By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Madison County residents are urged to be wary of anyone coming to their residence or business, attempting to sell concrete.
One resident in the western part of the county said that he almost fell for some people who offered to sell him the concrete for $20 a yard, which they said was a discount off their usual $30 a yard price. Please See Beware, Page 3A
“When I looked at the contract, they were selling it for $20 a square yard and not a cubic yard, which is the regular way that road pavers price concrete,” he said.
The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the price on the contract was for $16,000 and he had it figured at $3,000. He refused to sign the paper work and asked them to leave.
The resident said that the people attempting to sell him the concrete had nice equipment, but he could tell that it was not standard road paving equipment.
If anyone is approached by anyone wishing to pave their property, they are asked to ask the people wishing to sell it to show proof of a business license. If it seems shady, please call the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 973-4001 or residents of the City of Madison can call the Madison Police Department at (850) 973-5077.

Babe Ruth League Sign-Ups Saturday

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Madison County Babe Ruth Baseball League will host sign-ups on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sat., Feb. 7, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon at the Madison County Courthouse.
The age divisions are boys, ages 4-15, and girls, ages 4-16. The cost is $40 per child, which is the same as last year.
A birth certificate is needed for each player who wishes to participate. This is needed whether or not the child has played before, as well as a copy of an insurance card and a parent or guardian to sign them up.
A meeting for potential coaches will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse.
If anyone is interested in coaching, umpiring or just helping with the league, give Billy Tolar a call at (850) 673-7979.

Teacher Of The Year Banquet Tickets Available

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Nominees for the Teacher of the Year Banquet have come in, but according to organizers, there is still someone missing - you.
Organizers are urging those that have not yet done so to get their tickets by Feb. 1. Tickets may be purchased at “The Old Bookstore,” on Pinckney in downtown Madison or at each school office.
The Teacher of the Year banquet is sponsored annually by the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education. This year’s gathering will start at 7 p.m., on Feb. 5, in the Madison County High School cafeteria.

New Work Camp "Definitely Funded"

By Ginger Jarvis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
A new Department of Corrections work camp in Madison County is “definitely funded,“ according to Madison City Manager Harold Emrich. Emrich reported the news to the Madison Board of Commissioner’s regular meeting on January 13.
The board voted to donate 25 acres of property south of the concrete batch plant for construction of the new camp. “It is there that they would like to duplicate the present camp,” Emrich explained. The camp will provide about 100 jobs and purchase water, sewer, and gas services from the city. He said that increased use of the sewer system will help keep it healthy.
Commissioner Jim Stanley commented that the present camp provided about $1 million worth of free labor to the city in 2008.
Commissioner Sumpter James inquired about the distance between the planned camp and the new senior citizens center. Public Works Supervisor Chuck Hitchcock pointed out that a large section of trees and undergrowth will separate the two, as well as some distance.
Commissioner Jim Catron said, “In light of the economy, I have a question about whether this is definite.”
Emrich replied strongly, “This is funded.” He said that in meetings with Department of Corrections representatives, he learned that the agency plans to relocate the existing work camp to adjoin the new one some time after construction is complete. They indicated no plans to close the existing work camp.
Emrich also reported that a health-food company is “very excited” about possibly occupying the old Smithfield plant in the industrial park. “They would bring about 400 full-time jobs,” he said. “They like this plant because they would not have to do a lot of changes inside.”
Emrich said the company makes health and diet foods and hopes to soon produce a healthy donut.
Unfortunately, the company pulled plans for the plant a few days later after visiting the old Dixie Packers/Smithfield facility. Engineers said that it would not work with their plans.

Cowboys, Warriors Make All-State Team

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Seven Madison County High School Cowboys and two Aucilla Christian Academy Warriors have been named to Florida’s All-State football teams.
Madison placed four players on the Class 2A All-State first team.
Chad “Miami” Mitchell, a 6’2”, 230-pound offensive lineman was chosen for the first team offense, along with Corey Akins, a 6’, 210-pound running back, who was chosen as first team offense utility player.
Jaccobi McDaniel, a 6’2”, 285-pound defensive lineman made the first defensive team, along with Quanta Barfield, a 5’10”, 185-pound linebacker.
McDaniel, a perennial All-American, has already committed to play football for Florida State University.
Justin Hood made the second team offense. Hood is a powerful 6’3”, 275-pound offensive lineman.
Chris Thompson, a running back who has already committed to Florida State University, made the second team as a utility defensive player.
Justin Hampton made the honorable mention squad as a defensive back. The junior stands 5’10” and weighs 180 pounds.
Casey Anderson and Matt Bishop were the two ACA Warriors on the Class 1B All-State team.
Anderson was named to the second team as a wide receiver.
Bishop was chosen as an honorable mention running back.

Alexis Sowell, Venica Brown Sign With Santa Fe

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The Head Softball Coach of Santa Fe College, Chris Ahern, has been described as using a coaching style consisting of “integrity, positive reinforcement, dignity, and success.” Those qualities will be a perfect fit for the two Madison County High School Cowgirls she recently signed, as those fine attributes are certainly deserving of Alexis Sowell and Venica Brown.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a ceremony that included family, friends and fellow-students gathered to honor the exceptional athletes, Sowell and Brown inked scholarships to play collegiate softball at the college located in Gainesville. Judging from each of the ladies smiles, not to mention their teary-eyed moms and dads, the moment was a celebration of many years of hard work. Cowgirl coaches Tommy Garner and Sonja Bass were equally thrilled.
Alexis Sowell is the daughter of Alan and Annette Sowell, and Venica Brown is the daughter of Clifford and Phyliss Brown, all of whom were in attendance, sharing the expectation of many more years of athletic and academic excellence.
Sowell and Brown have been playing softball together since they were seven years old, playing on the varsity high school team since the ninth grade. They also play year-round ball for the Tallahassee Bullets. This reporter joins the school district and the community in wishing these ladies enormous success in all they undertake. Go, Cowgirls!
Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.
 

Lee Library Groundbreaking Set For February 4

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
According to Danny Hales, director of the Suwannee River Regional Library District, the Madison County Board of County Commissioners will break ground for the new Lee Public Library at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the new library site, just East of the Lee School.
Hales has been working diligently for months to move the project forward in spite of funding cutbacks and economic challenges. Locally, Thelma Thompson, a Lee resident who served for years on the Lee Town Council, is extremely excited to see a project she started in a house become a million-dollar reality. The current Lee Librarian, Katie McCarthy, shares the excitement, as does all the community.
All are urged and welcomed to attend this historic groundbreaking. The commission further thanks the Madison County School Board and Superintendent, as well as the Lee Town Council for their cooperative efforts in making the project a reality.
            The project is partially funded by a Public Library Construction Grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services. For additional details, please call Danny Hales at (386) 362-5779.

Personnel Development Services Escapes Governor's Budget Ax

? Governor Charlie Crist lived up to his promise to protect Florida’s most vulnerable citizens today by vetoing cuts in Line items 128 and 129 in the Agency for Persons With Disabilities Budget. Governor Crist had stated his intent at the beginning of special session to protect certain citizen groups in Florida. These two line items would have hurt persons with developmental disabilities around the state. The cuts in line items 128 and 129 represented another 5 percent reduction to services in local communities.  These same services had already received a 7% in the regular 2008 session.
  The Arc worked so hard on this issue because people were definitely in danger of losing their residential homes, services to assist their families so that they could continue to live at home and services that assist them in acquiring skills.
  The Arc of Florida has been the voice in Florida for persons with developmental disabilities for over 55 years.  It is a non-profit corporation founded and still led by families of persons with developmental disabilities, all of whom are grateful to the Governor today for recognizing their needs.
  ARC Madison/Jefferson (operating as Personnel Development Services) employs 85 people, including 60-70 full-time employees. Another 80 people receive services from PDS.