St. Stephen’s Band To Debut At
Four Freedoms Festival

     Another young, up and coming rock band? Not exactly! St. Stephen’s Band debuts in Madison, Florida April 18th at the Four Freedoms Festival. Show time begins at 1:00 and admission is free. But this is no wet-behind- the-ears group of guys!
     Stephen Cucinella, brain trust of the band, has been a professional baker for over 30 years, dabbling in song-writing and guitar-playing along the way. Producer William Winter played bass with Don Felder back in 1967, before Felder became an integral member of the Eagles.
Asked, “Why break into the music scene now, in the second half of your lives? And why in Madison County?” Cucinella responded, “It’s all about timing.” Cucinella met Winter in Madison two years ago, and played a fight song he wrote for a nearby university. Winter’s reaction? “I think you’ve got something here.”
     The two have produced a three song CD, and are currently pursuing a collegiate license to sell the music to fans throughout the state, and eventually worldwide. (Hint: It’s not for the garnet and gold). “If the licensing doesn’t go through, it’s okay,” commented Cucinella. “At least we’ve had fun doing it!”
     St. Stephen’s combines folk, rock, blues, classical and contemporary Christian music into a performance that will please folks age one to 100.
     “We are a collective soul,” says Cucinella. “It’s all about the group, and we bring a message of hope to our listeners.” In addition to the dynamic duo, seven other musicians will grace the stage.
     Jackson Dickinson, locally known vocalist and bass player with Reckless Reality, joins St. Stephen’s for this performance. Willie Phillips, long time professional musician and Madison County resident, is a special guest. John Winter, brother of William, is featured on saxophone. (John played sax with Felder in Gainesville and New York City back in the sixties, before the Eagles made their debut). And Sean Cucinella, known for playing keyboard at the Wild Plum, also makes an appearance.
     Drummer Eric Revis and guitar player and vocalist Justin Powell join the band from Wakulla County. Eric Hooper from Tallahassee joins the group on hand drums. Security is provided by Adam Cucinella and friends.
     For booking information, contact Donna Cucinella at saintstephens@embarqmail.com.

Mike Register Named Grand Marshal For Lee Day Parade

     Michael “Mike” Register was born September 6, 1946, at Madison Memorial Hospital to Ruby Laverne Bell Register of Lee. Mike has lived his 62 years in and around the Madison County area and finally settled in his childhood home on S.E. Farm Rd. in Lee in 1979. Mike is married to Cherryl Mixon Register, formerly of Taylor County. Together they have raised their four children in the quiet, value based community that surrounds their home. Their oldest son Michael Register, is married to Brandie Hopson Register and they have made their home in Clearwater, where Brandie is continuing her education in child psychology. Michael enjoys carpentry work (no doubt learned from the early days in his daddy’s shop) specializing in custom made designs. His twin sister, Michelle Register Dietz, is married to Matthew Dietz who serves his country as an Air Traffic Controller in the United States Navy. Airman Dietz is stationed at NASJax, Michelle, a freelance photographer; “3-Dietz Photography” is busy with her camera capturing memories of their four year old son Rowen, who sports a multi colored “Row” hawk as well as some of the breath taking scenery of Jacksonville Beach.      Tiffany Register Hart is married to Matthew Hart of Ocala, where they make their home. Matt is co-owner of a construction business specializing in pool and patio enclosures (Matt’s one dream was to marry a small town girl). Matt and Tiffany are busy raising his five-year-old son Caleb and the two are expecting their first baby in late October. Phillip is now 22 and resides at home with Mike and Cherryl. Phillip has a strong sense of community and serves in several organizations around town as well as in his church Lee United Methodist. Mike’s older children, Lisa Register Hunter of Lake City and Kim Register Fortner of Live Oak, are both teachers in the Florida school system.
     Mike’s early education began at Lee Jr. High and after passing the 10th grade he moved on to become a member of the Madison County High School Red Devils, now known as the Madison County Cowboys. Mike’s education continued on outside the classroom as well as inside. Inside the classroom there was the usual text education, but outside the walls where children grow and learn to extend their boundaries is where Mike learned the basic values of life. Mike enjoyed his youth in Lee riding around in the back of a pick up truck with Roy, Charlie, and Wilmarie Dickey. He remembers days of baseball in an empty lot with old friends and he remembers Sunday afternoon picnics at Blue Springs. He remembers the innocence and the joys of small town life and the respect it taught him for God and country. He remembers a time when “Yes Ma’am” and “No Sir” were first hand language and a man’s handshake was his word. It was these values that caused Mike to settle for a career in law enforcement as a Madison Police Officer. Mike also served as a Madison County Sheriff Deputy and finally retired from the Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement at the age of 54. Feeling too young for retirement and loving his community, Mike sought employment with the Town of Lee as Public Works Director. From giving a face lift to the railroad tracks to being instrumental in creating our many parks around the town Mike’s pride in his community soon began to show through in his work. As Mike’s abilities began to show on the outside; so too did his ability on the inside with many hours dedicated to the online production of the city water system. Putting his self to his studies, Mike received his class-D water operators’ license becoming the city’s first hire with such a certification. His diligence to this new task held him to the computer creating an online system that is second to none in the state. At any point an operator can go on line and find the system data needed to make sure that the city water system is operating at its highest quality possible. This task earned Mike the nomination and subsequent title of Florida Rural Water Operator of the year 2005.
     At the age of 62, Mike has now fully retired but remains available to help in the future growth of the Town of Lee. Mike’s retirement now consist of lazy days on the river fishing or a much needed ride down the road on his new Harley Davidson. Mike is a recent inductee to the Madison County Chapter of The Blue Knights, an International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Association. He also enjoys his days kicking around the property with his grandsons and is looking forward to the grandchildren to come. Mike hopes to instill in them the same hometown values that he received as a child and has past on to his own children. When asked if there was anywhere else he would wish to live Mike’s response was simply this “Lee is like no other and it will always be my home. It is who I am.”

Betty Ann Ellison Remembers Role On Suwannee River Jamboree

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
     Those who remember The Suwannee River Jamboree, or those who simply like learning about this area’s past history, can imagine turning their radio dial back to the 1950s and early 1960s and setting it on WNER out of Live Oak.
     Every Saturday evening, from 1952-1962, WNER broadcast The Suwannee River Jamboree, a Grand Ole Opry-type entertainment extravaganza.
     Betty Ann Ellison, a Lee resident and a regular on the show, recalled how it started and how she became known as “Bertha Lou,” a comedic character on the show.
     “Norm Protsman owned WNER. Clair Parker was a radio announcer and writer. Clair did everything at the station to begin with,” Ellison said. “He had a radio showed called Western Airs. He was very popular. A man named Aubrey Fowler had an idea of having a country music show, so he, Norm and Clair developed the idea.”
     At the time, there were two different country bands, the Suwannee River Playboys and the Melody Rangers, playing around Suwannee County. Other local performers on the program included the Norris Sisters from White Springs, Little Benny Cox and H.M. and Edwina “Sandy” Flowers. H.M. and Edwina were the first cousins of current Midway Church of God pastor, Retis Flowers.
     Ellison auditioned on a talent portion of the show and she had the highest applause that week. Originally beginning as a singer, she later became part of a comedy act with Clair Parker. Ellison’s character was known as “Bertha Lou” and Parker was known as “Cousin Clair.”
     “We would meet up during the week and rehearse and then do the show on Saturday night,” Ellison said.
     Shows would be held in an old tobacco warehouse, on the high school football field, in the high school auditorium and in the Suwannee County Agricultural Coliseum.
     Famous performers would also appear on the show, including Grand Ole Opry stars Jim and Jesse and Ralph and Carter Stanley. Johnny Tillotson, who would become a teen idol, was also on the program.
     “The girls were all crazy about him,” Ellison said.
She said that Tillotson, who was from Jacksonville, would perform at hospitals, nursing homes and anywhere they would let him sing. He would travel by city bus from place to place to sing. Tillotson’s hits included “Poetry in Motion” and “It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’.” He also sang the theme song for the hit TV show Gidget.
     Ellison, who was known to her high school classmates in Suwannee County back then as Betty Ann Thomas, married and moved to Lee in 1964. She and her husband, the late J.W. Ellison, had four children: Steve, Lee, Jesse and Selina (Box). She also had 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
     These days, Ellison says that she has left the comedy behind, although she says the students in her Sunday School class at Midway Baptist Church in Lee, may find her funny.
     After getting out of the radio business, “Cousin Clair” Parker became a Baptist preacher and, in fact, was the pastor at Midway Baptist Church. Ellison said at the time, however, she attended First Baptist Church in Lee and never had Parker as her pastor. Parker is retired from preaching and lives in Live Oak.

Winn-Dixie Celebrates 30 Years In Madison

By Bryant Thigpen
Greene Publishing, Inc.
     Many stores and shops have come and gone down through the years, but one business that has remained a constant is Winn-Dixie. One of America’s premiere supermarkets first opened their doors to a new store and shopping center at the current location on West Base Street on March 29, 1979 in Madison.
     On Friday, March 23, 1979, the Enterprise Recorder published a story on the grand opening. Below are some highlights from the original story that would appear of interest.
     “The interior of this beautiful new Winn-Dixie Store is modern throughout. Completely air conditioned, vinyl tile floors, acoustic ceiling, and walls painted with soft colors.”
     “The 19,880 square feet of the floor space affords this new Winn-Dixie wide, spacious aisles, and sufficient display area for the more than 6,000 items offered throughout the store space.”
     “W.C. Hurst will be the store manager of this new store with J.A. Nelson, Jr., as Asst. Manager, Lavonne Driggers, Market Manager, and W.Q. Bell as Produce Manager.”
     In 1979, Winn-Dixie was the nation’s fourth largest retail food chain and the No. 1 southern food chain with over 1,168 stores and the fastest growing throughout the southeast. Winn-Dixie employed 24,000 full-time employees and approximately 20,000 part-time.
     Today, Winn-Dixie has 520 stores in Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The company has increased to over 50,000 employees. Lisa Davis works as the Madison store director and has approximately 100 associates employed. There are approximately 100 associates employed in Madison.
     “Winn-Dixie has been a part of Madison County for the last 30 years, and we look forward to serving this community for years to come,” stated Joshua Whitton, communications manager for Winn-Dixie Stores.
     Although the store has battled many economic storms, Winn-Dixie in Madison has remained constant.
     Winn-Dixie has been in Madison for well over 30 years. Bill and Elizabeth Lovett of Madison were two of the original owners, along with the Davis brothers, who adopted the Winn-Lovett name until 1955. Today, Winn-Dixie sells a special house brand of coffee called Winn-Lovett.
     Congratulations to Winn-Dixie on over 30 years of business.
     Every Wednesday, the Madison County Carrier publishes Winn-Dixie inserts with special deals and sales. Be sure and pick one up.

Bryant Thigpen Named Reporter

     Bryant Thigpen has been named as a news reporter for Greene Publishing, Inc. Thigpen has been employed by Greene Publishing for almost two years, serving in many capacities.
     “I am very excited to be moving into this new position,” said Thigpen. Thigpen will be covering school happenings, sports, club meetings, senior happenings as well as church news.
     To contact Bryant Thigpen, please call (850) 973-4141 or you may e-mail him at bryant@greene publishing.com.

Public Defender Receives Great Praise From Rotarians

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
     The role of the elected public defender is actually very different than the images sold on television—the crude stereotype of the less than competent lawyer who has little time for the client, typically nursing a vice or two. The reality is quite different. In the case of recently re-elected Circuit Three Public Defender Dennis Roberts, it is actually just the opposite.
     Respected by colleagues and opponents alike, the five-term jurist spoke to the Madison Rotary Club at their March 18 weekly meeting, where it was obvious that members and guests were both impressed and interested in his historical detail regarding the evolution of the office and scope of the public defender.
     Roberts was also praised for his contribution as an attorney in the military, leading to a Burton Award for legal achievement. In fact, his brother Bill Roberts, who provided the introduction for the guest speaker, was visibly proud of his sibling’s achievements, a sentiment shared by all in attendance, which included Circuit Judge Greg Parker, a longtime colleague and friend.
     Sheriff Ben Stewart, as well as retired Sheriff Pete Bucher echoed the praise, the latter adding a personal commendation for Robert’s great work in the area.
     “Although we don’t have an office here in Madison, the area is extremely important to us, not to mention the wonderful relationships we have here,” Roberts noted.
     The third judicial circuit covers a lot of territory. Within the circuit, many are surprised to learn that as much as 90 percent of all cased involve an insolvent defendant. In simple terms, they can’t afford an attorney, so the public defender’s office is literally worked to capacity. All cases are not completely free to the accused, but the costs are still extremely low.
     The Madison Rotary Club concluded the meeting by wishing Roberts well in his efforts, inviting him to return anytime. In the meantime, brother Bill will undoubtedly keep everyone apprised of the big stuff, he too a great example of a professional community service. Apparently both those apples rolled together of the tree.
Michael Curtis can be reached at michael@greenepublishing.com.