Newspaper Page Text
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The ADVANCE, October 4,2023/Page 7B
Loran
continued from page IB
ing passes while staying
inbounds in “Living Room
Football.”
Brock’s first trip to
Athens came on a day
for high school juniors in
2019. He thought it was
“cool” that Sanford Sta
dium was in the middle of
campus. Further, he was
amazed that one could
play big-time college foot
ball in such a cozy environ
ment and then go hunting
or fishing an hour away.
He was duly im
pressed with what he saw
on TV when Notre Dame
played Georgia in 2019.
He remembers it all: stadi
um lit up with innovative
red LED lights, the passion
of the fans, and the quality
of football. It all made him
think it would be nice to
visit Athens. And he did,
more than once. By the
third trip, he announced
he would wear red and
black.
During one of his
stays in Athens, Bowers
was introduced to quarter
back Brock Vandagriff. The
two share a love of the out
doors, but because of their
football obligations, they
have had minimal chances
to squeeze in dove hunt
ing and bass fishing. Ulti
mately, Bowers would like
to hunt quail in Thomas-
ville and go fly fishing and
turkey hunting in north
Georgia. But those pur
suits will have to wait. For
now, football is his mis
sion.
Brock hopes to con
tinue playing football as
long as he is physically
able. He also wants to
surpass his level of perfor
mance from last year, when
many pundits thought him
the nation’s best at his po
sition.
When he was in high
school, Bulldog coaches
knew Brock was a pros
pect with promise. But
they were cautious in
their evaluations. The CO-
VID-19 pandemic forced
the postponement of his
senior season until January
2021, and by then, Brock
had graduated from Napa
High School and enrolled
as a freshman at UGA.
He went seventeen
months without playing
in a live football game, and
another five months be
fore he played in the 2021
season opener against
Clemson. Tight ends
coach Todd Hartley had
this scouting report on
Bowers:
“We saw tape of his
junior year and found him
to be very impressive. He
was versatile, a throwback
to an old-school tight
end who was skilled and
could do a lot of things.
He played tailback, re
turned kicks, played de
fense, and receiver. You
could see that he was ath
letic, that he was tough
and naturally gifted with
the ball in his hands. He
didn’t participate in spring
drills because of COVID,
and we couldn’t evaluate
him in camp for the same
reason. We were very im
pressed with his family, his
attitude. We knew that he
ran a 4:53 forty-yard dash
at a camp in Oakland, and
that is pretty dang good
for a tight end. Then there
were the intangibles. He is
extremely intelligent and
very humble.”
Brock comes from
an athletic family, and his
parents make every ef
fort to see their son play,
despite living so far away.
His mother, DeAnna, who
works as a math teacher,
was an All-American soft-
ball player at Utah State
and is in the Aggie’s Hall
of Fame. His father, War
ren, now a partner in a
construction firm, played
offensive line in football,
also at Utah State. Brock’s
sister, Brianna, played soft-
ball at Sacramento State.
Arriving in Athens
in time for the off season
conditioning program,
Brock ran relentlessly. He
was first in all the sprints
and also the endurance
runs. He didn’t become
tired physically or mental
ly. “You could tell,” Hartley
says, “he was really gifted
with speed and athleti
cism.”
What’s more, Hartley
adds, “he has good block
ing skills and can pass pro
tect.” Anything else? “Oh,
yes, he is a very good stu
dent.”
NOTICE OF ELECTION
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF WHEELER COUNTY, GEORGIA:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on the 7 th day of November 2023, an election will be
held at the regular polling places in all of the election districts of Wheeler County (the
“County”) at which time there will be submitted to the qualified voters of the County for their
determination the following question:
Shall a special 1 percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district of
Wheeler County for a period of time not to exceed six (6) years commencing on
April 1, 2024, and for the raising of an estimated amount of $2,880,000 for the
purpose of funding the following capital outlay projects: (i) Wheeler County,
acquisition of new EMS equipment; road street and bridge purposes; renovation
and improvement of recreational facilities; acquisition of equipment for recreation
department; acquisition of equipment for fire and rescue services; acquisition of
equipment for the sheriff s department; and acquisition of sanitation equipment;
(ii) for the City of Glenwood, renovation, improvement, and expansion to water
and sewer facilities including installation of fire hydrant; road, street, bridge
( ) YES purposes; acquisition of equipment for law enforcement and fire department, law
enforcement vehicles, fire department emergency vehicles, garbage and refuse
() NO equipment and vehicles, and equipment for fire protection and related fire and
rescue services; and renovation and improvement of city buildings; and (iii) for
the City of Alamo, road, street, and bridge purposes; acquisition of equipment for
law enforcement and fire department; acquisition of law enforcement vehicles;
acquisition of garbage and refuse equipment and vehicles; and equipment for fire
protection and related fire and rescue services; and renovation and improvement
■ of city buildings?
If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall also constitute
approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Wheeler County in the
principal amount of up to $1,090,000 for the above purposes, repayable from the
proceeds of the aforesaid sales and use tax.
The ballots to be used in said election shall have written or printed thereon substantially
the question set forth above.
If approved, the proceeds of the general obligation debt in the principal amount of up to
$1,090,000 (the “Debt”) will be used to fund, in whole or in part, the aforementioned capital
outlay projects, capitalized interest on the Debt and the costs of issuing the Debt.
The Debt, if so authorized, may be issued by the County in whole or in part and in one or
more series. The Debt shall bear interest from the first day of the month during which the Debt is
issued or from such other date as may be designated by the County prior to the issuance of the
Debt, at a rate or rates not to exceed 6% per annum. The maximum amount of principal to be
paid with respect to the Debt in each year shall be as follows:
Year Amount
1 $115,000
2 170,000
3 175,000
4 180.000
5 190,000
6 195,000
7 65,000
Estimated sales tax revenues shall be divided between and among Wheeler County and
all of the qualified municipalities within Wheeler County in accordance with the
Intergovernmental Agreement that is on file in the office of the Clerk of the Board of
Commissioners of Wheeler County (the “Board of Commissioners”).
Any brochures, listings, or other advertisements issued by the Board of Commissioners or
by any other person, firm, corporation or association with the knowledge and consent of the
Board of Commissioners, shall be deemed to be a statement of intention of the Board of
Commissioners concerning the use of the proceeds of the Debt, and such statement of intention
shall be binding upon the Board of Commissioners in the expenditure of such Debt funds or
interest received from such Debt funds to the extent provided in O.C.G.A. Section 36-82-1.
The principal and interest on the Debt are expected to be paid from proceeds of the sales
and use tax and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America.
PURSUANT TO O.C.G.A. SECTION 36-82-100, THE COUNTY NOTIFIES ALL
INTERESTED PARTIES THAT NO INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE AUDIT OR
PERFORMANCE REVIEW (THE “DEBT AUDIT”) WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH
RESPECT TO THE DEBT. HOWEVER, THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE
THAT DEBT PROCEEDS ARE EXPENDED EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY, AS
INTENDED BY THE DEBT AUDIT.
The several places for holding said election shall be at the regular and established voting
precincts of the election districts of the County, and the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m. on the date fixed for the election.
The last day to register to vote in this election shall be October 10, 2023.
Those residents of the County qualified to vote at said election shall be determined in all
respects in accordance with the election laws of the State of Georgia.
This notice is given pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Wheeler
County, Georgia and a resolution of the Board of Elections and Registration of Wheeler County.
RTCA Wins Two Games
While his surname,
Bowers, is of Saxon origin,
he would fit comfortably
with the Greek philosophy
of well-roundedness. He
expects himself to perform
in the classroom as well
as on the field. He played
other sports along the way
and finds peace among the
woods and streams which
someday may get his un
divided interest. Football
and a degree are of such
priority that he doesn’t
have the time to trout
fish in North Georgia and
quail hunt in South Geor
gia, but that day likely will
come.
The most redeeming
feature about him is his
compelling modesty. He is
without ego, but is driven
with an unrelenting, com
petitive fire to do his best.
The thrill of competition
enraptures him, not the
ensuing headlines that
come with his being the
best tight end in the coun
try. He is the best tight end
ever at Georgia, and it is
easy to promote him as the
best player in the country.
However, it is unlikely that
he will win the Heisman
trophy, which is the do
main for quarterbacks and
running backs.
Brock is selfless, altru
istic and ungrudging. He
is given to sharing his NIL
income with his team
mates. He treats every
practice as if it is a playoff
game and is always first
in line for any drill. He is
the ultimate “Good Team
mate.” He is the Bulldogs’
“Captain America.”
By Mike Branch
Sports Editor
sports 7 advance@gmail.com
The Robert Toombs
Christian Academy Lady
Crusaders softball team
played three games last week
as they got wins over Wind
sor Academy and David
Emanuel, but fell to Thomas
Jefferson in extra innings,
vs. Windsor
Up against the Lady
Knights of Windsor in Ma
con, RTCA took the early
lead with two runs in the top
of the second inning. They
added three more in the
fourth to push their lead to
5-0.
Windsor picked up a
run in the bottom of the
fourth inning, but RTCA an
swered with two more in the
top of the fifth. Windsor
scored one more in the bot
tom of the frame, but RTCA
was out in front, 7-2.
The Crusaders plated
three more runs in the top of
the seventh inning on the
way to a 10-2 win.
Arlie Gooden led RTCA
with 3 RBI's, with Meredith
Durden adding 2. Durden
also got the win in the circle
with 9 strikeouts.
vs. DEA
RTCA cruised to a win
in Stillmore on Tuesday of
last week over the Eagles of
David Emanuel. The game
was scoreless over the first
three innings, but RTCA put
two runs on the board in the
top of the fourth inning.
The Lady Crusaders
then broke it open in the top
of the sixth inning with six
more runs. That gave them
an 8-0 win over DEA.
Emily Edwards led the
way with 3 RBI's in the game.
Durden again got the win,
this time with 11 strikeouts.
vs.TJ
It was a battle at home
on Thursday for RTCA as
they faced the Lady Jaguars
of Thomas Jefferson.
TJ scored first with a
run in the top of the second
inning, but RTCA answered
in the bottom half with two
runs to take a 2-1 lead. TJ
added two in the top of the
third inning to go back on
top, 3-2.
RTCA tied the game at
3-3 in the bottom of the fifth
inning, and then each team
plated a run in the seventh
inning to send the game to
extras.
In the top of the eighth
inning TJ scored two runs to
jump ahead to a 6-4 lead.
RTCA managed to get one
run across in the bottom of
the eighth inning, but it was
not enough as they fell 6-5.
Durden got the loss, but
she had a solid outing with 9
more strikeouts. Durden is
closing in on the all-time
strikeout record at RTCA.
This week RTCA
hostedMontgomery County
on Monday and was at
FPCA on Tuesday, both after
presstime. They will have the
rest of the week off before
getting back to work next
Monday at Pinewood Chris
tian.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The proposed budget for the City of Alamo for Fiscal Year 2024 is available at
City Hall in Alamo for review by all interested citizens during normal busi
ness hours Monday-Friday. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday October
10, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall in Alamo, GA at which time any persons
wishing to be heard on the budget may appear. A public meeting for adoption
of the budget will be held at a later date.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners requests qualifications from interested
Energy Services Companies (ESCO's) for the design and implementation of a Guaranteed Energy
Savings Performance Contract in various facilities, in accordance with (OCGA Title 50, Ch. 37) or
other Georgia legislation.
This Request for Qualifications requires the selected ESCO to conduct an investment grade
audit. The selected firm will be required to identify, engineer, design, install, maintain, and
provide financing options for approved energy conservation measures in a fixed cost scenario.
The intent of this project is to provide the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners with
the means to improve its designated facilities through guaranteed energy, operational,
maintenance and capital cost avoidance savings, as well as new revenue sources.
Responses must be received by 11:00am on October 12, 2023. For a copy of the Request For
Qualifications, contact:
Brandon Braddy, County Manager
Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 295
310 West Broad Street
Mount Vernon, Georgia 30445
Phone: 912-583-2363
Email: bbraddv(5)montcoga.gov
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION
The special election for the Wheeler County SPLOST referendum will be
held on November 7, 2023.
All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to register to
vote in the special election may register or update their address through
the close of business on October 10, 2023. For information, contact the
Wheeler County Board of Elections and Registrar at 912-568-0095.
Advance voting will be held:
October 16, 2023, through November 3, 2023, including two Saturdays,
October 21, 2023, and October 28, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. each
day. There will be no Sunday voting.
Advance Voting will be at the Wheeler County Board of Elections and
Registrar's Office, 16 West Forest Ave., Suite 101, Alamo, GA 30411.
Polls will be open in Glenwood and Alamo from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
on election day, November 7, 2023.
This the 4th day of October, 2023.
Karen H. Mercer
Wheeler County Election Superintendent