Driver Charged With Manslaughter

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   On November 7, 2007, a story was published in the Madison County Carrier regarding the death of a ten-year-old boy named Don’tavius Davon Fead who was killed during a traffic crash.  A 1999 Ford Explorer, driven by Fead’s mother, Latara Tomeka Tyson, 32, of Madison, overturned several times after Tyson lost control.  Traveling eastbound on Highway 14, it was later estimated that Tyson was traveling at 87 mph in the 50 mph zone.  Tyson was critically injured in the crash and two other passengers were seriously injured. 
   Upon investigation, it was determined that proper child safety restraints were not in use, resulting in Fead’s ejection and subsequent death, also resulting in serious injuries to another child, two-year-old, Makilah McClan.  After her arrival at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, it was also determined that Tyson had a blood-alcohol content of .153, which, along with the minors in the vehicle, led to the DUI-Manslaughter charge.
   Corporal J. B. Woodward of the Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash.  Tyson entered a plea of Not Guilty and was released on a $15,000 bond.  According to State Attorney Todd Hingson, Tyson’s arraignment is set for February 21 in Taylor County where Fred Castleman will serve as Public Defender.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Wanted Sex Offender Arrested In Texas

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A man, who was wanted on warrants from Madison County for failing to register as a sex offender, was arrested last month in Houston, Texas.
   According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Omar Bonilla Tejeda, who was born January 19, 1968, was arrested by Texas authorities on marijuana possession charges.
   Tejeda was convicted in 2005 of lewd and lascivious battery and of having sex with a child between 12 and 15 years old.
   Tejeda has been a wanted person in Madison County since April 19, 2006.
   There is no word yet on whether Tejeda will be extradited back to Madison County.

“Egalitarian” Wins The Bee

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Kammeron Joseph, a sixth grader from the Madison County Central School, outlasted his peers, and over a dozen rounds of competitive spelling, to win the 2008 District Spelling Bee.  Iman Taylor, also a sixth grader from MCCS, was runner-up.
   Sponsors, teachers, staff and visitors gathered to capacity in the Madison County School Board meeting room to observe the scholarship demonstrated by all participants, who ranged from fifth to eighth graders.  Retired English teacher, Diane Phillips, explained the rules and then pronounced the words during competition.
   The district bee is the first round of official competition leading to the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee.  Prior to the national finals, which is held annually in Washington D.C., Joseph, or Taylor in his place should he be unable to attend, must get past two more competitions at the regional and state level.
   Many of the misspelled words this year were words that are spoken often but seldom written, causing the audience to let out deep sighs as spellers were dismissed following the infamous ring of an old-school desk bell.  These misspelled words included: pretzel, irony, dyslexia, lariat and nightingale, among others.  Ultimately 19 contestants were dismissed prior to Joseph spelling the winning word, “egalitarian.”
   Jan McHargue, Special Events Coordinator for the School Board, coordinated the event.  “We are so proud of our spellers and so grateful to our volunteers for their time,” McHargue noted.  “Everyone is a winner,” she added.  After the competition, all the participants were treated to the customary lunch outing at Pizza Hut, where everybody definitely celebrated accordingly.
   Participants in the 5th to 8th grade bee, and his or her school, are as follow:

Madison County Central School
JaKeri Keeley
Darryl Wright
Kammeron Joseph (District Champion)
Iman Taylor (District Runner-Up)
Ashley McQuay
Frank Fernandez
Alana Ellison
Kristi Ferrell

Lee Elementary School
Romeo Zea
Crystal Mack

Pinetta Elementary School
Jacob Moore
Kaitlyn Daniel

Greenville Elementary School
Briana Hodge
Byron Fead

Madison Academy
C.J. Hinson
Courtney Strickland
Abby Blanton
Joshua Wood

LATMA Christian Academy
Darron Brown
Donnie Watson

   There was also a fourth grade spelling bee, which is always a hit as the younger kids get their feet wet in preparation for future competitions.  The winner, runner-up, participants and his or her school are as follow:

Madison County Central School
Sunni Mays
La’Resha Crumity (Runner-up)

Lee Elementary School
Alexis Mendheim
Kaitlyn Farnell

Pinetta Elementary School
Megan Washington
Ceridwyn Griffis (District Champion)

Greenville Elementary School
Victor Barber
Orient Livingston Jr.

Madison Academy
Dorian Alberti
Clay Hall

   Superintendent Lou Miller joined staff and volunteers, congratulating all participants and wishing Joseph best efforts in the regional bee.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Teacher Of The Year Banquet Set For Thursday Evening

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. will host its Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award banquet this Thursday evening, February 7.
   The banquet will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the cafeteria at Madison County High School. Following a scrumptious meal, principals and students from six schools will award Teacher of the Year plaques to the teachers from their respective schools. Students will introduce each teacher.
   At the very end, the Madison County School District Teacher of the Year award will be presented.

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.
   The introduction of methamphetamines into Madison County communities, though possibly rare to start, has now morphed into a quick moving plague that is sweeping up the youth on its march of death. Alarming is the fact that, some of Madison’s youth are talked into trying “ice” for the first time by classmates or friends, unaware of its devastating consequences. Distressing is the fact that, more than a few are trapped in environments out of control where they are subjected to and unable to change the behavior of parents who should be shielding their children from these dangers. Reprehensible is the fact, that some of these parents are so lost in their own addiction that they become the beast themselves, supplying their very own babies with the poison in the hopes that the child will be distracted enough from their hunger, fear, and need of attention that they will leave their parents alone to chase the dragon.
   In basement get-togethers, parties and dance-clubs around the US children are being exposed to a new and improved peril. According to police reports, drug dealers and their minions are luring a younger crowd with less harmful sounding, yet equally deadly “flavored meth.” With creative names such as Strawberry Quick, flavors including chocolate, cola, strawberry and other soda’s, and bright colors that resemble popular candy favorites of children, younger crowds are being drawn in to meth’s fast growing addiction. These novel versions are easier to digest, frighteningly imaginative, but just as deadly.
   “It’s being processed and produced with flavoring” said Sarah Pullen, a spokeswoman for the US Drug Enforcement Administration, “So it is every bit as strong and pure.”
   Disguising the dangerous drug, dealers are intentionally targeting younger customers in the hopes of gaining long time buyers. Use of crystal meth among the country’s youth is climbing at alarming rates, especially in Florida’s rural communities. According to a recent survey conducted by the DEA, the number of meth labs in Florida alone, jumped from 28 in 2001 to 332 in 2004. With numbers increasing this rapidly, Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal, Tom Gallagher recently declared that crystal meth has become “ a domestic terrorist threat to Florida first responders and citizens.” 
   Crystal meth can be concealed in homes, sheds, vehicles and motel rooms state wide. FDLE statistics show the greatest concentration of meth labs are being discovered in Central Florida and the Panhandle. Recent studies show that crystal meth use among young adults is considerably higher than previous studies had shown, with the highest percentage being 18-26, a disproportional amount being white, male, truck drivers, students and female homemakers. Additionally, the antisocial behavior exhibited with crystal meth use appears to be greater in females than males. A large portion of meth users reported had children living in the home.
   Children living in meth labs are at an even greater risk. Not only are they exposed to the dangers inflicted by meth use on a constant basis such as increased abuse, neglect, pornography, sexual battery and filth, a current study showed that 25% test positive for methamphetamines themselves. Living in constant proximity to hazardous chemicals, these children are often found with bruises, broken bones, respitory problems infection malnutrition and chemical burns. These parents often give their own children “just a little bit” because the child is tired, crying, and hungry. “Give them a little meth,” one site was quoted as saying “and they will go off and play with their toys for a few days.”
   The burden that foster care is under because of these drastically climbing numbers of children entering the system due to meth use is overwhelming.
   “Slim fast of the Suwannee” states Marla Zorn, of the Tri-County Human Service Center, is a big part of these numbers. “There have been more removals in Madison County in the last year than any of the other counties. Along with numerous other indicators, these children are often identified when they repeatedly show up to school hungry and dirty. In 2002, the most recent numbers show that Child Protective Services spent $1.7 million on Madison County children removed from homes. CPS was the largest type of public expenditure. In another study, it was shown that in clinic population 78% of these children will be placed in out of home care. Even more upsetting is the fact that “some of these children are sent back to their birth homes where problems may get even worse.”
   “What we need,” according to Lieutenant Mark Joost “is to get extremely tough on prosecution. It has a snowball effect on our society, from robbery to domestic violence, it is increasing crime in all areas.”
   “If I left you with a dog,” adds Sergeant Ben Ebberson “ and you were caught abusing and neglecting it, with current laws you would go to jail longer than the people that are doing it to their own children.”
   Meth trafficking and abuse has increased sharply since 2002 and now exceeds that of any other drug, it is currently the most addictive and dangerous of illegal drugs affecting small communities. CPS reports that it was involved in the majority of cases received. With statistics  still climbing, the children will continue to be the ones to pay the price until communities join in the crusade to stop meth’s addictive evil.
   Staff writer Tyrra B Meserve can be reached at tyrra@greenepublishing.com

Ben Stewart Announces Candidacy For Sheriff Of Madison County

   I would like to announce my candidacy for Sheriff of Madison County to fill the office of retiring Sheriff Pete Bucher.  This decision comes from an overwhelming concern for this community, a strong desire to influence the future of Law Enforcement in Madison County, and a lot of prayer.
   My goals for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office include presenting a more concentrated effort on the war on drugs, increasing the accessibility of the Sheriff’s Office to the public,  promoting community awareness and involvement with the operation of the Sheriff’s Office and investing in training for officers to achieve the most efficient force possible.
   I have been afforded the opportunity to serve this community for over 26 years in Law Enforcement, most of which has been spent with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.  My experience includes serving as a Corrections Officer, Communications Officer, Patrol Deputy, Traffic Deputy, Felony Investigator, State Attorney Investigator and finally as a Supervisor, retiring from the Sheriff’s Office as Captain in December of 2005. While working in these positions I experienced all facets of the criminal justice system and investigated all types of crime from petit theft to homicides. I am confident that this working knowledge of the Sheriff’s Office has given me the ability to carry out the duties of the Sheriff effectively, while being firm, fair and impartial.
   Other experience includes 19 years as a pilot for the Sheriff’s Office aircraft, 11 years as a Polygraph Examiner for the Sheriff‘s Office and State Attorney‘s Office,  five years as a State Attorney Investigator for State Attorney Jerry Blair, and six years with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, receiving an honorable discharge as a Sergeant.  I have worked the last year-and-a-half as a Ranger for the Florida Park Service since my retirement from the Sheriff‘s Office.  
   My educational background includes graduation from Madison High School in 1977; graduation from Marine Corps Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina in 1977; graduation from North Florida Community College with an AA degree in 1980; completion of the NFCC Law Enforcement Academy in 1980;  Pilots License in 1983; Polygraph School in 1991; Firearms instructor and various other Law Enforcement certifications.
   I am a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and a member of the Gideons International. My wife of 18 years, Kim, is a Dental Hygienist with Doctor Shaw’s Office in Madison.  My daughter, Brooke, is 15 and is a sophomore in high school.  I am the son of Patsy Stewart and the late Bill Stewart, Jr. of Madison.  I have one brother, Bill Stewart, who owns and operates Stewart’s Automotive in Madison.
   Thanks in advance for your support and prayers as we approach November 4.  Please feel free to contact me to discuss any concern or ideas regarding the future of law enforcement in Madison County.  I can be reached at home at 929-4094 or for more information please visit my web page at benstewartforsheriff.com.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Ben Stewart, NPA candidate for Sheriff of Madison County.