The Madison Enterprise-Est. 1865 • 153 Years of ServRing Madiecorderson County GreenePublishing.com • Friday, April 13, 2018 • No. 32 • 75¢ + tax Demps named Coach of the Year Jay named Player of the Year Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc. After their record-setting season, it seems only natural that members of the Madison County High School (MCHS) basketball program would receive post-season honors. MCHS Head Basketball Coach Allen Demps has been named the All-Big Bend Coach of the Year by the Tallahassee Democrat. Travis Jay, a junior guard with the MCHS basketball team, was named the All-Big Bend Player of the Year by the Tallahassee Democrat. In his sixth year at the helm of the MCHS basketball program, Coach Demps put together a 25-5 record on his way to leading the team to a first- ever trip to the Final Four in the Florida Class 1A Basketball Tournament. In his six years as head basketball coach, Demps has amassed an overall record of 103-49, including five straight years participating in the state playoffs and back-to-back district championships. Jay was named to the first team All-Big Bend Team, in addition to Photo Courtesy of Brian Miller being named the Big Bend's Player of the Year. Jay, a junior, established MCHS Head Basketball Coach Allen himself as a team leader in his role as a point guard for the Cowboys. Jay Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo by Rick Patrick, March 5, 2018 Demps has been named the All-Big averaged 15.6 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game and 8.7 assists per MCHS junior Travis Jay was named Bend Coach of the Year for boys bas- game during the season. Jay also had 11 triple-doubles during this year's the All-Big Bend Player of the Year by ketball by the Tallahassee Democrat. campaign. Jay See "Year” on page 3 the Tallahassee Democrat. Cowboys weightlifting team state runner-up Have you paid your property taxes? Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc. According to Madison County Tax Collector Lisa Tuten, the deadline for paying property taxes without penalty has passed. Property tax bills are sent out every year in Photo Submitted November. Those who pay their property The MCHS weightlifting team was the Florida Class 1A runner-up at the FHSAA State Weightlift- taxes at that time can enjoy a four percent ing Championships in Panama City, April 6 and 7. Pictured, from let to right, are: Cameron Brown, discount off their property taxes. That Laertes Bell, Derion Staten and Terray Jones. discount decreases as time goes on until the Rick Patrick: end of March, when a late fee is added to the Greene Publishing, Inc. balance due. The deadline to avoid that late fee was Friday, March 30. Property owners With only four Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys qualifying for the state may still pay the taxes due on their property. weightlifting meet in Panama City, the Cowboys still managed to tie for second place in the Class 1A. However, a three percent late fee will be Derion Staten, Laertes Bell, Cameron Brown and Terray Jones represented the Cowboys in the Florida added to the amount due. Property owners High School Athletic Association Class 1A State Championships, Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7. th who still have not paid property taxes by Derion Staten was in 12 Place in the 129-pound weight class with a bench press of 225 pounds Monday, April 30 will have their property and a 175 pound clean and jerk, for a total of 400 pounds. Laertes Bell won his 199-pound weight listed on the delinquent property tax rolls. At class with a 385 pound bench press and a 280 pound clean and jerk for a first-place winning 665 that point, property owners will have to pay pounds. Cameron Brown was in second place in the 238-pound weight class with a 405 pound bench for the cost of advertising the property, in press and a 270 pound clean and jerk for a total lift of 675 pounds. Terray Jones placed sixth in the addition to the three percent late fee. Heavyweight class with a 395 pound bench press and a 285 pound clean and jerk. Properties listed on the delinquent Teams received seven points for each first-place finish, five points for each second-place finish, property tax rolls run the risk of having a tax four points for each third-place finish, three points for each fourth-place finish, two points for each certificate lien placed on their property. fifth-place finish and one point for each sixth-place finish. The Cowboys' team score of 13 points put The way a tax See "Taxes” on page 3 them in a tie with Labelle High School and Bradford County High School for second place in the state. T-shirt fundraiser planned for Tonya Watts "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 Mickey Starling: $20, except for sizes 2x and above, Greene Publishing, Inc. which will cost one dollar more per size increase. To order, contact Tonya Watts has successfully Taylor Killingsworth or Gina Davis completed her first surgery in her through Facebook. If you are battle to defeat breast cancer and unable to access their pages, call has more surgeries scheduled in the Killingsworth at (850) 242-9064 or future. Unfortunately, Watts and her Davis at (850) 242-2543. Orders husband, Fellowship Baptist must be in by Friday, April 27 and Church (FBC) Pastor Jackie Watts, payment is due at the time of pick had recently dropped their health up. insurance. The costs of these The Watts moved to Madison numerous surgeries will be high, in 2002, where Jackie was serving Photo Submitted and the community is coming as youth pastor at Fellowship The Watts family has served the Madison community for many years. Tonya together again to assist this loving Baptist Church for two years. Watts had a successful double mastectomy on Thursday, April 5, and has more sur- family in their time of need. Tonya began teaching at Madison geries to follow as she continues to battle breast cancer. Pictured, from left to right, A t-shirt fundraiser is County Central School (MCCS) in are: Caleb Watts, Tonya Watts, Jackie Watts and Joshua Watts. underway, with shirts available for 2002, See "T-shirt” on page 3 INDEX: Viewpoints: 2 • Community: 4-8 • School: 9 • Health: 10-11 • Entertainment: 12-13 • History: 14 • Classifieds & Legals: 15 2 » Friday, April 13, 2018 » Madison Enterprise-Recorder VIEWPOINTS & OPINIONS Passing Parade: Criminal Negligence Nelson A. Pryor: Guest Columnist Who knew that there was such a thing as a US Secret Service National Threat Assessment Take Charge of Center? Well, they just put out a report saying the obvious: “Mass violence in the U.S. tends to Your Money follow warning signs from attackers,” according When it comes to money, you're in the to the March 30, Washington Post. driver's seat, and it is up to you to manage it. They report “Direct threats should be Where does your money go? Do you let it slip investigated because a threat unchecked could out of your hands or do you control where it escalate into an act of violence.” goes? During Financial Nikolas Cruz Literacy Month, try to An interesting study was carried by the There’s a lot of snooping going on! take charge of your money March 19, New York Times 12a, entitled: to achieve your goals to “Effort in 2016 To Commit Gunman In Fl. get from where you are to Attack.” The article consists of a full column on determined that he was at low risk of harming where you want to be. missed opportunities to deal with the shooter at himself or others. Local sheriff’s deputies were If you want to control Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in repeatedly called to Mr. Cruz’s residences but your money, first Parkland, Florida. never found reason enough to arrest him. And distinguish between Making the invisible visible the FBI failed to investigate tips about Mr. "needs and wants," One would think that with the entire official, Cruz’s apparent interest in shooting up a school, consider your values and and non-official, snooping going on, that its even after a woman called to say that Mr. Cruz goals. It is ok to have a purpose is to “protect society.” Run through had weapons and was “going to explode.” Diann Douglas list of "wants," we usually these details about Nikolas Cruz and see if you After being kicked out of school, he legally don't have enough money don’t agree that with all the stuff they say they purchased the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle that to pay the bills and purchase all of the things had knowledge of that they just wanted to keep he used to shoot up the school, on Feb. 14. He is we want. It becomes necessary to cover basic a file, a control file, on each and every one and now under a 34-count indictment, for murder. needs, then prioritize those "wants" and make not for the safety of the community. A mental health clinic, the high school had a a plan to acquire things one at a time. Two guidance counselors and a sheriff’s working relationship with, the Henderson You can spend less and save money by deputy concluded that, once they were apprised Behavioral Health Clinic, has records showing following a spending plan that covers fixed that Nikolas Cruz had told another student that Mr.