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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. JULY 23, 2009 — PAGE 11A
Rotary constructs ramp for Beard
The Rotary Club of Madison County constructed a 24-foot handicapped ramp
Tuesday, July 14, for Bertha Beard, who lives on Hwy. 174. Her daughter, Elena
Hart, contacted Rotarian Susan Taylor about the ramp for her mother. Beard
came to Madison County as a young bride in 1934. Her husband, Dupree, was
a local farmer until his death in 1978. She had several jobs, including working
as a seamstress at Colbert Manufacturing Company. She is a member of the
Bluestone Church on Hwy. 29. She has one surviving child, four grandchildren,
and five great-grand children. Mrs. Hart made a donation to the Rotary Club
to help with their ramp service program. Workers on the ramp included Susan
Taylor, Tony Taylor, Pat Quinn, Roy Gandy, Artry Bishop, Ed Brown, Erwin
Hardeman and Jerry Bond.
Lutz family benefit set for Aug. 22
Salts earns rank of Eagle Scout
Hayden Salts
Madison County resident
Hayden Salts, 18, of Oconee
Troop 149, received the rank of
Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor
ceremony at Moriah Primitive
Baptist Church in Colbert July 19.
Neighbors, friends and family
attended the ceremony in celebra
tion of his earning the highest rank
in Boy Scouts.
His Eagle Scout award was pre
sented by Paul Matthews, Troop
149 scoutmaster. Other members
of his Scout troop participated in
the ceremony as well as Crestful
Reeves, who acted as chairman
for the Adult Learning Center of
Comer, and worked with other
learning centers that are part of
the Athens Technical College
System.
Athens Technical College has
several of these adult leaning
centers located throughout many
counties including Madison, Clark,
Elbert, Hart, Oconee, Oglethorpe,
Taliaferro, Walton, and Wilkes.
These learning centers help adult
citizens learn how to read, brush
up on math and reading skills they
may need for their current jobs,
and others go there to prepare to
take the GED test.
For his project. Salts designed
and led others in his troop in
constructing, sanding and staining
nine book shelves that are now
being used in these centers to help
facilitate the multiple books that
are used to teach adult learners
the skills they need to acquire in
order to improve their lives. The
man hours put into completing
this project totaled 151. Madison
County Hardware donated all of
the wood needed to complete the
project, and the Lowes Home
Improvement Center of Bogart in
Athens made a monetary dona
tion.
Salts has been in scouting since
he was 7 years old, when he joined
Cub Scout Pack 46 in Seattle,
Washington. After his family
moved to Georgia, Salts joined
Troop 149, and has been there ever
since. He has held several lead
ership positions and has earned
27 merit badges ranging from
Lifesaving to Model Railroading.
Salts plans to continue serving
in an adult leadership position at
troop 149 now that he has earned
the Eagle rank and has turned 18.
Salts resides in Madison County
and graduated early from his
homeschool program. He is a
junior at Emmanuel College in
Franklin Springs, and is working
on earning his pre-med degree
in hopes of becoming a doctor
some day.
A benefit is being organized for
former sheriff's deputy, Sergeant
Tom Lutz and his wife, Leah,
of Danielsville, to help alleviate
some of the financial burdens they
are facing due to health problems,
according to organizers.
A barbecue pork plate fundrais
er is set for Aug. 22, with more
information to follow. Any mon
etary donations to the Lutz fam
ily in the meantime can be made
at any Merchants and Farmers
Bank branch. A motorcycle ride
is also being organized as part
of the benefit and volunteers are
needed. For more information,
or to volunteer, email Jennifer
at lutzfamilybenefit@yahoo.com
or call 706-202-5073. Donations
may also be mailed to: Merchants
and Farmers Bank - Ila Branch,
P.O. Box 638, Commerce, GA
30530.
According to a press release,
the Lutz family has been a part of
the Madison County community
for more than 10 years. Tom Lutz
has served his community as a
sergeant with the sheriff's office
since 1999. He has also volun
teered as a youth soccer coach
for the recreation department and
other causes. Before settling in
Madison County, Lutz served 13
years in the Army and is a veteran
of the Gulf War (Desert Shield/
Desert Storm) 1990-91 and is a
war hero. As a medic with the
2 nd Battalion 7 th Infantry, 24 th ID,
he was awarded his first Bronze
Star with a "V” for valor and a
second Bronze Star while serving
in Bosnia from 1996-97.
His wife, Leah, has been a
volunteer for the Danielsville
Fall Festival committee since its
inception in 2001. She has also
helped to bring awareness and
raise money for a cure for mul
tiple sclerosis and served with
the MCHS Soccer Boosters, Boy
Scouts and the Girl Scouts.
Recently, Sgt. Lutz was diag
nosed with a lung disease as a
result of chemical exposure while
serving the Gulf War. According
to the press release, his doctors
have said that his only option for
a full recovery is a lung transplant.
Now he has been forced to apply
for disability and is unable to
work. He is left with a barrage of
medical treatments, medications
and constant medical expenses,
the release stated. "This diagnosis
has put a severe strain on the
Lutz family and has overwhelmed
them both financially and emo
tionally,” the release said.
Mrs. Lutz was diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis, a disabling
neurological disease, in 2003.
The disease has progressed over
the last six years, leaving her with
limited mobility. "Even through
the difficult treatments, along
with the painful and debilitating
effects of MS, she has taken care
of her household and continues
to volunteer for different causes,”
benefit organizers said. "She has
been a constant advocate for the
citizens of this county as well as
others.”
The couple have two children,
Alex, a 2006 MCHS graduate,
and Stephanie, who is a junior at
Sexton selected as finance
chairman for state YMCA
Bannister Sexton has been selected to serve as the 2009 chairman of the
Madison County/Danielsville Finance Drive for the State YMCA program
in middle and high schools in Georgia through Hi-Y, Tri-Hi-Y and Co-ed
“Y” Clubs.
“Y” Clubs are leadership development, service-oriented faith-based
school clubs for sixth-twelfth grade students statewide. These “Y” Club
members learn by doing. They conduct monthly school and community
service projects and participate in a variety of conferences geared towards
government education and Christian character. The YMCA is currently in
the process of starting up “Y” Clubs at the local middle and high schools.
For more information on the State YMCA of Georgia, visit www.yclub.
org or call 770-455-9622.
MCHS this year. Alex played soc
cer, served as a volunteer coach at
the recreation department and is
an Eagle Scout with Troop 377.
Stephanie is a fall festival and
Harmony House Ride to Survive
volunteer and enjoys scouting.
‘Through their parents' illness
es, they both have had to grow up
very quickly and accept more than
their fair share of family responsi
bilities,” the release stated.
“Through their many efforts,
the Lutz family has always given
with open aims and full hearts,
never expecting to gain anything,
only being thankful they could
help," organizers said. "Please
help us give back to them a little
of what they have given to us.”
Pet of the Week
The Madison-Oglethorpe
Animal Shelter has plenty of
dogs and puppies, cats and
kittens for adoption. This
week’s featured “Pet of the
Week” is Church, a three-year-
old domestic short-haired cat.
Church has been at the shel
ter for four months, and it’s
time for him to move in with
his own permanent family,
shelter officials said. “He’s a
very sweet boy, but so much
time here has made him a lit
tle withdrawn, though he gets
lots of ‘hellos’ and pats on the
head,” officials added. “Come
visit him or call to hear more
about this little charmer.”
Church is a “last chance” pet
so his adoption fee is just $45,
which includes FELV testing,
FVRCP and rabies vaccina
tions, deworming and neuter.
Call 706-795-2868.
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County
Journal is
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