By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
On Dec. 16, at 5 p.m., the Madison County Board of County Commissioners convened a special meeting to receive the verification report from the Supervisor of Elections regarding the petition to hold a countywide vote permitting the sale of wine and hard liquor in Madison County. The county attorney, Tom Reeves, conducted most of the meeting, allowing adequate time for members of the audience to be heard, also taking time to fully explain the process to the board and public gathered in the Courthouse Annex.
Grow Our Local Economy (GOLE) sponsored the petition drive, which began July 30 with the appropriate filing and concluded on Thanksgiving Day at 5 p.m. Over this 120-day period, GOLE representatives diligently canvassed the county, using direct mail, store-side tables and word-of-mouth, among other efforts, to obtain signed petitions from registered county voters. In the end, the Supervisor of Elections qualified 2693 such petitions.
The next official step was simply for the board to compare the number of these qualified petitions to the county voter roll to determine if the required 25 percent was obtained. Strong discussion arose
Please See Alcohol
Petitions, Page 3A
egarding the total voter roll, with the board ultimately choosing the July 30 count of 11,600 registered voters, corresponding to the date the petition was filed. A certification document submitted by the Supervisor of Elections reflected those numbers accordingly
The petition was therefore denied by unanimous vote of the board, as 2,693 qualified petitions was less than the 25 percent required based on 11,600 registered voters. Notably, the board’s actions were essentially determined by Florida statue. In other words, neither the board nor or the Supervisor of Elections were expressing their opinions or preferences regarding alcohol by any action they took. Instead, they were simply working to ensure the proper application of the statutes.
Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Holiday Deadlines Set For Newspapers

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Because of the Christmas holidays, Greene Publishing, Inc. has adopted different deadlines.
If anyone has any news items or advertising for The Madison County Carrier, it must be at the office, located on Hwy. 53 S., by noon on Monday, Dec. 22. Any items for The Madison Enterprise-Recorder must be at the office by noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Articles and photos may also be sent to media@greenepublishing.com, greenepub@greenepub lishing.com or jacob@greenepublishing.com. The same deadlines apply for email submissions.
Greene Publishing, Inc. thanks those submitting content for their assistance with their deadlines.

Business reaches out to help local community with free Christmas dinners

By Tyrra B Meserve
Greene Publishing, Inc.
“Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand heart to heart and hand to hand.” Dr. Seuss
Christmas means many things to many people but all share one common spirit. Christmas is about giving, love, and tokens of blessings and companionship. The true holiday spirit lies in the human heart with love for the season, for his family, for God, His Son’s birth, for his fellow man. It is this spirit that keeps the traditions alive and it is this spirit that unites all during this season to one another, a higher power and to life. It was wholly this spirit that flowed through Cherry Lake on a Yuletide, bringing an offering of love with it to the community and dinner to those who would like to join. It is a chance to share the true holiday spirit.
“When my husband and I were trying to decide what our plans were going to be for the holidays, it occurred to me,” Debra Knox, owner of the Cherry Lake General Store shared. “‘I think I’d feel a whole lot better if we were able to give Christmas to others this year,’ I told him and I realized how much better I felt right after I said it.”
Deciding to forego presents or travel plans, Jeff and Debra Knox decided what they wanted more than anything else for Christmas was to bring Christmas to their community in Cherry Lake.
“As a business owner, sometimes its feels like it’s hard to be a good Christian at the same time as running the business itself. It’s all business. This was an opportunity for us to share our giving side and that just means more to me for the holidays than any other present,” Knox said.
So the Cherry Lake General Store will be serving Christmas dinner instead. Taking over both the store and restaurant two years ago after moving here from Inglewood, the Knoxes will be cooking turkey dinners for those in the local community that would like to stop in from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. All residents need to do is call in the order for how many are needed by Dec. 22, then come in to the restaurant on the 24th to pick them up when they are ready.
“I know a lot of the churches and local individuals are doing food drives and things like that for people in the area this year. This is what we wanted to do to help in the effort of making sure everyone has a happy holiday and a good dinner on the table for their families. It felt like a perfect time to give back and this is one way of doing just that.”
Wanting to thank the Cherry Lake community which welcomed them so warmly and the dedicated employees, Libby Roberts, Lacey Cruce, Kathy Nagle, Bren
Please See Grinch, Page 3A
rowning, Karen Abbott and Blake Canada, who have stood by them over these last couple of years, the Knoxes are bringing Christmas dinner to all and to all a good night!
Staff writer Tyrra B Meserve can be reached at tyrra@greenepublishing.com

Two Injured In Wreck

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Two people were injured in a wreck on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the 248-mile marker on Instate 10.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Marisa L. Natale, 28, of Lynn Haven, and Jose E. Malagon, 25, of Wildwood, were both westbound on Interstate 10 in the right lane.
Natale fell asleep at the wheel of her 2008 Chevrolet van and struck the rear of a vehicle, being towed by Malagon. The towed vehicle then struck the rear of Malagon’s 2006 Lincoln pickup.
Natale’s van became locked to the towed vehicle as all three vehicles came to a final rest in the emergency lane of Interstate 10.
Natale and her passenger, Marvin R. Hudson, 39, of Lynn Haven sustained minor injuries in the
Please See Two Injured, Page 3A
wreck.
Natale was cited for failure to use due care and driving with a suspended drivers license.
FHP Trooper Tom Roderick was the investigating officer.

Becky's Dancers Highstep For Nursing Home Residents

By Tyrra Meserve
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Toetapping in the Christmas holiday, Becky’s dancers stepped into Lake Park of Madison to give seniors a seasonal treat. Performing an extra special holiday presentation, Lake Park residents gathered in front of the center to watch these young ladies ring in the new year with jingling joy and musical magic, each one boogying to a perfect holiday beat.
The chairs were lined up and the stage was set for Becky’s Dance Step Studio students on Monday, Dec. 15, in Lake Park of Madison’s entryway. Stepping into the season with Santa-style, dancers ranging in age from bitty to beginning-to-think-about-college showed their mastery of tripping the beat fantastic. In tune and nicely timed, these young performers delighted the waiting crowd with choreographed tales of prancing reindeer, Christmas magic and siblings who snitch to Santa.
Ring-ring-ringling their way through the holidays, Miss Becky’s Dance Studio girls are bringing yule-tide joy where ever their dancing shoes take them. Spreading smiles and seasonal salutations, these ladies are sharing their holiday happiness with Madison, a gift that rivals that of any little drummer boy.
Staff writer Tyrra B Meserve can be reached at tyrra@greenepublishing.com.

NFCC Receives Good Audit Report

The U.S. Department of Education announced in a letter to Governor Charlie Crist Nov. 6 that North Florida Community College is among 23 Florida educational institutions that had no deficiencies in an audit report of the State of Florida Universities and Community Colleges. The report, prepared by the Office of the Auditor General, State of Florida, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133, covers the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, and lists NFCC as being in compliance with no outstanding financial violations for that time period.
As a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, public community college, NFCC is audited each fiscal year and is responsible for meeting set financial and financial reporting criteria. The audit report of the State of Florida Universities and Community Colleges and the U.S. Department of Education’s report is a good indication that NFCC is meeting state standards and its goal to be financially responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Crane Overturns On County Road 360

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A man was injured as a crane overturned, causing $30,000 in damages to it on Friday, Dec. 12.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened on C.R. 360, two miles south of Madison.
Richard W. Nail was southbound on C.R. 360 and he momentarily drove the crane partially off a paved portion of the road and onto the west grass shoulder. He braked abruptly and overcorrected steering in an attempt to regain control of the Ford crane.
The crane came back onto the roadway, spinning clockwise out of control and overturned onto its left side. It continued out of control, sliding approximately 75 feet, before coming to a final rest.
Crane suffered minor injuries in the mishap.
FHP Trooper Tom Roderick was the investigating officer