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TO YOUR HEALTH Find out about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and how to register to receive both vaccine doses. See page 1B PIKE COUNTY : ft*BioNTechCOn) > vial M nt.J ; “ l, ,ra ™soularus..Conl*r A n„ r L Se Under Emergency list* 0 SlS E n BE K F0REUSEM iji n , , on wh en stored a( 2 M2? - ° l,Utlon date and time: JOURNAL REPORTER ONE DOLLAR www.pikecountygeorgia.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 PIKE'S PEEK Nominations needed for annual Prayer Power awards Prayer Power of Georgia is seek ing nominations for two awards that are presented annually to members of the Pike County community. Nominations are needed for the 2021 “Saints in Light Award” which is to be pre sented to an individual in Pike County who is non-clergy but has been a spiritually in spiring, motivating and encouraging influence in the community. See PRAYER page 3A Edwards hosts ABA's Washington Summit More than 2,500 bank leaders from across the country will gather virtually to hear from top bank ing policymakers at the American Bankers Association’s annual Washington Summit, held March 16-17. Over the course of the two- day summit, bankers will hear from ABA president and CEO Rob Nichols; FD1C chairman Jelena McWilliams and multiple members of Congress. Key issues in focus at the sum mit include the bank ing sector’s ongoing role in supporting the economic recovery, financial inclusion and the need to maintain a level playing field between banks and non-banks that offer financial services. See EDWARDS page 3A Concord offers citizens internet access After years of plan ning, the City of Concord became a high speed wireless internet provid er this month. “Although this is a historical moment for our community, there’s no time to stop and celebrate because there is much work yet to be done,” said mayor John Strickland. The first phase of service involves people who can physically see the city’s water tank from their home or business. “We have success fully connected over a dozen customers within a week’s time,” said Strickland. “As these people are connected, we will then be able to extend service to customers who don’t have visual contact with the city’s water tank.” The high speed wire less internet access start ed in Concord on March 4. In addition to the signal already in place on the city’s tank, plans for further expansion are underway to erect a tower on the west outer end of the town which will allow further coverage as well. Concord mayor Strickland noted that prices were not set with the intention of the city making money from the service. The current package offered for citizens who live inside the city limits is 25 mbps (unlimited) for a flat $45 per month with no contract or fees added. For those who live outside the city limit, the same package will be offered at $55 per month. The installation price ranges from $ 150-$175 depending on the cus tomer’s preferences. Interested citizens who live within two miles of downtown Concord are asked to email cityof concord@bellsouth.net and include a physical address and a contact number rather than call ing city hall so the clerk will have a record of the inquiry for future plan ning. SUBMITTED PHOTO David Stewart holds an an tenna (left) that is mounted to the side of homes getting the high speed internet service and the modem (right) for inside the home. CITY OF CONCORD Wireless Internet SUBMITTED PHOTOS Pike resident Melinda Fowler (far right) and her friend Chrystal Quintana started Acts of Love Uganda after seeing that families there need help to become self sustaining. Above, the ladies stand with a family they helped through the ministry. To find out how to give a family in need animals to raise or a way to provide income for their family, go to ActsOfLoveUganda.org. Ministry helps families in Uganda BY RACHEL McDANIEL news@pikecountygeorgia.com After trips to Uganda, Pike resident Melinda Fowler decided to help struggling families in the country by providing training and resources to help them support themselves through Acts of Love Uganda. Her first trip to Uganda was in 2008 and she worked for a ministry providing food to Christian schools there for several years. “1 grew up a Baptist minister’s daughter so 1 was always aware of mis sions: meeting missionar ies, giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter offering, but I nev er dreamed that this little girl from Georgia would some day lose her heart to missions in Africa. The closest 1 had ever been to Africa growing up was watching National Geo graphic. It’s amazing how God works his plans for your life if you allow it,” said Melinda. She has taken 15 dif ferent trips to Uganda and on a trip in 2014, she met Chrystal Quintana who helped found Acts of Love Uganda. She said the people of Uganda are especially in need now because of the effects of the global pandemic. “Acts of Love Uganda mainly helps people in the Katogo Slum in Gaba, which is near Kampala. It is on the edge of Lake Vic toria and every rainy sea son the slum floods and the people have to sleep standing up in their huts to keep from drowning, or move to higher ground until the waters recede.” See FAMILIES page 2A Pke County resident Melinda Fowler and Chrystal Quintana of Acts of Love Uganda provided handmade dresses for a large group of little girls in Uganda during one of their trips. The dresses were made by two friends from Atlanta. The ladies’ ministry provides families not only with food and necessary items but also trains family members to run their own businesses. Remembering Riley; community mourns teen's loss Pike County students and families are mourning the loss of 16-year- old Riley Nuce. He was a mem ber of the Pike County FFA and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and placed basketball and ran track and cross country for the Pirates. Riley was active in the Pike community and also worked at Chick-Fil-A in Griffin where he was a Team Lead. His family is asking that dona tions be made to the Pike FFA or Fellowship of Christian Athletes in lieu of flowers. See full obituary information for Riley on page 3B. See RILEY page 2B Hope4Tomorrow corn hole tourney set for March 20 Pike’s Hope4Tomor- row Optimist Club will host the Spar kling Fun in the Park Cornhole Tournament at Zebulon City Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 20. There will be cash prizes for first and second place winners and the event will include food, vendors, music and more. The cost for teams to register is $30 and those interested may call Rufus Clemmons at 678-544-1218, Vanetta Moss at 678-972-0243 or Brad Wilson at 678-873- 8421. Zebulon City Park is at 7817 Highway 19 in Zebulon. “We have a few vendors spot open for only $25 and Cornhole Teams for $30. The win ners of the tournament will receive cash prizes and we are looking forward to ev eryone bring ing their families out to enjoy the games, food and music,” said Clem mons. Vendors at the event will include items such as candles, antiques, tye dye shirts, sports attire and Drink 2 Shrink juice as well as Georgia Military College, real estate agents, a job recruiter and booths providing information on do mestic abuse, mental health, cyber security and ministry in jails and prisons. COVID-19 cases drop in Pike; deaths added Pike County’s num ber of confirmed cases for the past two weeks dropped again to 22, down from 24, 28, 41, 89 and 93 in the previous two week periods. However, there were two additional deaths due to COV1D-19 as of March 15, with 23 confirmed deaths, 11 probable deaths, 66 hospitalizations and a total of 999 confirmed cases since last March. The average age of COV1D-19 victims in Pike is 73 years old and of the 22 deaths, only nine were confirmed as having underlying conditions. The young est victims were a 42-year-old female and a 46-year-old male. See COVID-19 page 2B