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Page 4 - Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
jenkinscountytimes.com
Granny was perhaps the wisest woman in all of Jenkins County! I said what I said!
Everybody knows the story of how much she loved Amy Carter. How we had to chew
twenty times because that’s what Amy did. But now, after all these years, I know why
Granny said that!
Last week, I made chicken enchilada soup. Y’all, that stuff is great, and I should put it in
the paper. So anyway, I carried it up the hill for supper. Now, apparently kids go through
this thing called picky eating. I was a fat kid, so I have never refused a meal in my life, but
these little boys are rail thin. Their mama told me they had gone to bed with no supper the
night before because they refused to eat.
Now, their mama had also told them Geepaw was bringing soup, to which the oldest
replied, “Oh great, another day without eating!” I made them some biscuits.
Now, the youngest, has a habit of cramming as much in his mouth as he can get. Hence,
my realization that Granny was a saint and wise! Did we eat like that? I don’t remember it.
I thought I was just bom with impeccable table manners! I have always been apprehensive
that I would look over one day and he would be choking. If I haven’t told the story about
my sister, Tracey, who was bom with a tied tongue. One day she was eating peanut butter
and y’all, I kid you not, she almost choked to death because it was stuck on the rough of her
mouth! Granny had to get it out! That incident traumatized her to this day.
So, quick as a bolt of lightening I asked, “babe, do you know how to count to 20?” At the
shake of his blonde head, I asked about 10. Well, something is better than nothing! Now,
nobody born after 1990 knows who Amy Carter is so I advised him, “if you chew ten times
before you swallow or put more in your mouth you will grow up to be big and strong like
your brother.” His brother looked at me and said, “I don’t do that Geepaw!” Hush kid, work
with me here! That’s all for now, take care!
What are you thankful for? If we are honest, we could fill the pages of this paper with a list
of things we are thankful for. One thing I am thankful for is the time I get to spend with my
girls. They both like football and everything Georgia Bulldogs. Renee’ on the other hand is not
a football fan. She enjoys watching our Eagles play on Friday night but could care less about
spending Saturdays in Athens between the hedges being a rowdy fan. Knowing that I get to
spend several hours with them at the stadium cneering on the bulldogs makes those drives to
Athens on Saturdays worth every minute.
Another thing I am thankful for is that I work in the best school system in the state of
Georgia. We have some awesome teachers. I want to share about something I learned this
week. As you know we have had some great book fairs at school lately. Students can bring in
money to purchase books, posters, and other items and they get several opportunities to shop.
We have a teacher who kept up with all the students in their grade level who had brought in
money to shop. On the last day this teacher got a list of all the students in their grade who had
not brought in any money to shop and took their own money and paid for each student to be
able to buy one item. That is Thanksgiving. Being thankful for what we have been blessed with
and giving back to others.
I am also thankful for our Veterans. We live in the greatest country in the world because of
the sacrifices of our veterans and we should all be thankful for that. This past Saturday was
Veterans Day. It is a day set aside for us as a nation to say thank you to the men and women
who serve and have served in the armed forces to protect us and our freedom. We have many
veterans in Jenkins County. Some of those veterans also chose to continue serving their country
through teaching after they retired from the armed forces. For that I am doubly grateful.
This week sounds like I am just rambling on, but it serves a purpose. As I said last week,
I encourage you to really spend some time this month reflecting on all that you have to be
thankful for. Do this activity as a family. And don’t just talk about it, consider writing it down.
If you write it down, one day when you are having a bad day (and we all will have bad days)
you can take that journal out and just read it and it will remind you of all that you have to be
thankful for, even in the hard times. If you read the bible, this is much like what the Israelites
did in the Old Testament when God blessed them in a big way. It was not to serve as an image
to worship but to serve as a reminder of how He loved them and took care of them. We all need
these reminders.
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
John Paul Hearn, Superintendant
Jenkins County School System
A WORD FROM JON BURNS,
Representatives
Ga Speaker of the House of
Last Thursday, I visited with students from around the
region at the Bulloch County Agricultural Complex for
the Skills USA Challenge. Hosted by the Associated
General Contractors of Georgia, this competition brought
students together to compete in a number of trade-related
skill competitions like blueprint reading, carpentry, heavy
machinery, masonry, plumbing, and welding.
I shared with many of the students the importance of a
strong work ethic in any career field. I also told them that
Georgia continues to invest in their success - investing
half of our $32 billion annual budget in public education
through our schools, technical colleges, and the university
system.
Congratulations to Statesboro High School's Architecture
& Construction students for winning first place overall in
the competition! Thanks also to all the teachers, parents,
and sponsors who made this event possible.
As I mentioned, the state takes seriously our investment
in the future of our children through education. That’s
why I was honored to visit with many of the presidents of
our University System of Georgia institutions at Middle
Georgia State University in Macon last Monday.
This roundtable was a unique opportunity to near updates
on the amazing work being done at our research and
teaching institutions and hear of the tremendous return we
receive on investments like our HOPE Scholarship program.
More than 340,000 students are enrolled at one of the 26
institutions of higher learning in the system which grants
some 73,000 degrees every year.
I appreciate the leadership of Chancellor Sonny Perdue
and our University System of Georgia Board of Regents as
they work shoulder-to-shoulder with institution presidents
to keep our universities among the best in the nation.
Last week, I was proud to join state and local officials
in Savannah where Gulfstream
announced the cGompletion
of their new state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility. This
142,000-square-foot expansion
will be home to the production
of the G400, G500 and G600
aircraft. Part of a comprehensive
growth strategy, this facility is part of a more than $150
million investment and the creation of 1,600 jobs throughout
our region.
Over the last 50 years, Gulfstream has created enormous
economic opportunities throughout the Coastal Empire
and made Savannah a leader in business aviation design,
manufacturing, and maintenance. Thanks to Gulfstream
and its parent company General Dynamics, the future looks
bright as Savannah continues to capitalize on Georgia’s
strategic advantages in transportation, manufacturing, and
logistics.
Success stories like this one result from a team effort at
both the local and state levels to keep Georgia the place that
businesses and families want to call home.
While serving as Georgia’s 75th Speaker of the House
is a tremendous honor - it keeps me on the road and in
Atlanta more than I would like. That’s why this past week
was such a treat to get to visit with friends and neighbors at
the Sylvania Rotary Club and Effingham Farm Bureau last
Thursday.
Representing the interests of Screven, Bulloch, and
Effingham County in the Georgia House of Representatives
is a responsibility I never take lightly, and I am always
happy to be at home whenever possible. Thank you for the
continuing honor of representing you and our values at the
State Capitol.
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Bethany announces Transitional Plan of Leadership
The Board of Trustees of Bethany Assisted Living, Inc.,
Bethany Home, Inc., The Foundation at Bethany, Inc., and
Bethany LLC announced that after 23 years of dedicated
service, Becky D. Livingston has declared her intention to
repurpose from the position as the Chief Executive Officer of
the organizations known as Bethany. The Board expressed
their gratitude for her years of service and Livingston has
agreed to remain engaged with Bethany during the period
of expected seamless transition.
Board Chair Carolyn Phillips said, “Since 1984 when
Becky finished at the Walter F. George School of Law,
she returned to Statesboro to practice law and began
representing the legal interests of Bethany. Then in 2000,
when we needed guidance through a full-time CEO, Becky
answered the call and the organization benefited from
Becky’s wise and compassionate leadership. Her vision and
her care and concern for Residents, their Families, and the
Staff and Board of Bethany have truly been extraordinary.
She is a gift to the Statesboro, Bulloch County Community
and we are grateful for her many years of tireless efforts on
behalf of the nonprofit, faith-based organization of Bethany,
which is owned and operated by the Primitive Baptist
denomination.”
Livingston said “It has been a blessing for me to share
the experience, joys, and sorrows with so many Residents
and Families over the years. My own family experienced
the consequences of dementia with my Mother’s diagnosis
of early-onset Alzheimer’s and her eventual death in 2011
at the age of 78. While this is a significant and bittersweet
transition for me, I leave Bethany with an exceptionally
talented Staff who cherish their work as a part of the
Bethany family, who work around the clock to achieve
the highest standards of service. I have never considered
Bethany to be a job, but rather a ministry, and I will always
love and support the organization.”
Under Livingston’s leadership, the Board of Trustees
constructed a 45,000 square-foot building that is home
to the only certified Assisted Living Community in
Statesboro and Bulloch County, as well as the construction
of 23 Cottages representing the only independent Living
Community in Statesboro and Bulloch County as well.
With Livingston leaving at the end of 2023, the Board
of Trustees has worked with the Executive Staff of the
Bethany organization and has named Regina M. Bell, RN,
BSN, LTCA, as the Executive Director of the organization
beginning with Livingston’s departure. “Regina is no
stranger to the Bethany organization having worked for
Bethany Nursing Center of Millen for 19 years prior to the
sale of the Community there and returned to Bethany when
she joined The Lodge at Bethany in 2021 as the Director of
Health Services and then in 2022 became the Administrator
of The Lodge. She has more than 31 years in long term care
and is a seasoned Registered Nurse as well. In addition, the
Executive Team that supports Regina includes individuals
with experience and longevity with Bethany and will be the
supportive team that the Board needs for the future growth
and continued services provided by Bethany” Livingston
commented and added her support to Regina and the
Executive Staff as well as the Board of Trustees for the
bright future of Bethany.
Board Chair Carolyn Phillips said, “Bethany has been
preparing for the transition and we expect that the future of
Bethany will continue to show the provision of exceptional
leadership from Regina and her Staff as we move into the
Second Century of Bethany. The blessings of God on
Bethany are unlimited, and we fully expect that He will
continue to bless us with dedicated individuals who are
fully and exceptionally equipped to take Bethany into the
future to continue the tradition of Serving Others.
.Jenkins County Times
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THE JENKINS COUNTY TIMES
issue 36 November 2023 is published weekly by on
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TIMES, 125 N. Main • Sylvania, Ga. 30467.
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