Archive for October 2011

Obituary: June Ann Johnson

October 21, 2011 Obituaries Comments Off

Mrs. June Ann Johnson, 68, died Friday, October 21, 2011 in Madison.
Funeral services are 2:00 PM Tuesday, October 25, 2011 in the chapel of Beggs Funeral Home Madison with burial to follow in the Lee Memorial Cemetery in Lee, Florida. The family will receive friends 6-8 PM Monday at the funeral home.
She was born in Madison County where she lived most of her life. She was a homemaker and also employed with Dixie Packers and the Hillcrest Dairy Bar both in Madison. She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church in Lee.
She is survived by 2 sons, Randy Johnson and Larry Johnson Both of Lee FL, a daughter, Susan McGuire of Greenville, 3 brothers, Tracy Williams and Nelson Williams both of Valdosta GA, Wayne Williams of Madison, 2 sisters, Patricia Ann Garner of Athens, Alabama and Belinda Bembry of Live Oak FL, 4 grandchildren, Heather, Amanda, Ashley, Arica, 3 great grandchildren, Maria, Patrick, & Virginia.

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Arrest Made In Attempted Murder And Carjacking

October 21, 2011 Crime, Front Page One comment

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Michael Malphurs, a 32-year-old white male, is in jail in Leon County following an attempted murder and a carjacking in Madison.
According to Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart, at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday evening, Oct. 20, the Sheriff’s Office received a call from two witnesses who were present at Leon Roland’s home on 221 South. The witnesses had found Roland on his bed, bleeding. He had apparently been stabbed in the face. His home had apparently been ransacked and he had been robbed.
Deputy Odell Livingston and Madison County EMS arrived at the scene. A suspect was developed. Deputies began searching for Malphurs.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, a suspect matching the description of Malphurs stole a vehicle from the Dollar General in Greenville. He took the car and headed towards Tallahassee.
Later that morning, Malphurs was arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department. He is being held on charges from Madison County of attempted murder, aggravated battery on a person over 65 years of age, carjacking and grand theft auto.
There is no bond set for Malphurs at this time.
Roland is reportedly recovering in a Tallahassee hospital.

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FDLE announces crime in Florida down for first half of year

October 21, 2011 Crime, Front Page Comments Off

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey joined local, state and federal criminal justice officials today to announce the 2011 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report. The report reflects that crime in Florida declined 2 percent for the first half of the calendar year over the same period last year. Total violent crime (murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault) is down by 3.2 percent for the first six months of the year, while total non-violent crime (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) declined 1.8 percent.

“The decrease in crime volume is yet another sign that Florida is a safe state, and we are open for business,” said Governor Rick Scott. “I commend Florida’s law enforcement agencies as well as our citizens for their commitment and dedication to keeping Floridians and visitors to our state safe.”

“Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement and Florida’s citizens, our state continues to be a safe place to work and live,” said Attorney General Bondi. “I am proud to recognize their dedication to protecting our citizens and visitors.”

The report also showed a 3.1 percent decrease in the number of murders, a 4.3 percent decrease in robberies, a 3.4 percent decrease in aggravated assault, a 1.6 percent decrease in burglary, a 1.2 percent decrease in larceny, and a 9.4 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts. The number of forcible sex offenses increased 1.1 percent. Domestic violence offenses declined 0.6 percent.

“These first six months’ results are a strong indicator of what we will see for 2011, and the downward trend of Florida’s crime numbers is a positive sign,” said Commissioner Bailey. “We’re aggressively working to safeguard our streets and communities.”

The report also contains information on officers killed feloniously. Five officers died from criminal causes during the first half of the year; two were officers with the Miami-Dade Police Department and three were officers with the St. Petersburg Police Department.

The report includes data submitted by 409 of the state’s 416 law enforcement agencies, which represent 99.2 percent of the total population of the state. The report reflects crime volume only; crime rate, which takes into account population, is calculated in the annual report. The complete 2011 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report, including county-by-county breakdowns, can be found on FDLE’s website at www.fdle.state.fl.us/fsac/ucr/.

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SENIOR CENTER TO RECEIVE $81,100 CHECK

October 21, 2011 Around Madison, Front Page Comments Off

USDA, Rural Development will present an $81,100 grant check this Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. to the Senior Citizens Council of Madison County to go toward the purchase of new kitchen and rehabilitation equipment at the Madison County Senior Center, located at 1161 SW Harvey Greene Drive, just off State Road 14 South.

Invitations have been sent for this important ceremony and presentation:
Madison Mayor Jim Catron will welcome guests, followed by Rosa Richardson,
executive director of the Senior Citizens Council of Madison County, with a
project overview and introduction of special guest, James Ray, Board president.

City, county commissioners and other special guests will be acknowledged
leading up to the check presentation. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. Dress is casual.

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Salter Wins Cattle Battle Grand Prize

October 21, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo by Tommy Greene, Oct. 15, 2011 Savannah Salter, left, won the grand prize for the best steer in the inaugural Cattle Battle held Saturday, Oct. 15. Savannah’s proud mother, Mickie Salter, is pictured on the right. See full story and more photos in the Wednesday, Oct. 26, Madison County Carrier.

 

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Crime Fighting Text Messaging Tip Service Launched By Crime Stoppers Of Madison County

October 21, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

Madison County citizens can now send text and web tips through FaceBook and TipSoft from Crime Reports

For the first time, mobile phone users across Madison County now have the ability to provide anonymous crime fighting tips through the power of anonymous text messaging and WebTips.  Crime Stoppers of Madison County and CrimeReports, the industry leader in law enforcement tip management software and web applications, have joined together to provide this service which allows citizens to send anonymous tips by sending a text message from a mobile phone or online.

Text popularity of text messaging has created a significant opportunity for the public to assist law enforcement agencies fight crime.  The ability for any citizen who owns a mobile phone to assist in crime solving is of great importance to communities globally and we are excited to play such a pivotal role in the transmission of these crime fighting tips.

Utilizing TipSoft from CrimeReports, information may be anonymously received and securely replied to with complete confidence.  The service was built specifically to allow text messaging informants to remain anonymous by encrypting the text messages and routing them through several secure servers, protecting the personal details of the informant.

TipSoft SMS also allows law enforcement to respond by text message to the originating cell phone without ever knowing the identity of the individual who left the tip.  The user’s information is always given an alias and a unique ID before being sent.  This secure application allows the tipster and the investigator to have two-way dialog while always keeping the user’s identity completely anonymous.

Crime Stoppers of Madison County encourages everyone to report information about any illegal activity such as unsolved cases, vandalism, theft, the sale and distribution of drugs, wanted persons or information about crimes that are being planned in the community schools or the community.

Crime Stoppers of Madison County

Tip Line – 973-2762

Text “CMC plus your message” to 274637 (crimes)

Visit us on FaceBook and access through app “submit tip”

 

 

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Kevisa Aikens Miss MCCS 2001

October 21, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

By Lynette Norris

Greene Publishing, Inc.

Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo by Lynette Norris, October 18, 2011 Looking lovely in a gorgeous aqua gown, Kevisa Aikens was crowned Miss MCCS 2011 at the Homecoming Coronation Ceremony Tuesday evening, Oct. 18. Standing with her on stage is her escort, John Moore

Purple, white and silver flowers and ribbons on white pedestals, and a large silver-gray cloth covering the floor transformed the gym at Madison County Central School into a very nice setting for the 2001 MCCS Homecoming Coronation Ceremony.  The pedestals formed a pathway down the center of the gym to rows of chairs placed at an angle near the stage, where more than two dozen students took their seats after walking down the pathway with their escorts, with Mr. Football, DeVante Robinson and Miss Cheerleader, Asha Davis, leading off the procession.

Up on stage, a backdrop of flowers on a white framework set off a row of chairs where the homecoming representatives of each grade took their seats:  Miss Sixth Grade, Desirea Alexander, Miss Seventh Grade, Shauntavia Livingston, Miss Eighth Grade, Kelli Garner, and the three young ladies representing Miss Eighth Grade Homecoming, My’Asia Arnold, Courtney Richardson and Kevisa Aikens.

In the final moments of the ceremony, Mistress of Ceremonies Betsy Crews was about to announce Miss MCCS, when someone reminded her that she hadn’t called up the crown bearers yet.  For a few more suspenseful seconds, everyone waited while Taniah Hatchett and Zarion Preaster proceeded to the stage with the tiara that would crown the newly chosen homecoming queen for the evening.

Then, finally came the announcement:  Miss Kevisa Aikens was the new Miss MCCS for 2011.

Congratulations, Kevisa.

Other students receiving honors that evening, are:  Miss Volleyball, Taylor Harvey; Mr. MCCS Tour Group, Tykeem McCray; Miss Sixth Grade TV Tech, Katie Mays; Miss Seventh Grade TV Tech, Karsyn Greenlee;  Miss Journalism, Merritt Madders; Miss Boys and Girls Club, Alilexcia “Kay” Scurry; Miss CBI, Emily Gary; Miss FFA, Pazlei Jenkins; Miss Pep Club Adrianna Kinsey; Miss SStride, Faith Siplin; Miss Band, Tabatha Anderson; Miss FEA, Josie Long, Miss Student Council, Elsie Kuhl; Sixth Grade Princesses, Desja Smiley and Brishauna Conner; Sixth Grade Prince, Kristopher “Bill” Kuhl; Sixth Grade King, Ken’Auntre Adams; Seventh Grade Princesses, Nacoya Williams and My’Asia Florence; Seventh Grade King, Tinarus Irvine; Eighth Grade Princesses Elizabeth “Lizzie” Frakes and Johnnae Woods, and Eighth Grade King Darius Straughter.

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