Unified game is winning combination

Students with special needs play in basketball event

An annual basketball game between special education students at Elizabeth Middle School almost lled the gym on a snowy night in late February.

e spirit squad came to cheer for the players. e school’s band roused the crowd. e Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo queen mingled with attendees at courtside and helped distribute the medals given to each player.

ey all came out on Feb. 22 to root for the players shooting hoops at what the school calls its uni ed basketball game. e players are students with physical, educational and other issues that are otherwise a barrier to participation in school sports, Uni ed Coordinator Mike Hamner said.

“It’s an opportunity for our kiddos who don’t get to play a regular sport,” Hamner told the Elbert County News.

Hamner, a special education teacher at the school who also coaches football and softball, said the uni ed players spent several weeks preparing for the game. ey designed e plan has three objectives:

1. Community character e plan includes a strategy for strengthening and maintaining Elbert County’s rural character by identifying and articulating what makes Elbert County unique - and what it means to be in Elbert County from both a resident and business perspective.

Examples include finding new uses for fairgrounds and trails and implementing a facade grant program so business owners can enhance their buildings and adhere to standards for their respective historic zones.

2. Fiscal stability

The plan lays out a strategy for facilitating commercial development processes and recruiting new businesses. Examples include improving the permitting process and targeting and recruiting businesses based on residents’ needs and priorities. In Dettenrieder’s words: “The strategic attraction of businesses that meet the needs of our community and provide jobs closer to home is an appealing output of this project.”

3. Local economy e plan is committed to supporting the local economy by expanding and retaining local businesses using advocacy and assistance. It also includes marketing support to promote companies that align with Elbert County’s rural identity. e Elbert County Economic Development Strategic Plan can be found online at tinyurl.com/ elbeconplan.