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About The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2016)
PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016 A birthday Claire Gaus celebrates a milestone by raising money for the food bank 'Party with a Purpose' With the honoree Judy Crocker, left, and Susan Harper, right, congratulate Claire Gaus during the Sunday celebration of her 85 th birthday, which was a fundraiser for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. As she approached her 85th birthday Claire Gaus of Com merce wanted to do something special to mark that milestone. She did. With the help of her wide circle of friends and family she raised over $4,000 for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia by holding a “Party with a Purpose” Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Commerce. Guests were invited not to offer gifts or cards, but to make donations to the food bank. Gaus explained her “crazy lady idea” to attendees. “Being 85 is such a gift,” she told the crowd, “and my heart was so full of gratitude. I thought, ‘what can I do to express my gratitude?’” A supporter of the food bank, she came up with the idea of a “Party with a Purpose” — the purpose being to support the food bank. Eating at Huck’s Cafe one day last February, she ran the idea by Rev. Carlton Allen, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Commerce, and Rev. David Bowen, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, who were seated nearby planning their schedule of Lenten activities. “Carlton offered the fellowship hall,” Gaus said. Pretty soon, she had a volunteer band and a volunteer clown. “It just mushroomed from there,” she said. “Everybody has supported me in making a significant donation to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.” Several dozen people attended. Others, who could not attend, sent checks to the food bank. “So many people in this room have become so much a part of my life and filled my life with love,” said Gaus, who volunteers at the Commerce Public Library, owns a therapy dog that visits the library and area nursing homes and who is known as Mrs. Claus during Christmas events. For the Party with a Purpose, those friends donated and pre pared food and decorations and organized the Sunday event, which featured games and other activities — in addition to an abundance of cookies, sandwiches, chips, a cake and other refreshments. Among the decorations were drawings from children about what those kids would do if they knew someone was hungry. Finding his fortune Willis Cook learns his fortune Sunday afternoon during Claire Gaus’ “Party with a Purpose” that raised more than $4,000 for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia in conjunction with the celebra tion of Gaus’ 85th birthday. “It made people aware there are hungry people all over, espe cially in Northeast Georgia,” Gaus told her friends. “If you are aware Explaining the concept Claire Gaus explains to attendees of her “Party with a Purpose” how she came to use her 85th birthday as a means of expressing her gratitude by raising funds for the Foodbank of Northeast Georgia. of the need for donations to the food bank, it’s all been worth it. It was a party with a purpose. I think this is a pretty good purpose.” Send in the clowns Randall Wardlaw and David Sanders clowned around at Claire Gaus’ “Party with a Purpose” Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Commerce. The event raised funds for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Recognized by chamber Banks County Chamber Convention and Visitors Bureau presented $500 to Dr. Faith Simpson, assistant principal at Banks County High School (third from left), and Lynn Warren, CTAE Work Based Learning Teacher (far right). The award was presented by Mary Greenwood chamber chairman (second from left), and Alicia Andrews, chamber director of member services (far left). The funds will be used for frames for the “CTAE Hall of Fame” Please Recycle This Newspaper Commissioners fill vacancies on volunteer boards Five people were appointed to various coun ty boards at Monday night’s meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commis sioners. Jimmy Mock and Tina Brooks were reappointed to the Jackson County Board of Assessors for three-year terms. Jim Shaw was reappoint ed to the Northeast Geor gia Regional Commission board of directors for a three-year term. Ronnie Norris was reap pointed to a three-year term on the Jackson County Water & Sewerage Author ity. Jim Smith was also appointed to the JCW&SA to a three-year term. Other Business In other business the commissioners reviewed three items to be voted on at the board’s June 20 meeting: • an update to the coun ty’s payroll policies. • a resolution to accept $40,000 from the state’s Hazardous Waste Trust Fund. • A plan to have CIV- ICPLUS redesign the coun ty’s website at a cost of $35,960 paid over a four- year period. Headmaster’s Comer by Steve Cummings REMEMBERING D-DAY - Monday, June 6, marked the 72nd anniversary of D-Day. Nearly 160,000 troops landed along the Normandy coastline on June 6, 1944 - a day that turned the tide for the Allied forces. Not by accident, the weath er played a crucial role in the invasion. Low clouds, winds, and high seas led many Ger mans to believe that an attack was not possible. As a result, dozens of German command ers were away from their posts when the largest seaborne in vasion in history began on five French beachheads. At Athens Christian, we not only teach the facts of history, but we also teach how a sov ereign God directs the course of HIS STORY. ATHENS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL “Affordable Quality Education Since 1970" K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586 www.athenschristian.com
