* - * From Our Famil To Yc www.greenepublishing.com 11tetpttSeClvecCei: Our 145th Year, Number 19 MPD Investigator Graduates From University By Jacob Bembry Greene Publishing, Inc. Ben Ebberson, sergeant investigator with the Madison Police De- partment, recently re- I i Kceived his Bachelor of Science degree in Crimi- nal Justice from Florida Gulf Coast University Ebberson said that he had worked for several years to get the bachelor's degree. Ben Ebberson "I did it to help me be- come a better police officer so I can better help serve and protect the people of Madi- son," he said. In addition to his job with the MPD, Ebberson is Please see Ebberson, Page 4A Bern Smith Retiring From USDA Friday, December 25, 2009 O )urs * 460 + 40 Tax=sU0j www.greenepublishing.com Madison, Florida Sheriff Praises Register At Retirement Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Michael Curtis, December 23, 2009 Sheriff Ben Stewart presented Sgt. Freddie Register a handsome plaque recognizing his years of dis- tinguished service with the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Pictured left to right are: Sheriff Ben Stewart, Kathy Register, Alan Register, Sergeant Freddie Register and April Register. Sergeant Freddie Register has served the Madi- son County Sheriff's Office for 18 years. Prior to that, he headed up the Lee Police Department. Through- out those years, he has established a reputation for getting the job done right, building a mountain of re- spect in the process. In fact, while speaking at his re- tirement lunch held on Dec. 23, Sheriff Ben Stewart playfully asked him to reconsider. Stewart acknowledged how much Register has meant to the department. "Will you reconsider?" the Sheriff said. Stewart went on to say how much Register would be missed, wishing only the best for him and his fam- ily in retirement. Lunch was catered by O'Neals, and accompanied by four ten-layer masterpieces baked in his honor by members and friends of the department. His lovely wife, Kathy, and children Alan and April, who is currently a dispatcher with the depart- ment, joined Register at the celebration. Two Representative Vehicles Bembry Pays Tribute Photo submitted by USDA Soil Conservation Service Bern Smith is pictured next to the cake at his retirement party held Friday. Dec. 11. BornL'n :3Ia 1 t'i 0I ial : s1iaill ItfarIn i e - Johns.to\ n. Penns yl:vnia. Bern moiel -Ito Florli la, \M'lile h- \a:. seve-nt-l-n i\e eill l l not heIlp \where he \as. Liborn bL t ur'itilil id 1: s.oini0ethln,2 abLutiot \here he liv\eI It \"as swil that \"hen he inci\il. lhe i I prLo, \ I -l L:itl pl:,1 He g:railatI:idr m l tI:Iin tleI Lin t\n iersty : South Flor'la: \ ith :a BA ilde:ee in Bo:tan:n He ji:oine the LIS Na\ and se-rved fo-l ur te:,ars a:, a Qu:arter- ima5te-r o asisiant to til :he Na\ l3ator i: nLa:ial an) oi:evan1 *goin :' tlLigoat home p rtie in Ma Iport At'ter L being IIonrabll dsllar,:lzed froml the Na\y lihe: attended l thie liniversLity ,o" FFlori:la *ra rilatin- \ tl a Lka-:ste"r ,t" SCi'eniC'e in A'-r'ion mn \% lth :ia minor in Soil S'lei'i He : i'inunil to serL\ h l ioiiuntrL' in tlie Li S ALi Rr n LR e. and aftter 22. i:-Lars r en i as- a Sieriant First Please see Bern Smithnili. Page 4 t.rasn By Jacob Bembry Greene Publishing, Inc. Two drivers escaped injury in an automobile accident on Sunday Dec. 20, at approximately 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of County Road 53 and Win- quepin Street. According to a Flori- da Highway Patrol report, Elva Ochoa, 41, was travel- ing south in a 1996 Buick on CR 53 at a slow rate of speed, looking to make a left turn onto SE Win- quipin Street. Jerry Inmon, 60, was approaching Ochoa's Buick in his own 2008 Vol- vo. Inmon attempted to overtake Ochoa, who struck his vehicle as it was passing. The area of impact took place in the north travel lane. Ochoa's Buick came to rest on the west shoul- der. Inmon's Volvo crossed SE Winquepin Street and entered the east shoulder. Inmon then crossed the north and south travel lane, coming to a final rest on the west shoulder. FHP Trooper Billy Ernst was the investigat- ing officer. To Mayor Kinsey Mayor Ernestine Kin- sey was recently recog- nized in a dedication at - Lee City Hall, where a new meeting room that bears -- - her name was dedicated in her honor. Adding tohi that recognition, State Representative Leonard Bembry issued a special tribute from the Florida House of Representatives, i expressing congratula- tions and praise for her ex- emplary service to the community "I have received your invitation to the Dedica- - tion Ceremony and I deeply regret that I will not be able to attend the Ernestine E. Kinsey Hall Photo submitted Dedication today due to a State Representative Leonard Bembry issues a prior commitment in tribute to Lee Mayor Ernestine Kinsey for her years of Franklin County Howev- dedicated service to the "Little but Proud" community. er, I do want to take this time to congratulate you on your many accomplishments over the past fifteen years as the Mayor of the Town of Lee and look forward to working with you for many more years," Bembry stated. "What an honor to have the meeting room extension to the Lee City Hall dedi- cated in your name. This is a reflection of your hard work and dedication to the com- munity known as the "Little But Proud" Town of Lee," he added. "I would like to present you with the enclosed 'Tribute' in your honor. As your State Representative, I want to thank you for working tirelessly to make the Town of Lee a better place for all," he went on to say Bembry, the representative for District 10 that includes Madison County, echoed the sentiments of the Mayor's colleagues, family and friends throughout Madison County IndexLocl Wethe 1 Section, 14 Pages Around Madison 6A Outdoors 11 A Turn Back Time 9A Junior Auxilary 7A Classifieds 12A Legals 13A Auto Directory 10A Church 8A Fri 64/42 Sat 59/4un0 57/37 Mon 56/34 12/25 64/4 12/26 59/40 12/27 12/28 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in Times of sun and clouds. Highs in Morning rain and a Thunder More clouds than sun. Highs in the the upper 50s and lows in the up- the mid 50s and lows in the mid shower, upper 50s and lows in the low 40s. per 30s. 30s.