Colonel David Dees, Director of the Florida Department of
Transportation’s (FDOT) Motor Carrier Compliance Office and Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division, announce the seizure of $813,224.00 in US currency.
On Thursday, September 18, the money was discovered during a commercial vehicle safety inspection of a tractor-trailer at the weigh-in-motion station on I-10 in Madison County by a FDOT Officer assigned to the DEA Tallahassee Task Force. 
Pursuant to a search of the tractor-trailer, three boxes were discovered in the passenger side storage box under the sleeper compartment.  A Madison County Sheriff’s Office narcotics’ detector dog positively alerted to the odor of illegal drugs on the currency.
Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Whitfield assisted with the seizure and arrest.
This investigation remains ongoing by the DEA Tallahassee Task Force, comprised of Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol and Tallahassee Police Department.

Kenny Johnson Announces His Candidacy For Sheriff Of Madison County

I, Kenny Johnson, would like to announce my candidacy for Sheriff of Madison County. I thank God and I thank you, the citizens of Madison County, for allowing me to become your sheriff candidate.
I m the son of the late Virgil and Otha Mae Johnson of Pinetta, Florida. My family consists of my wife Cythia Johnson and three children, Toy, Camisha and Kendall Johnson, all of Madison County.
Cynthia, my wife, is employed by the Madison County Memorial Hospital.
Toy, my daughter, graduated from Madison County High School in 2004 and will be graduating from FAMU in the spring of 2009. While attending FAMU, Toy has maintained a 3.08 grade point average.
Camisha, my second oldest daughter, is dual-enrolled at Madison County High School, as well as North Florida Community College. Camisha is on the A Honor Roll and is a member of the staff uniform office on the Madison County High School Band.
Kendall, my son, is a student at Madison County Central School and is also on the honor roll.
My family resides in Pinetta, Florida and are members of Greater Community Baptist Church of Madison, Florida.
My schooling consisted of Pinetta Junior High School, Madison County High School and North Florida Junior College of Madison, Florida. In 1987, I took the Correctional course and passed it, becoming certified in correction. In 1988, I gained employment with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. In 1989, I then went back to school and got my certification in law enforcement and maintained a very high G.P.A. I was employed at the Madison County Jail for five years and then in 1993, I was promoted to sergeant/shift supervisor and maintained that position for balance of my 16 years.
While employed at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, I always reminded myself that I am a public servant to the citizen of Madison County. I always believed in being honest and giving an honest day’s work for a honest days pay. When dealing with the citizens of this county, I have always tried to be fair, honest and treat everyone in a dignified manner like I would like to be treated.
If I am elected as your next sheriff, I’ll give you a sheriff that you can count on and one that you won’t need an appointment to talk with. My goal is to hold town hall meetings throughout Madison County to listen to your concerns and the problems in your community. By holding these town hall meetings, as a sheriff, I can gather data from you, the members of the community and it will tell me just when and where we need to concentrate more in certain areas to solve the problems in the community.
I will also try and get a contract with Prison Transport. This contract with Prison Transport will allow us to temporarily house their inmates at a daily rate and this money will go back into the county’s budget. If I am elected as your next sheriff, I will persue and get any federal and state grants available, another saving to our county. As a unit, we will also cut out on any unnecessary spending which our citizens will save on taxes. Our citizens of Madison County deserve a safe and clean community and this is my plan for Madison County if I am elected by you the citizens of Madison County.
I want to thank you for reading this message and ask for your vote on November 4th for a new beginning in Madison County. May God bless you and your family.
Paid Pol. Adv., Pd. for and approved by Kenny Johnson, Independent, for Madison County Sheriff.

Man Arrested For Drug Trafficking

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A Madison man was arrested for drug trafficking on Saturday, October 11.
According to a Madison Police Department report, Straughter was patrolling on Base Street, Patrolman Eric Gilbert stopped a 1997 Crown Victoria for a traffic violation.
As Gilbert approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana. He asked the driver, Roger Straughter, for his driver’s license.
Gilbert issued a Straughter a citation for the expired tag. He then asked Straughter if he had any marijuana in his car or on his person.
Straughter said that he did not and that Gilbert could take a look.
Gilbert asked Straughter to step out of his vehicle and to the front of the patrol vehicle.
Following a search by Gilbert, Sheriff’s Sgt. David Harper and his K-9 and Sheriff’s Cpl. Kevin Anderson, $2,180 in cash, marijuana and a firearm were found.
The police also seized Straughter’s car.
Straughter was charged with marijuana trafficking and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

MPD To Sponsor Annual Downtown Halloween

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Madison Police Department will sponsor its annual Downtown Halloween on Friday, October 31, from 5:30-7 p.m.
Booths will be set up beginning at 5 p.m.
The children will participate (with parents or guardians present) from 5:30-7 p.m.
To register a booth for candy distribution for the children, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 973-2788.
The hours for this year’s event will be shortened due to the Madison County High School vs. Godby High School football game, which will be shown on national television via ESPNU.

Last Chance Political Rally Showcases Candidates

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Four Freedoms Park played host to local, state and federal candidates on October 10. It was a last chance effort to gain votes for the upcoming general election on November 4. Moderated by Chamber Director Ted Ensminger, who is rapidly gaining traction with organizational activities throughout the county, candidates followed a traditional debate format of personal introduction. This was followed by a question and answer exchange that allowed listeners to briefly contrast candidates seeking the same office.
Madison firefighters provided drinks and hotdogs to the small but lively crowd who comprised the political devotees that have supported their favorites during this voting season. And although there were few new faces, the gathering of family, friends and committed followers listened attentively.
Jim Catron and Wendy Branham, Madison County Democratic and Republican Executive Committee Chairs respectively, coordinated the event with Ensminger that included spokespersons for presidential candidates. Drawing previewed questions from a Madison County High School Cowboys’ football helmet, candidates were given a minute to reply, with opposing candidates given a minute as well.
Obviously, there wasn’t agreement on all points, which included a summary and stance on the proposed amendments by several concerned citizens in attendance. At the end of the day, however, there was one issue on which everyone agreed. In these uncertain times, regardless of candidate preference, all hope for a better tomorrow, especially for those young and future generations who can’t yet speak for themselves.
Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.