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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2006 8A _ / I t f I S|F ' ■' •',/. w&f&ewSf—' •••. — _. L " i"'' > ; « *''" -—> * EHHI SS _■ m Journal Kristy Warren Students, Jailen Wall and Sebastian Carson use the computer lab to work on homework at Hodac’s Teen Headquarters. TEEN From page iA research-based classes for the kids throughout the school year. The first class “Choosing the Best” begins Monday and focuses on abstinence. As far as the recreation al aspect of the program, the students participate in organized sports, using the park’s baseball/softball field and basketball court. According to Willie Thorpe, educational special ist at Teen Headquarters, they use the sports as “therapeutic games,” teach ing the participants how to work together as a team, manage anger and to resolve problems both verbally and nonverbally. * During school holidays such as summer and spring and winter breaks, students are taken on field trips that are also free. Over the summer, the students had the opportu nity to go to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta and Spring Break of last year they went to the Georgia Aquarium. ARMS From page iA the Partnership “learned of a tightly guarded reorgani zation plan that would have completely eliminated the entire command structure at Robins and the other Air Logistics Centers. In other words, “the indi vidual units in the ALC, would have reported to gen eral officers located at anoth er base, hundreds of miles away.” Smith compared such a move to “taking the head football coach away, hav ing no one in charge on the ground! This proposal would have severely hampered the ALC’s viability and ability to sustain our fielded weapon systems.” The Partnership quick ly reacted, Smith said, “by engaging our sister commu nities in Oklahoma and Utah, and then we each engaged our Congressional delega tion, to include face-to-face meetings in Washington by the Partnership.” Tebbe said Smith jumped on a plane to Washington to explain that to Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Congressman Jim Marshall. “That’s not part of our budget,” she said. “As usual,” Smith said, “our Congressional delega tions were responsive and effective - the initiative has been nixed.” However, Smith noted, there will be personnel reduc tions coming to Robins. “The Air Force must reduce its end strength by some 37,000 active duty and some 20,000 civilian personnel. So Robins will get its fair share of those reductions.” The Partnership will be '1 think it's one of the best programs in the Middle Georgia area.” - Educational Specialist Willie Thorpe, on Hodac’s Teen Headquarters “I think it’s one of the best programs in the Middle Georgia area,” said Thorpe of the program. “Rarely do you find qual ity programs that are total ly free. The field trips are free and a snack is provided for the students everyday after school and on holidays, lunch and a snack are pro vided.” When Educational Specialists Thorpe, Jess Wagaman, Anthony Sears and Kuwana Johnson are not at Teen Headquarters, they are visiting schools in Houston, Bibb and Crawford counties, teaching the research-based curriculum, focusing on kids in kinder garten and third and eighth grades, discussing “life skill components,” such as com munication, decision mak ing, feelings, self esteem, and peer pressure involving working to keep the reduc tions to a minimum. Tebbe said “it is day to day issues that lead to missions in for the future. We are preparing for BRAC every day.” The capital campaign will continue through Labor Day weekend. The $300,000 budget is set by Robins Air Force Base and the community leaders, Tebbe said, “we don’t set the budget.” She explained the econom ic impact of the base and the military to the state. There’s about $4.2 billion of mili tary spending for the state of Georgia and “about $1 billion of that is right here in Houston County,” Tebbe said. “$300,000 a year to pro tect $1 billion is a no-brainer to me.” Tebbe said the Partnership gets support from the local governments in Houston County, and was soliciting all of the municipalities in Middle Georgia. But, she said, that government money can’t be used for some of the things they do. For instance, “We can’t pay lobbyists out of that account,” Tebbe said. “Most of what we do has to be done with private dona tions,” she said. “That’s the account we use the most and it has the least amount of money in it.” Tebbe said Middle Georgians have always answered the call. “I have faith, but right now that’s all I got.” For those who would like for the Partnership to con tinue its efforts regarding Robins AFB and Middle Georgia they can help ensure that, Tebbe said, by making a commitment. Contact them at 322-3368 or visit their web site at www.robins2l.org. alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. According to Thorpe, they perform statistical analyses on the students before and after the classes so that they can make sure their lessons are affective and they can continue to receive money from grantors. If anything, transpor tation is the biggest prob lem faced by those of Teen Headquarters. “We could really use dona tions - a van to transport students,” Thorpe said, add ing they would like to be able to get “a wide, diverse population ... to the center to increase enrollment for the after school program.” A van would be helpful in picking up and dropping off students, he said. Bk l||jiL /L' . .'; :&■ ■■■'■ ■• ■;. ■.' a HBk>. High Performance LASIK ✓ Fitter Visual Recivery ✓ Siler, Blade-Free Technology /Unsurpassed LASIK Experience With faster recovery time - combined with unsurpassed safety and precision - it’s no wonder Dr. Eisner’s CustomVue® IntraLase® procedure is the preferred LASIK procedure for the military. Call Eisner Laser Center today at 405-2020 to schedule your complimentary consultation. Unmatched experience, unsurpassed results. Call today 478-405-2020 Cut/owMun INTRALASE.*! INDIVIDUALIZED LASER VISION CORRECTION C 0 R P Over SIOOO In LASIK Savings! a CENTER EXPERIENCE.TRUST. RESULTS wM www.dreisner.com LOCAL LOWE’S From page iA t The store is similar to most Lowe’s but a little differ ent than the one in Warner Robins, Clark said, “with brighter, open lighting, clean wide isles. It’s most like our store on Zebulon Road.” The cabinetry area, unique to this store is a prototype for Lowe’s. As stores are re-merchan dised, this will go in, Clark said, “it’s one of the areas we’re very proud of.” Lowe’s of South Warner Robins, store number 2478, will be the company’s sec ond in Houston County and 54th in the state. The original Houston store is on Watson Boulevard where Clark previously worked. j | * ‘ 7 jj A aBBBHHHIHiHBmWggy —way lUI—iB—IHIMM lllllliwn 'HUM— ll — mwmtmi Journal/Ray Lightner Zone Manager Benjamin Singletary shows one of the many cabinetry displays in the new Lowe’s store. Singletary came over from the Milledgeville store. 125 Plantation Centre Dr., Ste. 250 • Macon “I started with Lowe’s three and a half years ago in Warner Robins, went to Atlanta for a while and am glad to be back,” Clark said. Clark said with the new location, “we want to make it convenient as possible, make it easy for our cus tomers. I’m excited to be here on this side of town.” The Lake Joy store has 117,000 square feet of retail space with an addi tional 31,000 square feet for the adjacent garden center. According the com pany, a Lowe’s store of this size costs approximately $18.5 million. Clark said they will employ about 150 to start, with about 70 percent of those being full time posi tions. HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Eventually the store will have about 175, mostly full-time employees. “Employees are the num ber one part of the store,” Clark said, “we’ve got a great staff.” The store is also taking applications online at www. lowes.com. Lowe’s offers approxi mately 40,000 products, from appliances and hard ware to do-it-yourself home improvement supplies, tools .flowers and garden supplies. Lowe’s is a community partner with groups such as the American Red Cross, United Way and Habitat for Humanity. Store hours will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday though Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. jp