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VOL. 106, NO. 2, JULY 29, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS Good Morning America! The Millen News recently traveled to the set of Good Morning America (GMA) in New York City. Shown, from left are Angie Lane, Teresa Ellison, GMA host Robin Roberts, Jennifer Oglesby and Haley Anderson. (Photo contributed) Businesses asked to participate in work program By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Local businesses and organi zations are currently being re cruited to participate in a work program funded with Federal stimulus money that may soon put 35 unemployed citizens back to work temporarily. The East Central Georgia Consor tium (ECGC) is working with the Jenkins County Commis sioners and Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce to implement the program. Funding is available to local businesses and organizations for employment of a low-income, unskilled adult for a period of 90 days. Participants must agree to work with a representative from the ECGC to develop an employee training plan before the training start date. The ECGC will pay the trainee di rectly. pay the appropriate taxes and provide worker’s compen sation coverage and OSHA training. The employer will be asked to monitor the trainee’s work performance and submit an accurate time sheet for the employee. Participants are un der no obligation to hire the trainee after the training period ends. Businesses may not fire a cur rent employee to take advantage of this offer. A business may cre ate a job that would be of ben efit to the business or organiza tion and may request more than one employee under the same job description. Businesses and organizations who are interested in participat ing in the program should con tact Paula Herrington, executive director, Millen-Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce, at 982- 5595 or come by the chamber office on Cotton Avenue. Schools to open doors to students Aug. 3 The 2009-10 school year will officially open for students on Monday, Aug. 3, under the lead ership of Jenkins County School Superintendent Melissa Williams. Superintendent Williams ad ministers the work of the school system under the direction of a 5- member Board of Education as follows: Carroll Gay, Chairman; Roderick Campbell, Vice Chair man; Freddie Brinson, Roy Cook and Irene Drummer. Central Office support person nel are as follows: Marie Garvin, Secretary to the Superintendent; Burt Carter, Technologist Special ist, Jake Sasser, Technologist Spe cialist, Julie Chance, Federal Pro grams Manager; Damita Bynes, Academic Facilitator for Special Education/Grades 6-12 Math, Kimberly McMillan, Early Child hood Academic Facilitator, Susan Purvis, Academic Facilitator for Grades 6-12 Language Arts, Cindy Crawford, System Level State Data Reporting Specialist; Janet Fields, Business Manager; Bessie Collins, Payroll Clerk; Emma Whiters, Director of Spe cial Services; Chris Hodges, School Psychologist; Johnnie Sherrod, Special Services Secre tary; Debra Herrmann, Director of Nutrition; Pattie McLeod, School Food Service Secretary/Book keeper; Larry Adams, Mainte nance Supervisor and Joe Hendley, Maintenance Assistant. The Jenkins County educa tional system is comprised of three schools, Jenkins County El ementary School (JCES) (PreK- 5), Jenkins County Middle School (JCMS) (6-8) and Jenkins County High School (JCHS) (9-12). The JCES operates under the direction of Jim Jarvis, Principal; Cynthia McNeely, Assistant Prin cipal (PreK-2); Deborah Foun tain, Assistant Principal/Social Worker (3-5); Jessica Reese and Faye White, School Secretaries. Certificated employees of Jenkins County Elementary School are Kim Alsup, Tony Baulos, Tabatha Bennett, Jimmy Brannen, Angie Brantley, Deirdre Brinson, Jancey Brinson, Monica Brinson, Alisa Burke, Brenda Burke, Shirley Burke, Margaret Clifton, Melissa Cobb, Carrie Cook, Randy Coo per, Pam Dailey, Lynda Daniel, Debbie Davis, Sheryl Dudley, Donna English, Laurie Felix, Patricia Fiye, Brittany Gay, Sylvia Gay, Marcia Godbee, Ann Hamilton, Laura Hart, Renee Hearn, Patricia Henington, Mel issa Hill, Eleanor Jackson, Bobby James, Jeana Jenkins, Linda Jenkins, Racheal Johnson, Jenni fer Jones, Melinda Jones, Lisa Kirkland, Kim Landing, Kristen Murray. Marcia Newton, Teresa Newton, Hillary Oliver, Michelle Orvin, Ashley Powell, Janice Reese, Cindy Rich, Katrina Sherrod, Erika VanBuren, Jill Wadley, Kristy Wallace, April Wheeler, Anita Williams, Debbie Williams and Shelby Williams. Para-Professionals are Michelle Brannen, Deanna Burke, Joydine Burke, Tamaika Carrie, Wanda Clifton, Jeannine Curl, Jacinda Dixon, Theresa Ford, Julie Gainey, Brenda Gay, Darcella Harris, Angela Lee, Patricia Milton, Kim Reynolds, Ernestine Sanders, Deborah Taylor, Sarah Thomas and Donnie Wadley. Vivian Jenkins will serve as the Prek Resource Coordinator. Donna Saxon will be employed full time as the school nurse. Cus todians are Shirral Lewis, Donna McClain, Barbara Parker, Minnie Whitfield, Rosetta Whitfield and Roger Williams. Jenkins County School Food Service (JCSFS) employees are Allison Dann, Manager; Minnie Ball, Mary Bragg, Letha Clark, Mamie Clifton, Darlene Gay, Dale Lowe, David Reese, Tina Sammons and Diane Wasden. The JCMS is staffed under the direction of Nichole Moulton, Principal; Randy Dailey, Assistant Principal; Delane Davis, School Secretary; and Carrie Foster, Re ceptionist. Certificated employ ees are as follows: Sandra Black, Monica Broxton, Wayne Burke, Rhonda Clark, Wendell Clark, Shannon Clemens, Dinah Cobb, Barbara Daniel, Michael Daniel, Angela Deal, Jamar Dunnum, Loretta Fleming, Carol Gaskin, Nicole Green, Myra Halfacre, John Paul Hearn, John Hodges, Wendy Ivey, Pamela Luke, Nancy Marsh, Kimberly Norris, Lyn Rhodes, Charles Sanders and Elouise Wright. Rhonda Airfield, Jesse Cosby, Patricia Hall, Jackie Lawton, and Judith Taylor serve as Para-Pro- fessionals. Michael McClain serves as the school custodian. JCHS is led by Dr. Joseph Kirkland, Principal; Josh Fleming, Assistant Principal; Glynda Johnson, Registrar; Vickie Cook and Joyce Lanier, School Secretaires. Certificated employees are: Terri Benson, Donna Boone, Jennifer Brinson, Lula Brown, Ashley Burch, Jackie Burke, Annette Cobb, Charles Conley, Cheryl Conley, Kimberly Dasher, Nancy Deal, Ivis Deloach, Cynthia Drake, John Fitzner, Jean Gay, Jodi Grif fin, Ruth Hearn, Sharon Holton, Thomas Johnson, Lisa Jones, Marsha Madray, Jean Marks, Sandra Mason, Valen Miller, Alfred Schneider, Linda Smith, Matt Smith, Quinton Sweet, Hay ward Thompson, Daniel Varner, Kenneth Wade, Charley Waters, Mark Whitt and Teresa Wommack. Para-Professionals are Bernadine Cosby, Anthony Dixon, Edna Golff, Shirley Johnson. Tamia Lovett, and Stacey Matthews. John Mobley serves as the school custodian. Pansy Gay will serve as school nurse for the middle/high school students. JCSFS employees are Melissa Bolton, Manager; Linda Brigdon, Natalie Hall, Janice Morris, Nelrose Reese, Betty Sue Royals, Gloria Williams, Helen Wilson and Annie Young. The Transportation Department operates under Talmadge Fries, Transportation Coordinator, and Eunice Tobie, Transportation As sistant. Bus drivers are Andy Allen, Joan Brown, Geneise Carter, Floyd Chance, James Ford, Rochelda Frison (Substi tute), Rosa Holley, Susan Hooks, Miriam Johnson (Bus Monitor), Carletha Lee (Substitute), Tamia Lovett, Janice Morris, Shirley Newton (Substitute), Lotice Reed (Substitute), Nelrose Reese, Joan Reynolds, Matthew Roberson, Patricia Sapp, Neltricia Simmons, Walter Thomas, Sandra Wadley, Wendy Waters, Jewell Williams, Kenneth Williams and Lena Young (Substitute). The Jenkins County school sys tem participates in the Partners in Education Program that enhances the relationship between the com munity and school. Partners for the 2009-10 school year are as fol lows: Bethany Home Nursing Center, BI-LO, The Cotton Gin, Dairy Queen, Jenkins County Farm Bureau, Georgia Power Company, Huddle House of Millen, K & K Antiques and Old Fashion Soda Shop, Modern Woodmen of America, Papa’s Pizza To Go, Planters Electric Membership Corporation, Queensborough National Bank and Trust, Regions Bank and Su perior Alarm of Millen. Parents are encouraged to be actively engaged in the schools as the new year begins. “Your child’s success is our success,” said Superintendent Williams. School system to furlough teachers By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor The local school system joined many school districts across state this week in approving the furlough of all staff members for three days without pay during the 2009-2010 school year. The Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE) approved the action during a called meeting held Monday, July 27. The BOE approved the furlough of staff for July 31, Oct. 23, and Jan. 4, 2010. Jenkins County School Superintendent Melissa Williams noted that the furloughs were taken in response to additional cuts to the school system’s budget by Gov. Sonny Perdue. The governor an nounced last week more widespread cuts to state agencies and de partments to deal with a $900 million shortfall. This is in addition to the $241 million already cut from the state’s 2009-2010 education budget and $430 million taken from schools last fiscal year. During a July 21 news conference, Gov. Perdue said that lagging income collections and decreased revenue collections had given him little choice. The governor also noted that without federal stimu lus monies received by the state, the cuts would have been more. Previously, Superintendent Williams pointed out that the local school system had incurred an additional increase in the local fan- share withheld by the state in the amount of $ 180,847, for a total of $ 1,106,729 withheld. Austerity reductions in the amount of $618,668 also impacted the 2009-2010 budget. Despite the reductions in state funding, the Jenkins County BOE adopted an $11,256,419 budget forFY 2009-2010, withoutre- Open House to questing additional local rev enues. “The Jenkins County BOE is devoted to managing our funds efficiently through this continued economic down turn the State is experiencing. We are working diligently to adjust our bud get to reflect the 3 percent cut just passed along to local sys tems as well as doing all we can to lessen the blow the 3- day furlough will have on our employees. We appreciate the patience and understanding our employees have shown as we continue to stand together in our commitment to provide our children with the best edu cational opportunities we pos sibly can,” Superintendent Williams said. be held July 30 Due to action taken by Governor Sonny Purdue this week whereby additional cuts are made to the lo cal school system’s budget, it is necessary to furlough all staff mem bers for three days during the 2009- 2010 school year. To implement this plan without any interruption to stu dent instruction, the Jenkins County Board of Education has approved furloughs for Friday, July 31, Friday, October 23 and Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. Thus, Open House will be changed from Friday, July 31, to Thursday, July 30, from 1-3 p.m. in all schools. For Bo Ginn Aquarium Open house, Bass tourney to be held Aug. 8 The Jenkins County Development Authority (JCDA) is sponsor ing an Open House and Bass Tournament to benefit the Bo Ginn Aquarium at Magnolia Springs State Park Saturday, Aug. 8. The Bass Tournament gets underway at 6 a.m. and the Open House activities begin at 7 p.m. The tournament entry fee is $25, Admission to the aquarium is free, but donations will be gladly accepted. Millen Better Home town will provide refreshments. “The JCDA is quite excited about the enthusiasm for the Bo Ginn Aquarium. We are having a Bass Tournament to fill the bass winner’s tank with the largest bass caught in the tournament and a plaque to the credit of the fisherman who wins will be placed on it,” Mabel Jenkins, chairman, JCDA, commented. Bryan Clees, an award winning singer/songwriter will be the main attraction for the evening. Clees is a Tampla, Fla. native who now resides in Sylvania. Clees is scheduled to perform from 7-9 p.m. “He has been taking the Southeast by storm lately with his ener getic live shows, while having a chance to open up for some na tional recording artists such as Kenny Chesney, Andy Griggs, Saw yer Brown, Mark Wills, JoDee Messina and many more. Bryan’s first full length album is scheduled to hit shelves soon. So bring your lawn chairs, blankets or what makes you comfortable and have a great time at the Bo Ginn Aquarium. You do not get a chance often like this to enjoy a concert and the aquarium free with re freshments,” Jenkins said. There is no charge for parking if visitors enter on the Hatchery Road. Those who desire to visit the park can just walk across the bridge to gain access to the festivities. Sales tax holiday begins By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor As school gets ready to open for a new year Monday, Aug. 3, parents and students looking to buy items for school can take ad vantage of the state’s 2009 Sales Tax Holiday. The holiday runs Thursday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 2. Certain items purchased during this period will be exempt from state sales tax. These items include articles of clothing, personal computers and general school supplies. The exemption applies to articles of clothing and footwear which a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, jewehy, etc. are not exempt. A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $ 1,500, the entire transaction is taxable. General school supplies purchased with a sales price of $20 or less are also exempt. The exemptions are intended for an individual’s personal use, and exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses or pur chased for resale. For more information visit the Georgia Department of Revenue at http://www.dor.ga.gov.