By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
  Two Madison men and one Madison woman were recently arrested for the home invasion robbery and attack of an 81-year-old Eagin Hill woman.  
  According to a report from Madison County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Mark Joost, on the morning of Monday, May 26, two of the perpetrators approached the elderly victim as she sat in her residence eating. The victim reported that one of the subjects struck her on the head with a handgun before she was knocked down. The perpetrators robbed her of approximately $500.00 before they fled from the scene.
  Madison County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris J. Andrews and Deputy Lucas N. Williams responded to the scene and conducted the preliminary investigation. The victim was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center where she was treated for a head laceration and a fractured femur. After being stabilized, the victim was transferred to an assisted care nursing facility.
  During a follow-up investigation, which included photo lineups and numerous witness interviews, Joost identified 19-year-old Bernard “Shawn” L. Brinson and 18-year-old Emmanuel “Manny” L. Ratliff as the primary suspects.
  On the morning of Wednesday, July 2, Captain Joost made contact with Ratliff during the investigation of a domestic dispute. After the dispute was resolved, Ratliff was interviewed about the home invasion robbery. Ratliff eventually confessed to his involvement in the robbery and he was charged with Home Invasion Robbery While Armed, Aggravated Battery on a Person 65 Years of Age or Older and Tampering With A Witness.
  On Friday, July 4, Brinson’s father contacted Captain Joost after he heard that his son was being sought for questioning. Bernard L. Brinson, who was accompanied by his parents, met with Captain Joost that afternoon. Brinson eventually confessed to his involvement in the home invasion robbery and he was charged with Home Invasion Robbery While Armed and Aggravated Battery on a Person 65 Years of Age or Older.
  On Friday, July 18, Captain Joost interviewed 18-year-old Shamika S. Scott concerning the home invasion robbery. As a result of this interview and the other information gathered during the investigation, Captain Joost charged Scott with Principal in the First Degree to Home Invasion Robbery and Principal in the First Degree to Aggravated Battery on a Person 65 Years of Age or Older.

Monthly Regional Unemployment Highest Level In Five Years

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
  According to a press release dated July 19 from the North Florida Workforce Development Board, the not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region (Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties) was 5.6 percent for the month of June.  This represents a 1.8 percentage point increase compared to the region’s rate one year ago and the highest June level since 2003.  In Madison County, the not-seasonally adjusted rate was 7.4 percent, representing 501 jobless out of a labor force of 6,816.
  Among the statewide allocations by the Legislature in the Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget to stimulate jobs is $7 million to fund the “Ready to Work” credential program where Floridians can improve their job skills and employers can better match required job skills with those of job candidates.  There is also $1.5 million designated for the continuation of existing Banner Centers to assist citizens in acquiring gainful employment, and $506,734 in the Homemaker Program to provide training and employment assistance to homemakers to return to the workforce.
  Also, the supplemental appropriations bill is now law, providing up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment compensation benefits in all states.  The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation is already distributing the extended unemployment compensation checks.  Individuals who established a regular unemployment compensation claim on or after May 7, 2006 and have exhausted their regular benefits, or those whose claims have expired, may be eligible.
  Individuals currently receiving benefits will receive the extension automatically when their current benefits are exhausted.  Individuals not in current claim status and who may be eligible for the extension will be mailed a notice/application advising them of the availability of extended benefits.  Individuals may file their claim by Internet at www.fluidnow.com.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Prins Announces Candidacy for State Attorney

  Alex Prins, thirty-three year veteran of the State Attorney’s Office, including twenty-eight years as Chief Assistant, has announced that he is a candidate for State Attorney, Third Judicial Circuit. The Third Circuit includes Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. When Prins stepped down in 2007, he was Florida’s longest serving Chief Assistant State Attorney.
  Prins graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a Master’s degree in Social Studies Education and a Juris Doctor degree. He is a former elementary school teacher and instructor in the College of Education at Florida State University. Education is a priority and he has a strong commitment to protect the youth in our Circuit. As State Attorney, he plans to work closely with the Attorney General, Law Enforcement officers, and the school systems to sponsor meetings that will educate the youth and the community on how to safeguard against internet predators.   In serving his community, Prins volunteered as scoutmaster to Troop 597, Suwannee County Little League President, and Suwannee High School Wrestling Booster President. He is currently a member of the Branford Rotary Club.
  Experience matters! Prins has been actively involved in the State Attorney budgeting process for the past thirty-one years. His hands-on experience with the budget will help him guide the office through these difficult economic times and the state budget crunch. He already has a plan to reduce office expenditures in an effort to preserve jobs within the State Attorney’s Office. Regarding his fiscal conservatism with the state budget, Prins said, “I believe we should begin cutting costs at the top. As State Attorney, I will not accept a state car. Rather, I will use my own car, buy my own gas, and not seek mileage reimbursement.”
  In his twenty-eight years as the Chief Assistant State Attorney, Prins participated in the hiring and/or training of new attorneys. Seven of the fourteen current judges in the Third Judicial Circuit are former Assistant State Attorneys.
  Prins is the only one of the three candidates that has taken several First Degree murder cases to jury trial, including the conviction of Larry Joe Johnson for the murder of Madison resident Mack Hadden. His experience includes presenting cases to Grand Juries and trying jury trials in all seven counties. He has handled Governor’s executive assignments from Jacksonville to Pensacola, and argued before the State Parole Board and the Florida Cabinet to prevent the release of violent criminals.
         As State Attorney, Prins has set goals:

• To have regularly scheduled meetings with agencies involved in the judicial system.

  This will include Clerks of Court, Department of Corrections, Division of Children and Families, Guardian Ad Litem, Juvenile Justice, all Law Enforcement agencies and Victim’s Rights Advocates. The purpose of these meetings would be to foster unity among the various agencies in resolving community problems and finding ways to better serve the public.

• To have an open-door policy to all citizens. Prins said, “I will continue to keep my name and home phone number listed in my local phone book, as I have done for the last thirty-three years. I feel it is my duty when I am serving the public to be accessible to them.”

• To conservatively manage the state budget and eliminate any unnecessary expenditures.

• When the State Attorney’s Office chooses to file or declines to file criminal charges, the victim (s), police officers, or the victim’s relatives often have questions. All citizens have the right to know why the office made a particular decision. “I strongly believe that the State Attorney’s office has a duty to inform them,” said Prins.

• Drugs are a significant problem in our communities. The State Attorney’s Office will be involved in re-establishing the circuit-wide Drug Task Force and provide additional help to local Drug Task Forces.

  Alex and his wife, Marilyn, have been married for 39 years. They have five children, Kim Prins Jensen, Alex Prins II, Adam Prins (born in Madison), Kelly Prins Webster, and Debby Prins. They have 10 grandchildren. Both Alex and Marilyn are thankful that they were able to raise their family in such a wonderful community and are grateful to all who have touched their lives.
  When he is asked why he wants to be State Attorney, Prins responds: “For the past twenty-eight years, I have been second in command at the State Attorney’s Office. The job of State Attorney is too important and too vital to have to learn your responsibilities by on-the-job training. Experience matters! I bring 33 years of experience in the courtroom and 31 years of administrative experience to the job. I am asking for your vote because Experience does matter!”

Madison Man Arrested For Bus Barn Thefts

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
  Madison Police Sgt. Chris Cooks arrested Corbin Davis, 20, of Madison, on Friday, July 18, and charged him with vehicle theft and burglarizing the Madison County School District’s bus barn.
  According to MPD reports, the arrest was made after police received enough information to get a warrant for Davis’ arrest.
  The thefts had taken place over a period of time and involved cars and other items being taken and returned to the bus barn.
  Davis was arrested on Friday afternoon at about 5:40 p.m. on Scruggs Avenue.

County Commission Holds Land Use Workshop

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
  The Madison County Board of County Commissioners meeting of July 16 included a thirty-minute workshop hosted by representatives from the Tallahassee office of Kimley-Horn and Associates, a national engineering and planning firm.  The company recently performed a zoning/land use analysis using funds obtained by a small grant designated for that purpose.  Building on directives set in motion by the recent “visioning” process, several initial recommendations were offered.
  The workshop began with a brief explanation regarding the differences between “zoning” and “future land use” provisions.  It was noted that the two terms are often used interchangeably, although there are differences based on both governance and goals.  The future land use provisions, for instance, come from the state comprehensive planning legislation of 1985, where as zoning is typically introduced at a local level, allowing for more specificity in outlining commercial and residential designations.
  Madison County does not currently use zoning and according to the consulting review that was presented, “Zoning within the County is not needed at this time.”  However, some recommendations did suggest change, stating that the “Land Development Code (another planning document), the Comprehensive Plan, and the Future Land Use Map all must be made consistent.”
  Commissioners and visitors complemented the effort, although much additional clarification, particularly in the area of subdivisions will be required.  One concerned citizen went so far as to say that the wrong approach could all but stagnate future growth, while another swore to fight anything that hurts the current agriculture statutes.  The statements that elicited that strong response suggested the county should expand the current agriculture categories to allow more density ranges.  A similar recommendation was made for residential applications.
  The other topic that received considerable focus concerned lands designated for economic development, especially at the interstate interchanges.  It was noted that these areas in particular must establish a targeted and efficient land use growth model. 
  The term “overlays” was also referenced, describing the idea of starting with a basic view of an area and then overlaying more specific outlines and so on until the use of specific parcels is clearly and efficiently determined.  In the end, the mandate to keep the flavor and beauty of the county was still priority one, with development, especially to create jobs, as a close second.

  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

MCHS Football Team Selling “Cowboy Cards”

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
  The Madison County High School Cowboy football team is selling “Cowboy Cards” to raise money for the team.
  The Cowboy Card is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the football team.
  The cards, which enable the user to receive discounts from local businesses, are available for a $10 donation and are available from any Cowboy football player or coach.
  The team will be at all the different banks in town and at Ken’s Barbecue on August 1 with an all-out blitz as they try to sell the cards.
  For more information, please call 850-973-5061.

MPD Investigates Two Burglaries

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
  The Madison Police Department is investigating two burglaries, which occurred over the last weekend.
  According to MPD reports, someone reportedly broke into the freezer at Big Mike’s Produce and stole eight cases of frog legs. The total cost of the frog legs was $184.
  Officers are also investigating the burglary of the Red Barn (Madison Auto and Tractor Parts). One of the owners of the business reported to the police on Sunday morning, July 19 that the store had been broken into and cash was missing from two of the four cash registers.
  If you have any information on who might have committed these crimes, please call the Madison Police Department at (850) 973-5077.