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GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT
UNIV OF GA
ATHBYSGA 30602
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Peach OCTOBER
Legal Organ For Peach County, City of Fort Valley and City Of Byron
Foundation
Announces
Scant
Winners
By Victor Kulkosky
l-ast Thursday night was an
to do good for those who do good.
The doer on this occasion was
Community Foundation of Fort
which announced its 2011 Grant
winners at a ceremony at the
Fine Arts Gallery and Studio on
Street in Fort Valley.
The foundation has a
endowment, which it uses to
grants each year to nonprofit groups
Fort Valley that work to improve
lives of individuals, families and
community, said Kathryn FI.
CCFV President.
CCFV Board Member Helen
Stumbo announced four of the
winners, each of which received
certificate.
First up was Big Brothers/Big
of the Heart of Georgia.
Glymph with Big Brothers/Big
said the organization provides
tors for children and works closely
local Boys and Girls Club and
schools. She said the grant
enable Big Brothers/Big Sisters
serve more children in the schools,
pointed out 98% of children whom
organization serves get better
and 91% have better attendance.
Next was the Jay's Hope
which aids families that have
struggling with cancer.
Carla Stevens, and FVSU staff mem¬
ber. testified to the work of Jay's
Stevens had a 3-year-old daughter
was diagnosed with cancer in 2008
and died eight months later, and has
a 10-year-old daughter currently in
remission
Stevens said she had never heard
Jay's Hope until the day she got a call
from Cindy Gaskins, founder of the
organization, who said she has seen the
story of Stevens and her daughter on
the news and wanted to help.
“I never met a person with a heart as
big as hers.” Stevens said. “If I had a
million dollars, I'd give it to them."
The next winner announced was
Literacy Education for Adults in Peach
Inc., which works to improve literacy
and education among Peach County
adults. City Councilwoman Barbara
Williams, a board member, accept¬
ed on behalf of L.E.A.P. Executive
Director Mildred Lindsey. Williams
said LEAP began 13 years ago as a
coalition of groups iand ndividuals that
shared strategics for increasing adult
literacy. The group achieved a major
victory a few years ago when Peach
County became a Certified Literate
Community, but “the battle is still not
over," Williams said.
She said the CCFV grant would be
used to pay for more one-on-one tutors
to help those students who don't do as
well in a larger class.
The next winner was Peach Area
Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for
Humanity is a global organization that
builds houses for low-income families,
who buy the houses with zero-interest
loans.
Peach Area Habitat Vice President
Amos Smith said the CCFV grant
would go toward repairs for a fore¬
closed house that would then go to a
local family. Their zero-interest pay¬
ments would then help build Peach
Habitat s next house.
Board member Ned Watson took
over for the next batch of presentations
Continued to page 3 _
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Photo by Mark Walker
First Residents I- The 400 W. Church
By Mark Walker
LT Intern
With its shirt made of milk jugs and
pocket book knitted from grocery bags,
Jann Culpepper received a first place
ribbon, for her scarecrow at the Everett
Square Neighborhood Association
Scai^WbW Contest held last Saturday
afternoon.
Families, church groups, and
community members enjoyed Music
and a festive atmosphere as the Everett
Square Neighborhood Association
(ESNA) sponsored a scarecrow
competition at Everett Square Park.
Participants had 30 minutes to
assemble their scarecrow and set up
their display. After contestants finished
their displays in the allotted time, the
judging began.
“I’m looking for a traditional
scarecrow, creativity and overall good
design,” said Pat Sewell, the judge for
the scarecrow competition. “This is
going to be a tough job; each and every
scarecrow is unique in its own way,"
said Sewell.
Southwest Peach Project Advances
Fort Valley,
FVUC Outline
Their Roles
By Victor Kulkosky
News Editor
The long-suffering residents of
Southwest Peach are a little closer to
a dryer future.
At last week's regular monthly
meeting, the Peach County Board of
Commissioners unanimously approved
a Memorandum of Understanding out¬
lining each participant's role in the still
developing project.
Southwest Peach comprises
the neighborhoods of Ponderosa,
Crestwood, Allen, Carver Heights,
Willow lake and surrounding areas
Many homes in Southwest Peach are
on lots that are too small to prov ide
adequate draining for their septic sys¬
tem. Newer state laws no longer allow
septic systems in lot sizes that are typ¬
ical of Southwest Peach. As a result
of the drainage issue, residents have
recurring trouble with septic systems
backing up and flooding in their yards.
Elected and appointed officials have
argued for years over funds to extend
sewer service to the area, but the coun¬
ty, Fort Valley and Fort Valley Utility
Commission have recently forged an
agreement, which includes seeking
grants to fund the project Some of
those founds would be used to cover
the costs of sewer hookups for each
Store Robbed
The Byron Police Department
is investigating an armed robbery
that occurred on Sunday October
16 at 310 North Georgia 49.
Marathon (next to McDonald’s).
Shortly after 8 a.m. two black
males entered the store and
demanded money from the clerk.
One of the males was armed with
a black handgun. It is believed
Some unique scarecrows included
Fort Valley’s Public Works Department,
who received third place, made their
scarecrow out of metal and recycled
material. The scarecrow was dressed
in a standard public service uniform
and worker’s hoots. "We, wanted to
represent the city of Forf Valley and
the working rhafi,” said Benjamin
Carpenter, a worker for the city and
creator of the third place scarecrow.
Other contestants assembled their
entries with different inspiration.
Regina Mansfield of Real Estate South
helped create the “Byron Beauty”
a slim and elegant scarecrow with
painted face.
“We worked very hard on this
scarecrow. I even hand painted the face
last night,” said Mansfield. Sponsored
by Cane Rivet Vineyards, Drugstore
Deli, and Byron Better Hometown
the “Byron Beauty” placed second
in the contest. Regina Mansfield also
collected letters for the troops overseas
from anyone willing to write.
“Right now fm helping spread
the word and collecting letters in
home, which cost about $1,000 each.
The MOU commits the county to:
• Hold public meetings to pro¬
vide information about the project to
affected residents;
• Pay for engineering required for
the permits the required lift stations
(which pump wastewater uphill), with
the FVUC to reimburse the county
when construction begins;
• Apply for a Community
Development Block Grant from the
federal government and seek other
funding opportunities;
• Pay for construction of the project
except the costs Fort Valley might
incur to upgrade infrastructure.
Fort Valley's responsibilities
include:
• Annexing the lots that would
receive the new sewer service;
•Helping the county with grant
applications
The FVUC’s responsibilities
include:
• Owning, operating and maintain¬
ing the completed sewers system;
• F*ay 100% of engineering design
frees for lift stations and force mains
when construction begins;
• Pay for an> upgrades not needed
to complete the Peach County portion
of the project;
• Help the county with grant appli¬
cations
• Waive residential hook-up fees.
In a related matter, commission¬
ers approved a $7000 payment to
Allen-Smitb Consulting to assist with
preparing the CDBG application, and
a grant management fee equal to 6%
that both males were in a newer
model bright red car. The sus¬
pects left the scene with an undis¬
closed amount of money.
One suspect was wearing a light
blue hooded jacket and jeans.
The other suspect was wearing
a black stocking cap, black shirt
and jeans.
No one was injured during the
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Photo by Mark Walker
First Business- The Leader Tribune
the peach county region we want to
send the letters off around the 20th,"
said the Byron Better Hometown
representative.
The first place prize didn’t go to
a traditional scarecrow* the winner
certainly was original: it was made
entirely out of items from the Fort
Valley recycling center. JannCuljiept&r
constructed the first place scarecrow.
“There isn’t anything on this
scarecrow that isn’t a recyclable or
made out of recycled material,” said
Culpepper. “Reduce, reuse and recycle
that’s what it’s all about, we just don’t
need to keep throwing everything
away.”
But the Scarecrow Contest was only
one of three chances for Peach County
to strut its creative stuff. The Fall
Decorating Contest offered businesses
and homes to show off their Halloween
and Fall-themed displays.
First Place in the business category
was The Leader-Tribune (we promise
no favors were exchanged. Our
Business Manager Donna Trussed did
most of the work. Second Place in
4 .
; wa —
Photo by Victor of Kulkotky
Dianna Glymph with Big Brothars/Big Sisters receives a certificate award from
the Community Foundation of Fort Volley. With her are CCFV Board Member
Helen Rhea Stumbo and a member of the FVSU 2010-2011 Royal Court.
of the grant if awarded. CBDG's are
typically worth $500,000.
In other business, commissioners:
• Approved a request by Massee
l~ane Gardens to reduce the right of
way Massee Lane Road from 80 feet
to 60 feet, as part of the Gardens' mas¬
ter plan for expansion and improve¬
ments;
• Approved transmitting the coun¬
ty’s Short-Term Work Plan, a list of
planned projects in several categories
over the next four years, which is nec¬
essary to apply for grants that could
fund some of the projects;
robbery.
Anyone with any information
is asked to call the Byain Police
Department at 478-956-2880 or
Macon Regional Crime Stoppers.
Anonymous tips can be left at our
web site www.byronpd.org.
Contributed by Byron Police
Dept.
Business d went to Beverly’s Florist, and
3 r p| ace to World Finance.
First Place in Residential went to the
Cantrells at 400 West Church Street.
Second and 3 r ^ Place featured two
ties. Sharing 2 n ^ Place were The Tiger
Smiths at 209 Anderson Ave. and The
Banters at 301 Knoxville Street. Third
Place included Die Adamsons at 101
Everett Square and The Rolands at 310
West Church. Drive or stroll around
town and get a first-hand look at the
winners and all contestants.
The events allowed for the
community to come together and
participate in a fun event.
“One of our missions as a
neighborhood association is to promote
friendliness and communication
among neighbors; we had a great
amount of participation today," stated
Jo Ann Dankel President of the ESNA.
“These types of events make us feel
important and like we are all a part ot
the neighborhood."
The ESNA plans on having other
neighborhood events later in the year.
• Accepted the high bid of $4,200
from Tun Reynolds of Tim’s Total
Fitness for a narrow strip of land on
the adjoining EMS property on Gralan
Drive in Byron;
• Approved the recommended con¬
tribution of $396,274 to folly fond the
county pension plan, as recommended
by Government Employee Benefits
Corp.;
• Approved allocating two offices
vacated by Peach County EMS in
the County Courthouse to the Peach
County Board of Elections;
Continued to pogm 3
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