Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 7B
Morris completes basic training Exposure to rabies can be prevented
Marine Corps Pvt. Christopher
D. Morris, son of Cathy R. Duke,
Summerville, S.C., and Glenn Morris,
Alto, recently completed 12 weeks of
basic training at Marine Corps Recruit
Depot, Parris Island, S.C., designed
to challenge new Marine recruits both
physically and mentally.
Morris and fellow recruits began
their training at 5 a.m., by running
three miles and performing calis
thenics. In addition to the physical
Piedmont CASA will begin
a new class for volunteers on
Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m.
at the Braselton Community
Center.
conditioning program, Morris spent
numerous hours in classroom and
field assignments which included
learning first aid, uniform regula
tions, combat water survival, marks
manship, hand-to-hand combat and
assorted weapons training. They per
formed close order drill and operated
as a small infantry unit during field
training.
Morris and other recruits also
received instruction on the Marine
CASA volunteers speak for
children in foster care in Jackson,
Banks and Barrow counties.
“If you’ve ever wanted to help
children, this is your chance
Corps’ core values— honor, courage
and commitment — and what the
core values mean in guiding personal
and professional conduct.
Morris and fellow recruits ended
the training phase with The Crucible,
a 54-hour, team evolution culminating
in an emotional ceremony in which
recruits are presented the Marine
Corps Emblem, and addressed as
“Marines” for the first time in their
careers.
to help a child who has no one
to speak for them,” organizers
state.
Call 706-387-6375 to join the
next class.
Although the incidence of rabies
among humans has declined mark
edly in recent years, the disease
continues among wild animals,
according to local health officials.
“Incidences of animal rabies in
our area are slightly more than we
normally see at this time of year, so
it is a good time to remind residents
to protect themselves and their
pets,” said Larry Walker, District 2
environmental health director. The
district includes Banks County.
Rabies is a viral infection trans
mitted in the saliva of infected
mammals. The virus enters the
central nervous system of the host
causing an inflammation of the
brain that is almost always fatal.
Although all species of mammals
can get the rabies virus, only a
few species store the virus in their
bodies and are thus of concern for
transmitting the disease. The most
common carriers in the United
States are raccoons, skunks, coy
otes, foxes and bats.
Wildlife remains the most likely
potential source of infection for
both humans and domestic animals
in the United States. Therefore,
human rabies is best prevented
by reducing the risk of infection
in domestic animals and limiting
contact with wild animals.
Vaccination and animal control
programs that were begun in the
1940s have practically eliminated
the domestic dog as a reservoir
of rabies. However, unvaccinat
ed dogs can and do still spread
the disease. The vaccination of
all domestic dogs, cats, and fer
rets coupled with the systematic
removal of stray animals that may
be exposed to rabid wildlife are the
basic elements of a rabies control
program.
Rabies is transmitted only when
the virus is introduced into bite
wounds, open cuts in the skin,
or onto mucous membranes, such
as the eyes or mouth. Exposure
to rabies is treatable by prompt
care to the wound and appropriate
post-exposure medicines. Prompt
medical attention is very impor
tant, however, as rabies is almost
always fatal without it.
The Georgia Department of
Natural Resources has rigid regu
lations that prohibit the keeping of
wild and wild/domestic hybrid ani
mals as pets. Some animals identi
fied by these regulations are rac
coons, skunks, coyotes, foxes and
bats. More information is available
on the DNR website at www.geor-
giawildlife.com.
Small rodents such as squirrels,
hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils,
chipmunks, rats, and mice and
lagomorphs, which include rabbits
and hares, are almost never found
to be infected with rabies. These
animals have not been known to
transmit rabies to humans.
Public health officials become
involved in cases involving a
bite from a domestic animal to a
human, a bite from a wild animal
to a human, and a bite from a wild
animal to a domestic animal.
The role of public health officials
is to ensure that domestic animals
are vaccinated against rabies and
to ensure the public is educated
and informed about rabies. They
are also responsible for collecting
specimens from suspected rabid
animals and coordinating testing
of the specimen with the state lab.
Additionally, public health offi
cials notify individuals who have
been exposed to risks and inform
them of the need to seek medical
care.
For more information about
rabies, ask your veterinarian, local
health department or go to http://
health.state.ga.us/publications/
manuals.asp.
Friends of Gillsville golf tourney coming up
Friends of Gillsville, a local non-profit (501c3) com
munity organization founded in 2004, has announced
plans for the third annual Friends of Gillsville Golf
Tournament to be held at Hammer’s Glen Golf Club in
Homer on Saturday, April 26, at 9 a.m., with a shotgun
start.
Player fees are $100 per person which covers green
fees, 1/2 cart, practice range, awards and box lunch.
Prizes will be awarded for lowest team score (1st and 2nd
place), longest drive and closest to pin, plus door prizes.
Funds raised will support the college scholarship pro
gram for students at Banks County High School and East
Hall High School.
Mail entry fees to Friends of Gillsville, Box 231,
Gillsville, GA 30543 no later than Wednesday, April 23.
For more information, call 770-869-3679.
CASA volunteer class planned
'CELEBRATE SEUSS' WINNERS NAMED
Joe, Renee and Rachel Poppell read the most books and com
pleted the Dr. Seuss challenge at the Banks County Public
Library. The library hosted the challenge during "Celebrate
Seuss” week in March.
'High School Musical' tickets now on sale
Disney Theatrical Productions and
Theater of the Stars has announced
that tickets for the new touring stage
version of Disney’s “High School
Musical” are on sale now.
The Atlanta engagement will run
from Friday, August 15, through
Sunday, August 24, for 13 perfor
mances only. This marks the Atlanta
reunion of the show and the final
stop on the national tour.
Performances times are as fol
lows: Friday, August 15, 7 p.m.;
Saturday, August 16, 2 p.m. and 8
p.m.; Sunday, August 17, 1:30 p.m.
and 7 p.m.; Monday, August 18, no
performance; Tuesday, August 19, 7
p.m.; Wednesday, August 20, 7 p.m.;
Thursday, August 21, 7 p.m.; Friday,
August 22, 7 p.m.; Saturday, August
23, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday,
August 24, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Purchases through Ticketmaster
can be made in three ways: at
Ticketmaster ticket outlets, by call
ing 404-817-8700 or by ordering
online through www.theaterofthe-
stars.com For group ticket sales, call
the Fox Theatre Group Sales Office
at 404-881-2000. Ticket prices range
from $20- $66.
This new touring stage adaptation
of Disney’s “High School Musical”
is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Big
River). Disney’s “High School
Musical” features a book by David
Simpatico (adapted from the original
movie script by Peter Barsocchini)
and a score including all the songs
from the original soundtrack plus
two new songs. The touring com
pany includes a live orchestra and a
cast of 34 performers.
Commenting on the production,
Thomas Schumacher, president
and producer of Disney Theatrical
Productions, said, “Our stage ver
sion of this great property has been
mounted as a direct response to over
whelming demand. As someone
who has been passionate about the
atre since I was a kid, I am thrilled
that we are touring this remarkably
popular title as a fully realized stage
production, and most certainly intro
ducing countless young people to
the world of theatre for the very first
time. You can’t ask for more than
that. It is a great joy and privilege for
us to be able to produce and present
the Disney Channel’s enormously
popular property on stage.”
Disney’s “High School Musical”
is a contemporary musical comedy
about a popular high school bas
ketball star and a shy, academically
gifted newcomer who discover they
share a secret passion for singing.
When they sign up together to audi
tion for the lead roles in the school
musical, it threatens East High’s
rigid social order and sends their
peers into an uproar. In a desperate
effort to maintain the status quo, the
“jocks,” the “brainiacs” and even the
drama club regulars are soon hatch
ing convoluted plots to separate the
pair and keep them offstage. By
defying expectations and taking a
chance on their dreams, however, the
couple inspires other students to go
public with some surprising hidden
talents of their own.
The creative team for this new
touring stage production of Disney’s
“High School Musical,” in addi
tion to director Calhoun, consists
of choreographer Lisa Stevens, sce
nic designer Kenneth Foy, costume
designer Wade Laboissonniere, light
ing designer Kenneth Billington,
sound designer Duncan Robert
Edwards and music supervisor Bryan
Louiselle.
Disney’s “High School Musical,”
the movie, premiered on Disney
Channel U.S. on January 20, 2006,
and posted the highest ratings for a
Disney Channel Original Movie up
until that time. It went on to become
a smash hit internationally, airing
on 27 Disney Channels and free-to-
air broadcasters worldwide, thus far
reaching over 250 million viewers in
over 100 countries including China.
It was also the first TV movie to be
offered on the iTunes Music Store.
Theater of the Stars will celebrate
its 56th Anniversary in 2008 as one
of the nation’s premier theater com
panies. A civic not-for-profit cultural
treasure, Theater of the Stars is dedi
cated to presenting and producing
the best in musical theater. To learn
more about our history of excellence
visit www.theaterofthestars.com
First Annual
Taste of East - A Family Affair
Saturday, April 19, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Food Vendors Start at 7:00 pm
Everything else starts at 6:00 pm
East Jackson Comprehensive High School
Band Practice Field
Sponsored by the EJCHS Band Boosters
Family Fun including moonwalk, slides, obstacle
course, carnival games for children, craft vendors,
silent auction (lots of great stuff from our local
businesses), local entertainment and best of all, great
food to be sampled from some of Jackson County’s
Best Restaurants: Shane’s Rib Shack, Papa John’s
Pizza, Redd’s BBQ and Stew, Johnny’s NY Style
Pizza, Supper’s Ready, Cabin Creek BBQ, My Friend’s
Place, Starbuck’s, Cracker Barrel, Sonic Drive-In,
Rey’s Cuban Grill, Wendy’s, Sara’s Restaurant...just to
name a few. Please join us in support of the EJCHS
Band for some great fun for the whole family and a
great cause!
Tickets are $10/5 tastes. Tickets are on sale now.
If interested, please call Karen Derochers at 404-983
8189 or Vicki Whitmire at 770-654-0260. If interested in
participating as a food or craft vendor, please call
Karen Derochers or Janet McDonald at 706-658-6232.
City of Maysville
POLICE OFFICER
The City of Maysville will be accepting
applications for one Full-Time Police
Officer.
Must be post certified with two years law
enforcement experience. Benefits provided.
Must be able to pass drug test.
Applications can be picked up at: City Hall,
226 South Main Street.
City of Maysville is a drug free workplace
and Equal Opportunity Employer.
321 Pottery Factory Drive, Commerce ~ across from OUTBACK STEAK House