Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 5A
Attractive, necessary and wonderful
ADVERTISING is a
wonderful thing - most
of the time. It generates
billions (trillions?) in
sales of products and ser
vices. It is the engine that
keeps newspapers, radio,
television - and now the
Internet - running.
But that does not begin
to exhaust the way huck
sters hawk their wares -
and opinions - via adver
tising. There is junk mail
and legitimate mail, billboards
and signs and neon lights, aggra
vating and irritating phone calls
in the middle of meals and sweet
voices and soft music while you
“hold for the next available rep
resentative. Your call is important
to us.’’
Yeah, right!
And then there is, in a category
unto itself, political advertising. It
employs all of the above means
of getting the message out - and
then some. Like I said, advertis
ing is a wonderful thing - most
of the time.
The word “advertising” comes
from the French word “avertir,”
which means “to notify.”
And for a long, long time,
people with something to sell
have been notifying (informing)
people willing to buy.
Advertising is “the voice of
business,” and without it, there
would be not business. The cur
rent recession is bad, but with
out advertising, it would be
catastrophic. We wouldn’t know
where the next Cracker Barrel
is without that bill
board, or that a local
industry is hiring
without that “help
wanted” ad in The
Jackson Herald.
And Scott, Sandra,
Jeremy, Susan,
Vickie, Ginger One
and Ginger Two
would be looking for
some other line of
work.
But that ain’t
all. Everybody who works for
MainStreet Newspapers - edi
tors, reporters, printers, office
managers, business managers
and general flunkies - would join
the ranks of the unemployed.
And gee-whiz! The frustrated
preacher would have to retire -
again - or find some other outlet
for his stuff. Horrors!
But thank goodness, advertis
ing is here to stay. It works. It
pays.
The premise is simple: Take
something attractive and make
it seem necessary, or take some
thing necessary and make it seem
attractive.
Advertising tells us what prod
ucts are out there, and when,
where and how to buy them. And
don’t forget the WHY. That is
a powerful message, and if we
aren’t careful, we’ll wind up with
something that is neither attrac
tive nor necessary, and too late
we’ll realize that we didn’t need
it or want it.
I don’t know why I buy some
of the stuff I do. Well, I do, too.
That TV ad made it look so deli
cious - and healthy. It wasn’t nec
essary (we had plenty of Raisin
Bran and Mini Wheats), but the
new cereal sure was attractive -
in color and High Definition.
Advertising does more than
extol the virtues of products; it
provides education and entertain
ment. A lot of people watched
the Super Bowl, not for foot
ball, but for the advertising. I
don’t remember who won the
ball game, but Bud Light won the
advertising contest. And whoever
tackled Betty White and got her
all muddy and wet (I think it was
Snickers) ain’t gettin’ my busi
ness no more.
I’m a little suspicious of com
panies that feel they have to use
millionaire celebrities to sell their
products. Just because Michael
Jordan wears Hanes drawers
doesn’t mean I have to. And
Tiger Woods drives a Buick. So
what!
Beware of “certain restrictions
apply.” Such ads are all right in
newspapers. You can take your
time reading the fine print. If
you don’t understand it the first
time, you can go back and read
it again.
Not on TV. The letters are tiny,
and the message is on and off in
seconds. It’s as if the advertiser is
telling you stuff he doesn’t want
you to know.
And I sometimes get the
impression that they think we
are stupid. There was this TV ad,
“Women’s Healthy Skin Update,”
pushing a product that gets rid of
wrinkles. “ERASE WRINKLES
INSTANTLY! Try it free for 30
days.”
There’s something wrong with
this picture. Thirty days ain’t
instantly. It’s not, is it? TV adver
tising can be confusing.
And radio can be deceiving.
There is this furniture store in
North Georgia that is going out
of business, cutting prices and
offering “free delivery anywhere
in the world.”
I am tempted to buy a recliner,
ask them to deliver it to Australia,
and see if they mean what they
say.
Don’t forget the entertainment
value. If you get tired of soaps,
sports, movies and news, you
can always find “paid program
ming.”
You can watch a buxom blond
and a muscular dude gyrate for
an hour, offer a DVD that will
help you look just like them,
and if you call in the next ten
minutes, they’ll cut the $20 cost
in half, send you TWO DVDs,
and throw in a sweat suit valued
at $60. “Here’s how to order. Call
now!”
Or maybe you’d rather listen to
a guy who claims to be a doctor
and a young man with a book
to sell talk for 60 minutes about
how to cleanse your colon.
I am not making this stuff up,
folks. Advertising is an attractive
and necessary - and sometimes
wonderful - thing. And some
times it stinks.
Virgil Adams is a former owner/
editor of The Jackson Herald.
virgil
adams
Tom Bailey - memories and gifts he offered to us
Dear Editor:
We have shared many conver
sations with people who cared a
great deal for Tom Bailey recent
ly. Here is a summary of our
memories and thoughts on the
life of a wonderful friend who we
all respected, admired and were
honored to share our life with.
Tom made an indelible impact
on our lives.
Tom loved being married and
deeply loved Leigh his wife
and her sons Trevor and Carter.
Conversations with Tom over the
last several years were filled with
blessings he felt from these rela
tionships; this was his pride and
joy. Tom was rapidly transformed
into a loving husband and father.
He was filled with a new sense of
love and acceptance. His joy with
Leigh, Trevor and Carter was
an inspirational reminder that we
are all given what we need and
desire. Tom talked about how
much he was loved and respected
as a person, this is the mark Tom
wanted to leave, a family focused
man, and it is a very important
part of his legacy.
We remember so many spe
cial moments with Tom. Playing
football in his front yard through
out our childhood every Sunday
afternoon was a regular occur
rence and the weather did not
deter us. Kick the can in his
yard on summer nights with the
lightning bugs floating in the air.
Playing in the woods behind his
house, building forts, playing in
the dirt and creating fun times
with each other was an everyday
occurrence. The Bailey home
always welcomed us; it was a
place of acceptance and love.
Tom loved having us there and
we would always end up at his
house to play, ride bikes, and
swim - it was the center of our
universe. If there is any such
thing as Heaven on earth, this
was it!
Tom loved going to Georgia
football games, NASCAR races,
playing golf and most important
ly spending time with his friends
and family. He knew how to love
and he knew that love was spelled
TIME. The heart of this man
was always open to the people
who were important to him and
he was genuine, loyal and a deep
ly committed friend. Some of
the great times many remember;
sharing life with Tom as a fun
roommate, taking a train down
to New Orleans to see Georgia
in the sugar bowl and watching
Tom enjoy a nice nap on Sunday
afternoon after church. Tom pos
sessed a keen knowledge of his
tory, politics, current events and
the bible. His commitment to his
faith was deep and true.
Tom was not a morning person
and there were many Saturdays
he did not want to get up and go
to work! We often got a chuckle
out of this; it was always refresh
ing to be with someone so open.
He was always a lot of fun and
was willing to laugh at himself.
However Tom was committed to
his job and the family business
was very important to him. He
strived daily to make the family
proud and to do everything in his
power to uphold the strong tradi
tion and reputation of Jefferson
Motor Company. All of you there
were part of his family as well.
Many people loved Tom and
were close to him through his
entire life. We all offer our love,
support and condolences to his
wife Leigh and her sons Trevor
and Carter. We also want to offer
love support and deep appre
ciation to Bobby, Jimmy and
Betty Bailey. You were all very
important to Tom and he became
the man he was intended to be
because of you.
Sincerely,
Ralph Martin and
Tommy Johnson
Child Abuse Prevention Month observed
Dear Editor:
April is “Child Abuse Prevention Month”
in Jackson County. On April 7, at 4:30 p.m.,
a pinwheel ceremony was held at the Pocket
Park in Jefferson. Each pinwheel placed in
the lawn stands for a confirmed case of child
abuse or neglect in Jackson County in 2009.
This year, there are 131 pinwheels, and they
will continue on display through the end of
April to remind us all that there is still work
to be done.
The good news is that the number of chil
dren abused and neglected in Jackson County
is going down. The bad news is that there are
still children in Jackson County being abused
and neglected.
The first reported case of child abuse was
in 1874, and was brought to court by the
ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (yes, animals!).
Lots of progress has been made in this
area since 1874. The first juvenile court was
held in Chicago in 1899. The development
of x-rays in 1910 allowed doctors to detect
injuries and fractures in children which had
gone untreated.
In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act
improved working hours and conditions for
children. By 1965, mandatory reporting of
child abuse by school teachers and medical
professionals had become law in all states.
In the 1970s, Congress began to improve the
child welfare system to protect children and
their families. The Child Abuse Prevention
and Treatment Act became law in 1974. Other
laws have since been passed which protect
children in many other ways.
Organizations helping children in our com
munity include The Tree House (support for
physically and sexually abused children and
their families). Piedmont CASA (“Court
Appointed Special Advocates”, providing vol
unteer advocates for children in foster care).
Peace Place (home and assistance for battered
women and children). Project Adam (help
ing children and adults with drug problems),
Barrow Department of Family and Children
Services (helping children and families with
federal aid and other resources), and Barrow
County Family Connection/Communities in
Schools (bringing organizations together to fill
the gaps in community services).
We still have a lot of work to do, but as
caring citizens of Jackson County, we can
continue to fight against the abuse and neglect
of children. We can let authorities know when
we see children consistently being treated
harshly. We can speak for those children who
can’t speak for themselves.
Sincerely,
Annette Raymond Bates
Executive Director
Piedmont CASA
BOE continued from 1A
The Jackson County School
System has slowly been digging
itself out of a $908,500 shortfall
that started the current 2010 fis
cal year budget on July 1.
Currently, the district has
a general fund ending bal
ance of $5.7 million — but
with decreased local tax rev
enue and state funds, that fig
ure is expected to drop to just
$189,500 when the fiscal year
ends on June 30.
“That’s cutting it awfully
close,” said Jeff Sanchez, assis
tant superintendent for finance
and information services.
For the proposed 2011 fiscal
year budget, the school system
is estimating expenses to reach
$83.2 million and revenue to
top $85 million — with a pro
jected ending fund balance of
$2.5 million.
The tentative budget
— which is expected to be
adopted in June — is a 4.6
percent decrease from the cur
rent 2010 fiscal year budget of
$89.2 million.
So far, the school system has
trimmed more than $4.6 mil
lion from the proposed 2011
budget, which includes the RIF
plan.
“And that’s what we’re work
ing toward, is to get that fund
balance up,” Wilbanks said,
while adding that the additional
reserve will take into account
potential state funding cuts.
Some of the cuts in the pro
posed 2011 fiscal year budget
include six furlough days for
employees, reducing the local
salary supplements for all certi
fied personnel by two percent,
closing the district’s central
registration office on Ga. Hwy.
11 and reducing high school
athletic supplements.
It also includes shifting pay
for four special education para-
professionals out of the general
fund budget, reducing a few
clerical, secretarial and book
keeping positions, and reducing
the district’s instructional tech
nology department.
Those personnel cuts are
expected to save the school
system $3 million in the 2011
budget.
As for non-personnel costs,
new textbooks will not be fund
ed, and instructional supplies
will be trimmed by more than
$420,000. Supplies, materials
and travel costs for middle and
high school band and chorus
programs will also be dramati
cally cut, along with funds for
other administration and main
tenance equipment and sup
plies.
And for the current 2010
budget, the school system has
also cut more than $811,000
in personnel and non-personnel
expenses.
But with the financial uncer
tainty of what lies ahead in state
revenue and federal stimulus
funding for 2011 eliminated,
the school system is trimming
its expenses now.
Superintendent Adams said
if revenue improves, the district
hopes to hire back some of the
employees included in the RIF
plan.
“We’re cutting some fine edu
cators and some fine people,”
he said.
The Jackson County Board
of Education first adopted a
RIF plan in March 2009, when
38 teaching and non-teaching
positions were eliminated and
the Regional Evening School
was closed for the 2009-2010
school year.
Monday’s RIF plan was
announced after a 25-minute
closed-door meeting to discuss
personnel.
Services continued from lA
the county and the municipali
ties set aside the jail services
agreement until the contract
recently sent out by Sheriff Stan
Evans has been reviewed by
city and county leaders.
•Road and Bridge
Maintenance: Braselton Town
Manager Jennifer Dees said the
town has a problem getting any
maintenance for county roads
in the city even after a formal
request has been made. Bicknell
said the county would take a
look at this issue. Litter col
lection along county roads was
also addressed and Bicknell
said, “The county will look at
possibly adding another inmate
crew to deal with litter.” Each
municipality was given a list of
county maintained roads that
are in the city and were asked to
review them and let the coun
ty know about any changes in
names, etc. Bryant advised the
county charges the cities more
ad valorem taxes to maintain
these rights-of-way. “So either
don’t charge us the taxes or
maintain the rights-of-way,”
Bryant said.
•Water Distribution: Dees
asked that it be added to the
agreement that Braselton pro
vides re-used water.
•Water Supply, Treatment and
Transmission: Hoschton Mayor
Erma Denney asked to have the
intergovernmental agreement
between the Jackson County
Water and Sewerage Authority
and the City of Hoschton added
to the agreement. Dees asked
to have it included in the agree
ment that Braselton is working
through a withdrawal agreement
for a reservoir. Jefferson’s Parks
Creek reservoir agreement with
Jackson County will also be
included in the agreement.
•Water Purchase Agreements:
Hampton asked that each
municipality review the water
purchase agreements in the
appendix of the agreement
and send any changes in to the
county staff for correction.
•Fire District Service Area
Map: Bryant said in reviewing
the map, “We need to make
it clear that if we annex prop
erty into a city’s corporate lim
its the city is responsible for
fire protection for that prop
erty.” Hampton advised he will
research this and report back at
the next meeting. Arcade Mayor
Doug Haynie said, “If we don’t
go to county-wide fire service,
11 different fire districts is not
going to work as we approach
100,000 people in this county.”
•Water/Sewer Service
Area Map: Everyone agreed
to omit the Jackson County
Water Supply, Treatment and
Transmission Map.
The next meeting on the HB
489 service delivery strategy
will be held from 3 to 5 p.m.
on Thursday, April 22, at the
Jackson County Fire Training
Facility.
BRASELTON
RECOGNIZES
POLICE CHIEF
Braselton police chief
Terry Esco was hon
ored at Monday night’s
Braselton Town Council
meeting. Shown are
(L-R): Linda Robertson,
Debbie Esco, council
man Tony Funari, Mayor
Bill Orr, councilman
Richard Mayberry, chief
Terry Esco, Preston
Esco, councilman Dudley
Ray and councilwoman
Peggy B. Slappey.
Esco honored for service
MAYOR BILL ORR and
the Braselton Town Council
surprised its police chief, Terry
Esco, on Monday by honoring
his 20th anniversary as chief of
police.
“This is a remarkable mile
stone,” Orr said in a statement.
“And we appreciate the good
work and professional law
enforcement services of Chief
Esco.”
Braselton’s town manager and
clerk, Jennifer Dees, read a reso
lution from the Georgia House
of Representatives commending
Esco and his career.
Esco was joined at the presen
tation by his family and members
of the Braselton police force.
Doggie Days
Pet Daycare and Boarding
1195 Airport Rd. • Jefferson, GA
706-367-1259
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sat. & Sun.: By appointment
www.mydoggiedays.com
7 G’s Farm
SPRING SALE
Ley I and Cypress Trees
1 -gal. containers 2-3 ft. tall $3.00
3-gal. containers 3-4 ft. tall $7.00
7-gal. containers 5-6 ft. tall $15.00
7 G's Farm • 2331 Old Kings Bridge Rd. • Nicholson, Georgia
Phone: (706) 757-2526 • www.7gsfarm.com • Open Daily 10-6
J
We Buy All
Gold & Silver
.(jainesoi/fc
Off
770-532-2592
1020 Jesse Jewell Pkwy. • Gainesville, GA
Mon. - Thurs. 10-6:30 • Fri. - Sat. 10-7
Including:
Class Rings • Wedding Bands
• Coins • Broken Jewelry
• Dental Gold