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School board recognizes team;
hears requests to use facilities
BY DAV ID WALKNCEUS
L-TStaff Writer
Recognitions and requests
comprised the meeting agenda
for Peach County’s Board of
Education last week.
Under the nutrition pro
gram schools are recognized for
the percentage of the student
Ixxly served. Having met state
requirements and receiving
certificates of award w ere:
Byron Elementa rv
Antoinette Payne
Byron Middle- Angie Hall
Hunt Primary- Van Ethel
1 larris
Hunt Elementary- Beverly
Scott
Fort Valley Middle- Dora
Plant
Peach County High- Ourlie
Hancock
Chairman Hill Gre sham
congratulated participants
earning certificates and com
mented, “They are well
deserved.”
Gresham asked Board
members to hear a request
from Ken Asbury of Bvron ask
ing to use school facilities for a
concert by a visiting Austrian
Band. Rose Marie Bnx*r. of Fort
Valley, has roots in Austria
which has spawned a visit from
this unique band. Derrel
Bryan, Superintendent of
schools, noted “ Students could
really benefit from this visit.”
Linda Brown of Church’s
Frted C hieken was sched u led
to appear before board mem
bers to announce adoption of
PALI FPSTIVAP PARTICIPATION SOUGHT
The time is fast approaching to begin work on
putting the Fall
Festival together. This year the Lions Club would
like for our festival to be different with more par
ticipation from the community. zVs a community,
we need to pull together to provide a safe and fun
environment for our children on OcC 31 st. The
more participation, the more fun for everyone.
Please find the time to encourage your group,
cldss, employees, church to set up games, (bobbin 1
for apples, mazes), concession stands, whatever you
can think of.
Remember, this is also a great opportunity to
raise money for your club as well as serving your
community.
Please call Gary Borosky 825-7633 or 923-1208 or
Stacey Shy 825-1468 if you would like to
___participate.
'iJ*. A]
Ft*
hM Debbie Hunt-Faccento
Peach County School Board, Post 4
Areas that I plan to address as a School Board Member:
• Create a holistic approach to education, address
every aspect of a child’s learning process.
• Learning environments need to be SAFE and
free of distracting elements.
• Teachers, Counselors and Administrators need
the materials they deem necessary to
effectively teach our children.
• Communication is ESSENTIAL for a success
ful school system.
• Foundations of education need to be revisited
to ensure that the K-8 students are receiving
the basics they need for high school and beyond.
Second
Hunt Primary School and pre
sent an official certificate. She
was represented by Hunt Pri
mary officials who were happy
to accept their help
Gresham thun recognized,
Byron Elementary Schools
“Lady Eagles” for an outstand
ing Softball Season played by
them this year with a record of
11 victories and one loss. Coach
David Evatt was asked to
introduce his winning team.
Evatt named Coaches Larry
Damron and David Jackson.
Playing members of the Lady
Eagles were: Briggette Manuel,
Kelly Greer, Trisha Nixon,
Kayla Mangram, Jessica Crow
ell, Casey Damron, Mary
Gilmore, Amber Drew, Cally
Whitehead, Ashley Jackson,
Crystal Greer, Britta Thoma
son, Allie Brown and team
manager Amber Shirley. Gre
sham again congratulated
them on a fine season.
Sara Osborn, representing
Hunt Primary PTA, invited
parents and Ixiard members to
attend their next meeting
December 4th at 6:30 pm and
to leave a copy of 1TA newslet
ter 01111111x1 “Our Children”.
Gresham also recognized
Jule Windham who is running
for State House of Representa
tives District 114. Windham
conveyed, “I understand the
complexity of your jobs, and
want you to know I’m interest
ed in Peach County”.
Members heard a xuqu«*t
from Frank Tracy representing
Children’s Evangelism Fellow-
®fje Heaber tribune
WEDNESDAY, October 16, 2002
ship His request was to imple
ment an after school weekly
program one hour long that
would teach children biblical
principals from a non-denomi
national aspect. Students
would he required to have
parental consent and instruc
tors are certified and have a
background check. Tracy cited
statistics that report over
150,000 elementary students
in Georgia have never been in
a church. Members approved
the request with lour in favor
and one abstaining vote by
Nonna Givens.
Board members also
approved a lease for the Boys
and Girls Club to use school
facilities in Byron for a new
charter for Byron youth.
In a memo before board
Taxpayers upset over millage increase
BY DAVID WAIJCNCEUS
L T Staff Writer
County officials endured
heat from public hot over tax
issues.
Commissioners held a two
and half hour meeting at the
Public Library in Byron Thurs
day to address public questions
for propostxl millage increases
Officials heard complaints from
persons who thought tax
increases unwarranted. Arnuxl
with information available to
4 -Im*- public, citizens inquired
why a tax increase was neces
sary County officials ended up
in a discussion defending their
actions against Tax Commis
sioner Dwight Byrd. Repeated
ly, County Commission Chair
man, James Khourv told the
anxious public the hearing was
to discuss the proposed tax
increases not for airing con
cern for Byrd’s predicament or
the actions against him.
Khourv told attendees increas
es were necessary to provide
services to citizens at the cur
rent rate. “The county has
operaUxl in a deficit for the last
few years,” Khoury noted.
“To expect fund balances to
take up the slack again has
reached its limit", he added.
County officials are required
to keep a fund balance equal to
three months operation at all
times in case of emergencies to
• GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation
Test) results in Peach County show that the
failure rate of the science portion of the test
MUST be addressed.
• SAT and ACT test scores in Peach County
show that our students score low in the area of
Math. Again, getting the basics in during K-8.
• A proactive approach to changes in our school
system will not only impact the academic suc
cess of our students but will also impact the eco
nomic success of Peach County.
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF DEBBIE HUNT-FACCENTO
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The title winning Lady Eagles from Byron Middle School were recognized at
the school board this month.
record.
members Bryan recommended
the approval of FENA, a Crisis
Communication System. Safe
and Drug Free Schools funding
would make it possible for
Peach County to implement the
program without any cost to
their budget. The system could
be implemented as soon as
November. Members unani
mously approved the motion.
Board members approved
keep daily operations from
being interrupted. The overall
increase of proposed 2003 bud
get over Inst year is 6.32 per
cent. Most of the increases are
small and in some cases
reduced significantly.
Commissioners started bud
get cuts during work sessions
several months ago facing an
almost $15 million
year. Beginning the seemingly
impossible task of balancing
requests with expected rev
enues commissioners had little
choice hut to limit department
tal spending. N -t surviving
was over $3 million in expens
es requested by department
heads, thev ranged from addi
tional cars for the Sheriff’s
department to ueedeaters for
Public works.
Copiers and additional
office equipment for sonu
departments weren’t spared
under the cuts needl'd by com
missioners. County agents
office had the largest of
increases <106 jiercent) mostly
due to re-aligning Ixmkkeeping
methods. Roads and walkways
had an increase (40 percent)
due to Special Local Option
Sales Tax monies running out.
Reductions <-68 percent) in
spending have been addressed
equally by commissioners by
renegotiating terms for Bonds
held by the county for the
Development Authority. At
1mm tm
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/
the lease of a school bus
through Blue Bird Body Com
pany, with four in favor and
Gresham abstaining because
ho represented one of the hank
ing institutions making bids.
Board members heard
reports from the superinten
dent where he relayed that
Peach County may nix'd to Ixir
row $800,()()() to one million
dollars to complete this calen-
Thursday morning’s public
hearing commissioners were
questioned and ultimately
commended by an awaiting
public. Commissioners will
again be available for ques
tions or comments on Thurs
day (Oct. 17th) at 6 pm. There
has not been a tax increase in
six years,
BOE PUBLIC HEARING HELD
Continue J from Iront Page
ticyan, School Supa ri a tap d on t, admitted problems take
time to change and members of BOE have addressed changes
necessary to raise overall standings,
The tax proposal from the BOE only adds fuel to the fire
lx'cause the county proposes an increase as well. BOE mem
bers last raised taxes in 1996 and because of state regulations
a rollback in the millage rate occurred last year. In 2001 BOE
taxed citizens at a rate of 12.62 mills, a $100,000 house costed
$403.84 in taxes with homestead exemptions and tax credits.
The same house for 2002 would cost $480 in due taxes with
increased exemptions for this tax year. However, one thing is
clear, officials don’t like to raise taxes and taxpayers don’t like
paying them.
timers hospitality social. Oct. 18,
8 p m. A $5 love conthbution is
asked. For info call Alfred Ellis,
Jean Jackson or Evelyn McCray
\r at 825-8278.
m
T Fall Festival at Byron Elemen
tary School on Saturday, Octo
ber 26th from 12:00 noon til 4:00
p.m.
Political forum, Peoui county Court
house, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. sponsored by
Gamma Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority. Local board
of education candidates with opposi
tion. state legislative candidates and
national representative candidates
are invited to participate. New voting
machines wll be demnstrated.
Christmas tour of homes - Make
plans now to attend the home tour
on December 14. Hear the Sweet
Adeline’s and Chime Bell Choir per
forming at St. Andrews Episcopal
Church. Featured homes are the
Freshwater, O'Shields, McGehee,
Oankel and Ashley homes. Tickets
are $10 for the day or evening tour
and $12 for both. For more infor
mation contact the Main Street
office at 825-5986
Mossy Creek Barnyard Festival,
October 19-20. For information call
478-922-8265.
Annual Christmas Parade, Decern
ber 7, 5 p.m., Downtown Fort Valley
lighting, Christmas carols and bless
ing after the parade.
PCHS Trojan Touchdown Club annu
al Chick-n-que, Friday, Oct. 18,11
a.m - 2 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Vacant lot on Camellia Blvd.
The Hunt Educational and Cultural
Center invites Huntonians, family
members and friends to an old
dar year. A total of $606,000 in
ad-valorem taxes has been paid
to the Board of Education since
the beginning of this fiscal year.
Approximately $400,000 is
back taxes. Although State
money will be available before
the first of the year, local collec
tions probably won’t be
received until January. Board
of education employees also as
reported by the superintendent
could soon make changes to
their insurance policies regard
ing life and disability made
possible through McNeal Agen
O'
Bryan ended his report with
announcing future meetings of
the board on October 9th at
10am and 6pm. October 16th
and 17th lx>th at 5:30pm on the
proposed millage increase.
Board members entered a
short closed session on person
nel items then reconvened to
adjourn.
Jailhouse Alley Art Show & Sale
Saturday, November 2, 2002 at 9.00
a .m. until 4:00 p.m. Fort Valley Unit
e d Methodist Church. Free Admis
sion.
Peach County Historical Society
will meet Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 6:30
p.m. This will be a general meeting
for discussion of the Historical Dis
trict Tour and sale of Soup, Sand
wiches, and Dessert luncheon at the
Historical Headquaters.. This event
will be on Sat. Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. til
1:30 p.m. Plan to meet with us and
make plans to be part of the town.
The Hunt Educational & Cultural
Center would tike to extend invites to
the community of Fort Valley on
October 18, 2002 at 7.00 PM to the
Dedication Ceremony of the new
gymnasium flooring.
American Red Cross, Central Geor
gia Chapter, 195 Holt Ave, Macon,
Ga First Annual Pet Health Day
October 19,2003 -9 a.m. till 1 p.m.
Pet Blessings by Father Tom Wilson
at 10 a.m.; Pet Costume Contest will
begin at 12 noon and the Grand
Prize is a free Pet CPR Class and
book. PetSmait Dog Trainers will be
onsite from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Much
more including Lori Giles, DVM of
Fort Valley Animal Hospital, a Gre
hound Adoption and the police dog
from Crawford County, Rex.