Newspaper Page Text
4A
‘MAY 25, 2000
Hephzibah Marine provides support in Hawaii
By Kelvin F. Cook
Special to the AUGUSTA FOCUS
Napoleon Bonaparte once said,
“An army marches on its stom
ach.” Hephzibah’s Randy A. Perry
ensures that Marines stationedin
Hawaii continue marching, both
figuratively and literally, by pre
paring nutritious meals that sat
isfy their stomachs and meet their
nutritional needs.
The men and women who serve
our country in the United States
Marine Corps, operate in stark
environments. While in the field,
theydonot have the opportunity to
go to the restaurant of their choice
or get a home-cooked meal, so
their morale can depend on some
thingas simple asadeliciousmeal.
DFACS recognizes Foster Parents Program participants
8y Timothy Cox
“UGUSTA FOCUS Staff Writer
“Foster: To nourish, to rear, to
oromote, to cherish — as in help
‘ng to appropriately bring up a
*hild, though not by birth or adop
;ion.” The preceding definition, as
»xplained by New World Dictio
-lary, offers a clear reflection of
vhat “foster care” is all about.
During a May 19 reception at
BL’s Restaurant, anumber of fos
ter parents were acknowledged
for their participation in the Fos
ter Parents Program sponsored
by the Richmond County Depart
ment of Family and Children Ser
vices also known as DFACS. Lin
da Johnson, director of Richmond
County DFACS, called the pro
gram a success and showed her
appreciation for program partici
pants.
“We feel good about this cel
ebration. It’s a fitting apprecia
tion for people who work with
children from unknown back
grounds; picking them up at all
hours of the day, night to provide
USC Aiken signs three for baskethall
USC Aiken’s head basketball
coach Mike Robertshasannounced
the signing of three players to na
tional letters of intent to play bas
ketball for the Pacers starting in
the 2000-2001 season. Jamall
3ray, Leroy Williams, and Russell
tHarbin will enter USC Aiken in
the fall of 2000 as freshmen.
Gray, a 6-7 post player, is a
graduat of chester High School in
Chester, SC. Gray averaged 10.8
points per game and 8.6 rebounds
per game at Chester this past sea
son. He hit 45 percent of his shots
fromthefield, whileknockingdown
5 percent ofhis attempts from the
‘harity stripe. Gray was also a
‘efensive presence inside averag
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Lance Cpl. Randy Perry
Photo by Tony Gray, NPAC
Marine Lance Cpl. Perry, the
24-year-old son of Reginald and
Lillie Perry of Hephzibah, is a
cook assigned to Headquarters
e
A
Ann Bagley, DFACS Atlanta
foster care consulitant, was
keynote speaker at May 18
appreciation banquet. (Photo by
Charles Jones)
shelter, care and love.” During
the program’s 7" Annual banquet,
which attracted a number of sig
nificant number of DFACS admin
istrators, Johnson noted the
banquet’s theme, “Recognizing
ing 5.3 blocks per game.
Williams, a wing player, comes
to USC Aiken from Santa Fe High
School in Alachua, FL where he
was athree-year letterman in bas
ketball. In those three seasons,
Santa Fe tallied a 64-29 overall
record including an appearance in
Florida’s Elite Eight. As a junior,
Williams was rated by Florida Fo
cus as one of the top 100 high
schooljuniorsin Florida. This past
season, Williams averaged 14.3
points per game, 6.1 rebounds per
game, and 2.3 assists per game
while shooting 46 percent from the
field including 34 percent from the
three-point line.
Harbin, 6-8 post player, played
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Battalion Marine Corps Base Ha
waii.
The importance of individuals
who work in food services is not
always apparent, but without a
group of dedicated food service
professionalslike Perry, America’s
pre-eminent fighting force would
be less effective.
“My job as a cook is to satisfy all
the Marines who are here and to
satisfy their need for a nutritious
meal,” said Perry, a 1995 gradu
ate of Hephzibah High School.
Marines need thoughtfully
planned out support to accom
plish operations around the world.
Perry’s work allows the Marines
to be well fed when they are en
gaged in combat or doing humani
tarian missions.
While serving in the Marine
People Who Make a Difference,”
provided the perfect forum to ac
knowledge dedicated soldiers who
have helped make the Foster Par
ents Program a success.
Daisy Johnson, 78, was selected
Foster Parent Of The Year for her
25 years of service. Also acknowl
edged were Peggy Washington,
29 years of service and Louise
Scott, 32 years in the program.
Johnson noted the overall winner
wasvoted on by DFACS staffmem
bers and every participant exem
plifies positive qualities. Daisy
Johnson has been a foster mother
to more than 100 children and
represents the commitment dis
played by her program cohorts.
“We very much appreciate each
and every one of them,” said Lin
da Johnson.
Richmond County DFACS hosts
82 adults in the Foster Parents
Program which is considered a
bridge to adoption. Parents must
be at least 10 years older than a
child; a criminal background is
required and candidates can be
singleormarried. A 30-hour train-
his high school basketball at
Pendleton High School in South
Carolina. As a senior, Harbin av
eraged 12.0 points per game, 6.0
rebounds per game, and 2.0 assists
per game while leading Pendleton
to a 23-4 record and a Region I-AA
championship. In his three years
on the team, Pendleton won over
77 percent of their games.
USCA finished 13-12overalland
5-11 in Peach Belt Athletic confer
ence play last season. After an 8-0
start, the Pacers rose to a number
one ranking in the South Atlantic
Region for the first time in school
history. Roberts returns 10 of 12
players of the 1999-2000 squad
including four of five starters.
Corps, Perry, has learned his job
and other skills that can help him
in life.
“I've learned since joining the
Marines to become a more re
sponsible adult and I feel good
that my little sister is a Marine
now also,” Perry said.
Perry is assigned to the service
company of the battalion whichis
responsible for the administra
tive support for more than 750
Marines and Sailors who are as
signed to 32departments and sec
tions. Perry finds his work en
hancing morale and welfare re
warding.
Perry said, “The most reward
ing aspect of myjobisbeingrecog
nized for doing an outstandingjob.
It gives you more motivation to
expand in your career as a cook.”
ing course is also mandatory.
“We’re just here to facilitate the
comfort level of children, and al
lowthem togrow,” said the DFACS
director. She also said more foster
parents are needed. Typical foster
parents arearound age 50, empty
nesters with adult children who
have flown the coup, and, with
enough energy to help a child
reach his or her dreams, Linda
Johnson said.
The banquet featured WJBF
News Channel 6 anchor Raphael
James as master of ceremonies.
Richmond County commissioner
Marion Williams gave a procla
mation and Pamela Williams,
DFACS volunteer resource coor
dinator, offered more presenta
tions.
For information about joining
the DFACS Foster Parents Pro
gram, contact Luera Lewis, social
services casemanager at 721.3718.
Public Information & Education
Family Day
Bell Auditorium
Saturday, June 3rd
10:00 am - 3:00 pm ,
* Federal, State, & County Exhibitors!
*Children’s Activities!
* Job Fair, Health Care, Education, &
“ Family Values Information! » ‘
“‘ * Taste of the Region! I‘ 00“
goa *Meet Elect »d Officials! R IzE 4
e Entertainment: Community Choirs, : s l
Step Teams, Augusta Mini Theatre '
' *lssue Forum
Come Get a Piece of the Pie!
Between 7th and Bth Streets
- Downtown Augusta ‘ |
Sponsored by: Proctor&Gamble, 6avis Broadcasting, NewsCHANNELS,
City of Augusta, Coca-Cola Bottling Co-Augusta
o o " »
Top Ladies of Distinction adopts
B
city blocks of Laney-Walker
'o. L B
i .
environment.
Top Ladies of Distinction, in
concert with the city of
Augusta’s goal to clean up and
protect the environment, has
adopted Phillips Street and three
blocks of Laney-Walker Blvd.
An Adopt-a-Street recognition
sign has been erected near the
parking lot of the Lucy Craft
Laney Museum of Black His
tory.
On October 30, 1999 and
March 25, 2000, the Beautifica
tion Committee and Top Teens
donned comfortable shoes, or
ange jackets, pickup sticks and
positive attitudes and proceeded
to pick up and prepare for dis
posal 10 bags of refuse and de
bris. The group, who knows
that maintenance demands a
constant effort, will not stop
The Augusta Focus is an award-winning Walker Group publication.
People
there. It has scheduled its next
cleanup for the following month.
The Beautification Commit
tee also sponsored the Annual
Christmas Decoration Competi
tion. During Christmas 1999,
several streets in the historic
Laney-Walker District were
judged. Manyofthehomes were
decorated spectacularly, mak
ingthejudgesjobs verydifficult.
After careful consideration the
prize for the Most Creative and
Original Decoration went to Mr.
and Mrs. Marsha Turner of
Hopkins Street and the Seasonal
Category prize went to Mrs.
Dorothy Middleton of 13% Street.
Flyers will soon announce the
upcoming Most Beautiful Yard
Competition. Judging will take
place in June or July.