Archive for December 2011

Letter To The Editor

December 22, 2011 Letters To The Editor Comments Off

On December 13th, my husband and I found out that we had made a huge mistake and had fallen for a very professionally done online scam. We instantly lost a large sum of money. Immediately we called our bank, Madison County Community Bank. They quickly started making phone calls. The local sheriff’s department came out, got all the information & did some research but the nature of the scam left them with very little they could do. The scammer was now a ghost. With a gut wrenching feeling, we all knew that our money was almost surely out of the country at that point and no hope of being returned. All we had were some fraudulent emails, from a no longer existent recipient and an account number that received our money. With very little chance of succeeding in getting our money returned, MCCB, took the account number, corresponded with the sheriff’s office and proceeded to investigate the situation.

At this point, my husband and I had let it go. This thief may have taken our money but he was not going to succeed in stealing our joy at Christmas and furthermore, he couldn’t steal our testimony. We accepted our mistake, learned from it and knew at this point it was in God’s hands.

Then we received a call from Kim at MCCB, on the 20th…they had succeeded in getting our money returned to us! Mr. Howard Phillips wouldn’t give up and had continued to make phone calls and do research with the little information we were able to provide. The staff at MCCB not only looks out for our best interest when it comes to our everyday banking needs but having absolutely nothing to gain from us or anyone else, they pursued this investigation. They went to work on our behalf, with nothing in it for them.

As a community with many differences, opinions, needs, and desires…this is an example of what we should all portray. Selfless actions and looking out for the needs of others with nothing expected or owed in return. Words cannot express our personal thanks to both the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Madison County Community Bank for how they helped us! Please accept our sincere thanks!!! May you all be blessed abundantly this Christmas just as we have been!

Mike and Melissa Reader

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Jacob’s Ladder: My Christmas Miracle

December 22, 2011 Editorials Comments Off

By Jacob Bembry

When I finally came to myself again, I saw my father along with my friends, Benjie and Denise Dyal, and their daughter Cali in my hospital room. Soon, I was out again. I had regained my memory but there is a part of it that I will never get back again.

I do not remember much of what happened on December 8, 2011. My boss and my friend, Emerald Greene, said that I had been texting her some questions I had about a story I had proofed for someone in Monticello. All of a sudden, the texting stopped. She wondered what had become of me. She said that Kristin Finney, one of my reporters, began texting her that they were on the phone with 911 for me and that I was blue. Dana Williams, a sales associate, had begun mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and Lynette Norris, another reporter, and Dee Hall, a graphic artist, had begun chest compressions. Kristin gave them the instructions from the dispatcher. I remember none of this – I only share what has been shared with me.

In Monticello, apparently shaken by the news about me, Emerald started to head to Madison before she realized that she was 40 minutes away from me. She said that Russell Williams, one of our freelance photographers, had gone to the office and told her he had never seen anyone so blue in his life as I appeared to him.

EMS arrived on the scene. I was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where the prognosis didn’t look good. Doctors did not give me much hope but they started a process to bring my body temperature into a hypothermic state. This helps preserve brain function and is called Arctic Sun. Apparently, Arctic Sun worked on me.

I think of the women who helped me at the office, the EMTs who helped and the doctors and nurses and I am overwhelmed by it. More than that, I am overwhelmed by the fact that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost were in the background, directing each hand and each action and keeping me safe and protected.

Over the next few days and nights, a parade of pastors and a parade of Christian lay people walked through the doors of my hospital room. They were led by the steps of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Gently, each of them whisphered prayers of hope for me. Gently, they breathed prayers of hope for my family who breathed their own prayers for me. Even friends who I have not met in person also prayed for me. One friend named Pam had plenty of photos that she had taken of places, people and things and each looked a prayer and resounded in my heart like a prayer.

God has promised never to leave us alone or forsaken. He has delivered on his promise to me time and time again and this year just in time for Christmas.

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Remembrance of Things Past: Tracy Bowen

December 22, 2011 History Comments Off

By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.

When a person has lived all across the world, it might seem hard to believe that they would find their way to Madison. However, that is exactly the case with Tracy Bowen. Prior to living in Madison, Tracy was living in Guam. She and her family came to Madison in 1972 after her father inherited the family farm. Madison is also where he retired from the Air Force.

During that time, there was plenty for kids to do in Madison. Some of Tracy’s fondest memories include Randall Buchanan taking she and other kids to the Pinetta Community Center to play tennis. The community center was closed for many years, but was recently opened again. “The community center always gave us something to do,” said Tracy.

Some other activities that she did for fun were meeting her dad for lunch at Pep’s or going to the Hillcrest Dairy Bar for a plate of French fries with her friends after school. Hillcrest Dairy Bar was located where O’neals is currently at. She also recalls her mom taking the family to drive-in theater. “She would make homemade popcorn and put it in bread bags so we could take it with us,” she explained.

Tracy also enjoyed going to Pick-n-Save while her mom was next door at Pantry Pride and picking out new records to buy. Comers Drug Store was another place that she frequented. Comers had an old fashioned soda fountain, “You could add the syrup and make your soda. They also had really good floats.” Tracy actually worked at Comers for a while after school and during the summer when she was younger.

During summer there was plenty to do in Madison County. One of Tracy and her friend’s favorite activities was going to Wade’s Beach at Cherry Lake. She also went camping at Blue Springs with her family two or three times a month during the summer. “It wasn’t camping with a camper. We did it the old fashioned way. Whatever we caught was what we ate for supper. It was a lot of fun, we really enjoyed it.” She also spent a lot of her time at the community swimming pool in Madison, which was located right beside the Farmers Co-Op.

“Now-a-days kids think they have to go to the mall or have to be sitting in front of the TV playing video games. We never ran out of stuff to do. We also had to work. My dad believed in kids working. I would help raise the hogs, work tobacco or watermelons. We always stayed busy,” said Tracy. She also added, “I love living in this community. The people here are so good to everyone.”

Tracy is the wife of Ben Bowen and the mother of Heather Bowen.

Anyone interested in being interviewed for this article can call 973-4141 and make an appointment with Kristin Finney, or may drop by Greene Publishing, Inc. any day before noon. Those interviewed must have lived in Madison for a large portion of their life, and be able to recall a few things that have changed since that time.

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Happenings At Madison First Baptist Church

December 22, 2011 Church Comments Off

By Nell Dobbs

Christmas is almost here! God is love. He sent His son who was with Him before the world began.

The children’s “Christmas Pageant,” led by Martha Beggs and Martha Register and other was so beautifully done and touched our hearts. Bill Brown gave the offertory prayer that covered the world. The Worship Choir sang “Gloria! He is born!”

Our dad’s youngest sister, Aunt Helen Fligh, of Jacksonville, wrote a book in 1977, “Thinking Bet of God,” inscribed with “As love never fails, let’s keep on loving.” That’s what God does. He keeps loving us, as shown in every way. Our message Sunday morning by Preacher Manning Hicks was from John 1:1-18 and verse 29. He said it could have been entitled “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” In fact one year, I had a Christmas card about that. His cousin John came before Him saying he was not that light but loved witnessing of that light. It was sad He came to His own and they received Him not.

Preacher closed by reading one of Helen Steiner Ride’s poems about the man who received word Jesus would be his guest that day, so he got his house in order and waited. A beggar came by and he invited him in and gave him good shoes, and a coat.

A woman came by weary and worn and he gave her, a place to rest and food, night was coming – no Jesus. Then a little girl came crying. She was lost, so he helped her find her way home.

As he knelt to pray he was sad but was told “inasmuch as he had done it unto the least, he had it unto Him.” May we be led that way – to see needs and to meet our needs. Amen! We are indeed thankful Jesus came and came the way he did.

Some years ago our nephew, Gene Clyde Wall, of Atlanta wrote, “The Christmas Lamb” and said I could use it; thank you, His mother Sue, and he are visiting us now.

“The Christmas Lamb”
By Gene Clyde Wall

I used to think it very strange
A king should come this way;
Born in a stall with cows and sheep.
And in a Manger lay.
A king should come to palace warm
That’s made of stone not clay,
To gold and silk and silver spoons
And all suck royal array.
And servants to obey,
To dine and wine at tables fine
And hear musicians pay;
A baby king no doubt would have
Bright toys to make him gay,
And there’s a maid or two or three
To make his cradle sway.
But Christ was born within a stall,
Yes, where the cattle stay.
And it’s for sure His swaddling robe
No royalty did display.
This Babe was there amidst the flock
And lay upon the hay.
And instead of stately music sweet
He heard the horses neigh.
And this the King of Kings of Kings,
So men and angels say,
Was born within a humble barn;
Its walls were dark and grey.
But then the Lord a stable chose
A message to convey;
That in His eyes a baby Lamb
Is what was born that day.

On the 19th from 1-4, there was an Open House at the Middle Florida Baptist Association Building, to meet our new Director of Missions, Mike Miller and his wife Jan.

Christmas Caroling was Wednesday the 21st.

Christmas Eve, we will have a candle light service and the observance of the Lord’s Supper on the 24th at 5 pm.

Congratulations to John Mack Smith on graduating from FSU and thanks to everyone for prayers, for him and his parents. Give God thanks for their son. Flowers were placed in his honor.

We need prayer of comfort for the family of Catherine Carver, and all the other sad ones.

We have a prayer of thanks. Our preacher Larry Law is healing and is home. We would like to pray for all the others who are ill.

Thanks to the Youth, of our church for their wonderful Christmas Program Sunday night.

My God bless us, one and all! Amen!

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