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VOL. 106, NO. 14, OCTOBER 21, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS City applies for grant to clean up SOC Station By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor For many years the old SOC Station on Winthrope Avenue, across from the Jenkins County Courthouse, has been an eye sore in downtown Millen. The City of Millen moved a little closer to getting the site cleaned up last week with the announce ment that it is applying for a $200,000 Environmental Pro tection Agency (EPA) grant to fund the project. The City’s share of the cost, which may be labor, materials and services, would be 20 percent, or $40,000. The SOC Station was previ ously operated as a gasoline sta tion and automobile repair shop. The major environmental concerns at the site are from lead and petroleum leaks from three underground storage tanks into the soils. The build ing also contains asbestos, lead paint and is infested by a colony of bats. However, the City has confirmed that the underground storage tanks at the site are now empty, and there no continuing releases or threat of a release. The City took ownership of the property from the estate of the previous owner, Ayre Lee Aycock, in February and has entered the property into the Georgia Brownfield program. Two site assessments have been performed and a corrective ac tion plan has been completed. The master plan for renova tion of the site includes public outdoor seating and greenspace landscaping with trees, side walks, benches and a bicycle rack. In addition, the large SOC Station sign will be refurbished and placed as a tribute to the historical use of the site. A small plaque recognizing the former owner, Leon Aycock, will be placed in the public seating area. The City is also consider ing utilizing part of the future building for nonprofit uses in cluding a visitor’s center or of fice space for the Millen Down town Development Authority. The site may also be developed to include a restaurant for the convenience of those attending court at the Jenkins County Courthouse. The project is expected to in crease the City tax base rev enues by $100,000-$ 130,000 over the next 10 years and cre ate 12-14 permanent jobs. A decision on the grant appli cation will not come until May 2010, and if approved, work on the project will not start until October 2010. Hasten This architectural drawing depicts the City of Millen’s planned project forthe site of the SOC Station once the area has been cleaned up. Looking good! These photographs show the progress of the City of Millen’s TE-grant project on Cotton Avenue. Greenspace with trees, new sidewalks with decorative bricks and new streetlights enhance the appearance of the street. Work has also begun on Phase II of the project which includes additional parking on the railroad side of the street. (Staffphoto by Deborah Bennett) Website offers voter information By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor Voters across the state have a new tool with which to ac cess sample ballots in upcom ing elections, voter registra tion information, maps to polling places. Congressional District maps. State District maps, information on elected officials and information on how to become a registered voter. The "poll locator’ is found on the website of Secretary of State Karen C. Handel at www.sos.georgia.gov/elec- tions/polllocator/. Voters simple enter the information requested - name, county of residence and birth date - to access their voter information. Jenkins County Election Su perintendent Wanda Burke called attention to the fact those residents of the City of Millen who are eligible to vote in the Nov. 3 General Elec tion, Ward #1, can also find a sample ballot to view on the website when their voter in formation is retrieved. Jenkins waiting for H1N1 vaccine By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor While the public health agencies of several surrounding counties have received their first shipment of the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine, Jenkins County was not among the fortunate even though two cases of the H1N1 flu were confirmed in the county during the month of September. There have been no confirmed cases this month. A press release from the Georgia Department of Community Health notes that the initial shipment was in limited supply and in the form of a nasal spray that was targeted for healthy children ages 2-4 years. Counties with less than 100 children in this age group, however, did not get the vaccine through public health agencies. It is expected that future shipments, which should arrive within the next two weeks, will be made available to those counties that did not receive the first round of vaccine. The East Central Health District’s (ECHD) portion of the first allotment was 2,000 doses. Those doses were divided among ECHD’s 13 counties using a population-based formula. Nasal spray H1N1 flu vaccine is made with live, weakened H1N1 flu viruses. "However, it is only for healthy people ages 2-49, so many high risk residents must wait for the shot,’ said Dr. Ketty Gonzalez, ECHD health director. Those persons at the top of the priority group for the H1N1 vac cine include: pregnant women, people caring for infants under six months old; healthcare workers who have direct contact with pa tients; children from 6 months to four years of age; and children from five to 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions. The nasal spray was available before the more widely used flu shot because the spray does not take as long to produce, said health officials. The H1N1 vaccine is being provided free of charge by public health, but administration fees may be charged to Medicaid, Medi care or state health benefit plans. No one, however, will be denied the vaccine. Private providers will also be offering the vaccinations. Harvest of Fun set for Oct. 31 Millen/Jenkins County Recreation Department will be the loca tion for the ninth annual Harvest of Fun Festival 6-9 p.m. Satur day, Oct. 31. In this annual event children, up to age 12, are invited to enjoy free games, activities and prizes sponsored by local mer chants, civic groups and churches. Another popular part of the evening is the costume contest. Children age 12 and under are eligible to enter. Judging will be in three categories: 6:15 p.m., ages 1-4; 6:30p.m„ ages 5-7, 6:45 p.m. ages 8-12, 7 p.m. adults. Overall first, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each category. The success of this event depends on the participation of civic groups, businesses, churches and individuals who provide games for the children or who make candy or monetary donations. Any group who wishes to support the project should call Beth Collins at 982-3336, or the chamber office at 982-5595 to volunteer or for more information. Attendees at the Harvest of Fun are requested to not bring pets, skateboards, or bicycles. Millen Better Hometown and Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce sponsor the event. Beware counterfeit bills! Millen Police Chief Dwayne Herrington displays a coun terfeit $5 bill that a local citi zen turned in after receiving it in change from a Statesboro fast food restaurant. The bill is smaller and the paper lighter than its real counter part. When tested with a counterfeit pen, black marks appear. Barely visible yellow marks would appear on a real bill when marked with a counterfeit pen. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) 9 - h