About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 2019)
Page 6B,The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Diesel Equipment Technology: A Revitalized Program Rollout at Albany Technical College Special to the Ledger The community is preparing for a shortage of trained diesel techni cians in the Southwest Georgia area through concise efforts to thwart the issue. Albany Tech nical College will hold a special recognition of the revitalized Diesel Equipment Technology Program on Wednes day, January 16, 2018, 10 a.m., Freedom Hall, Room 113. Dr. Anthony Parker and employ ers from the commu nity such as Dougherty County School System Transportation Depart ment, Grady EMT, City of Albany, Penske and Procter & Gamble will be on hand to discuss the need for these workers and how it can affect our economy. It’s no secret that qualified CDL truckers are in demand around the country. With the growing shipping fleets, additional technicians become necessary to keep up with demand. According to the Bu reau of Labor Statistics, trucking will require an estimated 67,000 new technicians as well as 75,000 new diesel engine specialists by 2022 in the United States. Albany Techni cal College understands the need and locally we have prepared our Diesel Equipment Technology program by a revitalized mission to aggressively train at least 100 tech nicians annually and graduate a minimum of 75 qualified Diesel Service Technicians per year. This “Revitalized” Program at Albany Tech includes initia tives that will encour age easy access for new student by providing low cost of tuition and books (Hope Grant Eligible and part of the Governors Initiative), a high placement rate, new industry driven instructional equipment, timely completion of the program (12-18 months), high career demand and flexible scheduling (day and evening classes). Diesel service techni cians (also known as diesel technicians) and mechanics inspect, re pair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine. Fresh graduates committing to this field will not find themselves trained for a vanishing or slow developing industry. “This demands highly skilled, trained gradu ates that will need to keep up with industry changes. Albany Tech nical College steps up to the growing demand for regional workforce development realizing that the job market for Diesel Service Techni cians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026,” says Dr. Anthony Parker, Albany Tech President. In the past, most diesel service techni cians and mechanics learned on the job after a high school educa tion, but employers are increasingly preferring applicants who have completed postsecond ary training programs in diesel engine repair. In addition, industry certification may be important. Following a structured program is imperative and required now days by most employers in the Al bany Technical College service delivery area. Albany Technical Col lege is committed to the process of training and placing employees in decent jobs with decent salaries. Working rela tionships with employ ers is a very important part of the process. Al bany Technical College is very proud to hold an average job placement of over 98% throughout all industry programs on campus. Diesel Service Technicians can be expected to work in government, motor parts and vehicle wholesale, manufacturing, repair and maintenance and truck transportation. Pay for Diesel Service Technicians in years to come will be higher than other median salaries in maintenance and repair occupations - $46,360 per year, 2017. The program at Albany Technical College em phasizes a combination of truck, heavy equip ment, marine systems, or emergency power generator repair theory and practical application necessary for successful employment depending on the specialization area a student chooses to complete. Program graduates receive a Diesel Equipment Technology diploma that qualifies them as entry- level Diesel Equip ment technicians. One unique piece of training equipment that Albany Tech’s Diesel Equipment Technology Program of fers is a fully functional 6.7-liter turbo diesel engine that is mounted on a mobile rack. It is used to easily train students on a running engine and the new die sel exhaust fluid (DEF) system. Other training equipment includes: two Caterpillar engines, one Cummins engine, one complete steering axle/ differential group from a telescopic handler, which is a rough terrain forklift, and one com plete hydraulic, which comes complete with a hydraulic motor. Jaedon McKennon is the latest “Star Rider” on bus 18- 78. Jaedon is a 2nd grade student at Lee County Elementary school, and has been an excellent rider for a couple of years now. Congratulations Jaedon and thank you for great behavior on the bus. Lee County Middle School West December Students of the Month The following students were recognized as the December Students of the Month for their team: Sixth Grade - Emma Vandenbergh, Team Extreme; Lily Brown, Team Exceed, and Taryn Lee, Team Excel. Seventh Grade- (front row) Jadyn Perkins, Team Phoenix; Natalie Thompson, Team Force; and Sara Toms, Team Bridges. Back row) Laken Darley, Team Griffin; and A’den Fuller, Team Keen. Eighth Grade - Pratistha Kunwar, Team Impact; Aniston Shugart, Team Paradigm; and Hunter Wilkes, Team Neon. Lee County Sheriff’s Weekly Report Joey Bernard White, of Shawnee Ave., Leesburg, was charged as a wanted person. Deputy Smith made contact with White at the Lee County Court house. The deputy was provided with an active arrest warrant and asked to transport White to the Lee County Jail. He was turned over to jail staff for the booking process without incident. John Belloso, of Buck Run Drive, Leesburg, was charged with crimi nal trespass. Deputy Lewis responded in ref erence to a welfare check on a female who was involved in a domestic the night before. Deputy Harell was on the scene when Deputy Lewis arrived. Belloso was ar rested by Deputy Harrell for damaging items in the residence. He was transported to the Lee County Jail. Shunkezia Shuntrell Taylor, of Garden Hill Drive, Albany, was charged with computer theft. Deputy Harrell re sponded to a Ledo Road business in reference to theft. Taylor put a total of $1500 on gift cards but did not put money in the register to pay for the cards. The day before this incident Taylor put $4000 on gift cards without putting money into the cash registers. Taylor was transported to the Lee County Sher iff’s Office. Jonathan Byrce Bur nett, of Willow Lane Drive, Leesburg, was charged with marijuana - possession less than ounce. Deputy Davis made a traffic stop on a vehicle with the pas senger side tail light out. While speaking with Burnett the deputy could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of his person resulted in finding a small clear plastic zip-lock bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. He was trans ported to the Lee County Jail. He was given a verbal warning for the tail light being out. John Alek Walter- mon, of Pinewood Road, Leesburg, was charged with driving while license suspended/ revoked. Deputy Lee conducted a traffic stop on Kinchafoonee Creek Road. The driver told the deputy that he did not have a license with him. A computer check showed that Waltermon’s license was suspended for failure to appear. He was arrested and trans ported to the Lee County Jail. Charles Fredrick Johnson, III, of Bassford Lane, Albany, was charged with theft by taking, drug related objects, and disorderly conduct. The landlord advised that someone had broken the rear window of an apart ment. While looking for suspects in the incident the deputy made contact with Johnson. Dispatch advised that Johnson had a warrant for theft by taking. The subject was taken into custody and searched. A glass pipe with steel wool stuffed inside. Johnson was transported to the Lee County Jail. Justin Jaleel Scott, of Erica Court, Leesburg, was charged with parole violation, drugs - manu- STOP And Call Us For DUI And Defensive Driving Classes Dougherty County DUI & Defensive Driving School www.docodrivingschool.com 2535 Lafayette Plaza, Suite C #933 420-3590 #7050 Hours 9-5 Closed for Lunch 12-1 facturing/sell/distribu- tion of Schedule 1 and II drugs, firearm used by convicted felon in commission of a crime, drugs - control substance unknown, marijuana - possession/sell/pur chase, possession of drug related items, theft by re ceiving stolen property, drugs - control substance unknown, giving false name/false information to police. Deputy Lee responded to a suspi cious vehicle. The deputy made contact with Scott, however he identified himself with a differ ent first name. Scott ran from the scene and was later found hiding in a dumpster. A computer check revealed that Scott had an active arrest war rant for parole violation. Based on a search of the vehicle abandoned by Scott the listed charges were filed. Dennis Odus Irvin, of White Pond Road, Leesburg, was charged with theft by taking. Marian Dawn Shaw, of Palmyra Road, Leesburg, was charged with failure to appear - no proof of rabies vaccine. Deputy Carr made contact with Shaw outside her resi dence and advised her that she had an active arrest warrant. She was arrested and transported to the Lee County Jail. Kevin Glenn Hughes, of Kinchafoonee Creek Road, Leesburg, was charged with driving with a suspended license and brake light violation. Deputy Hall made a traffic stop on a vehicle without an operating third brake light. Hughes said his license was sus pended. He was placed under arrest and trans ported to the Lee County Jail.
