Mercer’s Mercy, or No Mercy!"

"Gazebo Gazette Volume 5, Issue 17 Dated April 21, 2009

Judge Mercer gave a very enlightening talk at last week’s Optimist Breakfast Meeting concerning Florida’s traffic laws, and how they are adjudicated, taking some of the mystery out of what Florida’s traffic laws are supposed to accomplish.
First of all, Judge Mercer explained that he is actually an appointed Traffic Hearing Officer, appointed by Judge Woodrow Hatcher, of Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit, Jackson County, to handle non-criminal traffic cases. Should a traffic case involve a death, or criminal code violation, the entire traffic case is then referred to Judge Hatcher for adjudication.
Mercer further explained what traffic statutes, in the State of Florida, are intended to accomplish. For example, they are not for the purpose of earning revenue for the county or state. Although, revenues collected from traffic fines do supplement city and county jurisdictions to help defray some of the cost necessary to enforce traffic laws in smaller cities around the county, such as; Alford, Cottondale, Campbellton, etc. Last year, the City of Campbellton, alone, received $53,000 in revenue from traffic fines, and Cottondale received twice that amount. However, when asked why some jurisdictions enforced Florida’s traffic laws more aggressively than others, Mercer had no explanation. However, one cannot but wonder if disbursement of traffic fine revenues could play a role in that decision.
After explaining to the audience what Florida’s traffic laws were not instituted for, he informed the audience that the laws, in the State of Florida, are designed to promote traffic safety, and for the purpose of preventing accidents, as well as, to preserve life, limb and property. However, he confessed, the law is passive in nature and for that reason can only be effective if properly observed and obeyed by all.
Just importantly, if Florida’s traffic laws are to be respected, fair enforcement is a necessary part of that equation. On the other hand, however, the law can be abused by over zealous enforcement, as well. That means there must be a mutual respect for the law, and an attempt by both enforcement and citizen to satisfy the intent, rather than the letter of the law. The traffic statutes were never intended to raise insurance premiums, although insurance companies do use violation statistics to regulate individual insurance premiums. Also, points are assessed against individual’s licenses, not just to remove, or suspend driving privileges, but to determine the need for remedial driver’s education, once a prescribed point total is reached within a certain time frame. Keep in mind, however, that driving is a privilege. Therefore, if the privilege is abused, that privilege can be revoked by competent authority within the state the privilege has been abused.
Understandably, there will be times when enforcement officers and suspected violators may not agree with the degree of the charges made against them, or even if a violation occurred. This is where Mercer is called upon to render his judgment. Following a review of the case and a proper hearing, and as a sworn Officer of the Court, Mercer must uphold the law of the State of Florida, and the rights of the individual. He must then find the truth, having only his knowledge of the law, his good judgment, and Judge Hatcher’s order: "Do what’s right," to guide him. Not an enviable position, for sure!

"No Service, To Secret Service, Then Silent Service!"

Gazebo Gazette Volume 5, Issue 16 Dated April 14, 2009

Speaking before members of the Marianna Optimist Club last week, was Postal Service Inspector, Michael Mulder, who works out of the Tallahassee Office. Mulder, however, who resides in Marianna where he grew-up and graduated from Marianna High school, and Chipola College. He went to the university at Alabama, and Florida State, earning his Masters Degree.
After completing his formal education, he tried his hand at construction work for a season, working for his father, Richard Mulder. Finding the construction work rather mundane, as a young man, he decided to move on to something a little more adventurous and found employment with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) at the Pensacola Office under President Clinton’s 1994 Crime Bill Grant, "Cops on the Beat."
Following his service with Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement, he obtained a position with the U.S. Secret Service Department, and subsequently was assigned to their Jacksonville Office. Although the work was similar in nature, it did, finally, provide the opportunity to travel, and travel he did in spades. The Secret Service has the duel roll of safeguarding the nation’s financial infrastructure and payment systems to preserving the integrity of the economy, and the protection of national leaders, visiting heads of state and government, designated sites and National Special Security Events. As a special agent, Mulder carried out assignments in both areas of investigation, and protection. While performing these duties, he frequently found himself standing on the virtual threshold of history, and in many exotic places around the globe.
As stated earlier, Mulder currently works for the United States Postal Inspection Service, otherwise known as, "The Silent Service." The USPIS is primarily an investigative agency comprised of plain-clothed federal criminal investigators referred to as "Postal Inspectors" whose primary mission is "to protect the U.S. Postal Service, its employees and its customers from criminal attack, and protect the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse." As a result, Mulder has investigated mail bombs, mail fraud, and ID theft.
Because most identity theft involves the U.S. Mail, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has become a lead agency in investigating these crimes. Postal Inspectors have jurisdiction to investigate and enforce more than 200 federal statutes involving the U.S. Mail. To protect yourself: (1) Deposit outgoing mail at the Post Office, or blue U.S. Postal Service collection box, or give it directly to your letter carrier. (2) Shred or tear up unwanted documents that contain personal information before discarding them. (3) Request from the local credit bureau your entitled, free Annual Credit Report, and review it for false accounts. (4) Never give personal Information over the telephone. (5) Report ID theft online with the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or call 1-877-IDTHEFT

“Why Humans Monkey With Their Blood!”

Gazebo Gazette Volume 5, Issue 15 Dated April 14, 2009

Amanda Cowart, wife of Optimist Member, James Cowart, spoke at last week’s breakfast meeting. Amanda and Jim have been married for about eleven years, and have two school aged children; a boy and a girl.

Amanda and James Cowart work in the related field of bio medicine. However, they work from two different perspectives. Where James maintains and services bio medical equipment, Amanda uses the equipment to analyze blood. She is a Certified Laboratory Technician, specializing in the field of Hematology, or blood analysis.

As demonstrated by the large number of questions from the audience following her presentation, life carrying blood remains a mystery to the average citizen, and is a subject most have little concern for. That is, until the situation arises where they may need it in an emergency for a transfusion in order to save their life.

Despite all efforts to synthesize it, there are no permanent blood substitutes. Amanda herself, has found it necessary to receive blood from a donor, and knows first hand how important to her survival it was to be able to have her blood type available at that critical moment in time. There are four general categories of blood types: A, B, O, and AB. But each blood type is further labeled as positive or negative which is a reference to the Rhesus factor of the blood. To prevent rejection and potential life threatening diseases, individuals must receive their own blood type, and Amanda’s job is to analyze donated blood prior to its use, to determine type compatibility, and to screen for the Rh Antibodies, as well as any possible blood born diseases.

The Rhesus factor, also known as the Rh factor, gets its name from experiments conducted in 1937 by scientists Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Weiner. These experiments rabbits which, when injected with the Rhesus monkey’s red blood cells, produced an antibody, afterwards referred to as the Rh, or Rhesus factor. Approximately 85 % of the world’s population has the Rh Positive factor, indicated with their blood type followed by the plus sign (O+), or followed by the negative sign (O-) if they don’t have it.

Amanda, when asked what blood type is most rare, said it was probably type AB-. However, she claimed that the blood type most in demand is type O- because it is the universal blood type for all recipients, regardless of their own blood type, or Rh factor. For that reason, those with type O- blood types are sought out by blood banks, and asked to become regular blood donors. However, because whole blood has a short shelf life of only ninety days, there are not nearly enough volunteers and, therefore, there always exists a shortage of this life saving blood type on hand.

If an individual is un-aware of their blood type and Rh factor, a good way to find out is to donate blood. If the individual is found to have the critically needed type O- blood, it is advisable for them to donate their blood so that there will be a sufficient quantity on hand to save lives, keeping in mind that the life they save could be their own. If an individual is found not to have the type O- blood, donate anyway, it could still save one’s own life. Also, the various blood constituents, such as, plasma, and blood platelets can be used to help a patient survive until their blood type can be found.

Optimist-Outlook

Marianna Optimist Club Activities - By Don Jones
"Justice Denied Too Long"

Gazebo Gazette Volume 5, Issue 14 Dated April 7, 2009
Jim Dalafave, a member of the Marianna Optimist Club, and well known, life-long citizen of Marianna where he continues to reside with his wife Joan, however, unknown by most is that Dalafave was born to a full blood Cherokee Mother, and a Father having slightly less than full blood Cherokee, with the balance of his heritage being of Irish extraction.
Both birth parents were members of a small band of Cherokee Indians living on a reservation in Missouri, at the time of his birth. Therefore, he was given the Indian name of, "Little Crow." Then, later he was given the Christian name, "James G. Dalafave," by his adoptive parents at the tender age of one month.
Although his adoptive parents were not Native Americans, they have never tried to hide, or demean his Native American heritage in any way. Therefore, Dalafave has taken every opportunity possible to stay in touch with his Native American roots, trying to learn as much as he possibly could about his native born heritage over his lifetime, afforded him a great deal of knowledge, which he was kind enough to share, just a small amount of, with his fellow Optimist at last week’s Optimist Meeting.
Dalafave’s birth parents loved him very much, but as many Native Americans have done in the past, they wanted their son to have a better life than they could afford for him on the reservation, and gave him up for adoption while quite young. However, as they say, "Blood is thicker than water." and Dalafave has always maintained a deep love and respect for the native people that gave him life, and in truth, they, also, helped the European Settlers survive in the new world wilderness of North America, giving them life, as well.
Sadly, the truth of the matter is that this favor by the Native Americans has never been reciprocated by the European Settlers, who instead repaid the natives by taking their lands, and destroying their wild game stock that they depended upon for thousands of years as a way of life, and means of their very survival. Today, after five hundred years of occupation by the Europeans, Native Americans are yet relegated to live on reservations, where they fight a constant battle against idleness among their youth, while living meaningless, non-productive lives, with some notable exceptions.
As terrible as the Native Americans were treated, and still are to some extent today, this was not the crux of Dalafave’s talk; he spoke in terms of how the natives of North America are referred to as, "Indians." They are not, "Indians." Columbus mistakenly called them Indians because, when his ship landed on the Eastern Coast of North America in the year 1492, he thought he had found a western route to the continent of India. Therefore, the American Natives should, more accurately be called, "Native Americans," which they are.
The only other thing that seemed to bother him, and the rest of the population of Native Americans today, is the destructive effects that alcohol and illegal drugs continue to have on their health and ability to live productive lives. The American Natives had not been exposed to the effects of alcohol and drugs for thousands of years, as their European counterparts have, and therefore had not gained the same degree of immunity to the side effects of these powerful drugs, as their European counterparts seem to have. This fact, alone, has been the single most devastating weapon used against them by European Settlers in the past. This weakness enabled the occupying Europeans to more easily rob the Native Americans of their lands, and to make unfavorable treaties. Although, there is no more to be gained today from these tribes, alcohol continues to be a major curse within the individual Native American families, and their culture as a whole today.
Surviving today in the Southeastern United States, there exist the Miccosukee Indians who were originally part of the Creek Nation, which were an association of clan villages that inhabited the areas now known as Alabama and Georgia. Currently, this Tribe has four distinct reservation areas in the State of Florida: Tamiami Trail, Alligator Alley and two at Krome Avenue and U.S. 41. Unlike most reservation natives, they are self reliant and very industrious. In their distant past they survived by repairing and building horse drawn and mule drawn wagons. However, today they are better known for the manufacture of the very successful Winnebago Recreational Vehicle.

Optimist-Outlook

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - March 10, 2009
"Back To The Satsuma!"
Pat Crisp, Speaks
Pat Crisp, Guest Speaker, and Tommy Grainger, Marianna Optimist Club’s Programs Director are holding-up a slat from an orange crate that has the "Marianna Fruit Company" name on it. The orange crate it came from couldn’t be less than seventy-four years old because Marianna’s Orange Groves were destroyed by a severe freeze in the year 1935.
Satsuma Oranges are believed to be from China originally, and belong to one of the four groups of the mandarin family of oranges. They were imported to the United States from Japan as early as 1876 by George R. Hall, and to Marianna by J.C. Corcoran, who built the Chipola Hotel in the early 1920’s. When he learned, after experimenting, that the Satsuma Orange grew like a weed in Marianna’s soil and cooler climate; he quickly expanded his operation to include approximately 24,000 acres planted in oranges by the year 1928.
Also, by this time many farmers in the area had started their own orchards, making Jackson County the Satsuma Orange Capital of the United States, and the first Annual Satsuma Orange Festival was held in Marianna that same year. Charlie Reiff, who managed many of Corcoran’s businesses, including the Chipola Hotel business, planned the very successful event. Reportedly, there were more than 35,000 visitors in attendance that first year of festivities. Lucy Daffin was voted Queen of the Parade with a vote of 125,000 Pennies, or $1,250 dollars worth. Thelma Kerns came in second, but her vote amount wasn’t mentioned. Lucy was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.A. Daffin of Marianna. William Wilson was elected King of the parade, and King and Queen were crowned by Amos Lewis of Marianna.
Not withstanding, before the big freeze of 1935 brought everything to a screeching halt, The Marianna Fruit Company was shipping a box car load of oranges out of their Compass Lake packing plant on a daily basis at a wholesale price, then, of $2 to $4 dollars a half strap, or half crate, making it a very profitable proposition. Also, the saplings could be purchased for as little as twenty cents each in batches of one thousand, and the tree produced fruit in as little as two years, making it very tempting for the farmer to plant. Better, yet, the Satsuma orange ripened six weeks earlier than the varieties grown in South Florida, and California, giving the farmers in Jackson County a perfect niche in the market. For this reason, many farmers, in the panhandle of Florida, are considering taking the gamble to bring the highly profitable Satsuma Orange back, again.

William Long, Speaks at March 3 meeting

Optimist-Outlook By Don Jones
Marianna Optimist Club Activities

"We’ve Got To Get To The Capital On Time!"
William Long and his wife, Gwen, pose together for a historical photo, for their family album, in front of the U.S. Capital Building, as they wait for President Barak Obama’s Inauguration to take place.
Long, who recently returned with his wife, Gwen, from their trip to attend President Obama’s Inauguration, in Washington, D. C., described their, once in a lifetime adventure, before his fellow, wide eyed, members of the Marianna Optimist Club during last week’s breakfast meeting at the Gazebo Restaurant. Other than a little traffic encountered on Interstate 95, their 15 hour drive to and from Washington was pretty much uneventful. However, not surprisingly, their four day stay at the Sheraton Inn cost them $400 a night for each of four rooms for the entire party. Unexpectedly, most other things were very reasonably priced. Their meals and daily sundries where pretty much what you would expect to pay in Marianna. For example, a bottle of water was just one dollar.
On the other hand, transportation to and from their hotel was a bit frustrating at times, particularly frustrating was finding the subway train completely full, without even standing room, as early as five O’clock on the morning of the inauguration. Fortunately, however, there was other transportation available; a little less known Metro Line, got them to the inauguration on time, but placed their party about five football fields away from the action. There were, however, a sufficient number of large video screens strategically located about the viewing grounds which Long referred to as, "Jumbo Trons." It could have been worse, it was rumored that as many as two or three hundred observers were trapped in one of the subway tunnels for several hours.
Due to the large crowd, and potential need for crowd control, there was a large contingency of police patrolling the area. However, the very large crowd, without exception, behaved exceptionally well during the entire ordeal. In Long’s words, "Everyone was on the same page." Furthermore, he said, "It was almost as if you were with your neighbors back home, having a back yard get-together; every one was considerate and very cordial. Also, despite the fact that the entire trip set the family budget back by approximately $4,000.00 dollars, I would do it again at the drop of a hat." Long passed around, for the audience to see, his invitation and guest ticket that he received from Congressman Allen Boyd, representing Florida’s 2nd district.

Marianna Optimist Club Activities

Optimist-Outlook
By Don Jones - February 24, 2009

"Working Smarter, Not Harder"
Richard McConahy, Speaks

Richard (Dick) McConahy, Jackson Hospital’s ‘Interim’ Chief Executive Officer for the past two months, spoke before the Marianna Optimist Club. He was introduced by Rosie Smith, below. Rosie is Jackson Hospital’s Director of Public Relations. Before commencing his talk, he said that he and his family have been enjoying their stay in Marianna. Also, he took the opportunity to thank Mr. Bob Pforte, who was in the audience, for his hospitality and use of his, well stocked, fishing pond over the last 60 days. He said that fishing is his favorite sport because it can be done in the prone position, and with eyes closed.
He then gave a little background information concerning his education and where he hailed from. He is married to his wonderful wife, Diane, and they have two grown children, one of which is getting married soon, his son. They hail form the Midwest where McConahy attended High School, and later College. He, then, began to explain how he became involved in the medical profession; he became an army medic during the Vietnam War and served in Vietnam in 1970. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pennsylvania State University, State College, and a Master of Science in Health Care Management from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. He is, employed by the Quorum Health Resources (QHR) Group, but is assigned as Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Administrator for Jackson Hospital.
The QHR Group has been in the business of helping independent and group hospitals survive through rough times for over thirty years. Fortunately, he said, "in this regard, Jackson County has several things going for it, i.e. A top 100 rated hospital, the Chipola College’s Nursing Program, the exceptional recreational facilities and parks, such as Optimist Park, and the comparatively, lower cost of living. For these reasons many student doctors from Jackson County have returned to set-up their practices here. However, we need to attract more doctors to our area. Each doctor’s office is a place of business and provides a necessary service for the health of the community and the income for the wealth of the community."
Sadly, however, McConahy must find a permanent replacement for himself, as he is only the ‘Interim’ Chief Executive Officer. This will not be an easy pill, pardon the pun, for the community to swallow; he and his family have already wormed their way into everyone’s heart.

Optimist-Outlook 2/26/09

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - February 17, 2009

"It’s a Fowl Hobby" Julian Marsh, Speaks
Left, Marianna Optimist Club Member, and Guest Speaker, Julian Marsh, holds in his hands a carved wooden, Mud Duck Decoy that he artfully carved from a block of Bass Wood and painted to replicate the Mud Duck as it would appear in the wild. Marsh has, not only the ability to skillfully produce such beautifully carved pieces of art, but has an exceptional knowledge of, and appreciation for, natures most beautifully decorated birds.
Marsh’s hobby and obsession is to produce these, works of art, in his garage. Then, he loves to display the decoys at art shows and museums around the country, and will occasionally sell them, if the price is right. Annually, he is able to produce approximately fifty such pieces of art, averaging about one a week. Each piece has its own intrinsic beauty and value according to the taste of the individual admirer. However, most collect the carvings to decorate their dens, and living rooms, and not for their original intended use; hunting.
Marsh described the Mud Duck he holds, above, as a close relative to the very colorful Mallard Duck (Right). But, as one can see, the Mud Duck is somewhat challenged in the, colored, feather department, when compared to his more colorful cousin, the Mallard Duck. Additionally, as food, the Mud Duck is seriously challenged in the taste department, as well. It seems, as Marsh described it, the Mud Duck sort of taste as the name implies; like mud. He suspects they taste like mud because of their table manners; they dig crustaceans and other small animals out of the mud bottoms of shallow lakes, and ponds with their rather large and flat beak, and swallow them without straining out much of the mud, which apparently must effect the taste of the Mud Duck, when eaten.
Left, Marsh held the audience spell bound as he picked up each decoy from the table and described, in great detail, the habits and unique characteristics of the more than fifty species of wild duck inhabiting North America and Canada. Marsh confessed that he didn’t know exactly why he held such admiration and curiosity for the ducks. However, he surmised that it could be because, as a boy, his grandfather would show-off his rather large collection of decoy ducks. Then, at the age of twelve, he asked his grandfather if he could use a couple of his decoys to go hunting with, and the grandfather’s response was, "Go make your own decoys!" Well, he did, and has been making them ever since; a little better each time.
Assuredly, Marsh’s grandfather would be proud of him today, if he could only see his decoys and the knowledge of water fowl Marsh has gained since that fateful day, when he was told to, "Make your own decoy." It isn’t just a hobby to Marsh, it’s an obsession. Marsh closed his talk, claiming that he loves every moment of time spent replicating nature’s beautiful water fowl in his garage. Also, he said that he is especially pleased that others appreciate and find his art work interesting and beautiful, too.

Optimist-Outlook

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - February 10, 2009
"For A Few Dollars More"

Judge Glenn Hess, State Attorney, spoke before the Marianna Optimist Club last week to a full house. In the audience was special guest, Chief Judge, William L. Wright, who Judge Hess properly recognized by jokingly pointing out the only difference between his Office, and that of Chief Judge Wright’s Office; "In this case, it’s for a, Few Dollars More," he said.
Additionally, Judge Hess pointed out that Judge Wright had a few more fringe benefits that came with his office. For example, the Chief Judge doesn’t have to go thru the metal detector at the courthouse, while he must. And, anyone, entering the Chief Judge’s Office, must bow and kiss his ring and address him as "Honorable Chief Judge Wright." Other than that, there is very little difference in the two offices. Oh yeah, he mentioned one more thing, Judge Wright has only one employee, while State Attorney Hess has over one hundred employees he must manage.
After this brief moment of levity, at Judge Wright’s expense, Judge Hess shifted his talk to more serious matters of concern, making it easy for the audience to see that Judge Hess came to the State Attorney’s Office with an agenda. He said, "I want to make the 14th Judicial Circuit, State Attorney’s Office, the best in the State. The State Attorney’s Office has its place in the system, and it must specialize, if necessary, to fulfill this vital place in the system. We need to be the best we can be at our job." He said, "I chose to run for the State Attorney’s Job because, as a Judge, I witnessed too many time delays from the time of arrest of the accused until the trial of the accused. There was too much slack in the system, and the general attitude by some individuals in the justice system was that, It was some one else’s job."
Judge Hess, since taking the State Attorney’s job, has implemented changes to correct the foregoing delays in the system. He found, when he came to office, that too often experienced attorney’s were being over tasked, while less experienced attorneys, and investigators were under tasked when processing criminal cases. Additionally, he noticed that the less experienced attorneys and investigators were receiving very little, On the Job Training, (OJT).
Since taking office, Judge Hess has implemented On the Job Training, (OJT), and assigned junior attorneys to assist senior attorneys in preparation of criminal cases for trial. Also, he has implemented a procedure whereby proper and complete investigation of each case is done prior to legal review, resulting in fewer last minute discoveries that will tie-up the Courts and State Attorney’s Office, lengthening the case while delaying cases that follow.
Since implementation of Judge Hess’s changes, convictions where obtained in all three criminal cases that have gone to trial so far this year. Now, because of the thoroughness of the investigations, and quality of accumulated evidence, more accused felons are making pleas of, "Guilty" at first hearings, saving the courts and the system much time and expense of prosecution. His final words were, "I just want to make a difference!"

Optimist-Outlook 2/12/09

By Don Jones
Marianna Optimist Club Activities
"Why Are Bull Pups Not Becoming Bulldogs!"

Adam Gray, Marianna High School’s Head Coach, and Nicole Thoreson, a Member of Florida’s Amateur Wrestling Association’s, "Team Dynamic," are doing their best to promote amateur wrestling in Jackson County Schools. Coach Gray was last week’s Optimist breakfast meeting guest speaker.
Coach Gray hails from Madison, Florida, where he coached high school football for a number of years. He recently accepted the head coach position at Marianna High School; and shortly afterwards, the wrestling coach position, although, he had no wrestling experience. Fortunately, his assistant wrestling coach, Ron Thoreson, has enough wrestling experience for them both. By working together, Coach Gray and Coach Thoreson have quickly begun to rebuild Marianna High School’s wrestling team from a three member team, last year, to a seven member team this year, including one female wrestler.
On December 6th, of this season, M.H.S. managed to hold their own at the Wakulla High School’s Wrestling Meet, and Sports Editor, Clint Cox, of the Jackson County Times, had this to say [The wrestlers experienced some landmark moments for the season, even with two wrestlers, Josh Kornegay and Jacob Kornegay, sidelined with illnesses and injuries. In a never-before-seen match in the panhandle, Junior Allison Hutton wrestled another female wrestler from Lincoln High School at 112 lbs. The match had the entire crowd’s attention. "No one can remember another match in our area that had two female wrestlers," commented volunteer coach Ron Thoreson. "It really shows how wrestling is growing in popularity.]
Coach Gray pointed out that Allison is second year varsity, and the only female on the team. As the only girl, she must practice against male wrestlers in her weight class in order to compete. When the coach asked where she got the courage to stay another year? She said, "I love the sport, and I just want to prove that girls can wrestle, too!" Coach Gray said, "Not only are their too few girls going out for the sport of wrestling, there are too few boys, as well.
Out of more than 800 students at Marianna High, there are only seven participating students on the varsity wrestling team this year. It’s not, just, the wrestling team that’s suffering for lack of participation; this year, the varsity football team has six players who’ve never played the sport before." Also, he wondered, "Why didn’t many of the Marianna Middle School students, who participated in football last year, go out for football when they got to Marianna High School, this year? Overall, there are not enough students going out for sports of any kind. We need to get kids more interested in sports at the Middle Schools; it’s too late by the time they get to high school," he said.

Optimist-Outlook 1/29/09

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - January 13th, 2009

"The Day of Protecting Narrow Interest Has Past!"
U.S. President, Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address 20 Jan 2009
Ted Lakey, Jackson County Administrator, when speaking before members of the Marianna Optimist Club, basically spoke the mind of the country’s forty-fourth president, Barack Obama, a full two hours before President Obama spoke these, now famous words, "But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."
As in the past, Americans have proven to have the unusual ability to put aside all vestiges of personal interest, and self interest for the greater cause of what is best for the whole of society. Lakey described the recent coming together of all public agencies, Federal, State, County, and City to do just that. He confessed that there was no agenda to do such, but under the realization of the recent loss of monetary privileges, which were taken for granted for so many years, these agencies came together out of necessity to resolve monetary issues of mutual interest to all jurisdictions.
He mentioned a few examples of the ever shrinking local and state budgets that took place in the 2009 budgets. For example, due to the recent roll-back of county property taxes to pre 2008 levels, the amount of revenues, as well as, state monies for some special projects have been significantly reduced. Before that happened, however, the county managed to implement several improvements, such as construction of the new 8,000sf County Emergency Operation building next to the County Road Department. Also, many of the County’s Parks, Boat Landings, and Roads have seen long needed improvements. He was particularly proud of the new Fine Arts Pavilion at Citizen’s Lodge, to name a few improvements.
All hope for the current year, and near future, lies with the combined success of the areas municipal agencies to put together a comprehensive reconstruction plan acceptable to the state for the promised federally funded stimulus package. Of course paving of roads is a primary concern, as well as, other infrastructure projects that will truly benefit the majority of all county residents, and jurisdictions.
Lakey announced that there now exists a new era of cooperation between municipalities which is so necessary for our area to compete for the impending recovery dollars. Jackson County Commissioners have scheduled several multi jurisdictional meetings to discuss mutual collaborative efforts for future development. He was, also, confident that the new twelve million dollar, County Health Department Building, destined to be built at the Marianna Airport Industrial Park, will take place in 2009 as planned.

Optimist-Outlook

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - January 13th, 2009
"Haz-Mat Team Gets Wake-Up Call!"

Health Department Head, William Long, and Fire Chief, Byron Bennett, principal member of the area’s, "Hazardous Materials Response Team," explained the recent, "Court House Flag Incident," to members of the Marianna Optimist Club.
William Long congratulated the City’s new Fire Chief, Bryan Bennett, and his Hazardous Materials Response Team for the excellent manner in which they responded to the unusual threat at the County Courthouse involving an American flag, a Holy Bible, and a suspicious powdery substance. Reportedly, some unknown person, or persons placed a U.S. Flag and a Holy Bible on the porch in front of the County Court House entrance for some unknown reason.
The incident began when the sheriff’s deputy, who normally opens the court house doors for business each morning, discovered a flag and bible lying on the floor, in front of the main entrance. The deputy put on a pair of latex gloves, and removed the suspicious articles, then noticed a powdery substance on his nicely pressed, green uniform. Then, recalling a similar incident involving the U.S. Postal Service, he realized the powdery substance could be a biological agent, so he reported it to the Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office quickly contacted the city fire department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team that is trained and prepared for such emergencies.
Chief Bennett and the Hazardous Materials Response Team arrived at the scene and immediately secured the area to prevent further contamination, then began decontamination of the area and personnel. Decontamination is concerned primarily with safety. Therefore, when it comes to personnel decontamination it may seem crude, or even a bit demeaning in certain cases. Without discrimination, all who may have contacted the mysterious powder were asked to dress-up in clean prisoner’s garb while their street clothing was placed in plastic bags for decontamination and testing by the County Health Department.
Chief Bennett spoke next, and expressed his deep appreciation for the exceptional cooperation by all citizens involved in the inconvenient, but vital process of decontamination. Important, also, was the excellent response by the six departments involved: City Police, County Sheriff, City Fire, County Fire and Rescue, Public Health, Emergency Management, and Bay County Hazardous Response Team. Had this powdery substance tested positive as a biological agent, many lives would have been saved. However, the County Health Department Laboratory determined the powder non-hazardous and the incident a wake-up call in which many valuable lessons were learned.

Optimist-Outlook 1/15/09

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - Meeting of January 6th, 2009
"You Call, We Haul!"
Stuart Wiggins, Jackson County’s Public Schools, Director of Student Transportation, spoke before the Marianna Optimist, last week. He opened by expressing his appreciation for the Optimist Club’s positive influence in the community. He especially appreciated the things Optimist do for the youth in Jackson County, mentioning the financial support Optimist gives to various student sporting activities, and booster clubs each year. He said he firmly believes in the old adage, "It takes the whole community to raise a child."
After eight years as Director of Jackson County Schools Transportation Department, a very demanding job, Wiggins is looking forward to assuming his new position as Director of Facilities which is to take place in February 2009, when the current Director, James E. (Buddy) Dickson, plans to step-down due to his retirement.
Wiggins wanted to stress the message that riding the County’s School Buses is a privilege, and not a constitutional right. As everyone knows, privileges can be revoked. Students who do not follow the rules, designed primarily for their own safety, are subject to losing that privilege. Violating bus rules jeopardizes the student’s riding privileges and the safety of everyone on the bus. With this in mind, parental reinforcement of these safety rules is very important, and appreciated by the drivers who must keep their eyes on the road.
Putting things in perspective, statistically, Jackson County School buses carry over seventy five hundred students and drive eighty-nine routes twice each day. Also, more than forty percent of these students ride the bus every school day. Of the 1,400 miles of roads in Jackson County, only 491 miles are paved, and three of the eighty-nine routes driven each day are more than two hours long. A total of one million miles is driven by Jackson County School Bus drivers each year.
Jackson County School’s Transportation Department has an Office Staff of five, with a total of approximately one hundred qualified, full time, and part time drivers. The buses are maintained and inspected monthly by a staff of five ASE Certified Mechanics, and all warranty service is performed at the manufacturer’s authorized dealer in Dothan Alabama.
Although, Jackson County Schools employ 100 LDL Licensed Drivers to meet the million mile challenge, additional drivers are needed. A driver can earn as much as $15,000 per year, and work only four hours a day. A qualified and fully licensed bus driver starts at $12.80 per hour. This is considered ideal by some retired individuals, and those needing a second income. If interested, call or apply at the bus barn office during regular business hours. Phone: 482-1323

Optimist-Outlook 1/8/09

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - December 30th, 2008

"Can the "M" Robot be trusted?"
James Cowart, a technical representative for Siemens Medical Diagnostics, the world’s largest manufacturer of Medical Analytic Robots, spoke before the Marianna Optimist Club Members again on December 30, 2008. He last spoke before the members on January 22nd, 2008, when he revealed the nuts and bolts of his highly technical vocation.
Cowart literally entered the field of medical diagnostic equipment by accident. Originally his interest was in becoming a race car mechanic. He did briefly become a race car mechanic, however he injured his back while replacing an engine, making it extremely painful to bend over the fender of a race car all day. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending how one looks at the situation, this accident curtailed his race car mechanic career, but because he had the mechanical, vocational training in high school auto mechanics, and a degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University, he was able to transition into the relative, new field of ‘Bio Mechanics, and was eventually hired by Siemens Medical Diagnostics as one of their north Florida technical representatives.
Cowart claims that, due to today’s advancement in robotic technology, analytical equipment is able to out-perform earlier models by as much as three-thousand percent. In the beginning, such equipment could perhaps make one analysis per hour, while today’s models can process three thousand samples per hour. It’s even possible to determine the truthfulness of a witness, today, by simply monitoring the temperature fluctuations in the skin of an individual’s face while under cross examination, or during questioning by police. This same temperature variance can detect a tumor in the breast of a woman without the, sometimes, painful mammogram.
Today’s analytical efficiency makes effective treatment timely and recovery possible. Ultimately, because of anticipated future advancements, critically ill patients may be able to check into a hospital and out, with a good prognosis, on the same day.
Following Cowart’s talk, the audience wanted to know how prominent the use of medical robotics was in the local area. In total, his estimation was twenty to thirty machines were in use today by hospitals and clinics in the Dothan, Marianna, and Panama City area. He, valued the machines at two, to three hundred thousand dollars apiece. Additionally, he mentioned there were newer, more capable machines, valued at twice that amount coming to the area very soon. Ultimately, he finished with the following warning: "No matter how fast or accurate the prescribed medication or course of treatment, in order for it to work, one must have the faith to take it!"