By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   An organizational meeting was held Monday, July 14, for a group opposed to a ballot initiative, which would make Madison County a wet county.
   The meeting was held at the Madison County Extension Office and was moderated by Gene Stokes, director of the Middle Florida Baptist Association. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of fighting against the petition drive to get the wet county amendment on the ballot and to discuss leadership for the committee.
   The name CALL (Citizens Against Legalized Liquor) was chosen for the group, along with the motto, “Save Our Children and Families.”
   Linda Howell was elected the group’s secretary and Connie Peterson was chosen as the group’s treasurer.
   A search committee, composed of Steve McHargue, Doug Carter, Phillip Howell, Jacob Bembry and Johnny Carroll were chosen to find a chairman for CALL. McHargue was chosen as the chair for the search committee.
   The cost to hold an election if the other group, called Grow Our Local Economy, succeeds in getting the required signatures for their petition drive would be approximately $25,000, according to Jada Williams, Supervisor of Elections.
   CALL will hold its next regular meeting on Monday evening, July 28, at the Madison County Courthouse.

“Phantom Cop” Stops Driver

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A man, who was apparently posing as a law officer, allegedly stopped a Valdosta, Ga. woman on Tuesday, July 15.
   According to a Madison Police Department report filed by Sgt. William Greene, he was contacted by the woman who said that someone, wearing a green shirt, with no badge or gun belt, had pulled her over in a vehicle that had red and white lights.
   The person used vulgar language and told her that she had stopped her because she had a Lowndes County tag.
   The “officer” let her go without issuing a citation.
   The woman said that the person who stopped her was a dark-haired white male, approximately 25-30 years old. She said that the man never identified himself as an officer, but said that he had told her a name that sounded like “Colbert.”
   All Madison Police Department officers’ whereabouts were accounted for during the time of the stop. All Madison County Sheriff’s deputies on duty, except one, were reportedly on a call on Midway Church Road, south of Lee, involving a man threatening suicide.
   Lucas Williams, the other deputy, had just gotten out of a law enforcement class at North Florida Community College. He said that people, in another law enforcement class at the college, wore green shirts like the one the woman had described.
   If you have any information on who the phantom “officer” could be, please call the Madison Police Department at 973-5077.

Woman Injured; Cow Killed

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A woman was injured and a cow was killed in an accident on Highway 53 South in Madison on Monday morning, July 16.
   According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Angela Bryant, 40, of Madison, was traveling south on State Road 53. Fog was present and she struck a cow that was standing in the road in front of her 2002 Chevy SUV.
   Bryant was taken by ambulance to Madison County Memorial Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.
   The cow was dead at the scene.
   The Florida Highway Patrol was assisted by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
   FHP Trooper Billy Ernst was the investigating officer.

Madison Coalition Invites Voters To Van H. Priest July 19

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A very unique candidate’s forum complete with one-on-one breakouts and door prizes will be held at Van H. Priest Auditorium on the NFCC campus Saturday, July 19, starting at 10 a.m.  Everyone is welcome and invited to bring family and friends.
   The event is being sponsored by the Madison Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition, which is a grass roots organization, comprised of local clergy, civic and governmental leadership, as well as concerned citizens who realize that the youth of Madison County is its richest asset.

Superintendent Says Goodbye To Great Friend And Exceptional Principal

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   A grateful community and appreciative School Board joined Superintendent Lou Miller in a sad but understandable good-bye to Greenville Elementary School Principal Mel Roberts following his decision to accept the position of Principal of Jefferson County Elementary School.  Roberts career in the Madison County School System left a proud and productive legacy that was capped with his most recent achievement, that of leading Greenville Elementary from an F rating on the FCAT to an remarkable grade of B.
   Roberts joined Madison schools in 1997 as the Assistant Principal at Madison County High School under then Principal Lou Miller.
   “It was like I had been there before.  It became so comfortable so fast and felt right in so many ways.  It was also the beginning of a friendship with Lou that I will always cherish,” Roberts explains.
   At the time, Roberts had been traveling from his home in Monticello to his childhood home in Baldwin to care for his mother.  “The opportunity in Madison was very timely.  We prayed about it and decided to accept the offer, a decision we’ve never regretted,” Roberts added.
   Roberts is a member of the clergy in Monticello, and while he expressed extreme remorse at leaving the many friends and colleagues he has accumulated over the last eleven years in Madison County, the offer and the family considerations were simply too much of an opportunity to ignore.
   “Lou Miller provided me the degree of experience necessary to build confidence as an administrator, something I will always have with me.  In addition, my great staff and faculty at Greenville Elementary: Joyce Wells, Rebecca Miller, William Ware, and the targeted teachers that led to the great FCAT results, Debra Henry, Jackie Sircy and Emily Dickey, among others, have my deepest respect and appreciation.  Unfortunately, I can’t name them all but I want to thank them all for their effort and support,” Roberts stated.
   Along his career in the county, Roberts has been the Principal of Madison County High School, Madison County Central School and Greenville Elementary.  Living proof that a man can be a gentleman under even extreme pressure; he also leaves a legacy of immense respect from students as well.  All agree he will be missed.
   “You can’t just replace a Mel Roberts.  I will miss him as a friend and we will all miss him as an administrator.  I hope Jefferson County realizes what a fantastic person they are getting.  We love Mel and will always hold a place at the table for him,” Miller solemnly stated.
   Roberts will maintain residence in Monticello with wife Mary and a beautiful family that includes two children and five grandchildren.  Having had an opportunity to speak with Roberts on several occasions, this reporter would like to join the entire community is wishing him and his family a prosperous and blessed journey.

Christian Heritage Academy Holding Cake Auction And Fundraiser

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Christian Heritage Academy is holding a cake auction and chicken dinner on Saturday, July 19, at 11:30 p.m.
   All proceeds from the sale of the dinner and the cake auction will benefit Christian Heritage Academy, located at the First Baptist Church of Greenville, on US Highway 90 West in Greenville.
   Christian Heritage Academy is a private school. Janet Bailey is its principal.