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The ADVANCE, January 13, 2021 /Page 2A She Aiiuancg EIGHTH GRADERS RECEIVE REACH SCHOLARSHIP - In a ceremony at VHS, these stu dents committed to fulfilling disciplined requirements through high school to receive a scholarship for postsecondary education. Seated, L to R, Jaden Bennett, Akasha Edenfield, Eben Glaser, Chestilyn Wadley, and Kaliya Walker. Standing, Lto R, are some supporters of the students: Tammy McFadden, Vidalia City Schools Federal Program Director, and parents Audra Holton, Elizabeth Glaser, Melissa Thomas, Valerie Davis, and Dr. Sandy Reid, Principal of J.R. Trippe Middle School, REACH Scholars Commit to Strict Educational Path Submitted by Vidalia City Schools With Rebekah Arnold, Contributing Writer Five 8th graders from J.R. Trippe Middle School have been awarded a schol arship designed to en courage them to pursue a disciplined track through high school and toward a postsecondary education. The students went through a competitive process and sat through a daunting in terview to apply for and to receive the REACH Georgia Scholarship. The students are Jaden Bennett, Akasha Edenfield, Eben Glaser, Chestilyn Wadley and Kaiya Walker. At a ceremony held recently at Vidalia High School, Dr. Sandy Reid, Principal of JRTMS, said she considers this recog nition of outstanding stu dents one of her favorite days every year. Reid said, “This scholarship allows us to identify five stu dents who we know, with out a doubt, with financial and academic support, can go on to pursue careers and reach goals that will allow them to contribute to society and allow them to lead happy and success ful lives. The fact that they are sitting here is an indi cation that we have 100% faith in their ability to do something really special in pursuing whatever post secondary aspirations that they have.” Dr. Reid had the op portunity to listen to the students’ interviews, even though she did not score them. She was amazed by how the students were able to communicate their as pirations, what they need to do to reach their goals, and how their strengths allow for a good fit in the REACH program. Above and beyond the virtual job shadowing and career development programs at the middle school, Reid at tributes the students’ skills to the parents’ encourage ment and thanked them for sending their students to JRTMS. In speaking to these 13 and 14-year-olds, Su perintendent Dr. Garrett Wilcox said, “I don’t know if I could have understood at 14 years old, or even at 18, that when I graduated I would have a $10,000 scholarship. And all I re ally had to do is show up, graduate, carry myself like a young man, and that money would be there at the end of a four-year track though Vidalia High School.” Wilcox continued, “It’s hard to explain how valuable an opportunity this is for you kids, and for you as parents. You ought to be very proud of your selves. This is a special day.” This is the fourth year that the Vidalia city schools have participated in the REACH Georgia Program. The first group of scholars are now Juniors. Next year, when that first group will be graduating Seniors, will truly be a time for celebrat ing, Dr. Wilcox remarked. REACH is the State of Georgia’s first needs- based mentorship and col lege scholarship program. The mission is to ensure that Georgia’s low income, academically promising students have the aca demic, social, and finan cial support needed to graduate from high school, gain access to college and achieve postsecondary success. Upon successful completion of the pro gram, qualifying students earn a $10,000 scholar ship ($2,500 max/year or $l,250/semester) towards the cost of attendance at a HOPE-eligible postsec ondary institution. To be eligible for the REACH Georgia Program, a student must: 1. Currently be a ris ing 8th grader at an eligible Georgia school in a partici pating district. 2. Demonstrate and By Andrea Towns Contributing Writer Wheeler County’s transition to manned trash collection centers was dis cussed further in the Board of Commissioners’ meet ing on January 4. A motion to sign a ser vice agreement provided by Ryland Environmental Waste Management was presented and passed. This service agreement entails the cost of the two rolloff dumpsters the county will lease from Ryland Environ mental. The listed hauling price is $200 for the service of delivering the county’s garbage to the landfill and returning the containers. This price will decrease provide proof of financial need. 3. Have proven legal status in the United States (U.S. Citizen or legal resi dent). 4. Have good atten dance and behavior. 5. Have grade reports reflecting at least a 2.5 cu mulative grade point aver age in core courses. 6. Have a crime and drug-free record. 7. Have demonstrated the support of a parent, le gal guardian, or other car ing adult. REACH Scholars have committed to follow a rig orous educational path to be eligible to receive their scholarships upon gradu ation. They are currently minding the ABC’s of na tionally recognized early success indicators which include: • Attending school regularly. • Maintaining good behavior. • Preparing to succeed in post-secondary school as reflected in good course performance. • Additionally, our scholars have experienced the power of advocacy in meeting regularly with their mentor and academic coach. Since the program’s launch in 2012, the REACH Georgia program has had nearly 2,400 stu dents participating and serves 154 school systems. “the more [trash collection centers] we open,” Chair man Keith McNeal said. Also listed in this ser vice agreement are the landfill fees of $30 a ton, which is what the county is currently paying, as well as the rental cost of Ryland’s trash containers of $90 per month. There will be two containers available at the county’s trash collection centers, the first of which should open in the “next couple of weeks on Com munity Church Road,” re ported Chairman McNeal. In other business, Bob by Cox was reappointed as the third member of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission. Wheeler Votes to Sign Service Agreement with Ryland Area Voters Go Red By now the results of the January 5 runoff elec tion for two Georgia Sen ate seats are well known. While Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff edged out Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue statewide, area vot ing went red instead. In a less high profile contest, incumbent Pub lic Service Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDon ald, a Republican, won re- election in a race with Dan iel Blackman, a Democrat. Election night results posted on the Georgia Sec retary of State’s website re vealed: Toombs County (56.64% of 16,621 reg istered voters casting ballots) Perdue, 6,873 votes, 73.26% Ossoff; 2,509,26.74% Loeffler, 6,862,72.98% Warnock, 2,541,27.02% McDonald, 6,827,73.08% Blackman, 2,414,26.20% Montgomery County (63.96% of 5,524 regis tered voters casting bal lots) Perdue, 2,635, 74.89% Ossoff] 884, 25.12% Loeffler, 2,630, 74.59% Warnock, 896, 25.41% McDonald. 2,632, 75.72% Blackman, 844, 24.28% Treutlen County (62.97% of 4,318 regis tered voters cast ballots) Perdue, 1,858, 68.71% Ossoff) 846, 31.29% Loeffler, 1,861, 68.65% Warnock, 850, 31.35% McDonald, 1,853, 70.03% Blackman, 793, 29.97% Wheeler County (62.75% of 3,208 regis tered voters cast ballots) Perdue, 1,381, 68.81% Ossoff) 626, 31.19% Loeffler, 1,373, 68.44% Warnock, 633, 31.56% McDonald, 1,365, 69.18% Blackman, 608, 30.82% Mayor: Glenwood in Great Financial Shape By Andrea Towns trash bins, offer curbside 9, during which Cole Contributing Writer “We’re in the best fi nancial state we’ve been in in years,” Mayor G.M. Joiner said of the City of Glenwood in the coun cil’s meeting on Janu ary 5. On December 5, the city received its first landfill check from Green Rock Strategies, a waste management firm, for $2,520—payment for Glenwood’s management of outside water-waste in the city’s water treatment plant. The restructuring of the city’s loan with the United States Depart ment of Agriculture for the water treatment plant is complete. Prior to this restructuring, the city was paying $7,300 a month. This has been lowered to a payment of $4,300 a month, with a reduced in terest rate of 1.25%. These restructuring efforts sig nificantly account for the boost in the city’s finan cial state. Mayor Joiner signed a contract with Republic Waste Management Ser vices on January 5—an agreement that will re structure the city’s gar bage disposal system. Re public will furnish new Colen bin pickup, and disposal of the binned garbage. De spite these changes, fees will remain the same. For more information about this transition, call Glenwood City Hall at (912) 523-5223. In other business, Brenda Cornett, city clerk, submitted her resignation, effective immediately, at the Glenwood City Coun cil’s meeting on Decem ber 1. The Council held a special call meeting on Wednesday, December during Horne Jr. was appointed temporary city clerk. Elaine Pope has since been employed as deputy city clerk. Since their ap pointments, Horne and Pope have aided the city of Glenwood in wrapping up the fiscal year and pre paring for 2021. Mayor Joiner report ed that Matt Wells has resigned as street mainte nance personal, and that Logan Floyd was hired in his stead. 2 [y\X^O KM Solutl ° n ’ page 12A 5 7 6 3 8 9 5 1 3 7 4 5 5 2 0 9 9 4 1 9 8 3 1 7 Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you'll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! 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