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County Ledger ljour Hometown Source of Cocal flews Hometown Newspaper of Kyle and Melanie Lentz Volume XXIV - Number 18 Leesburg, Georgia -- December 13,2001 Fifty Cents Pictured left to right are Larry Hill, Lee County Emergency Management Agency Acting Director; Randy Dowling, Lee County Administrator; Kenneth Cutts, representative of Congressman Sanford Bishop; Eddie Hinman, Lee County Commissioner; Bill Blackwell, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) representative; Billy Mathis, Lee County Commission Chairman; and James Mays, Lee County Commissioner. Lee County Receives Flood Mitigation Grant Payment Georgia Emergency Management Agency ministrator Randy Dowling and Lee County Emer- (GEMA) representative Bill Blackwell presented a gency Management Agency Acting Director Larry check in the amount of $367,123.02 to Lee County Hill. The check reimburses the County for expenses Commission Chairman Billy Mathis, County Ad- related to its flood-prone property buyout. Art Ford Receives Certification From National Development Council Arthur J. Ford, south Georgia region manager for Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute, recently received certi fication as an Economic Devel opment Finance Professional from the National Development Council (NDC). Certification is a designation given to individu als who successfully complete an intensive economic development finance training series conducted by the NDC. As part of the certification pro gram, Ford received training in credit analysis, real estate financ ing, loan packaging, deal struc turing, and negotiating and imple menting development programs. In his current position as region manager for south Georgia, Ford is responsible for providing managerial and technical assis tance to companies and commu nities, and supporting south Georgia's eco nomic devel opment ef forts through courses and research. The south Georgia region en compasses 32 counties served by re gional offices in Albany and Douglas. The New York-based National De velopment Council was established in 1972 and is a private, non-profit cor poration that specializes in eco nomic development training and technical assistance. NDC has provided training to approxi mately 20,000 development per sonnel working in the field of economic and housing devel opment. Par ticipants come from city and state govern ments, public agencies, com munity-based organizations and profes sional organi zations, among others. Georgia Tech's Albany regional office is located at 1117 Whispering Pines Rd. and the Douglas regional office is located at 404 N. Peterson Ave. Ford can be reached either by phone (229.430.4188) or by e-mail (art.ford(-edi.gatech.edu). Parent Requests Changes With Dance Line Guidelines John Whitaker, a parent, ad dressed the Lee County Board of Education at their meeting Mon day night. He informed the board of events and their effects on his daughter and other members of the dance line. Mr. Whitaker took issue with the selection process of the dance line members, the leadership se lection process of the dance line and selection of dance line mem bers that performed solos. He stressed that it was a time for change in the process. He pointed out that there was only one out side observer in the selection pro cess and that person lived in the home of one of the students se lected for the dance line. Mr. Whitaker explained that try outs were not held to determine which dance line members would perform the solos. He felt that outside judges should select the members for the solos. He also suggested that changes should be made in the process of selecting members for the leadership team. Mr. Whitaker felt that his daughter had been singled out by the sponsor. He said that Mrs. Breeden had called his home in reference to his daughter’s behav ior and indicated that other dance line members' parents were also being contacted regarding their daughters. Upon talking with oth ers. Mr. Whitaker found that the sponsor had called only his home. He stressed religious issues con cerning prayers led by the team captain before the dance line goes on the field to perform. Mr. Whitaker said that he had tried to meet with the sponsor and high school principal but that Mr. Taylor, the principal, would not arrange a meeting. Mr. Whitaker indicated that he was able to meet with Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Breeden only after the school superinten dent was contacted. He pointed out that rules and procedures should apply to all activities. The school board took no action on this matter. Brenda Davis addressed the school board regarding her termi nation. Mrs. Davis was teaching at Lee County Middle School until her termination at the No vember 13 school board meeting. According to a confirmed source, she was terminated for making a false statement on her employ ment application. No action was taken. Wes Taylor, Lee County High School Principal, recognized the One-Act Play participants and their coach, Robby Davis. The board approved the em ployment of three system-wide substitute teachers, Shannon Dixon, Michael Nelson and Vir ginia Gray, Michelle Dollar, KPS paraprofessional, Jenny Loud, bus driver, Stephanie A. Mackiewicz - seventh grade read ing teacher replacing Pam Saville, two special education substitute teachers - Linda Carter Webb and Melanie Marie Anto nio, Alice Swain and LaVonda Fletcher - substitute bus drivers. Vickie Spargo was reassigned to food service assistant manager position 2 level 1 at Twin Oaks Elementary School. The board accepted the resig nations of Pam Saville, a teacher at Lee County Middle School ef fective at the end of the semester. Melody Hancock, a paraprofes sional at Kinchafoonee Primary School effective November 16 and Daphne Hanks, School Sys tem Food Service Director, effec- See Board, Page 5A Doherty Duggan Rouse Insurors Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040 Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040 2301 Dawson Road (31707) Fax (229) 435-3036 www.ddrins.com Lee County Utilities Authority Board Will Meet 6:00 p.m. Thursday Dec. 20 Ashley Diane Burt, a sixth grader at Twin Oaks Elementary School, was crowned "Junior Miss South Georgia Sweetheart". Ashley also received the "Junior Miss Photogenic Award". The pageant was held December 1 in Cordele. Ga. Ashley is the eleven year old daughter of Tony and Tammy Burt of Leesburg. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McLeod, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Burgess, and Mr. and Mrs. T.W. Burt, all of Albany. Ashley enjoys acting, reading, and singing in talent competi tions. She also enjoys competi tion cheerleading at Cats Cheer Center and is a member of the "Tigers Youth All Stars Compe tition Team". Will Meet 5:30 p.m. Monday Dec. 17 Teachers of the Year from the Lee County School System are: (left to right) Priscilla Hammond - Lee County Primary, Laura Pasteka - Kinchafoonee Primary, Shea Fears - Lee County Elementary, Donna Mosteller - Twin Oaks Elementary, Cindy Marshall - Lee County Middle and Phil Maxfield - Lee County High School. Board Honors Outstanding Teachers The members of the Lee County Board of Education recognized the Teachers of the Year from the six schools during their business meeting Monday night. The Lee County Teacher of the Year will be named before the Christmas holidays. Recognized as Teachers of the Year for their schools were Priscilla Hammond - Lee County Primary, Laura Pasteka - Kinchafoonee Primary, Shea Fears - Lee County Elementary. Donna Mosteller - Twin Oaks Elementary, Cindy Marshall - Lee County Middle and Phil Maxfield - Lee County High School. BUFFALO ROCK Smithville Junior Miss South Georgia Sweetheart Crowned City Council Goodin Presents Case To School Board Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Tim Goodin ap peared before the Lee County Board of Education Monday night. In an emotional address by Coach Goodin, that took place be fore a large crowd of supporters, he said that he was not going to make resigning easy for anyone. The coach said that dealing with the school superintendent’s decision not to recommend him as head football coach for the next season has been difficult. Coach Goodin said that he was not expecting to be told that he would not be recommended to continue as Lee County’s head coach. Goodin said he was given a choice by the superintendent to either resign or be terminated. Goodin emphasized that he has always understood about win ning and losing and submitted his resignation. He expressed con cern that Dr. Lewis, the school superintendent, would not com ment on his resignation. Goodin considered the lack of response on the superintendent’s part as an attack on his character. When Lewis would not comment on Goodin’s resignation, Goodin withdrew his resignation. School Board Chairman Sylvia Vann told Goodin that his name was not on the consent agenda for the board to accept his resignation as head football coach. Coach Goodin received several rounds of applause from the parents, players and coaches that attended the meeting in support of him. After going into executive session to discuss personnel matters and other issues, the board upheld the action of the hearing tribu nal concerning a student but took no action concerning Coach Goodin or any other personnel.