Newspaper Page Text
♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2006
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Contributed
The Georgia Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America presented the
2006 Outstanding Landfill Operation Award to the Houston County Solid Waste Facility
during its Annual Business Meeting at the Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort on St. Simons
Island. Four county commissioners, the director of operations and landfill supervisors
are picture accepting the award.
FACILITY
From page iA
financial position, operat
ing procedures and revenue
generating capacity - as
well as - a source of pride
for the county for its future
MALKIN
From page $A
was Blanco’s campaign man
ager.
Democrats also plan to
make hay of no-bid trailer
contract awards that have
benefited Republican-lean
ing businesses, including a
joint venture involving Del-
Jen Inc., a subsidiary of
Fluor, which has reportedly
donated more than $930,000
to mostly GOP candidates
since 2000.
But what will the anti-cro
nyism Democrats say about
CITY
From page iA
specifically for bikers.
It is off 1-75 Exit 122,
and incorporates an Old
West theme, RV hook-ups,
two saloons and, according
to the site $2 beer. A New
Year’s Eve Bash is planned
to bring in the new year “the
biker way.”
The Unadilla City Council
had the first reading of the
ordinance 10 a.m. Wednesday,
with no one opposed to it,
Brand said.
The second reading of the
ordinance was held at 10
a.m. Thursday followed by
the vote.
Oxendine addresses consumer concerns
Special to the Journal
Below is a question and
answer column from Geor
gia Insurance and Fire
Commissioner John
Oxendine:
Question: For years I ve
carried only basic liabili
ty coverage on my car. Do
I really need more insur
ance than that?
Answer: Consumers
auto insurance needs are
constantly changing. Major
events, such as turning 25,
getting married or improv
ing your credit rating, may
make you eligible for lower
rates.
Here are a few tips to con
sider: Young families, who
are likely to be carpooling
with other people s children,
should consider raising their
liability coverage.
Before purchasing a big
ger car, such as an SUM
they also should consider
how the vehicle will impact
their insurance rates.
For established families with
teen drivers, parents should
ask if their insurer offers
Donate Your Car to Goodwill!
One Car at a Time ...
Creates. One Job at a Time
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■and communities
ONE JOB AT A Time. '/ M I
planning, environmental
efficiency and community
involvement and acceptance,
SWANA said.
Houston County’s facil
ity has scored 100 percent
on the last 14 compliance
inspections conducted by
the Georgia Environmental
Bourget’s of the South -
which, according to the New
Orleans Times-Picayune,
“has become the biggest
Louisiana supplier of trail
ers to FEMA by far, collect
ing nearly $l2O million from
no-bid federal contracts?”
The company had no license
to sell trailers nor any expe
rience in the industry when
it secured a $6.4 million deal
after Katrina hit.
It did, however, have con
nections. The men who own
Bourget’s - brothers Glen
and Gary Smith - are sons of
Henry Smith, the treasurer
of the executive committee
Again, Brand said, with no
public objections.
Georgia is one of 16 states
to ban Sunday liquor sales,
both package and pouring.
The decision to permit sales
by the drink in restaurants
or bars is made by local
jurisdictions.
Thirty-four states across
the country currently allow
Sunday liquor sales, with 12
changes since 2002, accord
ing to the Distilled Spirits
Council.
“In today’s modern soci
ety, with Sunday being the
second busiest shopping day
of the week, it’s unfortunate
that Georgia citizens are still
inconvenienced by a law so
discounts for teens that pass
a driver s safety course or
maintain a B average or bet
ter in school.
Parents should ask
whether they could receive
an accident forgiveness
clause that promises not
to raise premiums if their
teen gets into one minor
accident. They also should
consider raising the family s
deductible and having their
teen drive the family s old
est, least expensive car. Or,
if they can afford it, con
sider purchasing an older
car for their teen and forego
ing comprehensive and colli
sion insurance on that car.
Consumers who are serving
in the military and deployed
abroad should consider low
ering their liability cover
age to the state mandated
minimum and dropping
collision coverage altogeth
er if the vehicle will not
be driven for an extended
amount of time. However,
they may want to consider
keeping comprehensive cov
erage, which provides cov
erage if a car is stolen or
Protection Division.
It additionally has initi
ated an aggressive waste
reduction strategy, which
has resulted in a 28 per
cent reduction of waste land
fdled per capita in Houston
County.
of the Louisiana Democratic
Party. The Times-Picayune
notes further: “Gary’s son
and Glen’s nephew, Gary
Smith Jr., is the Democratic
state representative from
Norco who sits on the
House Special Committee
on Disaster Planning, Crisis
Management, Recovery and
Long-Term Revitalization.”
Heckuva job, Smithies!
Katrina cronyism comes
in equally vibrant shades of
red and blue. Such are the
rotten fruits of bipartisan
ship in Washington.
outdated,” said Jay Hibbard,
Distilled Spirits Council vice
president.
“These archaic laws hinder
consumers’ ability to pur
chase spirits for their holi
day parties, deny businesses
the holiday sales rush and
deprive state coffers from
additional sales tax revenue
that would be gained from
Sunday sales.”
Hibbard noted that year
round Sunday sales of dis
tilled spirits in Georgia would
lead to an estimated retailer
revenue impact range of
$29.1 to $40.7 million and
between $3.4 to $4.8 million
for the state in additional
sales tax revenue.
damaged, but raising their
deductible. Check with your
agent or state insurance
department regarding cov
erage requirements under
these special circumstances.
Drivers over the age of
50, who historically tend to
be more cautious than their
younger counterparts, may
be eligible for reduced rates.
Seniors should consider
taking a driver s refresher
course, like those offered
by the AARP or AAA,
which may help them
qualify for a discount.
It is important to review
your auto policy each
year. Decide whether
your insurance needs
have changed and update
your coverage accordingly.
Send your insurance
questions to: Insurance
Commissioner John
Oxendine, 716 West Tower,
2 Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive Atlanta, GA 30334. Or
call 404-656-2070 (toll free
at 1-800-656-2298), from 8
a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, for
assistance with an insurance
question.
LOCAL
ADCOCK
From page iA
he was finally well enough
for the physicians to attempt
another tracheotomy.
This time it was a success.
He and his family could
now think about beginning
his rehabilitation.
On Sept. 28, he was trans
ferred to Shepherd Center
in Atlanta which special
izes in spinal injuries and
diseases. He stayed in the
ICU for a week during eval
uation by a new team of
physicians.
His mom was unable to
stay with him in the room
and this was hard on them
both.
Things were hard for
Austin as well. With her
brother’s care so far from
home, Austin had to leave
her school and transfer to
one near the hospital. The
move to Shepherd was a
good one, though, as just
five days later Alex was sit
ting up and using a “sip and
puff” wheelchair.
On Oct. 4, Alex was moved
to a private room and he
wheeled himself there by
“sipping and puffing” - a
huge accomplishment!
His progress continued
and by early November
he was sitting in the chair
for five hours a day and
began weaning off of the
ventilator. Just before
Thanksgiving he was com
pletely off the ventilator
and working toward com
ing home. He was finally
discharged Nov* 30.
Once his extended fam
ily learned of his pending
discharge, they went into
action to make his home as
ready as possible. In light of
the severity of his disability,
many home modifications
were needed. This was dif
ficult due to the expense
and size of the home.
PROGRAM
From page iA
will receive quality servic
es.”
According to the American
Diabetes Association, there
are 20.8 million people or
seven percent of the popu
lation in the United States
who have diabetes. Each
day approximately 4,110
people are diagnosed with
diabetes.
The Georgia Hospital
Association, in its December
2006 report, shares that
approximately 714,500 peo
ple in Georgia have dia
betes. Fifteen percent of
PATRIOTS
From page lA
continue to spread the mes
sage that each of us may be
called upon to be the next
hero in our countries war
against terrorism.”
To that end, they were
riding again Dec. 24. On
that date, the American
Patriots brought assis
tance and smiles to two
military families, needing
a hand up. These families,
it was explained, have seen
several deployments and
found it hard to manage to
get through these deploy
Come Home
To Summerhill!
BBm» 4 ||M..
Note from Kristy Adcock:
Kristy Adcock would like to publicly thank those
who responded in their time of need. “So many people
and organizations came forward to help our family
during this tragic time. I would like to thank Brenda
Munda, Lori Loos, the Bonaire Middle School faculty
and staff, my Anchor Glass family, Davidson’s Grocery,
the nurses and doctors at the Children’s Hospital of
Macon Medical Center, Bonaire Methodist Church, the
Ronald McDonald House, Pruett Heating and Air, the
Bonaire Fire Department, Houston County Sheriffs
Department, Houston Medical EMTs and hospital
staff, Eddie Wigginß-Buick Pontiac GMC, Warner
Robins Supply, Shepherd’s Spinal Center, and every
one else who prayed for and supported our family.”
But, a local church group
donated the supplies and
manpower to create a
wheelchair ramp for access
to his home. The carpet
ing had to be removed so
that he could maneuver his
wheelchair, so the family
was given laminate flooring
for a nominal fee, vtfiich
they installed themselves.
They widened doorways
and moved Alex into the
master bedroom, as this
was the only space large
enough for him to sleep.
Alex’s mom now sleeps in
the same room to help Alex
with his daily care. The staff
from Alex’s school, Bonaire
Middle School, offered
assistance and obtained a
new heating and air unit
for the home.
This was imperative as
Alex is incapable of regu
lating his own body tem
perature. Pruett Air
Conditioning Association
and Eddie Wiggins-Buick
Pontiac GMC were respon
sible for making this hap
pen. Bonaire Middle is also
working to get an awning
installed over Alex’s ramp.
Warner Robins Supply has
offered to donate the sup
plies needed for this proj
ect.
Kristy’s parents pur
chased a wheelchair-acces
sible van for Alex but had
all persons hospitalized in
Georgia have the diagnosis
of diabetes.
“Preventive care and
educated self-management
is the key to saving lives,
containing costs as well
as preventing or delaying
complications,” according
to the Georgia Hospital
Association report.
Persons with diabetes
are two to' four times more
likely than others to devel
op heart disease or have
a stroke, and three times
more likely to die of compli
cations from flu or pneumo
nia. The healthcare cost for
a person with diabetes is
approximately $13,200 per
ments.
The group of men and
woman who belong to this
motorcycle club saw it
not as a handout but as a
thank you to a service fam
ily that gives so much to
this nation.
Meeting with families at
the Air Museum at Robins
Air Force Base, many gifts
were given to assist the
families. Members of this
group come from Byron
and Centerville and even
Hawkinsville. Their pro
fessions are as diverse as
the needs of the communi
ties but cover base main
tenance, active duty mem-
SuMe today!
CHI 987-1823
lor more information or a tour ,of Summer lull
(.all Carol Baxter at: 9JT 5100
500 Staniet Street • Perry, CA 51000
Security, Service, and Southern Hospitality
Offering Independent Living Villas, Assisted Living,
Secure Alzheimer’s Care, and Skilled Nursing.
Summer Special at Summerhill at Assisted Living
• Move in Assistance within 30 mile radius
• 7 certificate* for free beauty salon services
• 15% discount for first 3 months rent
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
to take out a second mort
gage on their home in order
to do this. Many more home
modifications are needed
such as the installation of
an air purifier and voice
assistive technology. The
most pressing need, how
ever, is modifications to the
master bathroom.
The bath and shower area
are completely inaccessible
to Alex. Because of the
carpeting on the floor, Alex
cannot enter the bathroom.
Kristy, a single parent, is
not able to safely lift him in
and out of the bathtub on
her own, and it is not set up
for a handicapped person.
The current shower is too
small and has a rimmed
step-over. An ideal show
er would be at floor level,
large enough for a bathing
chair and have a graded
opening to allow the water
to flow out.
The Adcock family has
many needs, but they them
selves have not asked any
one for help. The entire
family has been gracious
and appreciative of every
thing that has been done
for them. The support the
community has given, and
continues to give, lifts the
spirits of this family and
helps them to see a light at
the end of the tunnel.
year compared with $2,600
per year for a person of
comparable age without
diabetes.
In an effort to improve
the lives of persons with
diabetes in the Houston
County area, Houston
Healthcare offers a Diabetes
Management Program,
Kinnas said. The program
includes an individual
assessment with a Certified
Diabetes Educator and diet
instruction followed by
classes to equip the person
with diabetes with skills to
better control their diabe
tes.
For more information,
call 923-9771.
bers, doctors, attorneys, or
Civil Service. Donation sup
port too, comes from places
like Outback, Cheddars and
Cricket.
“It is just everyone lend
ing a hand,” said member
David “Doc” Wilson. “We
socialize together, have pic
nics or just ride the typical
runs. We have been able
to raise SIO,OOO, for the
Ronald MacDonald house
and even the Jerry Lewis
kids every year. We are here
to help the community and
enjoy this wonderful coun
try of ours. ”
4020 J