Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, August 29,2018
dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 5B
Martial arts academy awards first black belts
Bob Christian Dawson County News
Master Seung Ho Kim works with a student during a board
breaking focus exercise.
By Bob Christian
bchristian@dawsonnews.com
Located next to the Goodwill
at the comer of Hwy. 53 and Ga.
400, Moohan Martial Arts
Academy opened its doors to the
public in the summer of 2015.
Starting with a class of only 21
students, Master Seung Ho Kim
and his wife Eunice Kim
reached the culmination of their
efforts by awarding the acade
my’s first black belts to four stu
dents on Saturday, Aug. 25.
Taking a minimum of two and
a half years to complete, but usu
ally taking three or more years
of study, the black belt indicates
a student, although still learning,
knows enough to be considered
an instructor, according to the
World Taekwondo Headquarters
located in Kukkiwon, South
Korea.
“There can be many different
colored belts and tests depending
on the school,"’ Eunice Kim said
as she explained the testing sys
tem. “With the black belt it has
to involve Kukkiwon.”
Kim further explained that
there were nine degrees of black
belt, and starting with the fifth
rank students would be awarded
the title of Master.
The youngest recipient of a
black belt on Saturday was
10-year-old Anthony Dill. Dill is
called ‘poom,’ which in Korean
signifies he is a beginner black
belt.
“I’m not too sure how many
belts there are,” Dill said. “But
my goal is to get the highest.”
Starting his studies in at the
age of 7, Dill found himself in
Dawsonville as the result of his
father’s military service. He has
attended Robinson Elementary
since his arrival and became
involved with Moohan Academy
through the school’s open house.
“I was looking for something
to do.” Dill said. “I like learning
new things and doing fun activi
ties.”
Starting as a student in the
summer of 2015, Dill initially
enjoyed meeting new people and
the friends that he made at the
academy and as he tested into
higher belts, he began to feel a
need to be more involved. So he
sought out a role on the Junior
Leadership Team.
“I come in on Fridays and
Saturdays to help with the make
up class,” Dill said. “The make
up class is for people that don’t
have time to do all the classes in
the week. I was in it one time
because I broke my toe.”
Anthony’s mother, Josephine
Dill, was quick to emphasize
that in addition to the martial
arts, the academy focused heavi
ly on life skills.
“As a mom that was important
to me. That the tests involved
personal questions about his
family, and that his grades are
considered,” Josephine Dill said.
“It turns the light on to the idea
that there are other people out
there.”
Kendall Helmer, 14, who also
received her black belt on
Saturday, couldn’t emphasize
more the importance of integrat
ing life skills as part of the train
ing. Having joined the academy
as one of the original students in
the summer of 2015, Helmer
acknowledged that this was a
tough achievement.
“I wanted to quit in the begin
ning,” Helmer said. “It’s like a
second family how everyone is
supporting you and I stuck it
out.”
Now a member of the Moohan
Academy Leadership Team,
Helmer is no longer just a stu
dent with the academy, but she
also is employed as a part time
instructor on Monday and
Wednesday evenings.
“I really enjoy working with
the younger kids,” Helmer said.
“It keeps me busy.”
The presentation of the belts
was an elaborate affair as Master
Seung Ho Kim and Eunice Kim,
wearing formal Korean attire
known as a Hanbok, called for
ward each student to receive
their belts. The students wore
their new uniforms that designat
ed their achievement by replac
ing the traditional white collar
with a black collar, and Master
Kim stepped forward and tied
the belt around each participant’s
waist. He also presented each
with their official documentation
as a first-degree black belt from
Kukkiwon.
The ceremony concluded with
Master Kim and the students
performing a traditional Korean
Tea ceremony in which each
instrument and each intricate
movement had meaning to those
involved and solidified the tradi
tion, history and effort represent
ed by the day’s achievement.
Covering and playing sports for the love of the game
There are two things I
get asked a lot while doing
my job, and I was asked
both this week. I think they
are the same two questions
that all of us get asked
when we get to talking
about work.
‘What do you like most
about your job?” and, usu
ally when we are discuss
ing problems about work,
“What would you do?”
The first one is easy.
High school sports are the
last level where there are
kids that are playing the
game solely because they
love it. Sure, there are the
ones that will go on to play
for big name colleges or in
professional leagues later
in life, but for most of
them this will be the last
time they play their game
Bob Christian
Sport reporter
in a truly competitive envi
ronment.
Because of that thrill and
enjoyment that hasn’t yet
been diluted by the pursuit
of contracts and rankings, I
get to be witness to some
of the greatest moments in
sports. That’s what I like
most about my job, and it
was on full display across
the Dawson County world
of sports during this past
week and I was thrilled to
be a part of it all.
As for the second ques
tion, “What would you
do?” You are on your own
with that one. I tell stories
for a living.
Little League World
Series
Now... talk about some
grit and determination.
Those kids from Peachtree
City finished their run in
Williamsport this week
falling just short of the
United States Bracket
LLWS Champions Trophy
by losing to Hawaii for the
second time in the tourna
ment by a score of 3-0.
Having lost to Hawaii in
their first game of the
Series and setting a record
for the longest Little
League World Series game
in history, the Georgia
team fought all the way
back through the elimina
tion bracket for their shot
at the tide.
If it is any consolation
the boys from Hawaii went
on to defeat the kids out of
South Korea and bring the
LLWS championship back
to the United States.
DCHS graduate
makes roster
2017 Dawson County
High School graduate
Jeremy Whalen has been
announced as a member of
the starting line-up for The
Norse of Luther College.
Listed as a linebacker on
the roster, Whalen has a
good relationship with
Head Coach Caleb Padilla
who up until this year
served as the team’s defen
sive backs coach.
Jeremy and the Norse,
who have been picked to
finish fifth in the American
Rivers Conference, will
see their first action in a
strong test against
Wisconsin Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference oppo
nent UW-Lacrosse. The
game kicks off at 1 p.m.
Saturday, Sep. 1 and is
available for livestream via
the Luther Athletics
department website https://
www.luther.edu/sports/
men/football/.
Game week starts for
UGA
University of Georgia
Head Coach Kirby Smart
held his first game week
news conference on
Monday, Aug. 27 and left a
curious issue up for
debate. With only a few
days left until game time
Smart has still not
announced the starting
quarterback for the upcom
ing game against Austin-
Peay this Saturday, Sep. 1.
Both Jake Fromm and
Justin Fields would be
good choices, and each
would bring their slightly
different style to a Georgia
offense that is primed and
ready. With a full year
under his belt, including
four quarters of champion
ship football, my money is
on Fromm.
Bob Christian is the sports
reporter for the Dawson County
News.
DawsonEvents, cont.
The next Pups in the Park Dog
Show and Festival, hosted by
the Dawson County Humane
Society, is scheduled for April 13,
2019.The event will be held from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rock Creek
Park.The society is looking for
vendors for the event and is
accepting open market merchan
dise such as homemade jelly,
bakery products, fresh produce,
arts and crafts and more. If you
are interested in having a booth
or for more info contact the
humane society at (706) 265-
9160.
The Dawson County Library
is hosting Adult Craft Night on
the lastTuesday of each month.
Registration is required; call the
library at (706) 344-3690 to sign
up.The library is located at 342
Allen Street in Dawsonville.
The Amicalola Regional
Farmers Market is open from
3:30 to 7 p.m. each Friday at
Veterans Memorial Park, 186
Recreational Road in
Dawsonville. If you are interest
ed in becoming a vendor email
Clark MacAllister, county exten
sion agent, at clarkmac@uga.
edu.
Free BINGO for seniors will be
held beginning at 9:30 a.m. every
Wednesday at Ingles in
Dawsonville.
GeorgiaCares at Legacy Link
is offering services to help screen
and enroll for Medicare. For
more information, call (770) 538-
2650.
The National Alliance on
Mental Illness Forsyth
Dawson Lumpkin Chapter
(NAMI FDL) holds separate sup
port group meetings for family
members and another for adults
with mental illness from 6:45
p.m. to 8:15 p.m. each second
and fourthThursday of the
month at the Forsyth County
Senior Center.
EDUCATION
Parents of preschool children
who suspect developmental
delays may have their children
screened by the Dawson County
School System.The screening
covers five areas of developmen
tal growth including motor skills,
adaptive behavior, social/emo
tional skills, speech/language
and cognitive skills. Parents must
be residents of Dawson County
to be eligible. For more informa
tion or to initiate the screening
process, contact Early Childhood
Coordinator Shari Chastain at
(706)216-5812, ext. 1961.
Free English classes are held
at 7 p.m. each Thursday night at
CrossPoint Church. For more
information, call (706) 265-6262.
Home School Enrichment
Co-op offers classes in art, cre
ative writing, Spanish, band,
cooking, music, sewing and
physical education. Classes will
be held at Lighthouse Baptist
Church, 329 Harmony Church
Rd., Dawsonville. If you are inter
ested, contact Ginger Haney at
(678) 200-3832.
North Georgia Homeschool
Alliance invites all area home-
schoolers to attend "Thursday
Live" events. Students research
the month's theme and then
make their presentations on
stage, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
every fourthThursday, at
Concord Baptist Church in
Cumming. Membership in the
alliance is free to homeschool-
ers. For more information, visit
www.northgeorgiahomeschool.
com.
Boy Scout Troop 422, char
tered with the Etowah Lodge
F&AM 222, meets at 7 p.m. each
Monday at the lodge, located off
the square in Dawsonville. For
more information, visit www.
bsatroop422.com or call (404)
569-5334.
Cub Scout Pack 422 meets
every otherWednesday at 6:30
p.m. at the Etowah Lodge in
Dawsonville. New boys are wel
come to join. If interested, call
(706) 265-8054 or visit www.bsa-
troops422.com.
Daisy Girl Scouts meet at
Bethel United Methodist Church
the second and fourthThursday
of each month from 6 p.m. to 7
p.m. Girls from all schools wel
come. Call or email troop leader
Adrienne Baker for additional
information at (404) 944-9668 or
rasbaker13@windstream.net.
The Dawson County Adult
Education Center needs vol
unteer teachers and tutors to
assist students of all ages who
are preparing to take the GED
test. In just two hours each week
you can help someone who is
trying to get a job, support their
families or enroll in college by
gaining a diploma. For more
information, call (706) 265-1690.
Dawson County WEE Books
Program Inc. meets the first
Tuesday of each month at Fire
Station No. 2, on Hwy 53 East, at
4 p.m. For more information, call
(706)216-4872.
BUSINESS
Dawson County Chamber of
Commerce meets the second
Thursday of each month at 10
a.m. for a monthly board meet
ing.The chamber membership
luncheon follows at 11:30 a.m.
Business After Hours event at
various business member loca
tions are held the fourthTuesday
of each month. For more infor
mation, call (706) 265-6278.
BNI-Business Network
International in Dawsonville
has a new venue.The group
meets at 8:30 a.m. everyTuesday
at Winds of Peace Fellowship
Church, 1550 Harmony Church
Rd. For more information, call
chapter president Ed Combs at
(404) 641-8102.
The Dawson County
Woman's Club meets at 6 p.m.
the first Monday of the month
January through May and
September through November
at the Bowen Center for the Arts.
For more information, visit www.
dawsoncountywomansclub.org.
CLUBS
The Georgia History Book
Club is refining its name to:
Georgia On My Mind.The club
meets at 3:30 p.m. the third
Wednesday of each month at the
Dawson County Library.The club
read books by Georgia authors
(fiction and non-fiction) and/or
about Georgia history. For more
information and to see what we
are currently reading, please
contact the library at (706) 344-
3690.
The Photo Critique Group
meets at 6:30 p.m. every fourth
Thursday at the Bowen Center
for the Arts.The free group
invites novices to professionals
to share ideas and up to five
photos for positive critique.The
Bowen Center for the Arts is at
334 Hwy. 9 North in Dawsonville.
For more information, call (770)
553-7476.
North Georgia Mounted
Search and Rescue is a non
profit, volunteer based, opera
tional team serving Dawsonville
and the surrounding counties. It
is a growing unit that is continu
ously training to provide search
and rescue services.The group
meets monthly in-classroom or
for field training exercises.The
group is looking for dedicated
people who enjoy learning and
improving community resourc
es. Members are mounted and
non-mounted. For more informa
tion, email ngmsarsec@gmail.
com or visit www.ngmsar.org.
Retraining assistance is avail
able to unemployed veterans
through the Department of
Veterans Affairs and Department
of Labor.To learn more or apply,
call (800) 827-1000 or visit www.
benefits.va.gov.
Veteran and active military
bricks are available for the Walk
of Honor at Veterans Memorial
Park. Call (678) 779-2584 or email
vetaffairsdawson@aol.com for
more information.
The PageTurners book club
meets at 1 p.m. the firstThursday
of each month, at the Dawson
County Library.The book club is
for anyone interested in literary
discussion. Membership is free
and all are welcome.
Dawson County Chapter No.
970 of Vietnam Veterans of
America meets at 7 p.m. the
second Monday of each month
at the Dawson County Board of
Education Professional
Development Center. Weekly
gatherings also take place at
Billie's Heavenly Biscuits, a.k.a.
"The Bunker" on Hwy. 9 North
each Friday from 8 a.m. to 10
a.m. For more information, call
Chapter President Bill Martin at
(706) 809-2573.
Dawsonville Post 247
American Legion meets the
secondTuesday of each month.
The group also holds bingo at 7
p.m. Monday and Friday on
Lumpkin Campground Road,
near the outlet mall. Look for the
signs. All veterans are encour
aged to join.Etowah Masonic
Lodge No. 222 meets the first
and thirdTuesday of each month
at 7:30 p.m. at East First Street in
Dawsonville. For more informa
tion, call Raymond Duncan, W.M.
at (706)216-6450.
The Georgia Mountain
Chapter, Military Officers
Association of America, serv
ing Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth,
Gilmer Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens,
White and North Fulton counties
meets at 11:30 a.m. the third
Thursday of each month at the
Golden Corral in Cumming. All
current, former and retired mili
tary officers and spouses are
invited. Call (687) 779-2584 for
more information.
Civitan Club meets at 12 p.m.
the 2ndTuesday of each month
and at 4 p.m. the 4thTuesday of
each month at the Professional
Development Building next to
the Board of Education, located
at 30 Main Street.The club is
hosting a membership drive
March 27.The club is a branch of
Civitan International.The mission
of the club is to build good citi
zenship by providing a volunteer
organization of clubs dedicated
to serving individual and com
munity needs, with an emphasis
on helping people with develop
mental disabilities.