The Northern District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office; Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration,  Tallahassee Resident Office; Special Agents with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tallahassee Field Office; Special Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Live Oak Office; and Investigators with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Taylor County Drug Task Force conducted a two-year investigation of a methamphetamine trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of multiple pounds of crystal methamphetamine, a.k.a. “ice,” in Madison and Taylor Counties during the past three years.
Initial investigative efforts led to the Jan. 10, 2007, conviction of Jonathan McLane Stephens for two counts of distribution of more than five grams of methamphetamine.
Additional investigative efforts resulted in the penetration of the organization.  Purchases of “ice” were made from three leaders of a distribution cell originating out of Tampa. The three cell leaders were Celso Guerra, Custodio Guerra and Ignacio Avianeda-Aguirre, who were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Tallahassee on June 3. Two are currently fugitives from justice.
On Dec. 3, 2008, agents and investigators arrested five defendants in Madison County and one
Please See Meth Sting, Page 2A
in Taylor County. The defendants, Terry Patrick Turner, James Franklin O’Quinn, Jo Lynn Powell, Glenn Charles Cook, Kevin Dennis O’Conner, Jr., Luther Harold Messick (of Perry) and Custodio Guerra were indicted on Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Possess Methamphetamine by a Federal Grand Jury in Tallahassee on December 2 for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Possess Methamphetamine “Ice” on behalf of the Guerras. 
     A total of fifteen arrests have been made in association with this investigation.

County To Recognize Retiring Sheriff
?Chief Deputy and Records Administrator
will also be honored at retirement party.

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Sheriff Pete Bucher will officially hand the keys over to incoming Sheriff Ben Stewart on Jan. 5. In recognition of his years of law enforcement service, including the last eight serving well as sheriff of Madison County, a retirement party will be held in his honor on Dec. 30, from 2–4 p.m., in the courthouse lobby.
Joining Bucher in retirement, also to be recognized at the celebration, are Chief Deputy Leonard Harris and Records Administrator Cathy Reams. Harris has diligently served the department for 25 years, in which time he has often demonstrated his commitment to build a safer Madison County. Reams, now in year 30, will be missed as well, having also become a cherished asset of the department.
Family, friends and county residents are urged to join a grateful community in wishing these fine folks a safe and blessed retirement.
Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greene publishing.com.

Pilgrim's Pride To Lay Off 500

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
According to a letter from Senior Division Vice President Walter Shafer III dated Dec. 19 and addressed to Pilgrim’s Pride Plant Partners, “Approximately 505 of the 1400 positions at the Live Oak plant will be eliminated between Feb. 17 and March 19, 2009.”
The letter goes on to say that second-shift processing operations will end as part of a larger effort to restore the company to profitability, also noting, “Some employees in live operations and a number of contract growers also will be affected.”
As bad as it is to lose a job, not to mention that the announcement comes just before Christmas, there may be some good news on the horizon. Live Oak Mayor Sonny Nobles, in coordination with Dennis Cason, Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce director, immediately reached out to find employment for the displaced workers. In fact, executive leadership of the North Florida Workforce Development Board, headquartered in Madison, is already hard at work making preparations.
Sheryl Rehberg, executive director of the Board states, “This is a hard hit. It doesn’t just affect Suwannee County, but most of the surrounding counties as well. We are working now to develop a plan to serve the affected employees.”
The Workforce Board received a Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN), which, “offers protection to work-
Please See Pilgrim’s Pride, Page 2A
ers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of covered plant closings and covered mass layoffs. This notice must be provided to either affected workers or their representatives (e.g., a labor union); to the State dislocated worker unit; and to the appropriate unit of local government.
Locally, Employment Connections is able to serve these laid off individuals through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Worker funds. “Employment Connections will hold events and work with training providers to assist the laid off employees in becoming re-employed and re-trained. The North Florida Workforce Development Board will work closely with local and state agencies to assist the impacted individuals. We will continue to work with Economic Development in each of the effected counties to attract new industry as well as retain and expand existing industries,” explained Diane Head, Public Relations/Special Projects Director.
“Until the Career Consultant is hired, individuals can come to our office at 200 W Base St., 2nd Floor, in Madison to receive assistance with job search, obtain referrals to community organizations, and research GED and other training programs. Our Mobile Career Lab is available to individuals in outlying counties as well. Employ Florida, www.EmployFlorida.com, is an online job search tool where jobseekers can log on to search for careers by location or by keyword,” she went on to say. 
Of course, no silver lining will change the fact that workers are currently worried and a community is left asking if the worst has passed. In the meantime, all affected workers are urged to call toll-free, (866) 367-4758, or locally at (850) 973-WORK for more details on employment opportunities throughout the region.
Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

State Fire Marshal Investigating Suspicious House Fires

? The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating three separate fires that occurred on Nov. 27 and 28 in Madison.
The fires occurred to three separate structures located on E Base St., SE Boundary St. and SE Merchant St. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Earl Morgan at (850) 413-3903.
The Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is the law enforcement branch of the Division of State Fire Marshal that assists other state and local law enforcement agencies in the investigation of fires of suspicious origin. Anyone with information about any suspicious fire is asked to call (877) 662-7766. Information also may be mailed to Arson Control, P.O. Box 1654, Winter Park, FL 32790.

Bank Account Set Up For Cancer Patient

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A bank account has been set up at Madison County Community Bank for Clint Minter, who is suffering from lymphoma.
Clint, who is married to the former Kelli Fox, is in Stage 3B of the dreaded disease. He began having symptoms in January of this year, and received confirmation that he had cancer on July 2, two days after his and Kelli’s first wedding anniversary.
“He had never even been sick before,” Kelli said.
The chemotherapy treatment Clint was receiving at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville wasn’t working, so he has been sent to Tampa for alternative chemotherapy.
“He has to go every three weeks for three to five days,” Kelli said. “After he has taken five treatments, he will have to stay in the
Please See Bank
Account, Page 2A
hospital for a month to receive bone marrow treatment.”
The Minters have to travel to Tampa and, while there, they have to stay in a motel during the nights Clint receives his treatment during the day.
Clint is a self-employed farmer, who lives across the county line in Hamilton County. Kelli said that he enjoys the outdoors.
Kelli is a teacher at Madison County Central School. She is the daughter of Wayne and Barbara Fox of Madison.
Clint and Kelli attend Corinth Baptist Church in Hamilton County, which will do a fundraising dinner, along with Hopewell Baptist Church in Madison, on January 9. The time and location of the event are still to be announced.
“I want to let everyone know that we appreciate all of the prayers and support that they have already given,” she said. “It’s so amazing.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the bank account set up for Clint Minter can do so by stopping by Madison County Community Bank. All donations are tax-deductible.