Newspaper Page Text
The Taylor County News, May 25, 2023, Page 8.
Merely having an open mind is nothing; the object of opening the mind f as of
opening the mouthy is to shut it again on something solid. -G.K. Chesterton
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Flint Energies Communications Specialist lllair Brown (far left) awards l ull STEAM
Attend grant to (1-r) John Pay He, Technology Specialist: School Superintendent Jennifer Albritton;
FREE Mobile Service
and TCHS Principal Dr. Hen Horner.
Flint Energies Empowers Classroom
Innovation At Taylor County High
School With Educational STEAM Grant
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
86 E. Marion Street (Fall Line Freeway)
Reynolds, GA
1 -866-464-2447 • (478) 847-5660
Flint Energies and its philan
thropic arm, the Flint Energies
Foundation, recently awarded
a total of$6,000 in educational
grants to two schools through
the Co-op’s Full STEAM Ahead
program. This year's winners
are Mossy Creek Middle School
in Kathleen and Taylor County
High School in Butler.
Created in 2019, the Full
STEAM Ahead giant program
awards money to schools who
have developed an innovative
project that energizes learning
in the areas of science, technol
ogy. engineering, arts and/or
mathematics.
“Flint Energies supports edu
cation through the Full
STEAM Ahead program by pro
viding much needed funds to
educators and schools,” says
Blair Brown, Cooperative Com
munications Specialist. “We at
Flint believe in the importance
of introducing STEAM based
projects and activities to stu
dents of all ages, with hopes of
encouraging their interests and
future career goals.”
Taylor County High School’s
Computer Science Virtual Re
ality (VR) initiative takes vir
tual learning to a new level
within the classroom walls.
Through virtual education ac
tivities, all classes can make
use of the equipment in support
of meeting students at their
own level of learning. The
school plans In use the headsets
to not only teach VR develop
ment in the computer science
classroom, but also provide
non-CS classes with a means to
engage their students intellec
tually.
“This new platform has given
us an outlook of deter ruination
in finding new and exciting
ways to educate and stimulate
the student population of our
schools,” says Taylor County
Schools Technology Specialist,
John Payne. “With this project,
we are creating another avenue
for students to find value and
passion in technology. The VR
curriculum and devices create
a larger environment for stu
dents to engage with their edu
cation and find their passions
hefore moving into higher lev
els of learning."
Funds from the Full STEAM
Ahead grant will be used to
purchase classroom sets of VR
headsets and educational ma
terials for students and teach
ers, Taylor County educators
already have plans in place to
create events such as “Virtual
Reality Week” using VR field
trips and activities to introduce
students to advanced technolo
gies, experiences, and potential
interests.
The Flint Energies Founda
tion, a state-chartered, non
profit, 501(c)(3) organization,
disburses all contributions to
approved projects; member
contributions are not used for
administration costs. Funding
applications are available by
contacting Flint Energies at
1.800,342.3616 or visiting the
My Community section of
www.flintenergies.com.
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JOINERS CORNER
by Neil Joiner, joinerscorner.com
In Sickness And In Health
Traditional wedding vows include pledges oflove and support for better or worse, richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health. The optimism of young love keeps us from dwelling on unthinkable
challenges, but sometimes youthful dreams clash with harsh realities.
I went to Carrollton in April to visit two friends I met in 1970, my first quarter at Valdosta State
College. Ronnie Williams bad graduated in the spring and was teaching in Albany. He made fre
quent trips to Valdosta that fall, however, to see his fiancee, Claire Culpepper. They hoth grew up
in Crisp County, which adjoins Dooly, so we had instant conversation material.
Ronnie was a charter member and former president of Delta Chi fraternity, an organization J
soon joined. His mischievous cheerfulness was contagious. He could light up a room with good-
natured joviality. I was especially impressed that his sweetheart was the chapter’s sweetheart too,
Claire, a senior, was gorgeous with a warm gracefulness that endeared her to all of us young
pledges, We were further enamored when she offered to help us find dates.
Ronnie retired as Superintendent of Carrollton City Schools in 2001. Claire had stopped teaching
in 1997 to care for her mother, who moved to Carrollton after her
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husband’s death. An unfinished basement v/as converted to a small
apartment for Mrs, Culpepper,
Next to occupy that space was their son, who stayed until a
grease fire got out of hand. In the renovation that followed, sev
eral walls were removed and the kitchen, eating area, and small
den became one room, The back door had always been at ground
level, something that would become increasingly important.
Fires are not usually considered a blessing, but perhaps this
one was. An aggressive form of Parkinson’s Disease has taken a
heavy toll on Claire. In September of 2022 she and Ronnie moved
from their spacious upstairs to the compact lower quarters,
From late afternoon to midmorning Ronnie takes care of his
wife. Helpers come during the day. That’s when he buys grocer
ies, runs errands, and takes three-mile walks.
At lunchtime he gently lifted Claire from her recliner and placed
her into a wheelchair. He rolled her to the table, cut her food into
bite-sized pieces, and patiently fed her, saying he’d eat later, When
a panic attack came without warning, he consoled her with soft
words and warm touches. “Sometimes they only last a few min
utes, 1 ' he said, “At other times it goes on for a couple of hours.”
Dealing with Claire’s illness has taken them on a journey Ronnie
sees as parallel to the five stages of grief. The late psychiatrist
Dr, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross suggested that after the loss of a loved
one we transition through denial, anger, bargaining, depression,
and finally acceptance. I don’t know many details of Ronnie and
Claire’s situation, but it’s easy to envision that progression.
Acceptance, however, comes in many flavors, It can be tinged
with resentment or pity, repeatedly asking, “Why me Lord?” Or
it can be seasoned with gratitude as Ronnie and Claire have done,
thankful for wonderful years together and an abiding faith in
God,
My brief time with them only offered a glimpse of their chal
lenges It seems inadequate to say I love you and I’ll pray for
you, and it probably is, Ronnie mentioned a friend who joins him
for morning walks, colfee, and short drives, A change of pace helps.
Putting feet to our prayers is perhaps where the focus of friends
should be for Ronnie and Claire and many others. He took sev
eral pictures during our visit, saying Claire would enjoy them
multiple times while reminiscing. It struck me that too often 1
neglect to make small efforts, waiting instead for perfect oppor
tunities which rarely materialize.
Wedding vows usually come with stellar expectations, which is
no doubt a blessing. But when a storybook talc veers onto a rocky
path, our fortitude can he severely tested.
In the fall of 1970 1 was smitten with Claire’s loveliness. Now 1
realize she has a beautiful husband too. Ronnie probably won’t
get any modeling offers, but the tender care with which he meets
his wife’s every need gives perfect evidence of a beautiful heart.
My wishes won’t improve Claire’s health nor lighten Ronnie’s
load, hut if admiration could bring healing, all would be well.
Ronnie made a promise to his sweetheart 52 years ago and he’s
lovingly kept iL both in sickness and in health.
Congratulations to
all our local
Graduates!
Chief Judge
Gil McBride,
Superior
Court
Judge of
Taylor County
www.gilmcbride.com
Paid for by Committee to Elect Gil McBride,
Post Office Box 59, Columbus, Georgia 31902, Elizabeth McBride, Treasurer