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PAGE 2A BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016 Etheridge recognized by city ETHERIDGE RECOGNIZED The City of Winder’s Citizen Recognition Program recently announced John Etheridge as the December 2016 recipient. Etheridge, right, is pictured with Mike Murray, Citizen Recognition Committee chairman, at the Dec. 6 City Council meeting. The City of Winder’s Cit izen Recognition Program recently announced John D. Etheridge as the December 2016 recipient. Mike Murray, Citizen Rec ognition Committee chair man, presented Etheridge with an award at the Dec. 6 Winder City Council meet ing. Etheridge's wife, Lucille, and other family members were present for the award ceremony. The program was designed to acknowledge outstanding citizens who have made a significant contribution to or positive impact on the citizens of the Winder community, according to a news release. Citizens who receive the award “have exemplified a strong sense of volunteerism, civic pride and commitment toward the betterment of the Winder community.” Etheridge was bom on Feb. 2. 1931 in Barrow County and has always lived there. He was a volunteer member of the Winder Fire Department from 1969-1992, and served as fire chief from 1980-1987. Etheridge helped lower the city’s ISO rating during his tenure as fire chief and was instrumental in the planning stage of construction of the John O. Mobley Public Safe ty Building, according to the release. When the city hired its first full-time fire chief, Etheridge accepted a position as deputy fire chief. He served again as fire chief from Feb ruary-June of 1992. Etheridge has been a member of the First United Methodist Church Men’s Fellowship for many years, has been a member of the Auburn Masonic Lodge for 65 years, and is still an active member on the Board of Trustees at Loreley Condo minium in Helen. Etheridge is a devoted family man. He and Lucille married in 1950 and have two children, Cindy Gilstrap and Mike Etheridge: four grandchildren, James, Michael, Jessie and Jake; and 2 great-grandchildren, Carson and Kaleigh. Etheridge opened a gas sta tion on the comer of North Broad Street and New Street and ran it for 20-plus years. He was bom on a farm and still farms today. Issues continued from 1A Trump’s aggressive agenda as he prepares to take office Jan. 20. “They’ve put the (U.S. House of Representatives) schedule for next year out already, and frankly it’s brutal, but we are excited about that. “There’s so much work to do and I believe we have a window of opportunity now that we absolutely can not squander. ...There is a tremendous understanding and awareness that we’ve got to make things happen right now.” As Republicans, who already control both hous es in Congress, prepare to take over the White House as well, Hice said the top two priorities after the tran sition will be repealing and replacing outgoing Presi dent Barack Obama’s sig nature Affordable Care Act and major tax reform. “The repeal part of Obamacare will be one thing, while the replace part will be another and there are going to be dis cussions and debates about how long those processes should take and what it’s going to look like,” Hice said. “I am pushing for a replacement, whatever that may look like, in this next Congress. There are some trying to push it out three years, but I think that would be disastrous for us to try to pass it off to the next Congress beyond this one.” Hice added Senate Republicans would likely attempt to maneuver around a possible Democratic frli- /^^^NCdisidering M R buying or / selling? 770-867-9026 www.maynardrealty.com buster in those efforts. He also said Trump appears committed to eliminating the “regulatory burdens” placed on American busi nesses and said that regu latory agencies should not be entirely under control of the Executive Branch. “The president appoints the heads of all these agen cies and departments and we’ve created a monster where all the agencies do the bidding of the presi dent.” Hice said. “The only way to do away with it is a bill in the House, approved by the Senate and signed by the president. And therein lies the problem. “We have not had a pres ident willing to do away with and eliminate the regulatory actions of these agencies.” State legislators speak The audience at Tues day’s breakfast also heard from state legislators, including Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville), Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn) and Rep. Regina Quick (R-Athens), about their thoughts on the upcoming legislative cycle. Ginn said the state needs to continue to focus on workforce training in an effort to help spur more economic development. Quick said the state needs to re-examined its education funding formula and come up with one that is “fair and equitable for all Georgians.” When asked by a constit uent about future income tax reductions in lieu of a higher sales tax, England said he would be reluc tant to move too far in that direction at this time. “When you look at our revenues following the eco nomic recovery, sales tax has remained flat for about the last six years, which is concerning to me and others.” said England, who chairs the House appropria tions committee. “I hope that’s a result of people putting more money back into savings and paying down debt, but I suspect it’s also probably a shift over to more E-com- merce. “My inclination is for us to wait a little bit and see what’s going to happen with our sales tax revenues. Then if we do decide to do something, let’s be very cautious about it.” ^AnnualAV O N Thursday, Friday and Saturday December 15, 16, and 17, 2016 8am - 6pm at the home of Jane Saunders 574 Treadwell Road - Bethlehem Call 770-867-2393 or 770-846-3207 for directions All Items Reduced 50% or More Off the Book Price!! PUBLIX MYSTERY COUPON See What 1c Gets! Bring this coupon to Publix on December 7, 2016, and find out what one penny gets you! Good with your purchase of $10 or more. Limit one coupon per household per day. Excluding all alcohol, tobacco, lottery items, money services, postage stamps, gift cards, and prescriptions. Customer is responsible for all applicable taxes. Reproduction or transfer of this coupon is strictly prohibited. Effective December 7, 2016 at participating stores in Ga., Ala., and Tenn. Publix. WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE* LU# 17054 Schools continued from 1A “Elementary-wise and high school grades, He also cautioned, “Edu- we’ve been putting a lot of for example, to know what cation is a messy business” emphasis into literacy and each is, and should be, and said, “we "re really try- early literacy.” teaching. ing to quantify things that He added, “I think McMichael said he tries aren’t quantifiable.” that’s why were starting to tell teachers “if you’re The key, he said, is to see our graduation rates doing the right things in the developing steady gains improve now. We’re start- classrooms, the test scores and scores, by any mea- ing to see those kids ( who will come along.” sure. had an emphasis on literacy He also noted cautions, Large changes, not in the lower grades) move saying the CCRPI is “still accompanied by a trend into the high schools.” based in large measure of improvement, should McMichael also singled based on that one test - one be viewed with suspicion, out the large gains at two test, one day. McMichael said. elementary schools. “I’m “One test can’t define a The CCRPI assesses a very proud of Auburn and child or a teacher,” he said. broad range of indicators Statham for the gains they McMichael also said the including student achieve- made,” he said. CCRPI is a “step in the ment, student attendance, He explained the schools right direction because it academic growth year to have tried to focus “on what brings in some other pieces year, achievement gaps, are our best practices” and - student growth. and the performance of spread those throughout ‘That’s a real important at-risk students. the district. part - where does a student Barrow’s overall CCRPI He said teacher planning start at the beginning of score was 54th out of 197 includes grade-level and the year and where does a districts, placing the system department-level work and student end up at the end in the top third of Georgia working between middle of the year.” districts in performance. Barrow County CCRPI scores School 2015 CCRPI 2016 CCRPI Auburn Elementary 60.7 76.0 Bethlehem Elementary 75.7 80.9 Bramlett Elementary 80.8 82.2 County Line Elementary 75.7 76.8 Holsenbeck Elementary 78.0 72.4 Kennedy Elementary 82.9 80.9 Statham Elementary 71.5 82.2 Yargo Elementary 76.7 71.3 Bear Creek Middle 72.0 73.9 Haymon-Morris Middle 78.0 79.5 Russell Middle 75.2 76.8 Westside Middle 67.7 69.7 Apalachee High 76.0 76.9 Winder-Barrow High 80.2 74.5 Elementary overall 75.8 76.9 Middle overall 71.6 74.1 High school overall 76.3 74.5 System CCRPI score 75.1 76.7 State elementary schools 76 71.7 State middle schools 71.2 71.5 State high schools 75.8 75.7 State avg. - all schools 75.5 73.6 Dr. Fields Dr. Fields is an Orthopedic Surgeon, who received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his residency at West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Fields did a fellowship in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery at the Orthopedic Research of Virginia. 706-583-9000 Athens • Commerce Elberton Jefferson • Royston Winder www.athensboneandjoint.com isj ATHENS Bon ?Joint