Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 4, 2009 - PAGE 5A
Will Boats Soon Float On Reservoir?
By Mark Beardsley
Seven years after the Bear
Creek Reservoir was com
pleted, local anglers may
finally get to put their boats
on the regional reservoir.
The Upper Oconee Basin
Water Authority which man
ages the 505-acre lake and
its water treatment plant,
voted last week to authorize
its chairman to sign the con
tract for the construction of
a boat ramp and parking
facilities at the lake.
The work could be com
pleted this spring.
That won’t happen, howev
er, until the authority’s legal
counsel gives his thumbs-up
to the $271,000 contract.
Rules and regulations for
use of the facility have not
been formalized, but the
operator of the reservoir,
Jordan Jones & Goulding
recently submitted a list of
“concerns what we have
about opening the reservoir
up for recreation purpos
es.’’
Those issues include lit
ter, people attempting to
gain access to structures
in the lake, having to call
law enforcement officials in
regard to rule violations, the
release of contaminants into
the water supply, safety of
the boating public, people
getting stranded and com
ing to staff for assistance,
duck hunters and consump
tion of alcohol causing
threats to plant staff dur
ing times when the plant is
minimally staffed.
Access will be grant
ed only to boats without
gasoline motors — a pro
vision required by the
Environmental Protection
Division from the onset.
The EPD also required the
authority to prohibit swim
ming or even wading as
water quality issues.
To help enforce those
rules and whatever regula
tions the authority enacts,
Jackson County — which
is expected to manage the
boat ramp and parking
area — is creating ordinanc
es, according to Hunter
Bicknell, chairman of the
Jackson County Board of
Commissioners.
“We’ll be moving forward
with that,’’ Bicknell told
the authority last Thursday.
“We’ll have our ordinances
in ample time before any
recreation is authorized.’’
The Jackson County
Recreation Department
expects to supervise recre
ation, and the authority’s
chairman, Melvin Davis,
suggested that the authority
will absorb the associated
costs.
During the planning
stages for the reservoir,
the Department of Natural
Resources decided to man
age the lake for a trophy
bass fishery, stocking it with
(among other varieties) FI
Florida hybrid largemouth
bass. Boat access to the lake
got caught up in the secu
rity-related fears following
the 2001 terrorist attacks,
however. As those fears
began to subside, former
Jackson County BOC chair
Pat Bell began the push for
the authority to keep its
commitment to give access
to local fishermen. It’s taken
three years to get to the
point where a construction
contract is pending.
— Schools Worry Over Potential Loss Of Nurses
Cont. from Page 1A
wants to keep the nurses.
“They provide a great ser
vice to our kids, something
all school systems have
become accustomed to,’’ he
notes. 'The type of medica
tions we have to dole out is
not just aspirin and Tylenol.
There are other types of
medication you don’t want,
unless it’s an RN or an LPN,
just anyone handing out.’’
The nurses provide secu
rity for parents of children
with ongoing medical con
ditions. The Commerce sys
tem has at least six diabetic
students whose insulin must
be monitored constantly. It
has children prone to sei
zures, asthma, and allergies
so severe they may require
life-saving treatment with
EpiPens if they come into
contact with certain food or
insect stings.
Nurses see fractures, con
cussions, cuts and other inju
ries. They deal with feeding
tubes, screen children for
hearing, vision and spinal
problems. They give first aid,
monitor the school popula
tion for outbreaks of flu and
stomach viruses and coordi
nate care with doctors.
Hulsey, who has been
a school nurse for nine
years, even caught a frac
ture in a student’s arm that
an emergency room physi
cian missed. She sent the
child to another hospital,
where the arm was put in
a cast.
“Back in the old days, we
(principals) did it all, before
we realized that wasn’t the
thing to do,” said Commerce
Primary School principal
Kim Savage. “There are so
many medical issues with
children, from severe dia
betes to all kinds of needs.
It’s been wonderful to have
a school nurse. It would be
difficult to take that away.’’
The nurses build relation
ships with parents and chil
dren.
“They really need to trust
you,’’ said Hulsey. “If I am
ever out, it’s a huge deal
with the kids. They’re used
to having me every day.
That’s their security.’’
McCoy, said Savage,
told school staff that he
“is committed to keeping
everybody (the two school
nurses) if he could.”
The problem is — as
always — money, and fund
ing school nurses is just
a part of the challenge.
Perdue has recommended
a two-percent cut in edu
cation spending this year,
but it could go to six or 10
percent next year — on top
of previous “austerity" cuts.
In a climate where reserves
are dwindling and increas
ing property taxes is dif
ficult, no one can predict
just how schools will be
able to cope with declining
revenues.
Losing school nurses
would have a “huge" impact,
says David Cash, principal
of Commerce Elementary
School.
“The time taken away
from the duties of a sec
retary or administrator
would be significant," he
said. “The secretaries take
temperature and evaluate
kids and call the nurse if
warranted." Without a
nurse, school staff would
be much quicker to call par
ents to come pick up kids,
he added.
“She also has time to
document everything," said
Savage of the nurse. “We
would have to do that... We
have a lot of medications to
be given. That makes you
nervous. I can put on Band-
Aids and spray Bactine, but
when it comes down to
medical knowledge, I don’t
really have any."
For educators as much as
for students and parents,
school nurses are a source
of security. They don’t want
to find themselves, with no
medical training, forced to
administer medications,
monitor blood sugar lev
els and deal with medically
fragile children.
Some school systems
have already indicated that
they will have to cut the
school nurses. The prob
lem for those that don’t is
that they’ll face the same
dilemma next year, when
state funds are expected to
be further slashed.
— Willis Cook: A Song For Our (Troubled) Times
Cont. from Page 4A
Paulson, the falcon the
world economy and
anarchy, in the form of a
world depression, about
to cover the earth.
In Mr. Achebe's case
the great disaster was
the coming of the white
man and his destruction
of the stable, native cul
tures he found in Africa.
Whites, in the form of
missionaries and govern
ment representatives,
thought themselves so
superior to the locals
that they treated them
like children, or ani
mals. They despised the
religions, the culture
and the government
they found there and
ran roughshod over all,
leaving anarchy in their
wake.
In our day, we have
been trampled by invest
ment bankers and adven
turers who resisted any
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form of governmental
restraint and then, when
their house of cards col
lapsed around them,
had no shame in plead
ing with that despised
government to bail
them out. And our two
senators picked up their
buckets and bailed with
gusto.
Read the poem again.
Perhaps in a year or two
a contemporary poet
will write the verse that
will inform future gen
erations of our disaster.
Willis Cook is a retired
electrical engineer who was
born in New Orleans and
grew up in the Mississippi
Delta. He lives on Varner
Road in Franklin County.
Stop by my new office for a free insurance
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(706) 335-2600
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First Covenant Bank
Raises $5.3 Million
First Covenant Bank,
the parent firm of First
Commerce Bank, was given
90 days by the FDIC to
raise additional capital, or
seek a merger or sale back
in December. The bank
subsequently raised $5.3
million and now meets the
FDIC regulations, accord
ing to Bill Blanton, CEO of
the bank.
The FDIC released a list
of its December enforce
ment actions late last week,
which included a Dec.
17 “Prompt Corrective
Action Directive" for First
Covenant to seek addi
tional capital investment,
or sell itself or merge with
another institution. The
action comes based on the
bank’s Sept. 30 financial
results that indicated the
bank was not in compli
ance with regulations on
capitalization.
First Covenant operates
First Commerce Bank,
which has an office in
Commerce and a loan
production office in
Jefferson. First Covenant
Bank is headquartered in
Nor cross.
First Commerce Bank,
which was also named
nBank at one time, was
acquired by First Covenant
in 2007. The bank has total
assets of $192 million.
It is the second local
financial institution to
receive a directive from
the FDIC in the past
two months. Freedom
Bank of Georgia based
in Commerce received a
“cease and desist order"
from the FDIC Dec. 17 to
overhaul its operations.
library Begins Director Search
The Commerce Library Board began the process of
narrowing down the list of applicants for the soon-to-be-
vacant position of library director.
Susan Harper will retire Feb. 28, and the board hopes
to have a replacement before then to allow for a smooth
transition. More than 60 applications were turned in
when the city advertised for the opening.
Over 50 of those met the minimum requirements — a
four-year college degree or four years of experience,
board chairman Ann Rhoads said. A dozen of the candi
dates have degrees in library science or four to five years
of experience.
The plan is to numerically grade the resumes, with the
degree and experience as main factors. Work on that was
to begin at a called meeting Tuesday evening. Ultimately,
the board expects to call in three to five of the top appli
cants for interviews.
Mentor Training Offered Feb. 19
Commerce Middle School will host a mentor training
session for the Lindsay’s Legacy Mentoring Program
Thursday, Feb. 19. Hours are 9:00-10:15 a.m.
To RSVP, contact Lisa Stephens at 706-410-5525 or via
email at jacksonmentors@yahoo.com.
Potential mentors agree to spend at least two hours
a month in-school with their student as a role model
and caring friend. Mentors must attend one training
session, complete the application and pass a criminal
background check.
Lindsay’s Legacy serves all three school systems in
Jackson County.
Idea Swap Planned
Lindsay’s Legacy Mentoring Program will host a men
tor idea swap from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at
the Jackson EMC auditorium.
The “after hours" event will include light snacks, sodas,
and a chance to meet and share ideas with other men
tors.
“We now have almost 200 mentors participating with
Lindsay’s Legacy Mentoring Program," said coordinator
Lisa Stephens. “We will be sharing ideas of things that
are working, ideas for things to do with your student and
providing a chance for you to network with other men
tors in your area."
RSVP to Stephens at 706-410-5525 or jacksonmentors@
yahoo.com.
FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH,
YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS!
Let your members know when your group is meeting!
Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in... • The Jackson Herald < The Commerce Mews
' The Braselton Mews • Tie Banks County Mews • The Madison County Journal
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Mission
Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m.,
Wed. 12:10 p.m.
Parish Council meetings: 2nd Sunday of the month
after 11:00 mass
Ash Wed. Mass at 12:10 p.m. and
Communion Service at 7:00 p.m.
First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-335-2622 Pd.02/09
Georgia Real Estate Investors
Association, Inc. - Athens
Meets the third Thursday each month
6:30 pm at the UGA Conferen ce Center
1197 South Lumpkin Street,
Athens, GA 30601
Tom Hewlett - Chapter President
thewlettl@charter.net Pd. 12/09
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pd.-07/09
Citizens Organized for
Pipeline Safety
investigating the health risks to citizens from
underground pipelines and booster stations in
Madison Co. Meetings 6:30 p.m. at the Colbert
Grove Baptist Church the 2nd Thurs. of each
month. 706-783-4702. Pd.04/09
,g% JEFFERSON
ip AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 3io
White Plains Baptist Church Pd 02/09
Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning
at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers
become friends and friends become family.
706-367-5650
White Plains Baptist Church
3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549
The Jackson Co. Republican Party
Would like you to meet us for
breakfast the second Sat. of each
month, 8:00 at The Jefferson
House. For more information, call
706-652-2967 or email
fishyglass@yahoo.com paii/os
BANKS COUNTY
fj§ AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.oe/09
HI VETERANS OF
IP FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4th Tuesdasy, 7:00 p.m.
Lamar Langston, Commander
Phone 706-652-2627 res
JEFFERSON EIONS CEUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m.-(706) 387-1156
Mack Cates, President
542
A UNITY LODGE
F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. *(706) 367-7696
Gina Mitsdarffer, President
547