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WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 3B STATE RUN Jamail Jennings will compete in the 400-meter dash at the state track meet. Photo by Randy Crump THREE EVENTS Jay Harn will compete in three events at the state meet this week in Jefferson. Photo by Lyn Sengupta STATE THROW Lyn Hester will make his state meet debut Thursday in Jefferson. Photo by Justin Poole Track ... continued from page 1B Ham won state in the shot put last spring and was second in both the 200 and 800 events. “He is looking forward to state and is working hard to improve on last year’s results,” Moffett said. “Jay will be graduating in May and his goal is to go to school in Pennsylvania and play wheelchair basketball. We are looking forward to Jay being able to do that.” Hester is scheduled to throw Thursday at 2 p.m. with Ham com peting at 4 p.m. Jennings will compete in his quali fying run Friday at 12:55 with the finals on Saturday at 1 p.m. Ham will also compete Saturday in the 800 at 2:30 p.m. and 200 at 4 p.m. “We are looking forward to each one of these athletes doing their best at state,” Moffett said. “Each one has worked hard and deserves to have a good showing this week.” First and Ten ... continued from page 1B The annual spring scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. Yes, the first game of the 2008 season is still weeks, months even, away. However, work has already been ongoing for months. That’s what many casual observers don’t understand about high school football and high school athletics in general. You don’t begin practice a few weeks before the season and then show up for games. Work for a new season begins almost as soon as the old one ends. That’s something that coaches who’ve been in the trenches know all too well. Coaches in the stands many times don’t understand it. It’s something they would be wise to think about when they begin criticizing a coach or a program. For the BCHS football team, the future is a bright one. It’s a future which has been in the making for many years. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years to be successful. Those years of work could be about to pay off. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or e-mail comments to chris@mainstreetnews.com. SAFE AT HONE (Top) Jeff Smith, sliding safely into home plate during a game earlier this spring for BCHS, will help lead the Leopards into state play Friday on the road. (Bottom) BCHS will count on the offense of Tyler Hulsey during its state playoff run. Photos by Randy Crump/Rudeseal Photo State Baseball ... continued from page 1B The Leopards are a relatively young team this season. Only two seniors — Alex Gailey and Aaron Wagoner — are on the varsity ros ter. Gailey has been a dual threat on the pitcher’s mound and at the plate while Wagoner has helped anchor the defense from his second base position. Lord will look to both of his seniors for leadership during the team’s run through state. “We have done a good job of plan ning and being prepared to this point in the season,” the coach said. “We will look to give Holy Innocents’ our best. We’re excited to be part of the state tournament.” The Leopard players and coaches are scheduled to depart from the school Friday morning for the trip to Atlanta for that afternoon’s double header. Re-Elect GENE HART Chairman Banks County Board of Commissioners All-Stars are born here. All-Stars work here. To fans of the Atlanta Braves, catcher Brian McCann is the All-Star in the photo below, but for us at Athens Regional, the woman behind him is the All-Star on our team. That woman is Brian's mother, Sherry, and she's been a nurse in our Special Care/Neonatal ICU for the past 12 years. And in 1984, Sherry gave birth to the future Major League baseball player in our hospital. "With 30 years of nursing experience, I could work just about anywhere," says Sherry. "But I have chosen Athens Regional because I love the people, I love this community and I love the way everyone at this hospital cares for each patient." We see this same sentiment throughout Athens Regional. In fact, focus on care at all levels is the essence of our healthcare approach. At Athens Regional Medical Center, excellent care comes first. I am seeking Re-Election for Chairman of Banks County Board of Commissioners. My campaign platform focuses on meeting the changes Banks County will be facing in the next four years. As Chairman, I have worked on many improvements and accomplishments for Banks County. Here are some highlights: • Approved three budgets with no tax increase. • Expansion of Fire and EMS protection. • New industrial companies. • Improvements and expansion of water system. • Worked with others to obtain a $5,000,000 Federal grant to develop and improve Banks County’s water resources. I would appreciate your vote and the opportunity to continue progress in Banks County serving as your Chairman of the Banks County Board of Commissioners. Questions/Concerns? Contact Information: 706-340-0825 (C) or gene@bcrp.org Athens Regional MEDICAL CENTER A passion for medical excellence Athens Regional Nurse, Sherry McCann with her son Brian, All-Star catcher for the Atlanta Braves (born at Athens Regional in February of 1984). 1199 Prince Avenue • Athens, Georgia 30606 • 706-475-7000 www.armc.org