The arrests were a result of a traffic stop, which concluded with 30 kilos of Cocaine being located in a compartment of the vehicle. The subjects arrested are being held on two and a half million-dollar bond each. The cocaine was immediately transported to the lab for weight and content analysis. Investigation into the case continues.

When school district leadership invited the community to join them in establishing a five-year improvement plan, the response was notable. Volunteers and parents representing all segments of the community participated in the process that produced seven "Big Ideas," each devoted to a critical cornerstone of success.

Big Idea #1 –

Student Achievement

• All Students Reading On or Above Grade Level

• Increase the use of reading incentive programs

• Increase the number of print materials in home

• Increase the use of immediate intensive intervention

• Increase parental involvement to help students transition to middle school

Big Idea #2 –

Post Secondary Connections

• To Strengthen Connections to Postsecondary Offerings

• Create an awareness of postsecondary offerings for students and parents

• Ensure preparedness of students transitioning into postsecondary

• To develop and design a rescue and recovery system

Big Idea #3 – Stakeholder Involvement/Support

• Total Parent, Community, and Business Involvement/Support

• Determine community climate of stakeholders

• Enhance family and community involvement and communication

• Market successes of stakeholder involvement

Big Idea #4 – Responsible and Productive Citizens

• Improve Graduation Rate

• Promote career awareness K-5

• Promote career awareness 6-8

• Promote career awareness 9-12

• Improve Adult Education program

Big Idea #5 –

District Remains Fiscally Sound

• District Remains Fiscally Sound

• Maintain appropriate staffing levels

• Efficient use of fiscal resources

• Improve financial transparency of district transactions

• Improve finance department accuracy and efficiency

• Improve efficiencies of facilities and plant operations

Big Idea #6 –

Highly Qualified Staff

• Improving our Teaching Staff

• Retain effective teachers

• Recruit a more diverse teaching staff

• Maintain effective teachers

Big Idea #7 –

Improving School Safety

• Safer School Environment

• Improve Emergency planning at district level

• Safer School Environment

• Improve School Bud Safety

As these directives were reviewed during the Strategic Planning Committee meeting conducted March 9, it was further noted that goals would depend on staff, resources and the community working together. Then following a few revisions to the details above, which will require several years to achieve – and likely will require additional reworking as results and conditions unfold – the roadmap is clear.

So, as the meeting concluded, Superintendent Lou Miller thanked all present. The group now enters the implementation phase.

A total of 120 voters showed up to vote in the Town of Greenville's election for the Group 1 Town Council seat.

Kovacherich "Shorty Boy" Arnold was re-elected with 55.8 percent of the vote. He received a total of 67 ballots cast for him.

Michael Halley was Arnold's closest competitor and received 39 votes or 32.5 percent.

Nora Gayle Jones came in third place with 14 votes or 11.6 percent of the total vote count.

A yard sale will be held at Lee Elementary School from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 13.

This is a fundraiser for an educational trip for the fifth graders to Sea World in Orlando.

Madison Mayor Jim Stanley retained his District 4 seat on the Madison City Commission in an election held Tuesday, March 9. In the same election, Rayne Cooks defeated long-time incumbent Sumpter James for the District 1 seat.

Cooks received 34 votes (or 77.2 percent) and James received 10 votes (or 22.7 percent) in the race for District 1.

James Brown, who was disqualified from the race because he did not reside in District 1 received two votes in the early voting for the seat.

The race between Stanley and Hawkins was much closer, with Stanley receiving 62 votes (or 57.9 percent) compared to the 45 votes (or 42 percent) cast for Marcus Hawkins.

There had been some talk of Cooks also not residing in District 1 but a check with Madison City Hall revealed that she had said on her form that she did live there and is registered to vote in the district.

A review of school bus safety will be one of the highlights for the School Board meeting set for Tuesday evening, March 16.

Items recommended for approval by consent include:

*Minutes of the previous meetings.

*Contract with Madison County Health Department to provide families enrolled in Project Safe Zone with children, ages 0 to 3k, parent training via home visiting services and disseminating information to teens to reduce teenage pregnancy.

*School year calendars for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

*Remove obsolete property from the inventory with a purchase price of $19,125 and current value of $456.16

*Financial reports for the month ending February 28

Items recommended for individual consideration include:

*School Zone/District Transfers

*GED Requests

*Overnight Field Trips

*Review Bus Safety Improvements (1) Video System (2) Safe Rider Program (3) Encourage use of seat belts by student riders

*Madison County School Board Transportation Department Class B Testing for Outside Agencies

*School volunteers

*Personnel

*Staffing table revisions

*Other items of interest to the board

*Public input

The following is an excerpt from an exchange between state and local officials regarding the urgent need for the Madison County community to reach out on behalf of Healthy Families.

"The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee is considering eliminating funding for Healthy Families Florida. Now and over the next 20 days, it is critically important that we get as many people (family, friends, board members, judges, teachers, law enforcement, county commissioners, members of the Democrats and Republicans and their party officials, community partners, people who know these Legislators personally) to make phone calls to the members of the Senate House and Human Services Appropriations Committee.

Senator Durell Peaden, Jr.

Tallahassee (850) 487-5000

District #'s: (850) 689-0556 & (850) 484-9898

Senator Nan Rich

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5103

District #: (954) 747-7933

Senator Don Gaetz

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5009

District #: (850) 897-5747 or (866) 450-4366

Senator Mike Haridopolos

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5056

District #: (321) 752-3131

Senator Joe Negron

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5088

District #'s: (772) 219-1665 and (772) 345-3951

Senator Eleanor Sobel

Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5097

District #: (954) 924-3693

According to details from the organizations website located at www.healthyfamiliesfla.org, "Healthy Families Florida is a nationally credentialed, statewide program that is proven to prevent child abuse and neglect before it ever starts. Healthy Families Florida provides voluntary, community-based home visitation services focused on promoting child health and development and positive parent-child interaction.

"There are a number of proven ways to promote healthy development of young children. While Healthy Families Florida is part of a larger group of services dedicated to improving early childhood outcomes, it is Florida's only statewide child abuse and neglect prevention program. Independent evaluators conducted a rigorous five-year study of Healthy Families Florida to determine whether the program makes a difference."

HEALTHY FAMILIES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PLEASE CALL TODAY!

The Lee Volunteer Fire Department will hold a fish fry on Saturday, March 13, from 4-7 p.m. at the fire station in Lee.

For $8 a plate, people will receive their choice of grouper or catfish, as well as grits, beans, coleslaw, hushpuppies and drink.

Eat in or takeout is available.

For more information, call Jim or Shirley von Roden at (850) 971-4178 or (850) 973-6450.

In addition to all the great events and vendors that have attracted thousands to Down Home Days in the past...

this year the Greater Madison County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the weekend will feature two evenings of professional rodeo.

Scheduled for April 16 & 17, the Professional Cowboys Association (PCA) will be holding events each evening at 7 p.m. The event is being co-sponsored by Tobacco Free Florida, Tobacco Free Madison, and the Big Bend AHEC Quit Smoking Now program.

Chamber Executive Director Ted Ensminger was excited to announce the landmark event, and looks forward to delivering a fun-filled weekend for the whole family.

The theme this year is "Remember When," and details will be forthcoming in an upcoming edition of the Madison County Carrier.