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BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2023
Social News
Manage back-to-school stress with routines
By SUSAN MEDINA
“Back to school,” those
three little words may in
spire relief, anxiety, excite
ment, or maybe all of the
above. As children and par
ents transition back to the
school year, it’s important
to take steps to reduce stress
for the whole family.
Chronic stress has been
consistently linked to a
number of negative phys
ical and psychological
outcomes. These impacts
are not limited to adults.
Children can and do suffer
from stress. Luckily, we all
have some power to combat
stress in our lives.
Routines are key to mak
ing transitions as stress free
as possible. Children (and
adults!) thrive when we
know our needs will be met
in a predictable manner. Do
your best to create a daily
structure for getting ready in
the morning, arriving home
from school or work, meals,
and bedtime.
For smoother mornings
(and a tidier house), desig
nate a “launch pad” for each
family member. This is a
space where they can store
their backpack or work bag,
jackets, school IDs, sports
SUSAN MEDINA
equipment, instruments,
lunchbox, etc. If there’s
something special that needs
to go to school that day (for
example, a check for an up
coming field trip), it goes on
the launch pad, too.
When it’s time to hustle
out the door in the morn
ing, every family member
knows exactly where all
their items are. When ar
riving home, items can be
dropped right back off on
the “launch pad,” ready for
tomorrow morning.
A nighttime routine facil
itates a smoother morning.
It also signals to our bodies
that it’s time to start wind
ing down for bed, helping us
relax and fall asleep faster.
A good nighttime routine
might include packing a
lunch, setting out clothes for
the next day, and bathing.
Eliminate screen time in the
hour before bed, if possible.
Sleep is essential for man
aging stress and for healthy
development in children.
School children (ages 6-12)
should get nine to twelve
hours of sleep per night,
according to the American
Academy of Sleep. Teen
agers should get eight to
ten hours. After the fun and
freedom of summer, it may
be difficult to get to bed ear
ly enough. A regular night
time routine will help ease
the transition.
In addition to sleep, pri
oritize healthy movement.
It’s difficult to overstate
the impact physical activi
ty has on our well-being. In
the short term, it improves
cognition abilities and re
duces feelings of anxiety.
In the long term, it serves as
a protective factor against
cardiovascular disease,
type II diabetes, and other
chronic illnesses, in addi
tion to keeping our bones,
muscles, and joints in tip
top shape. The Physical Ac
tivity Guidelines for Amer
icans recommend that kids
and teens get at least one
hour of moderate-to-vigor-
ous physical activity every
day. Adults should get at
least 150 minutes per week.
Physical activity should
be fun! Encourage family
members to explore differ
ent games, sports, and activ
ities to find what they love
to do. Soccer or swimming,
tag or TikTok dancing: if it
gets your heart rate up, it
counts.
For more information on
managing stress and healthy
living, you can visit our
website (extension.uga.edu/
banks) or contact our office
(706-677-6230). Don’t for
get we’re hosting canning
classes in August and Sep
tember! Check our website
or call for more details.
Information for this arti
cle adapted from Mississip
pi State Extension, South
Dakota State Extension,
Harvard University, and the
U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.
Susie Burton Medina is
the UGA Family and Con
sumer Sciences Agent for
Banks and Habersham
counties.
i HON FICTION
The mobile book mobile has made stops at several locations in Banks County this summer. The last stop will be on Friday.
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A Farmers Market is now in place in Maysville. This produce
was offered at a recent market.
Farmers market held
in Homer, Maysville
Farmers are selling their local produce at markets offered
in Maysville and Homer each week.
A Farmers Market is held in Maysville on Saturdays and
Tuesdays each week.. The farmers market will be held at
Veterans Park. The hours will be 8 a.m. to noon on Satur
days, and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. For vendor infor
mation, call 404-281-4928.
The Homer Farmers Market will be held in downtown
Homer from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday on the third Sat
urday of each month.
Chamber CVB golf
tourney planned
The Banks County Chamber of Commerce CVB annual
golf tournament will be held Sept. 29 at Double Oaks Golf
Club, Commerce.
The shotgun start will be at 8:30 a.m.
The fee is $400 for teams and $100 for individuals.
Lunch will be served at the clubhouse.
For registration or more information, call 706-335-4866.
50-year high school
reunion to be held in Lula
The Johnson High School Class of 1973 will hold a 50-
year reunion Saturday. September 16, from 2-5 p.m. at the
Walters Bam, 7712 Persimmon Tree Road in Lula.
The cost is $3 5/person, and payment must be in by Au-
gust28 to allow the caterer to plan for the number of guests.
Mail checks or money orders to: JHS Class of 1973; 5505
Raintree Trace, Oakwood, Ga., 30566. Pack your coolers
with your favorite beverages; and bring your chairs to sit
outside. Water, tea, meats, cheeses, and fruits provided;
along with music, dancing, and games, organizers state.
Contact Jill at 770-531-9942 for more information.
Bluegrass jam held
monthly in Maysville
Friday will be last summer stop for mobile library
The last stop for the sum- library, has made stops at
mer mobile book mobile locations throughout Banks
will be Friday, July 29. County on Fridays during
“Purl,” the pop up rolling June and July.
LOCATIONS *Alto Police Department,
•4 Way Stop in Homer, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. *Lula Academy parking
•Baldwin’s Farmers Mar- lot, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
ket, 11 a.m. to noon.
The first Tuesday of every month a free bluegrass jam for
the community is held in Maysville.
“You never know who is going to show up and play, but
it is always a great time,” organizers state. “ If you’re in the
area it’s a wonderful thing to see.
The bluegrass jam is held at The Soundboard, located at
8 Homer Street, Maysville (directly across the street from
the post office).
The Banks County Board of Commissioners does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to
be held in the board room of the Banks County Courthouse Annex at 150 Hudson Ridge, Homer, Georgia on
August 8, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish the
following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for
the past five years. The millage rates for 2023 are proposed rates.
Current Year Tax Digest and 5-Year History of Levy
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
COUNTYWIDE
Real & Personal
628,045,696
673,062,593
700,114,975
788,610,046
955,546,207
1,153,528,833
Motor Vehicles
17,266,890
17,037,870
15,992,540
12,798,170
12,524,840
13,166,680
Mobile Homes
8,987,161
9,143,763
9,662,095
9,948,325
12,220,993
12,497,218
Timber - 100%
482,460
363,010
465,940
338,958
510,591
532,851
Heavy Duty Equipment
101,412
312,099
223,600
243,200
682,053
551,096
Gross Di est
654,883,619
699,919,335
726,459,150
811,938,699
981,484,684
1,180,276,678
Less M&O Exemptions
130,079,332
131,185,605
131,705,560
153,521,556
178,281,412
217,085,400
Net M&O Digest
524,804,287
568,733,730
594,753,590
658,417,143
803,203,272
963,191,278
Gross M&O Millage
13.209
12.791
12.967
12.611
11.249
10.354
Less Rollback LOST
4.293
4.258
4.548
4.780
4.237
4.000
Net M&O Millage Rate
8.916
8.533
8.419
7.831
7.012
6.354
Total M&O Taxes Levied
4,688,206
4,853,005
5,007,230
5,156,065
5,632,061
6,120,117
Total Co. Value
525,819,421
568,733,730
594,753,590
658,417,143
803,203,272
963,191,278
Total County Taxes Levied
4,688,206
4,853,005
5,007,230
5,156,065
5,632,061
6,120,117
Net Taxes $ Increase
67,976
164,799
154,226
148,834
475,997
488,056
Net Taxes % Increase
1.47%
3.52%
3.18%
2.97%
9.23%
8.67%