---I am respectfully announcing my candidacy for the office of Sheriff of Madison County.
---This decision comes from a lot of sole searching and a great desire to provide professional law enforcement services to our citizens.  I believe that my training, education, and 26 years of law enforcement experience, 12 of which were as Chief of Police for the City of Madison, with the responsibility of budget management, and directing law enforcement services gives me the experience necessary to be your next Sheriff.
---I am married to Lisa Ward Davis, we have three beautiful children. Demi (18), Nicole (11), and Cody (8). Demi is currently a senior attending Suwannee High School. Nicole and Cody both attend public schools in Madison County. Lisa is the manager of the Winn Dixie store in Madison. We are members of the Lee United Methodist Church.
---I was born in Live Oak, Florida, and graduated from Suwannee High School. I began my career with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office in 1981 as a part-time deputy sheriff. While attending the North Florida Community College Law Enforcement Academy in Madison, I was hired as a full time police officer for the City of Madison Police Department and have spent the past 26 plus years serving the citizens of Madison County as a law enforcement officer and administrator.
---Throughout my career with the City of Madison Police Department, I have worked my way through the ranks to the position of Chief of Police. I have been a patrol officer, a supervisor, an investigator (narcotics, property and persons crimes, evidence custodian), Captain (assistant chief). I have investigated all types of crimes, from misdemeanors to capital offenses, including homicide.
---As Chief of Police, I have over 12 years experience supervising a law enforcement agency, preparing and managing budgets for the City of Madison. I have always managed the police department within the budget.
--- I earned my Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Technology from North Florida Community College in 1998, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Columbia Southern University in 2000. I am a graduate 207th Session of the FBI National Academy in 2001, and a graduate of the Florida Chief Executive Institute in 1996. I am also an adjunct instructor for the North Florida Community College Public Safety Academy, instructing General Subjects, Defensive Tactics, and Firearms for the past 24 years. I have attained numerous other advanced and technical law enforcement certifications throughout my career.
---I am active in numerous professional, community, civic and fraternal clubs. I serve as the District 16 Director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, President of the Third Judicial Circuit Police Chiefs Association, Chairperson for the Madison County Youth Council, Member of the Madison County Development Council, Past Master of Madison Lodge #11 F&AM, member of the Madison Shrine Club, Past President and Treasurer of the Madison Rotary Club, Member of the Madison County Babe Ruth Board, and Vision 2020 Committee.
---As your next sheriff, my first priority will be providing professional service to our citizens by maintaining a partnership with the community to provide quality law enforcement in Madison County. 
---I am committed to a zero tolerance approach involving drug dealers and users. I will do everything in my power to take the fight against drugs to the streets. Every drug user and dealer on our streets, regardless of their hierarchy in the drug trade will be targeted, arrested and prosecuted.
---I will work diligently with the school superintendent and school principals to assist with school security. 
---Deputies will be patrolling crime areas. Our presence will be noticed in your neighborhood.
---I will properly manage the budget of the Madison County Sheriff's Office. 
---As Chief or Police, I have always maintained an open door policy with our citizens. As your Sheriff, I will continue this practice. I demand excellence for myself and for those I am responsible. If you have a problem in your neighborhood, it is also my problem. I want to hear your concerns and work with the several communities, in our county, to provide the professional law enforcement services the citizen's of Madison County deserve.
---I am asking for your support and vote to be elected as YOUR next Sheriff. I will be glad to meet with you individually or as a group to listen to your concerns and will do everything in my power to make Madison County safe.
---Please visit my website at www.rickdavisforsheriff.net.  My email is rickdavis@rickdavisforsheriff.net. My home telephone number is 850 971-5715.
---Thank you for your support and your vote.
---Political advertisement paid for and approved by Rick Davis, Democratic candidate for Sheriff.

Shooting Threat Causes School To Lockdown  

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   As soon as the recorded calls were made to parents by Madison County High School, advising them that the school was under lockdown, other calls were made to the Sheriff’s Office, to the police department and to Greene Publishing, Inc.
   One parent said that the call she received had said, "It's just a drill to make sure our communication system is working properly."
   Ben Killingsworth, high school principal, said that the call, which was made by the school’s “Connect Ed” messaging system did not say that, but instead said that the school was under a precautionary administrative lockdown. Two hours later, an updated Connect Ed message was sent to parents.
   Connect Ed is a system that the school uses to send messages to students and parents about various things at the school. The messages can range from routine school announcements to things as serious as the lockdown.
   Children called their parents on their cell phones to inform them what was happening. Calls were made from the newspaper to law officers to find out what was happening. The school was being locked down due to a shooting threat at the high school.
   Letters were found on in three separate restrooms on the campus, stating that a shooting would take place during the sixth period at the school.
   The lockdown immediately went into effect at approximately 9:30 a.m.  Sixth period at the school begins at 1 p.m. Students were being released from their classes by lunchtime.
   After the school called an end to the lockdown at apparently 2 p.m., parents were allowed to go on campus to pick up their children. Others left by car and bus at the end of the day, just as normal.
   Students’ lockers, cars, backpacks, purses and pickups were searched.
   Reportedly, a few guns were found in vehicles. They were not believed to be part of the shooting threat, but guns carried by students are not allowed on the high school grounds.
   Killingsworth noted that it was safer for the students to remain under supervision in the classrooms than releasing them early.
   Killingsworth said the whole thing might be a prank, but the school could not afford to take that kind of chance.
   Sheriff Pete Bucher described the act as a “terroristic threat” and said that he would like to see criminal charges filed against whoever wrote the notes.

Tax Return Required For $25,000 Tangible Personal Property Exemption

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Among the various changes, and unfortunately confusion, regarding the property tax amendment enacted from the January 29 vote, is a requirement regarding tangible personal property.  Specifically, one must file a 2008 Tangible Personal Property Tax Return to be eligible for the $25,000 tangible personal property exemption.  The return serves as one’s application for the exemption.
   The filing deadline is April 1 or a 30-day extension may be requested and must be received by March 31.  Please contact the Madison County Property Appraiser’s office at 973-6133 for more information.
   Local officials want all affected by this broad legislation to know that the requirements for filing the 2008 Tangible Personal Property Tax Return are mandated by the Florida State Legislature.

Total Lunar Eclipse To Occur Evening Of February 20

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A total eclipse of the Moon occurs on Wednesday, February 20 and the entire event is visible from most of North America, including Madison County.  During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon's disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and rarely, very dark gray.
   An eclipse of the Moon can only take place at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow.  The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped parts, one nested inside the other.  The outer shadow, or penumbra, is a zone where Earth blocks some, but not all, of the Sun's rays.  In contrast, the inner shadow, or umbra, is a region where Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
   If only part of the Moon passes through the umbra, a partial eclipse is seen. However, if the entire Moon passes through the umbral shadow, then a total eclipse of the Moon occurs.  The total eclipse portion of this evening’s event occurs between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.  The astronomy departments at both NFCC and Valdosta State will be conducting telescopic tracking of this celestial phenomenon.
   Dr. Kenneth Rumstay, Valdosta State Observatory Director, provided the following timeline and comments for the evening of February 20:

7:53 p.m. - Penumbral eclipse phase begins as the Moon enters the outer portion of Earth’s shadow. No change in the Moon’s appearance will be visible.

8:58 p.m. - Moon enters the central umbra of Earth’s shadow, and the partial eclipse phase begins. Observers in Valdosta will begin to see a "bite" taken out of the Moon's left side; this will grow over the next hour.

10:14 p.m. - Total eclipse phase begins; the Moon is now entirely inside the umbra of Earth’s shadow. Depending upon the purity of the Earth's atmosphere, the Moon may appear reddish in color (if the air is "moderately dirty") or it may disappear entirely (if the air is very clean or very dirty!).

11:09 p.m. - Total eclipse phase ends as the Moon begins to leave the umbra of the Earth’s shadow.

12:26 a.m. - Partial eclipse phase ends; the Moon is now entirely outside the umbra, and once again appears to be a Full Moon.

1:31 a.m. - Penumbral eclipse phase ends as the Moon exits the penumbra. The eclipse is over!

   As a public service the Observatory at Valdosta State University will be open (weather permitting) from 8:30 pm until 12:30 am for this event.  In addition to the eclipsed Moon, visitors will be able to view the planets Mars and Saturn along with the Pleiades Star cluster and the Great Nebula of Orion.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.