Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3A
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SUBMITTED PHOTO
Among regular Backpack Program volunteers are AirLife Georgia crew members who flew in to help pack bags recently, includ
ing (l-r) pilot Brett Sullivan, flight nurse Nyssa Hattaway, flight medic Frank Perez, flight nurse Amy Elder and pilot Mitch Kilby.
to help local students in need
Flying in
The crew of AirLife
Georgia arrived in style
as they flew a helicopter
in to help pack bags of
food for the Pike County
Backpack Program
recently. They are new
partners and volunteers
with the program which
is in its fourth year and
provides local students
with breakfast, lunch and
dinner each weekend of
the school year.
“Last year during the
2020-2021 school year
the Backpack Program
provided 3,100 filled zip-
lock bags to cover the 41
school weekends,” said
Mike Cox. “Those bags
totaled more than 25,000
pounds for the year
and provided six meals
during the weekend for
students in need.”
To find out more, go
to christchapelga.com/
backpack-program or
find the Pike County
Backpack Program page
on Facebook.
Nov. 7 declared as Georgia Retired Educators Day
The local slogan for
the Pike County Retired
Educators Association
this year is ‘In 21 and 22,
our success depends on
you.’
“We would like to
thank Briar Johnson and
the Pike County commis
sioners for signing the
Proclamation declaring
Nov. 7 as Georgia Retired
Educators Day. Our goal
is to pay it forward this
year by helping Pike
County High School
students who want to go
into the education field,”
said Diane Beres. “Mem
bers of our organization
will be contacting local
churches to honor their
retired educators on Nov.
7. Our organization also
asks the community to
help us pay it forward.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Nov. 7 was declared as Georgia Retired Educators Day at a recent commission meeting. Pic
tured are (l-r) Mike Beres, Diane Beres, Briar Johnson, Judy Turpin and Jim Turpin.
Griffin Area Concert Association announces 2021-2022 season
The Griffin Area Con
cert Association (GACA)
recently announced the
return of live concerts for
its 2021-22 season.
“After having to cancel
our last two concerts in
March and April of 2020
and the entire season for
2020-21, we are excited to
announce that the curtain
is going back up with five
outstanding concerts for
the 2021-22 season,” said
GACA co-president Lewis
Brewer said.
The season will kick off
on Oct. 26 with the Tha-
lea String Quartet. The
quartet has performed
at venues such as Carn
egie Hall, the Kennedy
Center, Massey Hall and
has served as Associ
ated Artists at the Queen
Elisabeth Music Chapel
in Belgium. Due to the
current renovation of the
Griffin Auditorium, the
concert will be held in the
sanctuary of Griffin First
United Methodist Church.
The remaining four con
certs will be at the Griffin
Auditorium. All concerts
will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Back by audience
request, Monroe Crossing
Bluegrass Band will take
the stage at the Griffin
Auditorium on Jan. 11.
Monroe Crossing dazzles
audiences with an electri
fying blend of bluegrass,
bluegrass gospel and
heartfelt originals.
On March 3, GACA
will present the exciting
trio Holy Rocka Rollaz
and their tribute to early
American Rock ‘N Roll
artists such as Elvis Pre
sley, Buddy Holly, Chuck
Berry, Bill Haley & The
Comets and many more.
On March 24, GACA, in
collaboration with Griffin
Choral Arts, will present
Immortal Belated. Fea
turing the Carroll Sym
phony Orchestra, concert
pianist Terry Lowry and
Griffin Choral Arts, this
concert will feature some
of Beethoven’s best loved
choral and orchestral
works. The season ends
on April 5 with British
singing sensation Mark
Kingswood and his band.
Kingswood is redefining
what it means to be a
modern-day crooner and
performs original com
positions as well as more
traditional songs of the
genre.
“Season tickets for all
five concerts will remain
$60 with varying levels of
sponsorships also avail
able. Individual ticket
prices will remain just
$20 with a special rate of
$15 for groups of 10 or
more and GACA will once
again allow students free
admission when accom
panied by a paid ticket
holder,” said Brewer.
Ticket information is
available on the GACA
website at GriffinCon-
certs.org or by calling
770-228-3229.
FIRE: Department
announces promotions
FROM PAGE ONE
Patrick Kelly was
promoted to Chief
of Training recently.
Joseph Leonard 111 was
promoted to Lieuten
ant at Station 2 (Hol-
lonville). Chasen Wright
was promoted to Lieuten
ant at Station 8 (Second
District).
“Thanks for every
one’s continued sup
port and dedication to
our department,” said
PCFD fire chief Bobby
Wilkerson.
PHOTO BY BEHIND THE LENS PHOTOGRAPHY
Doug Neath was recently promoted to Chief of Opera
tions, Chris Jones was promoted to Lt. at Station 3 (Lifsey
Springs), Patrick Kelly was promoted to Chief of Training,
Joseph Leonard III was promoted to Lt. at Station 2 (Hol-
lonville) and Chasen Wright was promoted to Lt. at Station
8 (Second District.)
Molena discusses
internet expansion
BY DWAIN W. PENN
news@pikecountygeorgia.com
The October 4 meet
ing of Molena council
was led by mayor pro
tempore Jennifer Rig
gins in mayor Joyce
Corley’s absence. Two
councilors participated
through internet video
calls. Discussion of the
Molena Internet Service
continued this month
with project engineer
David Stewart sharing
ideas and proposals.
“We propose to in
crease internet service
by extending the signal
down from the tower in
order to reach nearby
hotspots of potential
customers,” said Stew
art. “Jones Road and
McCrary Road are still
high interest in servic
ing. We can install a
pole on the Beckham
property off the right-
of-way but there is no
power source avail
able.”
Stewart mentioned
the possibility of using
solar power for remote
areas, but fundamen
tally it is not cost
effective. Use of solar
will take three years
to break even on cost.
It takes six hours of
sunlight to recharge a
battery and the maxi
mum life of a battery is
five to eight years.
The Molena Food
Mart will be contacted
again to discuss some
type of arrangement
to bring internet to the
area. Even White Plains
Church is still a pos
sibility as the pastor
and members now see
their participation as
a vital ministry for the
town. And even though
it was noted at the
meeting the church has
contracted with AT&T
for internet, they may
consider canceling
their affiliation and ac
cept the city’s internet
service.
Stewart considers
the first point of signal
propagation on the
south side will be at
the fire station on Main
Street. There is a pole
wired with power near
by. This one location
should help to cover
the GA 18 corridor plus
Depot and Hill Streets.
Two more custom
ers were added since
the September meeting
bringing the total up to
the low “teens.” Qual
ity service is impor
tant and no antenna
will be installed until
tests shows that signal
strength will equal
or exceed competing
internet providers. The
technology is there;
one must determine the
best way to deliver it.
COUNCIL ALSO:
• Received from
chief Matt Polk the
monthly report of 34
calls received for traffic
and area checks. Polk
said the department
now has 12 reserve of
ficers resulting in better
coverage and becom
ing proactive through
involvement in the
community.
• Learned the repairs
at the power substa
tion on GA 109 east
has been delayed and
notice will be given
prior to the power out
age. Meanwhile Georgia
Power will investigate
to see if the work can
be done without cutting
power in the area.
• Heard the city re
ceived its first payment
of ARPA funds.
• Tabled discussion
of employee insurance
problems.
• Held the second
reading of the city fees
ordinance.
CITY OF CONCORD PUBLIC NOTICE
The city of Concord Governing Authority does hereby announce that the millage rate will
be set at a meeting to be held at the Concord City Hall, 50 Main Street on November 9, 2021 at
7:00 p.m. and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish
the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of
the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
CURRENT 2020 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
CITY 2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Real & Personal 6,890,290
6,988,499
7,288,105
7,272,191
9,442,918
9,643,683
Motor Vehicles 367,860
269,800
243,120
165,740
141,220
128,560
Mobile Homes 23,985
23,985
18,329
18,329
18,329
18,329
Timber-100%
Heavy Duty Equipment
Gross Digest 7,291,135
7,282,284
7,549,554
7,456,260
9,602,467
9,790,572
Less M&O Exemption 202,604
254,427
244,790
356,850
333,995
308,056
Net M&O Digest 7,088,531
7,027,857
7,304,764
7,099,410
9,268,472
9,482,516
Gross M&O Millage 13.045
13.00
13.50
13.497
11.018
14.197
Less Rollbacks 5.00
5.00
6.00
6.00
5.00
6.53
Net M&O Millage 8.045
8.00
7.50
7.497
6.018
7.667
Total Taxes Levied $57,027
$56,223
$54,785
$53,224
$55,778
$57,066
Net Taxes $ Increase - $495
-$804
-$1,438
-$1,561
$2,554
-$1,288
Net Taxes % Increase -1.00%
-1.00%
-3.00%
-3.00%
-5.00%
-2.00%
NOTICE
The Pike County Board of Commissioners does hereby announce that the millage rate
will be set at a meeting to be held at the Courthouse at 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon on
October 28, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32
do hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy along
with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
CURRENT 2021 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
COUNTY WIDE
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Real & Personal
506.639.694
515,566,497
527,046,229
543,656,176
683,405,744
704,936,240
Motor Vehicles
27,245,130
21,226,310
17,833,120
15,270,980
13,470,090
12,594,210
Mobile Homes
1,347,895
1,363,376
1,227,886
1,289,469
1,255,695
1,229,378
Timber-100%
2,227,243
1,394,601
1,052,258
666,224
901,081
624,614
Heavy Duty Equipment
58,204
80,996
88,794
147,902
75,306
Gross Digest
537,459,962
539,608,988
547,290,489
560,971,637
699,180,512
719,459,748
Less Exemptions
110,211,150
107,518,638
106,182,732
111,209,423
138,955,808
138,411,912
NET DIGEST VALUE
427,248,812
432,090,350
441,107,757
449,762,214
560,224,704
581,047,836
Gross Maintenance
& Operation Millage
15.6470
15.6780
16.1210
16.020
14.0380
14.10000
Less Rollback
(Local Option Sales Tax)
1.6910
1.7480
1.8600
2.0400
1.8700
2.1140
Net M&O Millage Rate
13.9560
13.9300
14.2610
14.2620
12.1680
11.9860
Total M&O Taxes Levied
$5,962,684
$6,019,019
$6,290,638
$6,414,509
$6,816,814
$6,964,439
Net Taxes $ Increase
($6,553)
$56,334
$271,619
$123,871
$402,306
$147,625
Net Taxes % Increase
-0.11%
0.94%
4.51%
1.97%
6.27%
2.17%