About Tribune & Georgian (Athens, Ga) 2002-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 2018)
Serving Camden County, Georgia Since 1894 Tribune & Georgian file photo Camden County plans to start the conversation about possi bly re-zoning private property on Cumberland Island National Seashore. A mix of public and private land, the island is cur rently in a conservation preservation zone. County moves toward new island zoning Johna Strickland Rush johna@tribune-georgian.com Camden County plans to move forward with re-zon ing Cumberland Island in 2018, giving the National Park Service and other con cerned parties a few more months to negotiate. “(The) county will begin planning for a March meet ing at the planning commis sion and April meeting at the county commission,” plan ning director Eric Landon wrote in a Dec. 21 email to stakeholders. “The purpose of these meetings will be to move forward with a zoning change to provide a solution for Cumberland that will balance conservation and See ISLAND, page 7A City approves grant match Johna Strickland Rush iohna@tribune-georgian.com In its first meeting of the year, Kingsland City Council handled annual business and continued with business started in 2017 joined by two new councilmen, James Gallo way and Mike McClain. Council approved matching funds for a federal hazard mitigation grant that requires a 15-percent local match to acquire and demolish one flood-prone home in Kingsland. The city’s portion will be $4,568 cash and $20,856 in-kind labor. The state will kick in 10 percent at $16,948 and the federal grant covers the remaining $127,115. The total project cost is $169,487. Council first decided in November See GRANT, page 7A Cody Arthur and Kelsey Marie Gasch with son, Cody Arthur Gasch Jr., the first baby born in 2018 at the Southeast Georgia Health System, Camden Campus. Submitted photo Couple welcomes the first baby Kelsey Marie Gasch and Cody Arthur Gasch welcomed their first child, Cody Arthur Gasch Jr., into the world at 5:17 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. With a due date still one week away, he was the first baby born in 2018 at the Southeast Georgia Health System, Camden Campus, Maternity Care Center. The delivery and cesarean sec tion was performed by Dr. Michelle Y. Perry, vice chief of the Depart ment of Obstetrics and Gynecol ogy, Camden Campus, and certified nurse midwife Cynthia Wallace of Southeast Georgia Physician Asso- ciates-Obstetrics and Gynecology, a strategic affiliate of Southeast Geor gia Health System. The baby weighed in at 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. With an official due date of Jan. 8, he made his grand entrance a won derful start to the new year for mom and dad, who recently relocated from Maryland to St. Marys. To welcome Cody Jr., the family was presented with a basket of gifts and baby care necessities from the health system’s auxiliary gift shop. Jill Helton I Tribune & Georgian Harvey Amerson was honored by the Camden County Board of Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting for 41 years of service to the county. He served in many roles with the county, most recently as its public works director. He is shown with commissioners (from left) Ben Casey, Lannie Brant, Jimmy Starline, Gary Blount and Chuck Clark. Commissioners recognize retiring Amerson Jill Helton publisher@tribune-georgian.com “Learn from it, young’un,” joked retiring public works director Harvey Amerson as Camden County government officials and staff praised him for more than 40 years of service. The board of commissioners recognized Amerson’s retire ment at Tuesday’s meeting in Woodbine by presenting him with a plaque and offering many kind words about his contribu tions to the county. Several of his family members also were there to support him. Amerson began working for the county in 1976 at the Cam den County Sheriff s Office, but later transferred to the county’s administrative offices. Accord ing to county records, his first raise was in the late ’70s when his pay increased to $4.70 per hour. He was rarely in the spot light but always working hard behind the scenes making sure the work got done, officials said. “We’re going to have to build upon the foundation you es tablished,” said Steve Howard, county administrator. Board chair Jimmy Starline said Amerson helped him with his driveway when he was build ing his house in the ’80s and he was “just as helpful as he could be.” After being elected commis sioner, Starline said he found Amerson to be every bit as help ful as he had remembered. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for the people of Camden County,” echoed com missioner Chuck Clark. In his remarks following the presentation, Amerson said he was proud to have served as the department’s liaison to Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base when it was being built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He said he hears the same concerns and complaints today about the county’s proposed spaceport as he heard about the naval base all those years ago. After accepting his plaque, Amerson threw his support be hind the project and encouraged others to do the same. “Think about the future when you think about Spaceport Cam den,” he said. Community theater opens production Hurricane Irma put a crimp in the St. Marys Little Theatre’s fall schedule and one of its most anticipated shows had to be postponed. The timeless classic, “The Secret Garden,” will now run Lriday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 14 at Theatre by the Trax in St. Marys. The musical, set in the early 20th cen tury, tells the story of a young girl or phaned in India who returns to England to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle and his invalid son, Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden, which beckons the children with stirring melodies and the “dream ers” spirits from Mary’s past. “It is a story that appeals to all ages,” said Barbara Ryan, St. Marys Little Theatre chair. “’The Secret Garden’ is See THEATER, page 8A How to see the show St. Marys Little Theatre will present “The Secret Garden” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Theatre by the Trax. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. 84264 00003 Poll Do you think the county should re-zone Cumberland Island? Vote online at www.tribune-georgian.com and see last week’s results on page 5A. Index Obituaries 2A Sports 1B Opinion 4A Religion 2B Crime report 5A Classifieds 3B Upcoming events 6A Legals 5B Tribune & Georgian Volume 115, No. 2 © 2018, Tribune & Georgian, Community Newspapers Inc.
