Newspaper Page Text
Page 2 - The Wiregrass Farmer, October 15, 2008
Briefly
Birth certificates
Need a certified birth cer
tificate? If you were bom in the
State of Georgia, the Turner
County Probate Court may be
able to provide you with a cer
tified copy. For more informa
tion call Probate Court Judge
Penny Thomas at 567-2151.
CHIP
(Continued from Page 1)
CHIP is only available to
homeowners, not renters.
The City of Ashburn also
has a CHIP grant, but is using
that for downpayment assis
tance to help people buy homes
in the City.
Part of the problem with
switching to Varnadoe and
Associates remains with Mr.
Wheeler.
“We’re also trying to
retrieve information John
Wheeler had. If we can’t get it,
that may be a problem,”
Chairman Hall said.
Commissioners said Mr.
Wheeler has not returned
phone calls in some time. Nor
has he sent in a letter officially
resigning his contract job with
the County.
The other issue with hiring
Mr. Varnadoe is Mr. Wheeler
has already been paid from the
administration part of the CHIP
grant.
“It’s unlikely we will get
that back,” the chairman said.
The County will be paying
the $5,000 from County funds.
“Are we pouring more
money down a rathole?”
Commissioner Mike
Geoghagan asked.
The chairman said that is
not a problem. The Department
of Community Affairs, which
oversees and provides CHIP
grants, suggested the County
take this action, the chairman
said.
“DCA is in the driver’s
seat,” he said.
That does not explain
where the $5,000 is coming
from, a question the chairman
posed.
County Manager Charles
Kinney said he was not sure.
He said he’d review the budget
to see if any department was
under budget and the money
could be transferred form there.
Alternately, the
Commission could amend the
budget and possibly take
money from reserves, said
County Clerk Mary Wynn.
“On the other hand, if we
don’t do this, there will be a lot
of people in the County who
will not get help. It is good
help,” Mr. Geoghagan said.
COME
HUNGRY
BUFFET
$C99
^ 6 a.m.-4 p.m.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Monday-Friday
GOVERNMENT
Emergency Siren test 1st Wednesday at noon
TCMS School Council, 3rd Monday 4 p.m.
TCDA 2nd & 4th Monday 8:30 a.m. Chamber
County Commission 6:30 p.m. 1st Tues, School
Board Bus Shop
Ashburn Council 7 p.m. 1st Thursday City Hall
Board of Ed. 2nd Monday 7 p.m. Bus Shop
Rebecca Council 1st Monday, 6:30 City Hall
Sycamore Council 2nd Thurs., 7 p.m. City Hall
TCHS Council 1st Monday 4 p.m., TCHS
Community Relations Board, last Thursday,
7 p.m. Ashburn City Hall
SPECIAL
Chamber 3rd Friday noon Chamber
Fire Ant Festival Wednesday noon, Shoney's
CIVIC
Rotary Noon, each Thursday, Shoney's
Exchange 7 p.m., each Monday, Club Building
Kiwanis Noon, each Tuesday, Shoney's
Sycamore Lodge #210 Masons 1st and 3rd
Monday 7:30 p.m, Lodge
American Legion 2nd Tuesday 7 p.m, old
Legion Hall
Child Abuse Prev. 3rd Thurs. 6 p.m. Special
Services School
A.A. Tuesday & Friday 7:30-8:30 Alt. School
Cub Scouts every Mon, 7 pm at First United
Methodist Church. Ages 6-11
Boy Scouts every Tues. 7 pm at American
Legion. Ages 11 & up.
Community Calender Deadline: Noon FRIDAY!
To be listed, call 567-3655
FARMER’S FURNITURE
Farmer’s Furniture held a ribbon cutting last week to announce the re-opening of the extensively remodeled store.
CHILD CARE CENTER
GreenTree Learning Center, a child care facility serving residents of the Village Green Apartments, teen mothers and
low-income mothers and fathers training, held a grand opening and ribbon cutting last week.
SYCAMORE
(Continued from Page 1)
taxes because values vary
and exemptions vary.
At the City Council meeting
last week, the Council discuss
edthe matter, saying the addi
tional $11,000 the new values
will bring in is much needed.
“We have cut and cut and
cut. We’re close to the bone
now,” said Councilman Scotty
Wilkerson.
Mayor Alan Coker said the
City was under budget last
year, something he attributed to
hard work by all City employ
ees. “It was a team effort.
Everybody pitched in. I am
very appreciative of that. But
this year will be even tighter,”
he said.
The Council said they know
the decision may make it hard
on some people. Mayor Coker
said he wanted everyone to
know that the Council is rais
ing their own taxes too.
His own tax bill last year
was $15.57. With the new val
ues and a 11.5 tax rate, his tax
bill will be $83.67. If the
homestead relief grant from the
state does not come down from
Atlanta, his total tax bill will be
$175.67.
“It ain’t like I’m tax-
exempt,” he said. “I understand
this will be real tough on some
citizens. It will be tough on me.
It will be tough on a lot of
people. We’re not just raising
somebody else’s taxes. We’re
raising our own.”
The City is holding public
hearings on the proposed mil-
lage. Council members encour
aged people to attend these
meetings and express opinions
and give suggestions.
“If anyone has any ideas,
they would like to bring in, I
would love to hear it,”
Councilman Wilkerson said.
“A lot of people don’t realize
the cost of running a city. There
is a lot of stupid stuff you have
to spend money on. There is a
lot of good stuff too,” he said.
PLANS FOR THE MONEY
The Council is already
making plans for the money in
a water-system improvement
for the east side of town.
Not long ago, the entire
water pipe network on the west
side of town was replaced. A
Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) paid for a
good bit of that. Now the City
is getting a CDBG for the east
side.
But the $500,000 won’t
cover the $640,000 estimated
cost of the project. That leaves
the City needing to come up
with $140,000.
By leaving the millage at
11.5, and bringing in more
money, Sycamore will have
money to put toward the east
side project.
Mayor Coker said the
improvements are very much
needed.
“This water system has cost
so much on Willis Street it is
unreal,” he said.
Public Works Director Jerry
Nipper estimated the City has
spent $50,000 in five years on
Willis Street along.
“Let’s go conservatively,
$40,000 in the last six years.
That is ridiculous. We have got
to get this done,” the mayor
said.
Allen's Tire
FREE AIR
New & Used Tires
Auto • RV • Truck ‘Trailer*
Open 6 days ‘Sycamore,GA
1-75 & Exit 80 Bussey Rd
567-3390
LUNG
What's your functional capacity?
Ever feel short of breath or have a persistent
unexplained and irritating cough? You may
need respiratory assistance ... join us for a free
screening to find out your functional lung capacity,
Wednesday, October 22
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Tifton Mall, 458 N. Virginia Ave.
Free Screenings include:
* Spirometry Test (how much air your lungs wilt hold)
+ Pulse Oximetry (level of oxygen in your blood)
+ MDI/DPI Check-up Clinic (You must bring your inha-er.
Our respiratory therapists will check your technique.}
* Blood Pressure
f Body Fat Analysis
Our certified Asthma Educator will T EI,5??R^'i L
be on-hand to answer any questions. Cammoatysprit
Space is limited. Calf the TRMC Respiratory Department
at 353-7526 to schedule an appointment.
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Your items for
sale in
THE
CLASSIFIEDS
Turn your stuff into
CASH
567-3655
