About The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2021)
The ADVANCE, September 1, 2021/Page 12A Sflie Aiiuancg SECCA Celebrates Highest Enrollment In History of Career Academy L to R: Shelly Smith, SECCA CEO; David Avery, Director of High School Programs; Brayden Helms, Automotive stu dent; and Marie Riner, Cosmetology student, Qualifying Deadline Extended for Santa Claus, Alamo Elections Southeastern Ear ly College and Career Academy (SECCA) is an educational partnership among four Georgia school systems (Montgomery County Schools, Toombs County Schools, Treutlen County Schools, and Vi- dalia City Schools) and Southeastern Technical College (STC). SECCA is the first charter school/re- gional career academy part nership in Georgia where students from more than one school district attend classes together. SECCA is experiencing the highest enrollment ever in the his tory of the career academy According to Shelly Smith, SECCA CEO, “When SECCA was first established, there were four pathways offered: JROTC, cosmetology, automo tive tech, and healthcare. About 300 students from By Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service Georgia set records for jobs and economic devel opment investments during the last fiscal year despite the coronavirus pandem ic, Gov. Brian Kemp an nounced Wednesday. Nearly $11 billion in new investments during fiscal 2021, which ended June 30, represented a 46% increase over the last fiscal year, while 33,439 jobs cre ated across the state beat the previous record by 5%. "Setting new econom ic development records during a global pandemic is further evidence that Georgia remains the No. 1 state for business,” Kemp said. "By remaining open for business and working alongside local economic development partners and private sector business lead ers, we've been able to cre ate greater opportunities for hardworking Georgians and prioritize attracting key industries that bring qual ity jobs and investments to our four high schools took SECCA classes. Today, we offer seven pathways plus an industry-led manufac turing course and Work Based Learning. Over 600 students are enrolled in one or more SECCA areas every corner of the Peach State.” Kemp said 74% of new project locations and ex pansions came outside of the 10-county Atlanta re gion, along with more than two-thirds of total invest ments and about one-third of new jobs. He pledged on the campaign trail three years ago to focus economic development efforts on ru ral Georgia. “We are making good on that promise,” Kemp said Tuesday during remarks at the annual Congressional Luncheon sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Com merce. Georgia’s international partnerships accounted for the creation of nearly $2 bil lion in foreign direct invest ment in the state. Nineteen projects from South Korea represented the highest job creation from a single country, while Swiss-based projects led in total investment. Business es from Germany created the second-highest number including the four original pathways as well as three new ones: Teaching as a Profession, Unmanned Flight and Energy. We at tribute SECCA's growth to quality instructors and great support from our member high schools.” of jobs during fiscal 2021. “The pandemic re minded us of how critical our existing industry and international relationships are to Georgias economic success, Georgia Com missioner of Economic Development Pat Wilson said. “We have had to think creatively and react innova- tively in order to help busi nesses successfully locate and expand while continu ing to attract key industries to the state.” Leading industries in vesting in Georgia includ ed automotive, advanced manufacturing, software/ technology, logistics and distribution, and food pro cessing. Additional strong gains in jobs and invest ments came from financial technology and digital me dia. Investments in head quarters reached nearly $93 million, an increase of 94% from fiscal 2020, and jobs created by headquarters projects were up 281% over the previous year. While most candi dates bound for Novem ber 2 elections qualified last week, races in two municipalities were in doubt as extensions were called. In the City of Santa Claus, by the qualifying deadline last Friday, only one of the City’s two at- large seats had a candidate. By the extended Tuesday deadline, David Evans and William Powell had quali fied, said Toombs County Board of Elections Super visor Carey Alligood. There will not be a ballot for this election, however, since neither candidate has opposition. Your Q Mind ^ ONLINE Got a complaint? Got a compliment? Call Your Mind On Line at 537-6397 and let us know what's on your mind, Quotes are printed exactly as they are called in and are not nec essarily factual, but rather, callers' opinions. Libelous, slanderous, personal at tacks, and unfounded ac cusatory or lengthy com ments will not be printed. Two calls per week per caller, and calls should not exceed 30 seconds, please. “Hurricanes, droughts, floods, fires, earthquakes, covid, war, humiliation, fear (all at the same time) - this is what happens when people turn to government for help instead of to the Cre ator. " “Three years ago America was on top of the world. Look at us now." "America needs yearly national and state elections, not elections every two years. We need to be able to vote bad people out of office EVERY YEAR and not wait 24 months while they cause more massive destruction of the country. Right now we need to im mediately fire many of our "public ser vants" from the oval office to the halls of congress to the courts of this land." “Do you honestly believe that the phar maceutical compa nies are donating the vaccine to anyone? Nothing is ever "free." Several other seats in Toombs County are un opposed, but, if even one of the races has opposi tion, a ballot will be print ed which will include the names of candidates with and without opposition, Alligood said. Both the Lyons City Council and Vidalia May or’s race have candidates with opposition. Incum bent Councilwoman Son- ja Eason and challenger Cathy Benton will face off for the Ward 2 post while incumbent Mayor Doug Roper is being chal lenged by former Vidalia City Councilman Gregory Johnson. The cost of each shot is coming dollar by dollar out of your pay- check, welfare check, and business income, Americans. And the cost of gro ceries and everything else for you is going up and up." “Hey! Those of you who were making fun of doomsday prep- pers! They don't look so ridiculous now, do they?" “Impeachment takes too long. Biden and his entire staff should resign immedi ately. Place resigna tion letters in front of them and get them signed. Richard Nixon resigned just over Watergate. This situation isn't just po litical. It's survival." “America needs to turn to God now! But God isn't going to do the job He has pre pared us to do. We have Saul (Biden) and we have Goliath (Afghanistan). Where is our David?" “Now Japan, who had a nuclear melt down a few years ago, is going to put their nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean. Another great idea! Here come the fish with three heads, and no one will be wanting to swim in waters around Hawaii, Cali fornia, or Mexico." “The handicap ramps at the Mont gomery County Courthouse are dan gerous for handi- In Wheeler County, as of the qualifying dead line on Friday, only two incumbent Council mem bers, Patricia Woodard and Bobby Cox, had qual ified for reelection to their at-large posts. The quali fying period was extended until Tuesday, which pro vided additional time for incumbent Harry Lewis to qualify to seek reelec tion. None of these candi dates face opposition, but because the ballot will also include a referendum on alcohol sales by the drink in the City of Alamo, voting will be conducted there on November 2. capped people to go up or down. I wish somebody would do something about it." “Only another American can make you ashamed to be an American." “In the 6-23 The Advance issue, Toombs Board of Edu cation stated new playground equip ment is being installed for the school new year. As of today, no playground equip ment has been at Ly ons Primary Schools. Perhaps if they got everyone on board, it would be incredible what can be done." “Shopping at Thrift way in Lyons is just like shopping during the Christmas season ex cept it's all year long. I can drive from Vida lia, do my shopping, get checked out and be back home be fore I can get checked out in Vida lia. The staff there is so kind and courteous. Thank you." “This is a shout out to Lyons police officer Chris. Thank you for your help. It was very much appreciated." “I don’t know who is responsible for get ting the grass cut from the old onion factory down Ezra Taylor Rd. It has been growing since the highway was widened. Thank you to the person who was responsible because it sure looks good and you can see. Thank you again." 8 6 9 2 5 1 3 7 4 2 4 3 8 9 7 5 6 1 7 1 5 3 6 4 9 2 8 6 3 1 5 2 9 4 8 7 5 2 8 4 7 3 1 9 6 9 7 4 1 8 6 2 3 5 4 8 7 9 3 5 6 1 2 3 5 2 6 1 8 7 4 9 1 9 6 7 4 2 8 5 3 Copies now available Georgia enjoys record-setting economic development numbers despite COVID-19 Pliysical Therapists get you 1 on the move again Unsurpassed customer service and dedication to our guests and patients truly show we are committed to caring, offering inpatient or outpatient Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy to meet your needs, us for a tour of our facility. Shea Thompson, Marquita Wc PTA 0 TheOaks Bethany Skilled Nursing 1305 E North Street, Vidalia • 912-537-7922 From the PORCH BN 5 AMBER UANIER NAGLE A collection of personal essays from author Amber Nagle’s weekly column published in The Advance “Nagle writes with Southern flavor and charm, capturing the rhythms of her life with grace and artistry. ” - Audrey Andersen Get your copy at
