Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   On Friday night, June 6, a lightning strike in the San Pedro Bay ignited a fire that resulted in 377 lost acres of forest and the smell of smoke through the weekend. The lost acreage was determined using GPS technology.  Dozens of smaller fires are still burning.
   According to Elijah Terrell, Forest Area Supervisor, Florida Division of Forestry, Perry District, Madison County Station, numerous lightning strikes have been hitting the area for weeks and a concentration of these fires runs along Camp P Road.  Current conditions are unfortunately unchanged with Smokey Bear still displaying a HIGH rating on his fire danger sign that sits adjacent to the forestry station on State Road 53.
   “There have been strikes all over the four-county region that we serve.  Dixie County got hit with eight fires just in the last few days.  We are spread so thin with all the fires still burning that we appreciate everyone being patient with regards to broad burning especially.  Small yard burns are okay but we won’t be approving any pile or site burns for a little while,” Terrell explained.
   Eight foresters and several private “cooperators” fought the large Bays’ burn over the weekend that included as many as five tractors.  These private firefighters work for private timber interests, including immense commercial operations like Buckeye, in the area and their equipment plus added manpower is vital to aggressively combating these threats to their client’s resources.  Among the foresters, all four counties in the region -- Madison, Lafayette, Taylor and Dixie -- were represented.

Woman Killed, Six Injured

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A woman was killed and six were seriously injured in a traffic crash on Interstate 10 at the 236-mile marker, west of Greenville, early Friday morning, June 6.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Yolanda V. Cruz, 29, of Camilla, Ga., was traveling east on I-10 in the outside lane in a 1997 Ford Explorer. At the same time, Mark Allen Morrell, 46, of Vidor, Texas, in the outside lane behind Cruz.
   Morrell’s left front bumper collided with the left rear corner of Cruz’s vehicle. After the impact, Cruz’s SUV rotated clockwise onto the south shoulder of I-10.
   After leaving the roadway, Cruz’s vehicle overturned several times ejecting all seven of its occupants. None of the occupants was wearing a seatbelt.
   The SUV came to a final rest in the tree lone on its top, facing northwest.
   After the impact, Morrell came to a controlled stop in the emergency lane of I-10 eastbound, east of the area of collision.
   Cruz was dead at the scene. Her passengers, Antonio Escalante, 34, Wendy Escalante, 8, Antonio M. Escalante, three months, Michelle Escalante, 4, Jackeline Escalante, 1, and Magdiel Soto, 18, all were seriously injured. They were all taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for treatment.
   FHP Cpl. Terrance M. Chukes was the investigating officer, as well as the homicide investigator.

Fire Destroys Mobile Home

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A fire on Friday evening, June 6, destroyed a mobile home in the Ravenswood Trailer Park.
   According to Fire Inspector Archie Strickland, Madison Fire and Rescue responded to the fire at 179 Ravenswood, Lot 8, at 7:20 p.m. and the first engine arrived on the scene.
   Strickland said that the fire was accidental and had started inside the trailer.
   The home belonged to Willie Bell, who was not home at the time the fire began.

TDC Welcomes New Faces Then Changes Funding Policy

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Tourism Development Council (TDC) of Madison County got back to business on June 5 following the unexpected resignations of three members during last month’s meeting.  City of Madison Mayor Myra Valentine, Town of Lee Councilman Doug McNicol, as well as real estate developer and agent Stephen Pike resigned abruptly, the latter two voicing irreconcilable differences between themselves and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regarding the role and authority of the tourism council.
   The Tourism Development Council was formed as required by law because it is funded from county bed tax dollars assessed on overnight accommodations, including motels, campgrounds, and the bed and breakfast.  Its membership is specified to include officials and residents in a committee format selected from various stakeholders in the business.  Currently comprised of city and county officials, professionals and entrepreneurs, the goal of the tourism committee is to develop strategies, from advertising to websites to event promotion, designed for the basic goal of putting “heads in beds” throughout the county.
   The Tourism Development Council is officially a recommending body only, so the County Commissioners’ decision to periodically choose a different course may sound harmless on the surface.  Unfortunately, the message it sends when it alters TDC policy can, and recently did, have a very negative impact because it leaves tourism council members wondering why they have committed time on a voluntary basis only to see its policies overturned by the same commissioners who charged them with the oversight in the first place. 
   In this instance, the conflict centered on the Tourism Development Council’s vote to set a limit of $2,000 per promotional grant it is requested to fund.  The purpose of this promotional grant is to promote new events by offsetting specified expenses.  The limits were then established to allow the funds to be spread more broadly.  The term “seed money” was even mentioned in association with the grant program as the goal, again, was to promote predominantly new activities that attracted new “heads in beds,” versus ongoing support for repeat or mature events. 
   Consequently, when Elmer Spear, owner of Elmer’s Genealogy Library, requested over $6,000 for an upcoming conference he was organizing, the Tourism Development Council approved it only for the limit of $2,000.  Spear took the situation and request to the Board of County Commissioners who, again, has the final word over these matters, although the TDC does have some discretionary privileges given them by the Commissioners.  In the end, Spear cited his reasons for the additional funding and the board granted his request for the full $6,000.  It was noted that the funds fell into all the accepted categories and it was also pointed out that there was over $50,000 in “reserve” funds left over from money not used last year. 
   In the course of the exchange, it was noted that the decision would override the tourism council and that several members had already expressed their unwillingness to continue if the TDC was merely a function of county requirements for the bed tax and not a legitimate body of oversight whose efforts are taken seriously.  County Commissioner Ricky Henderson, currently the liaison from the Board of County Commissioners to the Tourism Development Council of which he is also Chair, was particularly outspoken.  In the final count though, the tourism council was overruled.
As noted previously, three Tourism Development Council members resigned exited and two others expressed concern for the future.  The greatest twist and irony of the whole affair, however, came during the June 5 meeting.  To allow greater leverage and prevent conflict for future outlays, the Tourism Development Council voted to remove the $2,000 limit.
   In additional business, Chamber of Commerce President Ray Griffin provided an update for, and requested future support of, the regular season football game scheduled for Friday night, September 5 at 8 p.m. between Madison County High School and Independence High School, a nationally ranked 5A program located in Mint Hill, North Carolina.  The Patriots, as they are known, once sported a 119-game winning streak until an untimely loss last September.
   Lastly, the tourism council approved a $3,200 outlay from North Florida Concerts to assist with their upcoming FALL FEST ’08, a four day/three night gospel music event being held at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campground November 6-9.  CEO Bryant Thigpen organized the event, which includes popular groups like the Bradys, the Jeff Treece Band and the Reflectsons, of whom Thigpen is a member.

Building Blocks Summer Camp Opens To A Grateful Community

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Residents throughout the Lee community have joined with Mayor Ernestine Kinsey and the Lee Town Council to gratefully welcome the Building Blocks Summer Camp.  Located at the Lee Business Complex, which is already home to two very successful operations, namely Dawn’s Academy and FastPack, the camp program is a collaborative effort between the Town of Lee and 4-H.  
   Town Manager Cheryl Archambault, along with Deputy Clerk Janice Miller, have been working on this Town Council directive for over a year.  This reporter is extremely proud to have participated in the development of the project, serving on the program board with Archambault and 4-H Agent Heather Johnson.
   The camp opened on Monday, June 9 with over 30 kids, ages 6 to 12.  That number is expected to grow to the goal of 50 campers as vacationers return and word of this very unique program gets out into a community that has been hoping for this type of project for years. 
   Even with the successful launch, however, organizers would greatly appreciate both camper referrals and especially continued donations.  Several scholarship donations between $50 and $500 have already been received, including $1,000 from Progress Energy, although more is hoped to meet the demands and obligations.  The reason donations are so essential now is that the camp must show maturity before any grants or public funding is available, although Archambault is tirelessly pursuing all options. 
   By mission, the program is designed to develop essential life skills, or “building blocks,” in a recreational setting so as to help children to overcome the poverty culture that is crippling our greater community.  As such, there is a goal to include as many kids from those challenging circumstances as possible.  Of course, the unfortunate irony is that those who need it the most can afford it the least.  And although the fee is only $50 per week for the all-day, professionally supervised curriculum, which includes a hot meal and healthy snack, many children that wish to attend, again, simply can’t afford it.
   Camp Director Melinda Richie, a graduate degree instructor from Madison County Central School, along with Activity Director Michael Quackenbush, is leading a group of volunteers utilizing the ten-week 4-H based curriculum that effectively addresses social and educational deficiencies in an entertaining setting.  Many immediately noted that it was quite impressive to witness. 
   For more information and to make donations, simply call Lee City Hall at (850) 971-5867.  Organizers and the Town Council express their enormous appreciation for all considerations.

Sex Offender Registers

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Eddie Roy Turner has registered as a sex offender with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office with a change of address.
   Turner, who is under supervision, registered with the address of 3736 US E Highway 90, Madison, 32340-5482.
   Turner is a 5’10” tall black male, who weighs 180 pounds. His qualifying offense was a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 16 years of age.
   Turner’s aliases include Eddie R. Givens, Eddie Roy Moore, Eddie Roy Givens and Eddie Givens.

Man And Child Injured In Wreck

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A man and a child were injured as their 1993 Subaru was hit by a 2003 Ford pickup at the intersection of US. Highway 90 and NE Country Road on Friday, June 6.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Daniel R. Williams, 50, of Madison, was traveling east on Highway 90 at approximately 4:52 p.m. At the same time, Bryan D. Whitfield, 29, of Madison, was also eastbound, but was slowing to make a left turn on Country Kitchen Road.
   Williams failed to see Whitfield ahead and struck the rear of Whitfield’s Subaru.
   Bryan Whitfield received serious injuries in the wreck and was taken to the local hospital. Shamad D. Whitfield, 2, received minor injuries in the wreck.
   Dan Williams, nor his son, Jarred D. Williams, 14, or his father, Grover B. Williams, 80, of Jennings, were injured in the accident.
   Madison County Sheriff’s Sgt. Freddie Register and Madison Fire and Rescue responded to the crash scene.
   Investigating FHP Trooper Tom Roderick was assisted by FHP Trooper Chuck Swindle.