By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
This year’s Light Up Madison event will be held in downtown Madison this Saturday, December 1, from 4:30-8 p.m. There will be several events including a parade, a Jingle Jog, hayrides and many other activities. Read more
Greenville Country Christmas
DEC. 7-8, 2012
Please contact Stuart MacIver at 850-371-0042 or Kathy Reams at 850-879-7901 for more information. For schedule of events, please see page 7. Read more
Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that on Monday the 26th day of November 2012, Investigators of the Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on State Road 6 in Madison County for a civil infraction. During the traffic stop, Investigators noted signs of possible criminal activity with the occupants of the vehicle.
Investigators deployed K-9 “Arko” for an exterior search of the vehicle with a positive alert. Investigators discovered 4.5 grams of crack cocaine in the passenger’s pocket. The passenger, Kenneth C. Locke, claimed the crack cocaine and the driver was not charged. Kenneth C Locke was taken into custody without further incident.
Arrested and charged are the following:
Kenneth C. Locke, DOB: 09/18/1967 of Jasper Florida
1. 1 count of Possession with intent to sell crack cocaine
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Fingernails were bitten. People were sitting on the edge of their seats. When it was over, one side let out their collective breath, while the other side let out a collective groan. It was one of two games in 2012 that made the Madison County High School-Pensacola Catholic match-up an “instant classic,” as the Pensacola News Journal called it.
Both teams battled to a stalemate after the first quarter and the score was tied 0-0. Read more
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Trail Riders of Madison County, the South Georgia Trail Riders and Hopes and Dreams Riding Facility will hold a benefit trail ride at the Hopes and Dreams Riding Facility, which is located south of Quitman, Ga., at 6300 Madison Highway, on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Hopes and Dreams is a facility dedicated to wounded warriors, veterans and their families. The mission of the facility is to restore peace to the lives and heal the unseen wounds of veterans and their families through the use of horse therapy, camaraderie and understand. Read more
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
When Josiah David Riegsecker is old, he will have a fantastic true story to tell his grandchildren. In a few years, his parents, Justin and Rebecca, will tell him the tale of his birth.
The story is like something you see on sitcoms or on reality television shows. It begins early on a Friday morning. The morning of Nov. 2 to be exact.
Rebecca Riegsecker had plans to have her baby at the Birth Cottage in Tallahassee. Read more
Bruce J. Mathis, age 80, of Lake Park, Ga., passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia following a brief illness. Mr. Mathis was a native of Hamilton County, Florida. He was born on July 12, 1932 to the late Alex and Georgia Sweat Mathis. Bruce was a civil engineer for the City of Jacksonville for many years. Mr. Mathis served his country in the United States Navy and Air National Guard. He was predeceased by his first wife and the mother of his son, Mrs. Betty Anderson Mathis. Also preceding him in death was a brother, George Mathis.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Mathis, Lake Park, GA.; one son, Greg Mathis and his wife Gwyn of McDonough, Ga.; three step-daughters, Stephanie Collins, Madison, Toni Edwards (Jeff), Hahira, Ga.., and Jennifer Trejo, Dowling Park, Ga..; two brothers, Jimmy Matthews and Bobby Matthews, both of Lake Park, Ga..; three sisters, Imogene Clark, Lake Park, Ga., Jan Tatch, Alma, Ga.., and Francis Johnston, Ft. Lauderdale; two grandchildren, Rachel and Georgia Mathis; five step grandchildren, Allison Taylor, Collin Edwards, Carolanne Edwards, Jaden Smith and Marina Trejo; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Lake Park in Lake Park, GA.
Interment will follow at Burnham Church Cemetery near Jennings.
The family will receive friends at the church in Lake Park on the day of the service beginning at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shriners Hosptial for Children, 1822 Palmyra Road, Albany, Georgia 31701.
Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, Florida is in charge of arrangements.
Jerry Dean Hyde, age 69, died Saturday, November 24, 2012 at his home in Lee.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Lee First United Methodist Church.
He was born in Augusta, Ark., and moved to Lee in 1987, coming from Lake City. He enjoyed drag racing and being with his racing friends.
He worked as the Chief Operator for Occidental Distributed Chemical Co.
He is survived by his wife: Nancy Hyde; one son: Jerry Profitt and (Eve) of Brandon; two daughters: Lisa Tuten (Eddie) of Lee and Stephanie Burnett (Brian) of Lake Park, Ga.; two brothers, S. V. Hyde (Rose) of Lake City and Edward Hyde (Faye) of Augusta, Ark.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
Beggs Funeral is in charge of arrangements. 850-973-2258.
Nicholas Jason Waller, age 36, passed away Sunday, November 25, 2012.
Nick had Alport Syndrome, which caused his kidneys to shut down as a teenager. He had two transplants and was currently a patient at DeVita Four Freedoms Dialysis in Madison.
Nick is the son of Jim and DJ Waller of Madison, the grandson of Madge Waller of Madison and Charles and Betty Linehan of San Diego, Cal. His brothers and sisters, Benjamin (Jenn) Wertz, Heidi Waller of Madison, Jennifer (Brian) Swearingen of Eastman, Ga., and Phill (Kelly) Waller of Colbert, Ga., also survive him. He will also be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
There will be a visitation at Fellowship Baptist Church Thursday night, November 29, 2012 from 6-8 p.m.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alport Syndrome Foundation, 1608 E. Briarwood Terrace, Phoenix, AZ 850-480-9414, www.alportsyndrome.org Email info@alportsyndrome.org.
Beggs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 850-973-2258.
Archie Lee Brown, Jr. was born in Madison on August 20, 1951 to the late Ethel Lou and Archie Lee Brown, Sr. He was called home early Wednesday morning, November 21, 2012. He served in the United States Army and was residing in Tampa at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, due to a spinal cord injury that occurred on September 11, 2011.
He leaves to cherish his memory, one daughter, Tamika Brown-Wilson (Johnny) of Madison; three sons, Anthony Brown, Sr. (Erica) of Live Oak, Rodney Christian (Eline) of Marietta, Ga., and Robert Brown of Selma, Ala.; two sisters, Elizabeth “Pie” Ann Lewis (Verdell) and Julaine Williams (Gary) of Jacksonville; two brothers, Joe Williams (Pat) and Charles Brown, Sr. (Stephanie) of Madison; eight grandchildren: Angel Tirado, Jod’lon Brown, Tonisha and Tony Williams, Antanasia, Jefferey and Anthony (Jr.) Brown and Amari Wilson; two great-grands, Ros’Cyanah Jackson and Sy’loni Bryant. He also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and sorrowing family and friends.
Visitation will be at Cooks and Cooper Funeral Home on November 30 between 5-7 p.m. Homegoing services will be held at Pineland Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., on December 1 at 11 a.m. His final resting place will be at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. Repast will be held at the Madison County Recreation Center complex. Food donations will be received at the recreation center the morning of the funeral. The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and comforting during their time of bereavement.
City crews will dig up and replace a broken major water valve on Dec. 4, 2012 at the intersection of Marion Street and Crane Avenue.
The city anticipates low water pressure in several areas, to include: Parts of Parramore, Orange, Meeting and Crane avenues, Marion Street, and North Florida Community College.
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Farm-City Week was celebrated with a dinner at the Farm Bureau office on Tuesday evening, Nov. 20.
The Farm City dinner began with Madison Mayor Jim Stanley signing the proclamation recognizing Farm City Week. Read more
By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Becky’s Dance Steps Studio’s competition team attended Dance Makers, Inc.’s regional convention and competition in Mobile, Ala. The competition was held Nov. 9 -11 at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. There were 19 students in total that attended the competition ranging in age from 3-19 years old. The students were helped and encouraged by their “support team” which included many family members and friends. Read more
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc. 
A 19-year-old has a lot to be thankful for after surviving a rollover on Interstate 10 on Monday, Nov. 19.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Almeta Powers, of Jacksonville, was traveling west on I-10 in the left travel lane, approaching mile marker 253. Read more
By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Newly elected School Superintendent Doug Brown presided over the Madison County School Board’s annual organizational meeting Nov. 20, where the board members chose Bart Alford to serve as chair for the coming year, and Fain Poppell to serve as vice chair. The board also tapped newly elected member Karen Pickles to serve as the school district’s legislative liaison. Kenny Hall agreed to serve as alternate liaison. Read more
By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.
When Princess Roebuck addressed the school a month ago, it was to bring to their attention an incident at Madison County Central School’s Homecoming Coronation event, where a recorded song with inappropriate material was played during part of the proceedings. She was assured that the board was aware of the incident and was looking into it.
At the Nov. 20 meeting, she again appeared before the board regarding the same incident. Read more
Newly-elected School Superintendent Doug Brown willbe at the swearing-in ceremony at 4 p.m. this afternoon at the Madison County Courthouse courtroom. Although he is taking part in a superintendent’s conference, he wouldn’t miss the event for anything, his wife, Lynn, informs us.
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The newly-elected officers for Madison County will be sworn in Friday afternoon, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m.
The following is a list of those who will be sworn in: Read more
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A total of $12,000 in damages occurred to two vehicles in an accident on NE Rocky Ford Road, approximately .25 miles south of Almond Avenue, on Monday evening, Nov. 12. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, an unknown vehicle was stopped in the northbound travel lane of Rocky Ford Road, facing south at the bottom of a hill. Read more
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Madison County High School Cowboys will begin playoff action Friday night at Boot Hill against the Providence High Stallions from Jacksonville.
Previously, this season, the Cowboys beat Providence 48-6 in a game played Sept. 28 in Jacksonville. Read more
