By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Jury selection will begin Monday, October 15, for Harold Hand, who has been indicted for the murder of Geraldine Konnan, of Lee.
   According to a Madison County Sheriff's Department report, Deputy Josh Harris was dispatched to the home of Joe and Mary Thomas, regarding some stolen items, at approximately 12:13 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2006.
   Lt. Tina DeMotsis and Sgt. Art Deno were called and arrived at the Thomas home. While they were speaking to owner of the residence at 1323 NE Juniper, a neighbor, Gabriel Garcia, who lived north of the Thomases, arrived and reported to the officers that he had been riding his four-wheeler on his property and located the body of a white female in some planted pines.
DeMotsis was shown the location and secured the scene, beginning the investigation. The victim, Geraldine M. Konan, 46, of Lee, was found lying face down and had been shot once in the back by a small caliber weapon. It was discovered, after an autopsy on Monday that she had been shot three times in the face.
   The coroner determined that the murder had probably occurred Thursday, February 23, 2006.
   During the investigation, it was learned that a suspect in the death, Harold Hand, would be returning to the scene to see Mary Thomas.
   At approximately 8:30 p.m., beige four-door, Chevrolet HHR LT sedan came nearing the homicide scene in a suspicious manner. The murder victim had leased the car.
---Members of the Madison County Sheriff's Department stopped the vehicle. The occupants were removed and taken to the Madison County Jail.
   The driver of the vehicle, Cynthia A. Taylor, of Madison, was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
   The passenger in the front on the right side, Gilbert "Chico" Jones, Jr., of Madison, was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
   Harold Hand, the passenger in the right rear, was arrested on warrants from Columbia County for leaving the scene of an accident and as a suspect in the murder.
   After confessing to killing Konan, Hand was charged with murder in the first degree. He was also charged with possession of crack cocaine while armed, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
   A loaded Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22 LR single action revolver was located beneath the front passenger seat. A fixed blade knife was located on the left rear passenger floorboard.
   A suspected crack cocaine pipe and suspected crack cocaine were also located in the vehicle.

Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Hultz

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
---A grand jury returned an indictment last Wednesday, September 26, against a man suspected of killing another man at a local motel in summer 2006. A pre-trial is set for November 15 for the first-degree murder case against him.
   David Lyle Hultz, of Portland, Oregon, was arrested August 14, 2006, in Dallas, Texas, for the murder of Richard Meizner, 61, of Alford, after turning himself in at a Veteran's Administration hospital in Dallas, Texas.
---Hultz, who was tracked, while he was using Meizner's credit cards, allegedly murdered Meizner on July 6, 2006.

Wreck Occurs In City Limits, Three Injured

By Jessica Higginbotham
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   According to the Madison Police Department, on Monday, October 1, a crash occurred at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and East Base Street.  The crash occurred at approximately 3:35 p.m. 
   A 1998 Toyota car, driven by Brittany Nicole Aikens, attempting to turn left onto East Base St. was stopped at the stop sign on Hillcrest.  A 2004 Dodge truck, driven by Steve Edward Harmon, was traveling west on Base Street in the inside lane. 
   The Toyota driven by Aikens pulled out onto Base Street and violated the path of Harmon’s pickup, causing a collision. 
   Aikens was charged with violation of right of way.
---Aikens and her passenger, Carolyn Arnold Aikens, were treated on scene and then transported to Madison County Memorial Hospital.  Harmon was treated on the scene, transported to Madison County Memorial Hospital and then later transferred to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Wreck On I-10 Caused By Spider

By Jessica Higginbotham
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   According to the Florida Highway Patrol, on September 28, 2007, a Ford car, driven by Zachary P. Stout of Chicago Ill, was traveling eastbound on I-10.  Just past the 242-mile marker, Stout lost control of the vehicle.
   Stout attributed his loss of control to a distraction – a spider crawled into his left eye.  The vehicle went off the paved portion of the roadway and onto the grassy shoulder.  The vehicle continued out of control, sliding sideways for approximately 158 feet, before coming to a final rest in the trees on the south side of the roadway.
   Stout, age 19, was treated for serious injuries at Madison County Memorial Hospital.  Trooper Thomas R. Roderick investigated the crash for Florida Highway Patrol, and Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy John Deming assisted. 
   An estimated $5,000 worth of damage was done to the vehicle.

Lee Council Meeting Focuses On Community Water Demands

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
---Recognizing the central role created from the responsibility to physically deliver the new water infrastructure, the Lee Town Council, conducted by Mayor Ernestine Kinsey, made some hard and pricey decisions to ensure that the water system meets the very highest standards.  Joined by Town Manager Cheryl Archambault, the five council members voted unanimously to purchase and install tower equipment and to extend two inch piping along US 90 East to the Putnal property.
---“The equipment (known as a “clay valve”) is customary for a two-tower system,” Councilman McNicol noted, “and as far as the water pipe extension, we have to support the area we cover.”  McNicol’s concern and expertise came up again a few minutes later when the Fire Department report was given.
Reese Thomas, Fire Chief for the Lee Volunteer Fire Department, reported that the hydrant system had been tested.  “Only eight hydrants associated with the new water system are left to test.  We tested everything and even found a few.  The extensive report we generate will be used by fire and emergency services and other agencies, including the information being uploaded to a GPS navigation system,” Thomas said.
---Thomas reported flow rates as high as 900 gallons per minute, with only a few exceptions that required follow-up.  McNicol and Thomas had a brief exchange regarding the types and status of various valves and pipes, concluding that the system is doing well and that the few exceptions posed no threat to anyone.
---In closing his report, Thomas reminded everyone that this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. the Fire Department would be having a “Memorial Ride” for Scott Thomas who was part of the department at the time he was tragically killed in a traffic accident.  Firefighters from around the region, including Tallahassee, Valdosta and even as far as Largo are expected to attend.  The ride will go to Madison and Midway. 
---Following the meeting, Town Manager Archambault said, “Lee will be getting revenue from the businesses and residents that use the system, so we get paid back later.  It’s a fantastic resource for us.”  Until then however, the Mayor and Town Council are making the hard decisions to keep this vital water system running smoothly.  Keeping with these shared community commitments, the Council also agreed that working papers for multi-town cooperation should be revised to keep the formal agreements in effect.