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Thursday, August 24,2017 The Baldwin Bulletin I Your local newspaper Page B3 » GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT 2017 state delegates speak at Legion meeting Two youth state delegates spoke to Legionnaires, Auxiliary members, Sons of the Legion and Legion Riders, as well as guests, of their experiences at recent state meetings. Davis Isley was the Boys State Delegate, while Mary-Elizabeth Jones was the Girls State Delegate. Boys State and Girls State are leadership and citizenship programs which occur over the summer. The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary sponsor the annual events. Delegates take part in a practical government course, and develop a working knowledge of the structure of government. According to a press release from the Legion, representatives are taught, CONTRIBUTED Boys State delegate Davis Isley with Post 6 Commander John W. Griffin. “the fact that our govern ment is just what we make it. Post 6 Commander John W. Griffin presented the Boys State participation certificate and Boys State medal to Isley, while Auxiliary Unit 6 President Carrol Griffin presented the Girls State participa tion certificate and ribbon to Jones. During the state events, delegates learn the polit ical process by organizing a mythical 51st state. The delegates, who are from throughout Georgia, then run each branch of government they are elected to serve. Instruction on the law and court system, parlia mentary procedure and Georgia political history are also included in the weeklong retreat. This year, Boys State occurred at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, while Girls State occurred at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. Any eligible high school junior interested in attending Boys State should contact John W. Griffin, while those inter ested in Girls State should contact Carrol Griffin. Both can he contacted at 478-453-0295. Eligible veterans, spouses daughters and sons interested in being part of the world’s largest veteran service orga nization can email the Griffins atjwgrijf@aol. com, or contact any local American Legion Post. CONTRIBUTED Girls State delegate Mary-Elizabeth Jones with Auxiliary Unit 6 President Carrol Griffin. » NONPROFIT SERVITUDE Overview Inc. offers 'hand-up' in Milledgeville CARRIE MOON came@bbnews.today Overview Inc. helps eligible clients become self-reliant. The nonprofit, which served approximately 4,000 families in 2016, works throughout the community to provide aid and care to those who need it. “We try to help low income and elderly clients get on the road to self efficiency,” said Executive Director Wanda Addeo. With the help of community partnerships, Overview offers services and programs for their clients. Overview partners with a wide variety of groups, including the National Association of State Community Services Programs, the National Community Action Foundation and the Georgia Community Action Associations. In addition, Overview works on a program with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Baldwin, Johnson and Washington counties. Children can participate in the program during the summer and after school. Addeo said they do a lot of activities with the children that helps enable them to become model students and eventual citizens. The company receives a Community Service Block Grant (CSBG), which helps pay the tuition for the Boys and Girls Club. Another program the nonprofit uses a CSBG for is its partnership with Meals on Wheels. Monday through Friday, volunteers drive throughout the community to deliver hot meals to those in need. The various programs Overview works on are based on family and income size. Some of the programs go at 125 percent of the federal poverty level, while others go up to 200 percent of the poverty level. “We offer a hand-up, not a handout,” Addeo said. For the eligible families, the nonprofit works on home repairs, such as adding wheelchair ramps to residences and minor repairs including floor repair, roof replacements and ceiling repair. Addeo said the nonprofit’s goal is to make homes safer and more accessible for those who are handicapped. Some of these programs include the Energy Assistance Program, which starts in December for the general public. However, it does start in November for clients who are elderly and homebound. Addeo said the program is on a first come, first serve basis, and those who participate receive a one-time payment, which goes towards the house hold’s heating source. The payment is based on family income. Another program offered by Overview is the Low Income Weatherization Program. Addeo said the nonprofit goes into homes and works on energy efficiency measures including caulking, adding insulation and replacing heating and air units. It also handles safety measures such as installing carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, smoke detectors and range hoods. ‘We do anything that is safety related, not cosmetic related,” she said. The overall goal of the weatherization program is to make the home more energy efficient so utility expenses will lower, making it more affordable to heat and cool the household. Overview is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. However, the organization is closed between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. for lunch. Those who want to contribute are encouraged to call 478-453-4111 or visit httpfi/www.overviewinc. com/. » LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT Missing Alzheimer’s patients found through CareTrack CARRIE MOON carrie@bbnews.today The Milledgeville Police Department and Baldwin County Sheriff s Office treat situations involving missing persons with Alzheimer’s disease, or Dementia, as a top priority. Local law enforcement was acknowledged for their team efforts after an incident, in which a man with Alzheimer’s walked out of his home and went missing by Register Road. “When we receive a call about a missing person, we view it as a priority call,” said Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee. The Milledgeville Police Dept, and Baldwin Co. Sheriff s Office respond with preparation and teamwork after receiving a call from the man’s spouse, Yvonne McKinley. Law enforcement is able to map out the area where a missing person was last seen. In addition, the officers also make neces sary accommodations when there are several acres of land or extreme weather conditions. Officers were able to accommodate for the land surrounding the McKinley residence, by using four- wheelers and a K-9 trained to pick up a human’s scent to aid their search. During that incident, they received help from Baldwin Fire Rescue and they encourage others in the community to help as well. James McKinley, Jr., 82 years old, was found walking around Register Road area Monday, July 24. A couple was walking in the area and reported that something looked off about James, so they decided to call the sheriffs office. “The couple knew some thing was out of place and we were glad they made the call,” Massee said. James was found unharmed and returned home to his wife, who wanted to express her gratitude to the couple that found her husband and to local enforcement for responding quickly. “They were all very compassionate, and they performed efficiently and professionally,” McKinley said. The Baldwin County Sheriffs Office has a program for alerts with the 911 Center and a system called the “A Child is Missing Program,” which logs missing persons of all ages. The Care Track program is also available for anyone interested. A Care Track is bracelet which also works as a tracking device so loved ones can locate anyone of concern. If you’re interested in a Care Track bracelet, contact Capt. Michael Lumpkin by calling 478-445-4893, or email mlumpkin@baldwin- sheriff.com. Find us on Facebook! Find us on Twitter! www.Facebook.com/TheBaldwinBulletinwww.twitter.com/bulletinbaldwin
