Newspaper Page Text
The Millen News, Wednesday, February 4, 2009 — Page 3
Jim Hite
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Item: 503,000 workers lost their jobs in November, 2008, big
gest monthly employment decline in 34 years.
Item: Thirty states have nearly exhausted unemployment ben
efit funds; Indiana and Michigan already have.
Item: Unemployment ranged above 7% nationwide, over 12%
if discouraged and part-time workers are included.
Item: Jenkins County unemployment is above 11%, second in
Georgia.
Item: 1.2 million jobs have been lost since the beginning of
the recession in December, 2007; three million are projected to
be lost by mid-2009.
The source for the above is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, for Jenkins County The Millen News.
And I am sure all of you can add to this list from your own
knowledge and/or experience.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the impressions that one can
have from media reports during the same period.
The U.S. auto industry is in trouble and seeks millions/billions
from the U.S. government. The U.S. banking industry is in trouble
and seeks millions/billions from the U.S. government.
The U.S. housing market is collapsing and seeking millions/
billions from the U.S. government.
And the list goes on. You get the idea.
However, let’s look at some addenda to the above. Auto indus
try executives come to Washington to seek this financial aid in
executive jets. Industry, Banking, and Wall Street firms’ execu
tives come to Washington to seek this financial aid while giving
millions to the CEOs whose leadership contributed to the crisis.
These same business institutions cut thousands of jobs and give
their leaders raises and million-dollar severance packages.
Again, the list goes on.
Here’s a final news item about corporate greed seeking mil-
Farm & Home
lions of taxpayer dollars. This time, it’s from the world of sport.
Since 1992 when the Baltimore Orioles soaked taxpayers for
Camden Yards, baseball owners have received public funding
(read: taxpayer money) to build new parks of their own. The lat
est include the new stadiums for both the Mets and the Yankees.
According to New York City’s Independent Budget Office, a
quarter billion dollars is being sought to complete the Mets’ new
digs.
But let’s zero in on the Yankees, avoiding anything in Joe Torre’s
new book.
The Yankees recently signed C.C. Sabathia, MarkTeixeira and
A.J. Burnett for some $423.5 million. The team’s generosity seems
to have left it short of cash, for the team ownership is now seek
ing $259 million in tax-exempt bonds on top of $940 million
received so far to pay for a state-of-the-art big screen and finish
the luxury suites.
Did you read this? They paid nearly a half-billion to three play
ers who have enjoyed multi-million dollar contracts in years pre
vious, yet seek over a quarter billion from taxpayers for luxury
boxes!
Anything wrong with this picture?
Maybe it’s all in how you look at this, but think. The unem
ployment rate is at a 16-year high, jobs are being lost at the fast
est rate since WW II, cities and states are struggling for enough
money to provide even the most basic services.
Maybe C.C., Mark, and A.J. could donate to the cause - don’t
hold your breath!
So in New York today, you (the taxpayer and fan) can get a 20-
game ticket for $7,000 a seat. Or you can take a family of four to
the game for just under $2,000, not including food, drinks and
souvenirs.
And that’s in a stadium you’re already paying for!
Ag Line: Time to Soil Sample
By Wade Parker
County Extension Coordinator
Why is my grass dying? I have fielded that question many
times! If you are having trouble with your yard or even an agri
cultural crop, taking a soil sample is a good place to start in
trying to fix the problem.
The results of soil sample(s) will tell us the level of nutrients
in the soil. You will know how much Phosporus, Potassium,
Calcium, etc., is available and you will find out what the soil
pH is. If your pH is too low or too high, then the available
nutrients will be restricted. The results of the soil sample will
tell you exactly how much fertilizer and lime need to be ap
plied.
The winter is the most ideal time to pull a soil sample. I say
this because it takes approximately six months for any applied
lime to react. In other words, if you pull a soil sample and the
pH is 5.0, then you must apply 50 lbs of lime/sqft. This will
allow plenty of time to correct the problem. Applying fertilizer
does not take this long to react, but you still need time to do any
nutrient planning.
The results of a soil sample are no better than the technique
used to pull it. In other words, if you don’t use the proper pro-
College will retain ‘Southeastern Technical College 1 as name
The Boards of Directors of
Southeastern Technical College
and Swainsboro Technical Col
lege held a joint meeting on
Thursday, Jan. 22, to discuss the
merger between the two col
leges. Held at Swainsboro
Tech’s campus, the boards
voted unanimously to retain the
name ‘Southeastern Technical
College.’
“I am convinced our commu
nities will see a spirit of unity
as we move forward to insure
our combined efforts are finan
cially effective and academi
cally sound,” said Lisa Adams,
chairman of Southeastern Tech
nical College’s Board of Direc
tors. "Our combined boards felt
the name Southeastern Techni
cal College would provide the
regional identity we needed for
the merged service area. We are
satisfied this merger will ben
efit both communities and the
students we serve. We all know
that change can be challenging,
but our combined boards and
administration are doing every
thing possible to make sure any
changes are in the best interest
of the people we serve. We are
in the business of personal de
velopment and our goal is to
make an even greater impact on
our communities than we could
have each done separately.”
“Given the knowledge of
costs andjob savings, members
of Swainsboro Technical
College’s Board of Directors all
agreed to Southeastern Techni
cal College as the name for the
new combined colleges.” said
Kenny Griffin, chairman of
Swainsboro Technical
College’s Board of Directors.
The merged college will
serve Candler, Emanuel,
Jenkins, Johnson, Montgomery,
Tattnall, Toombs and Treutlen
counties. The two colleges will
officially merge on Wednesday,
BI-LO donates to Jenkins County Family Enrichment
Jenkins County Family En
richment Center (JCFEC) will
be receiving $414.87 from BI-
LO Charities to support their
efforts for all families in Jenkins
County to be educated, thriving
and self-sufficient.
This year, the BI-LO Charity
Classic Golf Tournament cel
ebrated its 25 th anniversary and
raised a record-breaking $5.6
million. JCFEC is one of sev
eral organizations in the com
munity that have been chosen
to be a beneficiary.
For all that JCFEC does to
make the community a better
place; BI-LO Charities has
awarded them a $414.87 grant.
JCFEC plans to use this fund
ing to help increase the high
school graduation rate, decrease
the number of students retained,
decrease teen pregnancy, de
crease truancy, decrease inci
dents of child abuse and/or ne
glect and increase the number
of individuals to become Certi
fied Work Ready.
“We are proud to be a part of
the Charity Classic tournament,
which gives us the ability to
support some of the most vital
organizations in our commu
nity, and we are honored to
award grants to organizations
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cedure, the results will be skewed. The actual soil sample should
be taken with a soil probe. A soil probe is a long galvanized
cylinder that is pushed into the soil with a handle. The probe
should be inserted into the soil approximately six inches and
once the probe contains soil, the soil should be emptied into a
plastic bucket. Do not use an aluminum or galvanized bucket,
as these will lead to metal contamination. In a yard setting, I
would probe several areas of the yard. Once you have sampled
several areas, empty the soil into a sample bag.
The Extension Office has everything you need to pull a soil
sample. We have a probe that can be loaned and the sample
bags. The turn around time for soil samples is usually 4-5 days.
If you bring in five or more samples, the cost is $7/sample. The
cost for 1-4 is $8/sample. The variation is due to shipping costs.
Pulling a soil sample is an economical way to determine the
pH and nutrient content of a given soil. The results can also aid
in trouble shooting a problem in a yard or field. If you are inter
ested in using our soil sampling services, come by the office
and we will get you in gear!
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers edu
cational programs, assistance and materials to all people with
out regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disabil
ity.
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Members of Swainsboro
Technical College’s Board of
Directors are: Kenneth Griffin,
chairman; Jennie Wren Den
mark; Pamelia Dwight; Pam
Brantley; Wayne Herringdine,
vice chairman; Erma Jenkins;
Rhonda Norris; Richard Price;
and Don E. Wilkes. Members
of Southeastern Technical
College’s Board of Directors
are: Lisa C. Adams, chairman;
Marsha Cunningham, Andy
Kimbell, Cheryl Gay, vice
chairman; Pollyann Martin;
Martin Moses; and Charlton
Rogers.
like JCFEC, which has changed
so many lives for the better,”
said Carol Browning, director of
Bi-LO Charities.
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121 Terri Dr.
Millen, GA 30442
478-982-1824
706-871-0914
Linda.F.Bragg@mwarep.org
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