By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Two people were killed in two separate accidents on Wednesday morning, January 9, and Friday afternoon, January 11.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol, the first wreck involved Jerry Freeman Scarlett, 52, of Plant City, who was traveling westbound in the outside westbound lane of Interstate 10 approximately one-half mile west of the rest area in a 2000 Ford truck. J. Carmen Pena, 36, of Ruskin, was ahead of Scarlett, driving a 2002 Freightliner semi.
   The front end of Scarlett's pickup hit the rear of the trailer being pulled by Pena.
   The pickup became attached to the trailer and was dragged by the semi.
   Both vehicles traveled onto the merge lane and came to a final rest, facing west.
   Scarlett could not be questioned about the details of the crash. He died from injuries sustained in the crash on Saturday, January 12.
   The wreck occurred at approximately 7:10 a.m.
   FHP Trooper Mark Urschler was the investigating officer.
   According to the FHP, the second wreck occurred on Friday afternoon, at approximately 4:10 p.m.
   The FHP reported that Danielle Alicia Smith, 19, of Middleburg, was traveling eastbound on I-10 in the inside lane.
A severe thunderstorm with heavy rain was the area and the tires of Smith's 2006 Ford SUV struck standing water on the roadway, causing the vehicle to hydroplane.
   Smith veered onto the left grass shoulder and rotated in a counterclockwise direction, beginning to travel sideways.
   Smith lost control of the SUV and entered into a wooded area, where the vehicle overturned onto the right side and struck a tree with its top.
The vehicle rotated clockwise around the tree and came to a final rest on its wheels pointing to the east.
   Smith received critical injuries and was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital by EMS.
   The Madison County Sheriff's Office, Madison Fire and Rescue, the Greenville Volunteer Fire Department and the Florida Department of Transportation assisted FHP troopers on the scene.
   Smith died of injuries she received in the crash on Saturday, January 12, at 2:18 p.m. at Tallahasee Memorial Hospital.
   FHP Trooper Berry Crews was the investigating officer. FHP Cpl. Patricia Shaw was the homicide investigator.

Rains Cause Wrecks In Madison

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Two cars collided during heavy rains on Friday, January 11, at approximately 3:15 p.m. at the intersection of Base and Meeting Streets in Madison.
   According to a Madison Police Department report, Shannon Diane Walker, 16, of Madison, was traveling north on Meeting Street in a 2000 Ford Mustang. Walker, who had been stopped at a stop sign, proceeded to turn left onto Base Street at approximately 35 miles per hour. When she did, she pulled out in front of a 2003 Honda SUV, driven by Rodney Owen Heffern, 56.
   Heffern's Honda struck Walker's Mustang in the right front-quarter panel.
   Walker lost control of the car and ran off the roadway, striking a utility pole, where the car came to a final rest. Sometime during the crash, the right rear corner of the Mustang was damaged.
   The force of the impact caused Heffern's SUV to come to rest northbound in the southbound lanes of Meeting Avenue, north of the intersection of Base Street.
   Both drivers were transported to the local hospital by Madison County EMS, where they were treated for their injuries.
   Each vehicle sustained $3,500 in damages.
   Sgt. Nathan Curtis was the investigating officer.
   Other accidents reported by the MPD included:
   At 4:54 p.m., Albert O. Cherry, 19, was driving a 1997 Plymouth westbound on Base Street, when he observed a 2003 Chevrolet, driven by Deborah Hicks Turner, 41, in front of him.
   Turner braked, then slowed. Cherry's car hit Turner in the rear.
   Cherry was transported to the local hospital by EMS and treated for injuries.
   Turner drove to the hospital under her own power where she was treated for injuries.
   Sgt. Nathan Curtis was the investigating officer.
   In a third accident at approximately 7:05 p.m., Benjamin F. Mabry, 50, was traveling west on Rutledge Street in a 2004 Nissan, while Leola Joseph was traveling south on Shelby Street in a 1997 GMC.
   Mabry, who was stopped at a stop sign, entered the intersection, striking Joseph's vehicle.
   Mabry said that he could not see Joseph's vehicle because of the vast amount of rain.
   Body damage to both vehicles was estimated at $3,000 each.
   According to Officer Tiffany Travis, the crash investigator, neither driver had any visible injuries, however Joseph complained of neck pain.
   Jacob Bembry, editor, can be reached at jacob@greenepublishing.com.

Suspect Sought In Church Burglary

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison Police Department is looking for whoever broke and entered into Grace Presbyterian last week.
   According to an MPD report, an unknown suspect entered Grace Presbyterian by opening one of the bottom floor windows on the north side of building. During the entry, one of the panes of the double pane-window was broken.
   The building was entered after the Wednesday evening service on January 9 and prior to the heavy rains on Friday, January 11.
   According to the investigation, the suspect walked through the church, forcefully entering the pastor's office on the second floor. The door to the pastor's office was broken at the second knob.
   All electronics were accounted for. The crime scene was photographed and latent prints were attempted. No prints were found.
   If anyone has any information on this crime, please call the Madison Police Department at 973-5077.
   Jacob Bembry, editor, can be reached by email at jacob@greenepublishing.com.

MCDC Ensuring Community Participates In Growth Planning

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison County Development Council has a number of priorities going into its 2008 planning and practices.  One priority is by default, and therefore will be by design, the ruling guide for the others.  That priority is ensuring that the community participates in the planning and practices of the Council.
Over the past decade, local and state officials have developed and been presented with a number of tools to facilitate and monitor growth.  Commonly attached to the county’s Comprehensive Plan, each of these tools has its merits, but ultimately they all converge on one goal, that is to build and operate the county according to the preferences and guidance of its residents.
   “The bottom line is that we need to ensure that the residents of Madison County come first in this process,” Madison County Community Bank President Ed Meggs pointed out.  All Council members agreed.  “Fortunately we can build on the work we’ve done before and also utilize some organizing tools that are offered with the visioning process tied to the Comprehensive Plan.  Then when we meet with the residents, we can get the very most out of the time and discussion,” County Planner Jeanne Bass added.
   To facilitate these goals, a public meeting will be held on February 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Madison County High School cafeteria.  All residents of Madison County are strongly urged to attend.  The views and opinions regarding a wide range of issues that make up the day-to-day life of residents throughout the county are not only welcome but also eagerly anticipated. 
   Taking individual ownership of group decisions can be a daunting task when one is dealing with only a handful of participants, much less when organizing strategies for an entire county.  But that is, in fact, exactly what the Council is striving to achieve.  And although not everyone may agree on every issue, the goal is that everyone desiring to be heard will be and leave knowing that community comes first.
   Additional actions of the January 8 meeting included election of 2008 officers, with Cheryl Archambault remaining as President, Allen Cherry as Secretary and Gene Stokes as Treasurer.  There was also discussion regarding the most effective way to organize the Enterprise Zones and establish new methods and facilitators for recruiting commerce to Madison County.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached by email at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Kelsi Reams' Fifth Annual Hot Chocolate Sale To Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundaton

   The fifth annual Hot Chocolate Sale, which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19th from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Witmer Realty in Greenville, located on the corner of US 221 south and US 90 east.
   The event is hosted by Kelsi Reams, 11, and her six year-old sister Chloe.  Their sister Abby, 5, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of five months.  All three are students at Aucilla Christian Academy.
   The money raised will be used for the on-going research to help fight the disease.  Kelsi has raised over $7,000 to help those who live with Cystic Fibrosis.
   Anyone wishing to make a donation but is unable to attend the event, can make checks payable to CFF and mail to Joe and Kathy Reams, 418 NW Sand Dollar Way, Greenville, Florida, 32331.
   To all of Madison and Jefferson County, thanks for all the support over the last five years in helping CF stand for CURE FOUND!!