Greene Publishing, Inc.

By Lynette Norris

Greene Publishing, Inc.

As it has done every year for the last several years, the Greeneville branch of Farmers and Merchants Bank continues its longtime tradition of hosting the Big Bend Hospice Remembrance Tree.

Ever year, from right after Thanksgiving until New Year’s, the Tree of Remembrance stands in the bank’s lobby as a reminder to all who see it to cherish loved ones who are still with us and remember those we have lost.

People who want to pay tribute to those they have lost as well as those who are still fighting the good fight have adorned the tree with the names of those loved ones among the other beautiful ornaments.

A shining tradition, the Remembrance Tree stands there every year for those who want to pay tribute to someone they love, in the season of hope and light.

With bells and bows on, the Big Bend Hospice Tree stands in the lobby of FMB at Greenville, in Honor and in memory of the loved one whose names are placed upon it.

By Lynette Norris

Greene Publishing, Inc.

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce is having an ‘All Day Christmas Open House’ Tuesday, Dec. 20, for all those who would like to drop in at their convenience to visit, mingle and socialize.

Cindy Vees, Chamber director, says that while the Chamber is open every day, the Open House occasion is a “warm and fuzzy” event for the Chamber and the people of Madison, as well as a way “to express our gratitude to everyone who has supported the Chamber over the past year.”

There will complimentary hot cider, coffee and hot chocolate for guests, as well as some light snacks.  Maybe some danish or “we might even bring in some Johnson donuts,” said Vees.

The Open House will be going all day during regular business hours for the convenience of as many people as possible who’d like to drop in for a few pleasant minutes to have a hot beverage and a light snack while they chat and visit with Chamber representatives and each other.

“Come whenever you can,” said Vees.  “And come as you are!”

By Kristin Finney

Greene Publishing, Inc.

Ready, set, bake! Each year at the Greenville Country Christmas there is a bake-off as well as a gingerbread house decorating contest. Categories for the baking contest include breads, cakes, candies, cookies and pies.

The winners in the bread category were:  Rose Thigpen, first place, Debbie Shepherd, second place, and Joyce Sales, third place.

The winners in the cake category were: Zelda Oquinn, first place, Juanita Cason, second place, and Joi Collins, third place.

The winners in the candies category were: Joyce Sales, first place, and Bali Thigpen, second and third place.

The winners in the cookies category were: Rode Thigpen, first place, Debbie Shepherd, second place, and Bali Thigpen, third place.

The winners in the pies category were: Chloe and Abby Reams, first place, and Rose Thigpen in second and third place.

Gingerbread House Decorating Contest Winners were Alexis and Wade Braswell, Lillian Day and Shelby Witmer.

The Greenville Country Christmas Committee would like to thank all of our Sponsors and everyone who helped to make Country Christmas wonderful this year.

State Rep. Leonard Bembry is a North Florida native and moved to the Pettis Springs area west of Greenville in 1977 where he purchased a farm.  Leonard and his wife Susan have three children; Lori, Kip and Missy.

Bembry was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 and has served on the Appropriations Committee, the Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee as the Democratic Ranking Member, the Select Committee on Government Reorganization, the State Affairs Committee, and K-20 Innovation Subcommittee and the Select Committee on Water Policy.  He recently announced his bid for U. S. Representative for Florida’s 2nd congressional district.

State Representative Leonard Bembry was the Greenville Country Christmas' 2011 Grand Marshal.

[info submitted by permission of GCC - picture © Justina A. Cone of Bembry with Mary G. Demps]

Mrs. Mary (Groover) Demps was born on April 4, 1930 just two miles from her current residence west of Greenville. Mary and Eddie Demps were married in 1949 and enjoyed 50 years together before his passing. In 1981 she had a vision to start a prayer meeting which eventually turned into the Refuge Church in Aucilla, FL where her husband was named pastor and many souls came to know Christ. In addition to continuing to minister to those in the community, she also serves as President of the Minister’s and Deacon’s Wives Guild, Outreach Coordinator for her area’s International Missionary Dept. and was recognized by her regional church association as 2011 Mother of the Year. Mary credits her mother as a source of inspiration for her service to others.

[info submitted with permission by Greenville Country Christmas - picture © Justina A. Cone]

Mrs. Mary (Groover) Demps was voted Citizen of the Year during the Greenville Country Christmas.

Photo submitted

Each person honored on the Tree of Remembrance in any of the 26 locations throughout eight counties, will be honored at a special We Remember Tribute on Sunday, January 8, 2011 at Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., starting at 2:00 PM.  One by one each name will be read aloud and a bell, from the USS Constant a Navy minesweeper from the 1950’s to early 1990’s, will be tolled in honor of each life.   “The impact one life has had on another is immeasurable,” said Pam Wilson, Big Bend Hospice Foundation Executive Director.  “This Tribute honors those connections.  There is such power and presence in a name.  To hear a beloved name spoken and this historic bell toll in a loved ones honor is an amazing experience.”  There will be musical performances from the Big Bend Hospice choir and the haunting sound of bagpipes provided by Joe Ashcraft of the Tallahassee Pipe Band, as well as words of hope and comfort.  A reception will be held immediately following the Tribute.  For those who cannot attend, you can watch the event on the Big Bend Hospice website www.bigbendhospice.org where it will be streamed live.  It will also be posted later as a video on the website for family and friends to view.

“We realize how important it is to continue to cherish those who are no longer here.  By calling their name and honoring their memory it makes our loved ones a part of the present,” continued Wilson.  “There is no greater tribute than to remember the joy and blessings a loved one has been to us in life and continues to bring us in memory even after death.  This Tribute service seems like a fitting way to conclude the Tree of Remembrance season and begin a new year.” For more information on the Tribute Service please call Connie Palmer at 878-5310.

By Kristin Finney

Greene Publishing, Inc.

During the holiday season, many families look for chances to give back to those in need. There are plenty of opportunities to help needy families across the country, but there are not many holiday charities that specifically help local families in need.

Now, Madison residents have two chances to give back to local families who need help this season.

The Madison County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition along with other community partners are now accepting non-perishable food items that will be distributed to families in need during the Christmas season.

Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the Chamber Office, which is located at 248 SW Range Avenue. For more information, contact Cindy Vees at the Chamber at 973-2788.

Another opportunity to donate is being requested by Big Bend Hospice. Big Bend Hospice is requesting donations of nutritional supplements to be given to hospice patients in Madison County. Next time you go to the grocery store, pick up a six-pack of nutritional supplements to donate. Hospice patients are given nutritional supplements because they have lost their appetites for regular food or are unable to chew regular good. All flavors and any leading brand of nutritional supplement are needed.

Packs of nutritional supplements can be dropped off at the Big Bend Hospice office which is located at 225 SW Smith Street in Madison. The staff at Big Bend Hospice will deliver the supplements to the patients in need. For more information, call Michelle Brantley at Big Bend Hospice, 566-7491.

By Ginger Jarvis

Madison residents will have a chance to meet the top five candidates for the City Manager position on Tuesday, January 11, 2012. Following a meet-and-greet session at 4 p.m., the City Commissioners will hold their regular meeting, then will conduct interviews with the five. The board will meet the following evening at 5:30 p.m. to select the person best suited for the job.

The commissioners finalized these plans at their regular meeting on December 13. From a field of 23 candidates, each commissioner voted on individual ballots for five. The eight top vote-getters in round one went on to round two, with four receiving four or five votes each. The board then voted between the two who had each received three votes.

The candidates (in alphabetical order) include Bailey Barefoot of Madison; Tim Bennett of Allendale, South Carolina; Charles Parkinson of Hollywood; Oel Wingo of Reddick; and Jerome Wyche of Madison. City Clerk Lee Ann Hall was instructed to immediately issue invitations to the January 11 session and to follow up with written notification. The board agreed to fund housing and meals for the out-of-town candidates, but not to pay travel expenses.

Barefoot has had eight years of experience with the Florida Department of Correction, and earlier was Director of Safety, Health, and Environment in Columbus, Ga. Bennett served as Deputy and Assistant Town Manager of Bluffton, South Carolina, then became County Manager of Allendale County in 2009. Parkinson served as Chief of the Office of Management Services (Transit) in Miami-Dade County before moving on to Management and Budget Coordinator in the same office. Wingo has more than 15 years of experience as City Manager and Assistant City Manager, most recently in newly-incorporated Palm Coast. Wyche worked in a private corrections facility before being named director of Solid Waste and Recycling in Madison County.

Following the selection on January 12, the board will anticipate having the new City Manager in place at the February meeting, when they negotiate the salary for the new manager.

Paul Sharon of the Range Riders offered to assist the commissioners with the a list of questions to ask the candidates. He had earlier helped with the balloting process and rated the candidates for the commissioners. Each commissioner was provided with the resumes submitted by the candidates previous to the December meeting.

At the close of the meeting, Sharon said, “Good luck in your search. You have some strong candidates there.”

Mayor Jim Catron thanked Sharon for his help throughout the process