Newspaper Page Text
Issue 52 Thursday, DECEMBER 24, 2020
The Voice of Crawford County Since 1921
also serving Byron and Peach County
2 Sections 18 Pages, 2 Inserts One Dollar
Cody recognized
for years of
service on BoE
BY KRISTI WATKINS
The Georgia Post
Brad Cody was awarded
a plaque for his eight years
of service as a board mem
ber with Crawford County
Schools. He was congrat
ulated on his support and
service to the school system.
Vice Chairman Tim Johnson
honored Cody by stating
how he had the pleasure
working with Cody over the
last eight years. He added
Cody had a lot to offer and
wisdom and was a great
asset to the school system,
schools and community.
Cody added he appreciat
ed working with the board
members and welcomes
board elect Al Hatcher.
Crawford County High
School students were placed
on virtual learning begin
ning December loth after
several staff members were
absent from school because
of quarantines.
While many rumors have
floated around over social
media by parents and even
students clarifying the truth
to some parents. The quar
antines were not only related
to the few students who test
ed positive, but also because
of spouses. Thus, without
enough substitutes county
wide, Superintendent Brent
Lowe stated they decided to
close the school.
Before the high school
closed, students will com
plete their mid-terms after
the Christmas break. Ac
cording to Brent Lowe,
MAPS testing was complet
ed before the high school
closure, but he couldn’t give
an update on those compar
isons on the MAPS testing
from first of the year.
Questions concerning the
status of the elementary and
middle school on closure
had Lowe explaining if they
can stay open the remainder
of this week, they will. He
stated they are looking at the
numbers on a daily basis and
unless the numbers change
drastically, they will remain
open.
The new middle/high
school is moving forward
quickly before spring weath
er. Lowe stated all ground
work should be done by the
middle of January. With
brick going up on Building
A, concrete on the second
floor of Building B is being
poured along with concrete
poured on Building D and
footers on the gym. Structur
al steel is being installed on
Building C.
SPLOST for November
2020 was much higher
with over $23,000 more
than last year with most
of that due to online sales.
The school system received
$64,694.26 compared to
the $47,262.13 in November
2019. Currently, the total
amount of SPLOST funds
is $1,175,610.30 since the
beginning of the 5-year
SPLOST. Jackson Defore
added once the new Dollar
General is built in Crawford
County, they should see an
increase in the SPLOST.
Peaches to Beaches
set for March 12-13
BY KRISTI WATKINS
The Georgia Post
Get ready for 2021 as
Peaches to Beaches returns
for another year. Explore
Hwy 341 will hold Peaches
to Beaches March 12th and
13th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
both days.
Roberta Crawford
County Chamber of Com
merce announced in their
meeting Crawford County
will be participating in the
annual event.
It was also stated the
City of Perry will not be
participating. It was ex
plained the City of Perry
will not be participating
and will not grant a Special
Event permit nor will they
provide neither barricades
nor road closures.
Crawford County His
torical Society and the
chamber will be meeting
after the first of the year to
discuss Jugfest 2021.
Four new board mem
bers were elected to the
chamber. While there was
only three to be voted in,
there was a tie; therefore,
Chamber President Brent
Lowe stated they will be
adding all four individu
als. Those are Stephanie
Floyd, Hannah Sloan, Josh
Patterson and Matt Mc
Donald.
El Hajj Temple #258 serves community
On December 15,2020, the Nobles from the Desert of Georgia
and the Oasis of Musella presented Crawford County Middle
School Principal, Chad Chafin and 8th grade teacher, Meles-
sa Hollis, a check in the amount of $1200.00. In September,
Illustrious Potentate Zack Mitchell received a letter from
CCMS Assistant Principal, Debbie Vaughn, requesting finan
cial assistance to help pay for organizational planners that
would be provided to all CCMS students. Illustrious Potentate
Mitchell, District Deputy Henry Daivis, Jr. alongside five oth
er Nobles surprised Mrs. Vaughn with the awesome news via
Facetime. They also presented facemasks to Mr. Willie Frank
Worsham’s students. District Deputy Davis stated, “This is
just the first giant step in our goal to help ensure that the
village still stands.”
Baseball program available for teens with autism, etc.
Taylor Duncan, 25 years
old from Dallas, Georgia,
has autism and is proposing
a baseball experience for
others with autism and other
disabilities.
Duncan is also the com
missioner/director of the
Alternative Baseball Orga
nization, a 50103 authentic
baseball experience for teens
15+ and adults with autism
and other disabilities to gain
social and physical skills
for success in life on and off
the diamond. It takes six
months to fill a full team due
to the lack of catered ser
vices available in most areas
for teens and adults with
disabilities, Duncan says.
So in spite of the pandem
ic, recruitment for 2021
has begun virtually.” We
are looking for a volunteer
coach/manager, volunteers,
and players to help us start
a new program serving
those in Crawford, Peach
Counties and the surround
ing area in addition to our
other Georgia programs in
East Cobb, Powder Springs,
Paulding County, Gwinnett
County/Loganville, Newnan,
North Fulton, Columbus,
and Savannah tentatively set
to start in late Spring-sum
mer 2021, Duncan stated.
The organization provides
equipment and resources to
help such a program become
successful.
Telling his experience,
Duncan related, “When I
was much younger, I had
speech issues, anxiety issues,
and more that came with
having autism... I wasn’t
able to participate in com
petitive sports due to the
developmental delays, in
addition to social stigma
(preconceived ideas) from
those who think what one
with autism can and cannot
accomplish. With the help of
my mom, teachers, mentors,
and coaches who believed
in me, I’ve gotten to where I
am today in my life: To live
with the goal to inspire, raise
awareness, and acceptance
for autism and special needs
globally through the sport of
baseball.”
As many with autism gradu
ate from high school in many
areas, services plateau. In
a lot of suburban and rural
areas, there are no services
for those to continue their
path toward independence.
Many travel to find the lim
ited services which may or
may not be available to their
specific needs. Realizing a
lack of general incentive and
opportunities for those on
the spectrum, Duncan start
ed this organization to give
others on the spectrum/spe
cial needs the opportunity to
be accepted for who they are
and to be encouraged to be
the best they can be!
The program follows Major
League rules (wood bats,
base stealing, dropped third
strike, etc.), and is a true
typical team experience for
others on the autism spec
trum and special needs to
help develop social skills for
later in life.
Duncan’s group is looking
for a volunteer coach/man
ager, players, and volunteers
to help start a new program
serving those throughout
Middle Georgia and the sur
rounding area. Players can
be of all experience levels.
They take them from where
they start out at (whether
they require to be pitched to
slow overhand or hit off the
tee), and help develop their
physical and social skills.
Contact Duncan through
www.alternativebaseball.org
Making Christmas bright for the children
Musella Masonic Lodge #381 George Hill, WM and Musella Order of Eastern Stars #319 Evelyn
Mathews, WM made a donation to Kids Yule Love for Christmas. Members are pictured.
