By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison Police Department is investigating leads but have no suspects yet in the murder of Jaguar Gee. Gee was found murdered at the Arbours at Madison Apartment Complex on Friday, August 1.
   Police Chief Rick Davis said that the MPD has subpoenaed Gee’s phone records, looking for clues to try and find a suspect.
   There are many rumors spreading throughout our community about this heinous crime,” Davis said. “We are asking for assistance from the public by providing the necessary information to law enforcement that would identify and bring to justice those responsible.”
   Please contact the Madison Police Department at 850-973-5077 or the Madison County Dispatch Center at 850 973-4001 and ask for a police department investigator. You may also call CRIME STOPPERS at 888 876-TIPS (8477).
You may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to arrest. All calls are confidential and cannot be traced back to the reporting person.

Three Arrested In Drug Bust

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Three people were arrested on Thursday, August 7, and charged with possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
   According to a report filed by Madison Police Patrolman Eric Gilbert, he was running stationary radar on South Duval Street when a gold Acura Legend passed by at an excessive rate of speed.
   Gilbert conducted a traffic stop and discovered that the license of the driver, Carney McCray, was suspended. He walked up to the car to see if the other two passengers in the car, Melissa Ann Snyder, 34, and Amos Thomas, 55, had a valid license. When he approached the car, he spotted an open container and requested permission to search the vehicle.
   During the search, Gilbert found crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
   All three people were arrested and transported to the Madison County Jail.

Madison County School Buses Rerouted Due To Fuel Costs

By Tyrra B Meserve
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Because of rising fuel costs, Madison County’s school bus fleet will be rerouted in an effort to conserve. This decision comes just after the news that many rural school districts have opted to change the school week to four-day stretches. Instead, effective August 18, the first day of the new school year, many Madison County School District bus routes will be altered, in hopes that this will starve off any future lay-offs that may come due to rising costs and budget cuts.
   “We were lucky this time around,” said Lou Miller, Madison County School District Superintendent. “We had some drivers leave because of retirement or because of different job positions, so we were able to consolidate their routes without having to lay anyone off.”
   The routes might have been enough to avoid job losses, according to people who are aware of the situation.
   “They were able to consolidate the bus routes that these drivers left behind,” added Ivan Johnson, Transportation Specialist for the Madison County School District. “We lost one driver when he retired and two more took other positions, so we regained those three routes. By trimming those, rerouting a little and consolidating, we were able to make it through without having to lay off any of our drivers.”
   These routes, though altered slightly, will not affect the two activities buses. They will continue as usual. There is one bus each designated for Madison County Central School and Madison County High School, supplying transportation for the school’s extra curricular activities.
   “The cost to the clubs and classes that use the buses is based on what we pay our wholesalers for the gas, and changes accordingly,” stated Miller. “Nothing else changes. The clubs have always paid for the fuel they use for trips. They raise the funds and organize the transportation themselves, and have always had to bare the cost.”\
   “It is just so important that we have this all arranged. We’re even looking into possibly getting larger buses that hold more students instead of just more buses that use more fuel. We need to make sure that the buses are at full capacity,” said Johnson. “August 18 is coming up and its back to school.”

Board Facing Environmental Cleanup

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Over a decade ago, Madison County was thrown into a serious environmental threat.  More unfortunately, however, is that now, thirteen years after it was first discovered, serious contamination still exists at the site and the engineer charged with handling the process gave the Madison Board of County Commissioners a warning that they will have to pony up big to complete the already drawn out process.
   According to Environmental Protection Agency archives, “The 4.66 acre ITT-Thompson Industries Site is located in the northeastern section of the City of Madison, Madison County, Florida…ITT Thompson Industries operated an automobile stamping business at this site from 1970 to 1991, manufacturing wheel ornamentation for cars, including wheel covers and wire wheel products.  Trichloroethylene (TCE) was used at the facility from 1970 to 1974.  In 1994 and 1995, TCE contamination was detected in numerous private wells above the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in the Yellow Pines subdivision, 0.6 miles east of the Site.  In 1995 a health advisory was issued, and the City of Madison and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection extended municipal water lines to provide residents an alternate drinking water supply.”
   The carcinogenicity (cancer causing effects) of trichloroethylene was first evaluated in the 1970s.  Cancer bioassay (tests measuring the effects of a substance on a living organism) performed by the National Cancer Institute showed that exposure to TCE is carcinogenic, producing liver, kidney and reproductive cancer, among other horrific effects.  And this was only one among several chemicals found in the ground and deep water wells that were huge multiples above safety standards.  The engineer hired to oversee the cleanup admitted he doesn’t know how many of the 55-gallon drums are buried and still leaking, later admitting that “rumors” give reason to believe that more drums than the forty crushed, empty, partially full and full drums already found.
   Frank Darabi, P.E., President of Darabi Associates, Inc., of Gainesville, spoke very soberly as he took the board through a year-by-year recap, concluding with a barrage of alarming statistics regarding the high chemical levels of some of the worst carcinogens on the planet that were found in recent well testing.  In the end, a workshop was suggested between the board, the City of Madison and ITT, whom Darabi said “wants to get this off their books.”  No one asked the question why Madison would be responsible for any money considering that ITT was apparently at fault.  ITT has deep pockets and stockholders, versus Madison that has virtually empty pockets but all the stakeholders exposed to this mess.
   Darabi stated that the current “pump and treat” method wasn’t working.  This is a technique where the contaminated water is pumped to the surface, treated and then returned into the ground.  ITT is supposed to be a responsible party to the pump and treat process and support all solutions going forward.
   But as one observer put it, “Why would we negotiate or put our health in the hands of the same people who rolled hundreds of barrels of these deadly chemicals into a hole and then ran away for people to die.  Have you ever noticed all the people around here getting cancer the last ten years?  I sure have.  They knew how destructive it was, that’s why they put them on city water so fast.  And now it’s just sitting there, still seeping into the ground after 13 years and who knows how many years before that.  It’s like that Erin Brockovich movie.”
   Making matters worse, there is a sinkhole under the property that creates a virtual draining hole directly into the Florida Aquifer. In the end though, the engineer stated that surrounding areas were safe and that all the runoff into the aquifer was.  In fact, he actually suggested that he decrease his testing from quarterly to semi-annually to save money while the parties decide who is going to pay.

Camp Holding Fundraiser

   Madison County Recreation Center "Dare to Dream" Summer Camp is hosting a Car Wash on Thursday, August 14th from 10 am to 2 pm at the Recreation Center. Donations are accepted.

Cherry Lake Fire And Rescue To Host Fish Fry And Political Rally

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Fried fish, grits, hush puppies, French fries and baked beans (all for $7) will be the highlight of a fish fry supper, cake auction and political rally on Saturday, August 16, at the Cherry Lake Fire Station.
   All funds raised at the event go to benefit Cherry Lake Fire and Rescue. If anyone would like to reserve a fish dinner, they may do so by calling the fire station at (850) 929-2354 and leaving a message. Please leave name, a contact phone number and number of fish dinners desired or contact any Cherry Lake Fire and Rescue fireman.