Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 18, 2009 - PAGE 3A
— County Lays Off Six
Cont. from Page 1A
ning office and handle devel
opment and erosion inspec
tions. The contract calls for
Clerici’s company to handle
the duties for up to two
months. The hourly rate will
be $85 per hour/planning
manager; $65 per hour/
senior planner; and $45 per
hour/planning tech.
Last year, the county paid
Clerici’s company $610,308
for construction manage
ment and engineering ser
vices. Clerici oversees coun
ty capital projects, includ
ing the fire training facility,
new jail, airport expansion,
senior center construction
and other bond projects. He
has an office in a county
building behind the sheriff’s
office.
Jackson County is also
paying another consultant,
David Sutton, to handle
planning-related projects.
He is overseeing the update
of the county comprehen
sive plan. In December,
the BOC agreed to pay
Sutton $65,000 this year
for that work. He was also
on the county payroll in
2008.
Hammond declined to
explain why Ethridge and
Smith are being investi
gated .
— Laid Off? Do Something
Cont. from Page 1A
that the jobless come to
Lanier Tech to take the
WorkReady assessments.
The tests can increase the
odds of getting an interview
once a company decides
to hire.
And while there are a few
jobs available, the news in
the job market is grim. In
December, Ledford said,
128,625 people applied for
benefits through the Georgia
Department of Labor — an
increase of 174 percent from
the previous December
and 72 percent more than
applied in November.
“In Jackson County, 696
people applied for benefits
in December, an increase of
300 percent over December
2007,’’ he added. That was
also an increase of 107 per
cent over November appli
cants.
And, he said, it’s going to
get worse.
“January (numbers) is
going to hit us even hard
er,’’ Ledford predicted. “I’ve
seen families, spouses come
in and break down and cry.
They just don’t know what
to do.’’
Predictions about a time
frame for recovery range
from 10 months to three
years.
For Lanier Tech, the chal
lenge is facing a declining
budget, as the state’s budget
deficit forecasts continue
to grow. While Gov. Sonny
Perdue’s working estimate
has been $2 billion, Ledford
said it’s in the $2.8-$3.1 bil
lion range. Fortunately for
the Oakwood-based school,
it’s been working since the
beginning of the fiscal year
on the assumption that
funding would be cut by 10
percent.
“Our president foresaw a
10 percent cut. We’ve been
operating that way since
the beginning of the year,’’
he said. “Other technical
schools did not.’’
Ledford calls techni
cal colleges “the best-kept
secret in Georgia’’ because
it is not widely understood
that adult education is virtu
ally free. The HOPE Grant
pays tuition and provides
a book allowance with no
grade point requirement.
The student is left paying
only a $15 application fee
and a $35 technology fee
as he or she gets trained —
or retrained — for the job
market.
—Town Hall Meeting Set
Cont. from Page 1A tial town hall meeting, the
“We will take the informa- DDA formed three commit-
tion (from the meeting), and tees — design, promotions
split the goals into commit- and economic restructur-
tee-specific areas,’’ Craver ing — that took on the vari-
said. “We will take 10-15 pri- ous tasks that came out of
ority items and work on the meeting. Participants in
them the next three years.’’ Thursday’s meeting will be
In addition to its ideas, invited to join those com-
the DDA wants the public’s mittees to help the DDA
help as well. After the ini- transform ideas into reality.
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, Feb. 19
Mentor training: 9-10:15 a.m.,
Commerce Middle School. Lind
say's Legacy provides mentoring for
children in all local school systems.
RSVP at 706-410-5525 or at jack-
sonmentors@yahoo.com.
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6 8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Town Hall Meeting: 6:00 pm,
Commerce Civic Center. Hosted by
the Downtown Development Author
ity for public input on the future of
the downtown.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. The Pilot Club of Commerce
meets on the third Thursday of each
month.
Friday, Feb. 20
The Service At Rocky Bluff: 7:30
p.m., Commerce Cultural Center. A
musical comedy by Savannah River
Productions Inc. Call 706-376-
7397 for tickets. $ 17 adults, $ 15
seniors and students and $1 2 for
groups of eight or more.
Saturday, Feb. 21
The Service At Rocky Bluff: 7:30
p.m., Commerce Cultural Center. A
musical comedy by Savannah River
Productions Inc. Call 706-376-
7397 for tickets. $ 17 adults, $ 15
seniors and students and $1 2 for
groups of eight or more.
Monday, Feb. 23
STAR Teacher/Student/Teacher
of Year reception: 5:30 p.m., La
nierTech campus, South Elm Street,
Commerce. The Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce will
honor the 2009 STARs and Teach
ers of the Year from all three school
systems.
Hospital authority meets: 1:30
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. The BJC Medical Center
Authority manages BJC Hospital
and Nursing Home.
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce Plan
ning Commission makes recom
mendations to the Commerce City
Council on zoning and other land
use matters.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7 p.m., Ryan's
Steakhouse, Banks Crossing.
Thursday, Feb. 26
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 6 pm,
Commerce Public Library. New
members are always welcome to
attend.
Beekeeping class: 6 p.m., Jack
son County Farm Bureau, U.S. 1 29
N., Jefferson. This class will help
interested persons learn essential
beekeeping skills. Free, but RSVP to
ammerk@gfb.org or at 706-367-
Needles & Hooks: 6 8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Monday, March 2
Commerce Council meets: 6:30
p.m., City Hall. This work session
prepares the city council for its regu
lar meeting the following Monday
night.
Maysville Council meets: 7:00
p.m., Maysville Public Library.
Nicholson Council meets: 7:00,
Nicholson City Hall.
Tuesday, March 3
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room. Jackson
County Community Outreach is a
grassroots community organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
Wednesday, March 4
Chamber breakfast: 7:30 am,
Jefferson Civic Center. Open to all
members of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce and
guests. $5.
Thursday, March 5
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6 8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Lodge meets: 6:30 p.m. Hudson
Lodge #294 F&AM meets at its
Hospital Road facility.
School board meets: 7:00 pm,
Commerce Primary School media
center. This work session prepares
the Commerce Board of Education
for its regular meeting the following
Monday.
Saturday, March 7
CASAblanca: 7 p.m., Commerce
Civic Center. This is the annual fund
raiser for Piedmont CASA (Court
Appointed Special Advocates). Tick
ets are $75. Call 706-387-6375.
Monday, March 9
Commerce Council meets: 6:30
p.m., Commerce Room, Commerce
Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00 pm,
Commerce High School media cen
ter. The Commerce Board of Educa
tion operates the city's independent
school system.
Tuesday, March 10
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 pm,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks Crossing.
Thursday, March 12
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quitters: 1 00 pm,
Commerce Public Library.
Needles & Hooks: 6 8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
CASA training: 6 p.m. Bentley As
sisted Living, Jefferson. This training
for the Piedmont Court Appointed
Special Advocates will continue
every Thursday through April. To
register, call Annette Raymond at
706-387-6375.
Monday, March 16
Hospital authority meets: 1:30
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. The BJC Medical Center
Authority manages BJC Hospital
and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00 pm,
Commerce Public Library. The Com
merce Library board manages the
city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC Medi
cal Center. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients and
their families.
Tuesday, March 17
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is from 5:00 to
5:50.
Thursday, March 19
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon, Com
merce Civic Center.
Needles & Hooks: 6 8 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. Open to knitters of all age
and skill levels, as well as those
who crochet.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m., First
United Methodist Church of Com
merce. The Pilot Club of Commerce
meets on the third Thursday of each
month.
Monday, March 23
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce Plan
ning Commission makes recom
mendations to the Commerce City
Council on zoning and other land
use matters.
Tuesday, March 24
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Medical Center cafeteria. Take Off
Pounds Sensibly is a weight loss
group. Weigh-in is 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7 p.m., Ryan's
Steakhouse, Banks Crossing.
— Correction —
READ THEN RECYCLE
A story in the Feb. 11 issue
of The Commerce News incor
rectly identified Archie D.
Chaney Jr. as the mayor pro
tem of Commerce.
While Chaney served
in that capacity for years,
Dusty Slater is currently the
mayor pro tem.
Chaney is the Ward 1 city
councilman. He was elected
to that position last fall.
CASH
CALL AND COMPARE
PER GRAM
706-369-0000
■n);l
ww 1
GREG REEVES
Fine Jewelry
613 Hawthorne Ave. • Athens
Crusader
RENT TO OWN
Experience the Difference.
1-888-707-5523
* * 1st Payment = $10 + processing fee. tax & Advantage Plus!
*New Name Brand Furniture, Appliances,
Computers, TVs & Much More!
*Flexible Payment Plans!
*No Credit Checks! ’•‘Lowest Price Guarantee!
*Free Same Day Delivery & Set-up!
*Rent for a Week or Own for a Lifetime!
*Take Advantage of Our Super Low Monthly
Payment Plan! If You Are Making Monthly
Payments at the competition, you are paying too much!
*90 Days Same As Cash! Better Than Layaway! Enjoy while making payments!
•This is a Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement. You will not own this merchandise until you have paid the total of all required payments according to the Con
sumer Rental-Purchase Agreement. The total number of weekly payments for NEW merchandise may be any combination of the following weekly installments:
39/52/78/91/104/130/156 weekly payments as determined by the Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement you execute. Initial payment will include periodic payment,
if applicable processing fees & taxes. I.ost/damage waiver & taxes extra. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Pictures shown arc for illustration purposes only.
Models and styles may vary by location. Merchandise may be new or previously rented. 90 days samc-as-cash available. **S 10 pays the first rental rate pay ment.
Processing fee, tax and Advantage Plus arc extra.
CASA
Cow* Appointed iptlal A.
roa CMiieaiN
Piedmont CASA Presents Its
4th Annual Casino Night Event:
Benefiting Abused and
Neglected Children in
Banks, Barrow, and Jackson
Counties
Saturday, March 7th
7:00 p.m.
Commerce Civic Center
W>,
w>,
Dinner and Mixed Drinks (cash bar) by LongHorn Steakhouse
Beer & Wine Open Bar Dancing Entry in Grand Prize Raffle
Casino Games with Professional Dealers
Surprise Giveaways All Night
l Weeklong Vacation for 4 at the
Holiday Beach Resort
Destin, Florida
Additional chances available for purchase at CASAblanca!
Tickets $75 Each
Reserved Tables of 8 $600;
$500 for CASAblanca 2008
Table Reservers
For tickets, table reservations, or
contributions to Piedmont CASA
please call 706-387-6375
or visit
www.piedmontcasa.org
Black Tie Optional