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Volume 150
CRAWFORDVILLE, GA 30631 TALIAFERRO COUNTY, JUNE 28, 2024
NUMBER 26
Lunch and Learn
Thomas Dawson, Donna Taylor, Buddy Patterson, Renee Brown,
Gail Meads, Avanell Peters, Roy Rabun, Jane Kuehn, Elaine
Rivera, Kelly Llewelyn and Thomas Macfie
Kelly Llewelyn was the
guest speaker last Thursday
at the Taliaferro County Master
Gardener Lunch and Learn.
Kelly introduced the group to
a very comprehensive talk on
Hydroponic Gardening. She
uses this simple method to grow
her vegetables on her large
scale on back porch space.
Kelly shared her system and
how it works with very little care
after the initial set up.
She and her husband Dan are
residents of Deerlick Astronomy
Village.
Next month, Buddy Patterson
hopes to share his ideas on
propagation with an outdoor,
hands-on demonstration on
the sidewalk near A&B Fresh
Market.
Everyone is invited to these
very informative meetings at
Nick’s Place Cafe at 11:30am
every third Thursday of each
month.
Dry and Dangerous
The Georgia Forestry
Commission is advising that
it’s been over a week since
the middle and lower parts of
the state has seen any actual
wetting rain (popup showers
don’t count), and there is
none in the forecast. Add to
that elevated winds expected
over the next several days,
and conditions could be ripe
for wildfires. They would like
all citizens and guests of our
state to be aware of current
conditions, and use caution with
any outdoor activities that could
cause a spark.
Taliaferro County Library
Summer Reading Program
Last week, at the Taliaferro
County Library, Didgeridoo
Down Under visited and
entertained children and
parents with Australian musical
instruments and culture. He also
encouraged the children to sign
up for the Summer Reading
Program and to read during the
summer.
For those who have not
signed up for the reading
program yet, there is still time.
Children, ages babies through
those going into the 5th grade,
who have signed up for the
program will receive prizes at
three different reading goals, 10
books read, 25 books read, and
50 books. Each time they reach
one of those goals, not only will
they receive a special reward
but their names will be entered
into a drawing for the grand
prize, a Dinosaur Push Car or
a Hoverboard. Pre-teens, and
teenagers, 6th grade and up,
will receive prizes for reading 5
books and 10 books. The grand
prize for the young adults will be
a drone.
Upcoming events at the
library include:
• Thursday, June 27 @
3:00 - Special storytime with the
GADNR
• Friday, June 28 @ 2:00
- Movie showing of “Wonka”
- Free Popcorn but bring your
own sodas and candy
• Tuesday, July 2 @
10:00 - Bright Star Touring
Theatre
• Thursday, July 4 -
Library will be closed
Rep. Trey Rhodes named Chairman
of House Study Committee on
Private Water Systems
Representative Trey Rhodes represents the citizens of District 124,
which includes Greene, Oglethorpe and Taliaferro counties, as well
as portions of Clarke and Putnam counties. He was elected to the
House of Representatives in 2015 and currently serves as Chairman
of the Game, Fish & Parks Committee and Secretary of the Ways
& Means Committee. He also serves on the Banks & Banking,
Economic Development & Tourism, Special Rules and State Planning
& Community A
State Representative Trey
Rhodes (R-Greensboro),
chairman of the House
Committee on Game, Fish &
Parks, was recently named
by Speaker Jon Burns
(R-Newington) to serve as the
chairman of the House Study
Committee on Private Water
Systems.
“I would like to thank Speaker
Burns for appointing me to lead
this important study committee
this year to study our state’s
private water systems and
services,” said Chairman
Rhodes. “These private water
systems play a vital role in many
rural Georgia communities,
and we want to ensure that our
constituents who are serviced
by private water systems are
being given fair rates and fees.”
The House Study Committee
iirs committees.
on Private Water Systems
was established following the
adoption of House Resolution
1498 during the 2024 legislative
session. This study committee
will carefully evaluate all aspects
of the operation of private water
systems in this state and may
make recommendations for
proposed legislation ahead of
the 2025 legislative session.
Speaker Burns also
appointed the following study
committee members: State
Representatives Robert
Dickey (R-Musella), Lynn
Smith (R-Newnan), Debbie
Buckner (D-Junction City),
Bill Hitchens (R-Rincon), Beth
Camp (R-Concord) and Jason
Ridley (R-Chatsworth). Mr.
Jason Shaw, Public Service
Commissioner, will serve as the
non-legislative member.
Women’s Firearm Training
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Several women from
Taliaferro County participated in
the Women’s Firearm Training in
Richmond County on Saturday,
June 22. The Richmond County
Sheriff’s Office Certified Training
staff hosted and taught the free
class.
The ladies had classroom
instructions about firearm
and firearm safety, shooting
simulator experience, along
with live firing instruction and
experience. The ladies were
required to bring their own
firearm and ammunition so that
they could learn on their own
weapon and how to be safe and
knowledgeable with it.
They were provided
transportation and lunch with
the class.
Sheriff Tia M. McWilliams
would like to thank all
the women that showed
interest in the 1st Women’s
Firearm Training session. 93
participants registered for the
class. Unfortunately only 15
participants could be selected
with priority given to Taliaferro
County residents. Future
sessions will be scheduled. If
your acceptance into the class
was not confirmed please know
that your name will remain on
our registry.
Thank you for understanding
and the Sheriff’s Department
hopes to be able to
accommodate you in the future.
Congressman Mike Collins visits
USPS in Palmetto, Georgia
Congressman Mike Collins
is hearing from folks across
Georgia’s 10th Congressional
District concerning slow mail
delivery that is negatively
affecting people’s businesses,
health, and finances.
“The mail is causing us untold
issues,” reported a Superior
Court judge. “Last week, the
District Attorney called for a
reconvened grand jury. The
Clerk sent the summons out at
least four weeks in advance, yet
no one appeared because they
did not get their summons. The
mail situation could seriously
impact our ability to ensure that
justice is dispensed in a timely
manner.”
“This Palmetto fiasco and
the cutoff of home mail service
to new and existing subscribers
is causing subscription
cancellations area wide,”
reported one local newspaper
struggling to stay afloat. “If
USPS wanted to design some
strategies for shutting down
local papers, they would be hard
pressed to come up with better
under-the-radar plans.”
“With so many problems
flooding my office, I knew it
was time to act. Dissatisfied
with the response we received
from a letter sent to the United
States Postal Service (USPS) in
December, I decided to visit the
troubled mail processing facility
in Palmetto to conduct much-
needed oversight.
Here’s what I learned: USPS
is undergoing a significant
transformation to modernize
its delivery, processing, and
transportation network. While
the Postal Service is critically
important to the American
people, it has been trapped
in an unsustainable operating
model. A change had to happen.
That’s because Atlanta-area
facilities were poorly designed
and poorly maintained.
Additionally, USPS’s previous
strategies failed to anticipate the
growth in packages. In recent
years, rapidly declining mail
volumes (a 50% reduction) and
shifting customer demand due
to the growth in e-commerce
have dramatically changed the
postal marketplace.
Regrettably, the rollout
of these changes has been
disastrous, and USPS
acknowledges that its service
performance during this
transition was unacceptable.
On-time, two-day delivery is the
standard measure forthe USPS,
but it sank as low as 16% out of
the Palmetto facility in March.
However, USPS says
improvements in service and
efficiency are coming as the
new operating plans and
network begin to function as
designed. To check the service
performance in your area, click
here, enter your zip code, and
select first-class mail.”
For answers to common
questions or to register
complaints, visit https://www.
usps.com/help/contact-us.htm.
If you lack internet access or
prefer an off-line conduit, you
may call the Customer Care Call
Center at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-
800-275-8777).
Collins stated, “Rest assured,
I will continue pressuring USPS
to fix these issues and provide
the customer service you pay
for and deserve. If you need
assistance with a federal agency
or have comments or concerns
to share with me, please do
not hesitate to call my office in
Monroe or Washington, D.C.”
The Burger Barn’s 1st
event was “flipping great”
Postage increase
coming
July 14
Effective July 14, 2024, the
price of a first class postage
stamp will increase from 68
cents to 73 cents. Last week, the
Postal Regulatory Commission
approved the proposed price
changes that were submitted
last April.
This will mark one of the
largest rate hikes in history. The
only other time the price was
raised by five cents was in 2019
when it went from 50 cents to
55 cents. Historically, it has only
been two or three cents.
This comes as Americans
continue to reduce the amount
of mail sent through the
government service. While
price plays a role, the lack of
dependability in delivery of late
has caused a sharp decline.
The USPS handled 116.1
billion pieces of mail in 2023 as
opposed to the high of 213.1
billion in 2006.
Officials are hoping the
new rates help overcome the
projected net loss of $6.5 billion
for its fiscal year.
photo by: Christi s Candids
Thomas Phillips and Amanda
Jackson had a “flipping great”
weekend with their first trip
out with The Burger Barn.
The couple started their food
truck business at 05 Farm, in
Jefferson, GA on Friday, June
21 with a sold out night. They
returned on Saturday, June 22
for a second day.
The Burger Barn is bringing
fresh certified natural beef
straight from J&J Cattle
Company, in Crawfordville, to
you with Angus burgers. They
also have specialty burgers
such as “The Hank” consisting
of 1/3lb. patty with homemade
maple bacon jam and “The
Toby” consisting of 1/3lb. patty
with homemade pimento cheese
and bacon crumbles.
If you would like to get in
touch with The Burger Barn and
have them at your next event
call (706) 318-0653 or email
them at theburgerbarn30631@
gmail.com
