Withlacoochee River Rising

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   According to Megan Wetherington, Water Resources Engineer with the Suwannee River Water Management District, “Between February 21 and 23, Madison County received an average of 5.06 inches of rain, with areas south of Madison receiving as much as 6.5 inches.  Between February 1 and February 24, the county received an average of 6.03 inches.  These values are based on preliminary radar rainfall estimates.” 
   Wetherington went on to say, “Average February rainfall is 4.16 inches, based on 30 years of data from the NOAA weather station in Madison.  Average annual rainfall is 52.80 inches, from the same source.  In the last 12 months, including last week’s rain, Madison County received 43.44 inches.  This puts Madison at 9.36 inches behind in rainfall for the last 12 months.”
   On a separate but related issue, in the last 7 days, the Withlacoochee River at the gage near Pinetta rose 13.6 feet and is still rising.  The accompanying graph illustrates the prediction that the river will crest just below flood stage.   Two county roads however, Oak Hill Road and Pinetta Road, typically receive premature overflow from the river and are already flooded.
   In addition, the storms of February 26, brought substantial wind gusts and rain flurries that downed several trees and dropped limbs in many places.
   Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Hospital Burglarized

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   An office at Madison County Memorial Hospital was discovered broken into on Monday, February 25.
   According to a report filed by Madison Police Department Patrolman David Jarvis, he responded to the hospital in reference to a break-in. Upon his arrival, he spoke with hospital employees Cindy Burnett and Tammy Stephens.
   Both Burnett and Stephens said that as they had arrived at work that morning, Burnett had entered her office as usual. Upon doing so, Burnett noticed some of the file cabinets were open and the door to her office looked as if someone had attempted to enter it.
   Jarvis secured the crime scene and notified MPD Capt. Willie McGhee. McGhee notified Inv. Ben Ebberson.
   Upon Ebberson’s arrival, he and Jarvis entered the crime scene in order to process it.
   Ebberson dusted for latent prints but was unable to find any retrievable prints.
   Jarvis photographed the damaged door and filing cabinets and the safe that had apparently been damaged also.
   Hospital CEO David Abercrombie, along with Burnett and Stephens, informed Jarvis and Ebberson, that nothing had been taken that they were aware of.
   Jarvis and Ebberson informed the parties present that if they discovered any items missing to call the police department.
   At press time, nothing has been reported missing.
   A couple of years ago, the office of then-MCMH CEO Bob Pugh was reportedly broken into. A police report was never filed on that incident.

Miss Lee Pageant Set for March 8

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc. 
   The Miss Lee Pageant is scheduled for Saturday, March 8, at 6 p.m. at the Van H. Priest Auditorium.
   Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for school age children and children four and under are admitted for free.
   Contestants vying for Miss Lee are NoraBeth Agner, Unique Gnann and Brittany Hudson.
   Miss Teen contestants include Elaine Terry, Ashlyn Welch, Molly Williams, Siera Gay and Jessica Phillips.
   Miss Pre-Teen contestants include Nicole Davis, Amanda Miller, Jordyn Gay and Jodi Phillips.
   Prior to the Miss Pre-Teen, Miss Teen and Miss Lee pageants, the children’s pageants will begin at 6 p.m.

Miss Madison County Pageant And Tots To Tween Now Accepting Applications

   Now is the time to once again crown the new representatives of our community.
   Applications for the annual Miss Madison County Pageant are now available at various locations throughout Madison. Ages are as followed; 0-11 months both boys and girls, 12-23 months boys and girls, 2-3 years both boys and girls, 4-6 years Little Miss, 7-9 years Petite Miss, 10-12 Junior Miss, andl3-15 years for the title of Teen Miss Madison
County. Contestants who are 16 years or older will have the opportunity to compete for me title of Miss Madison County along with a chance to when scholarship money. Due to the overwhelming success of last year's Mr. and Miss Heart of Madison and Sweetheart Program we are please to announce once again that anyone who wishes to participate can
do so without having to enter the actual pageant.
   The Sweetheart Program raised a grand total that surpassed one thousand dollars for our Miss Madison scholarship fund which in
return aided last years Miss Madison, Kristin Sirmons, in attending N.F.C.C. Since this program holds such prestige everyone that participates and completes the requirements will walk away with a beautiful crown, sash, or cape. The pageant is set for March 29* at
Van H. Priest Auditorium.
   Applications maybe picked up at Norris Pharmacy and
Becky's Dance Steps Studio. Deadline to enter is March 7th so hurry and enter today!
   For further information feel free to call Tom Blanton at 673-1162. Also, for anyone interested can attend this weekend's orientation meeting at Becky's Dance Steps Studio, Saturday March 1st at 11:00 a.m. for 0-12 year olds and 1:00 pJn. for Teen and Miss contestants.

LEE YARD SALE

   The Lee Volunteer Fire Department is holding a yard sale this Saturday, March 1 at the fire department, which is located adjacent to Lee City Hall, just north of US 90 on CR 255.  The sale opens at 8:00 a.m. and is scheduled to run until 3:00 p.m.  Savory sausage biscuits will be sold in the morning and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch.  The proceeds support the great men and women of the Lee VFD that selflessly serve our community and county.

Sixth Annual NWTF Banquet Set For March 1 At Central School

   The Madison County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is holding its annual banquet on Saturday, March 1 at 5:00 p.m. at the Madison County Central School.  Chapter President Wally Davis is pleased to invite everyone to the family event that will include door prizes, raffles and an auction, not to mention a delicious seafood buffet. 
Tickets are available at the door or may be purchased from Farmer’s Supply on Range in downtown Madison.  Please call Davis at 973-6260 for additional information.

Madison County To Offer All Residents Prescription Discount Card

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Madison County will soon be introducing a discount card program to all residents.  In an effort to help county residents with the escalating costs of prescription drugs, the Board of County Commissioners has signed a contract to make free prescription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo), offering average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.
   All county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage, may use the cards, which will be available in March.  It is estimated that the majority of the county’s pharmacies will accept the NACo card and a national network of more than 57,000 participating retail pharmacies also will honor it.
   “The NACo prescription discount card will offer significant savings for the uninsured and underinsured residents of our county, and even those fortunate to have prescription coverage may use the card to save money on drugs that are not covered by their health plan,” said Allen Cherry, Madison County Coordinator.  “Residents do not have to be Medicare beneficiaries to be eligible for this program,” he added.
   There will be no cost to county taxpayers for NACo and Madison to make these money-saving cards available to residents.  A future announcement will specify how and when residents may obtain the cards.
“Using the NACo prescription discount card is easy.  A cardholder will simply present it at a participating pharmacy.  There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on frequency of use.  Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance,” Cherry went on to say.
Caremark Rx, Inc administers the discount card program.  County leadership is proud and pleased to make this card available and may be reached at 973-3179.
Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.