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Page 12 - Wednesday, December 25, 2024
The Jenkins County Times
j enkinscountytimes. com
• &u r jberMeetiv e...
From the Office of
Senator Jon Ossoff
Ossoff Announces USDA
Marketing Assistance for
Crop Production
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is announcing
new Federal resources to help Georgia’s
specialty crop industry sell more products.
Today, Sen. Ossoff announced that
Georgia farmers growing specialty crops,
like fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts, can
now apply for Federal funding through
the new U.S. Department of Agriculture
Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops
Program designed to provide critical
support to farmers seeking to expand their
operations and reach new markets.
The program, recently launched by
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA)
provides marketing assistance payments
to help farmers store, market, and
distribute specialty crops, including
fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and other
non-commodity crops that are vital to
Georgia’s agricultural economy.
“Georgia farmers power our economy
and feed families across the state and the
nation,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I’m fighting
so our farmers can prosper, recover,
and rebuild, especially after the harsh
conditions they’ve endured this year.
This new USDA program offers Federal
resources to help farmers grow their
businesses and compete in new markets.”
Georgia is one of the nation’s leading
producers of specialty crops, from
blueberries and pecans to peaches and
sweet onions.
Eligible farmers can learn more about
the program and submit their applications
at their local FSA offices or online through
the
USDA’s
website
at www.
fsa.usda.
gov.
Applications are now open until January
8, and farmers are encouraged to apply as
soon as possible to take advantage of these
resources.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to
support Georgia’s specialty crop growers.
In August, Sen. Ossoff introduced the
Protecting Our Produce Act to boost
resources and support for Georgia
specialty crop growers facing unfairly
priced imports.
In April, Sen. Ossoff launched a new
effort to bring Republicans and Democrats
together to pass the bipartisan Specialty
CROP Act of 2023, legislation he co
sponsored to support Georgia’s farmers
and level the playing field to boost exports.
Last year. Sens. Ossoff and Marco
Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan, bicameral
group of lawmakers urging U.S. Trade
Representative Katherine Tai to follow
through on a promise by the Biden
Administration to help Southeastern
seasonal producers affected by unfair trade
practices.
In February 2023, following Sen.
Ossoff’s push, the Republic of India
announced a major 70% cut to tariffs on
U.S. pecan exports, a big win for Georgia
farmers.
“The world breaks everyone, and
afterward, many are strong at the broken
places.” Ernest Hemingway.
My mom used to do a bake day for her
children to spend all day making goodies
for the holidays. Everyone brought their
favorite recipe and the ingredients. At
the end of the day, we would divide the
goodies before going our separate ways.
We did that for many years until a
former brother-in-law put a stop to it.
But one of the last ones I will always
remember was when Nanny came to one.
Now, y’all, Nanny always thought she was
an excellent cook. But, well, I don’t mean
to speak ill of the dead but there was that
pumpkin pie one year that she put coconut
in. I haven’t liked pumpkin pie since!
Nanny also thought she made the best
divinity. Folks, that stuff was hard as
hockey pucks! I never liked old-fashioned
candy because of that. It was hard and
crumbly. But then Mama and I discovered
the can’t fail divinity, my love for the
sweet white treat was reinstated.
So, Nanny decides she will make
divinity, her way. Mama and I quietly put
our ingredients away, well hidden from
prying eyes. You don’t wish to offend your
grandmother, don’t you know. Well, she
botched it. Of course, makers of divinity
always blame the weather. I don’t know
if that’s a wives tale or not but as Nanny
began gathering her anger about her Mama
quickly stepped in, “Joey and I’ll make
some. Don’t worry.” As she and I stood at
the stove mama leaned over, “You know if
we fail, we will never hear the end of it.” I
leaned over and whispered, “if we fail. I’m
running out screaming!”
Christmas is about making memories.
Don’t we all yearn for innocent days when
Christmas was magical? We adults say,
“Christmas just doesn’t seem to be as
important as it used to!” Of course not,
we’ve lost touch with our inner child as
we mature and our hair either turns gray
or falls out. Christmas is what we make it.
This holiday I won’t have any children to
restore that magic for one brief evening.
So, in the spirit of Christmas and to quote
Tiny Tim, “God Bless us, every one!”
Oh, I almost forgot, our divinity? Well
they don’t call it Can’t Fail for nothing!
Merry Christmas!
Life is short, and we don’t have much time
to gladden the hearts of those who make
the journey with us. So, be swift to love,
make haste to be kind. And the blessing
of God, who made us, who loves us, and
who travels with us be with you now and
forever.
Seed From The Sower
Planning Ahead
Merry Christmas! The library is closed on Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday,
December 25, and Thursday, December 26. We will reopen on Friday, December 27 at
our normal hours. We hope that everyone’s holiday is merry and bright, and filled with
joy!
On Friday, December 27 at 3:00 pm we will have a fun adult in-library craft time.
Come in and enjoy diamond painting with us! It’s a great way to relax after the chaos
of the Christmas season.
The library will be closed on Wednesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day. We will
reopen on Thursday, January 2 at our normal hours.
Need something good to read while we’re closed? The Palace Project lets you browse
the amazing collections of Libby, eRead Kids, and GALILEO eBooks all at once,
check them out and read them right there in one single app, plus they have a lot of their
own copies of some of our most popular books! All you need is a valid library card
account and an internet connection to download ebooks and audiobooks onto your
device, and once they’re downloaded you can read or listen to them anywhere.
If you’re looking for something good to watch, get the Kanopy app! It’s the library’s
free streaming video service, and it’s free for anyone with a valid library card account
and internet access. Whether you’re looking for classic Christmas movies, jolly good
series from the BBC, or wonderful kids’ movies and TV shows, you’ll find something
on there to enjoy.
For those who have issues with their home internet, we have 24/7 wifi available, and
you don’t even have to come inside the library to get it! You can sit in the parking lot
and enjoy our wifi any time of the day or night, no password required.
Want to know what’s happening at the library, which new books and movies have
just arrived, and more? Head over to our Facebook account at www.facebook.com/
screvencountylibrary or our Instagram at www.instagram.com/screvencountylibrary
and check out the latest news!
Well, that’s all for now - see you at the library (but not until after Christmas!)
It was the Sunday before Christmas
and the teacher of the fifth-grade class
was reviewing the details of the birth
of Jesus. With carefully chosen words,
she talked about the difficult journey to
Bethlehem. Then she said with sadness,
“And when they arrived, there was no
room for them in the inn. Wasn’t that
terrible?”
George, after thinking for a moment
about the vacations his family had taken
and the careful, detailed plans they made
said without thinking, “Why didn’t
Joseph make a reservation?”
There will be many around us during
this holiday season who will make no
room — no reservation — for Jesus to be
with them this year. We often remind
each other that “He’s the reason for the
Season” but do not take time to explain
to others what that “reason” is. We
are quick to condemn those who want
to take “Christ out of Christmas” but
do not take time to plant the message
of Christ in their minds and hearts at
Christmas. We place the manger scene
under the tree, cover it with presents and
then wrap it back up and forget about
His birth and its significance for another
year.
Hanging next to Jesus on a cross
was a thief who was dying for crimes
he committed. In his final moments,
he turned to Him and said, “Jesus,
remember me.” And Jesus said, “I
certainly will! Today you will be with
me in paradise.” The best day to make
your reservation to be with Him is this
day if you have not done so. Don’t
delay!
Prayer: Your Word, Lord, declares
with certainty: “Today is the day of
salvation.” May we take advantage of
this day and not risk the uncertainties of
life! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: Luke 2:1-7 And
she brought forth her firstborn Son, and
wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and
laid Him in a manger because there was
no room for them in the inn.
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 newspaper’s readers. The Jenkins
County Times reserves the right to edit any and all
portions of a letter. Unsigned letters will not be pub
lished. Letters must include the signature, address and
phone number of the writer to allow our staff to authenticate its origin. Letters should be limited to 400 words
and should be typewritten and double-spaced or neatly printed by hand. Deadline far letters to the editor
is noon on Wednesday. Email Letters to the Editor to: news@jenkinscountytimes.com
this holiday season with a subscription to The Times!
Call 912-451-6397 or 478-401-5007
Email: subscribe@jenkinscountytimes.com or
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