Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 9A Social News Lurleen Hosch recognized for yard News From Poplar Springs By Willene Parson Boyle We want to congratu late Lurleen Hosch, who was honored last week for having the yard of the month in Lula’s district 3. Lurleen lives near the Lula School. A special prayer request for Cindy Hogman, a 32-year- old with cancer who found out last week. Her husband, Gary Hogman, is fighting in Iraq. This young family has a 5-year- old son, Michael. Remember this family when you pray. Silver Shoals Baptist Church will hold its monthly singing on May 4 at 6 p.m. Special guest singers will be Straightway. Hope to see you there. The community and county were saddened to hear of the death of Clifton “Pete” Hill Sr., who passed away on Saturday. He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to many. He will be greatly missed. Remember his family and host of friends when you pray. Relay for life night will be held May 16-17 at the Banks County Elementary School football field, the Bobby Morris Field. Come out for great food, fun and music. Hope to see you there. The relay is getting closer. Teams are rais ing money. Billy Whitlock will be selling and organizing the luminaries. They are $5 each. They are in memory of someone who died of cancer or in honor of someone surviving cancer. For more information, contact Billy at 706-677-4625 or Billy Whitlock, 127 Dyer Road, Gillsville, Ga., 30543. Relay for life will also hold a relay night at Sonic on May 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A percentage of the sales during this time will go to relay, so mark your calendars to be with us. The community was saddened to hear of the death of Eddie Whitfield of Gainesville. Eddie has family and friends in our community. Remember his fam ily and host of friends when you pray. He will be greatly missed. Those in our community who are overseas fighting or state side being trained to defend our country include: Gary Hogman, Jeb Herrin, Jason Ledford, David Willoughby, Sgt. T.J. Brookshire, Kyle Delaigle, David McWhorter, John Groves III, Clint Medlock, Timothy Reems, Richard Davenport, Kyle Pilgrim, Russell Cantrell, Shawn McClure, Sgt. Amanda Justus, Matthew Sutton, Justin Johnston, David Puttnum, Alex Head, Tiffany Sorrows, James Sullivan and Mark Sullivan Jr. Call me if you know of oth ers who are serving in the Armed Forces, and please remember them and their families when you pray. Those who are sick in our com munity include many who have cancer and need our prayers. Those on the sick list are: Ray Bellamy, Cindy Hogman, Erika Barker, Gracie Turpin, the Rev. Leon Brown of North Carolina, Mildred Garrison, Perry Smith, Horace Whitfield, Mary Ruth McCoy, Penny McClure, David Dunson, David Campbell, Mae Chitwood Smith, Ruth Evans, Dristan Tyndell, Trinity Brown, Elizabeth Cook, Juno and Bobbi Samples, Cranford Smith, David Smith, Ruby Nix, Roy Broome, Royce Jones, Steve Fattig, the Rev Leroy Burns, Blanch Burns, Odell Wade, Zine Bell Wade, Claudette Griffin, Loy Palmer, Van Chase, Allene Montgomery, Wayne Holcomb, Joshua Thomas, Dennie Maxwell, Karen Adkins, Angie Roach, Henry Galloway, Mrs. Bobby Blackwell, Mary Sims, Darian Gray, Jerri Gray, Frank Cronic, Dan Tomlin, Jerry Poole, Greg Baker, Cidney Wilson, Jeremy Gaddis, Johnny Westbrook, Tommy Gray of Cornelia, Jerry Carlan, Luther Campbell, Echo Evans, Carol Dean Beck, Johnnie Dalton, Allan Poe of Commerce, Chad Standridge, Scott McClure, Winford Baker, the Rev. Jerry Smith, Coy Marlow, Betty Griffin, Bennie Jackson, Clifford Wilson, Elizabeth Wilson, William Wilson, Christine Chitwood, Johnny Smallwood, Eddie Borders, Pauline Arfin, J.D. Pritchett. Crystal Medlock, Joann Broome, Michelle McClure, Mary Bell Echols and J.R. Boswell. Remember our family when you pray. If you know others that are sick, please call me so I can add their name to our prayer list. Happy birthday to: Beverly Wood, Calvin Crocker, Clay Martin, Bessie Brock and Brenda Whitfield,. Happy anniversary to Mike and Beverly Wood. Cantrell serving in Afghanistan CpI. Kenneth Russell Cantrell Cpl. Kenneth Russell Cantrell, a U.S. Marine from Banks County, is serving his second tour of duty in the Middle East in Afghanistan. He served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. He is married to Tiffany Marie Watkins Cantrell, Banks County, and they have sev en-month-old twin sons, Isaac and Isaiah. Those who want to write to him can do so at: Cpl. Cantrell, Kenneth R., WPNS CO HQ PLT, 1/6, Unit 73145, FPO AE 09510-3145. mmnn www.cspeedforsheriff.com Email: cspeed@cspeedforsheriff.com A VOTE FOR THE FUTURE" Paid for by the candidate. CASA VOLUNTEERS SWORN IN Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Guidry swore in 11 new CASA volun teers March 6, and nine more volunteers are in training. Shown are: (front row) Leah Dean, Melissa Sims, Ofelia Bridgeford, Julie Croy, Diane Feeman, Volunteer Coordinator Jackie Love; (second row) Nathaniel Dean, Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca Boles, Tracey Shackelford, Gladys Romanowski, Michelle Pitts, Norm McLees, Adrian Whiddon; and (behind them) Judge Kevin Guidry. CASA members attended conference Eight community CASA vol unteers and three staff from Piedmont CASA attended the Georgia CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) State Conference, Continuing the Journey - Celebrating 20 Years of CASA in Georgia, in Atlanta on Saturday, April 26. “This conference will enhance volunteer skills as they work with abused and neglected children in foster care,” leaders state. “The event occurs in April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, and begins the kick-off of the 20th anniver sary of CASA in Georgia.” CASA director Annette Raymond said: “With three chil dren abused or neglected every hour in Georgia, enhancing the skills of CASA volunteers and other workers in the child welfare system is very important in help ing to end the cycle of child abuse and neglect. The conference will provide participants with an opportunity to learn from experts in the child welfare field and to meet other dedicated CASA vol unteers from across the state.” Workshops were offered on a variety of topics relevant to the work of CASA volunteers. At the conference luncheon, the CASA Volunteer of the Year in Georgia was awarded and all nominees for the award were recognized. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Michael Piraino, CEO of The National CASA Association in Seattle, Wash., since 1994. He holds law degrees from Cornell Law School and Oxford University, has represented chil dren as a guardian ad litem and has been a consultant to inter national social service and child advocacy organizations in Europe and Southeast Asia. Piedmont CASA is an affili ate of Georgia CASA. Georgia CASA is a non-profit organiza tion with 47 community-based programs that train and super vise volunteers to advocate for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and are involved in juve nile court proceedings. Through individual attention, CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of Georgia’s abused, neglected and abandoned children. Bringing urgency to a child’s needs, both in and out of a courtroom, CASA volunteers promote safety, permanency and well-being through independent recommendations. Last year, over 1,800 CASA volunteers in Georgia served over 9,000 children. Locally, Piedmont CASA volunteers served 89 chil dren in 2007 in Jackson, Banks and Barrow counties. Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Guidry swore in 11 new volunteers March 6, and nine more volunteers are in training. For more information about Piedmont CASA, visit www. piedmontcasa.com or call 706-387-6375. To learn more about the CASA organization in Georgia, visit www.gacasa.org or call 800.251.4012. Food distribution planned May 22 The Ninth District Opportunity, Inc., in cooperation with local volunteers, will host a sur plus food distribution at the American Legion Hall in Homer on Thursday, May 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is a first-come, first-served basis. The items expected to be distributed, but not guaranteed, include: veg mix, green beans, black-eyed peas, peas, carrots, grapefruit, juice, apple sauce, can chicken, can pork, can tuna, grits, pinto beans, peanut butter, rice, corn flakes cereal and chunky beef stew. Individuals with qualify ing income will be eligible to receive food from the USDA surplus food distribution free of charge, officials state. The income guidelines per month are: One in the home, $1,107; two in the home, $1,484; three in the home, $1,861; and four in the home, $2,238. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Christy Hill at 706-677-3921 or visit www. ndo.org. $5 00 OFF Ticket Of t 20 10 Or More. Valid with coupon Mon.-Thurs. only. La Hacienda Commerce La Hacienda Jefferson 173 Steven B. Tanger Blvd. 605 Athens Street 706-335-7458 706-367-5095 The Original Mexican Restaurant! Not affiliated with any other restaurant. Hay season is here for Banks Co. Hay production is a big commod ity in Banks County. Growing nearly 8,000 acres of land in grass for hay, many farmers are preparing to begin cutting, raking, and baling that precious hay that we lacked so much of last summer. Hay producers are going to have an even tougher time this year than last year because of rising prices. Fuel prices are now exceeding $4 per gallon and nitrogen fertilizers are up as high as $550 per ton. On top of these increased production costs, the continuing drought is causing grass to stop growing. So, the farmer has higher pro duction costs to grow and harvest the hay but only about one half to one third of the normal yield at harvest time. Therefore, he has to sell the hay for a higher price and that causes the livestock pro ducers buying his hay to suffer with higher feed costs to get their animals to market. As you can see, this becomes a vicious cycle, involving many more people and businesses than what I have men tioned. Since hay season is getting started, hay producers are servic ing their equipment and watch ing their fields closely, waiting until the grass is at the optimum growth for harvesting quality hay. Most fields being cut now are mostly ryegrass or small grains and fescue that have grown well with the rains we have received during winter and early spring. Many may struggle to get these crops dry in front of the chance of showers coming in. If the hay is baled with too high moisture, there can be major problems with mold production or fire. The ideal moisture levels that hay produc ers will be checking for is 15% moisture for round bales and 18% moisture for square bales. The only accurate method for estimating bale moisture is to dry the forage down. This method involves a simple procedure of using a microwave and a small scale. The details and instructions can be found at the following website: http://www.caes.uga.edu/ commodities/fieldcrops/ forages/pubs/micro- wavemoisturtest.pdf. Even at the target mois ture for hay (ex: 15 per cent for round bales), the bales will go through a “sweat.” Last year, we had very deceiving condi tions. Hay felt dry, but it wasn’t. The stems hold more moisture than the leaves. The leaves may be below the ideal moisture, but the stems may bring up the average moisture level. As a result, there were several hay barns around the state that burned last year and it seemed that it was often ryegrass hay. This is why I recommend storing all round bale hay outside for the first two weeks after bal ing. This allows it to drive off some additional moisture before being confined in the barn. The consequences of baling hay at higher moisture than the ideal will be heat damage (protein/ sugar degradation) and/or spoil age (deterioration and rot). If heat damage is substantial, the heat damaged protein will become so indigestible that the animal becomes protein deficient. If it gets above 180, it may be in dan ger of spontaneous combustion. If it reaches 200, better call the fire department and don’t move it. If a thermometer is not available, a piece of rebar or steel rod can be driven into the center of three or four bales. A couple times a day, come by and grab the metal. If it is too hot to hold onto for very long, it is likely above 140 or so. If it is really, really hot, call the fire department and don’t move it. Temperatures will stabilize after two to three weeks after baling. Hay producers are hoping for a wetter season this year in order to produce more bales (higher yields) stored in the barns. And, for the hay harvested to be of high quality, more precision and efficiency is needed. Bob Waldorf is the Banks County extension agent. Bob Waldorf Compassionate Hospice seeks volunteers Compassionate Hospice is looking for individuals and group organizations that are interested in volunteering some of their time to make a difference in the lives of the terminally ill and their loved ones. Volunteering opportunities BRASELTON TILE FACTORY Tile • Supplies • Installation • Design #1 in Customer Service 9907 Davis Street • Braselton, GA (at the corner of Hwy. 53 & Hwy. 124) 706-654-0819 • 770-962-1254 Open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. include companionship, reading to patients, respite for a care giver, preparing simple meals to clerical support and running errands. For more information, con tact the volunteer coordinator at 678-717-0969 or 678-651-1440. REPUBLICAN w I Milton L. DALTON July 15, 2008 Hardworking - Dedicated - Honest Your vote and influence will be greatlyappreciated. Paid for by the candidate. Craven Pottery Mother’s Day Sale through May 10 Bring in this coupon to purchase any Decorative table set for $195 or any of 5 styles benches for $56 in stock only. Any $1000 online order receives 10% off before mother’s day. Now in Gillsville 770-869-3675 www.cravenoriginals.com KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL GET A HAIRCUT Commerce's Only Barber Shop Family Haircare Bill Wood, Owner Walk-Ins Welcome Wood Barber Shop 581 Ila Road, Lot #1, Commerce (706) 335-5392 • Mon.-Fri. 8-6 Ila Road