Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

VOL. 106, NO. 11, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS Fields of green Most local crops, like this field of soybeans, appear to be better than they have in years thanks to the plentiful rainfall that was received throughout the growing season. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) Final plans announced for Fair-on-the-Square The annual Fair-on-the- Square, sponsored by Millen Better Hometown (MBH), will kick off this Saturday, Oct. 3. at 9 a.m. and will end at 4 p.m. at the Jenkins County Elementary school athletic field. It is anticipated that the fair will be as big a success as in the past with the only change being the loca tion which was necessary due to construction on the Jenkins County Courthouse. There will be a variety of items for sale along with games and rides for the chil dren as well as a large selec tion of foods from which to choose. Everyone is encouraged to come out and enjoy the day shopping and visiting. For the safety and enjoy ment of all, pets, silly string, shaving cream battles, wres tling and playing ball in the fair area during the fair will not be allowed. MBH expresses their ap preciation for the participa tion and support of the com munity. For additional infor mation, contact Art Johnson at (478) 982-5595. ENTERTAINMENT The following performances scheduled: 10:30 a.m. - Chosen 11:00 a.m. - Jenkins County High School band 11:30 a.m.-Will Gay 12:00 p.m.-Sylvia Gay 12:30 p.m. - Ashley Becton 1:00 p.m. - open 1:30 p.m. - Keith Kelly and the Harmonizers 2:00 p.m. - Millen Baptist Men's Quartet featuring Joe Sasser, Joey McBride, Tim Fields and Robert Gunn 2:30 p.m. - Jeff Gibson 3:00 p.m. - Helping Hands International Prayer Group System-wide ‘Teacher of the Year’ named By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Jean Gay, mathematics teacher at Jenkins County High School (JCHS), JEAN GAY was recently named Jenkins County’s sys- t e m - w i d e “Teacher of the Year.” Gay has been em ployed by the local school system since 1994. She has participated in Learning Focused, Writing to Win, Thinking Maps, Geogebra and the T3 Technology Grant. She was chosen STAR teacher at David Emanuel Academy and has received the honor twice during her 14 years at JCHS. She has also had the school yearbooks dedicated to her at David Emanuel Academy and JCHS. She is a member of PAGE. She holds a bachelor of sci ence degree in Computer Sci ence from the University of Georgia and received her Level T-4 teaching certification in Middle Grades Education and Secondary Math Education from Georgia Southern Univer sity. “I do not want our young adults to leave my classroom with merely a working knowl edge of mathematics; instead, I want them to possess the abil ity to meet a problem, and have the motivation, knowledge and work ethic to find a solution. This statement is by no means limited to the mathematical world, but to their everyday problems that they will inevita bly encounter,” Gay com mented. “I firmly believe that teach ing should come more from the heart than the head. It is truly a blessing that I do not take for granted that I am in a profession where I am genuinely excited to come to school and exhume my enthusiasm towards my stu dents,” she added. Jean and her husband, John B., have two children, Branham and Tiller. Georgians called to serve during ‘Hands on Georgia Week’ Governor Sonny Perdue challenged the citizens and businesses of Georgia to serve and enhance their communi ties during “Hands On Geor gia Week,” which will take place from Saturday, Sept. 26, through Saturday, Oct. 3. “As we’ve watched commu nities impacted by the storms come together during the past week, we’ve been reminded that nothing is as powerful as neighbors helping neighbors,” said Gov. Perdue. “Next week, I challenge each Georgian to volunteer for a local commu nity service project with your family, friends or co-workers during Hands On Georgia Week. Every Georgian can find something they are pas sionate about, whether it’s helping those affected by a natural disaster, working with children or senior citizens, cleaning up and preserving our state’s natural resources, or supporting fine arts pro grams.” According to the Volunteer ing in America Report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Geor gians volunteered for nearly 213.6 million hours of service from 2006 to 2008, worth an estimated $4.3 billion. Hands On Georgia is the first statewide network in the nation that is dedicated to vol unteer service and civic en gagement, acting as a central organizing body for all of Georgia’s 159 counties to mo bilize citizens to address com munity needs. Hands On Georgia Week is the organization’s signature event, which mobilized over 32,000 volunteers in 2008 with an economic impact of almost $1 million. “It is truly amazing to see thousands of Georgians volun teer their time to support their local communities,” said Laurie Grant Nichols, Chief Executive Officer of Hands On Georgia. “It’s a great feel ing to work alongside your friends and neighbors to pro mote seat belt safety or paint a senior center, to help land scape your town squares or pick up litter from our parks and roadways. But it is awe inspiring to look back and see what your fellow Georgians were doing at the same time around the state, and the col lective difference that we all have made. We are grateful to Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMC) for spon soring this year’s event and for leading service projects across the state.” Hands On Georgia has 15 affiliates across the state that include the communities of Athens, Atlanta, Brunswick, Columbus, Covington, Dalton, Dooly County, Forsyth County, Harlem, Macon, Milledgeville, Savannah, Statesboro, Wayne County and Thomas County. Citizens interested in par ticipating in Hands On Geor gia Week are encouraged to visit Hands On Georgia at www.handsongeorgia.org or e-mail Michelle Nelson Hawkins at mnelson- hawkins@handsongeorgia.org. Registration deadline for city election is Oct. 5 By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor City of Millen residents who are not already registered to vote must do so by Monday, Oct. 5, in order to be eligible to cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 City of Millen General Election. Registration will take place in the office of the Jenkins County Registrar at the Jenkins County Courthouse. Millen City Council seats up for election are Ward #1 to succeed Walter Thomas; Ward #2 to succeed Ivey McMillan and Ward #3 to succeed James Ford. Candidates for those positions are Ward #1, Walter Thomas and Walter Herrington; Ward #2, Jane Johnson; and Ward #3, James Ford. No election will be held in Wards #2 and #3 since those candidates are unopposed. Registered voters in the City of Millen may vote only for those candidates seeking election in their respective ward. In the case of a Run-off Election, it will be held Dec. 1. For additional information, contact Wanda Burke, election superintendent, at 982-5581. BOE discusses ‘Census in Schools’ By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Not completing the 2010 Census was likened to “putting money in the trash” in remarks made by Henry R. Armstrong III as he addressed the Monday, Sept. 21, meeting of the Jenkins County Board of Education (BOE). Mr. Armstrong, a worker with the U.S. Census Bureau, in formed the BOE of materials now available to local school sys tems through the “Census in Schools” program which teaches students and their families about demography, civics and the value of being counted. Mr. Armstrong noted that the completion rate for the 2000 Census was 67 percent nationwide, 65 percent in Georgia and only 59 percent for Jenkins County. “There is a lot of work to be done, and we don’t have a lot of time to do it. We want to increase those rates to 72 percent,” he said. He also stressed the fact that federal money allocated to states and communities was based in part on census data. Census data could also affect redistricting of state legislatures, county and city councils and voting districts In other matters, Jenkins County School Superintendent Mel issa Williams reported enrollment in the schools as follows: Jenkins County High School, 424 students; Jenkins County Middle School, 319; and Jenkins County Elementary School, 771. Total enrollment was reported at 1,514 students as of Sept. 14. This compared to a total enrollment of 1,541 students at the end of May. Superintendent Williams reported on ACT/SAT scores, noting that Jenkins County students taking the ACT last year during their senior year achieved a composite score of 18.3. SAT scores were reported as follows: reading, 446; math, 464; and writing, 446. She also noted that the post secondary enrollment rate for Jenkins County students from 2000-2008 was 53.1 percent. Talmadge Fries, bus coordinator, reported fuel usage for the month of August at 369 gallons of gas and 3,838 gallons of die sel. It was also reported that two bus routes had been eliminated with there now being 19 regular routes and three special needs routes. It was reported that Turning Leaf had withdrawn its proposal to purchase the old Primary School property due to the current economic climate. The organization had previously proposed purchasing and renovating the property for an assisted living fa cility. Other actions taken by the BOE included the following. • Approved the 2009-2010 millage rate at 12.901 mils; • Approved Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) membership contract at $44,126; • Approved club advisors and supplements; • Approved amended bank resolutions establishing line of credit; • Approved several fundraising activities; • Approved the employment of Charles Anfield Jr. as a substi tute bus driver; and • Approved the employment of Pam Brown as Prekindergarten Resource Coordinator. JCFEC to sponsor Town Meeting Oct. 1 The annual town meeting, sponsored by Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center (JCFEC), will be held 6 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Jenkins County Agriculture Center. The spotlight for this year’s event will be on “workforce development.” Area vendors will attend to provide educational and job resources. Vendors expected to be present include: Geor gia Southern University, Southeastern Technical College, Georgia Power, Queensborough National Bank and Trust, One Stop - ECGC, Georgia Department of Labor and the U.S. Census Bureau. Door prizes will be given away, and refreshments will be provided by the Millen Woman’s Club. For more information, call the Resource Center at (478) 982-8004.