About The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 2021)
The ADVANCE, July 21, 2021 /Page 12A (Eift Aiiuancg Georgia Lottery sets record for profits By Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service The Georgia Lot tery generated more than $1.5 billion for the state’s HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs during the last fiscal year, a record that came despite a global pandemic that dampened economic activity. The fiscal year that ended June 30 marked the sixth straight year the lottery has exceeded $1 billion in profits for edu cation, surpassing the pre vious fiscal year by $307.6 million. Fiscal 2021 also was the lottery’s 10th con secutive year of growth. “Over the past year, like many organizations, we faced numerous chal lenges,” said Gretchen Corbin, the Georgia Lot tery Corp.’s president and CEO. “We pivoted, made adjustments and worked hard each day ... to maxi mize revenues for HOPE and Pre-K.” Scratchers and draw games performed particu larly well, getting a boost from the introduction of new games as well as large Mega Millions and Power- ball jackpots. The lottery’s line of online products also gained in popularity as players became more familiar with online play options. The lottery has re turned more than $23.8 billion to education in Georgia since voters ap proved a referendum cre ating the program in 1992. More than 1.9 million students have received lottery-funded HOPE scholarships, while more than 1.6 million 4-year- olds have attended the statewide voluntary Pre-K program. Amber continued from page 5A — you want to be near a bathroom with a fully func tional toilet when the prep kicks in, and make sure you have ample amounts of soft tissue in arm’s reach. Follow the prep in structions to a T, because you want to clean out your colon as best you can so the doctor can get a good look. Just before the proce dure, the doctor will have you turn onto your left side. He or she will give you some type of mild to mod erate sedation drug intra venously to kind of knock you out for a few minutes while he or she works. And the next thing you’ll know, you’ll wake up and say, “Is it over? Did you find anything?” If the doctor sees pol yps or other regions of ab normal tissue during the procedure, he or she will remove them (or samples of them) through the scope during the procedure. Colonoscopies can find colon and rectal can cers, but they can also find polyps and often remove them before they turn into cancer. And that’s my point — you want the doctor to find the polyps early and remove them before they have an opportunity to turn into cancer. I’ve had colonoscopies since I was in my thirties, and the doc tors have removed polyps every single time. One pol yp was categorized as “pre- cancerous.” The guidelines for getting a colonoscopy to screen for cancer recently changed because colon and rectal cancers are on the rise in younger folks. The American Cancer Society recommends colorectal cancer testing for everyone starting at age 45, though some people with certain symptoms or risk fac tors may need to start at a younger age. I lost a 51-year-old friend this year to colon cancer. Another friend who is 52 developed colon can cer and is currentlyrecover ing from surgery to remove the mass and 17 lymph nodes and six rounds of chemo. Thankfully, it looks like she’s going to make it, A Lyons man died in a two-vehicle accident on Georgia Highway 56 West in Uvalda Saturday after noon. Shannon Chris Googe, 42, was killed when his motorcycle struck the side of a truck driven by Peggy Sue Glis- son of Uvalda. The fatality occurred in front of Big Ma’s convenience store and restaurant at 3:49 p.m. Toombs County Sher iff’s Deputy Cody Clifton, but she will be the first to tell you that she wishes she could go back in time and get a colonoscopy when her doctor suggested she schedule one. Actor Chad wick Boseman (who por trayed Black Panther and Jackie Robinson in films) succumbed to colon cancer last year at 43. Since I have a history of polyps, I go in every five years. I had another colo noscopy this past week, and the doctor removed yet another polyp. It did not hurt. It was more of an in convenience — a slight in terference in a normal work week. So please, please, please don’t delay your colonoscopies. They really do save lives, so just do it. who responded to the accident, reported that Googe died at the scene. Glisson was treated for minor injuries. Deputy Clifton re ported that the mishap apparently occurred as Glisson drove onto the highway from the store parking lot and into the path of the motorcycle. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the wreck. Lyons Man Dies in Motorcycle Mishap Names Being Sought for Wheeler County Monument The names of service men and women who enlisted from Wheeler County and served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars are being sought for inclu sion in a veterans memorial project in Alamo. The names will be en graved on a monument lo cated in downtown Alamo and the deadline for sub mission of the information is July 31. The intention is that the project will be completed in time for Vet erans Day on November 11, said Alamo City Ad ministrator Jeff Floyd and Alamo Councilman Thom as Lott. The monument in Ala mo honors Wheeler Coun ty residents who served in wars including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Gre nada, and the Persian Gulf. The names of those serving in the two latest wars will be added to a location on the monument which is to be determined. The monument was dedicated on May 27, 1996, by the Jenkins-Pat- Photo by Deborah Clark SEEKING NAMES FOR MONUMENT — Alamo City Admin istrator Jeff Floyd, right and Alamo Councilman Thomas Lott stand next to the veterans memorial in downtown Alamo. The names of men and women who enlisted from Wheeler County and served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are being sought to add to the monument. terson Post #193 of the adding the names of veter- American Legion and its ans of the Iraq and Afghan- Ladies Auxiliary. istan Wars can call Alamo Those interested in City Hall at 568-7153. Wheeler Commission Makes EMS Appointment In its July 6 session, the Wheeler County Commission approved the ap pointment of the county’s Emergency Medical Services Director Selena Howell to the regional EMS Council. In other business, the Commission gave a nod to beginning the process for submitting a request for half of the $ 1.525 million in American Rescue Plan funds for which the county is eligible. The county is moving forward with its plan to install five to six convenience cen ters (trash disposal sites) throughout the county. The first location on Community Church Road was opened recently, and the second center on Snowhill Baptist Church Road will go into operation soon. A site on Georgia Highway 126 has been cleared for a third center, and the purchase of a fourth site on Georgia Highway 19 near Lumber City is being finalized. The county is still seeking sites near Landsburg and on Hill Farm Road. s A S H 1 B O S O N 1 s A M A 1 7 9 5 4 3 8 6 2 0 R E 0 C R A P E A R A K L E L V A L E Y 0 A G A 4 CO CD CD 8 CVJ 1 5 7 S A F A R ■ T O R ■ s A B 1 N 2 H 5 6 1 7 9 3 4 S E R E N A D E S O P S D A D T E A S 1 S 3 1 4 2 7 8 6 9 5 S A C K E D S i C V 1 V A S T 0 A S S A C S A T 1 N CD CO 2 CO 5 1 4 7 00 E N 0 W S U E P O C K E D 8 5 7 4 6 9 2 1 3 T A p S i B E A R A D S T 0 T T E N H A M 5 4 1 7 2 6 00 GO 9 S A T E JL ■ 0 A 3 ■ s A B E R 7 6 CO 3 9 4 5 2 1 C A E N A R p * R A Y A R N E A L L A C E C A 9 2 8 1 3 5 7 4 6 B E S T 0 L S E N H A H N For decades, we've been your local hospital. We've been here for emergencies, cancer treatments and to help you deliver your newest bundle of joy. We were here for you then. We are here for you now. And we will be here for you tomorrow. We're proud to celebrate a new chapter in caring for our community. w Memorial eadows ||| Health^^^p^^^ One Meadows Parkway Vidalia, GA 30474 MemorialHealthMeadows.com Here with you then. Here with you now. IT'S SO MUCH MOWER* iQOMBc OUTDOORS 912-526-4090 751 South State St., Lyons, GA 30436
