Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Page 2 — Wednesday, August 12, 2009, The Millen News Moving from excuses to progress JCFEC hosts ‘Dream Building’ conference Jenkins County Family En richment Center (JCFEC) hosted a two-day conference entitled “Dream Building ” July 17-18.The conference was de signed to create an atmosphere of learning and fun for students and their parents. The opening night’s festivities paired a shiny disco ball hang ing from the ceiling with blink ing lights triggered by a violin- rap music mix.This high-energy production was the backdrop for Nan Searles, a JCFEC Systems of Care Coordinator, who set the stage for the conference with words of motivation and hope. “The dream-building process is simple,” she said. All you have to do is hold the dream clearly in your mind and see the end result; do the research and make a plan to get to where you want to go; and believe that you can get there, take the first step, and never give up.” The keynote speaker for the conference, former Washington Redskin’s standout and Super Bowl star, Fred Stokes, stood proudly before his waiting au dience as a real-life, shining ex ample of how well the process works. Born and reared in nearby Vidalia, Stokes was the product of a poverty-stricken, single-parent home, but he re fused to let his humble begin nings limit his future. He set his eye on the goal, developed a game plan and made his dream a reality. Rather than make ex cuses, Stokes made progress. Day two featured workshops that focused on various tools and strategies to support the dream-building process. After a nutritious breakfast, students and adults separated into smaller groups where they learned how to set manageable goals, manage their time wisely, overcome negative attitudes and develop positive habits. Serving along with Stokes as the workshop facilitators were Pam Baggett, Lisa Jarriel, Sabrina Riles, Reggie Scott and David Searles. Stokes also took the time to talk with attendees one-on-one and sign auto graphs. The conference ended with team-building exercises led by Nan Searles and the Jenkins County Youth Leadership group. Randomly-selected teams were set up and asked to complete such tasks as forming a human caterpillar and running a three-legged race. The object of the exercises was to demon strate how working together helps the individual team mem ber to improve and to move for ward. At the closing of the confer ence, each student participant received a personalized, signed copy of Mr. Stokes autobiogra phy, The Bridge that Brought Me Over. Searles then summed up the conference with a chal lenge to parents to lay the foun dation of success for their chil dren by being good examples. From left, Fred Stokes speaks with Trentin Drayton during the Dream Building conference. (Photos contributed) She instructed the students to listen to and appreciate their par ents for the wisdom and guid ance they were prepared to of fer. She added that by working together as a team and drawing from each other’s knowledge and strength, the family could position itself to make all their dreams come true. All they had to do was to throw out those ex cuses and take that first step! We Can Make It Happen NOW! If you own or have equity in your home, lend, mobile home or car, you can gel St .000, $2,000 or more at Millen Loan and Finance Corporation. Call or come by and discuss your money needs with us today. Monday through Friday 0:30 a,m.-5:30 p m. Closed Saturday MILLEN LOAN and FINANCE CORP. 128 N, Gray Street - Millen 982-5644 Modern Woodmen Touching lives. Securing futures.® FRATERNAL FINANCIAL Others participating in the conference, from left, were Alan Collins, Kendrick Mobley, T’Keyha Mosley, Adrianna Watson, Carolyn Stephens, Tamara Tobie, Glen Tobie, Larando Evans and Anthony Sea. Friends of Magnolia Springs State Park set goals By Jim Hite The newly chartered Friends of Magnolia Springs State Park (FMSSP) met July 30 to discuss their continuing efforts on be half of the park. After considering some of the projects now underway, includ ing work on the site of Fort Fawton by the Sons of Confed erate Veterans and efforts to control and clear the spring of various growth and weeds, the group made a list of ten goals entitled "Ten for 2010.” This Ten for 2010 is a pro gram of the Friends of Georgia State Parks, the parent organi zation of nearly 50 Friends or ganizations at state parks throughout Georgia. The Ten for Magnolia Springs: increase FMSSP mem bership; provide more orga nized volunteer opportunities for interested FMSSP members; promote a volunteering spirit for all age groups, especially the young people in the area; pro mote publicity with the sur rounding counties; preserve the history of Fort Lawton and Magnolia Springs State Park; coordinate with local civic clubs and various volunteer groups to beautify the entrance to Magno lia Springs State Park and the Fort Lawton site; increase and enhance the bike/hiking trails; promote more physical fitness and outdoor opportunities for the public, including fishing ro deos, bike rides and races, run ning and walking; utilize the volunteer funds to the maxi mum benefit for Magnolia Springs State Park; and manage the stream, using acceptable natural resource stream man agement principles. The next meeting of the FMSSP is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Shelter #2. A work day for Friends and all interested citizens of Jenkins County is scheduled for Satur day, Aug. 22. Details about the work day will be in future edi tions of The Millen News. Need to move your 401 (k)? If you change jobs or retire, your Modern Woodmen representative can help you make the right decisions about your 401 (k). Modern Woodmen of America offers financial products and fraternal benefits. Call today to 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 modern-woodmen.org EAST GEORGIA COLLEGE Admissions Office 478.289.2017 www.ega.edu A TWO-YEAR UNIT OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA Jenkins County to receive art grant EAST GEORGIA COLLEGE IS STARTING AN INSTRUCTIONAL SITE IN BURKE COUNTY! Classes in Waynesboro begin January, 2010! The Georgia State Legisla ture, through the Georgia Coun cil for the Arts, provides mon ies each year to advance the arts in Georgia. Jenkins County has $2,004.60 available for arts grants this year. The funds are administered through the Grassroots Arts Program. For this grant program, the arts are broadly interpreted and can include, but are not limited to, performing arts, dance, vi sual arts, vocal arts, crafts, lit erary arts and more. The funds can be used to pay for artists, technicians, instructors, art materials/tools, performances, arts, folk or music festivals, in structional programs, murals, readings and more. To request a free pack of in formation, contact Tony Phillips, grant administrator for Jenkins County at (912) 481- 3594 or by e-mail at tphiUips@averittcenterfortheaits.oig. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Start with a dream Finish with a future. People in the News ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ EGC is highly recognized for its tradition of academic excellence — You are cordially invited to attend one of the INFORMATION SESSIONS at the Burke County Alternative School Media Center 500 Park Drive, Waynesboro, GA Saturday, August 15, 2009 Drop In From 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Kent DeLay to work at Johns-Hopkins Medical Center Kent DeLay has been accepted to do a four week rotation in pe diatric urology at Johns- Hopkins Medi cal Center in Baltimore, Md. beginning Aug. 3. He is a senior in the School of Medicine at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta and has earned a 4.0 GPA thru his first three years of medical school, scoring highest in his class on the Step 1 Board Exam. Kent is the son of Ken and Angela DeLay of Millen and a 2001 graduate of Jenkins County High School. Kent graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in Cellular Biology. Kent was one of 15 students, residents and faculty members at the Medical College of Georgia who were inducted into the Georgia Chap ter of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society on April 23. Alpha Omega Alpha is the only national honor society for medicine in the United States. Founded in 1902, the society fos ters honesty and higher ideals of scholastic achievement. Kent’s grandparents are Retha Moxley and the late Homer Moxley of Twin City and BJ and Jean DeLay of Statham. His great-grandmother is Captola Cowart of Twin City. GSU names local students for honors Georgia Southern University recently announced that Meagan N. Beasley of Garfield has been named the President's List for the Summer 2009 term. To be eli gible for the President’s List, a student must have at least a 4.0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the se mester. Valencia T. Williams has been named to the Dean’s List for the term. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must have at least a 3.50 grade point aver age and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester. Experience the difference. ♦ (24) Programs of Study ♦ (10) Pre- Professional Programs Additional offerings: ♦ Online Associate of Arts de gree in general studies, psy chology and sociology ♦ Nursing degree in partner ship with Dario n College ♦ Online Bachelor of Business Administration degree in partnership with Georgia Southwestern State University For general questions contact Norma S. Woods, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at 478-289-2002 or nwoodsiega.edu It's so To subscribe to your local paper. Call 706-554-2111 EASY ... THE MILLEN NEWS Thursday, August 27, 2009 Drop In From 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. What can you do with a two-year associate’s degree? Anything you want! Transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree. Or, enter the workforce with new knowledge and a competitive advantage. East Georgia College is a proven leader in the University System of Georgia and we are focused on preparing you for a successful future! ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ ★ EGC supports you * ★ by offering * ★ ♦ Small classes * ★ ♦ Affordable ★ tuition & ★ ★ ★ ★ financial aid assistance *♦ Caring faculty * and staff ♦ Learning support and supplemental instruction * ♦ Tutoring * services I. * scheduling East Georgia College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Associa tion of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Col leges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for ques tions about the accreditation of East Georgia College.