About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 12, 2017)
PAGE 2A THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 : ' r,- fli'. PRESENTS PROGRAM AT LIBRARY “Mrs. Kathy” from Smithgall Wood Nature Center presented a program at the Banks County Public Library. She talked about the North Georgia Indians and how they built their world. ;!1 j li t HANDS-ON PROGRAM A program on North Georgia Indians was the focus of a recent program at the Banks County Public Library. Jackson EMC to receive power from new Georgia solar facilities Jackson EMC is adding an additional 10 MW of solar to its energy portfolio by participating in four new solar generation sites in southern Georgia. These four sites are expected to be in service by 2020 and will bring a total of an additional 200 MW of solar generation to the state. “As northeast Georgia continues to grow, this is an invest ment that makes good business sense for our members,” said Chip Jakins, president and CEO of Jackson EMC. “Our participation in this project brings enough new solar energy to our members to provide electricity to 1,400 average homes.” Jackson EMC members see their power measured in kW on their monthly bills, and 1,000 kW is the same as one MW. With the addition of these 10 MW, Jackson EMC will have a total of 20.7 MW of solar generation capacity. The energy expected with this capacity is roughly 50,000,000 kWh or enough energy to help power 3,200 average residential homes. The impact that the four new solar sites bring to EMC mem bers across Georgia is even bigger. The sites total capacity of 200 MW produces enough power to help supply energy to more than 35,000 average households annually. These new South Georgia sites are only the most recent projects to be developed in ongoing strategic partnership between Silicon Ranch and Green Power EMC. Through this partnership Silicon Ranch will develop, own and maintain the solar generation on the four new South Georgia sites. Green Power EMC will then purchase the generated energy and environmental attributes on behalf of its members, like Jackson EMC. The two organizations have previously worked together to develop a 20 MW solar site in Jeff Davis County, near Hazle- hurst in 2015 and a recently dedicated 52 MW site, also near Hazlehurst. More than 30 EMCs, including Jackson EMC, ben efit from the power generated at those two sites. “Georgia’s EMCs deserve enormous credit for their vision to provide competitively-priced, renewable power to their mem bers,” said Green Power EMC President Jeff Pratt. “Continued improvements in solar cost and technology will help our EMCs meet their members’ interest in solar energy and maintain competitive energy costs. We are proud to partner again with Silicon Ranch to provide solar energy to them at such an affordable cost.” Head Start taking applications Banks County Head Start/Pre-K program is continuing to accept applications for the 2017-2018 school year. “This program provides children with a learning environ ment and varied experiences which will help them develop socially, physically, intellectually, and emotionally in a manner which is appropriate for their age and stage of development,” leaders state. Head Start enrollment status is based on income eligibility. Children must turn three or four years of age on or before Sep tember 1, 2017. Requirements include: birth certificate, proof of household income for past 12 months (w-2 and current check stub, etc.), immunizations on form 3231, social security card (if available), and child’s insurance card (if available). Georgia Pre-K enrollment status is on a first-come, first- served basis. Children must turn four years of age on or before September 1, 2017. Requirements include: birth certificate, proof of residency (utility bill, etc.), immunizations on form 3231, social security card (if available), and child’s insurance card (if available). For more information, contact Jan Bertrang (center direc tor) or Shelia Mullins (family partner) at (706) 677-2963. Freshmen, upperclassmen open houses planned at BCHS Banks County High School will host a freshmen cookout during open house on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the freshmen wing of BCHS. Students will be able to pick up schedules, meet the Team Freshmen faculty and take an informal tour. A hot dog dinner will be provided free of charge. UPPERCLASSMEN OPEN HOUSE BCHS upperclassmen open house will be on Thursday August 3, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Students will be able to pick up schedules and meet teachers. All parents are invited as well. Locker and parking permits will also be available for pur chase during this time. Parking and locker permit applications must be signed by a parent and are available in the front foyer of the high school. The fee for a locker is $5 and parking permits are $50. No new student registrations will be completed during open house on Thursday August 3, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. PARKING PERMIT BCHS will hold sales for parking permits for the 2017-18 school year. Upcoming seniors may purchase their parking permits on July 19 and July 20 and juniors may purchase them July 26 through July 27. Mighty Leopards parking (All A’s & B’s, no more than three absences, and no discipline referrals from the prior year) are $35 for the year and all other parking passes are $50 for the year. The applications are available in the front foyer of the high school and must include a parent signature as well as insurance information and tag number. As a reminder, all past fees owed must be cleared in order to receive a schedule, parking permit, or locker. Blood drive planned July 24 at high school Expert care. For your whole heart. Athens Regional Cardiology Group is now Piedmont Heart Institute The Banks County High School HOSA (Future Healthcare Professional of America) is hosting a blood drive on Monday July 24, from 2 to 7 p.m. in the activity room at the school. “This is an urgent need time of year for the American Red Cross,” organizers state. “Please help and donate. Bottom line is you will help save lives plus send students to conference this fall.” Students will receive $10 per pint over the first 30 pints donat ed. This money will go towards the students HOSA activities for the fall leadership conference. Go to redcrossblood.org and enter “BCHS” to schedule an appointment. At Piedmont Heart Institute, we offer the most advanced treatments available. But we also know it's ultimately people who heal people. So we're proud to welcome Athens' finest to the Piedmont family. Their expertise and compassion make us—and you—stronger. piedmont.org/AthensCardiology 706.752.7343 ["1 Piedmont HEART
