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'Zrzar ? egion Roundup Help With Heating Bills Being Offered The Georgia Department of Human Resources has announced that $1.6 million in emergency contingency funds are available to help low-income families meet home energy costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds will provide households across the state with heating assistance for the winter months ahead. The federally-funded pro gram helps more than 80,000 eli gible Georgia families with heat ing and cooling assistance each year. The maximum payment for qual ifying applicants is $250. Funds will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis. Individuals must apply at the community action agency that serves their county. Applicants can call 1-800-869- 1150 or visit http://gcaaonline. org to locate the nearest commu nity action agency in their area. To qualify for the LIHEAP program applicants must have a yearly household income that meets federal poverty guidelines. For a one-person household, that would be $15,315; for two people $20,535; for three people $25,755; for four people $30,975; for five people $36,195; for six people $41,415; for seven people $46,635; for eight people $51,855; and for each additional person, add $5,220 in household income. Applicants must provide a copy of their most recent heating bill or a statement of service from their heating provider. They must also provide proof of household income for the last 30 days, such as a pay stub or letter from an employer. Applicants are required to have a valid Social Security number for all household mem bers. Those who have a need are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. New System Makes Vital Records Easier To Obtain The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Records has implemented a new system that will significantly reduce the length of time it takes Georgians to obtain official cop ies of birth and death certificates. The Vital Events Information System (VEIS) is an electronic registration system of vital records that now allows constituents to receive copies of their vital events 706-354-1539 • Epps Bridge Pkwy. (Across from Super WalMart) within a few days — compared to weeks with the old paper-based system. The system also improves the quality and accuracy of vital events data. The VEIS began as a pilot proj ect in April 2007. It was rolled out statewide in August of 2007, with an initial focus on birth registra tion. The pilot stage for death regis tration began in November and will be rolled out statewide in February. Prior to VEIS, it took as long as six to eight weeks for births to be registered in the system and made available to customers. With the new system, these vital records are registered and produced per a customer’s request within an aver age of 13 days. The new electronic system not only focuses on reducing the time it takes to make vital records available to customers, but it pro vides more reliable data as well. Vital records data is often used by key partners such as the Division of Family and Children Services and parents to help make public health decisions for at-risk chil dren. Accurate information is also imperative for families who have suffered a loss and need to obtain death certificates for insurance purposes. Other features of VEIS include: • Certified copies of vital events now available in all Georgia coun ties. • Local custodians can issue certified copies of vital records. • Registration of paternity acknowledgments at hospitals without delay. For more information about the Office of Vital Records, visit: http://health.state.ga.us/pro grams/ vitalrecords/index.asp. Red Cross Cites Urgent Need For Several Blood Types ATHENS - Less than four 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 imme diate increase in blood donations. It is especially crucial for type O and type B blood donors to donate within the next few days. These are the most commonly used blood types and are needed to treat patients every single day. O negative blood can be used for all patients, but it is essential to the treatment of trauma patients, WOODYARD Accounting 18 South Public Square Jefferson, GA 30549 - (706) 693-4280 - Timely And Affordable Tax Returns Individuals And Businesses 35 Years Of Experience 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, Southern Region. “We need people to come out and donate.’’ The American Red Cross encourages everyone who can give to donate blood as soon as possible. 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 levels. 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. Building Permits For Homes Down 9 Percent In '07 DANIELSVILLE - The Madison County Building Inspections issued 192 permits for stick-built houses in 2007, a nine percent drop from the previous year’s total of 211. Meanwhile, 74 mobile home permits were issued last year, a 26 percent drop from the 100 issued in 2006. Mobile home permits have dras tically decreased over the past 12 years in Madison County, with last year’s total only one-fifth of the 1995 figure of 373. Madison County Recall Reader Is Fined By State DANIELSVILLE - The man who led the failed recall effort against Madison County District 1 Commissioner Stanley Thomas must pay a fine for failure to file proper campaign disclosure reports. Jerry Williams, chairman of the Committee to Recall Stanley Personal Trainers Now Available In Jackson County Let our Trainers Create Your Health/ New Ufc, Over 35 years of &Kperiencel 706-367-7341 Call: Marcell -704-6507740 Mike - 678-549-0670 City Of Commerce NOTICE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY SALE The City of Commerce will be accepting sealed bids on the old electrical substation property located on Hwy. 98 North in Commerce as more particularly described below. Bids must be submitted no later than 10:00 A.M., Friday, February 15, 2008. All bids must be submitted to the City of Commerce, City Clerk's office located at 27 Sycamore Street, Commerce, Georgia in an envelope marked "SEAL PROPERTY BID". A plat of said property may be viewed at City Hall. The condition of sale shall be for cash paid at closing with the Buyer paying all costs of closing. Bids will be opened at City Hall on February 15, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. o'clock. The City of Commerce reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids submitted or to cancel the sale. LEGAL DESCRIPTION FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY ADVERTISEMENT All that tract and parcel of land lying and being in the 255 District G M., City of Commerce, Jackson County, Georgia being more particularly described as follows: Commence at the intersection of the center line of Washington Street with the southwestern right of way of GA Hwy. 98; thence in a northwesterly direction along the southwesterly right of way of GA Hwy. 98 485' to an iron pin which is the TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING; thence South 15° West 200' to an iron pin located on the northerly right of way of Peach Street; thence North 75° West 50' along said right of way to an iron pin; thence North 15° East 200' to an iron pin located on the right of way of GA Hwy. 98; thence South 75° East 50' to the true point of beginning, containing 0.2296 acres. The City reserves a utility and access easement 10' in width running along and adjacent to the eastern boundary of the property from the right of way of GA Hwy. 98 to the right of way of Peach Street as more fully shown and delineated on a survey for the City of Commerce prepared by Ingram, Lord and Associates, Barry D. Lord Ga. RLS No. 2641 dated December 19, 2007, which said survey is incorporated herein by referenced thereto. / Thomas, signed a “consent order’’ with the State Ethics Commission, agreeing to pay $3,500 for failing to file campaign contribution dis closure reports, which are required of all recall committees. The con sent order was officially approved by the Ethics Commission Jan. 24. Thomas filed the ethics complaint against Williams. “Respondent admits and ack nowledges that he failed to file the four Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports (CCDRs) required of recall committees with the Commission,’’ the order stated. The Ethics Commission also found that Williams failed to report a $2,500 contribution by former commissioner John Scoggins to the recall effort. “Respondent failed to report an in-kind contribution of $2,500 made by John Scoggins for legal fees incurred by the recall com mittee,’’ the order stated. According to the order, Williams must pay the $3,500 civil fine within 30 days of the order. ‘The civil penalty must be paid out of Respondent’s personal funds and not campaign funds,’’ the order stated. Williams was ordered last year to pay over $7,000 in legal fees for Thomas, who had to hire a lawyer to defend himself against the recall effort. Another Madison County case before the State Ethics Commission is still pending, according to Commission spokes person Rick Thompson. District 2 Commissioner John Pethel alleges that board of com mission chairman Wesley Nash inappropriately used a coun ty computer to print political material during the 2004 BOC’s chairman’s race. A preliminary hearing before the Ethics Commission was wai ved in November. “We haven’t gone any further than that,’’ said Thompson Monday. “We’re still working with them to try to resolve the matter.’’ SPFOST Up For Renewal In Madison County DANIELSVILLE - Madison County voters will be asked to offer a “Yes’’ or a “No’’ on renew ing the county’s one-cent special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for another six years. Should voters give the go-ahead to six more years of SPLOST, then the county government will tackle a wide array of county projects, such as doubling the capacity of the county jail, improving roads, funding a commercial sewer sys tem in Hull, improving the recre ation department, expanding the library, renovating the courthouse, improving emergency commu nications, improving municipal water systems and more. If voters once again approve the tax, here is how the antici pated $12.6 million will be divided over the next six years: roads, $3.95 million; jail expansion, $3.3 million; IDA (sewage/water sources), $1.19 million; recreation department projects, $1 million; library expansion, $750,000; 911 upgrades, $424,000; EMS upgrades, $270,000; transfer sta tion upgrades, $124,000; historic courthouse renovations, $90,000; Comer, $580,000; Colbert, $269,000; Danielsville, $252,000; Ila, $181,000; Carlton, $128,000; and Hull, $88,000. Health Clinics Offering Vaccine For Meningitis For a limited time, the Jackson County Health Department is offering Menactra vaccine for $14.75. The vaccine is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. Menactra vaccine provides protection against four strains of the bacteria N. meningi- tides, which causes most cases of bacterial meningitis. In the United States, about 1,400 to 2,800 cases are reported each year. Immunization is especially recommended for older children and young adults (age 11 and up). Those at risk for meningitis include: college freshmen living in dormitories, someone with a damaged or removed spleen or those with an immune system disorder. Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection of the lining and fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and brain. The primary symp toms are a sudden onset of hea dache, fever and stiff neck, often with other symptoms such as nau sea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and a rash. Bacterial meningitis can result in death or permanent disability. The incidence of bacterial meningitis is low compared to other infections, and the commu nicability is low, so vaccination is not required for school or colle ge. However, immunization is the most effective way to reduce the incidence of death and serious permanent consequences of this Scholarship Okays Fee For GED Testing The new Georgia Fund Scholarship pays the $95 testing fee for all adult learners who live in designated rural counties across Georgia, including Banks County. To qualify for this scholarship, participants must: • reside in Banks County. • be enrolled in GED classes at the Banks County Adult Learning Center. • meet the minimum attendance requirement (12 hours). •achieve the status of “Test Readiness’’ (Level 6) on a skills test and GED practice test. For more information, call the Banks County Adult Learning Center, 706-677-4302, or drop by during regular, business hours (Mondays through Wednesdays, 8:30 - 5:30, and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). The Georgia Fund Scholarship will be offered to qualifying stu dents one time only. Students must pay for second attempts at passing the GED. NEWS DEADLINE 4:00 MONDAYS DID YOU KNOW? By Preacher Clint DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD’S SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE AS A, B, C. A. Admit that you are a sinner...Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; B. Believe that “JESUS is the only begotten son of GOD and that he came to die for our sins...John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. C. Confess that JESUS is LORD. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, though shalt be saved. ADMIT, BELIEVE AND CONFESS... 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