Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, September 29, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3A
WRECKS:
Send three
to hospital
FROM PAGE ONE
The suburban
then crashed into
the Meansville home.
The homeowner was
taken by ambulance
to a Macon trauma
center. The SUV driver
was taken to Upson
Regional.
The SUV driver
said he fell asleep at
the wheel. Blood was
drawn from the driver
for toxicology testing.
At right, a pickup truck
drove through an out
building in Concord.
PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER
The Demolition Derby at the Spalding County Fair will feature vehicles built by (l-r) Josh Rickerson, Caleb Rickerson and Rick
Rickerson in Rick’s Meansville garage. The drivers have both pledged to give any winnings to the Pike County Animal Shelter.
DERBY: Participants to support animal shelter
FROM PAGE ONE
“We are animal lovers
and want to help our ani
mal shelter with whatev
er they need and we have
heard they are in need of
funding,” said Rick.
Rick’s wife Carla said
the crew already has
quite a fan club and may
even have t-shirts made.
“Come out and sup
port us,” she said. “We
want all our animal lov
ers in the county to be
on our support team and
come cheer them on.”
The crew chose
American made cars
so they would not have
to move the gas tanks
and they have taken the
required safety precau
tions which Rick knows
all about with his exten
sive firefighting career.
Josh said drivers can
not intentionally hit the
driver doors and must
make contact at regular
intervals to prevent be
ing disqualified. He said
there will be a safety
meeting before the de
molition derby begins.
When asked if he was
worried about the race,
he said, “I’m not smart
enough to be scared.”
Rick plans to hang
two-liters of Mellow Yel
low and Orange Crush
from the outside of the
vehicles so they can
be crushed during the
derby.
“It’s going to be a
lot of fun and we hope
there’s a huge crowd of
animal shelter support
ers,” said Rick.
Molena council talks
internet service
BY DWAIN W. PENN
dwain@pikecountygeorgia.com
The city of Molena was
first among several Pike
municipalities to provide
wireless internet service
to local residents. Their
source was a service
signal transmitted from
Woodbury over the
county line to the water
tower for propagation
to potential customers
around Molena.
A progress report was
given at the September
13 council meeting as
work continues to expand
based on quality recep
tion at a nominal cost.
Currently the city has
11 active customers which
is low for the popula
tion. Testing is needed to
determine efficiency of
coverage prior to a loca
tion becoming a perma
nent transmission source.
For example, a recent test
revealed that the intersec
tion of Dunn Street at Main
Street would be ideal for
the location of a “pop.” It
would provide service for
the Beckhams and much
of southside Molena.
Members of White
Plains Baptist Church on
Lawrence Mill Road are
praying about allowing a
“pop” to be attached to
the steeple. The height
and location may open up
service to residents near
the highway interchange
as well as county resi
dents in Meriwether and
Upson. Wi-Fi service at
the pavilion is now avail
able. The free service will
enhance the appeal of the
facility as a rental venue
for a variety of events
year round.
COUNCIL ALSO:
• Witnessed the
presentation of U.S. flags
by Woodmen Life repre
sentative Roger Shedlock
to mayor Joyce Corley
for city hall and chief
Matt Polk for the police
department.
• Tabled a decision for
discussion at a budget
workshop after hearing a
presentation for a water
tank maintenance con
tract by Lee Smallwood
of Suez Tank.
• Heard there will be a
Trunk or Treat event with
first responders on Friday,
Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Approved the sec
ond reading of a Hotel/
Motel Tax Ordinance.
• Approved the Food
Truck Ordinance follow
ing the second reading.
ESPLOST: Funds would be used for facilities
FROM PAGE ONE
“Without the exten
sion of the current
ESPLOST, most of the
proposed projects could
not be accomplished
without property tax
increases,” said Dr. Dun
can. “According to the
School District’s Accred
iting Agency, COGN1A,
we need to make im
provements to facilities
and upgrade technol
ogy resources. COGNIA
will return in March of
2022 to determine if the
school district is making
progress. Furthermore,
ESPLOST funding is
critical for the school
district to respond to
the increase in student
enrollment, modern
ize HVAC systems and
the bus fleets as well as
updating and moderniz
ing a wide range of areas
including the kitchens,
restrooms and athletic
facilities. Pirate Nation
has supported educa
tion for many years,
passing six ESPLOST
referendums. Passage
of this ESPLOST would
be a strong demonstra
tion of the communities’
continued support for
its school children.”
Election Day is Nov.
2 Advanced in person
voting will begin Tues
day, Oct. 12 due to the
state holiday Oct. 11 and
will run through Oct.
29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
each day. Two Saturday
voting opportunities
will be offered, includ
ing Oct. 16 and 23 from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the
Board of Elections office
at 81 Jackson Street in
Zebulon. The last day for
residents to register and
be able to vote in the
November election is
Oct. 4. All precincts will
be open on Election Day
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and
the tallying of votes will
be done at the Board of
Elections in Zebulon.
“The ESPLOST exten
sion helps take pres
sure off property taxes.
Without ESPLOST, the
funds would be raised
through property taxes
to complete required
projects such as heating
and cooling systems. Ad
ditionally, the children
are not the only ones
who benefit from good
schools. The social and
economic strength of a
community is influenced
by the school system.
Good schools mean
strong property values,
well-prepared citizens,
II GEORGIA BAPTIST
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We are looking to hire Youth Care Workers who have the personal characteristics, experience
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Responsibilities
• Supervise residents
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behaviors through
service and safety
plans
• Documentation
• Staff development
and training
Qualifications
• Minimum age of 21
• H igh school
diploma or GED
• Favorable
background results,
reference checks,
and drug screen
Benefits (for full time)
• Health and Dental
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To learn more about our employment opportunities, contact us or apply today!
www.GeorgiaChildren.org/Careers f
a thriving labor market,
and an inviting atmo
sphere for both living
and working. One of the
key questions asked by
industrial/commercial
or residential prospects
looking to move into a
community is, ‘What
is the quality of the
schools?’ The passage
of previous ESPLOSTs
has enabled Pike County
to have more modern
school facilities and
equipment without
creating a burden on
property taxpayers. For
this reason, it would be
wise to consider ES
PLOST renewal in years
to come.”
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JOURNAL REPORT,ffRg^
Determined to walk again
~ ]M.
per year iti Pike & surrounding counties
Other GA Counties: §35 Out of State: §40
Call 770-567-3446 or
visit us online at:
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PCHS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 24 th vs. Jackson Red Devils
Defensive Player
#46 Dylan Simms
7 Tackles
Offensive Player
#10 Gage Lee
6 rushes, 80 yards, 3/8 passing
33 yards
Special Teams Player
#29 Wyatt Cochran
Blocked Punt, also added 9
tackles, and 1 TFL on defense
We proudly present this week's
Players of the Week.
www.accessunited.com 770-567-7211
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