By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A 1998 Freight Liner burned completely and its unidentified driver was killed in an accident on Interstate 10 westbound, just west of the 255 mile marker on Tuesday, July 1.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, the driver was traveling westbound on Interstate 10 in the outside lane. The truck traveled off the paved portion of the road and entered the north grassy shoulder.
   The Freight Linder struck a tree on the north shoulder of the interstate with its right side.
   The right saddle fuel tank was punctured, causing diesel fuel to spill. The truck’s front dug into the soft grassy shoulder, causing the truck to stop. It came to a final rest on the north grassy shoulder facing in a western direction.
   The truck and trailer caught fire because of the diesel spill.
   The Lee Community Volunteer Fire Department, Madison Fire and Rescue, Greenville Fire and Rescue and Cherry Lake Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene.
   FHP Cpl. Herbert Brown was the investigating officer as well as the homicide investigator.

RN Students Sponsor American Red Cross Blood Drive July 7 At NFCC
Community invited to participate and support blood drive

   First year Registered Nursing students at North Florida Community College will sponsor a blood drive on Monday, July 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and community members are encouraged to participate. The blood drive will be held at NFCC’s Nursing Lab, located in the Career and Technical Education Center (Bldg. 13). American Red Cross staff will be in charge of donations and NFCC nursing students will assist with registration and donor care.
   “The American Red Cross has made us aware of a critical shortage of blood for our area and anticipates it will get even worse after the 4th,” said NFCC nursing instructor Angela Culpepper. “We have a goal of collecting at least 50 units of blood. We are anticipating a great turnout so please help us out.”
   Those wishing to participate may sign up in advance, but signing up prior to the event is not necessary – “we will be glad to see you when you can get a break in your day,” said Culpepper.
   For more information about the July 7 blood drive at NFCC, contact Angela Culpepper at 850.973.9476 or culpeppera@nfcc.edu. For more information about the American Red Cross, visit http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/.

Two Lee Teenagers Injured

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Two Lee teenagers were injured in an automobile accident on Saturday, June 28, after a 2000 Jeep collided with an oak tree that had been blown down by the wind and fallen across Old Blue Springs Road.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, at approximately 2:40 p.m., Jameson P. Thompson, 17, of Lee, was traveling south on Old Blue Springs Road during a severe thunderstorm with torrential rain and high winds.
   A large oak tree was blown down by the wind and fell across the road in the immediate path of Thompson’s Jeep. The front of the Jeep collided with the oak tree.
   The Jeep came to a final rest in the roadway against the tree and pointing in a southern direction.
   Jameson Thompson suffered a broken leg in the accident. He was transported to South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Ga., where he underwent an operation.
   Skyler Thompson, 15, of Lee, suffered bruises in the wreck.
   Units from the Lee Community Volunteer Fire Department, Madison County EMS and Madison County Sheriff’s Office all assisted at the scene.
   FHP Trooper Berry Crews was the investigating officer.

Seven Injured Due To Missing Stop Sign

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Because of a missing stop sign, seven people were injured in an automobile accident at the corner of SE Osgood Avenue and SE Gillislee Avenue on Sunday, June 29, at 10:55 p.m.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Alisha Robinson, 18, was traveling west on Gillislee Street in a 1997 Plymouth Breeze. At the same time, Brewton Malone, 18, of Madison, was traveling north on SE Osgood Avenue in a 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage.
   The stop sign for westbound traffic on SE Gillislee Avenue was missing and the front of Malone’s vehicle collided with the left side of Robinson’s vehicle.
   Robinson and her passengers, Keangre Robinson, 3, Talisha Gibson, 18, Robert Easter, 16, and Marquis Baynard, 20, all received minor injuries in the wreck.
   Malone and his passenger, Shanieka Bell, 18, also received minor injuries.
   Robinson was cited for not having a valid driver’s license and for not having a child restraint in the car.
   The Madison County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Florida Highway Patrol at the scene.
   The Madison County Road Department erected a new stop sign to replace the missing stop sign.
   FHP Sgt. Stephen Hoopell was the investigating officer.