Newspaper Page Text
Local ARPA Grant Recipients
The Taylor County News, May 25, 2023, Page 3.
(Continued from Page 1)
County. The City is seeking to
address deficiencies and limi
tations within its water distri
bution system. The City of But
ler currently draws its water
supply from three deep bored
wells, which is distributed
through a network of pressur
ized pipe that was originally
installed prior to 1970. The
water system throughout the
City of Butler is in dire need of
replacement to be able to effec
tively serve the citizens and
community with clean, safe,
and affordable drinking water.
As of recently, the wells provid
ing the City’s water supply
have been experiencing fatigue
and strain due to their age,
thus exacerbating the issue
with the already outdated wa
ter distribution system. In or
der to provide the residents of
the City of Butler with an ad
equate and reliable water sys
tem, the City is proposing the
replacement of outdated and
unreliable water mains includ
ing asbestos-cement, cast iron,
and galvanized water mains.
The City is also proposing up
grades to their three wells by
updating the wells’ electrical
and control systems. These pro
posed improvements will pro
vide the City of Butler with a
safe and reliable potable drink
ing water system for many
years to come,
"Failure of these key water
system issues would be detri
mental to the public and envi
ronmental health of the City of
Butler. The City acknowledges
these concerns and wants to
take action, but the cost to do
so is far out of reach for a com
munity the size of the City of
Butler. The goal of this project
is to restore these key compo
nents within the City’s water
distribution system to full op
erational capacity and to en
sure that the City's water sys
tem is reliable for years to come
and complies with all EPD
OBITUARIES
Colbert
Kenneth L. Colbert, 56, died
May 12, 2023,
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 1
p.m., at Kingdom Hall of
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Fort
Valley, GA.
He was horn Nov. 22, 1966, in
Augusta, GA, to Frankie Mae
Johnson. He attended public
school in Taylor County and
was part of the marching band.
Once he graduated, he became
employed by Lockheed-Martin
at Robins Air Force Base in
Warner Robins, GA and Tuc
son, AZ. Later, he worked with
the Georgia Department of Cor-
rections.
Kenneth w r asa gentle and lov
ing person, who loved music
and watching the universe
through telescopes, which led
to him being more curious and
wanting to know more about its
Creator, He started studying
the Bible with Jehovah’s Wit
nesses and attending meetings.
There, he learned what a lov
ing God Jehovah is and wanted
to share it with others.
Hc was preceded in death by
his parents.
He is survived by his wife,
Colleen Colbert; sister, Cedenia
Green; three nephews, Chris
topher, Marvin, and Mecca;
three nieces, Yakima, Chris
tina, and Mariah; a devoted
cousin, Lashawn Ross; other
cousins, Patrice Colbert, Rob
ert Hart, Steven Colbert, Chris
topher Knolton, Marcus D. Tho
mas, Adrian Ross, Dantcrious
Ross, Keonta Ross, Brandi
Lowe, and Brittany Leonard;
13 great nieces; six great neph
ews; three great, great neph
ews; other cousins; devoted
f riend, Alton Ford; and a host of
other relatives and friends.
Charles Wesley McDougald
Funeral Home of Butler, GA
wasin charge of arrangements.
Fountain
Carol Teece Fountain, 80, of
Reynolds, GA, died peacefully
at her home on Mother’s Day,
May 14, 2023, surrounded by
her loving family.
Funeral services will he held
Saturday, June 3, 3023, at 11
a.m., at Reynolds United Meth
odist Church, now Trinity
Church of Reynolds.
Carol was born June 17.1942,
in Fort Valley, GA, to the late
George Eldridge and Helen
Elizabeth Slaton Teece, She
attended Fort Valley High
School and later worked for
Bluebird Bus Company,before
joining Robins Air Force Base,
where she worked for many
years. Apart from her profes
sional achievements, Carol was
known for her warm and kind-
hearted nature. She had a pas
sion for cooking and w as an
exceptional cook, wdio loved to
prepare meals for her family
and friends. If you received a
plate of her special Christmas
treats, you were a lucky per
son, indeed,
Carol’s family was the center
of her world, and she was a
devoted mother, grandmother,
sister, aunt, and wife. She cher
ished her family and always
put their needs before her own.
She was a strong woman, who
faced many challenges, but
never lost her faith in God. She
lived her life with grace, dig
nity, and an unwavering sense
of purpose.
In the earlier years of Carol
and Dan Fountain’s marriage,
they delighted in traveling
across the country, er\j oyingthe
sights in all 48 states in the
continental United States.
Carol made many memories
throughout her life and had a
positive i m pact on everyone she
met. Her infectious smile and
generous spirit will be deeply
missed by her family, friends,
and the community she served.
Carol was preceded in death
by her parents; her brothers,
Ronnie and Eldridge; her sis
ters, Kaye Teece Fredrick, Betty
Teece Sprague, and an infant
sister, Joan.
She is survived by her loving
husband of63 years, Dan Foun
tain; her daughter, Susan
Hartley; her grandson, Luke
Hartley; her sister, Charlotte
Clark; and many nieces and
nephew's,
Carol was a member of
Reynolds United Methodist
Church,
Memorial donations may be
made to the Pulmonary Hyper
tension Association in memory
ofCaroi Tecce Fountain, https;/
/ phassociation.org/donate/.
Memory donations require a
recipient and an email, please
use the followingtoletthe fam
ily know: recipient,Carol Teece
Fountain; recipient email,
1 ha rtley505@ic lo ud.com.
Burpee-Scott Memorial
Chapel of Warner Robins, GA
is in charge of arrangements.
Gooch
Albert Gooch, 77, died Tues
day, May 2, 2023, at Tall Pine
Estates Assisted Living in
Roberta, GA,
Funeral services were held
Saturday, May 6, 2023, at
Rethcsda Baptist Church in
Reynolds, GA, where Rev. Alvin
Turner is pastor. Rev. Alfred
Biggs officiated.
1( Bruh,” as he was affection
ately known, was torn Oct. 6,
1945, in Reynolds, to the late
A.C. and Clara Worthy Gooch.
He was the second child. At an
early age, he attended Mt,
Gillard Baptist Church.
Albert attended public schools
of Taylor County. Later, he
relocated to Miami, FL, where
he met and married Vivian
Gross in 1966. He served as a
tour bus driver for several local
companies and provided trans
portation for at-nsk kids. He
and Vivian, along with his
brother, Charlie, also owned
Gooch’s Market in Coconut
Grove, FL.
Later in life, Albert married
Bessie Morris, with whom he
spent over 30 years of his life.
They enjoyed gardening and
traveling together. Albert re
tired after working 25 years as
a supervisor of the City of Mi
ami Beach, FL.
He found pleasure in fishing,
joyriding on his motorcycle, and
participating in water activi
ties, He also relished spending
quality time with his family
and friends.
He was preceded in death by
his parents; his sister, Clara
Gooch Carson, and his broth
ers, John L, Gooch and Horace
Gooch.
He is survived by his wife,
Bessie Morris Gooch; children,
Raynell (Pastor Wil liam) White,
Albert K, Gooch, Michael Mor
ris, Jeffrey Whisenton, Henry
Whisenton, Lisa Whisenton,
and Carolyn (Zack) Hamilton;
12 grandchildren; five great
grandchildren; three great,
great grandchildren; one sis
ter, Mary (Rogers) Bentley;
three brothers, Charlie Gooch,
Fredrick (Christine)Gooch, and
Clare nee Gooch; sisters-in-law,
Wanda K Gooch and Shelia
Gooch; brothers-in-law, Sid
(Carmen) Morris and Thomas
(Geneva) Morris; aunt, Rachel
Moniford; uncles, David Wor
thy and Thomas Worthy; de
voted friends, Linda Dennis,
Frank Washington, and Mary
Anderson; and a host of other
relatives and friends.
Bentley-Carson Memorial
Funeral Home of Cordele, GA
was i n charge of arrangements.
Youngblood
T.C. Youngblood, 68, of
Reynolds, GA. died Tuesday,
May 16, 2023,
Graveside services were held
Friday, May 19, 2023, at 11
a.m., at ML Olive Free Will
Baptist Church Cemetery.
T.C, attended Community
FcllowshipChurchin Reyn olds.
He was preceded in death by
his parents, George D. and
Lillian Grace Perkins
Youngblood; sister, Merle Pitts;
brother, Danny Youngblood;
a nd li fc companion. Rose Kcl ley.
He is survived by one son,
Thomas Daniel Youngblood of
Reynolds; three grandsons,
Terre (Macie) Youngblood,
Tyler Youngblood, and Tucker
Youngblood of Reynolds; two
stepchildren, Josh Kelley of
Reynolds and Melisa Kelley of
Macon; three brothers, Herman
Youngblood (Dwainc Bowden),
Mickey (Shea)Youngblood, and
Adrian (Connie) Youngblood;
and numerous nieces and neph
ews.
The online guest register may
be signed at:
w w r w r . m cleigh to n
funeralservice.com.
Me Leighton Funeral Service
of Reynolds, GA was in charge
of arrangements.
standards. All things consid
ered; the City of Butler respect
fully submits this application
as a statement of dire need in
hopes of obtaining funding as
sistance from the State Fiscal
Recovery Fund. All project
work will take place in zip code
31006. The total project cost is
$991,764, The city is request
ing the State ARPA grant pay
for $334,889 with the City
matching the remaining
$656,875,"
The City of Butler was also
a warded $1,657,137.90 for side-
w'alk rehabilitation for the ex
isting sidewalk around the
downtown square which is cru
cial to the safety of residents
and visitors to the area. This
rehabilitation will not only in
clude construction of a consis
tent level walking path around
the downtown square, but will
also include the installation of
crosswalks, drainage inlets,
ADA pedestrian ramps, pedes
trian crossing signals, and his
toric lamp posts. According to
the application, “The proposed
improvements will allow the
City of Butler to accomplish
their goal of providing safe, ac
cessible, and pleasingly aes
thetic sidewalks to residents
and visitors of the downtown
commercial area. These reha
bilitation efforts will also en
able the City to ensure compli
ance with ADA standards and
provide inclusivity for all its
residents.”
Flint Electric Membership
Corporation was awarded
$25,048,343.81, to provide ac
cess to high-speed broadband
in its service area. Flint Ener
gies is requesting funding un
der the Corona virus State and
Local Fiscal Recovery Funds -
Broadband Infrastructure
Grant to contribute to Phase 1
of the network build. The total
cost of Phase 1 is
$50,096,687.63; Flint Energies
is requesting funding for 50%
of this cost at $25,048,343.81
and will be providing a 50%
match for the remaining
$25,048,343.82. The Phase 1
project area will impact an esti
mated 28,245 individuals and
will connect 10,659 households,
businesses, and institutions
across nine counties, including
Crawford, Houston, Macon,
Marion, Muscogee, Peach,
Schley, Tal tot, and Taylor coun
ties. Flint’s partnership with
Conexon will build a fiber-optic
network that will offer busi
nesses and residents access to
symmetrical tsamc upload and
download speeds) gigabit
internet capabilities.
Taylor County Health and Re
habilitation was awarded a
Negative Economic Impact
grant for Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) for $6,695.95.
JOB OPENING
The Taylor County School District
has a job opening for the following position:
Position: Taylor County High School CTAE (9-12) Agriculture Teacher
Job Start Date: August 1,2023
Job Posting Close Date: May 26, 2023
Education: Bachelor's Degree required
Requirements: Must hold or be eligible to obtain Agriculture Education (6-
12) certification through Georgia Professional Standards Commission
(PSC).
All applicants MUST apply through Teach Georgia at
www.teachgeorgia.org. Resume can be emailed to
Tracy Caldwell at caldwelLtracy@taylorboe.org.
JOB OPENING
The Taylor County School District
has a job opening for the following position:
Position: Taylor County High School (7-12) CTAE Automotive Service
Technology Teacher
Job Start Date: August 1,2023
Job Posting Close Date: May 26, 2023
Education: Bachelor’s Degree Required
Preferred Qualifications: Eligible for a Georgia teaching certificate in
Automotive Service Technology (7-12) or minimum of two years trade work
experience with valid certification from the National Institute for Automotive
Services Excellence (ASE).
All applicants MUST submit an application through Teach Georgia
at www.teachgeorgia.org. Resume can be emailed to
Tracy Caldwell at caldwell.tracy@taylorboe.org.
JOB OPENING
The Taylor County School District
has a job opening for the following position:
Position: Paraprofessional, Early Childhood (P-5, Elementary)
Job Start Date: August 1,2023
Job Posting Close Date: May 30, 2023
Education: Must hold a high school diploma or GED
Certification: Must hold or be eligible for valid paraprofessional license
The 3 methods a candidate can obtain a paraprofessional license:
1. Hold an associate’s degree or;
2. Complete 60 semester hours (2 years) from a college or;
3. Pass the GA paraprofessional assessment exam
Minimum Qualifications:
* Flexible * Oral communication skills ‘Ability to work well with others
All applicants MUST apply through TeachGeorgia at
www.teachgeorgia.org
Resumes or letters of interest can also be sent to Tracy Caldwell at
caldwell.tracy@taylorboe.org
JOB OPENING
The Taylor County School District
has a job opening for the following position:
Position: Taylor County High School (7-12) Band Director
Job Start Date: July 11,2023
Job Posting Close Date: May 26, 2023
Education: Bachelor’s Degree required
Certification: Applicants must hold or be eligible for a valid teaching
certificate in Music. Certificates are issued by the Georgia Professional
Standards Commission (PSC).
Skills:
* Ability to supervise and manage a school band
* Ability to effectively communicate (oral and written)
* Organizational Skills
* Instructional Skills
All applicants MUST apply on Teach Georgia
(www.teachgeorgia.org). Resume can be emailed to
Tracy Caldwell at caldweEI.tracy@taylorboe.org.