By Tyrra B Meserve
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   It seemed a fairly ordinary morning at the Mitchell household. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, Jeanette Mitchell was putting some gardening tools away and there was a gator in the yard. Wait a minute, one might ask, curious as to how it seemed that this otherwise ordinary morning suddenly went awry. Indeed, it all started with the words, “There’s a GATOR in the yard!”
   At the end of Warren Street there is a little pond. Like so many other ponds scattered throughout Florida’s countryside, this pond houses local wildlife in the form of fish, turtles and the occasional gator. That is because alligators can appear anywhere there is water. Lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps and even man made canals and waterways all make excellent gator ground. With increasing encroachment on their environment by humans and fewer natural bodies of water to hide in, some gators, then, were born to roam.
   As appears is the case for the gator that thought he could, straight down Warren Street. He was a pretty gator, nice markings, not a gator of unusually large stature, however, that was not the issue. The problem was he was in the yard, backed up against the fence and looking a bit perturbed about his current situation. In went the call to the police department, and out came Sheriff’s Sergeant Freddie Register.
   “We’ve learned not to mess with them the hard way,” Sgt. Register volunteered as he and other onlookers waited for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation to make their appearance. “We had an officer get bitten on the arm when he was trying to wrestle one out of a garage. Now, we call the men with nets that know their gators.”
   There was just enough time to get a few close up cameos of the grassy celebrity before Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer Jason McMillan showed up for a relocation celebration. Other than a couple of uncomfortable looking twists around the pole used to nab him, the between three to four foot gator was bound and loaded on the back of the Game truck and headed for fresher waters, preferably human-free. Just another day in gatorland and none were worse for wear from their experience.
   “He certainly did come as a surprise,” said Jeanette Mitchell, original gator spotter. “I turned the corner and there he was. A gator in the middle of the yard.”
   Taken to an undisclosed location, the gator is said to be doing fine.

Say Good-Bye To Madison’s DMV

By Tyrra B Meserve
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The memo from the Florida Highway and Motor Vehicles department reads that the local Madison office will be officially closing their doors effective June 26, due to budget cuts. As the last person leaves that Thursday at 4 p.m., there will be no more services rendered out of Madison. Starting June 26, all patrons must now use other offices for their motor vehicle business.
   “I live in Valdosta, I already have to drive from there,” Tameka Waters lamented while waiting in line for services that soon will no longer be available locally. “This is the closest office for me to get my Florida driver’s license. Closing this office is going to affect a lot of residents negatively. Now people are going to have to travel even farther to get what they need.”
   The closest full service driver’s licensing office will be located in the Tax Collector’s office in Perry. Other services will be available in Live Oak and Monticello however, certain additional restrictions will apply. For example, neither of those locations will be able to give road tests. For that, one must now go to Tallahassee.
   “I like having it close,” said Bruce VonStepina, another patron waiting to get his DMV issues reconciled prior to the closing of the office. “ We pay our taxes, too. We shouldn’t have to travel so far.”
   These concerns are falling on deaf ears, though, since the budget cuts that made this decision necessary are also requiring the closing of numerous other rural DMV stations. With a 2.2 trillion dollar deficit facing this nation, the government is looking at every way in which to cut costs.
   “This office simply isn’t cost efficient,” said Mike Grissom, who travels everyday from Tallahassee where he resides and is employed by their DMV office. “Every Wednesday and Thursday, someone from the Tallahassee office drives here to man this office and then goes back for the rest of the week to the home office. The days that no one is here we still have to keep everything running. The air stays on for all the computers, the building is still accumulating bills, even when nobody’s in it. We are consistently in the red when you compare the monies that this office brings in to the amount of bills paid out to keep it open. They can’t afford it anymore.”
   With the price of gas staying steady at $4 a gallon, Madison residents may soon be spitting nails as they a forced to drive even farther and pay even more to do a task most hate second only to having a root canal, and that is waiting in line at the DMV. 

Michael Curtis Announces Candidacy For Madison County Commissioner District 5

   For the past several months, this space in the paper has been taken by candidates to announce that they’re running for political office.  After a few dozen of them, the interest often dwindles to glancing at the face, perhaps thinking, “Oh yeah, I’ve seen that guy at the grocery store,” before moving on to a more interesting headline.
   Let’s face it: local politics can be very boring and uneventful for most, leaving the entire parade as little more than candidates circling the community talking to other candidates at lifeless gatherings and cake auctions (although yesterday’s 55 Plus Club meeting was certainly an exception), while their friends work in the background as an entourage of encouragement.  It would be humorous if the consequences weren’t so high.  
   So I gratefully request a small favor, stay with me for another few minutes that I might briefly offer the conclusion to a study I’ve conducted privately over the past six months.  It is also my preference, and I anticipate your preference, that I not to dwell on my professional and education credentials and just get on with the point, so here is just a brief digest of achievements that provided the familiarity I have with the topic.
   I earned a Masters degree in Business Administration, known popularly as an MBA, from The University of Alabama with a concentration in finance.  I have performed in two management positions in the finance industry, one at Prudential prior to graduate school, and the other at Smith Barney following graduate school.
   As my family grew, which now includes eight children ages two to eighteen, I reshaped my career to keep time with my wife and children, later becoming an independent contractor offering sales, marketing and financial expertise locally and on the Internet.  The position I held, however, that built those skills I want most to bring to the County Commission took place when I was a Florida Regional Director for American Management Services in 2005-2006.
   Serving as the field manager for their Partner America program, a public/private partnership between American Management Services and the United States Conference of Mayors, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce, provided me a proven working framework for understanding and combating the issue that is the root cause for virtually all the chronic challenges that face Madison County.
   And here’s that bottom line:  Over the past year, I have participated in literally hundreds of meetings among virtually every agency, committee and business planning source in the county and I know have sufficient insight and information to build an effective strategy to begin addressing that root cause most feel powerless to change:
   POVERTY IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING MADISON COUNTY.  Over time, and especially over generations, poverty steals all hope of something better; destroying mind, body and soul in the process.
   Of course, our faith helps gets us through, with so many ministers and prayerful mothers holding that backbone, but our powerful Creator never intended for good men and women to be content for one minute under these circumstances.  Discussion, optimism and ideas are not enough, especially if one hasn’t experienced it firsthand.  Others simply feel that they are too busy to share any more time.  I disagree though.  I believe they are no longer inspired to give more time or resources.  And with no clear and consistent message to inspire those in the balcony to step out, those in the greatest need remain on the sidelines waiting and wondering.
   What do you need to give yourself a green light to grant me your vote, or more specifically, give me permission to launch this mission for a creative, cooperative and compassionate campaign to combat poverty? 
   Please let me know.  Criticisms are as appreciated as compliments.  Either way, your input is strongly desired and of course always welcome.  I can be reached at (850) 971-4121 or email votecurtis@yahoo.com. 
   “Political advertisement paid for and approved by Michael Curtis, Democrat, for Madison County Commissioner District 5.”

Bronson Announces Florida Tomatoes Deemed Safe By FDA

   Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has announced that Florida-grown tomatoes have been deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been added to the agency's list of states with "safe to eat" tomatoes.  FDA's website is updated in the evening and will reflect the change.
    "I was confidant Florida was not the problem and was not the source of the salmonella outbreak impacting other states," Bronson said.  "Florida tomato growers have one of the most stringent tomato production programs in the nation.  They initiated the heightened safety standards several years ago to ensure public confidence in their product."
   After reviewing Florida's safety initiative, the timing of the illness outbreak and the timing of tomato harvesting, FDA added Florida to the "safe to eat" list.  Growers will provide a certificate with each shipment verifying the tomatoes are from Florida.  Bronson points out that the tomatoes that are now being harvested and shipped from Florida did not even exist when the salmonella outbreak occurred.  He says Florida growers sell an abundance of their product in Florida and there have been no reported illness in the state.  Florida growers also sell predominantly to eastern states and the bulk of illnesses have occurred in western states.
   "It is critical that consumers know that our tomatoes are safe and delicious," Bronson said.  "Our growers have worked hard to ensure the utmost safety of their product."
    Currently, tomato harvesting is under way in three areas of the state, Quincy near Tallahassee and Ruskin and Palmetto near the Tampa area.  Growers have already had truckloads of tomatoes turned away by retailers concerned about the salmonella outbreak that has impacted mostly western states.  Retailers are being notified of Florida's addition to the "safe to eat" list and it is hoped Florida tomatoes will be back on store shelves immediately and enjoyed by all.
  In 2006-2007, Florida tomato industry had $464 million in cash receipts.  They have an estimated direct and indirect economic value of $1.1 billion in total direct and indirect economic impact, provide over 15,700 jobs and contribute $58 million indirectly to local and state tax revenue streams.

Breaking the Poverty Culture

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   While doing research for several upcoming scholastic articles written to highlight exceptional pockets of performance throughout the county, there was a very dominant influence that came to the surface again and again that was impeded progress, which is poverty.  The effects of poverty are not limited to the educational system, however.  Poverty, as measured officially and readily observed socially, is now so prevalent in Madison County that the poverty culture is the “prevailing culture.”
   Superintendent of Schools Lou Miller was extremely proud to convey many of the notable accomplishments achieved this year by some students and the mentors who supported them.  At the same time, she provided a variety of insightful explanations regarding the way students, parents, faculty, staff and administration interact, and most notably where and why that process breaks down. 
   To reinforce the explanation, Miller introduced a book written by Dr. Ruby Payne titled A Framework for Understanding Poverty.  The book is exceptional in the manner it takes feelings and general observations regarding the effects and nature of those living in poverty, both blacks and whites, especially the relationships between those living in the poverty culture with those not living in the poverty culture.  This understanding is essential to communicate ideas and instruction to break out of the poverty culture, in education and beyond.  In other words, it facilitates a dialogue for bridging the gap between the middle-class school system and workforce leadership and those poverty-based students and employees with which they work. 
   “One of the reasons it is getting more and more difficult to conduct school as we have in the past is that students who bring the middle-class culture with them are decreasing in numbers, and the students who bring the poverty culture with them are increasing in numbers.  As in any demographic switch, the prevailing rules and policies eventually give way to the group with the largest numbers,” Payne explains.
   “An education is the key to getting out of, and staying out of, generational poverty.  Individuals leave poverty for one of four reasons: a goal or vision of something they want to have; a situation that is so painful that anything would be better; someone who “sponsors” them (an educator or mentor or spouse or role model who shows them a different way or convinces them they could live differently); or a specific talent or ability that provides an opportunity for them,” she added. 
The same relationship applies to working environments as well.  So for example, the efforts to utilize the economic infrastructure of Madison County by attracting and growing business must be balanced with practical adaptations, or more specifically interventions, on the poverty culture.  This is not an overnight fix, so as the process takes form, perhaps an illustration of some of the basic differences in thinking may be useful.  The paragraph below illustrates why the wrong approach can be bad, even when may be good.
   In a poverty culture, discipline is about penance and forgiveness, not necessarily change. In generational poverty for instance, the mother is usually in the most central position.  She typically dispenses the judgments, determines the amount and price of penance, and then offers forgiveness.  When forgiveness is granted, behaviors and activities return to the way they were before the incident.  Understanding regarding this and other essential central motivators is essential for change to occur.

New Feature Added To Greene Publishing.Com

By Bryant Thigpen
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Greene Publishing, Inc. is excited to announce a new feature to the website titled, The Greene Light. The Greene Light was developed for readers of the Madison County Carrier and the Enterprise Recorder to be able to have a place to discuss local news, such as the rise of gas prices, and upcoming community events. The blog is open to everyone for comments and suggestions. Please visit greenepublishing.com and voice your opinion!

North Florida Farmers Will Be Featured June 25 On RFD-TV

   "Farm Bureau Today" on RFD-TV will feature two progressive North Florida farming operations on June 25, 2008 on 6:30 p.m., Eastern Time.
   The program visits Donnell and Robert Gwinn's family farm in McAlpin, Suwannee County, and Jay Fraleigh's nursery near Madison. Both farming operations won Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson's Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Awards in 2007.
   The Gwinn brothers grew up on the family farm. On their more than 1,100 acres they have a small cow-calf operation and grow peanuts, iron clay peas, bahia grass seed, and hay. But they are best known for the premium watermelons they ship from their own packinghouse and sell throughout the eastern United States and Canada. They were among the first farmers in the Suwannee basin to participate in a program to demonstrate Best Management Practices (BMPs) that protect the environment and increase productivity.
   Jay Fraleigh is the sixth generation on his family's farm in Madison County. While the family traditionally planted shade tobacco, cotton and row crops, Fraleigh has taken the operation in a new direction. In 1999, he and his wife, Donna, opened Fraleigh Nursery. Jay also created Gro-Eco, a system of growing that not only cuts water use by 80 percent, but also eliminates irrigation runoff and produces healthier plants.
The Florida Department of Agriculture produces the program for Florida Farm Bureau as part of an outreach campaign to increase public awareness of agriculture, the state's second-largest industry. The campaign focuses on the message, "Safe, Affordable and Abundant: Food for Thought from Florida's Farmers." "Farm Bureau Today" repeats at 4:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26 and at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 28.
   The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general-interest agricultural association with about 140,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, nonprofit agricultural organization. More information about Florida Farm Bureau is available on the organization's Web site, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org <http://FloridaFarmBureau.org/> <http://FloridaFarmBureau.org/> .