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Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, June 30, 2021
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PHOTO BY CHRISTINA NEATH / FIRST LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
The Oak Ridge Boys perform during the Celebrate America event held June 26 at Christ Chapel Community Church in Zebulon.
PHOTO BY CORISSA BETTS
There was fun for the entire family at Celebrate America. Pictured
are (l-r) Emma, Christina, Michael and Eli Clay (on dad’s shoulders).
PHOTO BY ALYSSA SANTOS
Felix Santos (left) watches the fireworks show with Kaylee
George from their Radio Flyer red wagon.
Christ Chapel and
the community
Celebrate America
Around 8,000 Pike resi
dents and visitors from
surrounding counties
and even across the state
enjoyed Christ Chapel’s
Celebrate America event
with the Oak Ridge Boys
performing right before
the fireworks show.
Other performers
included the Christ Cha
pel Community Church
worship band and Jason
Hoard.
The parking lot of
the church was packed
as vendors provided
delicious treats and kids
played on playgrounds,
free inflatables and
played games.
“What an amazing
community event! To see
our community smil
ing and having fun was
worth it! To top it off,
people gave their hearts
to God at an Oak Ridge
Boys concert,” said
Chad Loyd. “Huge shout
out to Jason Hoard and
his band, all our vend
ers and volunteers, the
Oak Ridge Boys, and of
course God for answer
ing our prayers and keep
ing the rain away! I’m so
thankful for a pastor like
Billy Smith who sees the
importance of a commu
nity coming together! We
are truly better together!”
PHOTO BY CORISSA BETTS
Christ Chapel pastor Billy Smith leaps in the air as he praises
God during the Celebrate America event on Saturday, June 26.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Advo-Kids CASA volunteers and an advocacy coordinator were sworn in on Thursday, June 17,
including Angela Alford, Dana Cauble, Wendy Cox, Coral Crowell, Michelle Hall, Debi Montgom
ery and Melanie Stansell. More volunteers are needed for training in August.
Advo-Kids CASA volunteers sworn in
Advo-Kids CASA
recently had six volun
teers and an Advocacy
Coordinator sworn in on
Thursday, June 17, includ
ing Angela Alford, Dana
Cauble, Wendy Cox, Coral
Crowell, Michelle Hall,
Debi Montgomery, and
Melanie Stansell.
As Court Appointed
Special Advocates, they
will communicate with
the parties involved in a
local foster child’s case,
make recommendations
to the court and build
relationships with the
children they work with.
“These CASAs will
make such a wonderful
difference in a child’s
life,” said volunteer sup
port coordinator Hannah
Haden.
Community members
interested in advocating
for a child in foster care
can visit http://www.
advo-kidscasa.org or call
770-668-4177. The next
CASA training will start in
August.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Three outgoing members of the Pike County Parks and Recreation Authority board were rec
ognized for their years of dedication. Pictured are (l-r) Ryan Landry who served on the board
for nine years, Kalum Alverson who served on the board for six years and Joe Walter served on
the board for four years.
Outgoing recreation board members recognized
Members of the Pike
County Parks and Rec
reation Authority board
honored three board
members whose terms
ended recently.
After the board
meeting’s business was
conducted the three
members’ commitment
to the community was
recognized.
Ryan Landry served
on the board for nine
years. Kalum Alverson
served on the board for
six years. Joe Walter
served on the board for
four years.
“Many, many thanks
to three individuals who
volunteered years of
their lives to our commu
nity serving on the Pike
recreation board,” said
board chairman Chris
Childress.
Meansville council discusses
internet access for the city
BY DWAIN W. PENN
news@pikecountygeorgia.com
For six months, AirFi,
through their represen
tative Ziggy Clark, has
negotiated with the City
of Meansville a contract
to provide the area with
internet. Delays were en
countered due to amend
ments and approval of
the lease contract.
Poised to install the
equipment on the water
tank in June, AirFi’s
work may be delayed
again as council seeks to
determine who should
pay for installation of
electrical service. During
clarifications of prob
lems encountered for
installing the service,
mayor Virion Rachels led
discussion of a solution
at the June 14 meeting.
“The city is to pro
vide electrical service
to the water tank for use
by AirFi,” said Rachels.
“However due to the age
of the system, running
an underground line to
the tank is prohibited.
A solution to the prob
lem is to install a 100
amp service pole near
the tank and run under
ground line from the
pole to the tank.”
Councilman Chet
Ward objected to the
city paying for the ser
vice to the tank.
‘It is wrong for the city
to subsidize the electri
cal service for use by
AirFi,” said Ward. “Only
a few customers, city
residents, would benefit
from the expense.”
As opposition arose,
city attorney Rob Mor
ton reviewed his copy
of the AirFi contract and
discovered pertinent
information.
“According to the con
tract,” said Morton, “the
lessee [AirFi] has the
sole responsibility for
the cost of connection.”
Prior to the legal
revelation, council was
comparing the cost from
two contractors. The
low bid was $4,165 and
the other over $5,000.
To help expedite the
AirFi service to the city,
council approved the
lower bid for the work
pending acquiring a
third bid below that.
City clerk Jerome Finley
established the time
frame of one week to
obtain the lowest bid.
Morton suggested
the city ask if AirFi
would install the ser
vice. Agreement was
unanimous since AirFi is
anxious to establish its
service in Meansville. If
they install the electri
cal service for the city,
then they will be able to
begin their work upon
immediate completion
of installation of power
with nominal equipment
expense.
In anticipation of the
new service pole at the
tank along with plans to
bring the Meansville Mu
sic Festival back to town
in September, four elec
trical service boxes will
be installed at the power
pole near city hall.
COUNCIL ALSO:
• Heard the fire
department will start
immediately purchasing
their motor fuel from
the county and the city
will be billed monthly.
The department re
sponded to two fire calls
and 10 medical calls in
the county during the
month of May.
• Heard from water
superintendent Scott
Huckaby the city used
398,700 gallons of water
in May. Logistic prob
lems with the handling
of the 10 new water
meters in May require
the test to be repeated,
delaying the city’s con
ference with GEFA until
August.
• Learned the 2021
Meansville Music Fes
tival will return to city
hall from 11 a.m. to 6
p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25.
A successful Covid-con-
scious festival was held
last fall at Life Springs
Church pavilion.
• Heard the city is
looking for bids from
building contractors
for the replacement of
porch and wheel chair
ramp railings at city
hall.
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