Newspaper Page Text
(Eift Aiiuancg
The ADVANCE, September 27, 2023/Page 3A
A GREAT START - The United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties has
already raised over 70% of the $475,007 goal, which was announced at the annual
campaign kickoff on September 21. L to R: Campaign Chair Natasha Goss and Co-
Chair Angela Lane.
uw
continued from page 1A
move, and his family also
spoke to the group about
the ramp which was built
to allow his family to
transport him more eas
ily to doctor appoint
ments. These individuals
all highlighted the work
which agencies funded by
the local United Way do,
and thanked the public for
their contribution to make
this work possible.
United Way of
Toombs, Montgomery,
and Wheeler Counties
supports almost 20 agen
cies, including but not
limited to The Forge, Paul
Anderson Youth Home,
The Refuge, and more.
“Ninety-nine cents of
every dollar we raise lo
cally stays right here in
Toombs, Montgomery,
and Wheeler counties,”
Goss commented. “Every
penny counts that is raised
during this campaign. So
many lives are touched
right here at home.”
United Way of
Toombs, Montgomery,
and Wheeler Counties Ex
ecutive Director Patricia
Dixon emphasized, “If you
sat at my desk and got to
see what I see, and see how
lives are changed because
of you, you would never
think of United Way the
same. Just like the people
who came up [to speak]
today, without you, they
would not be where they
are.
She added, “I want
you to think and be proud
of all that you’ve done. You
have been the hands and
feet of Jesus - and I know
He is pleased with you be
cause you care. Thank you
for caring for our commu
nity.”
Dixon encouraged the
community to help her
by notifying her of needs
within the community that
she may not know about.
“If I don’t know that there’s
a need, we can’t help,” she
said. “And a lot of times if
there is a need that doesn’t
come under the umbrella
of United Way, I will step
out and try to find some
help somewhere else.”
At the conclusion of
this year’s campaign, a
committee will review the
applications from agencies
wishing to receive funding
through United Way. This
committee will determine
who receives funding and
how much is given.
For information on
the local United Way, or
to donate to this year’s
campaign, contact Patricia
Dixon at (912) 537-2776.
S LADO KU Solu,lon - pa9e UA
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!
Level: Intermediate
Here’s How It Works:
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine
3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each
row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row,
column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will
appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The
more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
7
2
4
3
9
0
1
4
1
9
2
0
2
8
1
5
8
7
2
0
5
3
0
7
Join us
October 6,
2023
11:00 a.m. -
2:00 p.m.
m
Free Food / Drinks
6c Giveaway Drawings
This special day is set aside for Patriot Gas to show their customers
some appreciation for their business.
It also, allows customers to come in to meet & greet
the owner/workers of Patriot Gas Company and to
get a jump-start of fall/winter deals/specials.
human: 585-1947
Heaters • Stoves
Tankless Water Heaters
Gas Appliances • Grills
Onion Ring & Fish Fryers
209 Green Street, Vidalia • All Propane Needs Call Us
2023-2024 GVYL CLASS - The 2023-2024 Greater Vidalia Youth Leadership class met on
Thursday, September 14, as seniors from five different high schools came together for
orienfation.
Greater Vidalia Youth Leadership
Introduces Class of 2023-2024
Courtesy of the Greater
Vidalia Chamber
There are few things
that get Greater Vidalia
Chamber as excited as be
ing in a room full of eager,
emerging leaders, just as
the leaders of the Greater
Vidalia Youth Leadership
class were on Thursday,
September 14, during the
class’s orientation.
The Greater Vidalia
Youth Leadership Class,
formerly known as the
Toombs-Montgomery
Youth Leadership Class,
has been a staple in the
community for years, as
the class works to equip lo
cal high school juniors and
seniors with leadership
skills and knowledge to
help them succeed at their
future endeavors in life.
These students will spend
the next 7 months polish
ing their leadership and in
terpersonal skills while get
ting a behind-the-scenes
look at how the various
aspects of the community
work.
This year’s class fea
tures students from 5 dif
ferent high schools across
Toombs and Montgom
ery Counties, including:
Montgomery County
High School - Rebecca
Hong, Ansleigh Randolph;
Robert Toombs Chris
tian Academy - Caro
line Thompson, Rachel
Threlkeld, Emmie Davis;
Toombs County High
School -Madison Ho,
RJ Florez, Sydney Smith,
Caley Anna Braddock,
Jonathon Worth, Martasia
Burton; Vidalia Heritage
Academy - Emily Mon
roe, Lauren Cook, Julia
O’Neal, Rebecca Proenza;
Vidalia High School -
Catherine Wilcox, Jasie
Cleghorn, Max Beverly,
Andrew Hodges, Dottie
McDaniel, Emilyn Beck,
Mason Toole, Emma Vin
son, Tymber Harris, Carlie
Roberts, Logan Irvin.
The group met for the
first time on September 14,
during which they learned
more about their individ
ual personality types and
participated in several fun
activities. The class will
meet once a month for
the next 6 months, as they
learn about local industries
and professional develop
ment.
“We are thrilled to in
troduce our 2023-2024
Youth Leadership Class,”
the Chamber shared in an
issued statement. “Thanks
to our local school districts
for their endless support
of this program, and thank
you to Rivers AC & Elec
tric Company for being our
Orientation Sponsor!”
Grant
continued from page 1A
September 11 Board meet
ing.
Couey said that Safer
Georgia Schools Grant
funds will support imple
mentation of EAST (Fami
lies and Schools Together)
which is designed to “make
a significant, long-lasting
impact on child and fam
ily behaviors.” The district
will implement two EAST
cycles (one each semester)
in each of its three schools
with teams comprised of
parents and school and
community representatives.
FAST is a Georgia De
partment of Education- en
dorsed, internationally ac
claimed parent engagement
program shown to help
children succeed at school
by building stronger, more
supportive relationships at
home. Built on evidence-
based practices and rigor
ously tested, FAST empow
ers parents to become more
effective family leaders, con
nects families to schools,
and creates a community
engaged in children’s well
being and education.
Old Elementary School
The county’s elemen
tary school located in Ala
mo was vacated when the
system took possession of
its new kindergarten-12th
grade school a few blocks
away. Now, as the system in
curs ongoing costs in main
taining the site, the School
Board is considering the
future of the property. Last
summer, the community
benefited as the gymnasi
um on the site was used for
a day camp for children.
Couey shared that the
building’s old kindergarten
rooms might be used for
pre-kindergarten classes, if
the need ever arose, and the
media space at the school
could be used for training or
meetings, or as an alterna
tive school classroom. She
said there has been some
interest in the purchase of
closets and bookshelves at
tached to the walls in class
rooms.
The Board requested
that Couey explore selling
the structure.
Technology Grant
Couey told the Board
that the remainder of previ
ously-awarded Rural Tech
nology Grant funds needs
to be expended before the
end of the year. She said she
explored running fiber op
tic lines to the school’s Agri
culture facility and checked
with the Department of
Education to ensure this
is an allowable expense.
The project is estimated
to cost $20,000-$25,000.
“This would be a great op
portunity to get that done.
We could also install vape
detectors in the restrooms
and have reliable internet
for classes and events. They
have tried using a hotspot,
but it does not work in that
building.” The Board ap
proved Couey’s proposal.
Proposed Millage Rate
The Board has pro
posed a new millage rate
of 14.813, down from the
previous rate of 15.709. A
five-year history and notice
of the millage rollback rate
is being published in the
county’s legal organ, The
Advance. The rate is sched
uled to be approved at the
Board’s October session.
Personnel
Recommendations
The Board approved
the following employment
recommendations:
Loren Kimble, as ES
custodian (fulltime to take
the place of Mike Kinsey).
Kimble has already had a
background check and has
been working in this role as
a substitute.
Alexis Griffin, as a
classroom substitute.
Ruby Robinson, as a
substitute custodian, and
Rhonda Weeks, as a sub
stitute for school nutrition,
both pending background
checks.
Amber Wommack,
part-time (20 hours per
week at $12 per hour plus
benefits) to train with Cur
tis Wells for bus shop book
keeping and office duties,
as well as substitute driv
ing (to work opposite Hal
Ford’s schedule when he
goes to 49% status.)
30
Minute
CAGE RENTALS
GAME ROOM & CONCESSION
Birthday Party
Rentals Available!
Indoor Baseball &
Softball batting facility
with HitTrax training
The Cagez
4-8 p.m.
912-386-1444
702 MAPLE DR., VIDALIA, GA
