Tag Archive for madison county fl

Drug Task Forces Seizes $52,000

February 13, 2012 Crime, Front Page Comments Off

Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that On Wednesday night February 8, 2012 at 11:58 pm, agents of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 Nissan Altima for a traffic violation. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on interstate 10 in Madison County and was being operated by Kenitra Gilmer and occupied by one passenger Porscha D. Thomas.
While Agents were taking enforcement action, they detected signs of deception and possible criminal activity. Canine “Arko” was deployed and a positive alert for the presence of narcotic odor was indicated. The driver, Kenitra Gilmer, admitted that they had just recently smoked marijuana inside the vehicle prior to being stopped.
Agents conducted a probable cause search on the vehicle and discovered a small amount of marijuana. The search further discovered a large amount of U.S. Currency concealed in three bags and a large amount of Turbo Tax refund visa cards, each in the name of different people in the same type of bags as the currency.
Both, Gilmer and Thomas did not know the amount of the currency and stated that only a portion of the currency was actually theirs and were unsure of how much belonged to them. Gilmer and Thomas further denied knowing any of the people or how the cards got into the vehicle.
Agents contacted the Department of Homeland Security Investigations which responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. The currency totaled $52,194.00 and was seized with the Turbo Tax visa cards.
Currently, no formal charges are being filed on Kenitra Gilmer, B/F, DOB: 02/17/1985 of Charlotte, NC. and Porscha Thomas, B/F, DOB: 06/23/1985 of Jacksonville, Fl. However, the investigation into multiple identity thefts and fraudulent income tax returns continues and the case is being adopted by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations for possible Federal prosecution.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will be entitled to its portion of currency and other potential assets seized as a result of initiating this investigation.

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MCHS Basketball Update

February 7, 2012 Sports Comments Off

Submitted by Madison County High School Head Basketball Coach Eddie Richie

7 point loss to Live Oak, 3 point loss to Lincoln, 4 point loss to Brooks County, 2 point loss to Florida High, 5 point loss to Live Oak, 2 point loss in OT to MaClay. That’s 6 losses by an average of less than 4 points. That’s how close we are from a respectable 16-7 instead of a frustrating 10-13. That doesn’t take into consideration we were missing 10 players for the first 6 weeks of the season. Still, this team doesn’t make excuses. They keep striving to get better every day. They are not ready for this season to be over. They know they are better than the record indicates. They are really coming together as a team at the most important time of the year…tournament time.

Your Cowboy Basketball team heads into districts this week as a dangerous #4 seed. The Cowboys play Taylor County Wednesday, Feb 8th at 6pm at Florida High. When they win that game, they will play Godby, ranked 4th in the state in 4A, 6pm at Florida High. Saturday, they will play for the district title at 7pm against the winner of Florida High and East Gadsden. That is the game plan.

Everyone has a chance to play their best ball and play their way into the State Tournament. Each district Champion and runner-up move on to the State Tournament which is a 32 team field. Our post season roster is below which includes our Junior varsity call-ups. Please encourage these young men when you see them and show them your support.

Neal Brown
Akevious Williams
Brice Hamilton
Ladarius Robinson
Trey Johnson
Deonshay Wells
Tre Arnold
Davontay Stephens
Dee Oliver
Brandon Vought
Coddrick Griffin
Ivan Johnson
Octavius Fayson
Brandon Crawford

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Becky’s Dance Steps Students Perform “Dive in the Water” During Down Home Days

April 20, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off

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Cowboys Varsity Basketball Season Stats

January 20, 2011 Sports Comments Off

Cowboys Varsity Basketball Season Stats

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County Commission Denies Nestle Waters Request; Military Covenant Vote for Next Meeting

January 20, 2011 Front Page Comments Off

By Lynette Norris
Greene Publishing, Inc.

At Wednesday night’s Jan. 19 meeting, the County Commission voted 5-0 to deny a request from Nestle Waters to vacate three undeveloped subdivision lots the company had purchased from River Highlands subdivision. The three lots, five acres each, are contiguous to Nestle’s well field property near the town of Lee.
Kent Koptiuch, Natural Resources Director for Nestle, said that the company wants to extend its level of protection over the property and include the three lots in its forestry management plan to protect its groundwater system.
Commission Ellis asked if anything was preventing Nestle from doing that now, with property remaining as it was, undeveloped platted lots owned by the company. Koptiuch replied that there was noting stopping them, but that the company simply wanted to make it formal, the three lots becoming one contiguous lot instead of three separate ones, returning to acreage as if the lots had never existed. Ellis raised the concern about setting a precedent; other businesses have sometimes taken advantage of a zooming change that pulled platted lots out and reverted them back to an agricultural zoning.
“We’re in it for the long run,” said Koptiuch. “We don’t have an ulterior motive (except) protecting our investment. This is one more tool in our tool box to better protect that land.”
Jimmy Anderson, a resident of River Highlands subdivision, who lives next to one of the lots, protested the zoning change. Nestle attorney Austin Peele pointed out that the company had met all requirements for the request and had shown good faith in resource management so far.
However, because Nestle could continue its current plans without the change they had requested, the Commissioners voted 5-0 to deny the request.
Another item generating much discussion was the signing of the Community Covenant pledging support for military families in the Madison area. Rae Pike spoke for several minutes assuring the Commission that the covenant was nothing more than a statement of affirmation for active military personnel and their families, that the county was not going to be made financially liable for anything by signing, and that contrary to previous information the Commission had received, no “plan of action” was required before they signed the document at the signing ceremony, Saturday Feb. 5.
“This is a coalition, not a contract,” she said. “It is a promise of support.”
This public show of support, she said, is what motivates other people, other groups, to formulate the plans of action and the initiatives to provide help where it is needed. The Pentagon and Department of Defense has been actively encouraging small communitie across the country to sign these covenants, and if Madison signs, it would be the first community in the entire state of Florida to do so.
Since the Commission has on more meeting scheduled before the Feb. 5 ceremony, they agreed to put the covenant signing on the agenda for a vote at the next meeting, when they would have the new information documented for the county’

s records.

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SHIP Classes Set

January 12, 2011 Uncategorized Comments Off

Are you ready for homeownership? Learn about the steps you need to take to achieve homeownership in the home buying series, which begins Monday, Jan. 24, at 6 p.m. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate that is required for SHIP assistant and rural development loans. To register, call the Madison County Extension Service at (850) 973-4138.

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JA To Host Father-Daughter Dance

January 11, 2011 Around Madison Comments Off

Submitted by Amy Kendrick, Madison Junior Auxiliary

The Junior Auxiliary of Madison County presents “Masquerade,” the Third Annual Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at the Madison Woman’s Club.

            Tickets are $10 per Gent for a father to bring up to three daughters. The ticket price includes a 5” x 7” portrait taken at the event.

            Tickets for the dance are available at Madison County Community Bank, Wachovia Bank and Odiorne Insurance.

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