Teaching and learning isn't always as simple as students just walking into class, sitting down, opening a book and taking tests. In fact, managing the surrounding environment and other parts of the school day are often as much of a challenge as managing the academic side of the education process.

Among these other priorities, none is greater than safety. From bus rides to and from school to health issues and bullying, school leadership remains dedicated to aggressively addressing safety issues. Because in the end, every minute that takes teachers and students off task can't be recaptured.

In an effort to obtain resources to put toward these concerns, School Improvement/Grants Management Coordinator Cheryl James applied for a $3 million grant, which was subsequently approved. The Madison County School District was one of only 29 federal grants awarded throughout the United States for this purpose, out of 422 applications reviewed. Out of the 29 grants awarded, Madison County School District was the only one awarded in the State of Florida.

"The grant is intended to provide students, schools, and communities the benefit of enhanced comprehensive educational, mental health, social services, law enforcement, and as appropriate, juvenile justice system services that can promote healthy children development and prevent violence and alcohol and other drug abuse," James noted.

Titled, "Project Safe Zone," the following are programs, services and curriculum being implemented through the four-year program:

• Olweus Bullying Prevention curriculum: Project Safe Zone will expand the Olweus Bullying Prevention to Madison County High School, Lee Elementary, Pinetta Elementary and Madison County Excel School.

• After-school programs: Project Safe Zone has partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to provide transportation for students who are enrolled in the after-school program.

• Mental health services: Project Safe Zone will contract with local mental health providers to provide assessments and school-based early intervention and intensive strategies for at-risk students in grades K-12 and their families with or with out insurance. Case management to ensure that the families are receiving the services and provide communication between the families, school and mental health providers.

• Case Management Services: Project Safe Zone will provide case management services to students re-entering schools from a juvenile facility or attending the alternative school.

• Improved campus safety: Our initiative plans on improving campus safety by installing more cameras on the Madison County Central School campus, increase communication by purchasing more radios, installing guest registration systems at all the schools, and improve surveillance technology on the school buses.

• Mentoring Program: Our initiative is actively recruiting community members to become mentors for students who have been identified through the SIT process. This is a great opportunity for community members and students to get involved and make an impact on some child's life.

• Volunteer Pre-Kindergarten Services: Project Safe Zone was able to extend VPK services to children by hiring 2 half-time CDAs paraprofessionals to expand Pre-K to a full day.

• Computer Lab Services: Project Safe Zone hired two computer lab paraprofessionals to provide computer assistance to students identified by the SIT process before, during and after school hours.

• Prevention Services: Project Safe Zone has partnered with Department of Health and the Madison Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Coalition to provide specialized services that will communicate the ATOD policies to students, parents, staff and teachers, and community members during school assemblies, trainings and monthly evening workshops.

Project Safe Zone will provide a positive impact at all schools. And here are a list of programs, services, curricula, and events that will be forthcoming:

• Positive Action curriculum: Project Safe Zone staff will implement Positive Action curriculum to all schools (Academic, Behavior, & Character Education)

• Positive Action Parenting Workshops: Project Safe Zone staff will conduct parent workshops in the community utilizing the positive parenting kits.

• Olweus Bullying Prevention Workshops: Project Safe Zone staff will conduct parent workshops in the community on the Olweus Bullying Prevention curriculum.

• Abstinence Education: Project Safe Zone is in the process of contracting with the Department of Health to provide middle school students, with an Abstinence Education curriculum entitled W.A.I.T. (Why Am I Tempted?), during their activity period of the school day.

• Early Childhood Education: Project Safe Zone has contracted with the Department of Health to hire a Parent Liaison to provide home visits and parent management training to mothers of children ages 0-2. During the home visits the Parent Liaison will implement parent-training programs using the Parents as Teachers-Born to Learn curriculum with the parents.

School officials gratefully request parents and residents draw special attention to two of the programs currently being emphasized, the VPK or Pre-K program, and the mentoring program. As far as Pre-K, parents are being urged to get children into the program, as one of the challenges facing the school system is from children arriving in first grade behind, regarding reading in particular. As far as mentoring, many students have difficulty in school due to behavioral issues that are notably improved simply from having an adult that cares encouraging them to succeed. For more information, please call the school district at (850) 973-5022.

Since the FCAT testing process was launched in Florida, students, teachers, schools and districts have lived and died by its results. Pockets of progress and challenges always surface, as education takes the spotlight during both the testing and reporting period. But now that testing has concluded – except for K-3 that will be taking the SAT 10 later in April – school leadership urges students to remain focused.

"Students need to not lose track and keep education as a priority. Parents and students worked hard during the FCAT period, and we need to stay focused to maintain the progress," Madison County Central School Principal Sam Stalnaker explained.

The Central School was a poster child for commitment this year, as students, staff and volunteers came together for the cause. The Saturday School program that was launched to support FCAT preparation, for instance, served over 500 students in three weekend sessions, with each session lasting three hours. Impressively, those 1500 study hours not only converted into better testing, but also encouraged and trained students for a lasting dedication to excellence in education.

During recent district planning, parents and civic leadership from throughout the community emphasized educational improvements as priority one for a more prosperous future. It was further noted that business opportunities previously passed the county by because the workforce was inadequately prepared, and because our graduation results were lagging. In response to this ongoing issue, the superintendent and board have formed plans and taken actions – from Pre-K to high school – to aggressively address this concern, noting they will not back off until the game is won. And in the end, the FCAT is the scorecard.

Going forward, these standards may change, however, and become even more comprehensive. In a bill that has already passed the Florida Senate, legislation would add geometry, algebra II, biology, chemistry and physics to the list of courses needed to graduate and require students to take at least one virtual class. The requirements would be phased in from Fall 2010 through the 2014-15 school year, at which time the identity of the FCAT would be eliminated in favor of end-of-course exams.

Results from this testing period will not be available until the end of the school year. All eyes are especially focused on the Central School and the High School, as these represent the vast majority of the district population. A far as Greenville, Lee and Pinetta Elementary Schools, continued strong FCAT performances are anticipated.

For months now, funding for weatherization repairs and replacements has been available in Madison County, but surprisingly few have participated in this public program. The idea is simple. In the long run, weatherization upgrades in homes can save big money for the homeowner and the community, not to mention the economy, as energy costs are a challenge across America.

Some who initially called to receive information were mistakenly under the impression that major repairs were eligible, which isn't true. But according to the representative from the Suwannee River Economic Council, many valuable services and products are available to qualified homeowners.

According to the council, "Funding is available for Home Repairs in Madison County. Families must meet income eligibility requirements for services. Examples of weatherizing repairs that could be available are installation of doors, windows, insulation, hot water heaters and window air conditioners. For more information, please call the local Suwannee River Economic Council, Inc. office at (850) 973-6709."

Additional information provided regarding income eligibility stated, "Income limits are based on the number of residents in the house. For example a family of one can earn $21,660. Two can earn $29,140, three can earn $36,620, and a family of four can earn $44,100. Income limits increase with each additional resident. The numbers are based on 200 percent of the poverty income guidelines."

Of course, officials remind residents that the program is strictly limited to weatherization, as again, some residents were looking for repairs not covered by the program. For those who are covered, following the proper submission of a simple application and supporting documentation, the council looks forward to providing this valuable resource.

As warmer temperatures arrive, and especially if the weather continues to be unusually rainy, mosquitoes will be a concern in Madison County. Along with these potential infestations, animals, and especially horses are at risk. Accordingly, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson recently reminded horse owners to get their animals vaccinated for mosquito borne diseases.

In a recent press release, Bronson noted, "The two principal equine diseases associated with mosquitoes are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV), and the majority of cases of each can be prevented with proper vaccinations, according to animal health officials. 'The key is to make sure that a horse has been vaccinated against these mosquito-borne diseases and to check with your veterinarian to determine whether an animal's booster shots are up to date,'" Bronson said.

The report went onto say, "So far this year, Florida has no equine cases of EEE or WNV, but that can change quickly as mosquito populations increase significantly with the warmer weather and can explode in areas with heavy rains and standing water.

"Humans, too, need to minimize their contact with mosquitoes as mosquitoes remain the largest carrier of diseases that afflict people. Toward that end, Bronson is recommending that Floridians:

• Remove standing water from their property by emptying out stagnant water from kiddie pools, old tires, birdbaths and any other receptacle that holds water.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outside around dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

• Use a good mosquito repellent.

The basic rule is that of care and caution, which considering the potential for standing water and favorable breeding conditions, an once of prevention will be worth a pound of cure.

Allen Mullins is a man with a mission, and he walks his talk like Superman, literally. Having already completed a cross-country walk to bring awareness to veteran's issues he feels have been caught up in politics for too long, he is now on the road again.

"It's just not right the way the country doesn't take care of it's veterans. This is not a new thing either, and it must change. We have to stop talking and start doing and put the politics behind us," he noted. "I started this walk in January, and I plan to visit every state capital in the next four years to speak out for the brave men and women who serve us in the military," he added.

Recently traveling through Madison on the way to Tallahassee, Mullins was spotted by numerous residents who encouraged and helped his cause with rides and donations. The spirit of supporting veteran's affairs is a cornerstone of Madison County.

If one searches, "Allen Mullins Superman," on the Internet, dozens of articles can be found chronicling his noteworthy effort.

One Alabama reporter wrote, "He's not faster than a speeding bullet, he's not more powerful than a locomotive and he's not able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but 'Superman' Allen Mullins is able to walk great distances in the name of the real heroes of today — the American soldiers.

"Although Mullins, 27, of Dalton, Ga., has never been a soldier himself, he has taken up the cause of ensuring veterans are taken care of when they return home from war by walking from state to state, capital to capital to ask anyone who will listen for help."

"I've seen great soldiers come home and end up on the streets. And that's just not right," Mullins added. "I had a girlfriend, had a house, had a life. But I gave it all up. Like 1 John 4:20 points out, you can't really love God unless you learn to love others first."

During the March 18 lunch meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Madison, members and guests were provided an entertaining update regarding construction of the new Madison County Senior Center, which is targeted to open in May. Executive Director Rosa Richardson was excited to provide details of the progress, as she walked the group through architectural illustrations and descriptions of several programs. In the end, it was evident the 10,000 sq. ft. facility would be a true Madison County showcase.

"We are so pleased to be finishing construction, and really excited about the possibilities in our new home. Over time, we will be able to expand services and staff, in addition to offering space to the public for special functions," Richardson explained. "And it is not just for seniors. It is truly a multi-purpose facility that civic and church groups could use for just about any gathering."

The distinguished guest added, "The outside of the facility is essentially complete, as well as the plumbing and wiring. The floors and grounds will be next, and then the doors will open."

"A grand opening and dedication will follow shortly after that," she went on to say, "which will likely be held in June."

Before she completed the descriptive walkthrough, Richardson took a moment to thank many of the people in the room who were instrumental in the process, both for their professional and personal support.

She also mentioned that over $400,000 of in-kind contributions had been made to date, including key county and city contributions.

Elveta Miller, who introduced and later thanked Richardson for her tireless dedication, a sentiment that was echoed by Club President Oliver Bradley, joined fellow club members in their anticipation of the wonderful county resource. The new senior center is located on the corner of SR 14 and Harvey Greene Drive. The phone number is (850) 973-4241.

In other business, members were asked to choose roles for the upcoming yard sale set for May 8. The "Clear the Clutter" event will be held on the O'Neal's Restaurant grounds, where a tent-covered pancake breakfast will also be featured. Residents are urged to attend this scholarship fundraiser, and those willing to make a donation are gratefully asked to phone Roy Ellis at (850) 971-5864 or (850) 869-9040.

Two women were seriously injured in a two-car collision on Tuesday, March 23, at the corner of State Road 53 South and Harvey Greene Drive.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Jeanette D. Cotrell, 23, of Lee, was traveling north on SR 53 in a 1996 Chrysler.

At the same time, Brandi M. Bethea, 18, of Mayo, was headed south in a 2007 Toyota.

Cotrell attempted to turn left onto Harvey Greene Drive. As she traveled in a northwest direction across the southbound lane, the front of her car collided with the front of Bethea's car..

Cotrell's car rotated one-half of a turn counterclockwise and came to a final rest facing south.

Bethea's Toyota came to a final rest at the point of impact in the southbound lane, facing southwest.

Madison Fire and Rescue, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Madison Police Department and Madison County EMS assisted at the scene.

FHP Trooper John Sleigher was the investigating officer.

These tough economic times have spread to all corners of the county, even to the four-legged friends, many of whom are abandoned or neglected in the first place. Madison County has several groups that are dedicated to saving and caring for these animals, but unfortunately resources are running low and dog food is desperately needed.

According to church leadership from the United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, Goliath and Bebe's World, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is a no kill sanctuary for unwanted animals here in Madison County. This organization works with county animal control, and upon request takes in animals ranging from rabbits to horses. Many have been neglected for some time and may be ill. But after proper care, the animals are put up for adoption.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, with a property in Greenville, Goliath and Bebe's World helps with the adoption process as well, with many animals adopted locally. The shelter here in Madison County uses twenty-one, 50-lb. bags of dry dog food a week. That is 21 bags each weighing 50 pounds per WEEK!

There has been a decline of food donations recently, with no decline of dogs to be fed, however, so if anyone could help by supplying some dry dog food (it doesn't have to be the most expensive kind), it would be appreciated. Please bring the food to the United Methodist Thrift Shop on Pinckney Street next to the County Jail on Tuesday mornings or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the shelter will pick it up.

All dog owners and dog lovers are urged to help out at this time. All involved offer thanks in advance, and gratefully ask everyone to spread the word. The situation is most urgent.

A benefit yard sale will be held Saturday, March 27, beginning at 8 a.m., for a mother and young daughter.

The mother's husband deserted her and the daughter and left them with no money to pay the rent or utilities, which can be verified by calling Lee Worship Center at (850) 673-9490.

The yard sale will be held right off Highway 90 in Lee, behind Willie Carter's home on Seaboard Street. All sizes of nice clothes, what-nots, dishes, pots, curtains, records, movies and all kinds of items will be available.

Donations may be made through the church for this needy family.

A reported outbreak of a bacteria known as clostridium difficile at Madison County Memorial Hospital has caused concern. The outbreak has been disputed by the hospital's administrator.

Commonly called c.diff or CDF, it is a bacteria that causes diarrhea and other intestinal disease when competing bacteria are wiped out by antibiotics. Some people who get the bacteria never become sick, although they can spread the infection. The disease usually occurs during, or following a course of antibiotics.

According to the Mayo Clinic web site, the most common symptoms of mild to moderate c. diff include watery diarrhea three or more times a day for two or more days and abdominal cramping and tenderness. In more severe cases, C. difficile causes the colon to become inflamed (colitis) or to form patches of raw tissue that can bleed or produce pus. Signs and symptoms of severe infection include: watery diarrhea 10 to 15 times a day; abdominal cramping and pain, which may be severe; fever; blood or pus in the stool; nausea; dehydration; loss of appetite; and weight loss.

According to sources, on Monday, there were at least five confirmed cases of c.diff at MCMH and two more people were being tested for the infection.

When asked about the number, MCMH Chief Executive Officer David Abercrombie said on Tuesday "We have one patient with symptoms of c.diff. We did have a high level of four patients."

Abercrombie said that the symptoms were those of mild to moderate c.diff.

One concern about the outbreak is that the hospital is putting other patients (including "swing bed" patients) in rooms with the patients who are already infected with c.diff. On Monday, there were a high number of swing bed patients.

Swing bed, also called Skilled Nursing Care, is a Medicare program designed to provide inpatient care for those who need extra time to heal or strengthen before returning home or to a nursing home. The term is derived from the idea that the patient will "swing" from inpatient acute care to return to the same level of independence that had before entering the hospital. Many swing bed patients are nursing home patients or those who have been admitted for rehabilitation.

Kenneth "Sonny" Scaff was recognized on Wednesday, March 17, with the 2010 Families Up Front Community Award.

Hailing from Hamilton County, Scaff is the acting circuit judge in both Madison and Hamilton Counties, where he presides over dependency court cases.

"Our Child Protection staff members recognize that he is a true advocate for the children her serves," said Ester S. Tibbs, Circuit Administrator for the Florida Department of Children and Families. "Regardless of the circumstances of the case, it is clear that the children's best interest is always the priority in Judge Scaff's courtroom and it is this belief that is his guide in making tough decisions as to the welfare of our children."

Tibbs noted that Scaff's easygoing and knowledgeable manner puts everyone at ease in his courtroom, while the information is brought forth that he needs to make a good decision.

"He makes sure all in his courtroom know he is always open to everyone's suggestion as it relates to the welfare of the children in the cases before him." Tibbs elaborated.

Tibbs also said that Scaff endeared himself to the child protection staff not only because he is extremely knowledgeable about the dependency proceedings, but also he is available to the staff on weekends and holidays.

Renna Brock, Child Protective Investigations Supervisor, nominated Scaff. In her nomination letter, she wrote of a recent dangerous court situation, where "Judge Scaff went out of his way and made it his personal responsibility to ensure the safety of all parties involved."

Brock went on to write, "We feel Judge Scaff is more than deserving of this award, and we in Madison and Hamilton Counties are proud to work under him."

The 14th Annual Families Up Front Awards Ceremony was held on March 17 in Gainesville.

On May 8, the Madison Kiwanis Club will be holding a pancake breakfast and yard sale to support its ongoing charity campaigns. A leader in scholarship funding, the organization has established an esteemed reputation for community service and educational, among a variety of other causes.

The site of the fun-filled feast and yard sale will be on the grounds of O'Neal's Restaurant, which is adjacent to NFCC on US 90. An affordable inventory of useful and decorative items is expected.

To help in this worthwhile event, organizers graciously request residents to donate those items that have piled up and may be converted into scholarships and other need-based community support. To arrange a donation, please phone Roy Ellis at (850) 971-5864 or (850) 869-9040.

A recent scholarship recipient, Emily Hentges, sent a thank-you card to the club, which was read during their March 11 lunch meeting. Linda Hesketh read it aloud to the group, stating that Emily would be attending Santa Fe College to pursue a degree in dental hygiene, after which she and a friend will attend dental school and plan to open a private practice.

The club membership praised the scholar's accomplishment, also taking a moment to recognize David Driggers and Jim Holben for their recent recognition by Kiwanis for their distinguished service as club officers last year. The Madison Kiwanis Club received a distinguished service award acknowledging their overall performance as well.

At a time that citizens are turning to the public libraries for help during tough economic times, the House and Senate Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Appropriations Committees are proposing to entirely eliminate state aid for the libraries. If the budget ax falls, libraries in Greenville and the newly constructed library in Lee could potentially be in danger of closing. Employees could be laid off and the Madison Public Library's hours would be significantly reduced.

A total of $21.2 million has been proposed in funding by the Dept. of State and Governor Charlie Crist. The state is required to provide that much to receive at least $8.4 million in federal funding.

"We will lose over 50 percent of our operating expenses for Madison County libraries," said Danny Hales, administrator for the Suwannee River Regional Library System. "I will have to make a proposal to the Madison County Commission if not to close up the libraries (in Greenville and Lee) tolet them be open only approximately one day a week. The library's hours would have to decrease to approximately four days a week. We're open six now. We would not be buying one book. We would have to cancel all of our magazine subscriptions. We would have to furlough a significant number of staff members."

In addition to books, the library is fast becoming a hub for people using the computers available. While some may use them for emailing or playing games, others are job seekers, who use them to search for employment. There are also people interested in learning about their family genealogy and they find that the library offers them a wealth of information, not only through the Internet, but in some cases, in books and newspapers.

Family members have also begun to rely on libraries for books, music and movies which may be unaffordable for them to purchase, due to limited budgets in tough economic times.

Libraries also help children learn to read and help parents and caregivers to teach the children.

Many people seeking assistance from the government also use the libraries to search for information related to the services and benefits available.

Funding for public libraries has been cut over the years from $33.4 million in 2001 down to $21.2 million today.

People may call or email their legislators and urge them to keep funding for the libraries.

Contact information for Madison County legislators is as follows:

State Rep. Leonard Bembry, (850) 973-5630 or (850) 488-7870. Email: leonard.bembry@myfloridahouse.gov

State Sen. Al Lawson, (850) 487-5100. Email: Lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov

State Sen. Charlie Dean, (850) 487-5017. Email: dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov.

One can also visit the Suwannee River Regional Library System's web site at www.neflin.org/srrl.

From the web site, one can send a pre-written email to the Governor, State Representatives and the Chairmen of the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committees. One can also send a link to the emails to their friends and post them on their Facebook pages or on other social networking sites.

The Governor's office number is (850) 488-7146 or email Gov. Christ at Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com.

The Senior Citizens Center is looking for folks who would like to help out with mature individuals at their gathering places in Madison and Greenville.

While the work is all volunteer and non-paid, the benefits are substantial. Individuals will have fun with the activities.

Activities, which help is needed with, include bingo, chair exercies and crafts. A musically talented person is also welcome to play the piano at birthday parties for seniors.

If a person has 30-45 minutes to spare and would like to volunteer for the fun at the Senior Citizens Center, please call Sharon Underhill, Older American Act Coordinator, at (850) 973-4241 or email her at stunderhill@yahoo.com.

County and state employees (including high risk employees) could lose significant retirement benefits if House Bill 1543 is passed.

Sponsored by Rep. Juan Zapata, who represents part of Dade County, the bill would reduce the Special Risk Class in the Florida Retirement System back to the original membership of law enforcement officers, correctional officers and firefighters. Correctional probation officers would be removed completely from the Special Risk Class.

Each person in the Special Risk Class would also see their accrual rates dropped by three percent.

Zapata's bill would require the normal retirement to be at age 60 or 30 years of service.

An employee contribution of one percent of the Special Risk employee's salary would also be required for his retirement.

Employee retirements will be capped at 70 percent instead of the normal 100 percent.

House Bill 1543 would also change a tax law so that extra money does not have to be spent on extra benefits.

Opposition to the bill has arisen within the ranks of people in the state employment system, including local law officers, correctional officers and county employees.

Opponents to the bill are showing that they are tech savvy and have turned to social media to help get the word out about the bill, including a site on the Internet designed to stop the bill from being passed. Others have sent out emails, newsletters and mailed circulars. Still, others are contacting their local legislators with their opinions on the bill.

Local legislators include Rep. Leonard Bembry, (D-Greenville), (850) 488-7870; Sen. Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee), (850) 487-5004; and Sen. Charles Dean (R-Inverness), (850) 487-5017.

Veterans have a wealth of benefits offered to them, but some are falling through the cracks, according to Oliver Bradley, Madison County's Veterans Service Officer.

Bradley said many veterans are letting medical benefits slip through their fingers for years.

Dorian Thomas was one who applied for benefits right out of the chute, but he was a young man at the time and missed a lot of appointments. He put his claims in, only to have them denied or shuffled about.

"In 2003, I had taken ill again," he said. "I became a diabetic and I also have neuropathy and high blood pressure."

Thomas recently became aware that he had prostate cancer. He was sent to a place to help treat the cancer.

"There were a lot of things that I didn't realize were wrong with me," Thomas said. "They gave me a 100 per

A $100 gas card is something to be desired in today's stressful economy. If one is an outdoorsman, so is a gun cabinet with glass etching. If one is a Florida State Seminoles fan, then an FSU helmet signed by current Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and legendary Hall of Fame Coach Bobby Bowden is the ultimate fantasy gift.

Where can one get any of these gifts without doling out a lot of cash?

The answer is to invest in a drawing being held by the Madison County High School Cowboys football team. Chances are being sold on the three prizes.

The drawing will be held Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at the Cowboys football booth. T-shirts and hats will also be available for sale, along with the chance tickets which cost only one dollar.

All proceeds will go towards the Cowboys going to camps this summer, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp.

When the Whole Child project was launched several years ago, community leadership joined local Healthy Start organizers to begin building a network of providers and volunteers. This team approach was fundamental to the foundation of Whole Child's "No Wrong Door" policy, which provides health, education, economic, social, and even spiritual resources for youth and their families.

The idea is simple. In order for a child to thrive, he or she must have a stable, safe and nurturing environment. It's a simple fact that an unstable home without adequate resources rarely produces and child free of developmental challenges.

With this backdrop in mind, Whole Child constructed an online tool, essentially a questionnaire, which generates requests from relevant agencies to serve these various needs of the client based on his or her responses.

And while there are a few things to work out and new service providers to be added, the Whole Child Madison Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the first clients are being served.

Again, not all areas of concern have local providers to address initial requests, but for those agencies currently responding – like Healthy Families in Madison – the response has been good. In the meantime, the advisory committee continues to build teams to address specific segments of the community as they deliver new and expanded solutions.

"We have taken a number of calls and have provided information and services wherever possible," Healthy Families Program Manager Craig Wilson noted. "Whole Child is an exceptional resource, and we look forward to its development and growth throughout Madison County and the region."

A convenient and confidential Whole Child profile may be completed by calling Tonya Bell at Healthy Start of Jefferson, Madison and Taylor Counties. The phone number is (850) 948-2741.

The stepson of a former Madison County resident and two other people were killed in a head-on crash Sunday night.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at 6:20 p.m., March 14, Caleb J. Smith, 16, of Lamont, was driving a 2005 Kia Sedona van, traveling westward on Tram road in Leon County.

Paula M. Reeves, 34, of Jefferson County, was driving a 2005 Kia Sedona van, traveling eastward on Tram Road. In the vehicle as a passenger was Candice H. Ragans, 21, of Tallahassee in Leon County.

Smith's vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane and onto the south shoulder of the roadway and collided into a mailbox on the south shoulder of the roadway.

Reeves' vehicle left the road on the south shoulder of the roadway.

Smith's vehicle continued traveling westward after the impact into the mailbox, collided into another mailbox, and then the front end of the vehicle collided into the front end of Reeves' vehicle.

Both vehicles rotated after the impact and came to a rest facing eastward on the south shoulder of the roadway.

Smith and Reeves were both pronounced deceased at the scene. Ragans was transported to Tallahassee Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased.

Family members said that Smith's mother, Connie, was waiting for Caleb to meet her to have dinner in Tallahassee at Barnacle Bill's. When he did not show up on time, his mother called the Florida Highway Patrol to find out what was happening.

Smith was a student at Florida High School in Tallahassee, where Reeves worked as a cafeteria worker. She and Ragans, a student at North Florida Community College (and an employee at Little Heaven's Academy), were headed to Reeves' home in Wacissa.

Ragans had been planning on becoming a neo-natal nurse and work with babies.

Smith was the stepson of Cheryl Howard Smith of Crawfordville, formerly of Madison. His father is Jeff Smith of Crawfordville. His mother is Connie Smith of Lamont.

His step-grandparents are Freddie and Joyce Howard of Madison.

FHP reported that the crash was not alcohol-related and the case is still under investigation.

The three occupants of the vehicles were wearing their seatbelts. Both vehicles were totaled.

Assisting the FHP at the scene was the Leon County Sheriff's Office.

The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. The viewing for Ragans will be held Wednesday evening, March 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee. The funeral will be held at Waukeenah United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 18. Funeral arrangements for Reeves had not been completed for Reeves and Ragans at press time.

The Madison County School District's Discipline Committee would like to invite parents and interested community partners to a Code of Student Conduct Town Hall Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to review and discuss best practices, as the district begins to work on the Code of Student Conduct for the 2010-11 school year. The district's mission is to educate all students in a safe, quality-learning environment that ensures student success.

The town hall will be held at the Damascus Baptist Church Annex, which is located on MLK Drive, across the street from the Madison County Health Department. The program will be held on Monday, March 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. For more information, phone the Madison County School District at (850) 973-5022.

When Sally McNealy Clavell of Madison reached out to local legal services to deal with a domestic violence and abuse situation that she couldn't solve on her own, she was told that resources simply weren't available. Unfortunately, that was about the only thing simple about it, leaving her with few options and a mountain of worry.

She has received assistance from a local shelter, where she and her children are living. And, of course, she still has friends that love her.

But love isn't the currency of choice in a legal system overwhelmed with situations like Sally's. And although she possesses the documentation to support her claims, it's a lot like health care, where many that deserve it simply can't afford it. Unlike medical care, however, where at least someone injured must be seen in an emergency room, the legal system has no such place to go in Sally's circumstances. So, in the meantime, it's as if Sally and her children are lying by the roadside, injured, too hurt and afraid to even limp home.

Of course, there are always two sides to every story, and everyone deserves to be heard. Even a bully deserves a day in court. And this reporter is basing this outreach on the feedback of several interviews with sources sympathetic to Sally. However, it's shameful that bullies often win because nobody will step up, even in a small way, which is all Sally is asking for her children and herself.

If you have an ear to lend, or perhaps a few dollars to give, please call or write Sally at: Sally McNealy Clavell, AC200927, P.O. Box 7297, Tallahassee, FL 32314 (this is a secure address provided by the attorney general); or phone in Madison at (850) 973-2359.

"It's a dream come true," Jessica Webb, co-founder of the Rural Area Theatrical Troupe, stated tearfully during the grand opening of their new theatre – a sentiment echoed by her partner, Judie Baldwin. Located at 196 South Range Street, the Rural Area Theater represents the culmination of a sixteen-year labor of love. Appropriately, the first production at the new venue will be Steel Magnolias, in recognition of the first play the two performed together.

On March 12, the community came out to celebrate and congratulate the duo for the landmark event, also throwing kudos to their spouses, Johnny Webb and Bob Baldwin. Executive Director of the Greater Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Ted Ensminger, served as head cheerleader, congratulating the ladies for bringing such a wonderful resource to the county. All in attendance agreed, adding hugs and well wishes of their own.

In a demonstration of support for the popular project, many fans have already elected to participate in the "Supporting Stars" program. For an affordable contribution of $25, $50, or $100, benefactors may become a Rising Star, Super Star, or Shining Star respectively. In addition to receiving warm appreciation from the troupe, contributors will also be recognized with a personalized star placed prominently along the wall, as well as having their name placed on a decorative nameplate that will be affixed to the back of a chair in the theater. The Super Star level also receives one ticket to a show of choice, while the Shining Star receives two tickets to one show, as well as having their name on two chairs in the theater. Additionally, all levels receive a listing on the RATT pact website located at www.rattpact.comm.

Again, the first of four productions slated for 2010 is Steel Magnolias, with performances scheduled for March 25-28. For more information or to purchase tickets, phone (850) 673-9585, or email the RATT pact at info@rattpact.comm. All interested are suggested to call now, as space is limited. Break a leg, RATT pact!

When school district leadership invited the community to join them in establishing a five-year improvement plan, the response was notable. Volunteers and parents representing all segments of the community participated in the process that produced seven "Big Ideas," each devoted to a critical cornerstone of success.

Big Idea #1 –

Student Achievement

• All Students Reading On or Above Grade Level

• Increase the use of reading incentive programs

• Increase the number of print materials in home

• Increase the use of immediate intensive intervention

• Increase parental involvement to help students transition to middle school

Big Idea #2 –

Post Secondary Connections

• To Strengthen Connections to Postsecondary Offerings

• Create an awareness of postsecondary offerings for students and parents

• Ensure preparedness of students transitioning into postsecondary

• To develop and design a rescue and recovery system

Big Idea #3 – Stakeholder Involvement/Support

• Total Parent, Community, and Business Involvement/Support

• Determine community climate of stakeholders

• Enhance family and community involvement and communication

• Market successes of stakeholder involvement

Big Idea #4 – Responsible and Productive Citizens

• Improve Graduation Rate

• Promote career awareness K-5

• Promote career awareness 6-8

• Promote career awareness 9-12

• Improve Adult Education program

Big Idea #5 –

District Remains Fiscally Sound

• District Remains Fiscally Sound

• Maintain appropriate staffing levels

• Efficient use of fiscal resources

• Improve financial transparency of district transactions

• Improve finance department accuracy and efficiency

• Improve efficiencies of facilities and plant operations

Big Idea #6 –

Highly Qualified Staff

• Improving our Teaching Staff

• Retain effective teachers

• Recruit a more diverse teaching staff

• Maintain effective teachers

Big Idea #7 –

Improving School Safety

• Safer School Environment

• Improve Emergency planning at district level

• Safer School Environment

• Improve School Bud Safety

As these directives were reviewed during the Strategic Planning Committee meeting conducted March 9, it was further noted that goals would depend on staff, resources and the community working together. Then following a few revisions to the details above, which will require several years to achieve – and likely will require additional reworking as results and conditions unfold – the roadmap is clear.

So, as the meeting concluded, Superintendent Lou Miller thanked all present. The group now enters the implementation phase.

A total of 120 voters showed up to vote in the Town of Greenville's election for the Group 1 Town Council seat.

Kovacherich "Shorty Boy" Arnold was re-elected with 55.8 percent of the vote. He received a total of 67 ballots cast for him.

Michael Halley was Arnold's closest competitor and received 39 votes or 32.5 percent.

Nora Gayle Jones came in third place with 14 votes or 11.6 percent of the total vote count.

Madison Mayor Jim Stanley retained his District 4 seat on the Madison City Commission in an election held Tuesday, March 9. In the same election, Rayne Cooks defeated long-time incumbent Sumpter James for the District 1 seat.

Cooks received 34 votes (or 77.2 percent) and James received 10 votes (or 22.7 percent) in the race for District 1.

James Brown, who was disqualified from the race because he did not reside in District 1 received two votes in the early voting for the seat.

The race between Stanley and Hawkins was much closer, with Stanley receiving 62 votes (or 57.9 percent) compared to the 45 votes (or 42 percent) cast for Marcus Hawkins.

There had been some talk of Cooks also not residing in District 1 but a check with Madison City Hall revealed that she had said on her form that she did live there and is registered to vote in the district.

A review of school bus safety will be one of the highlights for the School Board meeting set for Tuesday evening, March 16.

Items recommended for approval by consent include:

*Minutes of the previous meetings.

*Contract with Madison County Health Department to provide families enrolled in Project Safe Zone with children, ages 0 to 3k, parent training via home visiting services and disseminating information to teens to reduce teenage pregnancy.

*School year calendars for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

*Remove obsolete property from the inventory with a purchase price of $19,125 and current value of $456.16

*Financial reports for the month ending February 28

Items recommended for individual consideration include:

*School Zone/District Transfers

*GED Requests

*Overnight Field Trips

*Review Bus Safety Improvements (1) Video System (2) Safe Rider Program (3) Encourage use of seat belts by student riders

*Madison County School Board Transportation Department Class B Testing for Outside Agencies

*School volunteers

*Personnel

*Staffing table revisions

*Other items of interest to the board

*Public input

The following is an excerpt from an exchange between state and local officials regarding the urgent need for the Madison County community to reach out on behalf of Healthy Families.

"The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee is considering eliminating funding for Healthy Families Florida. Now and over the next 20 days, it is critically important that we get as many people (family, friends, board members, judges, teachers, law enforcement, county commissioners, members of the Democrats and Republicans and their party officials, community partners, people who know these Legislators personally) to make phone calls to the members of the Senate House and Human Services Appropriations Committee.

Senator Durell Peaden, Jr.

Tallahassee (850) 487-5000

District #'s: (850) 689-0556 & (850) 484-9898

Senator Nan Rich

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5103

District #: (954) 747-7933

Senator Don Gaetz

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5009

District #: (850) 897-5747 or (866) 450-4366

Senator Mike Haridopolos

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5056

District #: (321) 752-3131

Senator Joe Negron

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5088

District #'s: (772) 219-1665 and (772) 345-3951

Senator Eleanor Sobel

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5097

District #: (954) 924-3693

According to details from the organizations website located at www.healthyfamiliesfla.org, "Healthy Families Florida is a nationally credentialed, statewide program that is proven to prevent child abuse and neglect before it ever starts. Healthy Families Florida provides voluntary, community-based home visitation services focused on promoting child health and development and positive parent-child interaction.

"There are a number of proven ways to promote healthy development of young children. While Healthy Families Florida is part of a larger group of services dedicated to improving early childhood outcomes, it is Florida's only statewide child abuse and neglect prevention program. Independent evaluators conducted a rigorous five-year study of Healthy Families Florida to determine whether the program makes a difference."

HEALTHY FAMILIES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PLEASE CALL TODAY!

In addition to all the great events and vendors that have attracted thousands to Down Home Days in the past...

this year the Greater Madison County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the weekend will feature two evenings of professional rodeo.

Scheduled for April 16 & 17, the Professional Cowboys Association (PCA) will be holding events each evening at 7 p.m. The event is being co-sponsored by Tobacco Free Florida, Tobacco Free Madison, and the Big Bend AHEC Quit Smoking Now program.

Chamber Executive Director Ted Ensminger was excited to announce the landmark event, and looks forward to delivering a fun-filled weekend for the whole family.

The theme this year is "Remember When," and details will be forthcoming in an upcoming edition of the Madison County Carrier.

Madison County Junior Auxiliary continues their commitment to supporting childhood education, as they recently donated almost 1500 books to the Early Learning Coalition. Delivered on Monday, March 1 to great praise, the books were donated from individuals and organizations that recognize the importance of reading at a young age. In fact, local, state and national plans for increasing educational standards in youth all underscore reading as an essential ingredient.

A goal that all children read at or above grade level by 2014 is one of the cornerstones of No Child Left Behind legislation, which was enacted to bring sweeping improvements to schools systems nationwide. In order to achieve this notable objective, educators realize that children need to come into the school system prepared to learn, with reading as a top priority. Unfortunately, pre-school testing reveals that Madison County is well behind in this area of concern.

According to their website, located at www.elcbigbend.org, the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend states, "Ninety percent of brain development occurs before the age of five. With such tremendous growth occurring in such a short period of time, it is critical that children be surrounded by nurturing supporting environments that positively impact children's growth and help them reach their full potential."

Over the past few years, JA has made enormous contributions to Madison County youth in the area of fitness, among other campaigns. In fact, their reputation for raising funds and awareness for charitable concerns countywide is an example for all to follow.

It is time for Lake Park of Madison's Annual Relay For Life Easter Basket Silent Auction! Lake Park is encouraging everyone in the community to come in, visit with our wonderful residents and place a bid on an Easter basket.

We currently have 16 big baskets and more to come. All of these baskets are specially themed and loaded with goodies! Some of our themed baskets include Death by Chocolate, Fisherman's Dream, a Night at the Movies, and Life's a Beach. The silent auction will end at noon on April 2, 2010, and the winner of each basket will be contacted by phone.

Lake Park of Madison's future Relay For Life fundraisers will include a donut sale, a Relay lunch, and a bake sale. Their last Relay Lunch, which was homemade sloppy joes, was met with great success and we would like to thank everyone who bought and enjoyed a delicious, home-cooked meal. If anyone would like to be notified when we do lunches again, please call Lake Park of Madison at 973-8277, and they will fax lunch details and dates to your office. If interested and hungry, they will deliver to your Madison County business!

Thank You to everyone who has helped in the past and those that continue in helping to make this a great year for all of Madison County's Relay For Life teams.

Firefighters from Madison and Pinetta responded to a fire at Davis Trailer Park in Madison on Monday afternoon, March 8.

According to Pinetta Volunteer Fire Chief Allen Shadrick, the fire apparently started from a stump that was being burned and then burned a mobile home, which was a rental unit owned by Jeff Rykard. The unit was unoccupied. Neighbors kept the fire from spreading by dousing it with a water hose.

Gary T. Calhoun has been named the new Chief of Police for the City of Madison effective April 12. A graduate of the 212th Session of the FBI National Academy, Calhoun has served as Chief of Police in Maitland for the last five years, where he recently concluded a 25-year career. Maitland has a force of 41 sworn officers and 11 civilian staff.

Calhoun has expressed his commitment to community involvement, which he views as a cornerstone of local law enforcement. "I'm excited to become a member of the Madison community," he noted in his letter of acceptance to City Manager Harold Emrich.

Residing in Longwood with his wife, Karen, and three children, the family will be taking permanent residence in Madison County at the end of the school year.

A teenager missing from Orlando was reported to Greene Publishing, Inc. by her mother, De'Carla W. Tennell.

Tennell became concerned after she was told by the Great Oaks Village (a foster home) in Orlando that her 15-year-old daughter, De'Quisha Quantella Lewis was missing.

Lewis, known by the nickname "Pebbles," was last seen at the Great Oaks Village on Sunday evening, March 7.

Tennell said that her daughter had expressed interest in coming to see her and believes she may be headed this way.

Anyone with any information on Lewis is urged to call the Madison County Sheriff's Office at (850) 973-4001.

The Madison County Complete Count Committee is pleased to announce that census workers are-now canvassing the county. There was initially some confusion regarding when and how the census forms would arrive, which was explained at the March 8 committee meeting.

"Census forms are being mailed to residents inside the city limits of Madison. Outside the city limits though, workers are already visiting homes to hand deliver the official forms," said Melissa Hinote, the partnership specialist assigned to Madison County.

Initial reports stated that all residents would be mailed forms first, and then census workers would only be sent to homes that didn't respond. Due to the Madison County's poor response rate in Census 2000, however, the county is considered a "Hard to Count" area, which is why workers have already been dispatched for Census 2010.

This is appreciated by many of the community's rural residents, who frankly don't welcome the workers onto their private property. But while workers do have the authority to visit homes (as federal workers performing a Constitutional requirement laid out by the Founding Fathers), residents may simply receive the information and then ask the worker to immediately leave. Or, the worker can just hang it on the door. Organizers want everyone to know the workers are not going to homes insisting on an interview. Again, they are just delivering the package, although they can be asked questions at the resident's pleasure.

Workers and volunteers from throughout Madison County are urging residents to participate. Personal confirmations from a variety of sources – representing all sides of politics and religion – now agree that the information will be kept completely confidential. They also agree it is vital to supporting the needs of the county.

According to a recent news release, even the Patriot Act can't be used to acquire the census information. In addition, no Social Security numbers will be requested. Even those living here illegally or receiving public assistance will not be subject to any penalties, regardless.

"A lot of people don't trust the government, and we just want them to know how important it is to fill out the census. It's private and we need it to provide for the county," Greenville Mayor Elesta Pritchett noted.

For additional assistance, Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) have been set up at locations throughout the county at the following times:

Madison County Public Library

378 NW College Loop

Madison, FL 32040

(850) 973-6814

Friday 12 – 3, Saturday 8:30 – 4

Madison City Hall

321 Rutledge St.

Madison, FL 32340

(850) 973-5081

Thursday 8 – 4:30

Madison County Senior Center

486 SW Rutledge Street

Madison, FL 32340

(850) 973-4241

Monday 8 – 4:30

Greenville Library

312 SW Church Avenue

Greenville, FL 32331

(850) 948-2529

Thursday and Friday 9 – 5

Greenville Town Hall

154 Old Mission Avenue

Greeneville, FL 32331

(850) 948-2251

Monday and Wednesday 12 – 4:30

Lee Public Library

7783 US Hwy 90

Lee, FL 32059

(850) 971-5665

Wednesday 2 – 5:30, Saturday 9 – 1

Lee Town Hall 286 NE County Road 255 Lee, FL 32059 (850) 971-5867 Monday 1 – 4 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1 – 5

One of Madison's favorite sons, Carl Joseph, is the subject of a new book, titled, Some Called Me Superstar. Written by Joseph and Kevin McCarthy, a narrative summarizing the book at www.wildonionpress.com, states:

"Imagine you love a football more than almost anything. You could sack a scrambling quarterback. You think a basketball is the most beautiful round object you've ever seen, especially the way it can go SWISH through a goal without even touching the rim, a sound as sweet as a waterfall. And you can dunk a ball better than anyone else on the court.

"You can high-jump 5'10" in a track meet. You even jumped 6'5" once during practice.

What if you want to become one of the greatest athletes of all time? AND - you were born with just one leg.

Welcome to the world of Carl Joseph. Born into a family of ten, with a mother who worked in a tobacco field for less than $3 a day, Carl knew his dream was as likely as a rock singing 'Thriller.'

"But you don't know Carl. And, until you read this book, you won't understand how a physical difference of having just one leg turned into a superhero-like strength.

"In 2009 Carl was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame.CBS Sport's Dan Dierdorf calls Carl, 'The most amazing athlete I've ever seen.'Roger Staubach calls Carl, 'An inspiration to everybody.'

"This book, written for middle-school readers, also encourages sports-minded kids to write like sports reporters."

Joseph has received great acclaim for overcoming adversity and rising to heights unimaginable. An inspiration to the community he loves, Some Called Me Superstar, is receiving similar acclaim.

The Madison Garden Club chose the yard of Will and Kim Rutherford as the Yard of the Month for February. The yard has many different flowers and plantings, which were originally started and kept by Mrs. Rosalie Priest Russell. At present, the camellias are blooming.

They are eagerly awaiting spring's arrival, which will host a variety of colorful flora, including azaleas, redbuds, lilies, dogwoods and roses. The Rutherford's spend many hours working in the yard to keep and improve the beauty of the landscape.

The Rutherford's stated they feel honored to have been chosen as the yard of the month by the Madison Garden Club.

The Madison County Republican Executive Committee held a celebration dinner in honor of James Madison, fourth President of the United States and the Father of the Constitution, on Thursday evening, March 4, at Divine Events in Madison. The keynote speaker for the evening was J. Robert McClure III, President and CEO of the James Madison Institute.

Guests were received from 6-6:30 .m. and then Mark Branham, treasurer of the Madison County Republican Executive Committee came through the doors and introduced James Madison (portrayed by Bob Wieland) to the guests present. Wieland then rendered a speech, which James Madison gave at the convention in Philadelphia, in which the Constitution was passed.

J.P. Maultsby welcomed everyone to the dinner and then asked Mike Williams to lead the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Rev. Lee FerDon said the prayer for the dinner and the meeting.

Following the delicious dinner of roast beef, beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, iced tea and a dessert, Maultsby introduced McClure, who spoke on James Madison and the work of the James Madison Institute. The James Madison Institute is a non-profit think tank and research center, based in Tallahassee. It has members across the United States.

McClure is descended from a family, which had two lawyers whose offices were in downtown Madison. The metal front office building, which housed them was donated to the Treasures of Madison County and currently houses its museum.

Video of Wieland portrayed James Madison may be viewed online at www.greenepublishing.com.

Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for the crime of aggravated battery that occurred on Tuesday, March 2, around 11 p.m. on SW Lee Avenue, just south of SW Bentley Street in Madison.

An unknown black male attacked two elderly male subjects while they were walking in the area knocking them to the ground, kicking them in the face and head, causing serious injury and loss of teeth.

Anyone with information about the identity or location of the suspect(s) is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Madison County, Inc. at 973-2762.

Crime Stoppers does not want your name, just your information.

Citizens should not attempt to apprehend any wanted person(s) identified in this crime or any crime being committed, they may be armed and dangerous.

A teenager missing from Orlando was reported to Greene Publishing, Inc. by her mother, De'Carla W. Tennell.

Tennell became concerned after she was told by the Great Oaks Village (a foster home) in Orlando that her 15-year-old daughter, De'Quisha Quantella Lewis was missing.

Lewis was last seen at the Great Oaks Village on Sunday evening, March 7.

Tennell said that her daughter had expressed interest in coming to see her and believes she may be headed this way.

Anyone with any information on Lewis is urged to call the Madison County Sheriff's Office at (850) 973-4001.

Firefighters from Madison Fire and Rescue, and the Pinetta and Cherry Lake volunteer fire departments, responded to a fire at the home of John and Donna Risoli on Tuesday, March 4.

According to a report from Madison Fire and Rescue, the department was dispatched to the fire at approximately 10:35 a.m. When they arrived at the scene, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

The cause of the fire was deemed to be electrical failure after water caused a short-circuit arc.

The home was a total loss.

An account has been set up for donations to the Risoli family at Madison County Community Bank.

The Madison County Branch of the NAACP is partnering with North Florida Community College to sponsor a Singing Gospel Explosion Fundraiser for Haiti citizens who were devastated by an earthquake.

They are asking all Madison County choirs, groups, praise teams, leaders (Ministers, politicians, presidents, businesses and etc.), and the entire community to share their free will offering to help the Haitians to have a smoother recovery.

They are asking all musicians to be present and give of their free service to play for choirs who don't have a musician, and those who have a musician. This is a time one can give of one's free service to those in need.

For more information, contact Minister Octavious Tookes at 850-673-9116 – Mrs. Carrie Mae Gavins, 850-973-8115 or Ms Lorraine J. Brown, 850-973-4857. Everyone is invited to go and enjoy a night of good gospel and free service.

A Madison city commission election will be held Tuesday, March 9.

Seats to be filled include District 1 and District 4.

In the race for District 1, incumbent Sumpter James is being challenged by Rayne Cooks. An earlier candidate, James Brown, has been disqualified from seeking election because he does not live in District 1.

Jim Stanley is seeking re-election in District 4. Marcus Hawkins is challenging him.

Early voting in the election will continue through Saturday, March 6.

Regular voting will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday and end at 7 p.m. that night.

Mary Murphy White and her daughter Olivia and their team will participate in a run to raise money for and awareness for multiple sclerosis. The MS Mud Run will be held March 20 in Jacksonville.

"My cousin Cathy died in November from MS," Mary said. "She was diagnosed at age 40 and died roughly 10 years later."

According to the web site for the event, www.mudrunjax.com, "MS Mud Run is a 10K (approximately 6 miles)

race with boot camp style obstacles that have been surrounded by or consist entirely of mud. People cheer as teams of contestants slip, slide, and slosh their way to victory. It is a unique experience whether running or watching! There is a registration fee of $40 (until February 1st, 2010) and a minimum fundraising pledge of $100 per person in order to participate."

"(Cathy's) illness slowed her down," Mary recalls, "and, regretfully, I drew away from her. I last saw her at Haven Hospice in Gainesville and she said, "Get down here and hug my neck." At her funeral, most of the people who spoke knew her the last two years of her life as a gal in a wheelchair. The cousin I remember was beautiful in motion, never still, never needy, always creative and classy."

Mary admits that "like a lot of folks, I don't understand MS; it seems sneaky and cruel. I am a medical provider. I can define the disease process, but I can't make sense of why my cousin had it."

Mary went on to add, "I am doing this Mud Run to honor Cathy, raise some funds, and maybe some awareness about compassion."

To make a pledge to support MS in the name of Mary or Olivia White and their team, go to www.mudrunjax.com and click on "Donate/ePledge." From there, you will be prompted to search for a participant, enter Mary White or Olivia White and click on the Mud Run Jacksonville link to make a donation.

The Madison County School Board has set dates for free preschool screenings, which will be available for children ages three to four years, six months that reside in the county.

Ramona Guess, ESE coordinator for the school district noted, "We gratefully request parents mark their calendars so they have sufficient time to plan for this important part of preparing their children to enter school. The children deserve every resource available to them and this screening process will help identify issues that will support future success."

Each child will be screened in four primary areas, including:

Functional Hearing and Vision

Speech/Language Development

Motor Development

Concepts

The screenings will take approximately two hours to complete and results will be shared with parents exclusively. Prizes and goody bags will be provided to the children, as all efforts are being made to ensure a pleasant experience for both child and parent.

The following schedule is set by location:

Madison - Madison County Central School Cafeteria

Date: Tuesday, March 9

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Madison - Madison County Central School Cafeteria

Date: Wednesday, March 10

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Lee - Lee Elementary School

Date: Tuesday, March 16

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Pinetta - Pinetta Elementary School

Date: Wednesday, March 17

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Greenville - Greenville Elementary School

Date: Thursday, March 18

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Madison - Madison County Central School Cafeteria

Date: Tuesday, April 27

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Screening results for each child will be individually shared with parents. Parents should plan approximately two hours time to complete the screening.

For more information, please call Leigh McNutt at the Madison County School Board at (850) 973-5192, or Jo Ann Laseter with FDLRS/Gateway, at (800) 227-0059.

The monthly meetings of the Madison Woman's Club are regularly filled with interesting presentations and tons of fun, not to mention ongoing club projects and programs. Christmas at the Mansion, arts and crafts contests, charitable donations, and scholarships are among the many activities and fundraisers sponsored by the club. In the end, however, it's all about the camaraderie of ladies who have laughed, cried, hugged and loved one another – for decades in some cases.

With the recent election of officers serving two-year terms, the club devoted their Feb. 11 meeting to reacquainting new and existing members with their committees and programs. The following were among them:

Hacienda's Girls Ranch – Jean McWilliams commented on the success of the facility located in Brevard County. Helping girls ages 10-17 who have been placed in foster care, the Woman's Club will continue its cash and other donations supporting this worthwhile cause.

Take Stock in Children – B.J. Curtis, mentor coordinator for the Madison County scholarship program, which is sponsored by the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, reinforced the club's commitment to support education in Madison County. She praised Ashley Lamb as a recent graduate who is advancing as the recipient of the scholarship.

Conservation and Tree Memorials – Princess Akerman summarized details of the exceptional program brought to life by late member, Willie Clare Copeland. Since its launch in the 1980's, over 150 trees have been planted, with a special memorial constructed in Four Freedoms Park to honor its champion.

Brown Bag Ministry – So named for the big brown grocery bag used to deliver food to the needy, Florida Smith outlined the importance of the program to numerous Madison County residents. Affiliated with the United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, food is available to qualified residents, often making the difference between going hungry or not, especially at month's end.

Public Affairs – Wanda Dickinson told members the upcoming program includes a review of the function of the Madison Fire Department.

Clubhouse – Jean Brandies stated the clubhouse remains a good source of revenue. She further noted it is available for rental at $250, with $50 being returned as a clean-up deposit. All agreed it is a beautiful facility capable of serving weddings and other community and family events.

Ways and Means – Ethel Barefoot discussed a successful concession effort, among other fundraising options. She added that pie and baked good sales have potential as well.

Heifer International – Betty Williams continues to promote the great cause that provides key resources to impoverished areas worldwide. The Madison Woman's Club is a dedicated partner in this national club project.

Additional activities at the meeting included very special musical guests. Jennifer Copeland's Second Grade Class from Madison Academy played the hand bells, accompanying several popular hymns. Thanking them for their wonderful performance, Club President Jackie Johnson also praised Kay Browning for the dazzling Valentine's Day decorations and Devine Events for catering such a tasty lunch. It was also noted that the club had participated in a statewide program, placing a commemorative brick at the state headquarters in Lakeland.

Investigators with FDLE, the Madison County Sheriff's Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant at Strickland's home, located at 1216 Southeast Bisbee Loop Thursday, after receiving information that child pornography had been downloaded through the Internet at the residence.

During the search, a forensic review of computers located at the home revealed hundreds of images of child pornography.

Strickland was arrested and booked into the Madison County Jail. Additional charges are pending a complete forensic examination of all computers located in Strickland's home.

FDLE is an active member of the three Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in Florida. There are 59 federally-funded task forces nationwide created solely to investigate Internet crimes against children that include the online sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.

Please visit the FDLE Computer Crime Center Web site to review tips for keeping your children safe online at: www.fdle.state.fl.us/FC33.

Russell Williams, a freelance photographer from Lee, had a picture featured in last week's edition of Sports Illustrated.

The photo was taken during the Daytona 500 when the track was closed for repairs to it. The picture is of a crew of NASCAR officials looking at a hole in the track.

Sports Illustrated picked up the photo from the Associated Press, as did a number of other magazines and newspapers.

Williams has been freelancing since he was 13 years old. He has had numerous photos published in this publication as well as major daily newspapers and magazines.

Currently employed full-time in the electronics department at Wal-Mart of Live Oak, Williams is thankful that his employees allow him time off to cover events such as the Daytona 500, the Suwannee River Jam, parades and sporting events.

Williams said he would also like to thank local law officers, including Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart, Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron and the Florida Highway Patrol, for being cooperative with him at accident scenes.

Williams' biggest thanks go to the Lord and to his family (including his wife and four daughters). He said he is thankful that his wife and daughters are so supportive of him being involved in freelancing.

"Two of my daughters are also freelance photographers," he said.

The Madison County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its annual banquet on Saturday, March 5, at 5 p.m. at the Madison County Central School cafeteria.

The purpose of the National Wild Turkey Federation and its JAKES program is to introduce youth to the outdoors.

"We show them that there are other things beside computers and video games," said Wally Davis, NWTF Chapter president.

Youth, ages 1-17, are eligible for the JAKES program.

In addition to the National Wild Turkey Federation and JAKES, the chapter also holds Women in Outdoors Events each year as well as Wheeling Sportsmen Events.

Admission to the banquet is $25 for those 17 and under and $50 for adults. Admission includes a year's membership in the JAKES chapter for the youth and a year's membership in the National Wild Turkey Federation for adults. It also includes the seafood buffet at the banquet and a subscription to the respective magazines for the different age groups.

There will be a silent auction, a live auction and a raffle.

"All money raised stays in Florida. We also do profit sharing with the Fish and Wildlife Commission and with the Division of Forestry to provide handicap access for hunters," Davis added.

Tickets are available at Farmers Supply, located at 233 SW Range Street in Madison.

Firefighters from Madison Fire and Rescue, and the Pinetta and Cherry Lake volunteer fire departments, responded to a fire at the home of John and Donna Risoli on Tuesday, March 4.

According to a report from Madison Fire and Rescue, the department was dispatched to the fire at approximately 10:35 a.m. When they arrived at the scene, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

The cause of the fire was deemed to be electrical failure after water caused a short-circuit arc.

The home was a total loss.

An account has been set up for donations to the Risoli family at Madison County Community Bank.

"The United Methodist Cooperative Ministries is made up of eight churches and five pastors devoted to supporting our community, providing services and activities like the 55-Plus Club and the Thrift Store," explained Ruth Herndon.

"I'm filling in today for Linda Gaston, who is out for surgery. We all know her tireless dedication, and ask everyone to keep her in prayer," she added.

Opening up by expressing concern for her friend and club leader, who is expected to return soon no worse for the wear, Herndon captured the camaraderie that is the cornerstone of the 55-Plus Club. Providing timely information regarding services affecting seniors is another. So, on Feb. 10, when several of the club's members took the microphone to describe a variety of enjoyable and beneficial activities conveniently available to seniors throughout Madison County, listeners got a double dose of fun.

Kirk Pittman spoke first, opening with a few whimsical stories that really brought down the house. Then practically speaking, he invited everyone to join him the third Tuesday of each month at noon at Grace Presbyterian on SR 53 for a community lunch. Nell Ring followed him, also discussing a Grace Presbyterian program – a fitness class especially designed to accommodate all ages and levels of fitness.

"Let's do some neck exercises," Ring announced. She then walked the group through a variety of neck stretches and routines that loosened laughs while it loosened bones. She also emphasized that all of the class activities are very low impact and useful even if full mobility isn't initially possible. The class meets Monday and Thursday from 4-5 p.m.

Sylvia Catron closed the presentations with an update about, and invitation to join, Keenagers. Playfully reminding all that the title was "Keenagers" and not "Teenagers," she detailed the outreach program sponsored by First Methodist Church of Madison. "We've taken trips around the region and the country. The events and outing are usually quarterly, but sometimes more often depending on participation. It's all very fun though. Our Christmas and Valentine's dinners are always a big hit, among others."

Additional business included an update of recent facility improvements by trustee Sonny Rollins, as well as a request for volunteers to assist at the Thrift Store, which is open Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A big "thank you" also went out to Program Coordinator Betty Williams for continuing to introduce fun and timely topics, and to First UMC for providing such a tasty lunch.

Jefferson County resident, 10-year-old Jenny Jackson, took two first place wins and two second place wins to be named first place all-around winner. It was in her first meet of the season during the Gym Force Classic gymnastics meet. The meet was hosted at Tully Gym in Tallahassee, Jan. 16.

Jackson took first-place wins in two categories. Routines performed on the floor, scored her highest total with 9.125 out of a possible 10. Her routine on the balancing beam also earned a first place win.

She also took second-place finishes in both her performance on the parallel bars and in the vault. The four places elevated her to be named first place all-round.

Jackson is the daughter of Danny and Lisa Jackson of Monticello. Danny is the owner of Jackson's Drug Store in Greenville. Jenny, a student at Aucilla Christian Academy, has been competing in gymnastics since about the age of five and is a member of the Taylor Gymnastics team.