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NEWSPAPER
A Textbook for the Times!
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Be the Change, Lead the Change
Issue 29 Thursday, July 16, 2020
The Voice of Crawford County Since 1921
also serving Byron and Peach County
1 Section 10 Pages One Dollar
Crawford offers two options for
BY KRISTI WATKINS
The Georgia Post
The school system’s plan
for 2020-2021 school year
has been posted online.
There are two options:
•Face to Face (F2F) - Stu
dents will return to school
on August 4th to F2F in
struction. There will be hand
sanitizers and soap avail
able and every effort will
be made to maintain social
distancing. We are currently
working on a plan to ensure
meals are served in the saf
est way possible. This may
mean serving meals in the
classroom, increasing the
number of “lunch times” to
ensure distancing, grab and
go lunches and breakfast,
and/or a combination of
these. Mask will be allowed
but will not be mandated.
• Virtual - If parents choose
this option, they will sign
a contract that guarantees
the student will be in virtual
classes for an entire grading
period (Either 9 weeks or a
Semester depending on the
school). For 6-t2th grade
this will be a true virtual ex
perience where the software
(Edgenuity or GA Virtual) is
the instructor and the school
will provide a facilitator to
assist with logistics. The GA
Virtual option is very limited
in number, however, they
can provide any student 6-12
the Edgenuity Option.
Plans for Pre-K-5 are still
in the works, but it will be
a majority of online work
in the I-Ready platform for
Math and Reading and Ed
ucation Galaxy for Science
and Social studies. There
will be an assigned virtual
teacher who will do lessons
and work with your stu
dent through Zoom, Google
Meets, and Teacher Web
page.
It will be the responsibility
of the parent to make sure
the student has access to the
internet and devices. Mobile
hotspots will be available
throughout the county,
as well as, a very limited
amount of chromebooks
available to check out. A lack
of internet access and/or
device will not be an excused
reason for not getting work
done in the virtual option.
It is also important to note
that if you choose the virtual
option you CANNOT partic
ipate in any extracurricular
activities.
In the event that they are
required to shut the school
down to F2F instruction,
Virtual Learners will con
tinue with their instruction.
Nothing will change for
them. F2F Learners will
then revert to our Distance
Learning Plan as outlined
below:
Distance Learning Plan-
Teachers will connect with
their students two to three
times a week and will have
a set schedule as to when
each teacher will be live
(This schedule will be made
available at the time of shut
down). Teachers will use
several means of commu
nication to reach students
and they will be able to post
assignments and lessons on
their Edlio Webpage (This
can be reached from the
back to
district web page).
There will be an opportu
nity for students to check
out chromebooks and all
7th-nth graders will have
Fire tablets that can be used
during this time. There will
be paper packets available.
Grades will be taken during
this time and instruction
will continue. If Distance
Learning becomes neces
sary, then participation at
home will be mandatory and
lack of participation will be
reflected in student grades.
This instruction will look
different according to your
student’s grade level. Each
teacher will share resources
that will assist your child in
understanding the stan
dards that are being taught.
If they reach a point where
they know school will be
school
closed for at least a grading
period, they will have some
discussions about how to
migrate the Virtual Plan into
the Distance Learning Plan,
to ensure the students are
getting all that they need.
The letter states, “It is the
belief of Crawford Coun
ty Schools that nothing
is a substitute for a good
teacher; therefore, we will
do everything in our pow
er to get back to a normal
in-person day of instruction.
These are unprecedented
times and we want to keep
our students and staff safe
while reopening and moving
forward. These plans are still
not completely finalized and
our staff is working diligent
ly to provide every student
with a meaningful learning
experience.”
Standing on the Word
Several Crawford County resi
dents and friends joined together
this morning to read the word of
God from the courthouse steps in
Knoxville and to pray. The other 158
counties in the state of Georgia had
pledged to read the entire Bible.
It is hoped by those in attendance
this will become a tradition. Prayer
and God’s word changes things.
Local teams headed to World Series
15U girls, pictured above, and a 19U team to be coached by Todd Youngblood and an 8Uteam coached by
Mindy and Hunter Harris, will be representing Georgia in the Dixie Youth World Series July 31-August 4 in
Oxford, Alabama. Pictured are front row from left: Georgia Hudson, Shamiya Raines, Layla Loyd, Maddie
Johnson, Ava Spillers and Jaydyn Rogers. Middle row, from left: Coach Holly Johnson, Jacie Whiddon,
Avary Youngblood, Maddie Jo Carroll, Nevaej Ivey, Mackenzie Hooper, Kaylee Adams, Coach Tara Spillers.
In back is Coach Tim Johnson.
City proposes
BY KRISTI WATKINS
The Georgia Post
New and increased fees will be
starting in August for the City of
Roberta utility customers.
Instead of increasing millage
rates to residents, the city has
approved making a few increases.
These increases will help repair
infrastructure in the future.
One of the increases will be
the water and sewer increase of
$0.25 per 1,000 gallons due to the
increasing costs of chemicals for
the water.
Another increase will be an
administrative fee of $6.00 per
month. This increase will help
with the high cost of sending out
bills each month.
The city is also looking into a
Stormwater Utility Fee to cover
costs of the failing infrastructure.
The government requirements
states the city will have to reduce
the amount of polluted storm
water runoff it discharges to
waterways. This will require the
city to increase its investment in
their stormwater infrastructure.
The city is required to incur these
increased costs, but it does have
increases in lieu
choices about how to fund these
costs.
One way of funding the in
frastructure is to place a fee to
residents and commercial owners
for their hardened or impervious
surface such as parking lots, drive
ways, and buildings that cause
stormwater runoff on each parcel.
Currently, the city pays for the
stormwater funds through its
General Fund or the water depart
ment. Jeff Harrison, Public Works
Superintendent, stated he recently
had to purchase a deteriorated
cover and the cost was over $500.
Mayor Jay Andrews stated he
did not want to over burden resi
dents of Roberta, but he stated the
city’s infrastructure is dated and is
in need of constant repair as they
repaired the culvert at Kirby. He
added this a way for the residents
to pay a small amount month
ly with councilwoman Sherry
Thompson adding it is better than
increasing taxes.
The city agreed to charge only a
flat monthly fee compared to other
city’s who charge by the impervi
ous area of their land. This means
anything that covers the ground
including driveway, home, storage
of millage rate
buildings, etc. where water cannot
penetrate the ground. Most cities
charge a fee for the impervious
area times a fee. The city will not
be figuring the impervious area
so that residents are not having to
pay an astronomical fee.
The city approved to charge res
idential customers inside the city a
$3.50 a month fee where commer
cial properties inside the city will
pay $8.50 a month fee. The fees
are much lower than areas around
Roberta. More information will be
available.
The city discussed properties
within the city which has not been
acknowledging the city ordinance
on maintained yards. The city will
be sending out letters to address
the issue. Fines were set by council
on non-maintained yards and
trash debris to be set at $202
for the first offense, $385 for the
second offense, and $1,000 for the
third offense. Mayor Pro-Tem Joe
Mathews added he would talk with
the elderly/widow residents who
cannot maintain their property
to see what can be done. If the
city has to clean/cut properties,
the city will charge the owners by
adding it to their tax bill.
County tables
decision on
animal rescue
BY KATELYN JENNINGS
The Georgia Post
Crawford County Commissioners met
last Tuesday to discuss a local citizen
starting an Animal Rescue in the coun
ty-
The property owner, Tina Pancake,
plans to build a 24x50 kennel for the
animals. The kennel will be climate
controlled, and will have outdoor runs
for the animals to go outside during the
day. This rescue will except owner sur
rendered pets, and hold adoptions for
the pets to find their forever home. They
will also offer spaying and neutering.
Pancake came before the board asking
them to consider a conditional busi
ness license which had been denied by
Planning and Zoning. She presented her
business plan and other recommenda
tions were made by Jake Watson, P&Z
officer. If the county will approve for
a business licensed to be issued to the
property owner, the next step will be
getting licensed through the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
After many questions and answer
the board tabled the issue and will be
discussed further at the next meeting on
July 21st.
County Manager Fabian Hollis an
nounced that the fluoride referendum
has enough signatures and would move
forward in putting it before the people
to vote upon. There were 153 signatures
needed and 175 were collected and
verified. If not approved, fluoride in the
water will be mandated by EPD.
The new signs for the Inert Landfill
have been installed, and is open for
operation. There has been some dis
cussion regarding moving the Transfer
Station to the same location as the Inert
Landfill. The county will have to inquire
about the permits that will be required
to move the Transfer Station, so no final
decisions have been made.
The Commissioners have approved
to move forward with negotiations in
regards to the recycled concrete from
the high school. Commissioner Justin
Spillers made a motion to negotiate
with the contractor to ensure the con
crete will not have any rebar in it, and
the county would be willing to purchase
it for $9 per ton. This recycled concrete
would go towards paving roads if there
is an agreement reached.
Hollis presented budget timelines
to the board, along with CARES act
funding disbursement plan. He said he
would have spreadsheet for expendi
tures at next meeting.
Commissioners went into a closed
executive session to discuss ongoing
litigation.