Newspaper Page Text
The Taylor County News, April 30, 2020, Page 4.
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Submitted by Jeff Cook T Taylor County Extension Agent
Snakes
By Bailey Lawson
With the arrival of warm weather this time of year, we are quickly entering snake season. You may encounter some
unwelcomed reptile critters slithering about outside in the upcoming weeks. It is important to remember not to panic
and immediately go grab a shotgun because more times than not, that snake will not bother you. In fact, most snakes
have favorable qualities, the biggest being their contribution to garden health by controlling rodents and insects.
Georgia is known for having a wide variety of snakes. There is a total of forty-six different species of this animal
throughout the state. Out of the forty-six, there are six species of venomous snakes, all of which are found in our area.
However, four of these six snakes are more common in our area of the state. The venomous snakes you might come
across are copperheads, cottonmouths, timber rattlesnakes, eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.
Venomous snakes are known to have a triangle-shaped head, and the rattlesnakes mentioned will have a rattle on
their tail ends, but it is not always an easy task discerning venomous snakes from nonvenomous ones. Getting close
enough to identify a snake is not recommended, so whatever the snake looks like, it is best to use caution, remain calm,
and w alk the opposite way.
Butler Garden Club Gets
Update On Hummingbirds
From Eloise Doty
The Butler Garden Club met March 11th at Reynolds
United Methodist Church. The fellowship hall was deco
rated in a St. Patrick's Day theme. The hostesses. Holly
Posey, Frances Bell, Sandra Kendrick, Mary Beth
Swearingen, and Olivia Flanagan, wore green. Sherry
Laymanee, Co-President presided. The program on hum
mingbirds was presented by Eloise Doty, a member of the
club. She reminded the group it was time to put up your
feeders as the Ruby 'throated Hummingbird would soon ar
rive. The actual date of the first bird sighted in Taylor
County in 2020 was March 18th. The proper ratio for the
nectar for fitting these feeders is 4 parts water to 1 part
sugar Mrs. Doty covered the details of these charming birds
from beak to tail. After adjourning the meeting, the mem
bers reassembled in Julian Knight Park and planted a
magnolia.
If you are anything like me and wish to avoid snakes all
together, then there are easy practices you can carry out
during the summer months to lessen your chances of meet
ing one. To reduce the potential of snakes near your home,
remove brush, log piles, or any other possible habitats that
might attract mice, lizards, or other common prey of snakes.
Birds will also attract snakes, so choosing to not set out
birdfeed can keep snakes away, as well. It is also encour
aged to not stick your arms or legs into places you cannot
see; you never know what is curled up inside.
A common misconception is that snakes enjoy the heat.
While this is somewhat true, you are more likely to see a
snake at dawn or dusk, when the days are cooler. So, take
extra caution when walking outside at those times or at
night. If you have small children, the best way to protect
them is to teach them about avoidance and educate them
on identification. Any experience you may have with a
snake this season, the key is to remain calm and not im
mediately approach it.
If you have comments or questions, please contact me at
(478) 862-5496, (478) 825-
%
Turner’s Chapel
Free Will Baptist Church
911 Roberta Hwy, • Butler, GA 31006
Special Thanks
to Taylor County Landfill, Watson Brothers,
and Jackie Spell for the removal/demolition
of the old church at Turner's Chapel, The
need was there, and you took care of it! Tay
lor Countians doing what they can do best--
helping one another!
Thank you so much!
6466, or m ackiv@uga.edu.
This article was written by
Bailey Lawson, UGA Col
lege ofAg and Environmen
tal Sciences Student, finish
ing her junior year in
Agriscience and Environ
mental Systems.
JOINERS CORNER...
by Neil Joiner, joinerscorner.com
Jesus wept‘
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During my early childhood at Harmony Baptist Church, Mrs. Ilene Mashburn was my
Sunday School teacher. She used a felt board to help tell Bible stories, pressing on
figures to go with the scenes she com pell ingly described.
I saw Noah standing at the entrance of the ark w hile the animals peacefully boarded,
guided by an unseen Shepherd. I watched Moses lead the children of Israel as they
walked on dry ground between towering walls of water in the Red Sea. And I was amazed
at Daniel who show r ed no fear as he sat on a large stone in a den of lions.
It was hard to imagine having the courage of those Biblical heroes, yet I believed it was
possible by choosing faith over fear. My belief is unchanged, yet making that choice
remains a challenge.
Another vivid memory from those early days in Sunday School is from a few years later.
Mrs. Betty Calhoun was our teacher by then. A recollection that still causes me to smile
is from our time of reciting verses.
Memorization has never been my strong suit. 1 could learn something well enough to
usually make a good grade on tests at school, but the information dissipated as soon as
the bell rang. It was the same with memorizing Bible verses. A few have stayed with
me, but I generally look them up for accuracy. I’ve found that my paraphrasing is too
heavily influenced by my opinion.
My go-to scripture during recitation time was, “Jesus wept,” from John 11:35, It was
also, however, the highly preferred option of my cousin, David Dunaway. We sat beside
each other and would scuffle over who went first in the rotation.
As soon as Miss Betty said it w r as time to recite verses, we quickly raised our hands.
From the front edges of our seats David and I waved aggressively while trying to re
strain one another. We competed with feigned desperation for the privilege of quoting
the shortest verse in the Bible.
I didn’t understand much about that brief scripture at the time. It’s likely 1 had heard
a sermon on it at some point, but I don't remember one. To me it was simply a ticket to
go to the front of the line. Lately, however, I’ve been thinking more about Jesus'weeping.
Covie Langford called me in early April to tell me his first cousin, Jimmy, had died.
Jimmy Langford and I grew up about two miles from each other. We started first grade
together at Pinehurst Elementary. As adults we worshipped in the same church. For
the past ten years we lived just a few hundred yards apart.
Jimmy was one of the most kind-hearted and humble people Tve ever known. He had a
Christ-Like demeanor that I aspire to emulate but fall dreadfully short. He didn’t make
speeches or do other things that garner attention or yield applause, hut his servant’s
heart was a wonderful example for all who knew him. Jimmy preached a daily sermon
in how he lived.
I didn’t know Jimmy had been sick for a week or so before he died. Maybe that's why
Covie s phone call brought tears to my eyes. The tears only lasted a moment, but as I’m
writing this story on Easter Sunday my eyes have turned red. I ni sad because a gentle
man with an easy smile is now among the COVID-19 losses. Statistics are more trou
bling when they wear a familiar face.
An unexpected death of a lifelong friend seems more tragic than usual during this pan
demic, Virtual embraces aren’t the same as real ones, yet that’s the world we must live
in for a while.
Perhaps it would have been better if I had written something humorous this week.
Melancholy topics are already far too common. But I wanted Jimmy’s wife, Kay, and
their son, Kyle, to know what was in my heart . Writing a column is not like giving them
a hug, but it's all I can do for now.
It's a little embarrassing to admit I've been crying, but 1 think it's helped me under
stand something better than I did before. I’ve heard several explanations as to why
Jesus wept, yet I’m still unsure of all the implications. I'm confidant, however, that he
shed those tears to tenderly teach us a lesson. By Jesus’ example we can know one thing
with certainty. Sometimes it’s okay to cry.
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Republican Candidate for Commissioner
District 4
I am running for re-election to District 4 County fj x \
Commission on the Republican Ballot. The new election
day is June 9th. Applications for an absentee ballot are U1 5
being sent out to all eligible voters by the Secretary of m
State. If you don’t receive an application, call the
Registrar’s office in Butler. As you all know, we are
under a Shelter in Place order from the Governor, so I am d 1 V
not able to visit each and every one. Please feel free to call
me at (706) 741-4358 for any of your concerns.
M
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The Taylor County News is now accepting
debit/credit cards. Please call (478) 862-5101,
stop by the office any Monday or Friday, or
email tcnews@pstel.net. Thank you!
Job Openings
The Taylor County School District has job openings for each of the vacancies listed below.
If you are interested, please apply by using information below.
Grades 9-12 Combination Building:
Position:
Taylor County
Middle/High Facility
Level:
High School (7-12)
Job number:
112006
Subject: Science
Vacancies:
Job Start
Date:
7/23/202O
Job Posting Close Date:
04/29/2020
Details:
Must have or be eligible fora Georgia Science (7-12) certificate. Applicants should apply through TeachGeorgia.
Resume and/or cover letter may also be submitted to Tracy Caldwell at caIdweil.tracy#taylorboe.org
Position: Grades K-12 Combination
Building:
Taylor County Upper Elementary
Level:
Subject:
Multiple W-12)
Special Education
Job number;
112333
Vacancies:
Job Start
Date:
7/23/2020
Job Posting Close Date: 04/29/2020
Details:
Must have or be eligible to obtain a Georgia Special Education General Curriculum (R-0) certificate, Applicants
Should apply through TeachGeorgia. Resume and/or cover letter may also be submitted to Tracy Caldwell at
trald we 11 -t racy^tay I o rboe. org
Position; Grades K-5 Combination
Level; Early Childhood (P-5)
Subject: Early Childhood (Elementary)
Job Start 7/20/2020
Date:
Building:
Job number:
Vacancies:
Job Posting Close Date:
Tayior County Primary School
112007
1
04/29/2020
Details: Must have or be eligible for a Georgia Early Childhood [K-5) certificate. Applicants should apply through
TeachGeorgia. Resume and/or cover letter may also be submitted to Tracy Caklweli at
cald we I!. tracy® tay I o rboe. org