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4*2 Mi If f.il.u ’ALL FOR aoo 3 ^ GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT UNIV OF GA ATHBYSGA 30602 % mm 1 rilKT ^ 4 J w 4 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 _ >( / I CP t ili I ( < v / t»r (ht ) 1 PlUH PM * 11\ it f fF&OO l * 4 • ' \ 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 % s i a r > if 1 Zrtnmei , mZ. I . 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 _