News from MadisonJournalTODAY

News from MadisonJournalTODAY - Topics from January, 2009

Madison Co. celebrates MLK day

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Wednesday, January 21. 2009

Event held on eve of historic inauguration On the eve of the first black president’s inauguration, a packed house at Colbert Grove Baptist Church was reminded that it took heroism from past civil rights leaders to pave the way. “It takes courage to change the course of history,” was the frequent refrain used by Evangelist Robin Wright. ... [Full Story »]

LETTER: Says ‘first Civil War’ coming to America

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Wednesday, January 21. 2009

Dear Editor: Never has this nation been closer to civil war than now. Some uninformed will claim the war between the C.S.A. (Confederate States of America) and U.S.A. in 1861 was a “Civil War,” but it was not. The C.S.A. seceded from the U.S.A. and became a separate country. So that war was between two separate countries, not a war within ... [Full Story »]

BOE receives wish list for possible MCHS improvements

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Wednesday, January 21. 2009

Thirteen items have been listed as possible improvements to Madison County High School, including a new two-story wing that would add 22 classrooms and a new media center. Other highlights of the wish list include adding a fine arts suite, new administration and counseling suites, a new school entrance, several lab renovations, expansions of ... [Full Story »]

Madison Co. student will see inauguration first-hand today

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Tuesday, January 20. 2009

Much of the world will watch the inauguration of Barack Obama on television today. But Madison County Ninth Grade Academy student J.S. Fielding will see it in person. Fielding will have a bleacher section seat to see Obama sworn in. Later tonight, he will attend a black-tie inaugural ball. “I’ll be pretty close,” said Fielding. “I ... [Full Story »]

BOC asked to make decision on recognizing MLK Day

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Monday, January 19. 2009

The Madison County government does not recognize Martin Luther King Day as a holiday, but county Magistrate Judge Harry Rice appeared before county commissioners Jan. 12, asking the group to consider the possibility. “This has been recognized as a federal holiday for 20 years,” said Rice. “The state recognizes it. Every other courthouse ... [Full Story »]

Settlement reached in Epps, Watson case

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Monday, January 19. 2009

A settlement has been reached in the case of a former tax commissioner employee suing her boss for wrongful termination, but the details of that settlement have been sealed. Donna Epps claimed that tax commissioner Louise Watson fired her for her support of Watson’s opponent in the 2004 election. Watson said she had just cause for her ... [Full Story »]

Schools expect to borrow money in Feb. due to late taxes

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Sunday, January 18. 2009

The domino effect of tax bills being sent late will mean the Madison County School System will likely run out of money by late February. Madison County schools superintendent Dr. Mitch McGhee told the board of education (BOE) that he’ll recommended next month that it take out a Tax Anticipatory Notice (TAN) to borrow the funds needed to ... [Full Story »]

School system under hiring freeze

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Sunday, January 18. 2009

Until the school board knows what next year’s budget might look like, there will be no hires made for 2009-2010, according to Madison County Schools superintendent Dr. Mitch McGhee. “We are not hiring for next year at all until we figure out exactly where we are with the budget,” he said. With anticipated state funding cuts looming from ... [Full Story »]

OPINION: Love of gadgetry shouldn’t overshadow road safety

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Sunday, January 18. 2009

We know that people drive while talking on cell phones, while putting on makeup, while changing clothes, while eating dinner, while searching through CDs, while intoxicated, while half asleep, while reading, while air drumming, while making out, while reaching into the backseat to discipline their kids. There are countless scary things that ... [Full Story »]

BOA chairman promises digest will be ‘on time’ in 2009

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MadisonJournalTODAY

Sunday, January 18. 2009

Madison County’s new board of assessor chairman David Ragland stood before the board of commissioners Jan. 7, telling them they can count on having a timely tax digest this year. “Gentleman, your digest will be on time this year, I promise,” Ragland stated. The statement came during a special meeting called Wednesday, primarily to hear ... [Full Story »]

Entries from January 2009