Vol. 56 No. 18 • www.greenepublishing.com • Wednesday, December 4, 2019 • 75¢ + tax PHILLIPS named 4th among the world's top drummers John Willoughby [email protected] Scott Phillips, raised in Madison, is known for bringing the beat which is heard on Creed and Alter Bridge records around the world. And his status as one of the best rock drummers was confirmed after www.musicradar.com released the results of a poll on their website on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Nearly 26,000 people's choice votes were cast, which led to Madison's own, Scott Phillips, to be named in the top 10 current best rock drummers in the world. Flip, as he is known by his family, friends and, especially, fans, stands at number four, topping legends such as Travis Barker of Blink-182, Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins and Matt Nicholls of Bring Me The Horizon. Aric Improta, drumming for Fever 333, was named at number one. See “Phillips” [William Burkle Photography/Courtesy] on page 3 Greenville preparing Lucile Whitty for Christmas celebration Cherry John Willoughby passes away [email protected] Planning is almost complete for A Greenville Christmas to be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, which marks the return of Greenville's annual Christmas celebration. Years prior, it was a formality for a Christmas celebration in Greenville, and the most wonderful time of the year wasn't complete without it. Though the event, formally known as Greenville Country Christmas, has been quiet in recent years, the Heart of Greenville committee is excited to announce the return of an event in the form of A Greenville Christmas. Scheduled to be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, A Greenville Christmas will make its debut in Haffye Hayes Park, in Greenville. To celebrate the holiday, the festival will feature arts and crafts, delicious homemade sweets, entertainment and See “Greenville” friendly on page 3 Lucile Whitty Cherry completed her life of service to her family, her profession and students, her community and her faith on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. Lucile was born on May 11, Chief Jordan says 1922, to John Butler Whitty and Edith Allen Whitty. She was the eldest of six children born and "Keep the wreath green!" raised on the homesteaded family farm in Lee, Fla. John Willoughby Some of the leading causes of frying food. She attended elementary [email protected] holiday fires include the Heating appliances (space school in Lee and graduated following: heaters, etc.): Always allow three from Madison High School in As the holiday season begins Cooking: Never leave cooking feet of May of 1939. Lucile received See “Chief” on page 3 with Thanksgiving and ends with unattended, especially if you're space her BA in Education from New Year's Day in 2020, the Florida State College for Women Madison Fire Department (MFD) in 1943. will start displaying a large wreath In the fall of 1943, Lucile at the Madison fire station that began her career in Highlands will be an indicator of fires that County, Fla. as a fourth grade occur during this season. teacher. Although she taught The wreath will have all green there for only three years, she lights on it until a fire occurs. A remained in contact with her red light will replace a green light former students and attended for every fire that occurs until their class reunions for many New Year's Day. The goal of MFD years. She then taught in Polk is to minimize the number of red County, Fla. for one year before lights in the wreath; a holiday coming home to Madison where season with all green lights is a she finished her long career. safer one for all. The campaign Upon her return, she taught at started on Thanksgiving Day and Lee School, then moved to will run until New Year's 2020, Madison High School a few and residents are encouraged to The Madison Fire Department is set to embark on a new campaign that is en- years later. couraging local Madison County residents to " keep the wreath green," by prac- pass by MFD often to see the Early in her career, Lucile ticing good heat and fire safety this holiday season. Pictured, from left to right, realized she wanted to transition wreath. are: Brian Basford, Chief Bruce Jordan, Captain Dan Studstill and Brandon Vo. from [John Willoughby/Greene Publishing, Inc.] See “Cherry” on page 3 INDEX: Viewpoints: 2 • Community: 4-5 • Sports: 6-7 • Faith & Family: 8-9 • School: 10-11 • Farm: 12 • Classifieds & Legals: 13 2 • Wednesday, December 4, 2019 • Madison County Carrier VIEWPOINTS & OPINIONS Emerald’s Gem Box: Your local newspapers… I love the newspaper business. I was raised in it, within OUR COUNTY. in every aspect of what might be found in a daily and know of nothing else but this business. It has Often times this is a hard task. There are times newspaper. become my life, and I wake up every morning and we have to really put on our "thinking caps" and However, the reasoning and end results on local truly enjoy where I am going and what I am going to "dig" to find stories that are new and informative weekly newspaper readership is much different. The do. and/or fun to read. Other times we seem findings state that the readers of weekly/bi-weekly The local weekly/bi-weekly overwhelmed with things to write about, and just community newspapers read the paper COVER TO newspaper business is much don't have enough pages to fit all the news on. These COVER because everything within its pages different than the larger daily are the times when certain stories end up running concerns them, their neighbors and their community. newspaper business. At the later than what we had hoped they would. That is what we strive for, here at your local weekly/bi-weekly level, we try The comparison of daily newspapers to weekly newspapers; to inform you of what is happening to dedicate our news to the local newspapers is interesting: the end result is that within your community. community and what is people who buy a daily newspaper buy them for the We thank you, our readers, for giving us the happening within it. We put our reasoning of reading particular sections. They read opportunity to serve you and this county. We have EMERALD G. time and energy into our local the local news, or state news, or national news. But, always, and will always, welcome any additional PARSONS citizens and try to report, to the very few of them actually read the ENTIRE news items, thoughts and ideas that you may have. Publisher community, what is happening newspaper because, in fact, not everyone is interested Please always feel free to call us at (850) 973-4141. added. Sounds good, but it doesn't seem to work that I try to relate all of this to private life and my National Security: Debt way. Early in the Trump Administration, large tax cuts understanding of economics as an individual. From I saw a news story earlier this week that said went into effect with the new law in 2017 and the my perspective, there is good debt and bad debt. We federal budget deficits exceeding $1 trillion annually economy has grown remarkably since then, but the need transportation and a roof over our heads. Most of are on the horizon for as far as the eye can see. As a deficit hasn't reduced. Just as with the case of the us cannot afford to buy a car or house without taking financial conservative, that prospect frightens me. Democrat solution, reality falls short of theory. out a loan. This is necessary debt and usually good. First, let me differentiate between deficit and debt. Part of the reason for this divergence is that non- And the big-ticket item of a home is most likely to A deficit is the amount of discretionary entitlement spending is growing appreciate over time. spending by the federal evermore. The three great entitlement programs are Bad debt would be for consumerism such as government which exceeds Social Security (adopted during the New Deal in wardrobe, vacations, entertainment, etc. I should only income; in other words, the red 1935), Medicare and Medicaid (adopted as part of the buy these things when my savings permit me ink each year. Debt is the Great Society in 1965). Everyone who pays into these discretionary funds to purchase nice-to-have items like cumulative deficits added to programs is "entitled" to the benefits. These are non- these. each other. Currently our discretionary programs that Congress cannot address From a business point of view, debt is necessary. national debt is north of $22 each year during budget negotiations. In fact, when For example, many businesses will have a line-of- trillion. During the eight years of Congress argues and compromises over the credit with a financial institution so they can pay for JOE BOYLES discretionary part of the budget, they're dealing with inventory when the bills are due. With my family Guest Columnist the Obama Administration, the debt essentially doubled from less than 40 percent of federal spending. Think of it forestry business, we are in a position (good cash $10 trillion to $20 trillion. It has this way: non-discretionary entitlement spending is on flow; low interest rates; favorable prices; no debt) to shown no signs of slowing under the Trump autopilot with no input from the pilot. expand by purchasing another timber tract. We'll have Administration through the first (nearly) three years.