wellborn my hometown

The man on the left is Johnny Reid, Assistant Warden of Operation at Suwannee Correctional Institution. He came as a guest speaker for Wellborn Neighborhood Watchers monthly meeting. Major Dennis Crawford, also an assistant warden, shared the story telling. A third warden is expected to arrive in September. A very positive report, assured the WNW that the prison is a state of the art facility whose main purpose is safety, both inside its walls and outside them. The main unit is completely built. 400 workers boosted the local economy during this construction phase.

278 inmates are currently housed in the Work Camp unit where there will eventually be 432 minimum security prisoners who meet rigorous security criteria before leaving the prison for community work. Two five man work crews are already working on Suwannee County roads.
Work crew supervisors phone a report every half hour with a head count and exact location and these details are displayed on a GPS wall map. A system is in place for notifcation in the event of an escaping inmate. An upgrade to this notification would be a reverse 911 which Lafayette county has installed. WNW and commissioner Billy Maxwell volunteered to look into this possibility here. If there is an escapee from a road crew, prison personnel and county law enforcement converge ASAP. When the canine sargent's work was mentioned, both men smiled because the puppy has won the hearts of all 130 prison staff, but in their 25 years of prison work both men have seen success with canines. Classes for employees are also a work in progress in order to meet numbers required at the new prison. Local folks have landed all the jobs so far.

Of Florida 64 prisons this newest is the best and employees consider themselves lucky and are working gratefully and harmoniously.
In September a mock escape is planned as a drill.

Q&A time was followed by foreshadowing another tour of the prison. probably in October.

BILLY MAXWELL ALERTS US TO THE WORK OF ROBERT EYER who teaches CPR: short form(3 hours) or longer form with certification.. Wellborn yearns for an ambulance. People to update their emergency medical knowledge seems like a step in the right direction. Billy Maxwell just completed a course in Falmouth and wishes everyone would.

Methodist pastor Jim Messer invites everyone Sunday morning August 30 @ 11 A.M., especailly hurting people here, to explore together Jesus words and actions about healing.

For more information look at www.wellbornunitedmethodistchurch.org

Today, while spreading the word about this special happening on August 30 at my church, I discovered www.northfloridanow.com You are invited to peek in.

Commissioner Billy Maxwell and Sheriff Tony Cameron met with Wellborn folks at the WHISTLE STOP DELI&CAFE at the corner of CR137 and C-!0A. It happens every second Thursday (10:30 A.M.to noon more or less)This is a very good opportunity for communication organized by the Wellborn Neighborhood Watch. Present were Bruce and Jane Campbell, Kate and Ray Rodehaver, Betty Barnes, Nancy Ellingson, Linda Gaylord, Ruth Ford, Jinny Wilson and Paul Twing who visits civic groups to advertise his Florida Home Firearms Training School in Columbia County.
Our Sheriff explained his new look, with a smile, suggesting that the Masquerade Ball was this month and then he confessed he was just home again from a non shaving week vacation of mountain hiking with the family.
Tony Cameron's conversation gave a good glimpse of the Police Athletic League work and accomplishments this summer. He credited funding and his staff , especially Gary Edwards, for successes and probable crime prevention through the P.A.L.
Currently both of our elected men are struggling with the budgets for the next year. Uncertain (how much less is the unknown) income is one problem running simultaneously to anticipated increased need for services. When the economy is down the crime goes up.
Questions were raised about grants, funding, mandates and stimulus monies, even health care and Congressman Alan Boyd's visit in Live Oak yesterday.
Our sheriff and our county commissioner believe the capability of the American people to solve problems is still viable.
We need to support each other and listen to each other. Both men vowed to do the best job possible with the monies allotted to their work.

Angel D Rodriguez made a house call on my MAC laptop. Results are that today my computer and I are happy with each other once again and I'm grateful to Angel Rodriguez's gifts and graces. The hometown Computer Specialist earned a bachelors and masters degree in computer sciences in Puerto Rico. His resumes are distributed. He is American born, (New Jersey) bi lingual, and has made this business card available in a hot pink card holder on the Wellborn Community bulletin board in front of the post office.

Many people came to The Masonic Lodge Saturday August 7th to be part of the benefit dinner for the lung cancer fight ahead of Jerry Murray
Jerry hmself is pictured with a white beard and a rancher's hat.
The chef of the day was Jimmy Greene whose "perloo" is a hometown tradition. Blogger heard how good it was when we transplanted here in 1980. With a twinkle in his eye, Jimmy explained "I've been stirring the chicken perloo pot for special people in Wellborn since the 1970's and pretty soon I ought to get it right."
Here Jimmy rests up and sits in the flag corner to watch life long friends enjoy a good meal with some newer friends and for a good cause.
Out of doors under the cooking tent Donald Connell reminisced . He was a slight build in Wellborn School days. He still is. He smiled telling how good it made him feel when upper classman "Boochie", an 8th grqder, clamped him on the shoulder and said he'd done well for the home team.."
Colleen Borklund, at the money table, helped Pat Gaylord greet everyone. Daryl Connell, Cindy Brannon, Linda Cauley, Shannon Murray ,and Cheryl Esposito and Katie Taylor and Gayleen Connell took turns at the serving table.

Next Saturday A Jerry Murray Poker Run gives motorcylce enthusiasts a fun ride with the take going toward Jerry's expenses. Register for the ride at Wellborn Pawn and Gun on CR 137 south of US 90

WEBSITE DEVOTION posted @ www.wellbornnitedmethodistchurch.org
August 2009

HURTING AND HEALING

Are you hurting? Are you in pain? Could you use some healing?

The last Sunday of August WellbornUnitedMethodist Church is going to do a “Healing and Wholeness” Service at 11 A.M. It is a service for all people. We are going to talk about healing and how it may help you. We are going to explore how we can be in touch by the mighty Healer, Jesus Christ.

Much healing occurred during the ministry of Jesus. A woman was completely healed after she had touched the hem of His garment. Jesus healed a man that had sat next to a healing pool for thirty years. If Jesus could raise a dead man from the grave of death, He can surely can heal you and me.

The first step to healing is the belief in Jesus Christ. We must believe in Him with all our HEART, MIND, AND SOUL. We must be able to place and our hurts and pains is His hands. We need to get on our knees before Him and say, “I can not do this alone, I need your help, heal me.”

Can our Lord take away all our aches and pains?
Probably not. He surely can lead us to Doctors and Surgeons who will help us and you can be assured that the Lord will be ahead of us all the way.
Are you willing to start the process of healing?
Come to WellbornUnitedMethodist Church, 12005 CR 137 (at the North edge of downtown Wellborn) on Sunday, August 30, 2009, and let us take this healing walk together.

FROM THOUGHTFUL BOBBI FENDERSON

Hi Jinny,
Good to see you at breakfast Saturday!
this just in from Andrea,

(Your blogger hopes to see all you blog readers at the Masonic Lodge on Saturday around noon!)

there is a Benefit luncheon being held at the Wellborn Masonic Lodge this Saturday august 8, from 11 - 3 pm. $6 pp for a delicious meal.

I was bummed that this event was not in the most recent issue of the wellborn whisper!
perhaps one of you could forward this to Jinny to see if she can get it on the WW website?

I thought i would alert some of you to ask that you PLEASE spread the word about this via email TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE HUNGRY (WHO ISN'T) and interested in helping out a neighbor (Jerry Murray) who has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

For more information you can contact the organizers:

Polly Murray 386 344 2884
Gaylene Connell 386 623-3205
Pat Gaylord 386 362 8302

Andrea and Joe

These dogs with their people spent 6 Saturday mornings together at Obedience Training School on Andrews Square in downtown Wellborn.
K-9 Professor Pam Taylor awarded graduation certificates to them on August 1, 2009.
They are Barbara Clark and her dog, "Willow", Carmen Hernandez and "Sooner", Pam Taylor holding "Patience Wilson " for the blogger/photographer, Barbara Smith with "Daisy", Barbara Barker of our All Springs Veterinary, Chantelle and Susan Cardinal with "Jocy", and Margaret Varnachas with "Cassie".

The matching tee shirts were a surprise on graduation day from the Barkers at our hometown All Springs Veterinary Hospital at the Wellborn blinker light.
The message on the shirt is "Life is good". A dog and a cat are pictured and the bottom line is "Pets make life better" .

Willow is already into an advanced training class. Patience arrived on exam day with bows atop her ears and a skirt fashioned for the occasion by Carmen Hernandez who figured in case Patience failed her exam, she would at least make us smile first.
Daisy was the comic during the lessons though. She wants to swim in her water dish and is always ready for a tummy rub. Jocy had 6 siblings. 5 of them are still at home so group action was the way life is. Jocy was the only graduate with a perfect score. Tests were "Sit", "Sit and stay 30 second", "Down", " Down and stay 30 seconds" :Come" or "Here", "leash control", and "Leave it".
The special things Patence doesnt do anymore are follow our car out the driveway and /or jump up on our visitors. Leash walking is no longer a tug of war. Indeed Life Is Better !.

At AUGUST WELLBORN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BLUEBERRY PANCAKE BREAKFAST Jim and Pat Bezaire, Jan Pearce, Mel Harding and Bobbi Fenderson were ktchen crew, Kelsey McGarity at the front desk and Wendell and Kathie Snowden host and hostessing and Ron Chappel on the keyboard.

August 7th at the stadium in Live Oak, behind the quarterback club, the public has opportunity to meet the new band director and enjoy some music by the band
From 5 to 7 PM chicken pilauf will be served and from 7 to 9 PM a street dance is planned.
News item was submitted by Jan Pearce.