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thesy lvaniatimes. com
The Sylvania Times
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - Page 5
Vacancy Arises
in Newly Formed
Screven County
Board of Elections
By-Joe Brady. Editor
The Screven County Board of Elections, established just
two months ago, has encountered its first shake-up with the
resignation of a key member.
The Times revealed last week that one of the members had
tendered their resignation, prompting the Screven County
Board of Commissioners to announce an immediate opening
on the Board of Elections. The nature of the resignation and
the reasons behind it have not been disclosed.
To fill the vacant position, the Board of Commissioners
is inviting interested individuals to step forward and
contribute to the electoral process in Screven County.
The Commissioner's office, situated at the courthouse, is
providing application forms for those eager to participate
in this civic responsibility. Additionally, the application
fomi is available for download on the official Screven
County Board of Commissioners website: https://www.
screvencountyboc.com/s/Volunteer-Application.PDF.
All completed applications must be submitted by March
26, 2024, ensuring that the selection process can proceed
promptly. The Board of Elections plays a crucial role
in ensuring fair and transparent elections, making this
opportunity an important civic duty for potential volunteers.
Screven County residents are encouraged to consider
applying and contributing to the democratic process in
their community. The County Board of Commissioners
looks forward to welcoming new members to the Board
of Elections and maintaining the integrity of electoral
procedures in Screven County.
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Barrow announces
candidacy for State
Supreme Court
Today Athens attorney John Barrow qualified to run for
the Georgia Supreme Court seat currently held by Andrew
Pinson.
“I’m running because we need Justices on the Georgia
Supreme Court who will protect the right of women and
their families to make the most personal family and health
care decisions they’ll ever make,” said Barrow. “Despite
many fine qualities, it’s obvious from his record that Justice
Pinson cannot be counted on to do that.”
“In siding with Mississippi and Alabama in the case that
overturned Roe v. Wade, Pinson clearly did not represent
the interests of the women and families in Georgia who are
just beginning to feel the impact of that decision. We cannot
expect Pinson to fight for our interests now that he’s been
appointed to the only court that can stop what he helped
start.”
“Today Georgia law takes away the right of women and their
doctors to make these decisions for themselves. Tomorrow
it’ll be family planning or IVF treatment. And Andrew
Pinson has been in on that from the start,” Barrow said.
Barrow, a graduate of the University of Georgia and Harvard
Law School, has 24 years of experience in public office, first
as a county commissioner and then as the most bipartisan
member of Congress, and 24 years in private practice as a
member of a small firm in a small town, representing real
people with real world problems.
Plant Vogtle Unit 4
connects to electric grid
for first time
By Dave Williams, Capitol Beat,
Special Contributor
ATLANTA - The second of two additional nuclear reactors
being built at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle has begun
generating electricity and connecting to the electric grid for
the first time.
Connecting to the grid is part of ongoing startup testing for
Unit 4 at the nuclear plant south of Augusta. Next, operators
will continue raising power at the reactor to 100%.
Vogtle Unit 3, the first of the new reactors, went into
commercial operation last summer. Unit 4 is expected to go
online during the second quarter of this year.
The latest progress update on the project, which Georgia
Power announced last Friday, follows the Feb. 14
announcement that Unit 4 had safely reached initial
criticality, a key step during startup testing that shows
operators have safely started the reactor.
The state Public Service Commission (PSC) voted in
December to let Georgia Power pass on to customers
almost $7.6 billion of its costs in building the two additional
nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle, the first in the United States
since the 1980s.
The project was originally expected to cost $ 14 billion when
the PSC approved it in 2009 but has more than doubled due
to a series of cost overruns and delays in the construction
schedule. The project will increase the average monthly
residential customer’s bill by $8.95.
Making Easter
Holiday Special
for Kias
While bunny- and egg-shaped candies are always crowd
pleasing favorites during Easter, you can make the holiday
extra special for kids with some less sugary treats that
can be enjoyed year-round. For a joy-filled celebration,
get inspired with this fun and egg-cellent ideas for Easter
baskets:
Great Books
Books unlock new worlds and ideas, making them
great gifts on any occasion. Easter is no exception. Use
the opportunity to stock children’s shelves with fiction by
favorite and new-to-them authors, as well as non-fiction
books on subjects of interest to them. With the thoughtful
gift of brand-new titles to discover, they’ll be well-prepared
to stay engaged and entertained during the downtime of
spring and summer vacation ahead. A few thematic ideas
include, “The Good Egg: An Easter and Springtime Book
for Kids” and “The Velveteen Rabbit.”
Cool Toys
Make children’s days tweet-tastic with VTech Gabbers,
fluffy bird buddies that can be brought along on adventures
by sliding a fabric-covered magnetic egg under one’s
shoulder sleeve and perching the bird on top. Three different
colored Gabbers: Jay Blue, Finch Pink and Owl White, all
sing, make funny sounds and will repeat and tweet the things
kids say in a funny voice! Whether you give one bird, or all
three, this will be a beloved and adorable addition to any
Easter basket. Another cool idea that puts a spin on Easter
eggs? Switch & Go Hatch & Roaaar Eggs. They open up
to include all the pieces needed to build 2-in-l dinosaur
vehicles. The line-up includes a t-rex racer, pterodactyl
chopper and more. For more toys that make great Easter
gifts, visit amazon.com/vtechtoys.
Inspiration and Gear
Another fun addition to Easter baskets is gear and
tools that support kids’ hobbies, passions and talents. For
example, if you’re shopping for a young artist, consider
gifting them a watercolor set, crafting kit or kid-friendly
knitting needles. For a child interested in the performing
arts, you can get them started on their journey with a gift
certificate for music, acting or dance lessons. Or, help get a
budding athlete prepared for the spring and summer sports
seasons ahead with a light-up baseball or softball, which
will allow them to extend their game of catch into the
evening, giving them a competitive edge.
With a few tweaks to your Easter basket routine, you can
make the holiday fun and memorable for children.
Early Voting has Begun
voter
information
Who, what, whan, where, and how
It’s your VOTE!
For the March 12, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary
December 25, 2023 First Day to Apply for an Absentee Ballot by Mail
January 23, 2024 First Day Registrars Shall Mail an Absentee Ballot by Mail to
Eligible UOCAVA Voter February 12, 2024 First Day Registrars Shall Mail a Regular
Absentee Ballot by Mail
February 12, 2024 Last Day to Register to Vote and Change Name and/or Address on
Voter Registration February 19, 2024 First Day for Advanced In-Person Voting 9:00
a.m.-5:00 p.m.
February 24, 2024 Mandatory Saturday Advanced In-Person Voting 9:00 a.m.- 5:00
p.m.
March 1, 2024 Last Day Registrars Shall Accept an Application for Absentee Ballot by
Mail
March 2, 2024 Mandatory Saturday Advanced In-Person Voting 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
March 8, 2024 Last Day of Advanced In-Person Voting 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
March 12, 2024 Last Day Registrars Shall Accept an Absentee Ballot By Mail by
7:00 p.m. All Advanced In-Person Voting will take place Monday through Friday
(except for mandatory Saturday voting) from 9:00 am -5:00 pm., at the Screven
County Courthouse; 216 Mims Road, Room 114, Sylvania, GA 30467. To request an
application for an Absentee Ballot by Mail, contact Voter Registration office at 912-
564-2153 or by visiting mvp.sos.ga.gov
SCREVEN COUNTY POLLING PLACES
Precinct/District#l: Hiltonia Town Hall
2386 Waynesboro Hwy. Hiltonia
Precinct/District#2: Senior Citizens Center
209 East Ogeechee Street, Sylvania
Precinct/District #3: Fire Station #10
916 Robbins Branch Road, Sylvania
Precinct/District #4: Newington, Planter’s Annex
100 Ogeechee St. Newington
Precinct/District#5: Jenk Hill Fire Station#2
1170 Jenk Hill Road, Sylvania
Precinct/District #6: Bay Branch Fire Station #9
149 Millerville Road, Rocky Ford
Precinct/District #7: Cail Community Center
304 Mims Road, Sylvania
Precinct #8 Screven Co. Courthouse
Advance in-person voting/Voter’s Registrar’s Office
Rep. Rick Allen’s office will host Community
Office Hours during March. Tuesday, March 12,
10-11:30 a.m. at the Screven County Courthouse.
SAT/ACT Preparations
Taking the SAT or ACT exam is the
culmination of months of test-specific
preparation, and in truth, years of schooling.
While knowing that can feel like a lot of
pressure, there are steps you can take the
night before the exam to calm your nerves
and enter the testing site with confidence:
1. Pack your essentials: Going to bed
knowing you’ve packed everything you
need to succeed during the test will help
you sleep soundly and make the morning
less frenzied. Your packing list should
include an official, currently valid photo
identification, your admission ticket to
the test. No. 2 pencils (be sure they have
erasers), a snack and water bottle (staying
fueled is essential), a sweater (testing sites
are often chilly and being uncomfortable
can throw you off your game), and of
course, a calculator. The best exam day
calculator is one that’s easy to use and
has an intuitive icon menu, such as the fx-
9750GIII graphing calculator. While you
won’t need all of its 2,900 functions during
your test, or its programming capabilities,
this Casio calculator is a great companion
for high school juniors and seniors as it can
support high-level STEM learning in the
classroom, as well as go into exam mode for
use during the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and other
major standardized exams, like AP and SAT
subject tests. To familiarize yourself with
the calculator and its interface, be sure to
use the same calculator for test prep as well.
2. Eat right: Proper nutrition and cognition
go together. The night before your exam.
fuel yourself with brain foods containing
a mix of antioxidants, protein and Omega-
3 s. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts,
beans, whole grains, tofu and lean meats
are all great choices. Try to avoid food
unfamiliar to you, as you don’t know how it
will settle and it could cause a stomachache.
You should also forgo overly sugary or
processed treats, which can lead to an
energy crash. Being thirsty during your test
is not only distracting, but dehydration can
also actually impair cognition and brain
health. Be sure to drink plenty of water the
night before your test to keep the mental
juices flowing.
3. Sleep tight: It can be difficult to settle
in for a night of sound sleep before an
important event. Reduce the chances of
tossing and turning by putting down your
devices at least an hour before bed, as blue
light can suppress melatonin secretion and
impact sleep. Instead, read, journal or do
another quiet, enjoyable activity. On that
note, avoid a last-minute study session or
practice exam. The night before the test is
not the time to cram. It’s a time to relax so
your mind is fresh when it counts. If you
do have trouble falling asleep, don’t panic.
Resting quietly with your eyes closed can
be beneficial too and may help you doze off
eventually.
By checking a few pre-test tasks off your
to-do list the night before, you can be
fueled, rested and geared up for your
college entrance exams.
