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Page 4 - Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The Jenkins County Times
jenkinscountytimes.com
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EAGLE NOTES
From Good to Great. I have said many times that is the direction we are heading
in the Jenkins County School System. And it is a direction. It is not a destination.
Greatness is something that you must continually strive for and never be satisfied
with where you are. Sure, you can celebrate achieving milestones and meeting
goals, but greatness is over the horizon, and you must continually seek that
horizon.
A couple of weeks ago I had my first bout with COVID. I am thankful it was
a mild case. No fever or sickness to speak of other than a terrible headache and
absolutely no energy for a few days. So, I spent some time in my chair at home.
In between naps I watched one of the best documentaries I have ever seen on
Netflix. It is titled The Greatest Night in Pop. It is a documentary about the song
We Are the World. The song was recorded in January of 1985 and was written
and recorded to raise money for the famine that was ongoing in Africa. The single
raised about $80 million to date which today would be worth around $160 million.
I am a music fan. Honestly, there is not much music that I don’t listen to. Music
speaks to me. It brings my emotions out and is really like a mirror for me. When I
want to recenter myself and look within myself, music is one of the avenues I use
to accomplish that. I am also intrigued at the backstory behind songs and what
brought about the lyrics and the performance. This song was no different.
I remember when We Are the World came out in 1986.1 was in the eighth grade.
It was an amazing song then and after I watched this documentary it is even more
powerful now. It was written by Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson. The song was
recorded in one night under the direction of Quincey Jones and had almost every
artist at the top of the charts in 1986. Jackson, Ritchie, Huey Lewis, Willie Nelson,
Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Bruce
Springsteen, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, and
the list goes on. To top it off, the production was top secret. No one outside the
project knew it was taking place. There were many different music genres, political
ideologies, and races represented in the song. All these different people got in a
small room, and they accomplished something that really transcends time. Lionel
Ritchie said that one night overshadowed everything that was going on in his life
at that time.
They were able to accomplish this feat because they were unified towards a
common goal, and they didn’t care who got the credit. They had a sign hanging at
the entrance to the studio that said, “Check your ego at the door.’ Every one of the
people involved in the writing, singing, and production of the song didn’t take a
penny for their efforts. The entire song was sung in unison, no harmony. That is
powerful. That is when great things are accomplished. Not just good things, but
GREAT things.
If you look around, you can find a multitude of things that divide us. However,
I think that one thing that should unify us is the desire to be great for our next
f eneration. Our children are the most precious and valuable thing we have. The
irection and success of our school system will in large part determine the success
of the rest of our students’ lives. No matter what it takes, we MUST strive for
GREATNESS. Our children deserve that.
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
This week we are celebrating a milestone at the newspaper. Jenkins County Times
has turned a year old. For our Sylvania friends, Sylvania Times turned three in
January. It has been a long journey, but not a hard one. The point is, we all love
bringing you the news. And you show your enthusiasm by reading the words we
write each week. As Sally Field once said at the Oscars, “You love us, you really
love us!”
This week is also my birthday. JCT and I actually share the same birthday. I did
that on purpose cause the way my mind works, I didn’t want to forget either mine
or the paper’s special day. As I mark another year around the sun I reflect on the
past.
I am officially the age I remember Nanny being at the first birthday party memory
I have of her. Nanny was recuperating after a surgery and we all descended on her
to celebrate her 54th. I remember all of us kids piling in her bed. You know, that is
the only memory I have of that day. Not the cake, or what we ate, but the love we
showed one another. I hope I can leave those memories behind. I had a customer
at the auction house last week tell me that I couldn’t possibly be mean to anybody.
Oh my! I’m sure there is a line of folks who would disagree.
My own family would disagree. They don’t seem to get the fact that I’m perfect!
They snicker when I remind them of it. All kidding aside, I think the responsible
folks in our society begin to worry about their legacy. What kind of legacy will you
leave behind? Have you made a difference? I catch myself asking those questions
sometimes. I know one thing, I have had a good time. Most of the time I have
laughed my way through this life, you probably can’t ask for more than that. Only
time will tell what type of legacy I leave. I’m sure some people will say as I do, “I
have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure!”
That’s all for now, take care!
ROCKER continued from page 1
month of March, emphasizing the importance of literacy and its profound impact
on children and young adults.
In the spirit of promoting reading, various events were organized by schools and
organizations nationwide. One notable celebration took place at Jenkins County
Elementary School, where Mayor King Rocker actively participated in the Read
Celebrate National Peanut Month
The Georgia peanut industry joins together to celebrate National Peanut Month in
March and donate peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank
March is National Peanut Month, a time to
celebrate one of America’s favorite foods!
The Georgia peanut industry kicked off the
celebration this week by hosting the 2024
Georgia PB&J Day in Atlanta, Georgia. During
the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and
Peanut Proud donated 10,080 jars of peanut
butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Peanuts and peanut butter were promoted during
the event by industry partners serving grilled
PB&Js, country-fried peanuts, peanut candy
and more. Governor Brian Kemp presented a
proclamation recognizing March as National
Peanut Month while Sen. Russ Goodman,
chairman of the Senate Agriculture and
Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert
Dickey, chairman of the House Agriculture
and Consumer Affairs Committee presented
resolutions recognizing the importance of
Georgia’s peanut industry.
“Peanuts are Georgia’s official state crop, and the state boasts the largest share of
peanut production in the U.S. at nearly 53 percent for the 2023 crop,” says Joe
Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Georgia’s 3,700 peanut
farmers contribute approximately $2 billion annually to the state and local economy.”
Sponsors and exhibitors include the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut
Buying Points Association, Kroger, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Federal-State
Inspection Service, National Peanut Board, Peanut Proud, Atlanta Community Food
Bank, Premium Peanut and the University of Georgia Peanut Team.
As part of the celebration, peanut butter valued at $10,000, was presented to the
Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Atlanta Community Food Bank provides food
and grocery products to nearly 700 community-based, nonprofit partner agencies
with hunger relief programs throughout 29 counties in metro Atlanta and north
Georgia. According to Ben Burgess, corporate relations manager with the food bank,
the need for food assistance is not going away.
“A recent study of our service area showed that an average of 200,000 food insecure
households are served each month through the Atlanta Community Food Bank
partner agency network. Peanut butter is a very nutritious and important product
to those clients because it has a stable shelf life,” Burgess says. “One jar can make
several meals for a family or individual in need. This donation will help the 10
percent of Georgian residents and the one in eight children who are food insecure
in the state.”
Coincidentally, March is National Nutrition Month - a great time to recognize the
nutritional value of peanuts. One serving of peanuts is a good source of protein,
vitamin E, niacin, folate, phosphorus, and magnesium. Peanuts are naturally
cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.
For additional details and photos from the 2024 PB&J Day, visit the Georgia
Peanut Commission website at gapeanuts.com.
Across America festivities.
Mayor Rocker, a strong advocate for education, visited Jenkins County
Elementary School and engaged with students during the week-long celebration.
In particular, he took the opportunity to share the joy of reading by personally
visiting Mrs. Michelle Sims' class. Mayor Rocker delighted the students with a
captivating reading session, bringing a book to life and encouraging the children
to explore the world of literature.
Furthermore, Mayor Rocker demonstrated his commitment to education by
visiting Mrs. Monica Brinson's class, where he shared insights into the practical
application of fractions. This interactive and educational approach resonated
well with the young minds, illustrating the real-world relevance of the skills they
acquire in the classroom.
The involvement of community leaders, such as Mayor King Rocker, in events
like Read Across America Week underscores the collective effort to promote
literacy and education. By actively participating in such initiatives, leaders
contribute to creating a culture that values learning and encourages young
individuals to embrace the lifelong journey of reading.
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Letters to the editor of The Jenkins County Times are welcomed and encouraged. These
are pages of opinion, yours and ours. Letters to the editor voice the opinions of the news
paper’s readers. The Jenkins County Times reserves the right to edit any and allportions of
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Phone: (478) 401-5007
Proudly covering Jenkins County’s news, sports, and community events
Sam Eades Publisher
Joe Brady Editor
Sam Eades Advertising Sales
Debbie Hearn Admin/Layout and Design Executive
Sarah Saxon ....Admin/Legals/Reporter/AP Correspondent
BradAsbury Sports Editor
Lori Jones Layout/Design/Front Office/Receptionist
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