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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS. WEDNESDAY. TANUARY 16. 2008 - PAGE 11A Lindsay Brown To Marry John G. Payne March 15 Gerald and Kathy Brown of Cohutta announce the engage ment and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Lindsay Leigh Brown, Gainesville, to John Gar rison Payne of Commerce, son of Jerry and Donna Payne of Homer. The wedding is planned for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at St. Si mons United Methodist Church, St. Simons Island. The bride is the granddaughter of Harold and Carley Kinnamon and the late Kathleen Kinnamon, and Edith Brown and the late Wallace Brown, all of Cohutta. Miss Brown is a 2000 gradu ate of Dalton High School and a 2004 graduate of Brenau Univer sity with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design and ad vertising. The groom is the grandson of Betty Garrison Strickland and the late Herbert Garrison and Kathryn Payne and the late Wil liam Payne, all of Homer. Mr. Payne is a 1997 graduate of Banks County High School and a 2001 graduate of Southern Poly technic State University with a bachelor of science degree in civ il engineering technology. He is employed by Keck & Wood Inc., Duluth, as a project engineer. Auditions Offered Jan. 28-29 For 'CSP's The Odd Couple' Oscar and Felix will not come to Commerce, but the Cold Sassy Players will produce a “female ver sion" of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple." The Cold Sassy Players will hold auditions for the show on Mon day and Tuesday, Jan. 28-29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Commerce Cul tural Center. “The Odd Couple" was a suc cessful Broadway play that was later adapted for a hit TV series. The principal characters were Felix Ungar, a fastidious news reporter, and Oscar Madison, a sportswriter and all-around slob, who became roommates after their wives wisely ditched them. Red Cross Says Need 'Urgent' For Several Types Of Blood ATHENS - Less than two weeks into the new year, the American Red Cross has a severe shortage of several blood types. Supplies of O negative, O positive, B nega tive, B positive and A negative blood are currently at less than a day’s supply despite repeated calls to donors to give blood over the past month. These levels will drop further in the coming days without an im mediate increase in blood dona tions. It is especially crucial for type O and type B blood donors to donate within the next few days. These are the most com monly used blood types and are needed to treat patients ev ery single day. O negative blood can be used for all patients, but it is essential to the treatment of trauma patients, newborns and pregnant women. “There is a constant need for all blood types. At times like this when there is a severe shortage of the most widely used blood types on the shelves, it is felt across the region," said Randy Edwards, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Blood Services, South ern Region. “We need people to come out and donate." The American Red Cross en courages everyone who can give to donate blood as soon as pos sible. There are never enough blood donations made in Georgia to provide adequate blood for the patients in this state. Oftentimes, blood must be brought in from other states to routinely meet the needs here. However, during the winter, donations drop and the region’s supply of blood takes a huge dip to dangerously low lev els. Blood drives are being held across Georgia at various times and locations. Donors are asked to visit www.givebloodredcross. org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. The Southern Region needs 1,200 blood donations a day in order to adequately supply more than 130 hospitals and health care facilities in the state. Donors must be age 17 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. Garden Club Invites Prospective New Members To Reception Jan. 31 The Harmony Grove Garden Club will hold an information meeting to invite new members and visitors Thursday, Jan. 31, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 at the Commerce Public Library. There will be a guest speaker, door prizes and refreshments. QiWiWa I ^ gfg ^(H^iVrmry SECOND DISTRICT ATTENDANCE AWARD UDC Wins Award Members of the JEB Stuart Chapter No. 861, Watson and Shirley Wilson. The chapter won United Daughters of the Confederacy, recently the Second District Attendance Award for hav- attended the annual Georgia Division executive ing the most members on a percentage basis board meeting in Forsyth. Pictured are chapter in attendance at meetings. Approximately 100 members Lisa Kennedy, Joy Barnes, Janice members from across the state were present. AA Chapter Meets 5 Times Weekly In The Downtown The Breezy Knob chapter of Al coholics Anonymous meets five times a week at 69 Central Ave nue (across from First Commerce Bank) in Commerce. Meeting times are at 8 p.m. Tues days, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and at 6:45 p.m. Sun days. Meetings consist of open discussion. Food Bank's Hours Announced The hours of operation of the Banks-Jackson Emergency Food Bank, located at 111 Atlanta Av enue in downtown Commerce, are from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The food bank provides one time emergency food supplies for individuals and families re ferred by churches or social ser vice groups. Elizabeth Ann Cotton, Jason Barnes To Be Wed Steve and Mildred Cotton of Commerce announce the engage ment and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Cotton, to Jason James Barnes, son of Marvin Edwards of Com merce. The bride is the granddaughter of Dale and Martha Carnes, Sen eca, SC, and Charles and Joan Cotton, Commerce. The wedding is planned for 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Nich olson PFB Holiness Church. All family and friends are invited to attend. County Forms Committee To Plan For Flu Pandemic Jackson County has a planning committee working to prepare the community for the possibility of a pandemic flu outbreak. “Preparation by individual families is essential because help from the state and federal governments will be very limited," says Beth Heath, county nurse manager. Citizens with suggestions for the planning process are asked to let their elected officials know. The committee also plans to apply for a grant to get funds to pay for the cost of printing a pamphlet with information on the issue. This infor mation could be sent home with school students and provided in other areas of the community. Those who attending a planning meeting last week were: Lisa Leedahl, RN, BJC; Shanda Hegwood, BJC; Ashley Hulsey, RN, Commerce City Schools; Beth Heath, RN, Jackson County Health Department; and So nya Willard, RN, Jackson County Health Department. The government web site for planning information is www.pandemic- flu.gov/ plan/ individual/ index. CLASSIFIED ADS 5 NEEWSPAPERS • 26,500 READERS Sio PER WEEK 706-335-2927 • 706-367-5233 MasterCard • VISA Save S3 by placing ads online at classified@mainstreetnews.com you’re InvitecC... PEN |-| Q II C £ ATHENS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Serving Northeast Georgia Since 1970 Friday, February 1st - 9:00am & 7:00pm Saturday, February 2nd - 10:00am Meet at academic building for directions Refreshments will be served • Information on all grades • K3 through Grade 12 • Tour ACS' modern facilities ATHENS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Conveniently located on Hwy 29, No. (near Athens Tech) Call for Information 706-549-7586 www.athenschristian.com Why Do Pulpits Remain Silent? Why do the pulpits remain silent while the disease of alcoholism rages? Hear thee o' man of (rod; ye have a mandate from the Holy One. "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman. If thou warn not a man of his sin and he die in his sin, then his blood will I require at thine hand..." Ezekiel 3:17-18 (KJV). Alcoholism is an age-old disease having its beginning with Noah, a righteous preacher: nearly six thousand years ago; after the transition from the old world, into the new world. When tempted, Noah began a winery business, became an alcoholic and drank until he passed out. Then came the curse episode. Canaan, the son of Ham, the son of Noah, became the victim. Although depravity diseases are redeemable, yet the scar issue remains. The wise man Solomon left us these words, "Wine is a mocker strong drink is raging and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1 (KJV). Habakkuk, the prophet, went a step further and wrote, "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken..." Habakkuk 2:15 (KJV). In the words of Saint Paul, "Those that do such things, (drunken), shall not inherit the kingdom of Cod..." Calatians 5:21 (KJV). "Touch not; taste not, the things that perish with the using...." Col. 2:21-22 (KJV). Also, from the book of Peter, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of Cod..." 1 Peter 4:17 (KJV). The negatives of alcohol consumption are well documented, but unfortunately many tend to ignore the warning signs and its side effects. The numerous side effects include: low self-esteem, loss of respect, guilt, fear doubt, bad judgment, spiritual decay, loss of purity, loss of pride, depression, and premature death. The main excuse for this referendum is the need for additional revenue. However statistics prove the increase of alcohol sales and consumption increase crime, which requires more law enforcement. Health problems and medical expenses also increase, which can place additional burdens on a community. These negative aspects receive little or no public acknowledgment. Stand and speak ye silent pulpits, know ye not, therefore our county and city leaders, and our church members adhere. They dictate our laws, raise our taxes, and spend our money. We say enough is enough. VOTE NO ON FEBRUARY 5. m