About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2011)
PACE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011 PUBLIC SAFETY Prepare for winter's emergencies GEMA encourages residents to resolve to plan ahead in case storm strikes From a crippling freeze to deadly tornadoes, Georgians have experi enced their share of severe weather in 2011. With the holiday season under way and the end of the year approaching, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security's (GEMA) Ready Georgia campaign is asking all residents, families and businesses to make preparedness one of their New Year’s resolutions. From losing weight to kicking smoking and reducing debt, many individuals focus on a list of goals each January designed to boost hap piness and health throughout the year. Unfortunately, many fail to include personal preparedness. According to a 2011 survey con ducted by GEMA, eight out of 10 Georgians admit that preparation, planning and emergency supplies will help them handle a large-scale disaster, yet only one in 10 has taken the necessary steps toward personal preparedness. “The damage caused by recent disasters serves as an unfortunate reminder of the importance of pre paredness,” said Charley English, director of GEMA/Homeland Security. “As you gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays, take the time to talk about prepared ness. Make a resolution you can keep and ring in the New Year with a plan in place.” To prepare for manmade or natural disasters, follow three simple steps: •Create a ready kit of emergency supplies, including nonperishable food, water, a NOAA all-hazards weather radio and flash light with extra batteries •Develop a communications plan to reconnect with family •Stay informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and appropriate responses Visitors to Ready Georgia’s web site, www.ready.ga.gov, can create an online profile to receive a tai lored plan for the entire family that includes the specific amount of sup plies to put in their household ready kits. They can also find local emergen cy contact information, learn about Georgia-specific disasters and read preparedness testimonials from local sports stars. Employers can use the Ready Your Business guide to create cus tom contingency plans and children can visit the ReadyKids page for age-appropriate information, videos and games. For preparedness on the go, families can also download Ready Georgia’s free mobile app to learn how to prepare for emergencies, cre ate family communications plans and more. Research has revealed that individu als aware of the Ready Georgia cam paign are more than twice as likely to be prepared for a large-scale emergen cy as others — ultimately increasing their chance of surviving a potentially deadly storm and reconnecting with loved ones after a disaster. “Being prepared is the best defense against the unexpected, so use this opportunity to learn how to become your own first responder during emergency situations,” said English. “Tornadoes, storms and floods can devastate communities, but the dam age can be minimized if we’re pre pared.” Highway fatalities decline for fifth consecutive year For the fifth consecutive year, fatalities on Georgia highways dropped substan tially last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation. A total of 1,244 highway deaths occurred in Georgia in 2010, according to statistics finalized and published this month. That represents a decline of 3.7 percent (48 deaths) from 2009’s 1,292 total and continues an improving trend that began in 2006. Traffic fatalities on Georgia roads in 2010 were down 500 individuals from the record 1,744 deaths that occurred in 2005. 2011 fatalities also remain below 2010 numbers through Monday, 62 fewer than that date a year ago. “While we wish no one was ever even injured on our high ways, we are most gratified by this decline in fatalities,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Keith Golden said in a statement. “This dramatic improvement is a direct result of the Department’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan begun in 2006. That plan features data-driven emphasis areas focused on such things as affordable engineering solu tions, enforcement, motor cycle safety, seatbelt use, and impaired driving. “We’re concentrating on raising public awareness and also on engineering and con struction improvements — things like improved road way drainage, center median cable barriers, rumble strips and driver recovery zones,” he added. “They are mak ing a difference and saving lives.” NEW VETERINARY BOARD MEMBER Jeff Smith (left) stands with Gov. Nathan Deal after being named to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. Joining them are Smith’s wife, Kerith, and daughter, Jessica. SANTA WAVES TO PASSERS-BY Santa was in Homer on Friday before heading out on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to children. Santa could be spotted in downtown Homer waving to children and visiting with those who stopped, as well as handing out chocolate treats. Photo by Angela Gary Lula City Hall to be closed Jan. 2 Lula City Hall will be closed Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of New Year’s Day. The monthly council meeting in January has been resched uled from 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. We Buy All Gold & Silver Cm. Including: Class Rings • Wedding Bands • Coins • Broken Jewelry • Dental Gold Af<zuiesuiU& 770-532-2592 1020 Jesse Jewell Pkwy. • Gainesville, GA Mon. - Thurs. 10-6:30 • Fri. - Sat. 10-7 Happy New Year from the United Country Family! Our team at Community Partners Realty and Auction would like to wish you a new year of happiness and prosperity. Community Partners Realty & Auction 678.963.5390 www.communitypartnersrealtyandauction.coni Comer resident named to state veterinary board JeffW. Smith has been a dairy farmer since 1990 Jeff W. Smith has been named to the state board of veterinary medicine. Smith has been a dairy farmer since 1990. He serves on the board of directors of the American Dairy Association of Georgia, the Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation, the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. and the Southeast Council of Dairy Farmers of America. Smith earned a bach elor’s degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Kerith, reside in Comer and have one daughter, Jessica. The Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine is a six- member board appointed by the Governor to protect, pro mote and preserve the public The board is composed of five licensed, practicing veterinarians and one consumer member. health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Georgia. The board is composed of five licensed, practicing veterinarians and one con sumer member. They are responsible for the regulation of approximately licensed veterinarians, veterinarian technicians and faculty vet erinarians in Georgia. The board reviews applications, administers examinations, licenses qualified applicants and regulates the practice of licensees throughout the state. Complaints are investigated and, if warranted, disciplinary action may be taken by the Board. FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH, YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS! Let your members know when your group is meeting! Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date In... • The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News • The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal ' JEFFERSON AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION www.jaba-ga.org Meets 3rd Thurs. • 11:45 a.m. Community Bank & Trust Bldg. 71 Memorial Drive Pilot Club of Jefferson Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm Jefferson City Club House 706-367-9313 or 706-693-4715 m BANKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441 North in Homer pa. 07/12 DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS & AUXILIARY Joe Brown Conally, Chapter 2 meets 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. 1001 Winterville Rd. • Athens, GA Watter Butler, Commander Pd. 5/12 ATHENS AMERICAN LEGION Ip 5 ' Post 20 Meets each 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m. Coy Gibson, Post Commander Home (706) 742-7975 pecogib@windstream.net pj 07/12 A UNITY LODGE F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Tom Hays *678-316-7492 Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260 St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Mission Mass Schedule: Fri. 9 a.m., Sat. 4:00 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m., Thurs. 12:10 p.m. First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org 706-367-7220 ™ JEFFERSON ^ AMERICAN LEGION Albert Gordon Post 56 Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Harvie Lance, Commander Phone (706) 654-1274 sto THE MADISON COUNTY RETIRED EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION meets September - June on the second Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. at the Ila Restaurant in Ila. There is no local meeting in July and August. Troyce Ann Pawlowski, President 706-548-7996 nan A ROCKWELL W LODGE F& A.M. / V \ No. 191, Hoschton, GA 2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m. www.rockwelllodgel 91 .com Two blocks behind Larry’s Garage West Broad at Hall Street 13827 HUMANE SOCIETY OF JACKSON CO. 2011 Meeting date: November 8 at 7 p.m. November meeting to be held at Braselton-Stover House on Hwy. 53 in Braselton, Ga. Program: TBA Light refreshments served. No Charge. 706-367-1111 •www.hsjc.com JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB Meets Tuesdays Jefferson City Clubhouse 12:30 p.m.* (706) 367-0718 Ron King, President ° 547 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m. *(706) 367-9349 Jimmy Mock, President 5+2 BANKS COUNTY £“I AMERICAN LEGION Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In Homer, GA at the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 Pd.07/12 As BANKS COUNTY E j AMERICAN LEGION W AUXILIARY-Post 215 Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m. In the American Legion Building at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy., Homer, GA Pd.2/12 JACKSON COUNTY pi12,12 REPUBLICAN PARTY Meets 2nd Sat. of each month Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Meeting starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. Jefferson Clubhouse, 302 Longview Drive, Jefferson - Everyone welcome! www.JacksonGOP.org
