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THE GEORGIA POST & THE BYRON BUZZ
COlMlMy^BW
THURSDAY JULY 9,2020
The greatest team
By Dan Gatlyn
An unlikely setting. Hardly worthy of mention and yet
exceptionally applicable to commentary, for unfolding be
fore my eyes, was a real life view of a relevant feature. And
all coming together very anonymously. Picture this: four
members of law enforcement, four paramedics, a lady who
played a staring role, myself (retired military, pastor, and
journalist) and a victim. This is a story which has been re
hearsed a thousand times without fanfare but in contrast to
the awkward and despicable scenes before the nation today;
one which declares virtue among the vile.
It happened on the last day of June, mid day, in Houston
county, as the temperature approached the hundred degree
mark, an elderly gentleman of questionable health had col
lapsed on the ground (from the heat or other) and a lady of
concern was comforting him, while on the telephone to 911.
I arrived to meet someone (totally unrelated) and became an
observer to this timely scene. Questioning the lady, I endeav
ored to fit in to the scenario while professionals, along with
an ambulance, arrived. What I witnessed, was the best of
America, coming together as a team; and meticulously work
ing to bring relief to this semi conscious individual.
No names, economics, race, color, or political persuasions
were mentioned. No weapons were brandished. No yell
ing, screaming, or accusations were part of the mix. Only
the compassionate and caring spirit of an America we once
knew, no one played favoritism; and there existed no com
petition only the cooperative manner of a team judiciously
reaching for solutions.
I watched as the first lady on the scene alternately
making the man comfortable, while busy in dispatching
information the first paramedic (who just happened by),
checking vitals, and also appraising the situation law en
forcement checking vehicle information affirming conditions
and logistics. The auto license plate indicated the victim was
USAF retired (though unconfirmed). The ambulance crew of
paramedics processed the man with all diligence as partici
pants began to exit; and I thought every citizen needs to see
this the greatest team working together without provocation,
demonstrations, or confrontation. This is the America that
all can commend, and be proud of. No big deal yet a vital
revelation. Amazing, still don’t know the names!
DNR announces $1,000 grant for top conservation teacher
The Georgia Department of
Natural Resources is offering
a $1,000 grant to a third-,
fourth- or fifth-grade public or
private school teacher in the
state who demonstrates ex
ceptional energy and innova
tion in teaching life sciences.
Science specialists covering
those grade levels can also
apply.
The Conservation Teacher of
the Year grant is coordinated
by the Wildlife Conservation
Section of DNR’s Wildlife
Resources Division. Funding
is provided by the section’s
friends group, The Environ
mental Resources Network,
better known as TERN.
Through education, research
and management, the Wildlife
Conservation Section works
to safeguard Georgia’s native
diversity of wild animals,
plants and their habitats,
while also striving to increase
public enjoyment of the
outdoors. The purpose of the
grant is to recognize and help
an outstanding teacher who
uses Georgia’s native wildlife
and habitats as the context
for learning, explained Linda
May, DNR outreach coordi
nator.
“Georgia is home to an amaz
ing diversity of wildlife,” May
said. “We want to support a
talented teacher who high
lights these natural wonders
with his or her students in
creative ways.”
Previous recipients covered
state curriculum standards
through innovative lessons,
outdoor investigations and
community outreach. For
example, 2018 recipient Dr.
Kimberlie Harris taught stu
dents at Samuel L. Hubbard
Elementary in Forsyth about
Georgia’s endangered ani
mals. After researching rare
species and learning about
threats to their survival, Har
ris’ third graders created a bat
habitat at the school, complete
with bat houses and native
plants that attract insects bats
eat. The project was report
ed by Macon media and the
Georgia Farm Bureau, raising
awareness about bats in the
community.
Last year, Bulloch County
STEM Lab teacher Stephanie
Hodges used grant funds to
buy supplies for a “pollinator
paradise” at Portal Elementa
ry. Students learned about the
importance of bees, butter
flies, hummingbirds and
other pollinators in healthy
ecosystems, as well as the role
of pollinators in fruit and seed
production. The monarch
butterfly, an iconic species
threatened by habitat loss,
pesticides and a changing cli
mate, particularly stirred their
interest. Therefore, students
grew and planted milkweed,
the only plant on which mon-
archs lay eggs, to help popula
tions. Native nectar-producing
plants were added to attract
other pollinators, too.
This fall, another talented
teacher will be selected to re
ceive funding based on project
design, evaluated through
applicant answers to grant
proposal questions. Projects
that are especially creative and
teach about Georgia’s rare or
endangered species, as well
as solid projects that have no
other means of funding, will
earn bonus points. Details at
georgiawildlife.com/Teach-
ingConservationGrant.
The deadline to apply is Aug.
20,2020. DNR will notify
the grant winner by Sept. 10,
2020.
For more information about
the Conservation Teacher of
the Year grant, please con
tact Linda May (linda.may@
dnr.ga.gov, 706-319-0211) or
Anna Yellin (anna.yellin@dnr.
ga.gov, 706-557-3283).
Grant at a Glance:
§ $1,000 grant to a Georgia
third-, fourth- or fifth-grade
public or private school teach
er (including science special
ists) who demonstrates excep
tional energy and innovation
in teaching life sciences.
§ Provided by the Georgia
DNR Wildlife Conservation
Section and friends group
The Environmental Resource
Network, or TERN.
§ Deadline to apply: Aug.
20. Recipient announced by
Sept. 10.
§ For more: georgiawildlife.
com/TeachingConserva-
tionGrant or contact Linda
May Cinda.may@dnr.ga.gov,
706-319-0211) or Anna Yellin
(anna.yellin@dnr.ga.gov, 706-
557-3283).
Peach County
WANTED
Walker, Mike D.
age 51, b/m, 57
@ 200 lbs.
Wanted by
Byron Police
Department
- Aggravted
Assault & Rape.
Bibb County
Sheriff Office
- Aggravated
Assault, Kiddnapping.
Simpson,
Christopher D.,
age 37, w/m,
6’2 @ 203 lbs.
Wanted by
Peach County
Sheriff Office -
Burglary, Theft
by Taking &
Obstruction of
Law Enforce
ment.
New Online Cybersecurity Certificate Programs being offered during CGTC Fall Semester
This fall, Central Georgia
Technical College (CGTC) will
begin offering two fully online
Technical Certificates of Credit
(TCC) in one of the nation’s
fastest growing industries,
opening gateways to careers of
the future.
Cybersecurity TCCs at CGTC
are embedded certificates that
lead students directly into
valuable industry credentials
for employment and future
diploma and degree programs.
The Cybersecurity TCC and
the Cybersecurity Fundamen
tals TCC are designed to en
hance the skills of the familiar
student and introduce topics
to the novice.
The College and its Academic
Affairs Division have moni
tored the growth and demand
for highly-skilled technicians
in this field over the last year
while developing courses to
meet it. CGTC regularly mon
itors the trends in local and
state industry, working closely
with its partners in industry
to meet their needs for skilled
employees.
“Due to the rapid advance
ments in technology, cyberse
curity is one of the most com
plex and challenging fields in
Information Technology (IT),”
said Shane Knighton, CGTC’s
program chair for Cybersecu
rity. “It is also one of the most
requested skillsets when we
speak with our local industry
partners. Any company that
uses technology has a need to
protect those resources.”
NBC News reports that as
more people work remotely,
and more businesses shift
their operations online as a re
sult of the COVTD-19 pandem
ic, cybersecurity is another
field that will continue to be
in-demand in the months and
years ahead. In its online arti
cle, 5 skills experts say workers
should master right now, it
was cited that “an additional
4 million trained workers
would be needed to close the
skills gap and properly defend
organizations.”
As the College gears up for
enrollment this fall, Shane
Knighton, believes the right
students for Cybersecurity are
out there looking for a new
challenge and he expects fac
ulty to equip them to achieve
success.
“I am very excited for our
department to begin offering
these classes, starting in the
fall,” he said. “My faculty and I
look forward to working with
the students to prepare them
for a very challenging, but
rewarding career.”
Students can expect to gain
an understanding of broad
Information Systems and
Information Technology
concepts; learn how to install,
configure, and maintain
computer hardware, operating
systems, and networks; and
develop an understanding of
information security concepts.
including security policies and
procedures.
The Cybersecurity TCCs are
eligible for funding through
the HOPE Career Grant,
meaning eligible students
can complete this program
tuition-free.
While not available yet, the
College intends to eventually
offer a diploma and degree
option in Cybersecurity.
To find out more information
about the Cybersecurity TCC
email Shane Knighton at sk-
nighton@centralgatech.edu.
Fall semester begins August
18. The $25 application fee
and placement test require
ment are being waived for fall
semester.
Gainesjr. Keith
T., age 33, w/m,
5’9 @ 165 lbs.
Wanted by Fort
Valley Police
Department
- Theft by
Taking-Auto.
Tabor, Jonathan
E., age 29, b/m,
57 @ 161 lbs.
Wanted by
Peach County
Sheriff Office -
Armed Robbery
$1000.00
reward “ TOP
15 MOST
WANTED LIST
Houston County Sheriff Of
fice - Theft by Taking - Felony.
State Board Pardons and Parole -
Atlanta, Ga.
Evans, Terry
L., age 40, b/m,
5’10 @ 172 lbs.
Wanted by
Byron Police
Department
- Burgalry
& Criminal
Trespass.
' Rewards of up to $2,000 are '
offered for tips that lead to arrests
of individuals on our Wanted list.
If you have information about an
individual on the list or about other
criminal activity, call the Crimes-
toppers tip line at 1 -877-682-7463.
All calls are completely anonymous
and you will not be asked for your
. name or other identification.
You can find real local news in
The Georgia Post and Byron Buzz.
Subscribe today to keep up with what’s
happening in your community.
There’s nothing like holding a “real”
newspaper in your hand and drinking coffee.
T hough consumers no doubt understand how buying from local merchants
can benefit those merchants, few may grasp just how beneficial buying
local can be to their entire communities. In 2012, Civic Economics,
an economic analysis and strategic planning firm, analyzed data from 15
independent retailers and seven independent restaurants, all located in Salt Lake
City, comparing those businesses’ local economic impact with four national
retailer chains and three national restaurant chains. The study found that the
local retailers returned 52 percent of their revenue to the local economy, a figure
that dwarfed the revenue returned by the national chains, which returned just 14
percent of revenue to the local economy. Restaurants provided an even bigger
boost to local economies, returning 79 percent of their revenue compared to just
30 percent for the national chain restaurants. The reasons for these disparities
include local businesses spending more on local labor and relying more heavily
on local service providers. So while buying local may be more convenient and
eco-friendly, it also can greatly benefit local economies.
REAL NEWS
IS IN
THE NEWSPAPER
local community,
we can
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