About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2019)
Page 4A,The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, May 29, 2019 ^Sgia Rarest ry Commission Report Sharing the Word Analyzes Wildfire Risk Georgia’s summer season is at hand, dur ing which we usually see a decrease in wild fire activity. However with drying conditions the threat of wildfires continues to increase. The Georgia Forestry Commis sion (GFC) will be continually monitoring the daily and long range wild fire fore cast, and is prepared to respond to any activity. Did you know, each / a f ^' i * if 4 Tom Lambert year an average of over 3,800 homes and other struc tures are damaged or destroyed by wildfire in the South? SouthWrap, the Southern Group of State Forester’s Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal, is a valuable online tool that enables viewers to review and analyze risk from wildfires at locations throughout the southeast US. The “pub lic view” provides an easy to use web mapping application in which users can drill down to specific factors impact ing their wildfire risk at pinpointed locations. An introductory tutorial and a number of map lay ers and views make the site extremely viewer- friendly. In addi tion to public view, the site provides ap plications for professional viewers and communities at risk pro gram manag ers, which enhance their ability to prioritize tac tical analyses, and provide education and mitiga tion treatments to help reduce wildfire risk. The Wildfire Risk As sessment Portal can be found at www.south- ernwildfirerisk.com . Explore the site today and learn the steps you can take to protect your home from the risk of wildfire damages. You can also contact your local Georgia Forestry Commission at 759-3011 or 430-5122. Special to the Ledger By Harry R. Martinez, Ph. D Who are you? An epidemic of depres sion and suicide appears to be sweeping the na tion, especially among the younger generation. There is a sense of hope lessness, uselessness, despair, apathy, guilt, and frustration over failed expectations. These characteristics zap the life and vibrancy of many in the nation. Mental and emotional issues often manifest themselves in various types of illnesses. While smoking and high cho lesterol are known high risk factors in heart dis ease, research conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York directly linked initial heart at tacks to depression. A study conducted in 1947 by the medical director of a Chicago hospital concluded that “fatal heart attacks can be triggered by anger in all degrees, depression and anxiety. Medical evaluation and treatment are often considered in controlling symptoms of depression. However, is it possible that there are spiritual factors which contribute or are possibly even the root causes for the conditions that manifest themselves through illnesses? Perhaps the most ag gressive opponent to peace and stability in the spiritual life is that of guilt. God, in His grace has made provision to resolve the issue of guilt. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV). The Apostle Paul then says ... “Forget ting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven ward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13b-14 NIV). Furthermore, the apostle states ... “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Col 3:15-16 NIV). Note that the crite rion for experiencing the peace of Christ requires that the Word of Christ dwell richly in you. It is from the Word of God that you gain || the correct spiritual per spective and can answer three important ques tions: Who am I: we are heirs - heirs of God and co- heirs with Christ; what ami: ... “How great is the love the Fa ther has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are” (1 John 3:1 NIV); why am I here ... “We are there fore Christ’s ambas sadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20 NIV). Every believer has the unique privilege of representing the Lord Jesus Christ and shar ing the good news that ... “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried and was raised on the Harry R. Martinez Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Receives $15,000 Drowsy Driving Grant Special to the Ledger The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Governors High way Safety Association (GHSA) and The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF) to bolster its drowsy driving preven tion efforts. Following a competitive application process that included review by a panel of issue experts, Georgia was one of five states to receive funding from this na tional partnership, along with Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and New York. GOHS will utilize its grant funds to partner with the Department of Agriculture to raise awareness of drowsy driving through a pres ence at the Georgia National Fair. GOHS also will produce additional educational materials to be distributed at other events and share NRSF drowsy driving resources across a variety of media platforms. “We’re so grateful to GHSA and the National Road Safety Foundation for this opportunity to bring greater awareness to the issue of drowsy driving,” GOHS Director Allen Poole. “We know drowsy driving can have effects similar to that of drunk driving and that is the message we’re trying to convey.” This is the third year of GHSA and NRSF’s grant program, which equips states with resources needed to tackle the chal lenge of drowsy driv ing. Program initiatives incorporate best practices identified by GHSA and NRSF, utilizing public awareness campaigns, virtual reality and in novative partnerships to engage key audiences. “Drowsy driving con tinues to be a chronic and often overlooked issue on our nation’s roadways,” GHSA Executive Direc tor Jonathan Adkins said. “We are excited to continue this partnership with the National Road Safety Foundation to support innovative state approaches addressing this problem.” “This year’s grantees were chosen from an out standing group of appli cants dedicated to taking action against fatigued driving,” NRSF Director of Operations Michelle Anderson said. “NRSF is glad to provide this fund ing to support states as they work to keep drowsy drivers off the road.” About GHSA The Governors High way Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit as sociation representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. GHSA pro vides leadership and rep resentation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program manage ment and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and imple ment state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org. Find us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/GHSAhq or follow us on Twitter @ GHSAHQ. About The National Road Safety Foundation The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries on our nation’s roads by promoting safe driving awareness and life long education. NRSF produces FREE traf fic safety programs on distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driving skills, pedestrian safety and a host of other safety issues. NRSF also sponsors contests to en gage teens in promoting safe driving to their peers and in their communities. For more information or to download free pro grams, visit www.nrsf. org or www.teenlane.org. third day according to the Scriptures again” (1 Cor 15:3b NIV). There fore ... “we implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteous ness of God” (2 Cor 5:21 NIV). The Apostle Paul wrote to the churches in the area of Ephesus ... “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph 4:31 NIV). These are sins and must be con fessed. Failure to admit our sins to the Father and claim the grace provision for cleansing and for giveness sets up a chain reaction in the soul: self demands its way, and when that is confronted, anger, resentment, bitter ness, and malice arise. Feelings of self pity, holding grudges, and blaming others become a lifestyle. The end result is no peace, lack mental stability, and wide emo tional swings. That believer is in a state of carnality, controlled by the sin nature, subject to divine discipline and, if unre pentant, will become an emotional wreck, frus trated, depressed, and useless in God’s service. However, the Christian can choose to live in the reality of Jesus’ promise ... “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b NKJV). Editor’s note: Dr. Mar tinez is an ordained min ister 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. 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. Printed On Recycled Paper MEMBER OF GEORGIA PRESS ASSOCIATION Letter to the Editor This contribution came from the father-in-law of our own beloved Coach Corey Schabeck. Many here will appreciate his sentiments from the celebrations of Memo rial Day. In his words: “I think of the day I was there at Arlington National Cemetery and saw the changing of the guards. It brings back the day of the military people that never made it home for our freedom. I still remember when I was in high school and we lived close the VA in Dayton, Ohio. My bud dies and I would go over the fence on (Decoration Day) Memorial Day and scramble for the bent rifle shells that the honor guards fired. On this VA grounds was our base ball field/stadium where I played my HS base ball. This area today, the structure and ball field is long gone and covered with veterans grave stones. I also visited the National Cemetery in Hawaii while I was in the Navy.“ Thank you for this memory, Carl Fosnaugh. Kate Scarmalis Clinton Obama Benghazi Scandal Remember the Beng hazi scandal involving Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama? Ambas sador Stevens was sent to Benghazi to se cretly retrieve US made Stinger Missiles that the State Dept, had supplied to Libya without Con gressional oversight or permission. Sec. State Hillary Clinton had brokered the Libya deal through Am bassador Stevens and a private arms dealer but some of the shoulder fired Stinger Missiles ended up in Afghanistan where they were used against our own mili tary. On July 25th, 2012, a US Chinook helicopter was downed by one of them. The helicopter didn’t explode, but it had to land and an ordnance team recovered the missile’s serial number which led back to a cache of Stinger Mis siles kept in Qatar by the CIA. Obama and Hillary were in full panic mode, so Ambassador Stevens was sent to Benghazi to retrieve the rest of the Stinger Missiles. This was a “do-or-die” mis sion, which explains the Stand down orders given to multiple rescue teams during the siege of the US Embassy. It was the State Dept, not the CIA, that supplied the Stinger Missiles to our sworn enemies because Gen. Petraeus at CIA would not approve supply ing the deadly missiles due to their potential use against commercial aircraft. Gen. Petraeus refused to testify in sup port of Obama’s phony claim of a spontane ous uprising caused by a YouTube video that insulted Muslims.” Obama and Hillary committed treason. This candidate was elected president twice and she almost became presi dent. This exposes the ignorance and lack of common sense of half of America’s voters. Thankfully America’s founding fathers who were primarily Southern gentlemen from Virginia had the intelligence and foresight to establish the Electoral College. Democrats want to replace it with popular vote which would allow about 5 major cities to totally control all of America. James W. King Albany Georgia
