---NFCC initiates search for president Board accepting applications from six-county NFCC service area and names science building after retiring President Steen MADISON, FL – The North Florida Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the procedures for a presidential search to fill the position being vacated by Morris G. Steen, Jr., who has led the rural community college since 2001. Steen plans to retire once a replacement is named. Advertising for the position within the six-county district of the college will begin Jan. 21, 2008 and NFCC will accept applications through Feb. 22, 2008. Salary range for the position is $95,000 - $125,000. A candidate’s principal residence must be within the service area of the college, which includes Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor counties in north Florida. The board may expand the search field at any time during the process.
---The full board of trustees will interview qualified internal candidates. A search committee composed of faculty, staff, administrators and community representatives will interview non-employee or external applicants and recommend three external candidates to the board of trustees for interview. The board may also elect to interview any additional candidates. Interviews will be conducted during March, possibly April 2008 and a final selection may be made as early as April or May. Election of the successful candidate will be by a majority vote of the board.
---Albert Thomas, retired educator and vice-chair of the board of trustees, is co-chair of the search committee. Another co-chair may be appointed to share committee responsibilities. Community representatives are Harry Pennington of Hamilton County, Larry Halsey of Jefferson County, Scot Copeland of Madison County, John C. Hewett of Lafayette County, David Fina of Suwannee County and Joe Collins of Taylor County. Melissa Burke, president of the Student Government Association, is also a member of the committee. ---
---Members of the board of trustees are John Maultsby, chairman from Madison County; Linda Gibson and Michaelena Wilson of Madison County; Albert Thomas, vice-chair from Jefferson County; Brantly Helvenston and Walter Boatright from Suwannee County; Debra Land of Lafayette County, Verna M. Hodge of Hamilton County, and Lester Padgett from Taylor County. The search guidelines and position description are available on the NFCC website, www.nfcc.edu, under Employment.
---In other business, the board approved the naming of the new science laboratory and classroom building the “Morris G. Steen, Jr. Science Learning Center” in honor of President Steen. The facility is the first new building constructed on the NFCC campus in forty years.
---Steen, the seventh president of NFCC, is the first president to have been a student of the college. A retired Navy captain, he joined NFCC as director of the career and technical center in 1997. He and his wife, Judy, reside in Shady Grove, Fla.
---For information contact Executive Director of Human Resources Bill Hunter by telephone 850.973.9448 or email hunterb@nfcc.edu.

20th Lee Day Needs Volunteers

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Most of the familiar attractions that have made twenty years of Lee Day a spring highlight for Madison County are ready to go again, although one big piece is still missing…volunteers.  Each year recently, fewer and fewer residents have stepped forward to help organize and deliver the program that has previously drawn crowds of as much as two thousand.
   Unfortunately, this unexplained decline in volunteers, which were first requested last November, could actually cause the event to be cancelled, although residents like retired Councilwoman Thelma Thompson still pour heart and soul into making the event a success and showcase for the town.
   This year’s proposed Lee Day is scheduled for April 5.  Initially planners hoped for enough volunteers to expand children’s activities and fully support vendor commerce. Prize sponsors, especially for the kids, were also expected to increase.
   The bottom line is that town leadership, “wants the dollars and fun to flow with all the extras, including fabulous entertainment, a kid’s art contest with the kind of prizes kid’s love and an opportunity to mix and mingle with the best neighbors anywhere.
   There is a meeting tomorrow night, January 24 at 7 p.m., to either finalize arrangements or call off the event.  Everyone able to give just a few hours to ensure that the 20th Lee Day moves forward as expected is urged to attend.  Volunteers can certainly sponsor events of their own as well.  If unable to attend the planning meeting, please call Lee City Hall at 971-5867 to obtain volunteer, vendor and event details.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached by email at michael@greenepublishing.com.

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   During the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting of January 16, a debate occurred between the Tourism Development Council (TDC) and the Board regarding the county’s continued membership in the Original Florida program.
   The meeting opened with a PowerPoint presentation from Scott Koons, Executive Director of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council (NCFRPC), regarding Madison County’s participation in the program.  The project is designed to support the Council’s tourism and economic development goals by providing promotions through a variety of media. 
   Historically, the NCFRPC has facilitated support services and developmental guidance to the 16 counties that comprise the region, including Madison.  Simply put, some professional services are so expensive to acquire on a periodic and part-time basis that member counties are far better off to come together.  The Council has been touted as a measurable win-win for both sides.  In fact, Madison’s representative from the BOCC to the Council, Roy Ellis, is currently serving as Chair of the Regional Council.
   The debate arose when the TDC, who is working under the perception that their role is to allocate the approximate $90,000 budget they amass from bed taxes, voted to withdraw from the Original Florida program, citing insufficient results for the $4000 annual price tag.  However, in order to officially enact cancellation, the BOCC has to agree by majority vote because the contract with Original Florida is technically between the BOCC and the Regional Council.   So to clarify the issue and justify the relationship, Koons was invited to speak to the BOCC.  Koons covered a variety of stats during his presentation, including references to the significant financial benefit and tourism exposure derived from participation.
   Following Koons’ presentation, TDC member Stephen Pike stepped to the podium, stating that “we can get a bigger bang for the buck elsewhere” and that “the BOCC had set up the TDC as guardians of, and therefore responsible for, the fiscal management and effective use of the TDC budget, which we do not want to include Original Florida going forward.”
   Commissioner Ricky Henderson, who serves as the BOCC liaison to the TDC, agreed with Pike.  “I think we should go with the TDC recommendation,” he stated.  Vickers seconded that position.  Martin, Ellis and Moore disagreed however, keeping the contract with Original Florida intact.  “We should do this program as well as others like you’re describing,” Moore said to Pike.  “And be sure the TDC stays after Original Florida to get the most out of it,” Ellis added.  Staff writer Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Registration Times Set For Babe Ruth League

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison County Babe Ruth baseball league will hold registration on Saturday, February 2, and Saturday, February 9, at the Madison County Courthouse. Registration will be held from 9 a.m. until 12 noon both days.
Sign-ups are open for boys, ages 4-15 and for girls, ages 4-16.
   The cost to participate in the League is $40 per player. Players should also bring their birth certicates to the registration.
   A meeting will be held for potential coaches on February 18 at 7 p.m.
If anyone has any questions about coaching or playing, please call Billy Tolar at (850) 673-7979.