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Page 4A - The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, November 29, 2001 Georgia Forestry Commission Report Got Questions About Forestry? The Weather? Fire Danger? Visit a 'neatly designed' site at www.gfc.state.ga.us At the Georgia Forestry Com mission (GFC) site you'll find answers about leaf color this year ...who and how to contact the for ester in your area ...the Informa tion Coordinator setting up spe cial programs... and about sched uling a visit with Smokey Bear. Information and availability of seedlings grown at the Flint River Nursery is on the site also. What about the fire danger and the weather? The web site home page has FIRE DANGER RAT ING and FIRE WEATHER near the top of the side bar. There you'll find a map of Georgia, color-coded as to the danger of wildfires. The GFC meteorologist, utiliz ing the National Fire Danger Rat ing System output from weather station locations across Georgia, updates the map each day around 2:30 pm. Purple (5) is the 'ex treme' level while green (1) is the 'low' level of fire danger. At the present time, the 17 county areas between Columbus and Albany are at the 'low' to 'moderate' level. However, unless we continue to receive some rain, conditions can change rapidly causing the fire danger to rise to 'high' or 'extreme'. 'Fire Weather' is another feature of the GFC web site. Tempera tures, wind speed and direction, humidity and plume trajectory are just a couple of the areas covered. Facts About Masonry By J.M. Rhodes Member of Chehaw Lodge 701 Leesburg, Georgia WHAT IS FREEMASONRY Freemasonry is a Fraternity. It is a voluntary organization of men bonded together by ties of mu tual interest, for the mutual ben efit of each other and humanity in general. From the earliest times men have sought fraternal relationship. The strongest tie that binds human hearts is mu tual interest in high ideals. The higher the ideals of a fraternity, the stronger it is. The real pur pose of Freemasonry is to teach the science of morality. Let us not be misled by the idea that it is another "reform movement" which desires to impose dog matic and conventional interpre tation of morality . The science of morality taught in freema sonry consists of basic prin ciples, self-evident to those only as an instrument in a great plan. One must be prepared by a sin cere desire for knowledge of the higher purpose of life, and be ea ger to be serviceable to his fel low creatures if he is to enjoy Brad Lofton Director of Economic Development 759-2422 Both the Lee County and the Albany Area Chambers of Com merce are partnering together to promote regionalism in South west Georgia. Brad Lofton, Executive Direc tor of the Lee County Chamber and Jana Wadkins, Membership Director, presented the Albany Chamber's Board of Directors a membership check during their September Board meeting. The Albany Chamber staff re turned the gesture at the Lee County Chamber meeting on November 8, 2001. Brad Lofton stated, “Not only are we sharing ideas, but we are also beginning discussions about economic development and retail marketing. It is time to put the past behind us and work towards promoting our common interests. We cannot afford an isolationist The Le6 County Ledger ‘EstabCisfecC August 24,1978 P.O. Box 715 (124 4th Street) Leesburg, Georgia 31763 (229) 759-2413 USPS 470-310 Official Organ of Lee County SUBSCRIPTION RATES Lee and surrounding counties $14. 95 year Elsewhere $19. 95 year Publisher Derryl Quinn Editor Jim Quinn Layout and Design Tricia Quinn (USPS 470-310), is published weekly for $14. 95 per year in Lee and surrounding counties, and $19. 95 per year else where by at its offices at the May Office Building, 126 - 4th Street, Leesburg, Georgia 31763. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, GA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes on Form 3579 to, RO. 715, Leesburg, GA31763. O Printed On Recycled Paper MEMBER OF GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION Tom Lambert Tonight and tomorrow's weather are also covered. Remember - Fire Weather fore casts and Fire Danger Ratings are available 24 hours, 7 days a week at: www.gfc.state.ga.us “It's a shame today's candidates have to pass the hat before they throw it in the ring!" that satisfactory philosophy given to those who apply them selves to the practice of Masonic tenets. Freemasonry does not teach a peculiar kind of morality . It teaches the basic truths on which all religions are founded. Freemasonry is a Craft. Freema sons are builders. They are us ing the tools and implements of an operative art symbolically to build a Temple of Character . This is the real labor of Freema sonry. Freemasonry is an orga nization, and the organization must conform to the ultimate purpose and never lose sight of the fact it is that a student of mo rality. The sole purpose of Free masonry is to teach morality . The Lodge is a school in which we learn its basic principles. Just what constitutes the Landmarks has been a debated question, and there is no list of them which is universally accepted. There are, however, certain bases which are accepted. The belief in God, the brotherhood of man, and the im mortality of the soul are the foun dation on which rest this whole system of morality. The University of Georgia • Cooperative Extension Service Christmas Tree Selection and Care Doug Collins, Acting Lee CEC Putting TCnowledge toWork^j ^ • V- 'S' Most trees on the Christmas tree seller's lot have traveled far. They are thirsty and in need of a little care if they are to remain attractive throughout the Christmas season. Christmas Tree Selection and Care ‘Albany/Lee (Partnering T’ogetfier approach to job creation and re tail development. I've mentioned this before, but we live in one of the poorest congressional districts in the entire country. It will take a collaborative effort which reaches beyond county lines in order to combat the problems of illiteracy, unemployment, etc.” Both Chambers are planning to form a committee to aggressively find ways to work together. The Committee will look at ways to capitalize on state funds ear marked for regional projects. Other issues that affect the region are workforce training, transpor tation, health care, Marine Base solvency, and eco-tourism. The first joint Lee County/Dougherty County ribbon cutting will be held on December 7 at 12:00 RM. at Outdoor Adventures on U.S. 82. Your Christmas tree was probably cut in a forest far away, crammed into a net bag, and put on a truck for a long haul. Now you want to make it look alive, keep the needles on the tree. and. of course, have a safe Christmas. What should you do? Proper care of your Christmas tree begins before you put the tree up. Having a safe and attractive tree begins with the selection process. Dr. Dave Moorhead, Extension Service Forester, recommends selecting a tree at least one foot shorter than the ceiling of the room in which it will be displayed. Select a tree that has a remaining trunk at least six to eight inches long. This length of remaining trunk, also called the handle, is needed to keep the trunk properly secured in the stand. The handle should also be straight. Don't purchase a tree that looks wilted. Dr. Moorhead recommends gently pulling along the needles for the length of a branch. The needles should bend, but not break. To be sure the needles are firmly attached, shake or bounce the tree. Only a few needles should fall of if the tree is fresh. Before bringing the tree inside, check the tree for insects or dead needles inside the top of the tree. Blow or shake out dead needles. You may want to ask the tree seller to do this for you when you buy the tree. An appropriately labeled aerosol spray containing pyrethoids or pyrethrins can be used to get rid of the insects. Sticky drops on the floor and presents around the tree are an indicator that insects are present in the tree. Use an indoor- approved aerosol insecticide after the tree is in the house. Immediately before setting the tree up, cut one inch off of the base of the tree. Check the water level frequently to make sure the tree has plenty of water, especially during the twenty- four hours after the tree is set up. If the water level falls below the base of the tree, the cut end will seal over, preventing the tree from taking up water, even when more is added. If this occurs, cut a half inch off of the base of the trunk to allow the tree to resume taking up water. Commercial treatments are available which can retard transpiration, and thus the drying to the tree. Ask your tree seller if his trees are treated. If you've ever burned an old Christmas tree, you know that they are flammable. Keep open flames away from your tree. Make sure all lights and other electrical equipment used on or near the tree are in proper working order. Remember that very bright lights generate enough heat to ignite a Christ mas tree, paper, or other flammable material. Make sure that ornaments that could harm small children are out of their reach. Children are attracted to Christmas trees. Make sure they don't pull the tree onto themselves. Secure the tree properly and restrict small children's unsupervised access to the tree area. The warmer the temperature in the house, the faster the tree will dry . A very warm house is no good for plants and flowers such as poinsettias. When needles fall from your tree when it is shaken, it's a sign that the tree is dry and it's time to discard it. When possible, have your tree recycled into mulch chips. For more information, call the Lee County Extension Office at 759-6025. Have a safe and merry Christmas. ilistorp of && Valorem taxation in (Georgia bp Jin g>tanlep Ad Valorem is Latin meaning “according to value”. The first property tax in Georgia was au thorized by the General Assem bly in 1852. With a lack of com munication systems and the limi tation in travel, it was almost im possible for the State to accu rately assess property in every county. So, in 1909, the local tax assessor was created and the duty of property assessment was placed on a local level. The tax burden on property owners in creased over time and in 1929, in an effort to shift some of that burden away from ad valorem taxes, the state income tax was instituted. In the beginning. Homestead Exemption was a way to relieve home owners of paying any prop erty tax. In 1937, the average value of a home in Georgia was estimated to be less than $2000. Again, in an effort to reduce the tax burden on homeowners, the General Assembly authorized a homestead exemption of $2000. The effect of this new law, for all practical purposes, removed most homeowners from the tax rolls in each county. In 1998, for the first time since 1937, Governor Bar nes had the homestead exemption increased. Today, the exemption is $8,000 and is planned to be in creased to $20,000 over the next few years. As you can see from the follow ing summary, a lot of changes in Georgia's Ad Valorem tax system have taken place over the past 150 years. 1852 - Property tax is first au thorized by the General Assem bly. The Georgia Constitution (Article VII, Section I, Paragraph III) requires that all property taxation shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects within the territorial limits of the author ity levying the tax. All property is to be assessed at 100% of its fair market value. 1909 - Counties are required by the General Assembly to do ap praisals of property, except for railroads and utilities which the state shall appraise. 1929 - Income tax instituted by the General Assembly. 1937 - General Assembly au thorizes a $2000 homestead ex emption. The average value of a home in Georgia in 1937 was $1950. 1952 State Constitution is amended to levy a 1/4 mill to re tain the state oversight function and insure uniform administra tion of the ad valorem tax sys tem. 1964 - The General Assembly passes the Minimum Foundation Program of Education (MFPE). This program shares the cost of education between the state and local governments. The State Department of Audits begins checking county tax digests for proper level of assessments. 1965 - The State Auditor's first study determines the state wide average of assessed value to be 40%. The law requires the as sessed values to be 100%. 1968 - The General Assembly passes a law requiring all prop erty to be assessed at 40% of fair market value. (This is the law that requires your property to be val ued at 100% of fair market value and then assessed at 40% for tax purposes). 1991 - "Truth in taxation" en acted by the General Assembly. This law requires all counties to have property assessed at 40% of fair market value or substantial fines and penalties would be im posed. (This particular law re sulted in 114 counties conduct ing revaluations. The total cost to these counties was in excess of $35 million. In 1997, Lee County spent two years and $150,000 to complete a revaluation in com pliance with the 1991 law). 1999 - H.B. 553 is passed by the General Assembly, increasing the homestead exemption each year until the total reaches $20,000. This bill, as in 1937, is an attempt to reduce the local tax burden on homeowners.