Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 5A
Stuff is where you find it
A LADY asked me the
other day where I get all
the stuffl write about.
I don’t object to her
calling it “stuff.” Doesn’t’
offend me one bit. Stuff is
what it is.
Stuff: “writing, dis
course or ideas of little
worth: TRASH.” That is
what I do.
That is definition 4b
in my Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary that
was copyrighted in 1974 and is
falling apart.
Would you believe that just
above definition 4b is definition
4a (imagine that), which reads as
follows:
Stuff: “literary or artistic pro
duction.” That ain’t what I do.
Makes you wonder if old Noah
himself knew the true meaning
of stuff.
There are nearly 100 defini
tions of stuff and stuff-related
words in the Dictionary. If you
want to know more, look ‘em up
yourself.
But let me caution you: Noah
Webster was an American educa
tor and journalist, and that makes
him suspect in the minds of many
proud, patriotic Americans. There
are those amongst us who do not
hold educators and journalists in
very high esteem.
My word to them: “Stuff it!”
Now, let me answer the lady’s
question.
Stuff - like love, happiness,
beauty, peace, degradation, deca
dence and a lot of other stuff - is
where you find it.
It is right under our nose,
and we don’t take the time and
trouble to smell it.
The way some stuff
stinks - degradation
and decadence, for
example - I don’t
see how we miss it.
❖ ❖❖
I hate it when I
hear adults say,
“I can’t think of
anything to say,”
or young folks
assigned an English
composition, say, “I
can’t think of anything to write
about.”
You know what’s wrong with
those people? They ain’t thinking.
And it ain’t because they can’t.
It’s because they won’t.
They are drowning in stuff, and
can’t even think of anything to
say or write. My goodness! That’s
what’s wrong with this country!
❖ ❖❖
OK, let me try one more time
to answer the lady’s question.
I went to the basement.
Reached in one of my many
shoeboxes. Grabbed a handful of
little 3x5-inch notebooks. Came
back upstairs and turned to page
1 in one of the little notebooks. It
was dated 11-20-98.
Eureka! I had found some stuff
to write about - in a shoebox, of
all places.
Take notes, folks. Wherever
you are and whatever you are
doing, take notes. And don’t ever
throw your notes away. You never
know when you might need them.
Like, NOW!
“Well, here I am in Pigeon
Forge again. Fifth time this year.
Sitting on a bench at the biggest
outlet mall in the world. Or so it
seems. Watching the world (the
people of the world) go by while
Shirley shops.
“Shopping is secondary. We
are really here because Shirley
is a country music buff, and I am
fast becoming one. It is 4:36 p.m.
and the show at Country Tonight
starts at 8. We need to go to din
ner (they call it supper up here)
in 20 or 25 minutes. If you don’t
eat early, you can’t get a table in
one of the better restaurants ‘till
9 o’clock, and by the time we
get served, the show at Country
Tonight will be over.
“I am looking for Shirley to
show up most any moment. Here
she comes now. And I’m not
about to say she doesn’t need all
that stuff she’s lugging to the car.
Besides, she always brings me a
surprise, and that makes every
thing right.”
I put the notebook in my pock
et. We go eat, go to the show, go
back to our room at the Music
Road Hotel (Shirley likes that
name), watch TV for an hour or
so, turn out the lights and go to
sleep. We are very tired.
The next morning we wake
up about 7. I go get a bucket
of ice for Shirley; she can’t get
going in the morning without ice.
We go downstairs and enjoy the
hotel’s complimentary breakfast.
I have glazed donuts and coffee
and Shirley opts for bagels and
cream cheese.
We go back to the room to plan
our day. Shirley wants to go back
to the mall. I don’t want to go
with her. I go with her.
I sit down on a bench close
to the one I sat down on the day
before, pull the little 3x5 note
book out of my pocket, and start
writing.
“Some of you guys know that
whatever your wife likes, you
better like, too. Or act like you
do. It’s sort of like when she says,
“But we don’t have to go,” you
better get ready to go.
“So I’ve been to Pigeon Forge
five times this year. And yes. I’m
looking forward to going again.
“If you want to go, better go
soon - while it’s still there. It’s
the ‘build a better mousetrap
theory.’ Right now. Pigeon Forge
is the best tourist trap around.
But just up the road, Sevierville
is building a better trap. They
are widening the streets, building
fancier motels and hotels, and
constructing bigger, gaudier and
more ostentatious theaters.
“Remember how Branson
almost put Nashville out of the
country music business. Well
Pigeon Forge is now challenging
Branson, and Sevierville is chal
lenging Pigeon Forge.
“Thanks to Pigeon Forge,
Dollywood and the awakening
Sevierville, Gatlinburg has been
reduced to T-Shirt City.”
This does not begin to exhaust
the notes I jotted down on my
fifth visit to Pigeon Forge in
1998. However, I believe it is
sufficient to answer the lady’s
question, “Where do you get all
the stuff you write about?” Stuff
is where you find it, and there
sure is a lot of stuff in Pigeon
Forge, Tenn. And it is piling up
all over America ... especially in
Washington.
Virgil Adams is a former owner/
editor of The Jackson Herald.
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Energy assistance funds available Mon. in Jefferson
NINTH District Opportunity
still has limited energy assis
tance funds available for eligible
Jackson County residents who
have not received assistance since
Nov. 1,2009.
The agency will hold a walk-
in appointment day at the Ninth
District Opportunity district
office, located on Athens Street,
Jefferson, on Monday, May 17,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until
funds are gone. Applications will
be accepted on a first-come, first-
served basis.
Applicants must provide the
following information for appli
cation approval: Proof of all
household income for the past
30 days for all adults living in the
household who are 18 or older
(includes child support, TANF,
wages, unemployment, SSI,
Social Security, self-employment
wages or any other income); legal
documentation of Social Security
numbers of all household mem
bers, including children (the
agency may use Social Security
cards, tax returns, or other legal
documentation. It cannot accept
the numbers handwritten on
paper.); and the applicant’s most
recent bill (natural gas, propane
or electric bill).
The income guidelines are as
follows: One person in a house
hold, monthly gross income must
be less than $1,788; two people
in a household, monthly gross
income must be less than $2,338;
three people in a household,
monthly gross income must be
less than $2,889; four people in a
household, monthly gross income
must be less than $3,439; five
people in a household, monthly
gross income must be less than
$3,989; six people in a house
hold, monthly gross income must
be less than $4,539; seven people
in a household, monthly gross
income must be less than $4,642;
and eight people in a household,
monthly gross income must be
less than $4,746.
Applicants are asked to call
706-677-3921 to pre-register.
Applicants will not be assigned
an appointment time, but must
show up between 9 a.m. to 4
p.m., and will be seen on a first-
come, first-served basis until 4
p.m., or until all funds are spent.
BOE budget cont’d from page JA
The district is anticipating its share of
state funding will include six fewer days
for certified personnel — although the state
may not officially call those days “fur
lough” days.
The local property tax collection rate is
also expected to drop from 98 percent of
the anticipated tax digest to 97 percent for
the 2011 budget. Currently, the district has
collected 88 percent of local taxes, with 83
percent of the fiscal year complete.
Wilbanks predicts the county’s tax digest
will drop 2-3 percent — which is another
revenue drop for the school system.
The school system is not proposing a
property tax increase.
ISSUING TEACHER CONTRACTS
The uncertainly about the state’s 2011 bud
get also means that teachers will receive a
memo about the financial situation when they
get their proposed contracts on Friday.
The state approved a measure allowing
school systems to delay issuing annual teacher
contracts until May 15 — a month later than
previously required by law.
The memo warns employees that the state
board of education is expected to address
Georgia’s minimum salary schedule and its
school day rule before the school year starts
in the fall.
The required teacher work year has already
been reduced from 190 days to 184 days for
the 2010-2011 school year. The possibility
remains that teacher work days will drop to
180 days, according to the memo.
Employment contracts will only guaran
tee that teachers will be paid the minimum
amount required by state law for the mini
mum number of days required.
Wilbanks said at Monday’s board meet
ing that it isn’t fair to school systems to
issue employment contracts when they don’t
know exactly how much state funding they’ll
receive in the 2011 budget.
The Jackson County School System will
trim its share of the local salary supplement
by two percent next school year. It has also
cut $80,000 in various extracurricular salary
supplements.
OUTLOOK FOR 2011 BUDGET
As for the proposed 2011 budget, Sanchez
is predicting a $3.1 million surplus by the
end of the fiscal year.
General fund revenue would total $86.2
million and expenses would reach $85.8 mil
lion, according to the proposal.
The school system has administravely
amended its 2010 budget from $89.2 million
in February to $86.8 million this week.
Next month, the BOE is expected to adopt
either a tentative 2011 budget or a spend
ing resolution. It also plans to get a Tax
Anticipation Note (TAN), although superin
tendent Shannon Adams said it won’t be as
high as last year’s $14.5 million short-term
loan.
RR crossing work set Tues.
Miller wins Senate election
CSX RAILROAD will replace the crossing at Rambler’s
Inn Road on Tuesday. Work will begin around 9 a.m. and take
approximately four hours.
During this time, the intersection of Rambler’s Inn Road and
Hwy. 129 will be out of service.
The City of Jefferson has repaired a one-lane gravel drive
that was added during the construction of Sterling Lake
Subdivision. This gravel road can serve as the emergency exit
during this repair/construction.
Recreation survey under way
THE JACKSON County Recreation Department is con
ducing a survey to update the master plan. Input is needed
on facilities and programs.
To take the county’s recreation department survey, go
to the website, www.jacksoncountygov.com, and click on
recreation.
BUTCH MILLER of Flowery Branch, a Republican, won the
called election Tuesday to fill the Senate District seat 49 held by
Lee Hawkins, who resigned earlier.
Miller had 10,752 votes, while Brandon Givens, Gainesville,
a Libertarian, had 1,128 votes and and Jimmy Norman, Flowery
Branch, a Republican, had 1,980 votes.
Senate District 49 covers Hall County and a portion of Jackson
County.
Happy 3"' Birthday
Isabella
Love,
Dad, Mom, Cody,
Wyatt, and Jackson
The Mad Happys Band
Will be performing classic
and funk rock at
Harmony Grove Grill, Commerce
May 14 & May 21 • 8:00 p.m.
[JimrmTTTWrr
/■
N
CITY OF MAYSVILLE
Will be accepting sealed bids for street
repairs. Bids accepted through
Tuesday, May 25, 2010.
Please inquire at city hall
for a list of streets and bid information
V
✓
Teachers cont’d from page JA
pals at SJES in a job sharing arrangement.
Wilbanks said after the meeting that her position on that job-sharing
proposal didn’t change because Johns and Scales approached the
board about the plan.
The veteran educators won’t receive benefits during the one-year
pilot of the job-sharing program, Wilbanks said. The plan is expected
to save the school system $64,800.
Wilbanks said if the program at SJES doesn’t work, both will retire
at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. The move also opened the
principal position at MES to be filled with younger personnel.
OTHER ACTIONS
In other personnel actions, the board approved the resignation of
Howard Merk, instead of reducing the bus shop mechanic’s position
from 50 percent to hourly.
The board also voted unanimously to oppose JCCHS agriculture
teacher Jay Borden’s name on the list for certified personnel for the
next school year.
The vote on the personnel changes and each school’s certified
personnel list followed a 40 minute closed-door meeting to discuss
personnel.
(See listing below for personnel details voted on by the BOE.)
County BOE personnel actions
RETIREMENTS
The following retirements are
effective at the end of the 2009-
2010 school year: Judy Beatty,
vocational teacher, JCCHS;
Veronica Brown, special education
paraprofessional, EJMS; Claudette
Gaither, food service assistant,
MES; Kerry Hiland, vocational
director, system-wide; Pam Johns,
principal, SJES; Sherry Pastrick,
media specialist, KBMS; and Jane
Scales, principal, MES.
RESIGNATIONS/
TERMINATIONS
Unless otherwise stated, the fol
lowing resignations/terminations
are effective at the end of the
2009-2010 school year: Jennie
Barfield, third grade teacher,
GSES; Lisa Boyd, special edu
cation teacher, EJCHS; Debbie
Caputo, secretary, EJCHS (effec
tive 4/16/10); Carrie Churchwell,
sixth grade teacher, WJMS;
Mildred Cotton, paraprofessional,
EJES; Patty Crawford, registration
clerk, central registration office;
Christy Crumley, accounts pay
able clerk, central office (effec
tive 5/14/10); Kelly Demetriades,
art teacher, WJIS/SJES/WJPS;
Kristin Floyd, information tech
nology, system; Charlotte Gilman,
media paraprofessional, EJES;
Trisha Harper, special education
paraprofessional, KBMS; Terra
Headrick, third grade teacher,
EJES (effective 5/3/10); Melissa
Hester, art teacher, NJES/EJES;
Michael Hinkle, Spanish teacher,
EJCHS; Heather Holmes, secre
tary, GSC; Megan Huffman, PE/
health teacher, WJPS; Emma
Humphries, first grade teacher,
EJES; Amy Larimer, PE/health
teacher, EJCHS; Jodee Litzinger,
social studies teacher, EJCHS;
Angela Miller, ESOL teacher,
GSES/WJMS; Deanna Miller,
media paraprofessional, WJMS;
Sandra Mock, bookkeeper (49
percent), GSC; Jason Patton,
information technology, system;
Stephanie Porcello, math teach
er (50 percent), JCCHS; Terry
Smith, media paraprofessional,
EJMS; Carrie Vajda, special edu
cation paraprofessional, WJMS;
Dartha Williamson, EIP teacher,
NJES; and Angela Wood, second
grade teacher, BES.
NEW HIRES
The following new hires will
become effective the 2010-2011
school year: Amy Armstrong,
speechlanguagepathologist, SJES;
Veronica Brown, special educa
tion paraprofessional (49 percent),
JCCHS; Christy DeLay, special
education teacher, EJCHS; Corey
Fritz, health/PE teacher, WJPS;
Chris Ingle, JROTC instructor,
EJCHS; Pam Johns, principal (49
percent), SJES; Courtney Reed,
special education teacher, MES;
Jane Scales, principal (49 per
cent), SJES; and Katie Vaughan,
PE/health teacher, EJCHS.
TRANSFERS
The following transfers will
become effective the 2010-2011
school year: Jennifer Baker, spe
cial education/preschool, SJES
to 100 percent special education
preschool teacher, GSC; Susan
Boleman, special education para
professional, WJIS to WJMS;
Hope Bush, behavior intervention
specialist (ARRA funds), sys
tem to special education teacher,
WJMS; Holly Canup, media spe
cialist, EJMS to EJCHS; Andrea
Clinkscales, technology special
ist, EJMS/EJES to media spe
cialist, EJMS; Carmen Daniel,
special education teacher, KBMS
to MES; Wade DeHart, special
education teacher, WJMS to
JCCHS; Allison Frazier, spe
cial education preschool teacher
(100 percent), system to special
education preschool teacher (50
percent), system; Angie Fumey,
technology specialist, KBMS/
SJES to media specialist, KBMS;
Catherine Gattis, special educa
tion teacher, GSES to WJMS;
Tammi Gowen, special educa
tion/gifted teacher, GSES/SJES
to GSES/EJMS; Laurie Hitzges,
fourth grade teacher, MES to
assistant principal for instruc
tion, MES; Dora Jarrard, eighth
grade teacher, KBMS to teacher,
WJMS; Jackie Morgan, assistant
principal for instruction, MES to
principal, MES; Melissa Nixon,
Title I paraprofessional, KBMS
to special education paraprofes
sional, KBMS; Patricia Page,
pre-k paraprofessional, WJPS
to special education parapro
fessional, WJPS; Darla Paiter,
media paraprofessional, GSES
to special education paraprofes
sional, GSES; Jessica Parr, media
paraprofessional, KBMS to spe
cial education paraprofessional,
KBMS; Cass Robinson, language
arts instructional coordinator, sys
tem to Title I instructional coach,
KBMS; Kalen Searcy, registra
tion clerk, central registration, to
secretary/bookkeeper, GSC; Abby
Tankersley, CTAE teacher, EJMS
to CTAE teacher, 50 percent
KBMS/50 percent EJMS; Sarah
Waldrop, vocational teacher (100
percent), JCCHS to vocational
teacher (50 percent), JCCHS;
Janet Warren, media paraprofes
sional, WJPS to pre-k paraprofes
sional, WJPS; Denise Wilbanks,
CTAE teacher, WJMS to JCCHS;
and Ashley Wright, band teacher,
EJCHS to band teacher, EJMS.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
The board approved a leave of
absence for educational purposes
for Kyndal Quiggle, pre-K para
professional, WJPS.
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706-336-6957
108 Faulkner Road
Commerce, GA
Across from Pritchett Tire @ Banks Crossing
32 Bonita Drive
Cleveland, GA
Across from Wal-Mart
Hwy. 129
706-348-7002