About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2019)
Page 4A,The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, February 13, 2019 Ksewgig Forestry Commission Report GFC Urges Statewide Tree Plantings For Arbor Day The Georgia For estry Commission urges citizens statewide to observe Arbor Day on February 15 with special tree planting activities in parks, along city streets, on school and college campuses, and in resi dential areas. A proclamation by Governor Brian Kemp designates the traditional day for tree planting ceremonies in communi ties throughout the state. In 1941, the Georgia General Assembly des ignated the third Friday in February as the state’s annual Arbor Day. Since that year, hundreds of thousands of trees have been planted in obser vance of Arbor Day by school children, civic organizations, and nu merous other groups. Each year, the Georgia Forestry Commission provides Arbor Day brochures and other materials - that serve as tree planting guides - for school programs and other tree planting ceremonies. During recent years, an increas ing number of memorial trees have been planted in parks and other public areas by colleges, churches, and local gov ernments. Many Georgia home- owners also choose Arbor Day as a tradi tional time to plant trees around their homes. Georgia Forestry Com mission offices statewide offer free literature concerning tree selec tions, proper planting techniques, and other in formation to assist orga nizations and individuals with tree planting. The Georgia For estry Commission urges everyone to take this opportunity to recognize the importance of trees and to celebrate Arbor Day. Please contact us at 430-5122 or 759-3011 if you need any assistance. Lee County Fire and Emergency Services Weekly Report Lee County Fire and Emergency Services re sponded to 106 calls dur ing the week of February 3 - 9, 2019. EMS Responses EMS responded to five calls for abdominal pain/ problems. EMS responded to one call for animal bite. EMS responded to two calls for assault. EMS responded to seven calls for breathing problems. EMS responded to one call for burns/explosion. EMS responded to two calls for cardiac arrest/ death. EMS responded to six calls for chest pain (non- traumatic). EMS responded to two calls for convulsions/ seizure. EMS responded to five calls for diabetic prob lem. EMS responded to seven calls for falls. EMS responded to sev en calls for fire standby. EMS responded to one call for lift assist. EMS responded to one call for medical alarm. EMS responded to three calls for psychiatric prob lem/abnormal behavior/ suicide attempt. EMS responded to ten calls for sick person. EMS responded to one call for stroke/CVA. EMS responded to eight calls for traffic/transpor tation incident. EMS responded to one call for transfer/interfa cility/palliative care. EMS responded to one call for traumatic injury. EMS responded to one call for unconscious/ fainting/near fainting. EMS responded to one call for unknown prob- lem/person down. EMS responded to one call for well person check. EMS made 75 calls for the week. Fire Responses Fire department re sponded to two calls for structure fires. Fire department re sponded to two calls for activated alarm. Fire department re sponded to two calls for grass fires. Fire department re sponded to one call for controlled burn. Fire department re sponded to two calls for vehicle fire. Fire department re sponded to four calls for MVC. Fire department re sponded to 16 calls to assist EMS. Fire department responded to two miscel laneous call. Fire department re sponded to 31 fire calls during the week. Lee County Fire and Emergency Services re sponded to 106 calls dur ing the week of February 3 - 9, 2019. The Lee County Ledger Established August 24,1978 lcledger@bellsouth.net P.0. Box 715 (126 4th Street) (229) 759-2413 Leesburg, Georgia 31763 USPS 470-310 Official Organ of Lee County SUBSCRIPTION RATES Lee and surrounding counties $20.00 year Elsewhere $25.00 year Publisher Derryl Quinn Editor Jim Quinn Layout and Design Zan Twiggs Advertising Manager Tina Maples (USPS 470-310), is published weekly for $20.00 per year in Lee and surrounding counties, and $25.00 per year else where by its offices at the May Office Building, 124 - 4th Street, Leesburg, Georgia 31763. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, GA. POST MASTER: Send address changes on Form 3579 to, P.O. 715, Leesburg, GA 31763. o Printed On Recycled Paper MEMBER OF GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION Sharing the Word Special to the Ledger By Harry R. Martinez, Ph.D Come, pt. 2 The word “come” oc curs in Scripture nearly fifteen hundred times. Its first use is recorded as God gave instructions to Noah concerning the preservation of animal life prior to the flood. “Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive” (Gen 6:20 NIV). After the waters had subsided ... “Then God said to Noah, Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you — the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground — so they can multiply on the earth and be fruit ful and increase in num ber upon it” (Gen 8:15-17 NIV). Though a time span is not given be tween Genesis chapters eight and eleven, Moses notes ... “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved east ward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come , let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Gen 11:1-4 NIV). Rebellion against God’s directives had surfaced again on the earth. An all-know ing God had determined in eternity past a divine response to those ar rogant plans ... “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were build ing. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel — because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth” (Gen 11:5-9 NIV). Despite Satan’s efforts, God’s plan was proceeding to bring into existence a people and nation through which the Savior would come in the world. More resistance to God’s plan surfaced in the house hold of Jacob. His older sons conspired to rid themselves of Joseph, their younger brother. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious ani mal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams” (Gen 37:20 NIV). But once again God’s purposes and plans would thwart their evil intentions. Scrip ture records the rise of Joseph as prime minis ter of Egypt and presents a powerful illustration of God’s offer of forgive ness. “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reap ing. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a rem nant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Gen 45:4-7 NIV). Yet, the greatness of that act by Joseph does not compare to God’s gracious provision of a Savior for the entire human race. “For my Father’s will is that ev eryone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6: 40 NIV). God’s invita tion to believe in Christ remains open ... “that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:15 NIV). Editor’s note: Dr. Martinez is an ordained minister and was a professor and head of the music department at Florida State University School from 1975 to 2003. He is the father of five adult children and resides in Lee County with his wife, Sara. Harry R. Martinez Week Four of the 2019 Legislative Session Special to the Ledger By: Sen. Greg Kirk (R - Americus) We are now a quarter of the way through the 2019 Legislative Session with 11 legislative days complete. Last week, the Senate began hearing several bills in commit tee meetings and also heard, and passed, the first bill of the session out of our chamber. Ad ditionally, the week was full of special visitors at the Capitol, and both the House and Senate adopted the adjournment calendar, designating April 2, as Sine Die. To say this week in the Sen ate was a busy one is an understatement - and we are only getting started. So far the Senate passed two pieces of legisla tion out of our chamber; Senate Bill 25 and Senate Resolution 19. Last year, the General Assembly passed legislation stating that drivers coming from the opposite direction could pass a stopped school bus if there was a turn lane separating the two flows of traffic. This language was uninten tionally confusing for drivers, causing accidents with students getting on and off the bus. SB 25 clarifies this language stating that drivers com ing from the opposite direction of the stopped school bus may only pass if separated by a grass median, unpaved area or other physical bar rier. The second piece of legislation that passed out of the Senate last week, SR 19, would create the Georgia Commission on Freight, Innovation and Logistics. The commis sion would be tasked to look into current traffic flow and transportation of goods and come up with a solution to make this issue more conve nient and efficient for all parties. On Thursday, the Sen ate recognized the “End It” movement by drawing red x’s on our hands to bring awareness to the is sue of human slavery and sex trafficking. LTnfortu- nately, sex trafficking is a major issue within our state, nation and world, and I am thankful for all of the hard work our law enforcement and public safety agencies are doing to identify and arrest anyone involved in this horrific act. Lastly, on Thursday the Sen ate Health and Human Services Committee heard Senate Bill 16, or the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act. This bill would allow licen sure of physicians from other states to practice in Georgia, as well as the addition of background checks for incoming physicians. This will al low qualified physicians to practice in Georgia without having to jump through unnecessary hoops. The bill passed out of committee Thurs day and has been set on the calendar by the Rules Committee to be heard on the Senate Floor on Monday. Things are moving right along here under the Gold Dome, but I am always happy to make time for visi tors. Please feel free to reach out to my office if you find yourself at the Capitol, I would be happy to meet with you! There is much to come this legislative session and I will be sure to keep you updated as we move along. #### Sen. Greg Kirk serves as Chairman of the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. He represents the 13th Senate District which in cludes Crisp, Dooly, Lee, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties, and portions of Sumter and Wilcox counties. He may be reached at 229.854.9706 or by email at greg. kirk@ senate .ga .gov. Community Calendar • Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) wifi meet Thursday, February 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Quickie Restaurant, 1906 N. Slappey Blvd. in Albany. All are welcome. FMI, call Ed @ 229- 343-0299. • National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) wifi meet Wednesday, February 20 at the Knights of Columbus, 2009 Gillionville Road in Albany at 11:30 a.m with a speaker of interest. Lunch wifi be served. Eligible people are wel come. • Lee County Utility Authority wifi meet Thursday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting wifi be held at the T. Page Tharp Governmental Building, Opal Cannon Auditorium, 102 Starksville Avenue North, Leesburg. • Smithville City Council wifi meet Thursday, Feb ruary 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the city hall. • Lee County Commissioners wifi meet Tuesday, February 26 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting wifi be held at the T. Page Tharp Governmental Building, Opal Cannon Auditorium, 102 Starksville Avenue North, Leesburg. • Lee County - Leesburg - Smithville Planning Commission will meet Thursday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the T. Page Tharp Governmental Building. Opal Can non Auditorium, 102 Starksville Avenue North, Leesburg. • Veterans join the camaraderie of fellow veterans at the Leesburg American Legion Post 182 the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at J&E Restaurant on Walnut Ave. in Leesburg. • The Albany Amateur Radio Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Avalon United Methodist Church, Albany (rear of the church). • Albany Shrine Club business meeting is the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Ladies Night is the third Saturday at 7 p.m. • Cub Scout Pack 210 meets at Leesburg United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Con tact Stephen at 229-376-1754. Sen. Greg Kirk
