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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 | THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 | WWW.GEORGIASENTINEL.COM

Lower your property tax

Assessed value could be too high By: Elaine Owen Sentinel Writer Property tax is legally based on a home's fair market value, as determined periodically by the county Tax Assessor. With the current economic downturn the market value of many homes has fallen; in some cases, substantially. Because counties are not required to re-assess homes annually, the valuation assigned to a home may not reflect the current market.

For the most part, current market value of a home is reflected in the price at which comparable homes in the area have been recently selling. If the tax assessor's fair market value is clearly greater than what a homeowners believes the home's actual value to be, the homeowner has every right to act to update that valuation.

Changing a home's tax value begins with the homeowner filing a Real Property Tax Return indicating what they believe the value of the home to be. Filing a Real Property Return is not an appeal, it simply triggers a re-assessment of the property. After the Tax Assessor has reviewed the homeonwner’s proposed valuation and determined what, if any value adjustment to make, a Notice of Assessment will be mailed to the homeowner reflecting any changes in the county's valuation. If the homeowner is satisfied with the re-assessed value, no further action is required and the homeowner’s 2010 taxes will be based on the new valuation. Value issues are often resolved by the Assessor accepting the value indicated on the Tax Return, or by an acceptable property re-assessment.

If the homeowner disagrees with the value indicated in the Notice of Assessment, they have 45 days to file an appeal. The homeowner will want to gather and submit evidence supporting what they believe the value of the property to be. Specific instruction including deadlines concerning the appeals process will be included in the Notice of Assessment.

He survived the Nazi death camps Holocaust surviver: 'Don't take your freedom for granted.'

By: Lisa Gagnon Sentinel Writer A2623. The numbers are indelibly imprinted on Jaap Groen's mind... and on his forearm.

The 85-year-old Groen, a Holocaust survivor, told his story to approximately 200 eighth-graders at Fannin County Middle School March 22. The students have been reading "The Diary of Anne Frank" and studying the Holocaust for about nine weeks, according to teacher Susie Horton.

This wasn't the first time Groen has spoken to Fannin County students. He said he is impressed the students spend so much time on the Holocaust.

"In most schools, they learn a little about the Holocaust. In this school, it's amazing," he said.

Groen told the rapt audience that he was a boy of 15 in Amsterdam, Holland, when Adolf Hitler came to power.

In October of 1940, he had his first experience with the Nazis.

"When I arrived at school, there were two German Nazi soldiers at school," he said.

The soldiers first asked if he was Jewish, and when he said he was, they told him he could no longer go to school.

"In Holland, we never knew we were Jews and different from the rest," he said.

Groen asked the students who was killed during the Holocaust.

"Bisexuals," "Jews," "gypsies," replied various students. Jews, Poles, Communists, Soviet prisoners, dissenters, homosexuals, gypsies, political prisoners, disabled people and others were all interned in concentration camps.

He said it was important to remember that six million Jews were not the only ones killed by Hitler's regime.

Groen's father, a diamond cutter, assured his son that Hitler disliked only German Jews, so they were safe, Groen reminisced.

"That was not true," he stated.

In 1941, Groen attended a Jewish school. He lived near the Franks and was friendly with Margot, Anne's older sister.

"That's when I made the biggest mistake of my life...I made a poster

Governor to appoint special Attorney General to sue U.S. government By: Elaine Owen Sentinel Writer

Contributed Photos

Above: Holocaust survivor Jaap Groen told eighth-graders at Fannin County Middle School about his experiences.

Right: After Jaap Groen's presentation about the Holocaust, art teacher Lori Jenkins presented him with a butterfly made by students.

against the Nazis," he said.

Groen drew a picture of a swastika inside a red circle with a slash, copied it off on a school duplicator and posted flyers around town.

"I thought it was funny," he remarked.

Three hours later, while the family was eating dinner, the Nazis arrested all three Groens.

Groen said he did not know what happened to his parents at that time, but he was imprisoned at Camp Westerbork, a concentration camp in Holland. He was then shipped to Germany and back to Holland.

Back at Westerbork, he, along with other Jews, was shipped to Auschwitz.

"That was really where, for me, the real Holocaust started," he said.

Groen said that during three days in August, he and other prisoners

were shipped in freight cars with no food, no water and a bucket for refuse.

Debarking at Auschwitz, they were met by a group of Nazi officers led by Dr. Josef Mengele, called "The Angel of Death."

"He decided if you were killed immediately or later...If he pointed to the right, you stayed alive for a little while; to the left was the gas chambers," he said. "They didn't tell the people it was a gas chamber.

They told them it was the showers."

Prisoners received a ration of

soup and, at night, a slice of crumbly bread. The soup, he said, smelled like soup, but didn't taste like it.

Sometimes, even the starving prisoners couldn't eat it.

The day started at 5 a.m., and roll call was at 6 a.m. If one person was missing, the rest of the prisoners ran the risk of being abused or killed as punishment.

"Cruelty was not just an occasional sin," Groen remarked. If someone didn't work fast enough, he would be knocked down or killed.

Groen then asked the students See Survivor, page 6A

Gov. Sonny Perdue said he will appoint a special attorney general to sue the federal government over the new federal health care reform law.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, the governor said he plans to assemble a team of lawyers to file the suit after Attorney General Thurbert Baker refused Perdue’s request to sue.

Baker is a Democrat who is seeking the democratic nomination to succeed Perdue, who is barred from running again due to term limits.

"I think in this economy, in this America that we all grew up in and love, forcing people to purchase things they don’t want to purchase, I think, violates a constitutional right that they have," Perdue said.

Perdue was referring to a part of the new federal legislation that requires nearly everyone to be insured or face paying a fine, starting in 2014. He also said the law would cost the state millions of dollars every year by expanding Medicaid rolls, forcing the state health insurance plan to cover the adult children of state workers up to age 26 and requiring the state to set up a health care purchasing exchange.

Perdue is not alone in his concerns about how Georgia will pay for mandates in the legislation. Other states have expressed concerns (mainly) over how expansion of Medicaid would impact their budgets, and many expect to sue the federal government.

In a two-page response to Gov. Perdue, Baker wrote, "I cannot justify a decision to initiate expensive and timeconsuming litigation that I believe has no legal merit. In short, this litigation is likely to fail and will consume significant amounts of taxpayers’ hard-earned money in the process."

Following Baker’s refusal of the governor's request to sue, the state constitution gives the governor the right to appoint a special attorney general who will have the same power as the state attorney general in this specific matter, Perdue said.

Georgia probably will not join the See Lawsuit, page 4A

Fannin County named Trout Capital of Georgia Am I my brother's keeper?

By: Lisa Gagnon Sentinel Writer

Contributed Photo

Speaker David Ralston requested the resolution in early March.

Fannin

Sentin el P.O. Box 799 Blue Ridge, GA 30513

Fannin County was named the Trout Capital of Georgia March 22.

According to Georgia House of Representatives Communications Director Kristy Lindstrom, Speaker David Ralston requested that a resolution be drawn up to designate Fannin County as the Trout Capital in early March. Legislative Counsel drafted the resolution in midMarch.

"As one of the top spots for trout fishing in the southeast, Fannin County is truly the trout fishing capital of Georgia. According to a recent survey, 45 percent of our visitors utilize the Toccoa River for recreation when they visit here," remarked Jan Hackett, president of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce.

The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited initiated the effort, according to its president,

Mike Holloway. The idea has been supported by county Chairman Bill Simonds, city mayors and the Chamber of Commerce, he added.

"The Blue Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited appreciates the support of the Honorable David Ralston for his support in making this resolution a reality," Holloway noted.

Hackett commended the chapter for its efforts in earning the county the designation, as well as its work to maintain the area's abundant natural resources.

"Much credit should go to our great Trout Unlimited chapter for their promotion of trout fishing in Fannin County; their care of the rivers and streams in the area; and the education of our young people to the richness of our water resources and fisheries and the need to protect them," Hackett commented.

The resolution designating Fannin County the Trout Capital of Georgia was introduced by Speaker David Ralston.

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Cherry Log church says yes.

By: Elaine Owen Sentinel Writer

It began January 12, 2010 when disaster struck with an earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As news filled the air waves that thousands were lost and the lives of children were in peril, a man in Ft. Lauderdale was burdened with their plight.

"Somebody needs to help them," thought John . Then a Haitian Florida condominium maintenance man shared his concerns with John and asked him to speak to his pastor, Henry Jules, about the church’s ministry to Haitian refugees.

Dickenson began following up on leads. He and his wife, Joan, met with Rev. Henry Jules, Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, who explained their ministry in the Baptist compound in Jimani, Dominican Republic.

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Dickenson made a call to his long-time friend in Fannin County, Bill Harrison and persuaded him to join his efforts to help the Haitian people.

In February, Dickenson and Harrison flew to the Dominican Republic and drove into Haiti to do a 10-day feasibility study of needed projects among the Haitian Southern Baptist Convention churches at the request of the Ft. Lauderdale pastor, Henry Jules, with the blessing of their home church, Cherry Log Christian Church in Cherry Log, Georgia.

They stayed at the Jimani compound just inside the Dominican Republic-Haiti border. "It’s 35 miles from Port au Prince to the Dominican Republic," said Dickenson, "and that’s a two-lane road with half the See Keeper, page 4A

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GEORGIA SENTINEL ‡ 7KXUVGD\ $SULO

CO LU MNS & O P I N I O NS

By Jim Fitzgerald Sentinel Guest Columnist

LEANING LEFT

In earlier columns, I have upset conservative readers by suggesting that their response to Democratic governing has been to throw temper tantrums and to engage in actions that border on anarchy. One reader suggested that my view reflected a fear of conservatives.

In particular, this writer thought I had real problems accepting “thinking folks� that disagreed with me. I do confess to a fear of non-thinking, viscerally oriented folks but thinking people excite me. However, I must ask the conservatives where the “thinking folks� are hiding. Party leaders and quasi-leaders sound just like the protestors outside the Capitol.

It has been one gigantic, ugly, very ugly temper tantrum, especially since health care reform became the law of the land.

I have been looking for “thinking folks� within the conservative community. I prefer to discuss important issues with people who disagree with me. I have written before that I think the very best ideas come from the political dialogue between opposing views.

Unfortunately, such dialogue requires all parties to seek a melding of ideas in order to forge dynamic solutions to thorny issues. This is the point where conservatives left the farm. Their message has been “my way or the highway.� Alternatively, as John Boehner said, “No, we can’t!�

Whereas my previous characterization of conservative behavior may have been controversial, it should now be obvious that my description was actually tame.

Conservatives are acting like hysterical children throwing a prolonged temper tantrum. First, and this addresses the writer, conservatives have failed to put forth a reasonable set of arguments against the current health care reform bill. Nor have they provided any details of how they would reform the system. Yes, I am aware they put out a 219-page document outlining their proposed changes but it was an outline. Outlines lack the specific details that allow one to examine and determine

exactly how the changes would affect the consumer. Where are the “thinking folks� in the conservative movement?

Second, conservatives gave us managed care in 1994 using the same principles outlined in their current 219-page document. Using those principles, people are denied coverage, pre-existing conditions are not covered or there is a long waiting period, cesarean section can be considered a pre-existing condition, people can lose their policy if they get sick, managed care panels determine whether to approve or deny a recommended treatment, and the list of abuses go on. It was conservative principles that created the “donut hole� in the Prescription Drug Bill that costs seniors thousands of dollars a year.

Republicans have had more than 15 years to tweak and reform the health system but did nothing. It took the Democrats to rein in the out-of-control health system that many of us could no longer afford. I have always been puzzled how pro-life adherents can justify abandoning 45 million people without insurance, knowing that about 45,000 a year will die because of a lack of affordable health care. They insist a fertilized egg be brought to term but after birth, the child is on its own. I suppose they are really pro-birth, not prolife.

Third, whether the majority of conservatives are wonderful people or not, the face of the conservative moment is downright ugly. It should never be a problem to have legitimate disagreements.

That is an integral part of this country. However, to disparage, personally attack your opponent, make death threats, and vandalize Congressional offices is very third world, uncivilized, emotional, and hysterical. Limbaugh makes fun of chronic illness and appeals to the worst in us. Protestors in DC called Congressmen the N-word, spit on a Congressman, called Barney Frank a fag, Bart Stupak a “baby killer,� carry signs mocking the President, and bring politics to a new low. Palin has crosshairs on the Congressional districts of Democrats and tells her follow-

ers to “reload.� The fear-mongering, obstructionism, outright lies about “death panels,� and telling seniors they will lose their Medicare are tactics of poor losers, not patriots. The Bachmann’s, King’s, and Fox’s make such outrageous claims as to be unbelievable.

Hysterical, not thoughtful. Declaring the intent to secede from this country because you do not approve of the policies of a legitimately elected government is hysterical.

However, you might say, these public faces do not reflect the conservative movement. Then where are the reasonable public faces? Certainly not McConnell or Boehner who deliberately distort provisions in the health care reform bill and fail to mention that over 200 conservative amendments are contained in the reconciliation bill. I have scoured the internet, newspapers, and letters to the editor looking for conservative voices saying, “These public faces do not represent me or my views.� I did not mention Beck because he appeals to the National Inquirer crowd who believe in two-headed alien babies.

I am not fearful of dissent. I am not fearful of disagreement. I am fearful of hysteria. I am fearful of uninformed, misdirected, and misinformed anger. We have watched countries torn apart over ethnic and religious differences.

This country is not immune to an ideological rendering. After all, we have had one civil war. We do not need another. However, when conservatives call themselves “freedom fighters� and make death threats over extending health coverage to an additional 32 million people that is just a little over the top don’t you think?

Conservatives do not have a lock on the principles that make this country great. They are not the only guardians and interpreters of the Constitution. They are not the only people who think they know the intentions of the founding fathers. However, they do sound a lot like a religious cult, i.e., they think they are the only ones with the “truth.� This democracy is moving on. They need to get on the right side of history.

WHAT "HOPE & CHANGE" LOOK LIKE

By James F. Davis Sentinel Columnist

OK, we now know what “hope and change� means. It means even if the majority of Americans do not want it (59% in the CNN survey the night it was passed), government bureaucratic dictators are going to take over your life decisions in health care and as much of the US private free economy as possible.

Although President Obama, Pelosi and Reed promised the most open and honest administration ever and that everyone would have at least three days to read legislation to be voted upon, we now know they lied.

This bill was passed before virtually all our elected representatives or we constituents had a chance to read or see what is in it. As Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass it to see what is in it.�

No one gets any benefits from the bill until four years from now. But you will start be paying for it in the form of higher taxes for the next four years.

Once it starts in 2014, you'll have to pay a penalty of up to $2,085 a year if you don’t pay for mandatory medical insurance. That is a big leap towards dictatorial control of our pri-

vate lives.

It's a good bet your premiums will be significantly higher than they are now, particularly given the ridiculous double counting of revenues. This legislation included no real incentives to lower costs. But there is a lot of incentive for people to go to the doctor more often, because they will not have to pay any more – until the next year! And the massive fraud and waste we have in government run health care now in Medicaid and Medicare will grow exponentially.

The Government mandate in the bill that private insurance companies must have no more than 15% of their costs in administration does not give any evidence of how that can happen. The purpose of this mandate will wipe out our choice of private insurers.

The quality of health care will quickly go downhill for all of us as it has in every country that has given the government control. Putting an additional 30 to 50 million people on the rolls guarantees this because there will be the same number of doctors. Actually, as many as half of all doctors surveyed have indicated they will retire because the amounts they will be reimbursed will not cover their costs.

The Congressional Budget Office looked at this health care plan and estimated that there would still be 22 million Americans uninsured 10 years from now. The liberals and their media have tried to hide this.

Abortions will be funded by you whether you approve of it or not. Health and Human Services Director Kathleen Sebelius admitted that there will be a general fund for the purpose of paying people’s abortion premiums.

In the future you will no longer have the ability to choose your own doctor or get the health plan that you want. Since the government doesn't have to make a profit, and only needs to tax you more to keep its premiums below private companies, its premiums will be lower than private insurance and they will go out of business. But you will pay for it in higher taxes. Businesses will have to opt for the lower premium government insurance and within a few years it will put all private insurance companies out of business.

And lastly, President Obama has excluded children going to Catholic and private schools from the egg roll on the White House lawn. Happy Easter!

The Green Column Can you afford to live green?

In a recent meeting, the question was asked about building the housing development green. The answer was, “No, we will not be adding to the cost of these homes.�

Most people believe that building green makes a home more expensive, and with the current economy, we are all looking for ways to spend less. Everyone knows that solar panels cost a lot of money.

Organic foods cost extra. Many believe they cannot afford to live green.

Can living green reduce your cost of living?

Yes, in three ways.

First, by reducing energy costs.

Weatherizing existing buildings is where to begin. This is being proposed as part of the economic stimulus plan. If you are building or remodeling, you have the perfect opportunity to make your building much more efficient. As energy costs increase, so will the amount you are saving. There are ways to do this that do not cost extra during

By Richard C. MacCrea Andrews Valley Initiative

construction. There are also ways that cost extra, but save enough energy costs to compensate.

You can also reduce your cost of living by designing your building to fit the site. This can reduce construction costs, make your building more attractive and easier to maintain, and reduce energy costs.

How? Have you ever noticed how the snow melts much sooner on the south slopes of the mountains?

That's because the sun shines from the south in the winter. Take advantage of this with south facing glass and you will be much more comfortable and reduce your heating costs. What about getting too hot in the summer? Easy. Design the roof to shade the glass in the summer (when the sun is at a different angle). Also, reduce the need for expensive excavation and retaining walls by carefully paying attention to the slope of the land.

A third way that living green can reduce your cost of living has to do with your health. Medical costs are skyrocketing. Can your building be involved? Yes. Studies show that pollution levels are many times higher inside our buildings than outside. Choosing materials that are healthier, building in ways that prevent mold, getting rid of radon gas, and including universal design principles can all keep you more healthy in your home. Universal design? You should build your home to be comfortable to someone with disabilities. If you don't, and you end up in a wheel chair, will you have to remodel your home, or sell it? Why not design for this during construction?

It doesn't have to cost extra. In fact it can save you money. An AARP study concluded that this is your best retirement investment. Why? Because so many people end up in nursing homes earlier because their own home will not accommodate their needs as they age.

Many of these principles can make your home safer for you and your guests, and more valuable.

There are many other ways living green can reduce your cost of living.

Richard C. MacCrea is the director of The Greening of Andrews Valley, a program of Andrews Valley Initiative. He works in the field of energy efficient, green building. rmaccrea@ verizon.net

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

As spring and summertime gets closer, we think more about traveling. My husband and I will be making a couple of trips in the next few months—both involving air travel.

I’ve gotten more disenchanted with getting on a plane these days! The hassles at the airport before you leave the ground is often enough to make you give it up all together!

But, as with many things in life, we find the need to rise above it!

This is a good time to review the topic of Air Travel Health & Safety Tips. Do you remember that TV commercial that showed the man in an airline seat and what all went on in that seat before he sat in it and then the people sitting next to him and what they were doing!? I can’t fly without thinking of it! I take a lot of hand sanitizer and also the individual packets of moist towelettes.

The main thing we all need to remember is to KEEP OUR HANDS AWAY FROM OUR FACE! Wash your hands every chance you get!

Here are a number of tips to take charge of your health in-flight.

The air is very dry and you may feel parched—like in a desert. You may need to use a moisturizer on your skin more often.

Try not to travel if you have a head cold, flu, or sinus infection.

The cabin pressure will make the symptoms feel painfully worse.

Under normal health conditions doctors may suggest that you take a decongestant (SudafedŽ) if you always get “stopped-up� on a flight.

I take one about an hour before departing if it is a flight more than two hours and I also have my normal saline nasal spray handy to constantly spray to keep my nasal passage from drying-out. You may find that lightly coating the area around the edge of your nose with petroleum jelly (I personally prefer MentholatumÂŽ) to avoid tenderness caused by dry air.

By Claudia Parks RN Columnist

Bring lots of chewing gum for changes in air pressure. Ears don’t always pop just during take-off and landing times, but during the flight.

Helps with the nerves as well! If you get pain in your ears you can help the process by swallowing, chewing gum, yawning, or opening your mouth wide.

Do not fly soon after surgery.

You should always check with your doctor—they may not mention this to you, making the assumption that you won’t be going anywhere real soon—especially by air. When traveling with a broken bone and especially if in a hard cast, make sure your doctor has provided you with adequate pain medication. The compression in-flight can make a broken bone feel excruciatingly painful.

If you are concerned about blood clots and the much publicized tourist class syndrome (DVT-deep vein thrombosis) consider taking an aspirin before flying as it has blood thinning properties. Of course if this is a real concern and frankly should be—check with your doctor. Remember: Avoid crossing your legs while seated. Get up from your seat and walk up and down the aisle at least once an hour.

Drink at least 8 ounces of water every hour or two and avoid alcohol,

Worth Considering...

A Thought for Today “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection.�

-from Book of Common Prayer “All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres.�

-Maltbie D. Badcock (1858-1901)

caffeinated beverages, and salty foods. Wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes. Keep the space under the seat in front of you empty so you can exercise your feet and ankles occasionally by turning your feet at the ankle in circular patterns.

Flexing and extending your feet from the ankle can help as well.

Pack your own neck pillow—it is rare for an airline to furnish pillows and blankets these days!

Keep all vital medications with you on board. Be sure you have more than enough for your trip.

Jet lag: Crossing time zones often leads to jet lag, which can result in headaches, upset stomach and nausea, difficulty concentrating, and trouble sleeping. Keep well hydrated before, during, and after your flight. Change your wristwatch to the new time as soon as you arrive at your destination, and adjust your sleeping and eating schedule to the new time zone. Engaging in social activities can also help your body clock adjust. When trying to stay awake, eat protein and vegetables and avoid starchy foods like pastas, breads, and rice.

I listed a few helpful hints when traveling by air. For a lot more helpful information go to: cdc.gov/travel and the CDC Travelers hotline 1-877-F YI-TRIP(394-8747) andtravel.state.gov/travel/tips/ tips_1232.html Good luck!

Claudia Parks, RN, is a former doctor’s office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County (GA) Schools.

She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains near Blairsville. You may contact Claudia at yhm@windstream.net

On Easter morning bright He rose From tomb of darkness breaking; Christ the Lord who conquered death The way of life thus taking To bring us hope, to give us life, Nevermore us forsaking.

All nature bursts in splendid bloom To celebrate our release from doom.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones

NE W S

Commissioners speak up, vote at meeting By: Elaine Owen Sentinel Writer Post 1 Commissioner Garnett Webb informed the Board of Commissioners Tuesday that he was planning to make a motion to appoint Linda Burgess to the library Board of Trustees closer to the time Marshall Williams' term ends on June 30.

Former Commissioner Tommy Ledford commended the county road department for clean-up work on Highways 5, 60, and 515. He then asked, since these were state roads, whether the state had chipped in to pay for the work and wondered whether the county should be using taxpayer dollars to clean up state highways.

Commission Chairman Bill Simonds said he was surprised by Ledford's comment. "Last time I checked, they (Highways 5, 60, and 515) were in the county," he said. Simonds added that 844 bags of trash--two dumpsters full--were collected.

He then challenged residents to pick up the roadside areas near their homes. "If everyone did that, we wouldn't have a problem...We just need to get a handle on some of this trash," he said.

Commissioner Webb chose the opportunity to speak about his Adopt-A-County Road project. He explained that he saw the signs in Gwinnett County that informed travelers that certain stretches of road had been adopted by various groups, such as Kiwanis and Boy Scouts.

"It just struck me that, if something like that is working successfully in another county, why can't it work in Fannin County?" he said.

He said that he'd already contacted the road department about signs and equipment and contacted county Attorney Lynn Doss about drawing up a resolution to be presented at the commission's next meeting.

Webb also said that Simonds had organized a tour for representatives from the state Department

of Transportation (GDOT). He said the group went to Squirrel Hunting Road.

"Those two men got a good eyeballing of the road, of what our road department is doing. Our road department does a fantastic job for what they get," he said.

Webb said that the GDOT officials agreed to use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for 6,428 miles of aggregate surface roads, covering 42 county roads.

Assistant Financial Manager Rita Davis later confirmed that GDOT would provide $75,000 for gravel on the roads.

In other matters, the Board also voted unanimously to approve variance requests from Daniel Kaylor and Ben Harper.

They also voted to appoint Elizabeth "Lucy" McKinney to the Fannin County Board of Family and Children Services.

During the comments, both Simonds and Post 2 Commissioner Steve Morris urged the public to visit the new recreation center. "It's your money. It's your place. You need to go out and look at it," Simonds said.

Simonds said that work on paving the road to the new center should begin within a couple of weeks.

Morris said the recreation center actually looked better than the three-dimensional rendering by the architects.

He said the building is very energy-efficient. "It's going to cost pennies to heat and cool," Morris said.

"It's an asset for Fannin County, not only for the children of Fannin County, it's an economic asset."

The grand opening for the Rec Center is May 15.

The center will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Fannin County Board of Commissioners meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the court house.

Fannin County first graders learn all about birds in the classroom

Each first grader made an individual bird feeder to take home.

The members of the Education Committee from the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center went into the classrooms of the 3 Fannin County elementary schools last week. They were there to teach lessons on the subjects of hummingbirds, bird identification and bird feeders.

Each first grader made their own bird feeder to take home. Instruction was also given on the most healthy type of bird seed to provide for the birds. Students also learned to identify certain birds by their coloration and the sounds that they make. They were made aware of the migratory patterns of hummingbirds and many of their amazing physical abilities. Programs such as this would not be possible if it were not for the cooperation

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why the guards followed Hitler's instructions. After a few tentative answers, Groen told them, "If the government sanctions cruelty, you have it, every day, going on."

Guards played cruel games with prisoners, he said, throwing them on the floor and kicking them. Anyone who tried to intervene would be punished, too.

In addition to the daily cruelties, inmates who lost too much weight were subject to what was called selection. Guards chose the inmates who were skinniest, and the inmates then sat down.

"They were put in trucks that went straight to the gas chambers," he said.

Groen's life changed in 1944, when the Russians approached. He said inmates had two choices--stay at the camp at the mercy of the Russians, who had been portrayed as worse than the Nazis, or travel to another camp.

He said up to 30,000 male prisoners and 400 guards undertook a "Death March" to another camp.

They left Auschwitz when it was 38 degrees below zero and traveled for 17 days. The inmates were dressed only in their thin uniforms. Neither the guards nor the prisoners had any food and foraged for grass and bark.

"They (guards) died in the same quantities as the other people-from hunger, from thirst, from cold," he said.

The decimated contingent arrived in Austria at the Mauthausen concentration camp.

At Mauthausen, the prisoners worked in quarries and for even longer periods than at Auschwitz, Groen remarked.

"When I arrived at Mauthausen, my weight was about 100 pounds...

After working in Mauthausen for six months, my weight was...79 pounds," he said.

Groen said he knew how much he weighed because his job at Mauthausen was at the rock scales, and he used them to weigh himself.

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of principals in each school, their teachers and administrations. A special thanks goes to Ms. Diane Scott, Amanda McBride (Blue Ridge Elementary), Ashley Sparks (East Fannin Elememtary) and Stacy Chambers (West Fannin Elementary) for coordinating this program within each school.

The Education Committee is part of the Community Council at the G.M.R.E. Center. The Community Council was founded in 2003 for the purpose of enhancing the mission of the G.M.R.E. Center. The council emphasizes education, outreach and preservation. Last year, 2,700 students in Union, Fannin, and Towns County in Georgia and Clay County in North Carolina attended programs at the Center.

At Mauthausen, criminals from German prisons, called kapos, were put in charge of the Jews and other prisoners. Each morning, the guards would ask the kapos how many inmates were going in to work and tell them how many should leave.

Groen gave an example: If the kapos reported that 40 were going in and were told that 20 should leave, 20 of the inmates would be pushed off the mountain. The inmates were killed at random, he said; no one knew who would be killed.

One day, when he arrived at the gate, he was taken to a truck with approximately 3,000 other prisoners and transported to Ebensee concentration camp.

Ebensee provided slave labor for the construction of tunnels to house V-2 rocket development. The V-2 was developed by Wernher von Braun.

Groen said that many Jews are still bitter about how the U.S. accepted von Braun in spite of his knowledge of the camps and slave labor.

"That didn't sit right with us, but that's the way the world is," Groen said.

He said that Ebensee was the worst of all the concentration camps in which he'd been imprisoned, because the work was exceptionally difficult and the hours seemed longer.

He said that at Auschwitz, inmates worked approximately eight hours a day; at Mauthausen, approximately 10 hours.

"At Ebensee, we had the feeling we never stopped working," he said.

He remembered a "death game" the guards would play with prisoners. They would shoot and try to hit the feet of workers. Groen said he has three holes in his left foot from those deadly games.

Groen said, in spite of his suffering and starvation, he tried to work hard because he was afraid he would be killed.

Eventually, though, his weight decreased to dangerous levels, and he was put in a barracks for those who were unable to work. Because they couldn't work, they received no food.

To conserve his strength, he laid in his upper bunk and watched the guards changing at the camp's watch tower, Groen remembered.

When, one day, the guard was replaced by an Austrian farmer in lederhosen, he knew liberation would not be long.

The camp was liberated May 6, 1945 by American troops of the U.S. 80th Infantry Division.

Groen said that he was put on a truck to a hospital in Linz.

"Adolf Hitler was born outside Linz, and he was dead, and I was alive," Groen remembered thinking at the time.

Later transferred to an American hospital in Paris, Groen said it took "months and months" before his weight increased to 89 pounds.

When the doctors determined he was healthy enough to release, he returned to Amsterdam.

There he discovered that his parents had been hidden by the Underground. However, they initially believed that he'd been killed because his name was on a list of the dead.

"I fooled them. I was not dead," he said.

Groen worked in advertising and promotions for Max Factor and a Netherlands department store, married and had a son, before moving to the U.S. in 1957. In the U.S., he worked for various companies in Atlanta, before retiring in McCaysville.

Groen told the students that the reason he was speaking to them was because some still denied the Holocaust had happened, but he knew if they saw him and heard him speaking, they would know it did occur.

"The Holocaust is not a new thing. It's an old thing," he said. He cited the similarities between the Egyptian slaves who built the pyramids, the genocide in Darfur and the Holocaust.

Groen said that it's easy to believe that it can never happen to you, as he did.

"The moment it is okayed by a government, it can happen to you.

This is why I'm here to tell you: Don't take your freedom for granted. Freedom is the most important thing you can have."

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Betty Ruth Holbrook Forrester

Mrs. Betty Ruth Holbrook Forrester, age 76, of Copperhill, TN, passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at the Fannin Regional Hospital. Mrs. Forrester was born in Polk County, TN, to the late Roy & Maggie Croft Holbrook. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene "Fluge" Forrester.

Survivors include: son & daughterin-law, Don & Kathy Forrester, daughter & son-in-law, Pam & Larry Foster, grandson, Christopher Foster, granddaughter, Heather Dillon, grandson, Micah Foster, step granddaughter, Heather Austin, step granddaughter, Millicent Huffman, great grandson, Zachary Graves, great granddaughter, Millie Foster, great grandson, Brayden Foster, great granddaughter, Ally Foster, great grandson, Vince Foster, step great granddaughter, Chelsey Quintrell, step great grandson, Luke Austin, and nieces & nephews.

Funeral services: Finch-Cochran Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 12:00 noon with the Rev. Denny Hawkins officiating. Music was provided by Sherry Walden. Interment was in the Copper Ridge Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers: Christopher Foster, Micah Foster, Zachary Graves, Brian Dillon, Clarke Austin, and Larry Foster. Honorary pallbearers: Freddie & Jessica Leslie & sons, Ruby Forrester, Martha Baker, Ann Avery, Bea Maney, Patty Ruthedge, the Life Care Center Staff, and the Home Health Care of East TN Staff.

The Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville, GA was entrusted with the arrangements. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com

Eric "Stanley" Ledford

Eric "Stanley" Ledford , age 45, of McCaysville, GA passed away on Friday, March 19, 2010 in the Sweetwater Hospital in Sweetwater, TN. He was born in June 22, 1964 in Copperhill, TN. Stanley was employed with Blue Ridge Manufacturing as a welder.

He was a member of Mount Moriah Church in Murphy, NC.Stanley enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Angela Arp Ledford of McCaysville, GA; two daughters and sonsin-law, Tyechia Nicole and Eddie Cross of Blue Ridge, GA and Erica Danielle and Cody McBride of Murphy, NC; mother, Emma Lou Ledford of McCaysville, GA; father, Jerry A. Ledford of Eton, GA; two brothers, Michael and wife Angie Ledford of Eton, GA and Junior Ledford of McCaysville, GA; sister, Sherry Eaves of Chatsworth, GA; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jackie and Susie Arp of Murphy, NC; four grandchildren, Eiron Cross, Patrick Cross, Jordan Cross and Hunter McBride; special nephew, Joshua Ledford of Eton, GA also survive.

Funeral services were conducted on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins Chapel with Rev. Ronny Crisp and Rev. Kevin Chapman officiating. Music was by Brian Mundy. Interment followed in the Mount Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Joshua Ledford, Charlie Hogsed, Wes Martin, Jamie Patterson, James Hefner, and Danny Payne. Honorary pallbearers were Danny Gibson, Richard West and Josh "Bucky" McDaris. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of the arrangements.

Gladys Jeanette Kilpatrick Keenum

Robert Cecil Farmer

Robert Cecil Farmer,age 81, of Blue Ridge, GA passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in the Emory Eastisde Medical Center in Snellville, GA. Farmer was born on May 14, 1928 in Blue Ridge, GA to the late Ervin Farmer and Maude Foster Farmer.

He was a member of Glen Hope Baptist Church. He enjoyed Nascar racing and watching Braves baseball and loved playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Willie Mae Long Farmer.

He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Ronnie and Carolyn Farmer of Stockbridge, GA and Larry and Dorothy Farmer of Lawrenceville, GA; brothers, Fred Farmer of Conley, GA and Reid Farmer of Dalton, GA; sister, Norma White of Blue Ridge; grandchildren, Alan Farmer, Melissa Taylor, Jason Farmer, and Adam Farmer; great grandchildren, Hannah Taylor, Blane Farmer, and Blake Farmer.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with Rev. David Mashburn officiating. Music will be by Pat Mashburn. Interment will follow in Stockhill Cemetery with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Robert Painter, Steve Farmer, Harland Conley, James Long, Jack Long, Benny Painter and Michael Hawkins.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome. com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Gladys Jeanette Kilpatrick Keenum, age 86, of Blue Ridge, GA, passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at her residence in the presence of her children and brother. Mrs. Keenum was born in Cherokee County, NC, the first born, to Fred Warren Kilpatrick, Sr. and Blanche Fox Kilpatrick . She was a member of First Baptist Church of McCaysville/ Copperhill. She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Lowell Keenum, parents, and sisters, Regina Ledford and Ruth Moss.

Survivors include: son, Michael John Keenum, of Blue Ridge, GA and daughter & son-in-law, .Marilyn & George DeLong of Chattanooga, TN; five brothers, Fred W. Jr., James "Pat", Dale, Gary, and Richard Kilpatrick all of Murphy, NC. Funeral services: Friday, March 26, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. from the FinchCochran Chapel with the Rev. Harry Gilbert officiating. Music will be provided by Mrs. Imogene Stuart and Mrs. Katie Gilbert. Serving as pallbearers will be nephews. Interment is in Crestlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation in honor of Gladys to Mccaysville/Copperhill First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 867, McCaysville, GA 30555 or Amedisys Hospice, 140 Progress Circle, Suite 3, Blue Ridge, GA 30513.

The Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville, GA was in charge of arrangements. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.

T R I BU TE S

Wade Ervin Cross

Wade Ervin Cross, age 86, of Mineral Bluff, GA passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at his home. Mr. Cross was born in Polk County, TN on December 12, 1923. He is a member of Pleasant Hill (Hardscrabble) Baptist Church. He was a United States Army veteran serving in World War II. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Henson Cross of Mineral Bluff; son and daughter-in-law, Tex and Margaret Cross of Mineral Bluff; grandchildren, Christopher Cross, Christi Cross, and Crystal Erwin; great grandchildren, Nichole Cross and Austin Erwin.

Funeral services were conducted Friday, March 19, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. from Pleasant Hill (Hardscrabble Road) Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Hooper and Rev. Roy Clore officiating. Music was be by the Pleasant Hill Church Choir. Pallbearers were Leon Davenport, Bob Galloway, Lee Erwin, Pete Elrod, Zeke Henson, and Mark Cross. Interment followed in the Pleasant Hill Church Cemetery with military honors by the North Georgia Honor Guard.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome. com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of arrangements.

David "Sam" Anderson, Sr.

David "Sam" Anderson, Sr. age 63, of Blue Ridge, GA, passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2010 in the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper, GA. He was born on April 11, 1946 in Copperhill, TN to the late John Kenneth Anderson. Sam was a painter and a member of the Mineral Bluff Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, Winston Anderson and sister, Shirley Anderson.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Long Anderson of Morganton, GA; son and daughter-in-law, David Samuel Anderson, Jr. and Bridget of Morganton, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte Graham and Cliff of McCaysville, GA; mother, Ruth Owenby Anderson of Blue Ridge, GA; brothers, Ronnie Anderson of Blue Ridge, GA and James Earl "Bud" Anderson of FL; grandchildren, Jacob Anderson, Candace Graham, Ben Graham and Matthew Graham also survive.

Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. from the Akins Chapel with Chris Chastain officiating.

Music was by Kirk Barker, Rusty Gragg, Bryan Hooper, Jay Schuler, and Raven Welch. Masonic rites and interment followed in Mount Pleasant Church Cemetery (Top of the Mountain) in Gilmer County. Pallbearers were Bryan Hooper, Aaron Allen, Larry Tankersley, Ben Graham, Matthew Graham, and Jacob Anderson. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of the arrangements.

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lawsuit filed by attorneys general in at least 13 other states who are challenging what they see as an unconstitutional over-reach of federal power.

Georgia will likely file a separate suit, Perdue said. "I think we run the risk of bearing some burden of shared costs if we join other states," he said.

According to Perdue, several lawyers have volunteered to take the state’s case without pay.

The issue has fast become a bone of contention at the Capitol, where Republicans have attacked Baker’s decision not to follow Perdue’s direction.

One state representative said if (Attorney General) Baker tries to block Perdue’s selection of a special attorney

Webb requests library SPLOST at recent commission meeting By: Lisa Gagnon Sentinel Writer "I have come here on a matter of honor," announced Friends of the Fannin County Library Parliamentarian Joe Webb during the public comment section of the March 23 Board of Commissioners meeting.

He then read from a prepared statement, with a few additions.

The statement reads: "We seem to be returning to Spring 2004. Then, the chairman, by himself, without the other two commissioners, killed the library. Steve Morris was there.

"Since then, the library has been kept from the agenda of the Fannin County Commission.

"In 2010, it seems we have two people killing our chance for an adequate library. The chairman, not the Commission, and 'The News Observer's' 'editorial opinion.'

"This is not a public forum. This is a closed circuit.

This should be decided by public education and debate.

"SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) can be voted on in a special election in Spring 2011.

That way, the new Post 2 Commissioner can make it a campaign issue--a safe way to know without risking SPLOST funding.

"SPLOST is for capital projects. Outsiders, through sales tax, pay 20-40 percent of SPLOST revenue. The rest is a tax on us citizens of Fannin County.

"The reason for a state standard library is that the state will match local funds at least 50-50. Thus, again with a state match, outsiders pay for something in Fannin County.

"It takes an act of state legislature to convert an existing building to a library.

"Perhaps our chairman should apply for this legislation if this is to be a real option. Please check to see if state matching funds will apply, because we would not like local dollars only paying for our public library.

"All these years, citizens of Fannin County taxes have helped build public libraries in other counties.

Now is the time for our citizens to have our turn.

"Delay SPLOST until 2011."

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road missing." He added that at times they drove two miles an hour.

At the compound, they discovered how the Haitian children were coping. They attended school every day in a classroom with no roof overhead. At night they went there to sleep on the ground. "They were so eager to learn.

You could see it on their faces...and even though they had so little, they had pride," Harrison said.

The two men conferred with a host of international organizations, avoiding areas where the most international help was concentrated. They met with pastors of Baptist churches in Haiti towns out from Port-au-Prince. The churches had established and organized tent cities for their members and had yet to receive international aid.

"They had supplies there but the Dominican Republic government wouldn’t take them into Haiti, so we said we’d do it," Dickenson recalled.

They borrowed a truck and hauled the supplies across the border into tent camps and compounds. And they saw the devastation that Haiti is trying to cope with.

"The amazing thing was that we saw people who don’t give up...look at the pictures (showing pictures they had taken). The kids are smiling. They’re resilient. They’re going to fight back... but the emergency in Haiti isn’t over.

It’s getting worse, and we need to help them," said Dickenson.

What Dickenson and Harrison saw was a country swarming with well-intentioned organizations, each trying to help. They saw supplies that couldn’t be used--kind gestures, but they learned that what the Haiti people need are shelters and security. Haiti has neither.

Dickenson and Harrison left with a heavy heart. On the return trip they talked about what they would do next.

And they knew there would be other trips to Haiti.

The next step was to get their church involved and the Cherry Log Christian Church didn’t disappoint them.

The church’s outreach committee voted to support the trip. With the church’s blessing and goodwill, Dickenson and Harrison began calling on other churches and local businesses.

Promise of help and support followed. Joe Sisson donated a truck load general, House Republicans may move forward with articles of impeachment against Baker for failing to uphold his oath of office.

A spokesman for Baker said he had no plans to oppose Perdue’s authority to choose an outside attorney.

Even as the impeachment process appears to be in motion, some lawmakers say it will not succeed because the threshold for impeachment is too high by requiring a vote of one-half of the State House and two-thirds of the State Senate.

The basis of the Articles of Impeachment are that Baker has violated Article V, Section 3, Paragraph IV of the state Constitution and OCGA §45-15-35, both of which direct the Attorney General to take on matters of the state in court at the direction of the Governor.

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Top: Caroline Carder and Dickenson show plans. Below: Bill Harrison, Velda Harrison, Peggy Cleveland, John Dickenson, Dave Cherry, Pastor David Griffin.

of 12 x 36’ tarps that will be used for tents to house families until more permanent structures can be built. Caroline Carder did an architectural drawing of the compound, complete with a school on the bottom floor and living quarters upstairs, with a roof overhead.

Rev. Claude Mathis offered to talk to churches in the Baptist Association of Churches and ask for support.

A trip is being planned for ten days, leaving April 27. Before then, a container with water filtration systems, over-the-counter first aid, personal hygiene and other products will be shipped.The Ft. Lauderdale church has routinely sent containers to its Jimani compound and will ship containers of everything that is collected before the trip so it will be available for the Haiti Project.

Harrison said, "The people over there are just like us. They search for happiness. If you could see them in makeshift tents in makeshift homes... they are resilient, they’ll fight back. But the earthquake took away their normal life...and they need us to help put it back together."

As a result of the feasibility study, The Outreach Committee put together a Four Part Task Force to minister to Haitians.

Task One is to upgrade the Jimani compound. The goal is to make this sanctuary for refugees more usable and people friendly—more conveniences and more hygienic. Brackish water can be made usable with some type of filtration system. The electrical system needs to be up-graded beginning with the installation of four 200 amp fuse boxes. Plumbing needs to be made usable by separating the two systems. As funds become available, the unfinished classroom building needs to be completed.

Task Two is home inspection. The goal is to move approximately 50% of each tent city population back into their homes by providing a team of ten "home inspectors" to evaluate the homes of families living in tent villages.

Homes that are determined to be safe and habitable can then be reoccupied by the owner family.

Task Three is personal hygiene teams.

The goal is to reduce contracting health issues brought about by poor hygiene practices, exposure to contaminated environments and treat commonly expected issues that arise. Ten individuals, along with accompanying Haitian interpreters, will teach personal hygiene to groups of classes in the tent cities.

Those who are taught the basic principles of personal hygiene and receive supplies can themselves be teachers.

Products essential for maintaining personal hygiene will be re-supplied from Jimani storage and U.S.A. (i.e. USAID, etc.).

Task Four is crisis counseling. Crisis counseling is accomplished by allowing those who have experienced a traumatic event to "tell their story," and in so doing, to process the tragedy they have experienced. In addition to having professional counselors as part of the ministry team, they can train or retrain local ministers and others in basic listening skills to help in bringing healing to traumatized individuals and families.

The needs are many: 10 home inspectors, 2 plumbers and helpers, 2 electricians and helpers, 2 carpenters, 10 nurses and helpers, at least 3 psychologists for crisis counseling and one or two leaders for each Task Team.

Dickenson said, "Going over there and seeing what happened to these people has been a life-changing experience. This little country has ten million people and is one of the poorest countries on earth. Eight out of every ten Haitians are living in poverty and less than a third of them have jobs.

Most get by on less than $2 a day. I don’t know what we’ll find when we get back there...but I know they will be glad we came."

Will you be your brother’s keeper?

Persons with expertise in any of the task areas who wish to become part of the Haiti Project, please contact John Dickinson, 954-426-3335 (johnnjoand@msn.com) or Bill Harrison, 706-632-4653 (billvelda@tds.net) for information as soon as possible. The concern is to get as much done as possible before the extensive rainy season brings more hardship. The trip is scheduled for April 27.

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CO M MUN I T Y

Theater retains focus amidst chaos Nutrition specialist

receives certification

By: Lisa Gagnon Sentinel Writer

It was business as usual last Tuesday at the Blue Ridge Community Theater. Director Beth Ingram was working with Charlie Poss and Tim Stanley on a scene from "Run for Your Wife" in a poorly lit room still in disarray from construction.

Director Kelly Hornsby was making notes on her script as the cast from the Sunny D Children's Theater ran through the opening of "James and the Giant Peach."

The performance will run March 26-April 3.

"We have a magnificent set, amazing costumes, and a wonderful cast," noted Tina Maslankowski, the theater's production manager.

Just a little over a week before, the sets from the main stage's opening production, "Leading Ladies," were torn down, and sets for the children's theater production were in the process of being constructed.

Board of Directors President Joe Webb clambered around the "Leading Ladies" set with artist (and art teacher) Kim Fleming while actors were auditioning for "Run for Your Wife" March 15.

Auditions resulted in casting for six parts, with two roles remaining uncast, according to Inman.

"The director looks at acting ability, chemistry with characters, ability to take direction and experience level," Inman noted.

Directors are accustomed to working while other events are occurring at the theater building.

"The construction sometimes happens during auditions, which can be a distraction. We try to work with each other to avoid being nonproductive," she remarked.

After March 28, the last day of "James and the Giant Peach," its set

Attention HAMS The North Georgia Tri-State A.R.C. (Amateur Radio Club) meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Branan Lodge in Blairsville. All of our meetings are open to the public. Our next meeting is to be held April 6th and will begin with a special technical session to demonstrate, interface & use of N1MM logging/contesting software. For more information about joining the Club or becoming a HAM, call Don Deyton at 706-781-6665.

Amateur license testing will be held on April 10th in Blairsville.

Contact Bob Ochs at 706-8384728 for more information and/or make an appointment.

Georgia Cancer Specialists (GCS) employee Bonnie Dixon, RD, LD recently achieved board certification as a specialist in oncology nutrition.

She is one of only seven registered dietitians in Georgia with this certification. Dixon may now add the credential Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO) to her name.

Dixon serves the GCS Blairsville office (308 Deep South Farm Road, Suite 200; 706-835-2235) and the Blue Ridge office (101 Riverstone Vista, Suite 102; 706-258-4140). “The certification exam was very challenging, because what you’re tested on goes far beyond book knowledge,� said Dixon. “It’s heavily based on things that must be learned through specialized experience.�

The Commission on Dietetic Registration bestows the CSO credential. It can only be earned by a registered dietitian who has passed a nationally administered examination, which can only be attempted once the applicant has accumulated a minimum of 2,000 hours of documented practice in the specialty area. “We’re proud to have Bonnie as part of our team,� said Dr. Bruce Feinberg, president and CEO of GCS. “It’s the dedication, expertise, and compassion of our team members that allows us to consistently deliver the best possible care to patients.�

Specialists in oncology nutrition work directly with individuals at risk for or diagnosed with cancer in hospitals, clinics, and cancer centers.

They can also fill roles in management, education, and research linked to oncology nutrition. CSO certification helps the public, the media,

Above: Shane Smith, as James, talks to some of the characters, from left, Grasshopper (Morgan Weigle), Ladybird (Sarah Holbrook), and Earthworm (Michael Ponton) in the Sunny D Children's Theater production of "James and the Giant Peach."

Below: Director Beth Inman directs Tim Stanley and Bradley Bemboom (seated) in a scene from "Run for Your Wife," which stages May 7-30.

would be taken down in preparation for the May 7-30 performance of "Run for Your Wife."

Then, the sequence will begin again. Actors, crew and directors have learned to take the chaos into stride.

"These overlaps happen throughout the production and are just part of life at the theater. It can be a built-in exercise in focus," Inman noted.

DAR meeting

Community News

The March meeting of the Old Unicoi Trail Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will be held at The Oaks in Hiawassee, GA, Saturday, April 10th, 2010, at 10:15 AM. Dale H. Dyer, author of FANNIN COUNTY CEMETERIES, will present a program on “Researching Cemeteries.� Hostesses are Ramona Nichols and Rhea Galati. If you are interested in learning more about DAR, an organization for women who have Revolutionary War patriots in their family history, contact Eloise Wolfersteig, Regent, 706-3792533. Old Unicoi Trail Chapter serves Towns, Union, and Fannin Counties.

The Old Unicoi Trail homepage is found online at http://oldunicoitrail. georgiastatedar.org.

Middle School plans fundraising events The Fannin County Middle School (FCMS) Chorus plans more fundraising events towards their trip to Washington DC to performs for the World Trade Center Beam Dedication in memory of those who died at the Pentagon on 9/11/01. All proceeds go to help pay the trip cost for chorus students. All events will he held in the Fannin County Middle School Gym. Tribute to Elvis is Saturday April 3rd @ FCMS Gymnasium. Show starts @ 7 p.m.

Advance Tickets are $10; $15 at the door. Contact Lois Smith @ FCMS. Yes, Elvis will be in OUR building!

April 17 Talent Show. $10,000

in prizes. Open to the community.

Doors open at 3:00 p.m. and show starts at 5 p.m. Entry Fee is $10.

Tickets at the door $5.00. Contact Diane @ 706-455-8772.

Qualifying for office in Fannin County The Fannin County Republican Party will conduct qualifying for all county offices at the court house.

Qualifying opens at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 26 and closes at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 30.

Feed Fannin sponsors weed and pest control class April 1 Feed Fannin is sponsoring a free course on weed and pest control and mulching at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. April 1 at Family Connection.

Reggie Lenoir and Jim McClearen will teach the course. Family Connection is located at 101 Industrial Park Drive. For more information, call Bill Voyles at (404) 455-3965.

Healthy Feet keeps people walking

Joe Webb treats a toenail fungus

The third Tuesday of every month sees a stream of vehicles stopping at the Senior Center in Blue Ridge. They’re there for the monthly "Healthy Feet" day sponsored by the Kessler Community Clinic in McCaysville.

According to Center Director Norma Ferguson, "Sometimes we have to turn people away. I hate to do it but we only have two people who can do toe nails and they just can’t handle more than 20-30 people in the time we have."

Susan Greene, a local nurse practitioner who is well known for her charitable work and founder of the Kessler Community Clinic, agreed that sometimes they have more patients than they can see. "We try to get people to call before they come in but most of the time they just show up. We have a heavy load right now."

Joe Webb said he has been helping for more than four years and the load is more than two people can handle. "I’d like to see a couple more people who already have experience or are willing to learn to help us." He added that the work is tedious but never boring. "I find it fulfilling when I can help someone...someone who comes in here barely able to walk because of nail fungus or other toe nail problems and we can help them walk out of here by themselves."

The Free Foot Clinic is held every month.

Contributed Photo Contributed Photo Susan Greene files nails after cutting Call 706-632-5438 for more information.

and other healthcare professionals identify a Registered Dietitian who has specialized knowledge and experience in oncology.

The Commission on Dietetic Registration is the credentialing arm of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Its mission is to protect the nutritional health and welfare health of the public through dietetics certification. The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals and is empowering members to be the nation’s food and nutrition leaders and optimizing the nation’s health through food and nutrition.

Dixon serves the GCS Northside, Alpharetta, Cumming, Johns Creek, Eastside, Gwinnett, Blue Ridge, and Blairsville offices.

Georgia Cancer Specialists is the largest private medical oncology/ hematology practice in the Southeast and a leader in advanced cancer treatment and research. The practice offers community-based medical oncology and hematology services and is the first private oncology practice to also provide a full range of support services for patients in Georgia, including nutritional counseling, pain management, wellness counseling, and home health coordination. The GCS research department, whose focus is bringing targeted cancer therapy to communities, is the first in Georgia to offer Phase I clinical trials, the most novel cancer therapies available. GCS has 30 offices, 42 physicians, and more than 480 support staff members located in Metro Atlanta, North and Central Georgia, Southeast Tennessee, and Southwest North Carolina.

Ready for Easter!

Above: Sarah Roberson examined the eggs in the basket of Natalie Fanelli after the March 27 Easter egg hunt.

All children were given balloons, and two prize eggs were awarded for each age category

Right: Brady Ramey, 3, and brother Mason, 1, display the eggs they found at the March 27 Easter egg hunt at Fannin County Park.

Brady and Mason participated in the ages 6 and under group. Other categories were for ages 7-10 and ages 11 and older. Two prize eggs were awarded for each category.

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CO M MUN I T Y

Superstars of the South fight for charities Top Jimmy sneered at the statement, informing anyone who Sentinel Writer would care to listen that it's not as Even though several wear masks, if Logan really wrestles. they are not typical heroes. Logan "If he tries to bodyslam me again, Alexander III is a money-grubbing, it's on," said Logan, trying not to controlling outlaw who doesn't have flinch at Top Jimmy's threatening a nice word for anyone, and he likes posture. it that way. Breezy, the lone female "You don't want it to be on," Top wrestler, can most charitably be Jimmy replied casually. called "free-spirited," but even her Breezy, sidelined by an all-too"friends" say sleazy and vengeful real head injury, scoffed at Logan's are better terms. Billy Havoc temclaim. porarily lost his freedom in a bad "Since I can't fight, I bring other deal with Logan. And Top Jimmy wrestlers to fight for me," she said.

Cook is willing to take on anyone She, however, failed to mention any time and doesn't hesitate to say that, even hurt, she beat Logan so all the time. with her crutch, resulting in a few But there's another side to these of the bruises that highlight his Superstars of the South wrestlers. photo album.

Most are local people. Some have Havoc stayed silent in the backfamily links to wrestling. Some are ground, although he, arguably, is wrestling enthusiasts. And all of the best known of the group. He is their matches are for charity. rated number 131 in the top 300 Most recently, they performed at on the independent wrestling cirthe Fannin County Middle School cuit. After Logan got Havoc's contract, he forbade him to speak.

As unassuming as Billy Havoc is outside the ring, he gets caught up in the action inside, strutting with the best of them. During last SatContributed Photo urday's event at the middle school, he dressed up as luchador El Fabu- Billy Havoc not only supports Breezy during shows, the couple is engaged in real life. Havoc displays the belt he won from Logan during last Saturday's loso, one of Logan's properties, benefit performance at the Fannin County Middle School. and proceeded to take advantage of Logan's Cash Money Challenge to edge of wrestling in a play-by-play Havoc said he would like to ofbeat the surprised wrestler in short during the event. Earlier, he con- fer classes to local students to give order, with Breezy cheering him fessed to being surprised by the them self-esteem and keep them on. state's history of local-, regional- out of trouble.

He and Logan finished the show and national-level wrestling.

"My ultimate goal is to train with a match that involved trash "Georgia is the hotbed of wres- these kids," he said. cans, trash can lids, fold-up chairs, tling. I was impressed by the numEven though promoters and cookie trays, kendo practice swords ber of venues used on a daily basis," wrestlers sometimes must pitch in and blood. Although the blood he said. to put on charitable events, several came mostly from Havoc, Logan He added that there are two stated that they hope their events did break a table. The entire alter- wrestling leagues in Dalton and can contribute to worthy causes, cation ended with Logan's Cash three in Chatsworth, in addition to such as the chorus. An April 10 Money Inc. and supporters of Billy Superstars of the South in Fannin event at the middle school gym will Havoc and Breezy hurling invec- County. benefit Feed Fannin. Any charitative at each other in typical wresThe league is hampered by lack ble organization may contact BBB Contributed Photo tling hyperbole. of a consistent venue for wrestlers Productions at (706) 633-6213 to The AllStar taunted the crowd as it cheered for Buff Bagwell during last SaturAt Saturday's event, Top Jimmy to train, as well as by the lack of solicit their help for fundraising. day's benefit for the Fannin County Middle School Chorus. employed his considerable knowl- income.

By: Lisa Gagnon

to benefit the school's award-winning chorus. The show featured former World Championship Wrestling star Buff Bagwell.

Bagwell and Apollo took on local wrestlers The AllStar and Chad Case in a match that even the audience knew would have only one ending. However, the audience cheerfully chimed in with calls of "You suck" to The AllStar and Chad Case, and "Let's go, Buff!" to encourage the world-renowned star.

Earlier Logan, the brash promoter who is constantly attempting to control wrestlers, claimed there's a difference between the Superstars and the stars of World Wrestling Entertainment.

"We go out there and really hit each other," he said. And he pulled out a photo album documenting the bruises, bumps, cuts and scars suffered by the wrestlers, with himself featured.

Riding club preparing for first show of the season Copper Basin Riding Club(CBRC) held a work day/ youth day at the arena in Ducktown ,Tn on February27, 2010. The day was spent preparing the grounds and arena for the beginning of the upcoming horse Show season which begins on On April 10th 2010 . Members spent the day painting the arena fence, added and repaired bleachers and cleaned and prepared concession stand for new season.

Lunch was made by Dawn Cochran, grilled hotdogs and members brought homemade baked goods, chips , drinks and other yummy treats for the hard working group of adults and children.

It was an exciting day for the Jr. Youth group who had activities planned for them.

There where adults to supervise the youth and at the same time where taught how to groom a horse, saddle a horse, hoof care and the basics in barrel and pole events . Members brought miniature horses for the youth group to enjoy riding.

CBRC is focusing on our youth and striving to make safe family fun in the our beautiful mountains.

For Questions about upcoming

horse shows check our website www. copperbasinridingclub.org or Call the president Misty Callahan @706-4557104 All residents and visitors are welcome to attend any of our monthly meetings and are welcome to join the riding club.

MARKYOURCALENDARS:First show of the season is April 10,2010 sign up is 1:00. Show starts at 2:00pm

Fannin

Sentinel

Castaway critters is a non-profit no kill animal shelter located in Blairsville that serves the local area including Cherokee, Clay, Towns, Union and Fannin Counties.

This private non-profit organization receives no public funding and relies on donations, pet adoptions and private fund-raising to survive.

In 2009 Castaway transported 113 dogs to New Jersey for adoption. Locally 118 dogs and 78 cats were adopted.

Castaway also assisted with the vetting of many more animals. This includes rescuing

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puppies from personal homes under a program called Puppy Promises and having the mother dog and any other dogs remaining in the home spayed or neutered.

It is estimated that a female dog that is bred every time she is in estrus and is bred until she can no longer reproduce can produce anywhere from 20,000-40,000 pups if none or spayed or neutered, depending on how many pups she has per litter. So the spaying and neutering of just one dog makes a huge difference in the number of unwanted dogs in an area.

In addition to spaying and neutering, Castaway also provides medical care for sick or injured dogs that are rescued. This may mean treating a heartworm positive dog or having broken bones set, treatment for diseased eyes and surgery for other problems.

At this time Castaway is having severe financial difficulties. A long winter and cancellations of adoption days because of the weather has caused adoptions to drop. Help keep the doors open at Castaway. All donations are tax deductible. Castaway Critters,1732 John Smith Rd East, Blairsville, GA 30512.

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CORRECTIONS: If you find a mistake of fact in the Fannin Sentinel that is serious enough to warrant a correction or clarification, call or stop in so we can make it right in the next week's edition. Email us at fannin@georgiasentinel.com

Governor Sonny Perdue announced the special elections to fill vacant Congressional, State Senate and State House seats in North Georgia will be held May 11 instead of April 27.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp expressed concern that there would not be enough time to get ballots returned from military members stationed overseas. Moving the election back two weeks would allow more time for the ballots to be printed, mailed out and returned.

The qualifying period for candidates wishing to run in any of the three special elections will remain March 29 through March 31.

Voters in the 9th Congressional District must select a replacement for Nathan Deal in the U.S. House.

Voters in the 49th State Senate District will fill the legislative seat formerly held by Sen. Lee Hawkins and citizens in the 12th State House District will replace Rep. Tom Graves.

All three elections will be held on May 11 and runoff elections, if needed, will be June 8.

Below is the writ of election for the 9th Congressional District: A vacancy now exists in the United States House of Representatives due to the resignation of the official elected to represent Georgia ’s Ninth District.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 212-543 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, a Writ of Election is hereby issued to the Secretary of State for a special election to be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, to fill the vacancy in Georgia ’s Ninth District of the United States House of Representatives.

Any inconsistent previous order is hereby rescinded.

Help Castaway Critters keep doors open

PUBLISHER: Frank Bradley EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Debbie Walker CIRCULATION: Debbie Walker

The Fannin Sentinel (USPS # 024-582) is published weekly each Thursday by Sentinel News Group at P.O. Box 799, Blue Ridge, GA 30153. Subscriptions are $25 for 1 year in Fannin County; $45 out of area. Single copy rate is 50¢. Periodical postage is paid at Blue Ridge, GA. To subscribe: call 706.632.6397.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the address listed below: Fannin Sentinel, P.O. Box 799, Blue Ridge, GA 30153

Elections for North Georgia seats moved back

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Subscribe to the Sentinel

Deadline for classifieds is Monday at 3 p.m.

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Tri-County Community College is currently accepting applications for the following positions: Part-time Therapeutic Massage Instructor Part-time Human Services Instructor Part-time Computer Instructor for JobsNOW Initiative Part-time EMS Clinical Coordinator Full-time Nursing Instructor Full-time EMS Instructor Full-time Instructor Graham County Campus (Math, English, or Science) Full-time Public Information Officer Complete position announcements can be viewed on the college website: www.tricountycc.edu. For information on the application process and application deadlines contact: Helen Kilpatrick at Tri-County Community College, 21 Campus Circle, Murphy, NC 28906. Phone: (828) 835-4201 or e mail: hkilpatrick@tricountycc.edu.

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CO M MUN I T Y NGTC celebrates Technical Certificates Bradley wins quilt top

Ann Bradley of McCaysville was the winner of the Friends of the Fannin County Public Library Quilting Bee Raffle. Volunteer Emily Thomason drew the winning ticket March 17. Bradley received a quilt top, a folding frame and a box of more than 25 quilting books.

She said she'd been asking her husband to build a frame for her to quilt, but she doesn't have to wait for him any longer.

Raffle proceeds will support programming and materials purchases for the library.

Students achieving a Technical Certificate of Credit at North Georgia Technical College shared a moment of pride with families and friends this week. Each campus hosted an intimate occasion for students completing a certificate in Fall and Winter quarters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have grown so rapidly this past year, we wanted to take the right steps to ensure that everyone would be able to participate fully in our studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accomplishments,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Fran Chastain, Director of Student Affairs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holding a ceremony just for recognizing the com-

pletion of certificates allows us to better serve everyone.â&#x20AC;?

Fannin County residents completing their certificates included Della Grant and Christopher Highley in Health Care Assistant; Kayla Arp, Amanda Black, Brittany Sheppard, and Lisa Ware in Health Care Technician; Erica Stewart in Medical Coding, and Donald Mullin Commercial Truck Driving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Graduating students from North Georgia Technical College have proven they are ready, willing, and able to meet a challenge,â&#x20AC;? said Pres-

ident Steve Dougherty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From juggling family life to overcoming handicaps to reinventing their careers, the story of each individual is one of courage and faith.â&#x20AC;?

Family and friends were invited for refreshments prior to the award event. Each student received a special gift and will receive their official certificates in the mail after all reporting data has been verified.

For more information on programs of study NGTC, please contact 706-754-7700 or visit the website at www.northgatech.edu.

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Bob and Fayrene Mathis celebrate 50th Anniversary

More than 170 people shared dinner with Bob and Fayrene Mathis at Lebanon Baptist Church March 20 to celebrate their 50 years together.

Donald Curtis welcomed guests and explained that he was not a son "in law", even though he was married to the Mathisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daughter Cheryl, because Bob and Fayrene had always treated him as a son and he felt that he truly was their son.

Guests were treated to a slideshow of the couple from grade school to their wedding day; the arrival of their three daughters, marriages, births of grandchildren and their great grandson. Interspersed in the moving tribute were pictures of Bob and Fayrene on trips and outings, as well as doing things together as a family. The love and devotion that kept this couple "50 years together" was skillfully captured and digitally put together by Greg Smith.

Bob and Fayrene were married on March 16, 1960. The day of the wedding, the roads were too muddy to make it to Lebanon so they had to change the location for the wedding to the First Baptist Church at Epworth.

They have three daughters, LeAnne, married to Bobby Russell Jr.; Cheryl, married to Donald Curtis; and Dana, married to Greg Smith; six grandchildren: Jonathan Curtis, Jeremy Curtis, Laura Curtis, Seth Russell, Jordan Smith, Emily Smith and grand daughter-in-laws: Jeri Curtis & Amy Curtis. They are the proud great grandparents of Colin Curtis.

Former pastor at Lebanon Baptist Church and current Morganton and Mountaintown Baptist Associations Associational Missionary Claude Mathis gave the invocation.

The set down dinner of chicken, beef, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and rolls was served by family members. Guests served themselves a variety of desserts including a replica 3-tier wedding cake.

Friends praised the couple as an example of Christians making a difference. "You can see it in everything they do, in their work in the church, and in their family...they have raised a Christian family and continue to show their commitment and dedication to the Lord," said Pastor David McLendon.