Barrow journal (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016, January 27, 2016, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextBarrow County’s Legal Organ Newspaper B * Wednesday, January 27, 2016 arrow It Journal m/m/m/ harrn\A/iniimal mm Rarm\A/ Hniinh/’c Orth/ hHirt-\A/&e*U l\le>\A/cnaner www.barrowjournal. com Barrow County’s Only Mid-Week Newspaper VOL. 8 NO. 14 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS, PLUS INSERTS A PUBLICATION OF MainStreet Newspapers, [nc. WINDER, BARROW COUNTY GEORGIA 30680 50? COPY Barrow Briefs Food drive event held through Feb. 26 The Barrow County Cooperative Benevolence Ministry’s Food Pantry is holding a “SOUPer BOWL” through Friday, Feb. 26. The event is an annu al fundraiser to support the food pantry on Candler Street where people can donate canned goods. SOUP (Schools Objecting to Unneccessary Poverty) is a district-wide food drive com petition between all grade lev els. The top elementary, mid dle and high school will be recognized. Last year's win ners were Yargo Elementary School. Bear Creek Middle School and Sims Academy. THE BCCBM also spon sors a monthly program called Feeding Families in which Barrow County School System families in need receive special vouchers from their school counselor to visit the food pantry on designated days to receive 30-50 pounds of free food. The BCSS social workers and counselors identify the families and students and work with volunteers of the food pantry to coordinate, pack and distribute the food. The BCCBM is a 100 per cent volunteer organization with all monetary and food items going to local residents in need. Inside: Index: Church News 7B Classifieds 8-9B Legals 9-15A Letters 5A Obituaries 11 B Op-Ed 5A Opinion 4A Pets of the Week 7B Public Safety 6A Sports 1-5B Contact Info: Phone: 770-867-6397 Mail: 77 E. May Street, Winder, Ga. 30680 Fax: 706-621-4115 ‘Like us’ on Facebook www.barrowjournal.com Mailing Label Below BCSS anticipates busy 2016 By Al ex Pace Journal Reporter Barrow County School System superintendent Chris McMichael is planning for a busy 2016. The district will open a new school next year, the replace ment Russell Middle School, and a new elementary school is being constructed on the same site. The district held a ground breaking ceremony for the new elementary school last week. It is scheduled to open in 2017. SCHOOL-LEVEL UPDATES At the school level, students and teachers are propping for end of the year testing, includ ing the Georgia Milestones. McMichael said the teachers and individual schools are working to balance test preparation with their normal instruction. “I am confident everyone is focusing on doing their best while not losing focus on all the important pieces of the curricu lum and teaching and learning,” he said. And local high schools are beginning to meet with seniors to discuss graduation. OTHER TOPICS The district will also begin working on next year’s budget in the upcoming months. “This is of course a very important piece for the second half of the year timeframe each year as we look at our needs and set priorities for the next school year,” said McMichael. See BCSS on Page 3A Supporting the cause: Annual Adult Literacy Ball SATURDAY NIGHT EVENT Shown are Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith and his wife Stephanie at Saturday’s fundraiser. MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT The Back in Time Band entertained a large crowd during the 23rd annual Literacy Ball at the Winder Community Center Saturday night. See more coverage on page 2A in today’s edition. Photos by Wesleigh Sagon WELCOME Ron Saunders, executive director of the Barrow County Adult Literacy program and retired Barrow County Superintendent of Schools, address es those in attendance at the Winder Community Center. Statham officials approve low bid despite warnings By Chris Bridges Journal Editor City of Statham officials approved the low bid for water plant upgrades over the concern of its public works director. During the Jan. 19 meeting, Randy Gordon told the council that approving the low bid of $77,700 from McDaniel Utilities was ques tionable on two fronts. First, that bid was so much lower than the bid of $197,124 received from Lanier Contracting Company that Gordon said he is concerned how there was such a difference. “Whenever you have such a big difference in amounts then something is not right,” Gordon said. “I would urge caution with two different bids with such a large gap between them.” In addition, Gordon said McDaniel Utilities did not have experience with the type of work that would be required for the water plant upgrades. See Statham on Page 3A WORKING ON ENGINE Mike Poteete, automotive advisory committee mem ber, works with students in the Future Hot Rodders of Tomorrow club at the Sims Academy of Innovation and Technology. Students pictured working on the Chevy 350 engine are Hunter Poteete, Brandon White and Tyler Hall. See story on page 3A in today’s edition. Photo by Alex Pace

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Barrow journal (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016, January 27, 2016, Image 1