Some time ago, Ted Ensminger wrote that he would like to stop the turnover of new businesses started in Madison County. I understand that Mr. Ensminger will be attending some school in order to learn how to stop, or at least slow down the business turnover in this County. Jacob Bembry thinks some manufacturer may be looking at opening up some kind of business in the Dixie Packers' building, though no one will admit to this yet.

I'm not from Madison County, I was not born here, and I've been told by some that I have no idea how things are done here, that I am a Johnny come lately, "we've always done it this way" or is it "we don't do things that way?" I have a problem with that one.

I owned my first business when I was eight years old. I developed my own delivery system, purchasing, collection, advertising, including my own profit and loss system. Later in life, I became the Executive Vice President for Giltex Mfg., bringing that company from a mere twenty million dollar a year company, to over a hundred million dollar a year business. I've owned and sold three businesses in St. Johns County, and presently own my successful business in Madison County located at the same place since 2000. Admittedly, I must travel all over the State of Florida and on to Texas in order to keep the lights on, and beans and bacon on the table. However, one must work in order to feed all the Governments that have a better use for my money, than I do. And, also feed those welfare parasites that refuse to work. Anyway, I feel know a little bit of running a business.

I moved to Madison County in 1992 because the property I owned in this County enabled the business I had started in St. Johns County, to improve my coffers considerably due to the fact, I didn't have to deal with Government individuals on a daily basis. When testing my product, I would have to contact a Sheriff's Deputy and have him/her open gates that I could enter the premises. That was ok, but then a crowd would ensue and all had to "check it out" what would have taken a few minutes would then take hours. Moving to Madison County shortened the testing area of my business considerably.

Mr. Ensminger, the reason new businesses started in Madison County, either get out of town, go bankrupt, etc. is the lack of customers. Why do we have a lack of customers? We are a "Welfare County" No matter what kind of business you start, if you don't have customers, you will not stay in business. I don't care what schools you go to sir, "no customers? No business". We are presently at 25% un-employed, (real figures) in this County. If Government grants paid for by other taxpayers from somewhere else were stopped today, we would have a ghost town in just a few years.

I've had several businesses I deal with on a daily basis come to Madison County to check out my business, and investigate the potential of moving their companies to Madison County. One hundred and fifty six companies have moved from California to Texas this year, two have moved to Florida, none have moved to Madison. Wonder why that is?

The two businesses I spoke with in moving to Madison liked the location; both were introduced to customers that had come in to browse my store. The biggest problem we have is when touring the County, I'm asked, "Where does one go for entertainment? Where does one go to eat? What does one do after working all day? Then they ask, "will my company also get sued if we move here? Referring to our Water bottling company One company decided to move to Idaho rather than Madison County. His thoughts were that "Madison County is likely to be the second most controlled county in the US, right behind Cook county Illinois" For those of you who don't know, that would be Chicago.

Quote. "I would have to move about seventy five of my employees from Illinois to train the local personnel. My employees can't have a drink with their dinner, unless they go out of State?

Then, I did some business with our military a couple of years ago, when the business end of our meeting was done. It was then time for me to entertain my guests. My guests were a Navy Vice Admiral, a Navy Commander, and a Marine Colonel. Where does one take this type guest for dinner? adult beverages?, after dinner drinks? etc. Not in Madison County. I asked my guests if they wanted to go to Valdosta, Tallahassee, or Jacksonville? Neither could believe that dry counties still existed in the United States. "Isn't prohibition over in the United States?" I've been told, "We're in the Bible belt, and we want to be the buckle, or something like that" I'm not really sure exactly, what that means.

I had been working with another company in moving from New York State to Madison. Taxes are so high in New York; many businesses are leaving for greener pastures. I spoke of this with Tommy Greene a few weeks ago; Tommy has the perfect property for them to build on. This same company asked if our Hospital had received the million dollars in order to keep the doors open. I cringed and answered to the affirmative.

I was then asked if the hospital would actually receive the twenty two million dollars to build the new hospital, again I cringed and answered to the affirmative. My friend then looked me in the eyes and asked "if the hospital can't afford to pay their employees, pay their day to day bills, maintain their buildings today, what makes them think they will be able to run the new hospital any better? My answer was, "we've always done it that way"

This Hospital has been broke since 1992 that I know of, well, other than the few months that Bob Pugh ran the place, then getting fired for that effort. Or is it "that's the way we do it here?"

In the last ten years, the following is what I have found. We lose most of our high school graduates soon after graduating high school. Many go off to further their education either here in Florida or to other States. Most come back to visit only. Others go find jobs out of town, or out of State, "there's nothing here for them" and others join the military. A few will come back to live in Madison after a bad divorce somewhere, and move back in with their mothers. I find that many then go to work for either the County, or the City, our largest employers. We recently lost another restaurant, and Wally has closed shop the last few days. We are getting closer to becoming a Ghost Town everyday. Perhaps we can then draw some tourists Mr. Ted Ensminger keeps talking about. Visiting a Ghost Town may be attractive enough to entice some to stop by our county a day or so. But then with the economy down, few people seem to be coming to Florida. What we need to do in this County is to dump those running this County and start with new blood. I can get new and good businesses in this County, but only if we move to the 21st. Century. But then, "we've always done it that way" or is it "We don't do things that way"

George Pouliotte

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day of My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

If it bothers you that your town doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there'd be no need for such a scene on the town square because there'd be so many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. I made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present to honor My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you on earth . Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what retailers in your town call the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary prayerfully and financially-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but no presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity that believes in Me. They will make the delivery for you.

10. Make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My Presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of Mine.

Don't forget; I am God. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is in your court. Have a most blessed Christmas and always remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

I sometimes marvel at the way the American public reacts to different situations. Take the Airport security situation in the news headlines. People are enraged, upset, mad, and demanding change. The security pat down is unacceptable, the x-ray imagine is invasive, well there is a simple solution to this problem. If you don't want to be patted down, and you don't want to be imaged, then my thought is take a train, bus, drive or stay home. It's that simple. People are trying to KILL AMERICANS yes really, they want to kill us. One way to get the attention they want is to cause a major event that kills a lot of people, remember 9/11, it was real and they will do it again, FLYING IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. Either do the security checks or find another way to travel. Simple. There is no second chance if your falling 30,000 feet strapped to your seat and your there because some idiots didn't want tighter security. Israeli airport security uses "PROFILING" the ACLU, NAACP, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would all come out of the woodwork demanding to stop it. Enough said.

Ken Sumner, Madison

P.O. Box 115

Lee, Fl 32059

March 2, 1989

J. Maurice Nethery

501 W. Pinckney St.

Madison, FL 32340

Dear Mr. Nethery:

I regret that I have waited so long to express my heartfelt gratitude for your gift to our library. The lovely bookcase was a really wonderful gift and we certainly appreciate the books; I could feel how much you must have loved them.

Since Ms. Allen and the Enterprise-Recorder took an interest in us and especially your gift was pictured, we have received much more interest; more people are getting involved.

You may be interested in the fact that I now have a wonderful board of directors who are working on fund-raising; we have a tree sale in progress with trees donated by Superior Trees and publicity flyers donated by Relief Printers.

Sam Mitchell of Dixie Packers gave us a check for $200.00. So now that we have been approved into the regional library system, even though the commissioners failed to vote anything for the budget, I feel certain we will be included this fall when a new budget is approved.

Enclosed is a certificate of appreciation, a small token of our thanks, which we were intending to present to you more formally; however, we were very sorry to hear that you are ill. Please accept it is as a very inadequate expression of our gratitude.

We sincerely hope this finds you feeling better.

Truly,

Thelma Thompson

The above letter of thanks is one I sent to Mr. Nethery after receiving the lovely antique bookcase which he left for the Lee Library at the old E-R office when Greene Publishing made it possible for donors to drop off donations for our fledgling library. The bookcase was filled with a set of Zane Grey westerns, donated by T.C. Merchant.

When I left the library, I asked that I be allowed to have (buy) the books if they ever got rid of them. They (I don't know who) not only got rid of the books but the beautiful bookcase as well. Imagine my surprise when I returned to Lee and saw it at the Town Hall and not in use. In answer to my questions, Cheryl said the library (again, I don't know who) gave it to them. It sat there empty until after Kinsey Hall was built, then was put to use there.

This was not the only thing that was either given away or destroyed after I left. Virginia Cherry had given me – for the library – an antique rocking chair and reading lamp that had belonged to her mother and I gave my brown leather sofa and loveseat. These things would or could not be appreciated for our lovely new library but they were for the old one for the main room was equipped for a quiet, comfortable reading room. I had even been given a new table and chairs by the Boys Ranch thrift store which was suitable for children to work on their school work.

I have always been grateful for the many who got behind our efforts to begin a library here. Simon Kinsey made it possible first by donating use of the small Sam Lamb building behind his old barber shop. Later, Friends of the Lee Library was opened, consisting of Bill Johnson, Ernestine Kinsey, Charles Webb, Deanie Webb and Joey Miller and their strong efforts to promote the library were indispensable.

I express my gratitude for Madison County as a whole, for the county commissioners of that time and to Danny Hales, who had to add one more library to already overloaded schedule.

And may our new library continue to grow and our new Friends of the Lee Library continue to push it forward as they have already shown they can do.

Thelma Thompson

Dear Editor:

I would like to express my deep concern once again about the Madison police/sheriff department on how they do there job.We are still having problems with the neighbors lashing out at us and everyone from Taylor to Madison county. But from what we was told is that the deputies are tired of hearing us call them. So what are we to do? We just found out tonight that when someone drives by your house video taping you and your family (kids and all) stopping in front of your house at night and all through the day hollering cussing the kids nothing can be done because it is all hear say. The same people can drive up and down the road with no tag no license no insurance and nothing still be done to them. I mean wow what kind of society are we living if me are my family did that we would go to jail. We call the cops to let them know about them stalking/harassing us and from what they say is that it is a county maintained road and thats not stalking/harassing. But if you look up stalking and the laws for the state of Florida its a whole new ball game but in our case its just words on a piece of paper . So i guess if the laws don't work for us why should they work against us? why should we the people pay taxes for the police just to ride around and do nothing. I understand that they have rules they have to go by but where does it say in the rules that they can just stop doing there job and let us deal with it all on our own? What is being done is what i want to know? I will tell you what is being done nothing is being done nothing at all. Its just is funny how everything works out they threaten an elder man on camera nothing to be done they follow people when they see any vehicles wow thats not stalking. they pull guns on unknown people driving down the road they can do anything they want to do. I wish i could get away with half of the stuff they do. Also the funniest thing happened tonight again the same people who cut my parents fence and stole there cow then claimed the cow to be theres called the police tonight to tell them that the cow that they clam is theres that they stole is tearing there fence down and they will shoot it if something is not done. So the police come out. The neighbors ask them why is the cow (they stole) is still in there field. I mean right there goes to show how bright they all are. All the police had to say is something is being done. Once again tell me what is being done.If by chance something does get done and the cow is gave back it will still go on they will still be harassing/stalking us and everyone around here.

The Madison Public Library and Madison County Youth Services offer our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the following people and organizations, which partnered with us in our "Make a Splash! Read" Summer Youth Program:

Liz Harris, Creatures Featured Pet Shop: Our theme for the Youth Program was water. Ms. Harris loaned a saltwater aquarium to the Madison Public Library filled with several salt water creatures; James Wetmore, a.k.a. Dr. Fun: Mr. Wetmore dazzled the youth with a magic skit and balloon animal sculpting; Dollar General Stores, Greenville: Dollar General donated several t-shirts to the Library for reading incentive prizes; Ranger Rianna Elliott, Suwannee River State Park: Ranger Rianna Elliott demonstrated an edible aquifer using soda, ice cream, and candy. A yummy time was had by all.

Their generous donations and talents made our Summer Youth Program an enormous success. Again, we express our deep appreciation for your contributions. For information about any library services, please contact Madison Public Library at (850) 973-6814.

Sincerely,

April Brooks, Branch Manager

Linda Hesketh, Youth Services Coordinator

You have heard people talk about "Southern Hospitality," but I have seen it first-hand for the last few years living down here in the South. To tell you the truth, I always thought it was a phrase invented by Hollywood for the movies, but there really is such a thing.

Southern Hospitality isn't just something you find when visiting some home of a rich farmer or the local judge, you find it almost every place you go. People in the South are polite. It doesn't matter if they are black or white, rich or poor, from the city or live in a rural area, they are all pretty much nice to you when you meet them.

Here was a real surprise for me. Now that I have moved to Madison County, Florida, I have had to deal with people at the county court house form time to time. I had to register to vote, file my homestead for taxes, get building permits, and get a new driver's license. No matter which office or what person I have had to deal with, I have always left in a good mood. I know this sounds strange, but the people at the Madison County Court House are there to serve you, and they try as hard as they can to make whatever you are doing as easy as they can.

First off, they smile when you walk in the door, and they ask what they can do for you. Then they actually listen, and almost apologize if you are at the wrong place. If you are at the wrong office, they will tell you where you have to go, and whom to ask for when you get there. Many times when you thank somebody for their help, they answer with, "It is my pleasure." Now how nice is that, and how many times has that happened to you in a government office?

When Wanda and I moved to rural Madison County, we started looking for a church to attend. At every church we went to, people were very welcoming, and that happens at almost any church you go to any place in this country, but here in the South, I have had people say to me, "I sure hope our church is right for you, but if it isn't, I pray you find the one that is." No pressure, just people sincerely hoping you find the right place to worship and serve the Lord.

Now I know some people have their doubts about me, after all, I am a Yankee in their eyes, or I should say in their ears. I don't sound a bit like I was raised down here, and even though I tell them I have been working on this Minnesota accent for decades to get it just right, for some reason, they don't buy my claim of a Southern Heritage. However, when I tell them that my wife is from Lower Alabama, and that she was born and raised in Pensacola, they say, "Well then you aren't half as bad as I thought." They say that with a smile.

I know the people I lived with in Northern Minnesota were just as polite as the people here in the South have been, but I don't know if they were as welcoming. And sorry to say, a trip to the Court House was never a pleasant experience up North.

Southern Hospitality is real, and I discovered it sure makes living down here nice.

James Glaser

Dear Editor (and everyone else)

I want to express my deep appreciation to all the people who helped provide refreshments for the Grand Opening Reception at Madison County's new Senior Citizens Center on July 18. What a terrific occasion it was, thanks in part to those who made sandwiches, arranged fruit trays, baked cakes, and created fabulous sweet treats. These churches contributed to the delicacies for the day: First United Methodist of Madison, Pineland Missionary Baptist, Unity Baptist, Evergreen Missionary Baptist, Greenville United Methodist, Rocky Springs United Methodist, Grace Presbyterian, Genesis, Mt. Nebo AME, Shiloh, St. Vincent De Paul Catholic, Hanson United Methodist, Cherry Lake United Methodist, Damascus Missionary Baptist, and Fellowship Baptist. The Madison Garden Club brought little brownies and fudge bites, and those come-back-for-more cakes came from Winn-Dixie, T.T.'s Bakery, and Keri English at O'Neal's.

The Decoration Committee from First United Methodist Church (Jenny Andrews, Penny Worden, and Myra Valentine) created the attractive designs in the dining hall, and we thank them for their beautiful work.

I especially want to thank Ramona Dickinson, along with Deloris Jones and the ladies from Genesis for their assistance in serving the food and the punch. You ladies were invaluable to me.

In the busy-ness of the day, I may have overlooked someone who brought dishes in. Please contact me if I have omitted your name.

To all of these generous people — I cannot thank you enough. How very pr4ecious you are. You helped make the Senior Center dedication day truly an afternoon to remember.

Sincerely,

Ginger Jarvis

Refreshments Committee Coordinator and very grateful person

Dear Editor: I would like to express my deep appreciation to our county leaders, particularly our County Commissioners, County Coordinator Allen Cherry and Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator Jerome Wyche, for going the extra-mile to invite Neil Seldman, President of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, to Madison County to discuss initiatives that could expand our local tax base and create jobs.

Dr. Seldman's presentation was very informative, offering great hope for our county/region. He said Madison County is in a unique situation because we own our own landfill. He was especially complimentary of the outstanding job Mr. Wyche has done with Madison County's solid waste and recycling program. Dr. Seldman stated that it was very "unusual" to see a program as outstanding as ours, and that Madison County has many avenues open for new green jobs and opportunities.

Our family is proud that our county leaders, both past and present, have led and continue to lead Madison County in the right direction both sustainably and economically. Both go hand in hand.

I hope our leaders will carefully consider the opportunities Dr. Seldman has described.

Sincerely,

Lisa Flournoy

Madison County citizen

(Former Coordinator of Economic Development, Taylor County Development Authority)

After my initial letter I was able to speak to my friend and recognized there was a misunderstanding of his use of the idea of Hammurabi's Code being displayed on the courthouse square as opposed to the Ten Commandments.

I confess that my letter to the editor was written before I even understood who made those comments. When I learned who it was I knew there was more to the story. While we may not totally agree on this issue we are brothers who worship the same Lord and I have the utmost respect for Bobby Tolar. Not trying to start any kind of upheaval or anything but I did want to share a few more facts related to this issue of the First Amendment that I found interesting.

The letter from Thomas Jefferson that contained the phrase "...wall of separation between church and state..." was a reply to an appeal from the Danbury Baptist Convention who asked him to support the disestablishment of the Connecticut state churInch. Jefferson agreed with them but refused to allow the federal government to intrude in state matters. He put the limit on the heavy hand of the federal government and decided what they did regarding religion was the business of that jurisdiction. This limited view of federal government and recognition of the sovereignty of the individual states is known as "federalism" and was widely accepted in this country until recent decades. Jefferson was a very strong advocate of this concept.

If Jefferson intended for there to be no reference of religion in the public square, then why did he along with George Washington, John Adams and the rest of our founding fathers not practice this? Why were they making educators teach the bible in school classrooms? Why did Jefferson, three days after writing that letter, attend the largest Christian congregation in the United States, which, ironically, was held weekly in the House Chambers of the Capital Building?

How are we now saying that we must agree with those who say we must erase every reference to religion in government buildings? Was this what Jefferson, Washington, Adams, et al intended? I don't think so. That is, unless they intended for this concept to begin to catch on 200 years later.

The case law looked at or litmus tests courts have used to make these decisions on religious themed display is this: Is the purpose of the display intended to advance or disparage religion? In that regard the federal government is to do neither. My point is this: Since we have started down the road of secularizing the country, what is stopping the march from coming right into your church – or house? I mean, we the people are the government, remember?

So, what happened to federalism? Our founding fathers were adamant about making sure the federal government didn't lord over these United States about religious issues.

Fast forward to today and we see organized groups – small in overall number but very loud and with the backing of celebrities and bureaucrats – doing things that should shock us into action. They are filing ridiculous lawsuits such as against schools who have prayer before a football game. These groups are relying on the "separation of church and state" argument. They have a real problem, though because it is coming to light more and more that their acts are unconstitutional and they are losing cases.

While the Bible tells us to obey the law of the land, this law is not cut and dried. Many times courts have found the display of scripture in a government building to be constitutional.

Mr. Gene Stokes made a very good point yesterday when he said that the most important thing is for God's law to be written in our hearts. I agree.

I only hope we recognize that local citizens still have a say so and sometimes need to give Big Brother a reality check. With regard to lawsuits, people should not automatically lie down in submission when they hear the letters ACLU either.

Joe S. Reams III

Dear Editor Bembry, We live in the greatest country on earth and the reason for that greatness is freedom. However, freedom is not free...

I believe too many people fail to understand the real definition of freedom. John 8:32 tells us what can make us free. " Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Freedom is found in truth. The foundation of this nation is planted in truth that each person is better equipped to make decisions about his own life than government bureaucrats. Our founding fathers understood this and wrote the Constitution. Our Constitution was meant to be the basis of the truth that would govern our land. The Constitution was written to control government, not men. It was to keep government out of the everyday lives of the people. Thomas Jefferson said, "That government is best which governs least."

We have failed to follow our forefathers by allowing government to read many rights into the Constitution that were not a part of the truth our forefathers set down. By failing to follow that simple truth, we have lost much of our freedom! It is important to realize that once we allow something that is forbidden in the Constitution, the next thing is to prohibit something that is allowed (second amendment) and when that happens, freedom is dead!

Now is the time for all Americans to stand up for the truth as our foundation. I encourage you to re-read our Constitution and fervently pray II Chronicles 7:14, "Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their sins and restore their land."

Last, but highly important, we must all register to vote, educate ourselves about each candidate and VOTE the courage of your convictions. Together we can make a difference!

Sincerely,

Lilla Johnson Howerton

An incident of arrest at a private party was reported factually and completely without any unnecessary irrelevant details. All news media should follow your example.

Marianne Green