j enkinscountytimes. com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - Page 9
John Paul Heam,
Superintendant * Jenkins County School System
I hope everyone had a great time at Christmas with family and friends. We are entering a
new phase around our house. Both of my girls and my two nieces are out of high school. AK
is the only one in college and Taylor, Abigail, and Maggie are out and in the work force. Add
to that, Taylor works in Watkinsville, and my sister and brother-in-law work in emergency
healthcare so it sometimes gets hard to get everyone’s schedule aligned to be able to get
together. But we did. And we had a grand time.
But as Christmas passes, we immediately enter the new year. It is a time where people tend
to reminisce about what happened in the past year. For some, those memories are good, and
for some maybe not so good. Either way, we can look back to leam but we must not get hung
up on whatever it was.
When thinking about “new”, a few things come to mind. For one, I think back to a
couple of years ago after UGA won the national championship. When they returned for
spring workouts, the mantra of the coaches was “Nobody Cares.” Now they didn’t mean
to insinuate that nobody cared about the football team or program. Instead, they wanted to
reinforce to the team that last year didn’t matter as far as what was taking place this year.
That old saying “don’t rest on your laurels” is very true. Past success does not ensure future
success without continued growth and effort.
In the same way, sometimes we look back and we have had a rough year. For us here in
Jenkins County we can probably all point back to some particularly rough times in 2024. I
mean since August we have had a couple hurricanes, one was very rough, and a major rain
event. I have also had some close friends both near and far that have had some difficult
family and health situations to deal with. Just like the preceding paragraph mentioned, last
year doesn’t dictate this new year.
Struggles and difficulties in 2024 really have little bearing on our 2025. We are the ones
who ultimately detemiine our mindset for the year. We are the ones who set the direction we
will be traveling. I encourage you for 2025, regardless of what your 2024 was like, set your
course to soar like the Eagles. Set your course to have the best year you have ever had. I am
reminded of a scene from the movie The Lion King. Simba is sitting around kind of all in
his feelings reminiscing about the past and some needed change. Rafiki hits him in the back
of the head with his staff and Simba gets mad and says, “What did you do that for?” Rafiki
quickly replies, “It doesn’t matter, it’s in the past.” I challenge you all to make 2025 your
“Good To Great” Year.
From the Office of
Senator Jon Ossoff
Ossoff Announces USDA
Marketing Assistance for
Crop Production
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing a bipartisan
bill to strengthen transparency in child protective
agencies and protect vulnerable children.
This week. Sens. Ossoff and Marsha Blackburn (R-
TN) introduced the bipartisan Generate Recordings of
All Child Protective Interviews Everywhere (GRACIE
Act of 2024) to bring transparency and improve
outcomes for children involved with Child Protective Services, including Georgia’s
Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
According to Sen. Ossoff’s U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Human Rights Majority
Staff report on abuse and neglect in Georgia’s foster care system, Georgia DFCS failed to
make “concerted efforts to assess and address the risk and safety concerns relating to the
child(ren) in their own homes or while in foster care” in 84% of reviewed cases, including a
failure to conduct initial assessments that accurately assessed all risks and safety concerns.
Sens. Ossoff and Blackburn’s bipartisan bill would create a new Federal grant program
through the U.S. Department of Justice for costs directly associated with conducting and
storing interview recordings. States would be eligible for the Federal grant only if state
law requires that all child welfare forensic interviews be recorded through electric audio
recording, body camera video or any other reasonable recording method.
“We can never do enough to support vulnerable children in Georgia and across the
country,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Senator Blackburn and I are introducing this new bipartisan
bill to strengthen transparency in State child protective agencies and help States better fund
their operations.”
“Children are often silenced by their abusers, and we need to do everything in our power
to ensure that does not happen,” said Senator Blackburn. “The GRACIE Act would help
give more children a voice, increase domestic violence reporting, and strengthen the foster
care system.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect children in the foster care system.
In October, Sens. Ossoff and John Comyn (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Foster Care
Placement Transparency Act, which would require states to measure and report to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) incidents in which children are separated
from their parents and placed with a caregiver informally to help ensure their wellbeing and
safety.
Earlier this year. Sen. Ossoff, Chairman of the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee,
released a 64-page report detailing the findings from his Subcommittee’s 13-month
investigation into the safety of foster children, which uncovered pervasive abuse and
neglect of vulnerable children in Georgia, including incidents with “hidden foster care”
placements.
In February 2023, following reports from independent watchdogs and the press that
children in the care of Georgia DFCS have been subjected to abuse and neglect. Chairman
Ossoff launched an inquiry to assess the safety of children in foster care in Georgia and
nationwide.
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.” -
Ernest Hemmingway
This was the first Christmas Eve mass I have attended in 5 years and where I would have
preferred to have spent it as I have done in the past, things change. I must admit, it was nice
to be in church on Christmas Eve.
I won’t get you bogged down in all the particulars of an Anglican Christmas Mass, but I
will say, who knew God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen had like 17 verses and Anglicans must
sing every single verse. Let me say that again, there ain’t no verse 1, 3, and 5. We sing every
single doggone verse. Now I like to talk, y’all know that, but I swear when we finished with
that song, my jaws were tired!
Now, the last time I attended this service, we served wine and finger foods in the parish
hall. But for some reason, that tradition has been discarded. I think it has something to do
with not shocking the visitors on the first visit. So, at a loss because I didn’t have anything
in my hands, I talked. Y’all know I’m good at that.
Now, I’m gonna stop right here just a minute. To those churches who offer two services
every day, you wrong, just wrong. The parishioners don’t know one another. I leaned over to
the woman sitting in front of me and said, “I haven’t seen you since Easter.” Yeah, I’m one of
those. To which she replied, “I know, I come to the early service.” Thank God she confessed
before I said, “Welcome to Trinity!”
Y’all remember the story I told about a guy that approached me one Christmas at church
and said, “who the hell are you? I’m a member here and I’ve never seen you before.” To
which I replied, “well, who the hell are you because I am too, and I’ve never seen you
before.”
Now, back to the story. I walked out, still running my mouth cause, y’all know that’s just
what I do, and as I walked over to my car, I noticed the door wouldn’t unlock. Thinking,
“great. I’ve got a dead battery,” I felt a swell of panic. Then another thought entered my
mind, was this my car? It was so dark in the parking lot. I turned to my friend in the car
beside me and said, “Meleah, is this my car?” I couldn’t see inside it, she answered, “is that
it?” On the other side was another one, just like mine. I could just make out the brown leather
seats. Yes, the Lord works in mysterious and wondrous ways! Excited, I jumped in praising
Christmas miracles and all that.
I called the priest, “we gotta get some lights in this parking lot. I can’t see nothing!” And
for the record, my next car will be white!
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
Why Mothers Matter
One of the most beautiful passages in Scripture is found in Luke’s Gospel. It is called
“The Magnificat.” We have Mary proclaiming, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” The word
“soul” is a special word and in Hebrew is used to reveal or describe a person’s entire
identity. It is the very essence - or being or character or the “sum total” - of a person. In
this one word,
Mary reveals that all of her is committed to the Lord. The sum and substance of her life
was to worship God in all of His Majesty!
If we want to study the smallest particle of God’s creation we put it under a microscope
to magnify it. This enlarges, or expands, every detail of the particle so we can discover
its intricacies, its subtleties, and its structure. Mary was determined to put God under her
“microscope” so she could understand Him personally, intimately, and completely.
In her “song” she magnified her Lord - not her Son. Often we become overly concerned
about the way our children look rather than what they look at. Not so with Mary. She
recognized her responsibility as a mother and knew that if God were first in her life. He
would be first in her child’s life. She had her priorities right.
God entmsted Mary with the Messiah because He was at the center of her life and
knew that her Son would be nurtured in what matters most in the life of a child: knowing,
understanding and following His will.
Prayer: We ask. Lord, that all mothers everywhere will recognize the importance of
being a mother and the trust You place in them to raise children to know You. In Jesus’
Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: Luke 1:46-55 “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has
rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For
behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
U.S. Representative
Rick Allen
Office Locations
AUGUSTA DISTRICT OFFICE. 2743 Perimeter
Parkway. Bldg. 200, Suite 105. Augusta, GA 30909.
Phone: (706)228-1980....
STATESBORO DISTRICT OFFICE. 50 E. Main
Street. Statesboro, GA 30458. Phone: (912) 243-
9452.
A WORD FROM JON BURNS,
Ga Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Friends—
During a busy holiday season, Dayle and I have enjoyed the
opportunity to meet with constituents and advocacy groups to
discuss the quickly approaching 2025 Legislative Session and spend
time with our family and friends at home in the district.
Each year, Dayle and I join alongside the congregation at our little church to participate
in the annual Christmas play. This has always been one of our favorite family Christmas
traditions, and we appreciate the time we get to spend reflecting on the Lord’s goodness to
us. I hope we all remember the true reason for our celebration and remain grateful for the
gift of salvation through Christ.
The staff members who work for the Georgia House of Representatives are an integral
part of ensuring our work under the Gold Dome is successful. Their incredible support
of our members and constituents across the state is what keeps us moving in the right
direction, and we’re thankful for their partnership in helping us serve the people of our
great state.
It was wonderful to gather with them for a holiday celebration at the Capitol and to
thank them for all they do on our behalf.
Over the past several weeks, I have enjoyed meeting with advocacy groups and
constituents across the state to discuss their priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
I always appreciate our friends and supporters of the House who provide their input
and lend their expertise on the issues that matter most to the future success of Georgia’s
businesses, families, children, and communities. We’re looking forward to January
and can’t wait to be back at the Capitol advocating for lower taxes, increased access to
healthcare, safer communities, better education opportunities, and a greater quality of life
for every Georgian.
Our Heroes in the Georgia National Guard sacrifice immeasurably to protect our
communities and citizens across the nation.
I was honored to join Governor Kemp and Lieutenant Governor Jones in Texas to visit
with our guardsmen who are stationed at our southern border and deliver a few gifts to
remind them of home this holiday season. We join alongside every Georgian in thanking
them for their dedication and praying for their continued safety as they serve our country.
All my best.
Speaker Jon Bums
Rep. Allen Named Vice Chair of Communications
and Technology Committee
-Special to The Times
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has announced that Congressman Rick
W. Allen (GA-12) has been selected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology (C&T). Following the announcement. Congressman
Allen issued the statement below:
"I am honored to have been selected as the Vice Chair of the Communications and
Technology Subcommittee for the 119th Congress. We have much work to do over
the next two years, including promoting the great work that is sure to come from the
Trump Administration. I look forward to leading efforts, alongside Subcommittee Chair
Richard Hudson, to reauthorize the FCC’s spectrum auction authority, enact broadband
permitting reform, reform Section 230, combat robocalls, and protect our communications
infrastructure. Additionally, as many communities in Georgia continue to face significant
challenges with connectivity and reliable broadband access, we will prioritize efforts to
bridge the digital divide in rural America. I am grateful for this opportunity and remain
committed to assisting Chairman-Elect Guthrie and Chairman-Elect Hudson in carrying out
the Committee's mission," said Congressman Allen.
"Congratulations to Congressman Allen on being selected to serve as Vice Chair of the
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. Congressman Allen's deep expertise
of our nation's telecommunications system will help propel our country into the next
generation economy. I look forward to working with Rick to close the digital divide for
rural America, affirm U.S. leadership in next generation telecommunication networks, and
protect our critical communications infrastructure from adversarial attacks," said Energy
and Commerce Committee Chairman-Elect Guthrie.
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