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The Led County Ledger
Your Hometown Source Of Local News
Hometown Newspaper of Larry and Dianne Christmas
Volume XLVI- Number 9
Leesburg, Georgia - - November 8, 2023
Fifty Cents
Casie Ward Named
Teacher Of The Year
Our district’s Teacher of
the Year is Casie Ward.
Mrs. Ward, a fifth grade
teacher of math, science,
and social studies at
Twin Oaks Elementary
School, was selected by
the Teacher of the Year
committee as the Lee
County School System
2023-2024 Teacher of
the Year after a two-part
selection process for
the three finalists. This
process included appli
cation evaluations and
classroom observations.
Mrs. Ward will now be
in the running for the
Georgia Teacher of the
Year, competing against
fellow District Teachers
of the Year.
“Mrs. Ward is unde
niably deserving of the
title of Lee County’s
Teacher of the Year”,
says Katie Peppers,
principal at Twin Oaks.
“Her inspiring, inno
vative, and data-driven
approach to education
has left an indelible
mark on her students’
lives. Her unwavering
dedication to fostering
a love for learning has
inspired countless young
minds, and her innova
tive teaching methods
have kept her classroom
at the forefront of educa
tion. With a data-driven
mindset,
Mrs. Ward ensures that
each student’s unique
needs are met, making
her a true exemplar of
excellence in the teach
ing profession.”
Mrs. Ward has been
married to her husband,
Tyler, for five years.
They have two little
girls. She is a mom who
truly enjoys chasing her
toddlers around, getting
blasted in the face with
the bubble machine,
jumping on the tram
poline no matter the
temperature outside, and
watching all the “watch
mommy” tricks no mat
ter how silly they are.
“My church, The
Church at the Groves,
has a sign I pass every
day on the way to work
that says, Go change
the world,” Mrs. Ward
reflects, “and that little
message has changed the
way I think about my
classroom. It may not be
the world, but I want my
50 students to feel com
fortable and willing to
work hard. I make sure
that I teach to the whole
child, which means
sometimes my goal for
a student has nothing to
do with standards-based
instruction.
Sometimes, it is teach
ing them how to cope
with redirection, how to
appropriately react to a
frustrating situation, or
how to solve problems
- whether it be math
problems or daily life
problems - independent
ly. Ultimately, we, as
teachers, are given one
year to make an impact
on a student. That im
pact could change their
entire way of thinking
for the rest of their lives,
whether good or bad. So,
get out there and change
the world.”
Congratulations, Casie
Ward.
Photo by Lee County Chamber of Commerce
Celebrating 34 Years!
The Lee County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 34th Annual Dinner and awards ceremony
on Thursday, November 2,2023. The Chamber celebrated 34 years of service to the community
and honored some individuals who deserve recognition for giving back to their community!
Man of the Year-Kirven Davis; Woman of the Year-Penny Knight; Business of the Year-Speed
Shop; Non-Profit of the Year-Rocky & Patti Wiggins; Partner in Education-Sumter EMC
Foundation; and Partner in Agriculture-Elite Ag.
Submitted Photo
Governor Kemp has proclaimed Nov. 5 as Retired Educator Day in
Georgia. This day honors the many men and women who dedicated
their lives to educate and encourage the youth of Georgia. Pictured
above are some of the members of the Lee County Retired Educators.
As a retired educator, if you would like to join the group, we would
love to have you at our next meeting on November 27 at 10:00am at
Leesburg Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
Special to the Ledger
by Yolanda Robinson
PR Coordinator
The Lee County
School System congrat
ulates all of the teach
ers who were named
Teacher of the Year on
their respective campus
es - Andrea Kennedy
(Lee County Primary
School), Rebecca Griffin
(Kinchafoonee Primary
School), Ami Patel (Lee
County Elementary
School), Casie Ward
(Twin Oaks Elementa
ry School), Chambliss
Newsome (Lee County
Middle School-East),
Lacey Ragin (Lee
County Middle School-
West), Allison Doug
las (Lee County High
School-9), and Jason
Millsapp (Lee County
High School). The three
finalists were Chambliss
Newsome, Jason Mill-
sap, and Casie Ward.
Nine Permits Issued For
New Homes In October
During the month
of October 2023, the
Lee County Building
Permit Office issued
nine permits for single
family homes. The nine
Doherty Duggan,
hart&tiernan
INSURORS
Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health
P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040
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Lee County
Board of
Education
will meet
Monday,
November 13
at 5:30 p.m.
The meeting
will be held
at the board
of education
office
permits were issued in
the unincorporated area
of Lee County.
The estimated con
struction cost of the nine
homes in the unincorpo
rated area of Lee County
was $427, 881.75
During October one
permit was issued for an
accessory building with
an estimated construc
tion cost of $11,620.00
and ten permits were
issued for pools & signs
in the unincorporated
area of Lee County. 15
residential addition &
alteration permits and
one commercial acces
sory permit were issued
in the unincorporated
area of Lee County.
One permit for Store
& customer service was
issued in October. The
estimated construction
cost was $685,000.00.
During October, one
demolition permit was
issued. 34 electrical
permits, 22 plumbing
permits, 21 heating and
air permits and two gas
permits were issued in
the unincorporated area
of Lee
County.
In
Lees
burg,
one per
mit was
issued
for an
accesso
ry building, one permit
for pools & signs and
one residential addition
Lee County commis
sioners will hold a pub
lic hearing on Tuesday,
November 14, 2023 at
6:00 p.m. The public
hearing is being held
to consider a resolution
on transmitting a draft
& alteration..
One permit for restau
rant remodeling was
issued in Leesburg
during October with an
estimated
construc
tion cost of
$300,000.00.
One plumb
ing permit
was issued
in Leesburg
during Octo
ber. During
October, one electrical
permit was issued in
Smithville.
Capital Improvements
Element Annual Up
date to the Southwest
Georgia Regional Com
mission for regional
review pursuant to the
Georgia Planning Act
of 1989.
To Subscribe Call 229-759-2413
Commissioner To
Hold Public Hearing
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Georgia Community Bank
3000 N. Slappey Blvd.
(229) 446-0102
Online @ GCB.bank
NMLS # 648124
Subject to
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8 10499
02456 8