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THE GEORGIA POST & BYRON BUZZ
THURSDAY MAY 14, 2020
GOVERNMENT & MORE:
-Al-Anon meets Mondays, 11 a.m. at
old Byron School. For information call
956-5637.
-PC Board of Education meets first
Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.;
Study session last Tuesday of month,
6 p.m.
-PC Tax Assessors meet first Thurs
day of each month, 4 p.m.
- Byron Lions Club, first and third
Thursday, 7 p.m.
-Byron City Council, second Mon
day, 6 p.m.
-PC Commission, second Tuesday,
6 p.m.
-PC Development Authority, third
Thursday, 8 a.m.
-PC Water & Sewage Authority,
third Monday, 6 p.m.
-Byron Rotary Club, every Wednes
day, 8 a.m., Byron Welcome Center.
-Byron Tax Office, Tuesday & Thurs
day, 8:304:30 p.m. Byron Municipal
Complex
-Medical Center of Peach County
meets third Wednesday of every
month, 9 a.m. Board room at hospital.
-Hospital Authority meets at 12
noon on the fourth Tuesday in Jan.
April, July & October.
-Byron Main Street/CVB/DDA board
meets at 5 p.m. every first Monday of
every other month (even months), at
Welcome Center.
-Byron Planning and Zoning Com
mission, fourth Thursday, 5 p.m.
-Peach Public Libraries, Board of
Trustees - Thomas Public Library,
Fort Valley, Ga. The board meets the
second Thursday of February, April,
June, August, October, and Decem
ber at 5:15 p.m. in the Meeting Room
at Thomas Public Library, Fort Valley,
unless otherwise specified.
THE ICU MINISTRY provides hope to
others in need. Handmade bags are
delivered to area hospital waiting rooms
with toiletry items, pillows and blankets,
magazines, etc. for the family. Items
for bags are always needed. If you are
interested in volunteering or donating
supplies call Para at 214-5560. Icukits.
blogspot.com or icukits@gmail.com.
ICU Survival Kits Ministry. We meet
every second and fourth Thursday at
the Byron Depot from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
BYRON AL-ANON meets Monday
mornings, 11 a.m. and Saturdays
@ 10:30 a.m., 101 Murdock Lane,
Byron (the new Community Center).
Newcomers always welcome. Call 478-
714-9393 for more information.
SCRAPBOOKING AT THE DEPOT
Meets every 3rd week on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday. This is a
free event, just bring your scrapbooking
supplies and enjoy the fun with Fran
(478) 333-6474.
BYRON BAPTIST CHURCH SER
VICE Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Class
es for all ages from birth to seniors.
Morning worship service: 10:30 a.m. in
the sanctuary. Evening worship service:
6 p.m. in the sanctuary. Wednesday
Prayer/Worship Service 6:30 p.m. in
sanctuary; youth in the chapel; children
in the gym. Programs on Wednesday
night. 100 W. White Road. 478-956-
4670.
THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS
OF MIDDLE GEORGIA, We are a na
tional nonprofit organization dedicated
to helping bereaved parent by providing
highly personal comfort, hope and
support to every family experiencing
the death of a child, a brother, sister
or a grandchild and helping others to
better assist the grieving family. Chap
ter meetings are held the 2nd Monday
of each month at 7 p.m. at CrossLife
Church, 3768 Eisenhower Parkway,
Macon and the 4th Thursday of
each month at 7 p.m. at Byron United
Methodist Church, 103 W. Heritage
Blvd., Byron. Please contact for more
information Karla Chidester (478)
9544592 or visit www.compassionate-
friends.org.
GENTLE YOGA offered by Mindful
Mountain Mediation & Movement on
Mondays 6-7:15 p.m. at the Helping
Hands Now Inc. (old elementary
school), 801 Chamlee Drive, Fort
Valley. Suggested donation of $10 per
class. If you are unable to donate, you
are still welcome. Register at https://
www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering-
yoga-2018-tickets42596410009. Lisa
Cummings, certified yoga instructor.
Call 478-737-6356 or learn more at
mmmmonline.com
TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY
(TOPS) holds meetings at the Peach
County Hospital cafeteria every
Thursday at 6:30 p.m. This is a safe
and welcoming environment where the
scale goes up to 750 lbs.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE at Byron
United Methodist Church is in session.
Snack Supper (Cost $2) 6-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Night Live program 6:30 -
7:30 p.m.
SPIRIT’S QUEST is hosting a new
event and are now open every 1st
and 3rd Sunday afternoon for a Social
Sunday. It’s free and open to all to
come hang out with the horses and
spend some time enjoying nature.
Check out Spirit Quest events on
Facebook.
BE SURE AND CHECK
WITH THE HOSTING
ORGANIZATION TO MAKE
SURE EVENTS ARE STILL
ON DURING THIS TIME.
Calendar deadline is Friday at 5 p.m.
If times change notify us at
byrz0nbuz2@pstel.net or
CAU-478-836-3195
Black, Dontavious Marquell
- 29, Byron - DUI - combo
any combination of A1/A2/
A3; driving with suspended
license; speeding in excess of
maximum limits; fleeing or
attempting to elude; unlawful
use of wireless devices; failure
to maintain a single lane; safe
ty belts violation (adults)
Butler, Preston Allen - 21,
Byron - Robbery; battery;
obstructing or hindering law
enforcement officers
Howard, Michael Sharrod -
35, Byron - Cruelty to children
1st degree
All parties are innocent
until proven guilty in a court
of law.
Farmers can get USDA/FSA
loans due to COVID-19
Athens, GA, May 7,
2020—The U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Farm
Service Agency (FSA) reminds
producers that FSA offers
farm ownership and farm
operating loans to agricul
tural producers who may
not find success obtaining
loans from their traditional
financial institutions because
of COVID-19. Farmers who
cannot obtain commercial
credit from a bank can apply
for FSA direct or guaranteed
loans.
“Farming and ranching is
a capital-intensive business
and FSA is committed to
helping producers maintain
their agricultural operations
during this time of crisis,”
said Dianne R. Westmo
reland, FSA Acting State
Executive Director in Georgia.
“FSA loans are designed to
assist beginning and histor
ically underserved fanners
and ranchers, as well as those
who have suffered financial
setbacks from natural disas
ters or economic downturns.
Producers may find that an
FSA loan is the best option for
them if they cannot qualify for
a loan with their traditional
financial institutions or other
financial institutions because
of COVID-i9.”USDA offers a
variety of loans to meet differ
ent production needs. Direct
loans are made to applicants
by FSA.
Guaranteed loans are
made by lending institu
tions who arrange for FSA to
guarantee the loan. FSA can
guarantee up to 95 percent
of the loss of principal and
interest on a loan. The FSA
guarantee allows lenders
to make agricultural credit
available to producers who do
not meet the lender’s normal
underwriting criteria.
The direct and guaranteed
loan program offers two types
of loans: farm ownership
loans and farm operating
loans.
Farm ownership loan
funds may be used to pur
chase or enlarge a farm or
ranch; purchase easements
or rights of way needed in
the farm's operation; build or
improve buildings such as a
dwelling or bam; promote soil
and water conservation and
development; and pay closing
costs.
Farm operating loan
funds may be used to pur
chase livestock, poultry, farm
equipment, fertilizer, and
other materials necessary to
operate a farm. Operating
loan funds can also be used
for family living expenses; re
financing debts under certain
conditions; paying salaries for
hired farm laborers; installing
or improving water systems
for home, livestock or irriga
tion use; and other similar
improvements.
Repayment terms for
direct operating loans are
scheduled from one to seven
years. Financing for direct
farm ownership loans cannot
exceed 40 years. Interest
rates for direct loans are set
periodically according to the
government’s cost of borrow
ing. Guaranteed loan terms
and interest rates are set by
the lender.
For more information on
FSA’s farm loan programs,
please contact your local FSA
office or visit fanners.gov.
USDA is an equal opportu
nity provider, employer, and
lender
Thank you for your supporting and participating in our online learning opportunities. Please
see the following for end of the year:
* No assignments for grading will be given after May 6. 2020.
* Students should submit all work for grading so that we can finalize grades
by May 14th.
* May 14 will be the last day for any oulme meetings.
* Grades after March 16.2020 will not negatively impact a student’s final
average.
Report cards Mill be mailed out on May 22, 2020. Parents, please e-mail your child’s
teacher or send them a message in REMIND if your address has changed.
Grade Calculations
* K-8 yearly grades will be averaged on work completed in the 1 st - 3 rd 9-
w T eeks, 4 th nine weeks will only be included if students completed
assignments.
* 9-12 second semester grade will be a cumulative average of 3 rd 9-w r eeks and
any assignments completed in the 4 th 9-weeks.
A calendar for the return of technology will be provided at a later date.
Online registration for Grades K-12 for 2020-2021 will begin Wednesday, May 6 th .
This does not include pre-k. Pre-k slots have been filled for the upcoming year.
Face to face registration options will be communicated at a later date as well.
PEACH COUNTY SCHOOL NUTRITION
BREAKFAST & LUNCH
MEALS AVAILABLE!
Mondays and Thursdays
11 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
(multiple day meals will be given)
VOTING - From front Page 1-A
district attorney office about
what he was doing. He dis
regarded several warnings to
stop the false registrations
and after registering his
deceased father, Davis was
charged and pleaded guilty to
voter registration. He never
submitted the fraudulent
votes but could have done so
easily using absentee bal
lots if he had not informed
officials what he was doing
because the signatures for his
dogs would have matched the
forms.
Also in California Nor
man Hall was involved in
a scheme with eight others
involving the homeless on
Skid Row for reportedly
soliciting hundreds of false
and/or forged signatures on
state ballot petitions and vot
er registration forms. They
offered to pay $1 and/or ciga
rettes for participation.
In 2018 in South Carolina,
voting results were over
turned in the 9th Congres
sional District race because
of illegal vote harvesting
that included altering and
forging absentee ballots.
Oregon, who has some all
mail jurisdictions brag about
the security of their systems.
However, those systems
consist of almost nothing
other than rapid, superficial
signature comparison. A
good forger can bypass that
security. A survey taken in
Oregon showed that five
percent of registered vot
ers admitted other people
marked their ballots for them
and 2.4% said someone else
signed their ballots. Remem
ber, this is only people who
would admit to this. There
are also many cases where
older citizens are “helped” at
the poll and told who to vote
for by people they trust.
Margaret Menge, a free
lance Journalist, wanted
to test the system. In 2011,
while living in Pam Beach
County, Florida. She sub
mitted three voter registra
tion applications with three
different names, including
one for herself. Two of them,
including her own, came
back saying the applications
could not be processed. How
ever she did receive a voter
registration card for the third
person. This person, Hannah
Arendt existed in history
and was a celebrated author
who no longer existed. After
requesting an absentee ballot
for Hannah Arendt, it ap
peared in her mailbox. When
she called a former secretary
of state and asked how it was
possible for her to do what
she did. The said, that they
check names of people apply
ing to register to vote against
several databases but have
no way of checking to see
whether someone exists. She
did not use the fraudulent
ballot but easily could have
done so.
In New Jersey, a candidate
for city council in Hoboken,
bribed voters with $50 for
mail-in ballots to support his
candidacy. Purchasing votes
is much easier with absentee
or mail-in ballots.
The cases go on and on in
most all states. All of these
make a good case that voter
fraud does exist and com
promise the integrity of the
election process.
President Trump is for
Voter ID and feels people can
cheat with mail-in voting but
Democratic lawmakers push
for voting by mail. He has
said yes mail-in ballots are
needed for the elderly
Because of the pandemic,
Georgians were mailed an
application for absentee bal
lots. You do not have to turn
in that application, nor do
you have to vote by mail.
J. Christian Adams with the
Public Interest Legal Foun
dation says there are two big
problems with vote by mail
First, people vote the ballot
for other people through un
due influence and the second
is that many voter rolls are a
mess.
Locally, Brenda Peacock
is the Elections Supervisor,
says personally she feels Vot
er ID is the safest and most
secure way there is since the
person must be standing in
front of the poll worker when
they are completed their
form to vote in person.
She does, however, under
stand the concern of some
due to COVID-19, who don’t
want to go out in public.
In Crawford, she says the
mail-in ballots are safe
because the signature of the
person signing the oath on
the ballots, must match the
signature that’s on file with
their original voter registra
tion form that her office has
on file. “This is how we verify
mail in ballots,” she stated.
In larger counties, where
there are tens times as many
voters, poll workers may not
have as much time to spend
ensuring the signatures are
the same. In Crawford the
voter rolls are purged regu
larly.
Remember the Republican
and Democratic Party pri
maries and the non-partisan
general election was resched
uled for June 9, 2020. Early
voting begins May 18th and
Saturday early voting is May
30th.
New Feeding sites are:
Peach County High School
900 Campus Drive, Fort Valley 31030
Byron Middle School
201 Linda Drive, Byron 31008
Kay Road Elementary School
880 Kay Road, Byron 31008
Feed Center
100 Fagin Circle, Fort Valley 31030
Fort Valley First Assembly of God
881 Taylors Mill Road, Fort Valley 31030
God’s Children Too
1206 Knoxville Street, Fort Valley 31030
To sponsor a site call Matoshia Grant at 478-972-5105
eicomesy
Dr. John Brown
New Patients &
Walk-ins Welcome
medicare, Medicaic
Blue Cross, United
Health, TriCare &
Cigna
Dr. Dinakara
Shetty