Newspaper Page Text
2A
Peach County
HAPPENINGS
n 2b Out
CLCP/UTERACY
EDUCATION FOR ADULTS
IN PEACH INC.
Did you know that it is pro¬
jected that over 60 percent of
the jobs in Georgia will require
some form of college educa¬
tion by 2020? Unfortunately,
only 42 percent of the young
adult population has a col¬
lege education and 23 per¬
cent of the adult population
has less than a high school
diploma. This puts Peach
County and the state's current
and future economic health at
stake. Without a properly edu¬
cated workforce that can meet
the needs of a growing econo¬
my, we may not only lose new
employers and businesses, but
may experience a loss of exist¬
ing jobs as industries move to
another county or state with a
better educated population.
What can we do? Become
an advocate for literacy with
L.E.A.P. and take a holistic
approach to the affects and
effect of literacy/illitera¬
cy. L.E.A.P., your business,
government, education non¬
profit organization, needs your
help as we continue to make
residents aware of Free classes
and services that are available
weekly. If you, a relative or
friend do not have a diploma,
enroll today in the Fort Valley
Adult Education Center, 700
Spruce Street. Wing B (478-
825-9072) or in Byron, 202
Moseley Road (478-956-
7621). Adult Basic Education
(ABE). English as a Second
Language (ESL), and General
Educational Development
(GED) preparation classes
are taught day and night by
Middle GA Technical College
instructors.
For more information about
L.E.A.P. and how you can help
raise the literacy level in Peach
County, visit our website,
www.freewebs.com/leapinc or
call the L.E.A.P. office, 478-
825-9407. Eleanor Roosevelt
said. “The future belongs to
those who believe in the beau¬
ty of their dreams." JumpStart
Your Way Into A New Day!
ESSENCE MUSIC
FESTIVAL
Let’s take a ride to the
Essence Music Festival on July
5, 20I2. 4 days and 3 nights
with PCHS Class of ’71. For
more information please call
(478) 825-7919 or (478) 827-
1289,(478)955-9953 .
KEEP PEACH COUNTY
CLEAN A BEAUTIFUL GAC
EVENT
Keep Peach County Clean
& Beautiful has planned our
Great American Clean-up
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
culpepperCapeachcounty.net.
COLONY BANK
FUNDRAISER FOR RELAY
FORUFE
Colony Bank is selling
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 able to 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 Lake Road.
Warner Robins and 200 Gunn
Road. Centerville. Ga,
4TH ANNUAL KOI S
GOLDFISH SHOW
March 30, 31. and April 1
Georgia National
Fairgrounds - Heritage Hall
FREE ADMISSION to the
general public.
The Middle Georgia Koi
Society will present this show
featuring koi and goldfish
MARCH 14. 2012
display tanks, vendor booths
and seminars. Be there to learn
about koi and the this fascinat¬
ing hobby while viewing the
best show fish in the southeast.
Purchase quality koi 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.
SBDC StartSMART
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
requires a unique set of tools—
and a lot of hand work. SBDC
StartSMART will show you the
way.
Designed specifically for
new entrepreneurs, SBDC
StartSmart provides the resourc¬
es 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.
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 17th starting at 9 a.m..
This conference will have heavy
topics relative to sexual immo¬
rality. All participants 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.
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 North Peach Park this year.
You may have heard but there's
a good possibility Main Street
will be undergoing some beau¬
tification projects during spring/
summer so... The Battle has
moved..
FORT VALLEY UONS CLUB
ST. PATRICK’S DANCE
Fort Valley Lions Club will
be sponsoring a St. Patrick’s
Day Dance, March 17, 7 - II
p.m. at Villa Capriccio - 300
College Street. The cost is
$25 per couple , For Ticket
Information call: Helen at 478-
718-5411, Susan at 478-808-
3793 or Debbie at 478-213-8818.
WORK READY
ASSESSMENT/SCHOOL
CALENDAR EVENTS
March 6-13 Work Ready
Assessment Test for Seniors
8 am. - 12 p.m. - Byron
Middle School Computer
Labs (Collaborative Effort
with Middle Georgia Technical
College)
Mr. Ben Maddox - CTAE
Supervisor (Pick a date from
the range and contact Mr.
Maddox.)
March 14 - PI Day - Mrs.
Angelle Whittington - Math
Teacher
April 14 - Junior/Senior Prom
(7 p.m. -11:30 p.m.) - Pettigrew
Center - Mrs. Kathy Williams
April 20 College and Career
Day (8 am. - 1 p m.) - Mrs.
Chandra Thomas - Graduation
Coach
We will also have Career
Week April 17 - 20.
May 3 -Senior Honors
Program - 9 a m. - Mrs. Chandra
Thomas
May 5 - Underclassmen Honors
Program - 9:00 am
May 25 Graduation
Anderson Stadium 8 p.m.- Mrs.
Chandra Thomas
KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP
March 15,2012
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Kay Road Elementary School
Hunt Elementary School
Byron Elementary School
Registration Packets may be
obtained prior to Roundup from
any elementary school in the
county or will be available at the
local preschools and daycares in
Peach County beginning March
1 , 2012 .
Items Needed to Complete the
Registration Process
• Completed Registration
Packet (If one has been obtained)
• Child's Social Security Card
• Certified Birth Certificate
(Please bring the original not a
copy)
• Proof of Immunization
(Form 3231)
• Current Ear, Eye, and Dental
(Form 3300)
• 3 documents to show Proof
of Residency (2 current utility
bills and one of the following
items: valid lease or rental agree¬
ment, or a property tax statement,
settlement statement, property
deed or homestead exemption
notice )
• Picture I.D. of person regis¬
tering the child
• Proof of Guardianship if Not
the Child's Parent
• All Applicants must be five
years old on or before September
1,2012
5 years old on or before Sept.
1,2012
We thank you for sharing your
precious gift with us and look
forward to your child attending
one of our distinguished elemen¬
tary schools where we are creat¬
ing excellence.
Sincerely,
VILLA CAPRICCIO ST.
PATRICK’S DAY PARTY
FUNDRAISER
The former Evans/Cantrell
B&B, now Villa Capriccio is
excited to host a fundraiser for
the Fort Valley Lion’s Club on
March 17 from 7 p.m. - II p.m.
There will be good food and
lots of music. Tickets at $25
per couple and $15 per person.
Wear green or get pinched! All
proceeds will pay for eye glasses
and eye appointments for under¬
privileged families. We hope to
see you there! Call Hellen Shaw
@ 718-5411, Emily Griffin @
955-4138
OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION
AT THE PASSENGER DEPOT
Open House reception at the
passenger depot Date: April 16,
2012, at 5:30 p.m. Please join
Fort Valley MainStreet/DDA for
a celebration/reception as the
community of Fort Valley thanks
Renee Caira for the donation of
the Passenger Depot in honor of
her late husband, Steve M. Caira
The program will include a pre¬
sentation of a building plaque and
refreshments following. Contact:
Kathie or Carla at 478-825-5986
KAY CENTER PLANT SALE
Kay Center is a sheltered work¬
place that is a truly wonderful
part of our community. If you
have not bought plants from them
before, make sure you check them
out this season! The workers do
many kinds of services, not just
plants. There is a very dedicated
staff there too!
Cherry Trees $10
Red Maples $5
3 gallon azellas $10
Stella D Oro lillies $2
PCHS CLASS OF 1977
REUNION
The PCHS Class of I977 will
have a class reunion on June
2, Ml 2. You are encouraged to
call Mrs. Bennie Martin Moore
at 478-929-3416 or Mrs. Kaye
Watson at kut!ey#bellsouth.net
for more information.
Bible-Toting Policeman
Prepares to Meet God
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Retired Fort Valley Chief of Detectives Gary Trawick clutches his Holy Bible
surrounded by life-long friend, Deacon Tim Wilson (L) and Rev. Bryan McPherson
(R), pastor of Chamlee Memorial Baptist Church. Photo by Billy Powell
By Billy Powell
Author and Columnist
Gary Trawick of Fort Valley
has been known as the “Bible
Toting Policeman” for most of
the three decades he has served
in law enforcement. When
he dressed in his uniform,
strapped on his gun and holster,
and pinned on his badge, the
last thing he did before leaving
the house was to pick up his
Bible. He would witness to
anyone about the Lord who
would listen, even inmates in
the jail and people he arrested.
Often when he pulled over an
individual for a traffic viola¬
tion, he would leave them with
a Bible verse to ponder along
with a warning ticket.
From the day he first
encountered the Lord, he has
been on fire to share the good
news about the birth, life,
atoning death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. At one time,
Gary was chief of police in
Roberta, Georgia. He retired
as Chief of Detectives in the
Fort Valley Police Department.
The last high profile case he
investigated was the murder
of Denise Allison in 1986, the
most savage and brutal slaying
in Peach County History.
Assigned as lead investiga¬
tor, Gary vowed that Denise
would get her day in court.
After an intensive investiga¬
tion, he arrested a suspect, who
after a commitment hearing by
the late Judge George Harris,
was bound over to the grand
jury. The Allison murder case
appeared headed for a jury
trial. To Gary’s dismay and
to the chagrin of the entire
Fort Valley Police Department,
the District Attorney, at that
time, released the suspect uni¬
laterally without consulting the
police department even though
many local citizens considered
the case a “slam dunk.” As one
who has extensively investigat¬
ed the Allison case and written
a book on it, it is my consid¬
ered judgment that Detective
Captain Trawick did an “out¬
standing job" in prosecuting
the Allison case.
Forty years ago, Gary had
an encounter with the Lord in
a most unusual way. The date
was April 14. 1972. Gary was
walking from the courthouse
to the city hall. Glancing at his
watch, the time was 2:15 p.m.
Just as he was about to step
off the curb into West Church
Street, a “Phantom Hand”
reached out and touched him
on the shoulder. He looked
around to see who it was, but
no one was there; in fact, the
street was deserted. At that
instance, his mind raced
back to the previous night at
Chamlee Memorial Baptist
Church where under heavy
conviction, he had remained
in his seat during the invita¬
tion. It just so happened that
the choir sang “He Touched
Me” as the invitation hymn. “1
had been running from God all
my life,” said Gary. “Irene had
to practically drag me to the
revival service. I went just to
satisfy her. But the following
day when the mysterious hand
touched me on the shoulder,
I knew unmistakably ‘Who'
it was and what it meant.
From that time forth. I have
accepted Jesus Christ as my
LITTLE CAESAR PIZZA KIT SPRING FUNDRAISER
Peach County High Drama
Club will be taking orders for
Little Caesar's Pizza Kits March
TURKEY CREEK FESTIVAL IN BYROMVILLE
Turkey Creek Festival will
be held Saturday, May 5 in
Byromville. It is a family ori
ented fun for everyone event,
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Lord and Savior." Gary has
been a member of Chamlee
Memorial Baptist Church and
a lay speaker since that time.
Gary is now facing a physi¬
cal adversary. He was diag¬
nosed with multiple myeloma,
which attacks the blood and
bones, and is fatal. He hasn’t
asked his doctors how much
time he has and said, he prefers
not to know. I asked Gary if
he was afraid of dying, and he
replied, “At first 1 was. but now
I am at total peace with God
and ready when He calls me
home.” Gary added. “To those
trying to draw close to God, 1
caution them to let go of any
ill will they may hold against
another person because the,
harboring of animosity draws a
wedge between you and God.’’
Recently, Chamlee’s pastor.
Rev. Bryan McPherson, and
five deacons laid hands on
Gary and prayed for him. Gary
said the Holy Spirit rained
down upon that gathering and
there wasn’t a dry eye in the
room. Gary has a hospital bed
installed in his home on Harris
Drive (2nd house from north¬
east end of Harris) and is under
Hospice care.
Gary and Irene have two
children. Eric-a minister, and
Jennifer-a radiology techni¬
cian. They also have three
grandchildren; Isaac-6 and
Noah-9 by Eric, and Emma-7
by Jennifer. Gary welcomes
visitors. Every lime I visit
Gary, 1 feel the presence of
God. Thank you Gary for all
you have done. You are a credit
to your family, your church,
and your community.
2 thru March 21. Delivery date
will be March 28 after 3 p.m.
See any Drama student or call
A parade will take place at
10 a.m., exhibits, museum '
vendors, games, rides, food,
door prizes, and entertainment.
THE LEADER-TRIBUNE
the high school at 825-8258
or club sponsor Monica Nix at
478-290-2935.
Byromville is 15 minutes west
of 1-75. Exit 122. turn right onto
GA Highway 230.