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PAGE 2A-THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. AUGUST 24. 2023
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Malachi Byrum (left) graduates from the Dual Achievement Program.
Athens Technical College Academy
recognizes first high school graduates
county in the form of over
time pay.
In contrast to the adminis
trative openings, Baird said
many of the recent appli
cants he’s seen are young,
many who have just grad
uated from high school and
are local to the area. Some
of them do not meet job
qualifications.
Captain Jimmy Patton, a
spokesperson for the sher
iff’s office, recently said
the inmate work details are
only one impact of the va
cancies.
“We answer every call
we get,” he said, “We can’t
not respond to calls.” But at
some point, the department
has to make priorities of
when and which calls are
answered first.
He continued to explain
that call volume in the coun-
A veteran administrator
with the Georgia Department
of Natural Resources (DNR)
is the agency’s new commis
sioner.
The state Board of Natu
ral Resources voted Tuesday
to promote Walter Rabon to
the top post. Rabon has been
serving as interim commis
sioner since the beginning
of July, when Mark Williams
left the DNR to become ex-
ty continues to increase,
meaning deputies encounter
more stress to keep up with
the calls and the county in
curs more overtime pay.
The sheriff’s office is
fighting wage competition
with neighboring counties
by prioritizing promotion
from within the department.
In addition, the department
requires POST Certification
for incoming hires with law
enforcement experience.
All three see little short
term hope for solutions to
the employment shortfalls
in the county.
Higdon says the coun
ty may have to eventually
set priorities and reduce
the number of positions in
county government, ex
plaining that certain func
tions like public safety are
vital while others may need
ecutive director of the Jekyll
Island Authority.
Rabon began his career
with the DNR in 1993 as
a conservation ranger and
worked his way up through
the agency’s Law Enforce
ment Division. He served
there as a major before being
promoted to deputy commis
sioner.
“Throughout his many
years of service ... Walter
Rabon has dedicated himself
to the mission of protecting
to be evaluated.
Patton said this is the
new normal that the coun
try is seeing in all aspects
of life.
Likewise, Baird believes
functions may be forced
to change. He said he sees
artificial intelligence and
technology playing a role
in departments like his.
He said he hates to see
the move in that direction
because it leads to less per
sonal interaction with the
public, something small
communities generally en
joy.
All three see the nation
wide and local employ
ment openings as long
term issues for service.
“I don’t know how to
fix this and I don’t know
anybody who does,” Baird
explained.
hardworking Georgians and
their ability to enjoy our
outdoor spaces,” Gov. Brian
Kemp said Tuesday. “I look
forward to DNR’s continued
success ensuring our state is
a good steward of its natural
resources as he continues to
lead the department.”
Rabon earned a bache
lor’s degree in public ad
ministration from Brenau
University and a master’s
degree from Columbus
State University.
Two students were rec
ognized Friday, Aug. 11,
for earning their high
school diplomas and col
lege certificates simul
taneously through the
Athens Technical College
Academy.
Malachi Byrum of Mad
ison County was one of the
students who participated
in the Dual Achievement
Program (DAP) through
the Academy. Byrum took
courses at the main cam
pus in Athens and received
technician technical certif
icates of credit (TCC’s) in
gas metal arc welding and
gas tungsten arc welding.
“My uncle was a weld
er and I always used to
hang around him,” said
Byrum. “My high school
didn’t have a higher
welding education - they
told me about the [dual
achievement] program,
and it was a lot better
than high school. It gave
me a chance to do what I
liked, rather than sit in a
boring classroom all day.
I’m very hands-on and
mechanically inclined . . .
I’ve been working on cars
since I was like 12.”
Established by Georgia
Senate Bill 204 in 2022,
DAP offers high school
coursework for students
ages 16-21. This allows
enrolled students to com
bine high school courses
and college credit level
coursework for an accred
ited high school diploma
and college level creden
tials for quick entry into
the workforce. ATC is one
of five pilot institutions in
the Technical College Sys
tem of Georgia to offer the
program, which is separate
from the established dual
enrollment program.
“I’m delighted to cel
ebrate our first Dual
Achievement Program
graduates this year and
look forward to enrolling
more students for the up
coming school year,” said
Tia Benn, the executive
director for secondary ini
tiatives who leads the pro
gram at ATC. She joined
the college to help launch
the program less than a
year ago. Nearly two dozen
students enrolled over the
last year and Benn expects
to have over 50 students for
the next academic year.
Cognia accredits the
Athens Technical College
Academy to offer high
school diplomas. There
is no charge for high
school-level coursework;
tuition and textbooks are
covered through dual en
rollment funding for col
lege-level coursework. De
pending on the program of
study, there may be costs
related to the program,
such as tools or lab equip
ment, but the DAP students
are allotted $900 each ac
ademic year to help assist
with course supplies. All
Academy students have
access to the same support
resources as other students,
such as success and career
advisors.
“The ATC Academy
helps us meet the needs
of students where they are
and truly benefits every
one from students and their
families to local school
systems, our college and
ultimately the workforce
that needs graduates with
the skillsets,” said presi
dent Andrea Daniel.
The College’s Career
Plus program in adult ed
ucation also offers high
school coursework for stu
dents over age 18. The first
high school graduate for
the program was in June
— Cecilia Charles Ca
sas earned her diploma as
well as two TCC’s in early
childhood care basics and
CompTIA+.
For more information
about DAP, visit https://
www.athenstech.edu/dap.
For information on Career
Plus, see https://www.ath-
enstech.edu/adulted.
Qualifying for municipal
election being held this week
Qualifying for the Nov. Results will be avail- list will be printed in next
7 General Municipal Elec- able on MadisonJoumal- week’s edition of The
tion is being held this week. TODAY.com and the full Madison County Journal.
Georgia Department of
Natural Resources veteran
promoted to commissioner
By Dave Williams
Capitol Beat News Service
A Atlanta Gas Light
atlantagaslight.com/safety
Smell Gas? Act Fast!
Natural gas is a colorless and odorless fuel. For safety reasons, a chemical odorant called mercaptan is
added for easy detection of a suspected natural gas leak. This odorant has a distinctive "rotten egg"
type odor. Natural gas odors should be reported immediately.
IHay olor a gas? jActue rapido! El gas natural es un combustible incoloro e inodoro. Por razones de seguridad, se le agrega un
aromatizante quimico llamado mercaptano para que se pueda detector facilmente. Este aromatizante tiene un olor caracteristico a
"huevo podrido.” Los olores a gas natural deben informarse de inmediato.
If you detect even a small amount
of this odor in the air:
Si detecta este olor en el aire, por mmimo que sea:
2023 Southern Company Gas. All rights reserved. AGL-22004
Do not try to locate the source of the smell.
No intente localizar la fuente del olor.
the area immediately and alert others.
area inmediatamente y alerte a los demas.
Avoid using any sources of ignition, such as cell phones,
cigarettes, matches, flashlights, electronic devices, motorized
vehicles, light switches or landlines.
Evite usar cualquier fuente de ignicion, por ejemplo, telefonos celulares, cigarrillos,
fosforos, linternas, aparatos electronicos, vehiculos a motor, interruptores de luz o
telefonos fijos.
Call Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 or 911 once you are out
of the area and in a safe place.
Llame a Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 o al 911 una vez que este fuera del area yen un
lugar seguro.