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About The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2016)
PAGE 8B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016 School Volunteeers, staff get school 'excellence' awards What do English bulldogs, yarn, young farmers and spe cial education services have in common? All represent a contri bution to Jackson County School System as recog nized in the Excellence in Service Award, presented monthly by the Jackson County Board of Education. MORRISONS Herb and Teresa Morrison have volunteered weekly for eight years as members of the Benton Elementary School Puppy Pal Program, bringing their French bull dogs, registered therapy dogs, to the school. “Teachers select two stu dents from their class to read to the dogs,” according to Judith Gault, the school’s family engagement special ist, who nominated the cou ple. The Morrisons have creat ed bookmarks with the dogs’ photos and a thank-you mes sage for work with the “lis tening dogs,” Choya, Striker, Mac or Serena. “Whether they are non-readers and tell the dogs the story of the book using picture cues, read their sight words, or read a chapter of their favorite book, students love reading to the dogs,” Gault said. “The dogs are nonjudgmental and are patient listeners who some times even give the readers a kiss, and the students work hard to earn their time with their Puppy Pal.” The Morrisons also vol unteer as judges for various contests, donate supplies every year, donate time and materials to school festivals, and represented Santa and an elf Dec. 2 for Benton’s “Mingle with Kringle” event. “The Morrisons’ children attended Benton and they have fond memories of their experiences there,” Gault said in her nomination. LOCKWOOD AND MIMS Debbie Mintz, a teacher at East Jackson Comprehen sive High School, nominated Adriane Lockwood, human resource specialist, and Russ Mims, plant manager, at Buhler Quality Yarns Inc., in Jefferson, praising their com mitment to helping students earn money while they learn work ethics and life skills. Mintz said a number of students at risk of dropping out of school had worked at the plant over the last several years. Students must keep an 80 percent average in their classes and take life skills classes twice a month, Mintz explained. “One of the life skills classes helps students understand the importance of saving, and they require students to put $25 out of each paycheck into a savings account,” Mintz said. The company starts the students at $8 an hour and gives them raises as they learn their jobs. Any sus pensions or absences from school mean students are not allowed to work those days. “Adrian and Russ instill high standards within our students that will go with them a lifetime,” Mintz said. WHITWORTH The Morrisons, Lockwood and Mims were joined by Josh Whitworth, who was unable to attend the Novem ber recognition. Jackson County’s Young Farmer Advisor was nomi nated by the parent of a stu dent, who said Whitworth’s “connections to kids and passion for excellence with the Jackson County livestock program continue to put the livestock program on top year after year.” The nominator, who chose to remain anony mous, said he had “person ally watched my son, and all the other livestock kids, grow in confidence and character, along with learning how to win and lose.” Pointing out that Whit worth’s livestock teams combine with students from EJCHS and Jackson Coun ty Comprehensive High School, and the county’s Whitworth honored Josh Whitworth, Jackson County schools’Young Farmer advisor, is honored for Excellence in Service. He is with Dr. Selena Blankenship, human resources director for the county schools, at the December board meeting. > , step J' ■ 4 /frbTf Buhler reps recognized Adriane Lockwood, human resource specialist, center, and Russ Mims, plant manager, at Buhler Quality Yarns Inc. in Jefferson, were among those honored for Excellence in Service by Dr. Selena Blankenship, HR director for the county schools. two middle schools and those from the Commerce city schools, the nomina tor noted, “you would think they all went to the same school every day and were best friends. They all come together as one.” “Whitworth has taught these kids to win as a team, that we all represent Jack- son County, and every kid is proud of one another’s indi vidual accomplishments,” he wrote. SMITH The other November honoree, Jennie Smith of the JCSS special education team, was recognized when the board met Nov. 14. Describing her as “the backbone of the Jackson County Special Education Department,” the nomina tor said Smith is “a support to every special education teacher in the district.” “She answers hundreds of questions weekly, she pro vides feedback to teachers on using Infinite Campus, completing full-time-enroll- ment records, and filling out various documents,” said the nominator. “...She sup 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 News •The Braselton News •The Banks County News •The Madison County Journal JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m. • (706) 387-7416 Sam McDuffie, President Pilot Club of Jefferson Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm Jefferson City Clubhouse 706-367-9313 or 706-693-4715 12625 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 M9/17 UNITY LODGE F&A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Tom Hays *678-316-7492 Borders St. behind Tabo’s 1037 |f| JEFFERSON 12619 '• 'AMERICAN LEGION Post 56 • Each 3rd Tues., 6:30 p.m. Gene Bennett, Commander Phone (706) 757-2288 www.albertgordonpost56.org 12620 JEFFERSON AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION www.jaba-ga.org Meets 3rdThurs. • 11:45 a.m. Jefferson City Clubhouse 302 Longview Drive 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: Ellen Cowne 770-468-3334 Pd . 9/17 ATHENS AMERICAN LEGION Post 20 Meets each 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m. Harry Evans, Post Commander Phone (706) 362-0259 • Post Phone (706) 296-0979 Pd. 12 Pd. 1/1/ 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.rockwelllodge191 .com Two blocks behind Larry’s Garage West Broad at Hall Street % BANKS COUNTY p AMERICAN LEGION | Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 pd.9/17 i JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday 12623 1 Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. • (706) 693-7087 Ronnie E. Moore Sr., 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 ,, BANKS COUNTY S AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY-Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In the American Legion Building at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy., Homer, GA Pd. 5/17 Hoschton Area Business Alliance www.habageorgia.com | Meets 3rd Tuesday * 8 a.m. Hoschton Train Depot 4219 Hwy. 53 i 2 608 Tri-County w Shrine Club 3 rd Thurs. of each month *7 p.m. Rockwell Lodge 191 JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meetings at 6:30 p.m. January 19, 2017 Jefferson City Clubhouse Meeting is open to all who wish to attend. I 706-367-4361 Pd. 12 ports each special education administrator by fielding and screening phone calls and completing a plethora of tasks daily. “Jennie’s work ethic is impeccable; even in the midst of chaos, she main tains a positive attitude,” her nominator wrote. Any member of the com munity can nominate an individual or group associat ed with JCSS schools for the award, which is presented Morrisons recognized Selena Blankenship, Jackson County School System human resources director, left, and Judith Gault, family engagement specialist at Benton Elementary School, right, honored Herb and Teresa Morrison and two of their therapy dogs at the Dec. 12 meeting of the Board of Education. monthly. The nomination form is available online at www.bit. ly/JCSS_ESA. Nominators must provide their names and email addresses for ver ification purposes, but they may choose to remain anon ymous when the winners are announced. Nominations should range from 150 to 300 words and should be submitted by the 25th of each month. Special ed Jennie Smith was honored for her work in special education. Great Careers Begin Here Happy New Year from the Lanier Tech family! 4 4 /;».% • r v - "If* ® t jfc .■ •' " IB- 1 ^ * i*. - L MER Technical 1 ^ l ol 1 pcrp « ** f * j/; 1 * #? . 4 ri www.laniertech.edu 770.533.7000 *eoi For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at http: //www.l aniertech .edu/ GE .aspx. O. O
