About The Sylvania times. (Sylvania, Ga.) 2022-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2023)
thesy lvaniatimes. com The Sylvania Times Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - Page 5 YOUTHFUL GAMECOCKS HAVING ROUGH GO OF IT ABOVE: One of just three seniors on the roster, Devin Oliver drives to the basketball (photo by Francina Sanders) LEFT: Senior Jay den Adams pulls up for a jumper (photo by Francina Sanders) Falling to SEB in the Yellow Jackets home gym by a 76-68 margin in an exciting game last Saturday night, the SCHS basketball Gamecocks of Nick Clifton fell to 2-6 at Christmas break and hope that the 2024 calendar will prove better. The team will be back in action on January 5 for a region game in Pembroke before hosting nonregion Burke County the following night. Defending region champion Woodville-Tompkins will be at the local gym on January 9. Much like their football counterparts, the youth of Clifton’s basketball Gamecocks has played a huge role in their 2-6 start. Of 12 players seeing significant playing action there are nine sophomores and freshmen, leading to a low shooting percentage against much more seasoned opponents as well as a very high average of turnovers per game. Saturday’s trip to Brooklet proved the most exciting game of the week. After a slow start that saw them down after eight minutes 18-10, the Roosters moved closer and stayed there the rest of the game. They were just never able to get over the hump. With the score just 51-49 their way after the third quarter, the Jackets used a 25-19 final stanza to earn their win. Freshman Demarko Ward led the way with 23 points while sophomore Deon Dixon had 18. Very impressive was the Gamecock foul shooting as they were 13-16 in a pressure- packed second half. Hoping to improve their game against Jenkins County in Millen over their first meeting the previous week, the Gamecocks started slowly and never caught up as they fell 60-40. For the second game in the week no Rooster hit for double figures. Of the eight players who scored points, seven were sophomores or freshmen. Sophomores Rodney Beckwith and Jase Hughes each had eight with Beckwith having a team leading eight rebounds. Sophomore Dixon had five rebounds. As one sided as the night’s opening contest was (71-21 Lady Gamecocks), the nightcap of December 12 for the Gamecocks was the opposite. Portal’s big, strong, and powerful Panthers jumped to a 23-4 first quarter lead and only stretched it the rest of the way in their 90-33 win. The Panthers’ tight press forced 35 turnovers from the very young SCHS backcourt. No Gamecock hit for double figures as Drayden Roberts led the way with just seven. Ward had five rebounds. IMPRESSIVE SCMS TEAMS STAND AT 6-1 AT BREAK Standing at 6-1, 2-0 in their North subregion, the SCMS Lady Gamecocks and Gamecocks will next be in action on January 4 when Metter is here for another subregion contest. On Monday, January 8, Jenkins County will be here for a subregion contest. Last week the Lady Gamecocks soundly thrashed visiting Portal by a 34-11 margin. A’Chanti Middleton led the way with nine points while Arianna Budget and Christina Robbins had eight each. The Gamecocks were a little closer as they went home with a 58-43 win over the Panthers. Cam Carter had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the charge. He was followed by KaJay Tyler’s ten points and six rebounds. Chase Williams had eight points while Quincy Thomas and Cleve Mingle had six each. Rocky Ford Town Council Addresses Railroad Concerns, Police Upgrades, and Grant Applications in December Meeting By Joe Brady, Editor for The Times The Rocky Ford Town Council convened for their December monthly meeting at Rocky Ford City Hall, discussing a range of topics impacting the community, including railroad concerns, police updates, and upcoming grant applications. One significant announcement was Norfolk Southern's decision not to utilize the track as a transition railway. A representative from the railroad company advised residents to report any instances of trains being stalled on the track for more than 30 minutes. Mayor Mock emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, "We can't strong-arm them, but there is legislation in Washington now to minimize the crossing blockages." In response to the occasional lengthy delays caused by stalled trains, residents in town have adopted a pragmatic approach. They park their vehicles and either cross over or under the train to avoid extended waiting times, sometimes exceeding an hour. The Rocky Ford Police Department issued thirteen tickets in the month of November. Mayor Mock highlighted the department's current financial situation, noting that it is not self-sustaining without city funds. The council is actively exploring avenues to address this concern and ensure the continued effective functioning of the police force. Mayor Mock also shared positive news about Santa's recent visit to Rocky Ford, describing it as a "huge success." Santa spent nearly an hour in the town, spreading joy and festive cheer among the residents. In a forward-looking move, the council voted to apply for 2024 LMIG (Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant) funds. Mayor Mock elaborated on the council's preparations, stating that they are compiling a list of potential projects that could benefit from the grant, aligning with the town's infrastructure improvement goals. Additionally, Mayor Mock discussed the Norfolk Southern Safety-First Grant, emphasizing that they applied for the technology grant due to a missed deadline for the community development grant. The $30,000 grant funds has been awarded, and will be utilized to upgrade the police department's technology infrastructure. The grant may only be used on non-salary-related expenses. Looking ahead, the council announced plans to apply for the community development grant in the coming month. The meeting concluded with an executive session to address personnel issues. SCREVEN COUNTY RECEIVES EMPLOYEE SAFETY GRANT FROM ACCG INSURANCE PROGRAMS Screven County, GA, ( December 2023 ) - Screven County was recently awarded an Employee Safety Grant from the ACCG - Group Self-insurance Workers' Compensation Fund (ACCG- GSIWCF). The Employee Safety Grants are available to Fund members that are fostering a culture of workplace safety through additional training, equipment, or services. The ACCG-GSIWCF Board of Trustees allotted $1.5 million in grant funds over a three-year period, with $500,000 available to eligible members in 2023. “We are pleased to offer this grant program to assist members in their safety efforts," said ACCG-GSIWCF Board of Trustees Chairman and McDuffie County Commissioner Frederick Favors. “The opportunity to receive the Employee Safety Grant is one of the many benefits of participation in this member-owned workers’ compensation program." The ACCG-GSIWCF provides workers’ compensation insurance to more Georgia county governments than all other insurers combined and has assets of approximately $280 million. Since 1985, the program has returned $114 million in dividends and grants to the membership. Loss control services are provided to all members of the workers' compensation program through Local Government Risk Management Services (LGRMS), a non-profit agency operated jointly with the Georgia Municipal Association. Each member appoints a Safety Coordinator to work with LGRMS to create and maintain safe working environments for government officials, employees and volunteers. ACCG is Georgia’s County Association and was formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state's first highway department. ACCG works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs. ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia's counties. For more information, go to www.accg.org. Hiltonia City Council Addresses LMIG Project By Joe Brady, Editor far The Times The Hiltonia City Council convened for their monthly meeting last Monday evening at Hiltonia City Hall, tackling crucial matters concerning the Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) and the ongoing repaving project for Highway 24 to 4th avenue. The proposed scope of work includes comprehensive repaving, necessary repairs, and the installation of speed bumps along 4th avenue. With $21,000 currently available in the LMIG grant, the town shoulders 30% of the project costs. Two quotes have been obtained thus far, with Reeves Paving presenting an estimate of $59,850 and L.R. Paving quoting $79,840. Councilmember and Mayor Pro-Tern Matthew Forehand took the initiative to clarify the scope of work with Reeves Paving and expressed the intent to solicit a third quote from Sikes Constmction. Mayor Mobley volunteered to contact State House Speaker Jon Bums in a bid to secure additional LMIG funds, recognizing the importance of completing the project efficiently. The looming deadline for applying for another LMIG grant is January 2024. The LMIG program, developed in part by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), allocates fiinds to local governments for annual improvements to their roadway networks. These funds, derived from a percentage of the state motor fuel tax, require strict adherence to roadway standards, accounting practices, and applicable transportation guidelines. The formula used to determine funding considers centerline mileage. Financial updates shared during the meeting revealed that, as of November 30, 2023, the town's general fund stands at $31,000+. Notably, local peace officers contributed $12,000 to the fund through fines income, with 56 tickets issued for highway violations in the month of November. The deliberations underscore the city's commitment to maintaining and enhancing its roadway infrastmcture, and ensuring safe and efficient transportation for residents. Vehicle for Sale!! 2003 Ford Thunderbird Convertible special edition 119k miles asking SI0k if interested call 912-661-5508 Run thru 12/27
