Newspaper Page Text
The Braselton News
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Page 2A
2023 Atlanta Gas Light. All rights reserved. Do not reuse text or graphics without written permission. AGL-21366
Around town
Weekly snapshots from around the Braselton-Hoschton community
Community calendar
Holiday dinner offered
Dec 23 in Hoschton
A hot holiday meal will be offered Friday, Dec. 23,
from 6-8 p.m. at the Hoschton Train Depot.
The dinner is offered to those who "need a hot
meal, (are) alone for the holidays or just need some
fellowship," according to organizers.
"Bring yourself, bring your family," organizers
said.
Those wanting to eat are asked to text 706-605-
0977 to let organizers know the number of people in
their party planning to attend.
White Plains plans
New Year's Eve singing
White Plains Baptist Church will host a New Year's
Eve singing on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. Mercy's
Cry will perform.
White Plains is located at 3650 Hwy. 124 West,
Jefferson.
'BraseltonTec' to offer workshops
for tech start-ups
BraseltonTec — a private-public initiative be
tween the Town of Braselton and the Advanced
Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia
Tech — is launching its "spark sessions" in January.
These workshops, held at the Braselton Civic
Center, will provide information for start-up tech
companies covering fundraising, cap-table forma
tion, marketing strategy and a host of topics led by
experts. The first session is Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. It will
discuss the difference between "a lifestyle business
and a scalable unicorn and the steps toward startup
success."
The town has partnered with ATDC, which is a
Georgia economic development organization fund
ed by the state legislature and managed under the
Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute.
It is the oldest technology business accelerator in
the U.S. and its graduating companies have raised
over $3 billion in venture capital.
"ATDC's mission is to develop a technology eco
system that attracts technology companies, inves
tors and the talent required to scale," according to a
press release from the town.
The BraseltonTec workshops are free and open
to the public. Space, however, is limited. For more
information or to register, visit www.BraseltonTec.
com.
Hoschton History Harvest
set for March 11
The City of Hoschton will host a "history harvest"
on March 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hoschton
Train Depot to digitize any old photographs, docu
ments, letters, diaries and videos that Hoschton res
idents may have.
"Don't let our history fade away," organizers said.
The event is being sponsored by the Hoschton
Downtown Development Authority.
For more information, call 706-654-3034.
News briefs
STATE
Unemployment rates rise
across region, state
All regional commissions across the state recorded a rise in
unemployment rates in October, according to a report from
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.
“Job seekers have continued to experience a favorable hiring
environment across multiple job sectors, despite a slight uptick
in unemployment rates,” said Commissioner Butler. “As we pre
pare for peak holiday hiring, we encourage job seekers to take
advantage of the many employment opportunities, both full-time
and part-time, available across Georgia.”
Highlights from the Northeast Regional Commission include:
•The October preliminary unemployment rate was up five-
tenths to 2.8% over-the-month, the rate was 2.8% one year ago.
•The labor force was up 1,926 over-the-month and up 7,502
over-the-year, to 328.198.
• The number of employed was up 369 over-the-month and up
7,410 over-the-year. to 319,006.
•Initial claims were down 221 (-23%) over-the-month and
down 247 (-25%) over-the-year, to 726.
•Initial claims were down over-the-month in manufacturing
and trade, and down over-the-year in construction and retail
trade.
• There were 6,322 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.
The Northeast Regional Commission includes Barrow,
Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper. Madison, Morgan.
Newton. Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton counties.
HALL CO.
Hall County concludes wage
and compensation study
Hall County's Board of Commissioners signed a resolution on
Dec. 8 to implement a new wage and compensation structure in
addition to a 3 percent cost of living increase for all eligible county
employees, according to a press release.
The changes to the county's wage and compensation structure
will be made based on the results of a comprehensive study con
ducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University
of Georgia.
The comprehensive study was started in 2019 but was suspend
ed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Carl Ymson Institute Wage and Compensation Study exam
ines internal equity and external competitiveness through question
naires. surveys, meetings and data from other counties of compar
ative size and economic standing. The outcome of the study also
provides thorough job descriptions and position evaluation tools.
HOSCHTON
Hoschton DDA moves
meeting to Dec. 19
The Hoschton Downtown Development Authority has re
scheduled its meeting from Monday (Dec. 12) to Dec. 19 at
3 p.m. at city hall. City hall is located at 79 City Square. For more
information, call 706-6543034.
Photo by Annika Sorrow
PITCH PERFECT
Jackson County High School chorus director Shannon Green presents her singers to the audience
at the chorus program’s Dec. 8 concert. See more photos on Page 3B.
Important safety information from Atlanta Gas Light
Every day, underground pipelines safely
transport natural gas to homes and
businesses throughout the country.
Atlanta Gas Light operates, secures and
maintains the pipelines in our service
territories.
Call before you dig
Before digging on your property, state
law requires you call 811 to have your
utility lines professionally marked - for
free! You must wait the required amount
of time before you begin your project.
Pipeline markers indicate the general area
of the pipeline, but not its exact location
or depth. A pipeline may not always be
marked in all areas, so it is important to
always "Call Before You Dig." If a pipeline
right of way is adjacent to your property,
you have a responsibility to ensure
no new installations of landscaping or
physical structures are placed in the right
of way, which interferes with our ability
to keep the pipeline safe through routine
monitoring and maintenance.
Information about transmission
pipelines operating in your community
can be accessed online at
https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov,
courtesy of the National Pipeline Mapping
System (NPMS).
Water heater safety
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission urges all users to lower their
water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Carbon monoxide
Incomplete combustion of any fuel
produces carbon monoxide. Carbon
monoxide is poisonous and has no odor,
taste or color. Carbon monoxide detectors
are helpful, but they are no substitute
for using equipment safely. This includes
having your appliances inspected once a
year by a certified contractor.
Appliance safety
According to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency:
7i It is important that you have
your furnace inspected by a
qualified specialist.
7 Be sure all furnace controls and
emergency shut-offs are in proper
working condition.
7 Keep trash and other combustible
materials away from your air, heating
and water heating systems.
Pipeline integrity management is a
process for assessing and mitigating
pipeline risks to reduce both the likelihood
and consequences of incidents. We have
a comprehensive plan that fully addresses
these processes, especially for locations
deemed high-consequence areas.
To learn more, visit
atlantagaslight.com/
integritymanagementplan
If you smell gas, act fast!
Even though natural gas pipeline incidents are
uncommon, you can help prevent emergencies by
knowing the signs of a potential problem.
LOOK for blowing dirt, discolored vegetation or
continued bubbling of standing water.
LISTEN for a hissing or roaring noise near a natural
gas appliance or line.
SMELL the distinctive, rotten-egg odor associated
with natural gas. Natural gas is colorless and
odorless, so we add a chemical odorant called
mercaptan for easy detection. This odorant has a
distinctive "rotten-egg" type odor. You should act
any time you detect even a small amount of this
odor in the air.
If you suspect a natural gas leak, do the following:
DO NOT try to identify the source or to stop the
leak yourself.
LEAVE the area immediately and move a safe
distance away from the potential leak, while
avoiding any action that may cause sparks.
AVOID using any sources of ignition, such as
cellphones, cigarettes, matches, flashlights,
electronic devices, motorized vehicles, light
switches or landlines, as natural gas can ignite from
a spark or open flame, possibly causing a fire or
explosion. Natural gas is nontoxic, lighter than air
and displaces oxygen. In severe cases, if not used
properly, it can also lead to asphyxiation.
CALL Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 or 911
once you are out of the area of the suspected leak
and in a safe place. Stay away until Atlanta Gas
Light or emergency personnel indicate it is safe
to return.
Note: Be aware that "odorant fade" while uncommon, can
occur. Odorant fade occurs when a physical or chemical
process causes the level of odorant in the gas to be reduced.
This can happen in both existing gas pipe and new
installations. Be aware that some individuals mav not be
able to detect the smell of the natural gas odorant because
they have a diminished sense of smell because the scent
is being masked by other odors in the area or because the
odorant has diminished so that it is not detectable.
For more information, visit
atlantagaslight.com/safety
or call 800.427.5463,
Online Survey: Please take a moment to complete an online survey
about natural gas safety and you at surveymonkey.eom/r/P67VMXZ
to help us make sure we are keeping our communities safe.
