I, Shane Roland, am proud to announce my candidacy for the Office of Madison County Supervisor of Elections. A lifelong resident of Greenville, I graduated from Madison County High School in 1985 and completed a program of study in Business Data Processing at Lively Technical Center in 1987. 
   No right is more important to us as American citizens than the right to vote. As the state moves forward with electronic voting and registration systems, I feel that my extensive background in technology and data reporting on a county and state level uniquely qualifies me to conduct elections in compliance with the law and to ensure that every eligible voter will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
   My 19 years of experience working for Madison and Taylor County School Boards include electronic reporting of student information to the Florida Department of Education, including school grades, school funding, student testing, adequate yearly progress information, and attendance and discipline data.  My duties also include maintenance of computers and network systems in all of Madison’s district schools and offices. 
   I am committed to assuring the security, integrity and accuracy of each and every vote. It is my goal to always provide the voters of Madison County maximum accessibility and the highest level of personal integrity.
   I am married to Lisa Ratliff Roland.  We have three children: Ceira, age 14, and twins Alissa and Jarrett, age 5.  My parents are Charles and Jo Ann Roland of Greenville.
   Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can answer any questions or provide any information. Thank you for your support and your vote.
   Political Advertisement paid for and approved by
Shane Roland, No Party Affiliation, for Supervisor of Elections

Live Oak Pilgrim’s Pride Safe, But Not Off The Table

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   According to a recent national release, record-high costs for feed continue to hammer the U.S. chicken industry, leading Pilgrim's Pride, the largest U.S. chicken company, to announce it will eliminate 1,100 jobs and immediately close seven U.S. facilities.
   Based in Pittsburg, Texas, Pilgrim's Pride said it will close a chicken-processing complex in Siler City, N.C., and distribution centers in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Jackson, Miss.; Nashville, Tenn.; Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as Plant City and Pompano Beach.
   Gary Karp, Executive Vice President at Technomic, a food-industry consulting firm in Chicago, says that an array of economic forces has led to the rapid rise in prices for corn, soybeans and other crops over the past year. 
   Hurt by poor weather, worldwide grain supplies are at a 25 year low.  The weaker U.S. dollar is making grain exports more attractive to other countries.  Global demand for animal feed is soaring in developing nations, and the demand from the U.S. ethanol industry is putting even more pressure on prices.
"The outlook based on the world demand for grain is going to continue to be high," Karp says. "Producers are going to cut back because when they're losing money on every chicken they grow."
   Clint Rivers, Pilgrim Pride's CEO, said in a statement that the company's total costs for corn and soybean meal to feed its flocks in 2008 could hit $1.3 billion more than two years ago.  Rivers warned that food producers will be forced to scale back production of chickens and raise prices.  That will also feed inflation and weaken consumers' demand for foods.
   "We simply must find ways to pass along these higher costs," Rivers said. "While the decision to close a facility is always very difficult, we believe the actions we are announcing today are absolutely necessary to help bring supply and demand into better balance."
   Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Sirmans Collection Site Opening April 2

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison County Solid Waste and Recycling Department will open its tenth collection site in Sirmans on Wednesday, April 2.  A combined effort of the Solid Waste and Recycling Department and the Road Department, supplemented by Correction Officers and inmates from the Madison Correctional Institute, went into the collaboration that finished on time and on budget.
   Waste Coordinator Jerome Wyche acknowledged the great work and team effort, extending his appreciation to county administration as well, saying, “After much strategic planning, coordinating and assistance provided by the Board of County Commissioners, the year long process is complete.  The dedicated work provided by these members is very evident and the site is ready to open its gates.”
   The Sirmans site is the third collection site located south of I-10 in Madison County.  The Board of County Commissioners has made future plans to construct another collection site on Hwy. 14 South. 
   The construction of collection sites throughout the county has steadily fulfilled a long-range objective of the Solid Waste and Recycling Department to remove the green industrial collection containers from the roadways of Madison County.  In addition, the collection of solid waste and the reclamation of recyclable materials will be conducted in an organized and controlled manner in an effort to eliminate illegal dumping as well as enhancing the appearance of the county. 
   The Sirmans site is constructed similar to the other nine sites in the county, providing the same courteous service that has become the standard at Madison County collection sites.  The operation of this site will be managed by personnel already assigned to the Solid Waste and Recycling Department.
   The hours of operation will afford maximum access to the site, taking into consideration work schedules and convenience for all residents.   Because Sirmans is not a heavily populated area, the hours of operation will be similar to that of the Eridu site.  Once the Sirman’s site is fully operational, an initial credential check for site users will be in effect to insure that only authorized residents and approved commercial personnel are using the site. 
   Residents are encouraged to notifying the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at (850) 973-2611.  Evidence of such violations will of course require positive identification followed by a written complaint.  Please help us keep Madison County safe and clean.