By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A Madison woman was arrested on Sunday, April 13, following an altercation for aggravated assault.
   According to a Madison Police Department report, at 2:25 p.m., Patrolman Eric Gilbert was dispatched to a residence on Milliner Street in reference to a fight.
   When Gilbert arrived, he was met by Janie Michelle Blackshear who told him to take her to jail because she had stabbed her husband.
   Gilbert noticed blood evidence all over the sidewalk and inside the house.
   Blackshear also advised that a private party had transported her husband to the hospital.
   Gilbert arrested Blackshear and she was transported to the Madison County Jail.

Cherry Lake Fire And Rescue Hosting Fishing Tournament

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Cherry Lake Fire and Rescue will host a fishing tournament on Saturday, April 19, from 6 a.m. until 12 noon at the Sims Boat Club at Old Wade Beach.
   Entry fee will be $40 per boat with two fishermen or $20 per boat with one fisherman.
   Registration for the Big Fish pot is $10 per boat, with 100 percent payback.
   Registration will start at 5 a.m. on Saturday.
   Prize money will be award to first through fourth place if there are more than 21 boats or first through third place if there are less than 21 boats.
   For more information, please call (850) 929-2354. Please leave a message.

NFCC Eliminates Sports

By Ted Ensminger
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Barring an unsuspected financial windfall, a large gift from a kind-hearted sports enthusiast or perhaps Divine Intervention, the athletic programs at North Florida Community College are about to become a thing of the past.  It appears that NFCC will begin its second half-century of service by eliminating a tradition of over 49 years of collegiate athletic competition.
   In what can only be called a gut-wrenching decision-making process, the NFCC District Board of Trustees were given no options other than to accept the President’s recommendation to eliminate all sports at the college effective the 2008-2009 school term.
   “Of all the things I’ve had to do, this is by far the most painful,” said Morris Steen, NFCC President.  “Nobody, nobody regrets more than me having to take this action,” Steen continued.  In an ironic twist, in 1960, Steen had actually played on the college’s inaugural sports team.
   The vote to eliminate the NFCC Athletic Program came after Athletic Director Dr. Steve Givens had presented a last ditch presentation to save the program.  Givens pointed out that in canceling the athletic program at NFCC, the college would be eliminating over 12 percent of the entire full time student enrollment.  Givens also explained that the athletic programs at NFCC contribute over $300,000 to Madison County economy.
   According to Amelia Mulkey, NFCC Chief Financial Officer, a budget notice from the State of Florida that created a shortfall for NFCC finances totaling over $500,000 prompted the recommendation to the District Board of Trustees.  It is estimated that cutting the athletics programs will create a net savings of about $360,000.
   While the college is in the throws of millions of dollars of capital improvements, funds being used for these projects come from the Public Education Capital Outlay program and are specifically earmarked for capital improvements.  Regretfully, according to Mulkey, none of these monies can be redirected to other demands of the college.
   NFCC currently fields three intercollegiate teams, including a baseball team that currently ranks in the top 10 in the state.  Other teams affected include Women’s Fast Pitch Softball and Women’s Basketball.  The decision of the Board will likely cause the firings of Coach Jeff Dabney and Coach Adrian Dorsey.  The futures for head coach Clyde Alexander and assistant coach Marcus Hawkins were unclear.  Dr. Steve Givens’ position appears to be secure.
   The room grew silent as the Board of Trustees struggle to find a way to delay the vote until further review could be accomplished.  In the end however, Mulkey instructed the Board that the vote needed to be made at that meeting in order to meet new budget deadlines.  A dejected set of individuals reluctantly accepted the athletic program’s fate and unanimously approved the recommendation.
   Steen was asked why this decision had to be made now, just weeks before his predecessor will be chosen and his response was, “This $590,000 monkey is squarely on my shoulders.”

Madison County 911 Named Public Safety Answering Point Of The Year

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison County 911 Office has been named the 2008 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) of the Year.  AK Associates 911, Inc., who serves 911 offices throughout the State of Florida and across the United States, nominated Madison 911 for their creativity obtaining grant funds to provide state of the art technology in 911 equipment as part of their ongoing effort to enhance services and safety for the citizens of Madison County.  The award was also recognition for the innovative approach and methodology used to implement and manage the upgrade. 
   Through the leadership of the Madison 911 Coordinator, Juan Botino, Madison County took advantage of its designation as an area of critical economic concern to acquire cutting edge technology and equipment to operate one of the most advanced 911 systems in the State.  In fact, Duval is the only county with a comparable system.
   The Madison 911 dispatch team pulled together through this time of transition, obtaining training on the upgraded equipment while effectively working through an implementation schedule set to not interrupt the existing quality of services.
   A recognition lunch was held on April 11, where AK Associate VP Arthur Kraus presented Botino with a handsome plaque acknowledging the achievement as numerous well-wishers echoed the praise.  Robert Arnold, an AK Associate residing in Madison, made sure local praise was extended to all involved as well.
   Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Ministerial Association Sponsoring Bible Reading At Gazebo

   The Madison County Ministerial Association, with assistance from the Ministerial Alliance, is sponsoring the reading of the entire Bible at the Gazebo, Four Freedoms Park, beginning 6:30 p.m., April 21 through Friday morning, April 25, 2008 at 6:00 a.m.
   Volunteers from throughout the county and from the various churches will be reading in segments of about 15 minutes, beginning in Genesis and reading through Revelation, with some choosing segments of 30 minutes or more.
   There will be a kickoff challenge at 6:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Rev. Bob Laidlaw, pastor of First United Methodist Church will speak and there will be special music.
   A special time of worshipful celebration is planned at the end of the Bible reading on Friday morning, April 25, 6:30 a.m. Rev. Charles Evans, pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, is the special speaker
and Rev. Richard Quackenbush will be singing.
   The public is invited to these events, as well as any time during the reading of the Word. The readers are encouraged to arrive early and remain to listen to others read.
   Many have assisted in this endeavor, but special thanks are extended to Myra Valentine and Jenny Andrews for their help.
   Participants may want to bring/wear mosquito repellant.
   Robert Agner, president of Madison County Ministerial Association, can be reached (850) 973-4160.