Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016
THE COMMERCE NEWS • THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 9A
Social
Still time to sign up
for reading program
There are still two
weeks left to earn prizes
and make it to the fin
ish line in the rest of the
summer reading program
at the Commerce Public
Library. It has been excit
ing for staff to see how
many patrons are partic
ipating, but even more
exciting has been the
extraordinary number of
books being read.
June statistics show 500
more books checked out
this year. Don’t forget that
teens and children have
a chance to win a Kindle
at the end of the summer,
thanks to donations by
the Friends of the Com
merce Library Group.
Teens earn that raffle
chance by reading and
reporting on their books
while every younger child
who makes it to the finish
line will also receive a
raffle ticket. The Friends
have made special read
ing T-shirts available for
purchase, as well. A pic
ture of these shirts has
been posted on Face-
book, but patrons can
stop by the library to see
one.
Healthcare Navigator
On Wednesday, July 20,
from 1 to 4 p.m., a Health
care representative will be
at the library to answer
questions about the
Affordable Care Act. The
navigator is also available
by e-mail or telephone if
patrons are not able to
make it in on this date.
Pokemon Club
A new program sug
gested by a young patron,
Pokemon Club, will meet
on Wednesday, July 20,
from 2 to 3 p.m. Partici
pants should bring their
cards, games and DS,
and expect to make new
friends.
Children’s Programs
•Fitness Fridays - 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout
the summer
•Kidsercize - Wednes
day, July 20, at 10:30 a.m.
•Magic Card Play for
Teens - Thursday, July 21,
from 4 to 6 p.m.
•Chess Club - Thurs
day, July 21, at 6 p.m.
• Bedtime Stories -
Thursday, July 21, at 6 p.m.
Flower design presentation
Roy Lawler of The Enchanted Florist and Gifts presented a program to
library patrons on Thursday, July 6, in which he demonstrated several
design styles for modern entertaining and created both a contemporary and
a traditional flower arrangement.
Lucky in raffle
JoAnne Shore, last week’s adult raffle winner, is pictured with new library
staff member Warwick Armstrong. Shore won a mini ice cream cake. Adults
are encouraged to continue reading for additional raffle entries as prizes
for them will continue to be drawn through Labor Day, the traditional end
of summer.
Zika virus making
headlines, but West
Nile vims may be
more prevalent
BY MERRITT
MELANCON
University of Georgia
With its shocking impact
on babies and mothers,
the Zika virus has gotten a
lot of attention. However,
some entomologists look
ing at the current, abnor
mally dry weather are con
cerned that another mos
quito-borne illness could
become a threat later this
summer.
Climatically, the stage
has been set for West
Nile virus to spread later
this summer, said Elmer
Gray, a public health ento
mologist with University
of Georgia Cooperative
Extension.
The northern half of
Georgia experienced
extremely dry or drought
conditions throughout
June. That dry weath
er has suppressed some
mosquito populations,
but it may be setting the
state up for late summer’s
southern house mosqui
toes, which carry the West
Nile virus.
Despite their name,
southern house mos
quitoes don’t breed in
homes. They prefer the
stagnant waters and sta
ble temperatures of storm
drain systems and catch
basins, Gray said.
During non-drought
periods, southern house
mosquito eggs and larvae
are washed out of storm
drains by frequent rain
fall. But when rainfall is
scarce, the eggs are left
to develop in the stagnant
water that often stands in
catch basins and storm
drains.
During times of drought,
public health experts and
entomologists often see
an uptick in southern
house mosquito popula
tions and cases of West
Nile virus.
In 2012, during the
state’s last prolonged and
serious drought, Geor
gia saw 117 cases of West
Nile virus, more than four
times as many as report
ed in 2011, according to
the Georgia Department of
Public Health.
Southern house mosqui
toes are most active — and
West Nile virus transmis
sion is most common —
during late summer and
early fall, with the period
from August 15 to Septem
ber 15 being the historical
peak of the transmission
season.
About 80 percent of
people infected with West
Nile virus show no symp
toms. A small population
of those infected will
experience body and joint
aches, rashes, vomiting
and diarrhea, according
to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Of those patients becom
ing ill, some will experi
ence an inflammation of
the brain and surround
ing tissue, causing neu
rological symptoms with
recovery periods lasting
weeks or months. Older
Georgians are much more
likely to become seriously
ill from West Nile virus.
Since families are often
not able to control the
nearby population of
southern house mosqui
toes, they need to protect
themselves from bites by
using repellents, includ
ing DEET; wearing light
weight, long-sleeved shirts
and pants; and making
sure their houses are fit
ted with working window
screens.
For more information
about mosquitoes in Geor
gia, visit ent.uga.edu/
pubs/mosquitos.htm.
Merritt Melancon is a
news editor with the Uni
versity of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Envi
ronmental Sciences.
•Baby & Me - Friday,
July 22, at 10:30 a.m.
For Adults
• Book Vine Book Club
- Friday, July 15, at 1 p.m.
•ESL Class - Saturday,
July 16, at 11 a.m.
• Adult Coloring - Satur
day, July 16, at 1 p.m.
•Yoga - Monday, July
18, at 6 p.m.
•Healthcare Navigator
- Wednesday, July 20, 1-4
p.m.
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...
Announcements
Gaus party
benefits
food bank
Turning 85 was not only
fun for Claire Gaus, but it was
profitable for the Banks-Jack-
son Food Bank as well.
Gaus’ “party for a pur
pose” June 5 was a combi
nation birthday celebration
and fundraiser. It turned out
far better than Gaus had
expected.
Guests were asked rather
than bringing gifts, to bring
checks made out to the Food
Bank of Northeast Georgia,
which serves 14 local coun
ties, including Jackson and
Banks. From the outset, the
plan was to give a third of
any money raised to the
Banks-Jackson Food Bank in
Commerce.
“As of last week, the total
was $6,000,” Gaus reported.
“That’s enough to provide
24,000 meals. Of that, $2,000
is going to the Banks-Jackson
Food Bank. That’s enough
to provide 8,000 meals. Our
local food bank was provid
ed for.”
The Food Bank of North
east Georgia will give the
local food bank a $2,000
credit. The Banks-Jackson
Food Bank buys most of its
food from the regional food
bank.
“I am more than thrilled,”
Gaus continued. “It exceed
ed my expectations. The
generosity of people is out
standing.”
The drop-in event in the
family fellowship center of
the First Baptist Church of
Commerce attracted well
over 100 people.
Free
summer
meals
offered
Banks County School
Nutrition will operate the
Seamless Summer Food Pro
gram through July 21.
The Seamless Summer
Food Program provides free
meals/snacks to students
in Banks County ages 18
years of age and under. The
BCHS cafeteria will be open
for walk-ins for breakfast
and lunch Monday through
Thursday.
Additional sites where
meals will be provided, but
not limited to, are the Banks
County Public Library, Banks
County Recreation Depart
ment and various other orga
nizations promoting chil
dren’s activities throughout
the county.
Breakfast will be available
from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
and lunch from 11:30 a.m. -
12:30 p.m., Monday through
Thursday.
Our goal is to provide as
many summer meals as pos
sible to the students of Banks
County. Adult meals may
also be purchased at the
high school: breakfast will
be $2 and lunch will be $3.
If you have any questions
or need more information,
please contact nutrition
director Stacey Morgan or
nutrition assistant Rachel Nix
at 706-677-2224.
•The Jackson Herald
•The Commerce News
•The Braselton News
•The Banks County News
•The Madison County Journal
|§|. JEFFERSON 310
yv’AMERICAN LEGION
Post 56 • Each 3rd Tues., 6:30 p.m.
Gene Bennett, Commander
Phone (706) 757-2288
www.albertgordonpost56.org
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. *(727) 488-4100
Joseph Morgan, President
Pilot Club of Jefferson
Meets 3rd Tuesday of
each month, 6:30pm
Jefferson City Clubhouse
706-367-9313 or
706-693-4715 76 4
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historical
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pa. 8
UNITY LODGE
F & A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1 st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Tom Hays • 678-316-7492
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
Tri-County
Shrine Club
" Thurs. of each month • 7 p.m.
Rockwell Lodge 191
For more info contact
Lonnie 770-503-5949 pa, 121
19562 JEFFERSON AREA
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
www.jaba-ga.org
Meets 3rd Thurs. • 11:45 a.m.
Jefferson City Clubhouse
302 Longview Drive
JACKSON COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Meetings at 6:30 p.m.
I .^August 18 & October 20
Jefferson City
^ Clubhouse
I Meeting is open to all who wish to attend. I
706-367-4361 Pd 12
ATHENS AMERICAN"
• LEGION
Post 20
Meets each 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m.
Thomas W. Remar, Post Commander
Home (706) 549-2799 • Cell (630) 886-1936
email: TKRemar@aol.com pd. 12
THE MADISON COUNTY RETIRED |
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
meets September - June on the second Tuesday
of the month at 11 a.m. at the Ila Restaurant in
Ila. There is no local meeting in July and August.
President: Karol Scarborough
678-617-4101 pa. 7
- . Pci. 1/i /
Madison County
Democratic Party
Conolus Scott Jr. ~ Committee Chairman
706-789-3336
Meeting fourth Sat. of each month.
I Madison Co. Govt. Complex Office Meeting Room
www.madisoncountygademocrats.org
ROCKWELL M 517 1
LODGE F& A.M.
No. 191, Hoschton, GA
2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
www.rockwelllodgel 91 .com
Two blocks behind Larry’s Garage
West Broad at Hall Street
* BANKS COUNTY
m AMERICAN LEGION |
• Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 p,j. 12
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 693-7087
Ronnie Moore, President ,,,
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Mission
Mass Schedule: Fri. 9 a.m., Sat. 4:00 p.m.,
Sun. 11:00 a.m., Thurs. 12:10 p.m.
First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-367-7220 „„ „
A BANKS COUNTY
IH AMERICAN LEGION
“ AUXILIARY-Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In the American Legion Building
at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy.,
Homer, GA pu. 5/17
Call
(706) 367-5233
for all your
printing needs!