Fire and Rescue Department.

The Rotary Club got its first look at the new truck at its Aug. 17 meeting when Williamson and Training Officer Bruce Jordan presented the new truck for members’ inspection.

The cost of the truck, $587,000, was 75 percent funded by a grant from the USDA that came through last year.  “We made a good impression on the USDA,” said City Manager Harold Emrich of a previous meeting with officials. “And now we’re reaping the benefits.”

The other 25 percent of the cost was covered through a cooperative agreement between the county of Madison, the city of Madison and North Florida Community College.  Even with the USDA grant, Emrich said, the city couldn’t have afforded the truck on its own.

The new truck requires 11 and a half feet of clearance with the ladder folded down, and is currently housed in a bay of the 911 station, the old Ford building.

It is “not magic,” said Emrich, but it does put another, superior tool in the hands of the Madison Firefighters for attacking a fire.  When fully extended, the ladder will reach the height of a five-story building;  however, as aerials go, it’s a small one.  There are aerial ladder trucks that reach heights of 105 to 135 feet.

However, he added, the primary component against any fire is having manned shifts 24/7 that can leave immediately in response.  The keys to success are early arrival and an interior attack, and the best work is done in the first five to seven minutes.  “After that, you’re at a disadvantage.”

The truck will likely see a good 15-20 year useful life, Emrich continued, however, in 10 years or less there will undoubtedly be new technology added.  It will also be a useful component in economic development, when prospective new businesses want to know what kind of fire protection Madison offers.

Williamson then added that October is traditionally Fire Safety Prevention Month, when he and Training Officer Bruce Jordan visit the schools and teach children the basics of fire prevention.  The National Fire Safety Council, a 501e(3) nonprofit, is helping out by supplying materials such as coloring books, crayons, pens, and other items which will help children remember the basic fire safety rules.  If anyone would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the National Fire Safety Council, they may do so at any fire station.  Madison Fire and Rescue is allowed to keep 98 percent of the contribution to go toward local fire safety programs.

 

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MPD Conducting Sobriety Checkpoint This Friday Evening

August 18, 2011 Around Madison, Front Page Comments Off
Ben Ebberson

Ben Ebberson

The Madison Police Department will conduct a DUI Sobriety Checkpoint, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, and ending at midnight Saturday morning, Aug. 20.

“As you know, drinking and driving is a large problem within our community,” MPD Sgt. Ben Ebberson said in a press release. “In order to help make the community safe, the City of Madison Police Department will be hosting a DUI Sobriety Checkpoint and Safety Inspection within the city limits.”

The Zero Tolerance Safety Checkpoint and Safety Inspections will be located near W. Base Street and Madison Square Shopping Center

 

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Video: Madison County Commission Meeting Aug. 17, 2011

August 18, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

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Madison Police Come Home With Traffic Trophy

August 18, 2011 Front Page Comments Off
Madison Police Chief Gary Calhoun (left) and Cpl. Jeff Rosenberg (center) show their pride in winning the second-place trophy in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge July 27 in Orlando. They are accompanied by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Regional Administrator, Terrance Schiavonne (right).

Madison Police Chief Gary Calhoun (left) and Cpl. Jeff Rosenberg (center) show their pride in winning the second-place trophy in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge July 27 in Orlando. They are accompanied by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Regional Administrator, Terrance Schiavonne (right).

By Ginger Jarvis
Greene Publishing, Inc.

Anyone wishing to see the Madison Police Department’s new trophy has only to visit the lobby of the Police Department Building. The eagle-shaped statue holds pride of place in the display case there.

Police Chief Gary Calhoun proudly explained that his officers won the second-place award in the Rookie Category at the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge in Orlando in late July. Calhoun said that about 100 law-enforcement agencies competed in the Rookie category — sheriff’s departments, police departments, and other groups competing for the first time.

Calhoun lauded Cpl. Jeff Rosenberg for heading up the competitive events, putting the reports together, and doing the required surveys. “He did the documentation for us, and put in some time standing on the street corners observing seat-belt use in passing vehicles,” he said. ”I’m very proud of Jeff for documenting and submitting. That was a great benefit. All our guys have participated to make it worthwhile.”

The competition was based on policies, guidelines, and effectiveness of traffic-related problems in the city. Each agency won points for every division, such as seat-belt use by officers, seat-belt use by the public, number of crashes with injuries, red light infractions, etc. For their second-place finish, Madison’s PD won 12,000 points to be used toward the purchase of traffic-safety equipment. Calhoun said the points translate almost evenly into an equal dollar amount.

The chief stated which he has already decided on some purchases. He plans to order re-usable reflective flares with lights and a couple of radar units with part of the funds. “The flares will be especially helpful at the scenes of night-time crashes,” he surmised.

Calhoun reported which the traffic-safety policies have worked effectively in the city. In 2009, the city had 68 crashes; in 2010, that number fell to 61. In 2009, crashes with injuries numbered 30; the 2010 tally was 25. Red-light infractions have also come down, and the city has had a reduced number of crashes at intersections. “Speeding violations have remained pretty steady,” he said.

In the documents submitted by Rosenberg, the city shows four DUI-related crashes in 2010,  safety-belt usage at 85 percent, and 261 seatbelt citations for the year.

(For our readers who might have interests in Taylor County, Perry won first place in the DUI competition, and got the right to turn a key to see if they won a vehicle. The key turned, and the Perry Police Department now owns a fully-equipped new Chevy Tahoe.)

Other winners in the Rookie class were Lake Hamilton Police Department (First Place) and Panama City Police Department (tied for second with Madison.)

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Semi Overturns

August 18, 2011 Front Page Comments Off
IMG_8180
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.

A 2007 International semi tractor-trailer overturned Tuesday, Aug. 2, at approximately 4:30 p.m. The accident occurred at the eastbound on-ramp on Interstate 10 at State Road 53 South.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Cameron Durant, 35, of Charlotte, N.C., was southbound on SR 53. He attempted a left turn to go east on Interstate 10.

Durant’s semi overturned onto its right side onto the roadside and came to a final rest, blocking the northbound lane of State Road 53.

Madison County EMS, Madison Fire and Rescue and Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

There were no charges and no injuries in the mishap.

FHP Trooper Gus Smyrnios was the investigating officer.

 

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Sinking

August 18, 2011 Editorials Comments Off
Jacob’sLadder
Jacob Bembry – Columnist

Have you ever felt like you were on top of the world? Nothing could stop you? You could do anything and you did not need help at all? Who would need anyone else if you could walk on water?

I wonder how Simon Peter felt when he stepped out of that boat and began walking on the water. At least, he had his eyes focused where they should be – right on Jesus Christ. I wonder if he began to get pride in himself, though. When he turned away from Jesus, he sank and it was only because of Jesus that he was saved from the crashing waves around him.

It’s only when a person is sinking that they can be saved. They have to realize their helplessness without Jesus Christ. They have to realize that they cannot walk on water or deal, at times, with even the day-to-day stuff in their lives.

Christ is my strength. He is my best friend. He is my guide. He talks to me through the Holy Spirit and through His Word.

Don’t sink without Christ. Reach out your hand to Him and He will save you.

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Eloise Bronson Wade

August 18, 2011 Obituaries One comment

Eloise Bronson Wade, 97, passed away Monday, August 15, 2011 in Tallahassee.  A graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 19, 2011 at Oakridge Cemetery in Madison and Memorial Services following at 2 p.m., at Westminster Oaks Maguire Center in Tallahassee.

Beggs Funeral Home, Apalachee Parkway Chapel, Tallahassee, Fl. (850) 942-2929, is in charge of arrangements.

A native of Madison, she resided in Tallahassee for the past 12 years. She was a member of the Woman’s Club, and Garden and Country Club in Madison. She was an avid Bridge player, enjoyed traveling and was of the Presbyterian faith.  She would have been married to her husband Jack Wade for 77 years in December.

She is survived by her husband, Jack Wade of Tallahassee; daughter, Eloise McCown and husband John of Attapulgas, Ga.; two grandchildren, John McCown, Jr. and wife Kate of Bentonville, Ark., and Eloise Johnson and husband David of Hawkinsville, Ga.; seven great-grandchildren, David James Johnson, Sarah Kate Johnson, Caroline Johnson, Gracie Johnson, Mary Ella McCown, Jack McCown, and Ashlyn McCown.

 

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Madison County Schools Welcome ADC Tutoring

August 18, 2011 Around Madison, Education Comments Off
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

As the school year draws closer, so grows the desires for students to succeed. While Madison schools have sometimes struggled to meet yearly goals, this year they have implemented a new tool to make reaching this goal easier. This new tool is the ADC Tutoring Program.

ADC Tutoring Corp. describes themselves on their website as, “a Florida-based tutoring company providing quality tutoring services to Title I schools through the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program. ADC Tutoring, Corp. utilizes a research-based curricula for both reading and rath. The curriculum is designed for daily 20-30 minute activities providing children with meaningful practice in reading fluency, comprehension, word study as well as math skills and concepts. Tutoring services are provided after school two-three days a week for 60-90 minutes per session. Our services assist students in improving their academic achievement through additional instruction and review.”

ADC’s program has helped several counties across Florida assist their students in succeeding each year. The program is designed to help students make gains in FCAT as well as in school testing. Their website explains, “ADC has demonstrated considerable evidence of high academic achievement over the past four year of serving student through SES. In the 2009-10 school year (SY) the program student participation increased by 48%.”

ADC’s mission is, “ADC Tutoring is sensitive to individual student needs and is committed to helping each student meet specific academic goals that will promote confidence and success.” They also say of their program, “Instruction is based on norm-referenced, research based reading and math assessments which allows ADC Tutors to pinpoint individual student learning needs. ADC has demonstrated considerable evidence of high academic achievement over the past four years.”

“ADC personnel plan with parents and school districts to develop measurable achievement goals, Student Learning Plan (SLP), for each student via diagnostic test information, gathering district student data, i.e., IEP, 504 plans and meeting with the parent face to face. ADC tutors/instructors utilize the following pre-post assessment instruments in identifying areas of strengths and weakness: Florida Assessment for Instruction and Reading (FAIR), Group Reading Assessment and Diagnostic Evaluation (GRADE) and Group Mathematics Assessment and Diagnostic Evaluation (GMADE).”

This after-school tutoring program will be offered for grades K-12 in both math and reading. They will be serving all Madison County SES school sites. For more information you can visit their website at www.adctutoring.com or contact Denise Robinson at 464-1153, or email her at denise.robinson30@gmail.com.

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Baseball Tournament Set For This Weekend

August 18, 2011 Sports Comments Off
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.

A Community Baseball League will be played Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21, in Madison.

The weekend tournament will wrap up the North Florida Baseball League’s season as all teams gather to play a double elimination tournament.

The games will be played at Cantey Field at North Florida Community College and at the Madison County High School baseball field.

The first game begins at NFCC at 10:30 a.m. Madison’s first game will be at 1:30 p.m. at MCHS.

Sunday’s games begin at 2 p.m. at MCHS with a final game to follow at 4:30 p.m. with a possible 7 p.m. game, according to the tournament results.

Most players in the tournament range from 18-25 years old and others are as old as 40 years young.

Adult baseball has been active in North Florida and South Georgia for over five years.

The League will help support the local Second Harvest Food Bank and other organizations and individuals in need.

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Coach Nennstiel Gives Updates On ACA Cross Country Teams

August 18, 2011 Sports Comments Off
By Fran Hunt
Special from ECB Publishing, Inc.

With the fast approaching beginning of the new school year and young athletes preparing vigorously for a new season, Aucilla Christian Academy Cross Country Coach Dan Nennstiel has provided an update for the boys and girls cross country teams.

The preliminary rosters have been released for both teams. Running for the girls this year are ninth graders Sarah James and Caroline Yaun; eighth graders Taylor Copeland, Megan Giddens and Sarah Tharpe; seventh graders Skylar Dickey, Stephanie English and Sarah Riley; and sixth graders Camryn Grant and Ria Wheeler.

Running for the boys will be eleventh graders Jay Dickey, Jay Finlayson and Sammy Ritter; tenth grader Braden Mattingly; ninth graders Ricky Finlayson and Carson Nennstiel; eighth grader Sam Hogg; seventh graders Donnie Kinsey, Traynor Barker, Chaz Hamilton, JT Harp and Gatlin Nennstiel; and sixth graders Timothy Finlayson, Cannon Randal and Brandon Slaughter.

The season schedule will be released soon.

“We’re really excited about the season. We’re coming off of the best boys and girls team we have had in history from last year,” said Nennstiel. “The boys team is real strong and the girls are working on replacing three strong runners that we had last year. There’s going to be a lot of hard work ahead, but the outlook for the year is promising.”

In cross country-related news, the teams will be having a car wash in the parking lot of The Monticello News, Saturday, August 20 from 8 a.m. until noon. The cost of a quality car wash is a donation to the team.

All proceeds collected will go toward the costs that the team endures during the course of the season.

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