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CLCP/UTERACY
EDUCATION FOR ADULTS
IN PEACH INC.
Did you know that one
of Governor Deal's educa¬
tion priorities is the Georgia
Competitiveness Initiative?
At his request, the Georgia
Chamber of Commerce facili
tated listening sessions to
develop a long-term strategy
for economic development that
heavily focuses on education
and workforce development.
According to the Georgia
Partnership for Excellence in
Education. Peach County is
not the only county concerned
about developing a quali¬
fied workforce for today and
tomorrow.
That is why this is the right
time to get serious about your
future. If you do not have a
high school or GED diplo¬
ma. you may enroll today and
become one of the skilled
and qualified workers that is
needed. The Adult Education
Center in Fort Valley is located
at 700 Spruce Street, Wing B
(478-825-9072) and in Byron.
202 Moseley Road <478-956-
7621). A survey conducted
in 2011 by ManpowerGroup
reported that 52 percent of the
U S. employers have difficulty
filling critical positions within
their organization. Other com¬
panies report job vacancies
that range from six to 200 with
some positions open for at least
nine months to a year. There
are jobs out there, but employ¬
ers need skilled employees.
The bottom line is not just a
downturn in the economy, but
a luck of education and ncccs
sary skill training. .. < >>■
L.E.A.P., your business,
government, education non¬
profit organization, continues
to promote literacy. We know
that we must get Peach County
in a position to take advantage
of all of the opportunities that
are coming to this area. This
is a community (county-wide)
issue that affects the quality of
life for all residents. For more
information about L.E.A.P.
and how you can help, visit
our website at www.freewebs.
com/leapinc or call the office.
478-825-9407. Alan-Ashley
Pitt said, “The man who fol¬
lows the crowd will usually get
no further than the crowd. The
man who walks alone is likely
to find himself in places no
one has ever been.” fumpStart
Your Way into a New Day!
VICTORIOUS LADIES
OF VIRTUE 2012 UNITY
RETREAT
Victorious Ladies of Virtue
will host our 2012 Unity
Retreat! The dates are April
27-28, 2012 at The Lodge at
Simpsonwood in Norcross
Ga.!
Your deposit of $50 by
January 8th will hold your
spot! Reservations have
■t I ready begun to come in. so
want I* » Ure u, *«
yours in early for this Adults
Only event! Limited accom
modations have been reserved.
Our agenda consists of
our Friday Night Glory Fire
Ablaze Service and Saturday
Workshops for Singles
Ministry. Marriage Ministry,
Men’s Ministry and Women’s
Ministry.
Contact us at 770-597-8258
to register and for more details
PEACHES TO THE
BEACHES
Peaches to the Beaches will
be taking place the second
weekend in March 2012!
Anyone interested in becom
ing a Fort Valley vendor, please
contact the Peach County
Chamber of Commerce with
any questions, To register.
please fill out and sign tire
attached form and return with
a check for $30 to reserve your
space. Spaces will be filled on
a first come first serve basis.
Vendor space is available at
the new Farmers Market and
at the Troutman House, both
♦ FEBRUARY 29, 2012
general public.
The Middle Georgia Koi
Society will present this show
featuring koi and goldfish
display tanks, vendor booths
and seminars. Be there to learn
about koi and the this fascinal
ing hobby while viewing the
best show fish in the southeast.
Pu„:h.* k„, and gold
fish, pond supplies, fish food
and other items at show prices,
For more information visit
www.middlegakoisociety.com,
or call show chairman Jeb
Stewart at 478-333-3495.
TESTIMONIES i TIPS
Come praise the LORD for ail
he has done and hear some great
tips on Staying Healthy in 2012.
Music provided by the Shiloh
Baptist Church Male Choir.
March I, 2012,7 p.m. hosted by
Visions for The Valley, at the
Shiloh Baptist Church. Morris
Hillsman. Sr., Pastor, 1101 East
Church Street, (Hwy 96 East).
Fort Valiev,
For additional information.
please call (478) 825-9006 or
(478) 825-7581
Beginning Friday. April 13.
the Macon SBDC office is offer¬
ing the SBDC StartSMART
program to entrepreneurs.
Owning your own business is
the American dream. Building
it to withstand the test of time
on Hwy, 341 in downtown Fort
Valley. Last year we had tons
of folks come through from 9
states! If we have a good group
of vendors, we will attract even
more this year!
ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Let’s take a ride to the Essence
Music Festival on July 5.2012.4
days and 3 nights with PCHS
Clas of 71. For more informa¬
tion please call (478) 825-7919
or (478) 827-1289. (478) 955
9953 .
FVSU UPCOMING EVENTS
“Crowns" A Stage Play
March 1-3 at 7 p.m. March 4.
2012 at 3 p.m.
This gospel musical play is by
^8'™ Taylor- wh 'ch » based
on the book by Craig Marberry
and Michael Cunninham.
Produced in association with
FVSU’s Joseph Adkins Players.
Loacation: Austin Theatre
Downtown Fort ValTickets on
sale at www.KendrickAcademy.
com
For More Information,
Contact: Matthew Walker: (478)
827-3015 or (478) 733-8267
KEEP PEACH COUNTY
CLEAN & BEAUTIFUL QAC
EVENT
Keep Peach County Clean &
Beautiful has planned our GAC
event for Saturday. March 31,
2012 We will meet at the Fort
Valley Recycling Center at 8
a.m. We will also earmark 2
or 3 locations in both Byron
and Fort Valley to clean up on
that day. We need volunteers so
please contact Jann Culpepper
at 825-3041 or via email jann
culpepper@peachcounty.net.
COLONY BANK
FUNDRAISER FOR RELAY
FOR LIFE
Cok)ny B ank is se || itlg
Georgia Bob’s BBQ tickets as
a fund raiser for Relay for Life
The tickets are $8 and they have
an expiration date April 25th, so
they can buy them now and be
a y e use them up until April
25th.
This is the Peach County
Relay for Life on April 27th.
We will start selling the tickets
Feb. 21st. They can be pur¬
chased at both of our locations.
1290 S. Houston Like Road,
Warner Robins and 200 Gunn
Road, Centerville. Ga.
4TH ANNUAL KOI A
GOLDFISH SHOW
March 30. 3I. and April I
Georgia National Fairgrounds
- Heritage Hall
FREE ADMISSION to the
NEVERLAND IS COMING TO
BYRON
The Byron Drama Club pres¬
ents the classic tale of Peter
Pan. Mark your calendars for
Saturday, March 3rd at Byron
United Methodist Church CFC
Building. Cost will be $3.
Showtime is 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
For more information contact
Heather Rady at 319-3069.
DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BOARD MEETING
The regularly scheduled
board meeting for the Fort
Valley Downtown Development
Authority on March 6 at 6
p.m will not meet as the board
members will be attending a
planning retreat..
BOY SCOUTS CHICK-N Q
The Boy Scouts are having
their annual chrck-n-q on
Saturday. March 3. 2012. The
pjate includes 1/2 chicken, cole
s | aVk . chips, and bread. The cos
requires a unique set of tools—
and a lot of hard work. SBDC
StartSMART will show you the
way.
Designed specifically for new
entrepreneurs, SBDC StartSmart
provides the resources and
support to launch your company
and put your dreams within
reach.
SBDC StartSMART will help
you launch a business built for
today's challenging times. In
just 8 three-hour sessions, learn
to evaluate and implement your
vision by creating a thorough,
well researched strategic plan.
Fridays, April 13-May 18,
2012
Most days - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Two full days - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For more information, please
call 478-757-3609.
FEBRUARY TAX WORKSHOP
•income Tax Update"
Presenter: W. L. Brown, Peach
County Tax Commissioner
February 29, 2012 10 a.m.
Family Resource Center, Riley
Avenue.
The FRC is open for public
hours on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to
5 p.m and Friday from 9 a.m. to
noon. Contact Sara Mason: 478-
825-5933 ext. 1048 or 478-952
9901. smason@peachschools.org
HARLOT IN A RED DRESS
Come join us at the first annual
“Harlot in a Red Dress on the 3rd
Pew” Conference on March 16
at 7:30 p.m. and March 17 start¬
ing at 9 a.m. This conference
will have heavy topics relative
to sexual immorality. All par
ticipants 17 and under must be
accompanied by an adult. The
event will take place at the Fort
Valley Feed Center at 313 Carver
Drive, Fort Valley. Georgia.
FORT VALLEY UTILITY
COMMISSION WORK
SESSION
A work session will be held
on Tuesday. March 6, 2012 at the
Fort Valley Utility Commission's
McLean Water Plant office
located at 102 Central Avenue
at 9 a.m. Items for the regular
Utility Commission meeting will
be discussed.
The regular Fort Valley Utility
Commission meeting is sched¬
uled for Monday, March 12,2012
at 6 p.m. at City Hall located at
204 West Church Street.
BYRON COMMUNITY
BLOOD DRIVE
2012 DATES
Apr 3, June 5, Aug 7
Oct 2. Dec 4 at Byron United
Methodist Church - 2 p.m. -7 p.m.
BATTLE OF BYRON ON THE
MOVE
The Battle of Byron is going
to be held on Saturday. May 5 at
jsiorth Peach Park this year. You
may have he arcl. ^ lheres a
g tKX j possibility Main Street will
^ undergoing some beautifica
tjon Droiects B.TtaHZT durintt sorinc/sum-
is $7 per plate. Please contact
Branham Culpepper via this
email address or 825-2826 if
you would like to purchase a
ticket.
POWER FOR LIFE
MINISTRIES PRESENTS:
COMMUNITY CARES DAY
2012
Location: 220 Highway 49N
(Behind Dairy Queen). Byron,
GA 31008
Date: March 10,2012
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Community Cares Day is a
free event that is open to the
residents of Peach and the sur¬
rounding counties. During the
event, clothing, food, toiletries,
and non-perishable items will
be given away to those in need
in the communities. If you are
interested in donating items
f or this event, please contact
Cheryl Mark at 478-973-6002.
BULLYING EDUCATION
FOR PARENTS
A panel of experts with
diverse professional train¬
ing: Counselors, Behaviorist,
Principals, Cyber Expert, and
Law Enforcement will discuss
questions on Bullying that
have been preselected from
parents from the Middle
Georgia area. Time permit¬
ting, additional questions will
be taken from the audience.
This symposium will be an
opportunity for parents to gain
insight into the world of bul
lying and be better equipped
to recognize, react, monitor
and prevent bullying. Please
come out and join us as we
learn ways to decrease bully/
victim behavior at school and
at home.
Symposium: Saturday
March 10, 10 a.m.
The Pettigrew Center
Auditorium:
Campus of Fort Valley State
University - University Drive
Fort Valley, Ga.
Sponsored by the VIC-KI
Foundation Inc.
In Memory Dan Gunn, Jr.
February 29,1916 - February 27,1984
U (2po/s/ At' Als 96l/kffiirtAr/cu/
0
Ok ^^nsueieTtatt/ o/Ms tfrcupu' £[)ea£/k - k
This is the 28th Anniversary since your
tragic slaying. He is still missed by his
friends and grieved by his son who will
never forget. Cruelly an unrepentant and
unpunished thief-in-the-night robbed our
world of a hardworking.well respected
agri-businessman and Peach Farmer in the
dark of night. February 27. 1984. He was
interred at historic Riverside Cemetery on /
his leap year birthday among his equally >
successful forebears, who are rooted in
midstate history since the Revolutionary
War. Coming of age and going to work
during the Great Depression to save the
family farm he worked, along with
millions of Americans, exhaustively long
hours through WW1I contributing taxes and
commodities through the successful Cold!
War.but sadly failing to witness his beloved I
Pres Reagan exhort Soviet Leader Gor¬
bachev to "tear down this wall!”. He was Dan Gunn lr
well thought of throughout Middle Ga.. renowned by his contemporaries as thoroughly handson
and for being “the hardest working farmer in the area!”
As a child there were frequent excursions into Fort Valley with my Father downtown for western
clothing, business at iconic Anthoine's Machine Shop, also having a go-cart built at F.V.-Hatchett'x
Machine Shop, often visiting Planters Services and occasionally attending fish fries there. Hard
work, innovation .advancement in our nation are the things that interested him and he placed value
on .In addition to his son, daughter, grandchild, great-grandchildren and “loving companion" whom
along with her four children - remember “Mr. Dan" as he was called by most, as "a kind genuine
wonderful man" whom they “truly miss" - are younger midstate citizens who are denied the
pleasure of ever experiencing this eccentric hard working, exceedingly productive and fascinating
•nan. Another great American gone too soon. Due to longevity in his family he could very well be
celebrating his 96th birthday with his children, granchild, and great grandchildren. He was slain in
the autumn of his life before he could relax and enjoy the fruits of his dedication.
Lest he be forgotten
1 won't ..Dan Gunn III
CHAMBER CONTINUED FROM PAGE I
1
*
State Rep. Robert Dickey congratulates 2012 Peach
County School District Teacher of the Year Hope Giles.
Dickey introduced a resolution in her honor on the floor
of the State Legislature. Photo by Victor Kulkosky
That experience taught
Walker that, "A lot of the time,
we’re thinking about what we
don't have. We have a good
school system in Peach County.”
His own four children went
through the local school system.
“It got them out of the house.”
he said.
Chandra Thomas, the
Graduation Coach at Peach
County High School, intro¬
duced this year’s STAR Student
and Teacher.
The STAR Program is
sponsored by the Professional
Association of Georgia
Educators Foundation, the
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
e and the Georgia Department
of Education. The STAR
Student must earn the highest
score in one sitting on the SAT
and be among the top 10% of
students in her senior class. The
STAR Student then picks the
teacher who has had the most
influence on her education as
the STAR Teacher.
The Peach County STAR
Student for 2012 is Rhianna
Baldree, who chose Victor
Hedgpeth as her STAR Teacher.
Thomas introduced Rhianna
as “outstanding in many ways."
As a junior, she participat¬
ed in the Governor's Honors
Program, which included taking
part in a live biological research
program over the summer.
Rhianna has been accepted at
UGA and Berry College and is
still weighing her options.
Hedgpeth, Thomas said, is
“a patient teacher," who will
switch teaching methods to help
each student understand the
material. He has been teaching
for about five years after over
20 years in the Air Force.
Rhianna summarized her
STAR Student essay, “What
Education Means to Me."
She recalled the “roller
coaster ride” of her time at
PCHS, which included the reor¬
ganization into themed acade¬
mies, the four-day schedule and
adaptation of tablet computers.
Her best classes were those
that included "hands on" activi¬
ties such as dissecting animals,
and also included debates.
The best classes also included
“rigor" that "challenged the stu¬
dents to focus themselves."
THE LEADER-TRIBUNE
“I had to increase my own
level of rigor." Rhianna said.
She has had "some mediocre
teachers," and “a lot of really
good teachers" and "a handful
of amazing teachers."
The amazing teachers were
"patient, kind and willing to be
flexible" to find a way for each
student to learn the material,
she said. Students will learn
enough to pass the course with
a good teacher, but with the
great ones, “you learn it inside
out and upside down - not just
the what but the why. They
honestly desire the success of
the students.”
Also recognized at the Focus
on Education Banquet were
the Peach County Teachers
of the Year. Hope Giles is
District Teacher of the Year and
Kay Road Elementary School
Teacher of the Year. Other
Teachers of the Year include:
Lakisha Bobbitt. PCHS; Dianne
Johnson, Byron Middle School;
Bridget Grayer, Fort Valley
Middle School; Tina Smith.
Byron Elementary School; and
Tracy Rouse. Hunt Elementary
School.
State Rep. Robert Dickey
announced the Legislature had
passed resolutions honoring the
STAR Student and Teacher and
Teachers of the Year and pre¬
sented certificates to them.
Various individuals and orga¬
nizations made gifts and pre¬
sentations to the STAR Student
and Teacher and Teachers of
the Year, including Fort Valley
Mayor John Stumbo, the Peach
County Chamber of Commerce
Education Comm
Nut Company - Kav roevef.
Valley Athletics - Wade Yoder,
Hooterville Farm Linda
Shingler, HEA Federal Credit
Union Martha Burke, the
Lane Family - Lane Southern
Orchard.
The Chamber Education
Committee includes Chairman
Jason Bowling, Sara Mason,
Sherry Hatchett, Stephanie
Johnson, Todd Youngblood,
Chandra Thomas and Urmil
Marshall.
Kay Community Service
Center catered the banquet and
the City of Byron provided the
venue.