By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   An 81-year-old Madison woman was killed in a traffic accident in Thomas County, Ga. on Friday afternoon, February 8.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Phyllis Jean Spears, 81, of Madison, was traveling south on Georgia Highway 300 in the right lane. The driver of a Peterbilt tractor-trailer was stopped in the right lane, awaiting traffic to make a right turn into a private driveway.
   Spears did not notice the truck stopped in front of her and ran into the rear of the trailer with her car.
   Spears was pronounced dead following the crash.
   The Georgia State Patrol investigated the accident.
   Spears, a member of Fellowship Baptist Church, was a widow.
   Jacob Bembry, editor, can be reached at jacob@greenepublishing.com.

Sending A Crystal Methage

By Tyrra B Meserve
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A collaborative effort is needed throughout society to halt an epidemic that is wasting lives, killing children and increasing violent crime at an astounding rate. Still, it has remained undiscussed and underestimated by polite company. Perhaps thought to be an isolated problem, this plague has engulfed the community, from big city to rural America, leaving emaciated, blistered shells of what was once human in its wake. The cries of a child as their parents are taken from them, choosing to dance with the Devil instead, cannot be silenced any longer. With crystal meth’s highly stimulative effects, all too often this is a dance to the death. Do not be fooled by Crystal’s alluring face when she offers an innocent her candy. It is, in fact a highly toxic, extremely addictive, caustic
poison that is eating civilization alive. A crystal methage that leads to the grave.
   According to a recently released survey, the number one problem facing many communities across the country today is not marijuana, heroin, or cocaine, but methamphetamine. A synthetic drug that is easily manufactured, highly addictive and extremely caustic, has been cited as 58% of the drug problem that 500 law enforcement agencies surveyed, face. Dwarfing all other drug problems combined, 70% percent said that robberies or burglaries have increased because of meth use, 62% report increases in domestic violence, as well. Colloquially coined the “slim fast of the Suwannee”, crystal meth’s reach has now stretched to Madison County.
   According to Regina Watkins, a victims’ counselor at the Refuge House, there have been cases where crystal meth has been suspected, however, these cannot be confirmed.
   “My suspicion,” states Watkins “is that crystal meth may very well be a large contributing factor in the domestic violence cases we see, however, all of our information is self reported. The victims tell us their circumstances, and most times they do not initially report meth abuse. We have seen an increase in alcohol being an initiating factor where crystal meth may be suspected, but without police involvement, we can’t prove it.”
   In fact, in most cases, alcohol and drug use does not cause domestic violence, though they might be triggers. According to studies, meth is different. According to the FDLE, “the extreme agitation and paranoia” associated with meth use many times leads to “situations where violence is more likely to occur.”
   The DEA states that chronic use of meth can cause delusions and auditory hallucinations that can themselves precipitate violent behavior. More studies have shown that crystal meth shuts off the part of the brain that tells an individual to stop attacking. In all mammals, this response is witnessed. Seen in action when dogs are fighting, the submissive dog will roll over on its back as a gesture of surrender. The other, more dominant dog will then cease the attack. Meth short-circuits this response, elevating already violent situations into much worse scenarios.
   To outsiders, the “tweaking” stage of a meth users’ binge is the most dangerous period to approach the user. Tweaking occurs at the end of the binge cycle, is uncomfortable, and the user will often turn to alcohol, heroine or more meth if available to ease the feeling of emptiness and dysphoria. When tweaking, a meth users’ whole existence revolves around avoiding the crash, and their actions are dangerous and unpredictable. The tweaker does not need provocation for violence, and confrontation increases the chance of a violent reaction. If the tweaker has chosen to ease his discomfort with alcohol, he becomes disinhibited and even more difficult to identify or reason with. If a strong odor if alcohol is present but there are no outward signs of inebriation, the person should be approached with caution until the situation is assessed.
   Tweakers often participate in spur-of-the-moment crimes such as purse snatching, robberies, burglaries and assaults with a weapon. Paranoid and hallucinating, meth abusers are often armed both in their automobile and in their homes, posing an even greater threat to law officers and authorities. Methamphetamine is psychologically addictive, leaving its users unpredictable. When tweaking, a user may not have slept or eaten in 3 to 15 days, creating a grave danger to law enforcement officers, family members and whole communities.
    Crystal meth has so far shown no sign of slowing its deadly spread across the United States. Called the most insidious drug of the new millennium, it has a relapse rate of 94% according to a recent study done by UCLA, and long term use leads to aggressive behaviors. Domestic violence and other crime rates are continuing to climb as the US struggles to fight this new epidemic with children paying the highest price.
   To contact the Florida Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program and Addiction Treatment Center, please call 1-800-559-9503.
   Staff writer Tyrra B Meserve can be reached at tyrra@greenepublishing.com

Sex Offender Released From Prison

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Jeffery Jackson, a registered sex offender, has been released from prison and now makes his home in Greenville.
   Jackson’s address is 139 Redshank Terrace Northwest in Greenville.
   Jackson, 42, is a 6’2” tall, 183-pound black male. His identifying marks include two gold teeth, a scar on his upper shoulder and upper left arm and scars on his lower left arm and on his right arm.
   Jackson’s qualifying crime is sexual battery with a weapon or with force.
   Jacob Bembry, editor, can be reached by email at jacob@greenepublishing.com.

Michael Curtis Appointed To Lee Planning And Zoning Board

By Ted Ensminger
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   During the Lee Town Council meeting held on February 5, the council voted unanimously to appoint Michael Curtis to the Planning and Zoning Board.  The position opened on the board following the appointment of Roger Parsons to the town council, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of long-time councilmember, Thelma Thompson.
   Curtis brings both experience and enthusiasm to the position, having served as Regional Manager for American Management Services out of their Orlando office.  Among other services, the firm specializes in business development consulting that includes close collaboration with municipalities as a part of planning and growing infrastructure. 
   Operating as a Florida Director for their Partner America program, a public-private partnership sponsored by the United States Conference of Mayors, Curtis delivered solutions to the types of planning and growth challenges currently facing Lee and Madison County, especially in light of the substantial investment the county and Lee just put into infrastructure along the I-10 corridor.    
   “It’s an honor to serve the community, and especially to be able to work with Mayor Kinsey and the Town Council, as well as Town Manager, Cheryl Archambault.  This is an exciting time for our community and being part of a great team that’s committed to turning these opportunities into reality is phenomenal,” Curtis noted.
   Curtis resides in Lee with his wife Angelina and their four children; Jacob (8), Rachel (7), Cianna Jane (3) and Isaac (1).  He also has four older children from a previous marriage who reside in Orlando.  Associate Publisher Ted Ensminger can be reached at ted2@greenepublishing.com.

MCDC Hears Property Proposal

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   During their monthly meeting held February 5, the Madison County Development Council (MCDC) heard a 90-minute presentation from a Jacksonville-based commercial real estate company proposing to list the 50 acres, owned by the county near the Lee interchange.  The proposal included commitments to “grow with the community” and several reminders that “we have a strong attachment to Madison,” but, in the end, several members expressed reservations and two local real estate firms wanted an opportunity to throw their hats into the ring.
   The acreage being discussed was sold to the county via the MCDC and is intended to serve as a pilot-property in the county developmental process.  It sits near the interchange of I-10 and SR 255, straddling Dale Leslie Drive, the recently built paved service road that runs adjacent to the north side of I-10, commonly referred to as the new “infrastructure”.  Among other features, the property is essentially ready-to-build.
   Paul Parsons and Charles Revels, both sales associates with Colliers Dickinson commercial real estate office in Jacksonville, conducted the presentation.  Both are also graduates of North Florida Community College.  The duo touted the great fit and benefits their firm could bring to the table, citing numerous advantages for the MCDC to align with an extensive network that included the Jacksonville Port Authority and Japanese trading companies. 
   The membership in attendance appreciated the firm’s reputation, although several members noted the pair’s newness to Colliers, one joining in 2005 and the other in 2008.  Ultimately, additional reservations surfaced that the associates were overreaching in their expectation that they could become a substantial business-recruiting tool for the county, instead serving little more than a customary real estate listing function, albeit within a more substantial industrial/commercial client network. 
   “We put money into this community, pay taxes in this community and our companies have the capacity to represent the property as well,” RE/MAX associate Stephen Pike stated, referring to himself, RE/MAX owner Debbie Copeland and United Country owner Vivian Searcy who were in attendance.  The council agreed, ultimately voting to give all local brokers an opportunity to petition for the listing at next month’s meeting.  Similar to Colliers however, but for different reasons, several members respectfully questioned the local firm’s qualifications to serve the business client niche as well.
   In contrast, the remaining guests at the meeting received outspoken and unanimous acceptance.  Peggy Conklin, President/CEO of the Capital Region YMCA gave a brief presentation regarding the possibility of bringing a YMCA to Madison.  Two MCDC members, Ed Meggs and Morris Steen, made very positive immediate responses, which included a suggestion by Steen to consider a collaboration with NFCC in light of the planned five million dollar renovation the college is planning for its recreation/fitness facilities.  Meggs had actually promoted the YMCA previously, again stating his commitment to move the process forward.  All agreed that a YMCA would be a timely and essential addition to the content of the county.
   The last guest introduced was from Enterprise Florida.  The Regional Manager for International Trade Development, Larry Bernaski, cited several compelling statistics regarding foreign trade in and out of Florida.  This included references to investment and income opportunities throughout the region, even for smaller firms and rural counties.  Council member Brad Bashaw, who asked several poignant questions earlier during the listing discussion, requested specifics on the procedure to formally place the MCDC interests directly in the Enterprise Florida network.  Bernaski replied very favorably, stating his intention to do so.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.