Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Page 2 — Wednesday, April 22, 2009, The Millen News Officials pass bill to restructure DHR By Anne Marie Kyzer True Citizen Staff Writer The Georgia General Assem bly recently passed a bill over hauling a state agency that af fects local residents. HB 228 reorganizes the De partment of Human Resources, which currently handles more than 80 programs ranging from food stamps and public health to assistance for the elderly and mentally ill. The new plan creates three agencies including the Depart ment of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health and the Department of Human Services. The Department of Behav ioral Health and Developmen tal Disabilities will be respon sible for all mental health, de velopmental disability and ad dictive disease programs cur rently under DHR. The Department of Commu nity Health will be reorganized to include all the public health and long-term care regulation programs of DHR. This change establishes one lead agency to focus on improving Georgia’s health and streamlines health related activities currently in two separate departments. Lastly, the Department of Human Services will handle re maining services, including programs for the aging, child support and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). “I am confident this restruc turing puts in place a frame work for a more efficient, ef fective delivery of these criti cal services,” Gov. Sonny Per due stated in a news release. Though the legislation calls for massive restructuring at the state level, a spokesperson from Gov. Perdue’s office said any potential changes in the way local offices operate have not yet been determined and would not be seen for some time. The legislation will take af fect July 1. JCES Prekindergarten registration is April 29 Jenkins County Elementary School Prekindergarten regis tration for the 2009-2010 school year will be held 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the Jenkins County Agriculture Center. Children must be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2009 in order to register. Children who are registering do not need to be present in order to regis ter. The following items are re quired for a child to register: a “certified” birth certificate, a Certificate of Immunization on Form 3231 and a Social Secu rity card (optional). Jenkins County proof of residency is also required. This can be proved with a utility bill (not cell phone) listing the residence as the service address or a rent receipt or a lease or mortgage agreement. These items “must” show a Jenkins County ad dress. Those registering who re ceive TANF or food stamps should bring a letter of eligi bility containing their client number and their card. Those who receive Medicaid or PeachCare should bring the card for the child they are reg istering. Those receiving SSI or CAPS should bring a letter of eligibility. Participation in the prekindergarten program is limited. Spaces will be filled on a first come basis based upon completion of the requirements listed above. Please call the prekindergarten office at 982- 6019 or the JCES office at 982- 5503 if you have questions. Math, science teachers to earn more pay From The True Citizen A bill passed in the General Assembly last week means more money for some math and science teachers. HB 280 starts new fully-cer tified high school math and sci ence teachers at the same sal ary as fifth year teachers. In ad dition, elementary school teach ers who earn their endorsements in math or science will receive a $1,000 annual bonus. “Our state graduated only one physics teacher last year, and we must do what we can to ensure that our students are ready to meet the challenges ahead,” Gov. Sonny Perdue stated in a news release. “I applaud the General Assembly for passing legislation to attract and retain more math and science teach ers in our schools.” The incentives will be avail able for the 2010-2011 school year, which will begin in the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget. Millen News goes to Florida The Millen News recently travelled with, from left, David Thompson, Dave Wa ters and Stanley Thompson to Palm Beach, Florida for the Barrett/Jackson Auto Sale. (Photo contributed) Dr. Bradley Day Mayor King Rocker recently signed a proclamation declar ing Saturday, April 18, as Dr. John Dorice Bradley Day in the City of Millen. The honor was bestowed upon Dr. Brad ley in recognition of his many accomplishments in the field of music. He was the first band director at Burgess Landrum High School and currently serves as the band director of the Jazz Conservatory Band at Augusta State University. (Photo contributed) Prom Specials Owner/Stylist 475.588,1475 Mon., Tim,, Thu. & Fri. 9-6 13^™^ 517 Cotton Avenue Wed, 9-12 Sat, 0:30-12 ^ Millen, Georgia 30442 < 4> W HAWK & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Victor C. Hawk Melissa Detchemendy Need Help? Call: 478-982-4226 (day) or 706-294-4447 (night) American Trial Lawyers Association Southern Trial Lawyers Association Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Office located in The Millen News Building 856 E. Cotton Ave., Millen, GA Augusta Dental Center J. Michael Scott DMD Locally Owned • We accept Cash, Visa, MC, Discover, AmEx, GA Medicaid Simple Extraction $35.00 Surgical Extraction $75.°° Partials Starting @ $395.°° Dentures - Full Economy Set Starting at $350.°° Porcelain Crowns $495.°° Full Mouth X-Ray $35.°° IMMEDIATE DENTURES • Teeth Extracted • Dentures or Partials immediately • You never go without your teeth • All Surgery & Extractions done in our office Open Mon-Fri 7:30 AM No Appointment Necessary 12th & Greene St. Downtown Augusta (across from Greyhound) Fees Valid Thru 2/28/09 706-721-4288 | Modern Woodmen FRATFRMAL FINANCIAL four tofog Jrvpj, Securing futures* Doesn't your family deserve the best for their financial future? Work with j representative wbo helps families reach l heir fiinmcinijuals. Donations needed for JCMS class trip Jenkins County Middle transportation on a chartered There are currently 20 re- School teachers are currently bus. a tour of the Martin Luther maining seats. Eighth grade accepting donations for the end King Center, a guided tour of teachers must receive the full of the year eighth-grade class the state capitol, lunch at Ryans $35 by Friday, May 1, in order trip to Atlanta. The trip is set and a guided tour of Under- to secure a seat. Any remain- for Friday May 22. The cost of ground Atlanta entitled “From ing seats will then be offered the trip is $35. This includes Civil War To Civil Rights”. to seventh-grade students. It’s time to sign up for Project WINGS Wildlife Incentives for Non game and Game Species (WINGS) is a grant program administered by the local Natu ral Resource Conservation Ser vice (NRCS) office and Two Rivers RC&D. In the past, the program was funded by Georgia’s three major utilities; Georgia Power, Georgia Trans- mission Corporation and MEAG. Savannah Electric and Atlanta Gas Light have joined project WINGS. Atlanta Gas Light represents the first gas utility in the nation to offer wildlife grants specific to gas line rights-or way. (Gas utili ties prohibit the use of non-rub ber tired equipment and specify tillage not to exceed 6 inches in depth). Individuals and groups are encouraged to participate. Since the project’s initial 18 county pilot effort in 1996, Project WINGS has become a statewide program that has pro vided over $2.5 million in pri vate grants to over 2,500 par ticipants who have converted nearly 17,000 acres to produc tive wildlife habitat. Contract length is three years with a maximum payment amount of $1500.00 per participant. To sign up, call or visit the NRCS office in Millen located at 837 College Avenue. The sign up period runs from May 15 until July 15. Phone: (478) 982- 4058 extension 3. Sheriffs Corner Jenkins County Sheriff Rob ert Oglesby, last Thurs day, began his required “Po lice Academy.” In order to maintain arrest powers, all newly elected sheriffs in the State of Georgia whom are not already POST certified, are re quired to attend “Basic Man date Training” at an accredited police academy within the first six months they are in office. Sheriff Oglesby ap plied to and was accepted at the GPSTC Regional Police Academy in Augusta. He at tended orientation and began training classes last Thursday. The POST (Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Train ing Council) required training consists of classroom, physi cal training, use of force train ing, firearms training, EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Opera tions), State Criminal Law, Civil Liability and numerous other topics required of today’s peace officer. The 408 hours of mandated training last for approximately 10 weeks. Sheriff Oglesby tells The Millen News that he apolo gizes for any inconvenience that his having to attend this training may cause. He said, “I would really rather be in Jenkins County, being the sheriff, than sitting in a classroom in Augusta. I have to do this because the law requires it, and I am learning a lot that will help me do my job better.” Sheriff Oglesby said that the rules of the academy prohibit him from using the telephone during the time he is in training. He asks that anyone needing to contact him call the Sheriff’s Office at 982-4211 or 982-1570, leave him a mes sage, and he will return calls each evening when he returns to the office after class. Correction The name of Warded Lewis, (478) 982-4602, was inadvert ently omitted as a contact per son in an article appearing in last week’s edition for Men of Integ rity. The Millen News regrets the error. We offt’rytak'rr^iMjiartt’ialserves. As a fraternal, we also provide meuibiT benefits to mrirli your family and (ommutiliT. Cali im],it in learn more* President’s Club Linda Bragg, FIC 121 Terri Dr. Millen, GA 30442 478-982-1824 706-871-0914 Linda.F.Bragg@mwarep.org k _ Final Liquidation of Remaining Lots of Carlton Oaks Subdivision Bulloch/Jenkins Co. Line * Statesboro, GA Saturday ~ May 9 - 10:00 A.M. Secluded Country Living Minutes from Statesboro & Millen/ Paved roads Wooded and open lots Conveniently located to Statesboro and Millen Established community Protective covenants llim-a Ktiyi'i A Premium Added. lLP'o Duwin on .lurLiiuji 'day: balajicr J up on «rr tirffi vy* 3IS iliiy-s or at riiwiet^,. Will be offered in parcels f combinations T Si as a whole ~ Auctluti wilt in 1 iit-iii un property -- Fitiiri Si siU'jljuru. Pphvh. 1 I but Hi on Hivy 2? (o 11 ll j liuIltKliXJeittLiiis Co. Property is un lIil- Left. For tnoit- info a prlvuit KhnwLtig Call Toll Fixe: 1 Stiti 232 rtrt£tn£ze AtrerEOW & Kit at. rY eo. P.O. K<J,\ I 43H - H1 uU'sl.'Ui LL, A 3045P p 1.2) 63 l FhJc <91 2} tiS 1 -S$?7 O A.I. 19/S C AI„ «003K!eR - V ;. „ v Visil uui WflpsiU 1 ill >vww.pci Iipp [limi'. vsiuctiuip.pjuii■