Butts County Community Profile - July 2016

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BUTTS COUNTY

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

2 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Butts County Community Living

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Butts County Community Living

index Chamber of Commerce ....................... Page 4 Village at Indian Springs ...................... Page 5 Jackson Lake ........................................ Page 6 Dauset Trails Nature Center ................. Page 7 State Parks ...................................... Pages 8-9 Health Department ..............................Page 10 Fire Services ........................................Page 11 Sheriff’s Office, Police Department .... Page 12 Courts ................................................. Page 13 School System............................. Pages 14-15 Public Library ...................................... Page 15 Leisure Services ................................ Page 16 Local Government .............................. Page 17 WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital ......... Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016 • 3

Welcome to Butts County Community Living

I

n this special Community Living supplement, you will find a host of information about local attractions, events, schools, services and more.

In these pages are snapshots of various parts of Butts County that we think you will find helpful and informative when getting to know the community.

This guide includes information on local organizations, local government services, places to visit and how to contact your elected representatives.

Community Living is by no means all-inclusive, but we hope it provides a glimpse into life in our community. We hope you keep it handy and use it as a resource to refer back to from time to time.

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Butts County Community Living

Chamber a voice for business community The Butts County Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice of Butts County’s business community.

The chamber organizes ribbon cuttings and Business After Hours programs to introduce new members to the community, as well as other special events throughout the year, including the popular Halloween on Second Street trick-or-treating event and the nighttime Christmas parade through the Jackson square.

The Butts County Chamber of Commerce also recognizes pillars in the community during its annual awards banquet. The banquet is held each spring and attracts hundreds of Chamber supporters from across Butts County’s business and political communities.

The highlight of the event is the induction of the newest member of the Butts County Hall of Fame. Past inductees have included some of the community’s political leaders, busi-

dren presents via the Sheriff’s Cause with Santa Claus charity. He also serves on the Butts County Development Authority.

Awards distributed at the banquet also include Business of the Year, Employee of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Organization of the Year and Shining Light awards which recognize members of the community and their contributions.

The Butts County Chamber of Commerce banquet is typically held each March and serves as the chamber’s annual business meeting. Members can vote to amend the organization’s Arthur White, right, accepts his 2015 Butts County Hall of Fame award bylaws and make other procefrom Zach Sowell of United Bank, which sponsored the award. The dural decisions. Each year the Hall of Fame award is presented each year at the Butts County Chamgavel is passed to the incoming ber of Commerce awards banquet. (File Photo) president of the chamber. This ness leaders and philanthropists. County in 1972 as a biology year’s chamber president is Arthur White was the 2015 teacher at Jackson High School Butts County Fire Chief Mike Hall of Fame award recipient.

Wilson. and spent more than 30 years The chief deputy at the Butts — coaching baseball, softball and County Sheriff’s Office, White On the net: football at the Butts County retired from the Georgia State Butts County Chamber of Department of Leisure Services.

Patrol as a deputy commissioner White has helped give more Commerce: www.buttschamber. in 2007. He came to Butts com than 500 underprivileged chil-

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Butts County Community Living

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Village at Indian Springs boasts varied offerings Nestled along Ga. Highway 42 in Flovilla, adjacent to Indian Springs State Park, The Village at Indian Springs is a destination featuring boutique shops, gardens, an art gallery and cottages catering to travelers in town to visit the park or to stay for special events.

In the Big Chief Country Store, items for sale include a selection of fine wines and cheeses and the Village’s own souvenir line, with an Indian Springs twist. Items include “moonshine” jelly, Granny’s Own White Dirt and Wild Bill’s World Famous Yellow Root Tea. The store also offers artistic handmade decor, whimsical gift items and a line of sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and other food items.

The gardens of The Village at Indian Springs are planted in a number of styles. The Whimsical Botanical Garden features fountains, unique statues and other one-of-a-kind decor. Visitors can also stroll through the Charlotte Weaver Rose Garden, the Maude Alice Grier Educa-

tion Center, Sweet Sara Ward’s Children’s Garden Center, the Enchanted Forest and the Janie Belle Gregory Conservatory.

The Amphitheater at The Village at Indian Springs opened in 2014 and features four sodded terraces, covered seating and a 100-foot stage 25 feet deep. The Amphitheater can accommodate up to 2,500 guests.

The Gallery in The Village at Indian Springs hosts art exhibits and classes for children and adults.

Other shops include Daisy Pearl’s clothing boutique, Mrs. Lee’s Stagecoach Sweet Stop and Watkins Outfitters.

The Village also offers lodging in several small cottages and a couple of larger homes.

To reach the village offices, call the Big Chief Country Store at 770-775-5350.

— On the net: The Village at Indian Springs: www.thevillageatindiansprings. com

Sweet Sara Ward’s Children’s Garden Center, top left, is in the Whimsical Gardens in The Village at Indian Springs.

The Amphitheater in The Village at Indian Springs, bottom left, can accommodate up to 2,500 guests.

(File Photos)

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Butts County Community Living

Residents, visitors enjoy Jackson Lake Jackson Lake is one of Butts County’s most significant recreational resources.

With shoreline in Butts, Jasper and Newton counties, the 4,750acre lake is owned by Georgia Power, which also owns and operates the hydro-electric plant at Lloyd Shoals Dam. The lake has 135 miles of shoreline and is popular for fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming and picnicking.

Georgia Power’s Lloyd Shoals Park is located at 180 Dam Road and is available for use yearround. It offers amenities such as a picnic pavilion, boat-launching ramp, restroom, bank fishing and two fishing piers.

The Lloyd Shoals power plant began generating electricity in 1911 for the Central Georgia Power Company, with the lake and power plant becoming Georgia Power property in 1928. The dam spans 1,070 feet across the Ocmulgee River.

The lake is formed by waters from the Alcovy, Yellow and

Boutiques Antiques Art Ice Cream Deli Fudge Amphitheater Music History Museums State Park Gardens Bike Trails Kayaks Fishing Hiking Motor Cycles

Boaters are shuttled from their boats to the dock at Reasor’s Landing during the annual Jackson Lake Poker Run, a fundraiser organized by the Jackson Lake Homeowners Association each summer. (File Photo)

South rivers and Tussahaw and Bear creeks.

Homes around the lake are popular as year-round residences as well as for weekend and summer getaways.

The active Jackson Lake Homeowners Association hosts several events throughout the year, with the signature summer event being the Jackson Lake Poker Run. During the event, the association raises funds to donate to local causes in all three counties

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bordering Jackson Lake. It also distributes prizes to those who dock at Reasor’s Landing with the best hands of cards.

Jackson Lake Homeowners Association President Jared Godin said recipients of the proceeds include high school graduates from Newton, Jasper and Butts counties through the Jackson Lake Homeowners Association Scholarship. Funds are also donated to the Greater Butts County Lions Club, a Jasper County food bank and the Newton County

4-H Club, Godin said.

“Not one dime is used for anything but charity,” Godin said.

The Jackson Lake Poker Run has been hosted on the lake for about a decade. The Jackson Lake Homeowners Association took over its operation about three years ago when its previous organizer pulled out.

“It was just such a fun event on the lake we couldn’t let it die,” Godin said.

Each participant is allowed to play one hand of cards during the event, though there can be any number of players on a given boat.

Godin said 292 hands were played in the 2016 event. The top prize in 2016 was $750.

For information about the homeowners association, visit www.jlha.org.

Lake Jackson Land Management Office 180 Dam Road Jackson, GA 30233 404-954-4040 On the net: georgiapowerlakes. com/lakejackson/

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Butts County Community living

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Dauset Trails a popular outdoor destination Dauset Trails Nature Center draws tens of thousands of people to Butts County every year to enjoy and experience nature.

Dauset Trails features live mammals, birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians that are native to Georgia. Most have been injured or orphaned and cannot be released back into the wild.

The 1,400-acre nature center has more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails with beginner-, intermediate- and advanced-level paths. Dauset Trails also has 10 miles of horse trails.

Farm animals can be found at the barnyard area depicting a 19th-century farm.

The barnyard area includes the Acorn blacksmith forge, a country store, a cane syrup mill and cooking area, a smoke house and wagons.

The barnyard area at Dauset Trails is the location for Cane Syrup Day, an annual syrup-making demonstration held each November the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Area vendors and thousands of visitors stream to Dauset Trails for the annual Bluebirds and Bluegrass Festival, the center’s spring festival. It hosts bluegrass acts, local merchants, area clubs and educators from other middle Georgia nature centers.

Dauset Trails officials counted more

than 2,600 visitors and 29 vendors during the spring 2016 festival, naturalist Gordon Respess said.

Dauset Trails has become a popular place to hold wedding ceremonies and receptions. The nature center provides a wedding package that includes a large pavilion and the atrium inside the visitor’s center, as well as an outdoor chapel that overlooks a lake.

The nature center also offers a children’s garden to explore, a gift shop and overnight camping for organized groups, such as Boy Scouts, churches and 4-H. Admission and parking at Dauset Trails are always free. All events held at the nature center are free except the annual youth summer day camp.

Dauset Trails is the result of a dream and lifetime friendship between Hampton Daughtry and David Settle, whose combined property — and last names — created Dauset Trails Nature Center. The center was started in 1977 and is operated by the nonprofit Daughtry Foundation.

Dauset Trails Nature Center 360 Mount Vernon Church Road Jackson, GA 30233 Phone: 770-775-6798 Website: www.dausettrails.com

Anglers take part in the fishing rodeo held every year at Dauset Trails Nature Center. It is the only time the public can fish at the nature center. (File Photo)

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Butts County Community Living

Many activities available at two state parks Butts County is home to both Indian Springs and High Falls state parks. Both offer things to do in the outdoors from primitive camping to Junior Ranger Camps. Children can earn Georgia State Parks Junior Ranger badges by learning about the outdoors, nature, history and animals.

A one-day Junior Ranger environmental education program introduces children ages 6 to 12 to the outdoors. Typical events include bug hunts, frog slogs and water games. In addition to badges, children can bring home crafts they make. They take wilderness hikes, hunt for wildflowers and play on the playground. Children receive Level I Junior Ranger badges at the end of the one-day camp, which costs $15.

At weekday Junior Ranger Day Camps, parents and guardians join 6- to 12-year-old campers on the last day of camp for a picnic and to see them get the patches they earn. Rangers and volunteers teach children about — and in — nature.

Activities can include learning

the old electric plant at High Falls State Park.

Many of the oldest structures at state parks were built by the CivilMarshall Mobley ian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression in the 1930s. of McDonough They are on the Junior Ranger list shows off the of places to visit, including those red birdhouse he built during a at Indian Springs. two-day Junior Learning in the outdoors can Ranger Camp earn a child a Get Outdoors Georheld at High gia badge which requires activiFalls State Park. ties based on age. There are more (File Photo) activities for youth ages 14 to 18 under other programs.

Camp offerings can be found at www.gastateparks.org. Junior Ranger Activity Books are to use a compass, Imagination back yards, local parks and hisavailable at Indian Springs and Station, a scavenger hunt, games toric homes to national parks and High Falls state parks and can be with bubbles, water balloons and historic sites, as well as wildlife downloaded. miniature golf. management areas and refuges.

Parking is $5 at both parks and The Junior Ranger Activity The book has three badge annual passes are available for Book lets parents and children levels. Level I is for ages 6 and 7, $50. share time in the outdoors while Level II for ages 8 to 10 and Level High Falls State Park learning about Georgia’s natural, III for ages 11 and 12. Activities High Falls State Park is named cultural and recreational resources. include visiting the first state park for the rocky Towaliga River waterfalls it surrounds. Boat rental, Many activities can be completed in Georgia, drinking from the at sites other than Georgia State spring at Indian Springs State Park See PARKS, Page 9 Parks and Historic Sites, from and touring a historic mill like

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wednesday, july 27, 2016 • 9

Parks

that seat 130 people each. A group campsite sleeps 130. There is a Indian Springs ramps and fishing docks provide State Park Ranger pioneer campground, museum, easy access to the park’s lake, Phillip White, left, boat ramp and rental, kayak and aqua-cycle rental, hiking along four known as one of Georgia’s top fishtalks to Junior miles of trails, biking, miniature ing spots for hybrid and white bass.

Ranger Day Camper Tristan golf, geocaching, a playground and In the early 1800s, High Falls Taylor about how wedding facilities. was a prosperous industrial town a compass works.

The Indian Springs State Park with several stores, a grist mill, (File Photo) Museum is open the first Saturday cotton gin, blacksmith shop, shoe of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. factory and hotel. It fell from prosperity in the 1880s when a major Staff members or park volunteers railroad bypassed it. Today, the park wedding facilities. healing qualities. During the 1800s will answer questions about the is a camping destination and a side Address: 76 High Falls Park the area was a bustling resort town. park, its history and upcoming trip for travelers on Interstate 75.

Drive, Jackson events.

Visitors can still sample the minAccommodations and facilities Park hours: 7 a.m.–10 p.m.

Indian Springs State Park’s eral water inside the stone Spring on the 1,050-acre park include six Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. annual Springs Fling includes House. yurts, 107 campsites, a pioneer Phone: 478-993-3053 old-fashioned games and toys.

The 105-acre McIntosh Lake campground, paddle-in primiWebsite: gastateparks.org/High- and swimming beach are closed Friends of Indian Springs State tive campsite with five canoes, a Falls Park volunteers offer books on the due to dam repairs but guests can 650-acre lake, a group shelter that Indian Springs State Park history of the area and vendors sell wade in Sandy Creek. The lake is their wares. The park is also the site seats 125, five picnic shelters, river Indian Springs State Park is one named for Creek Chief William of an annual Christmas event with pavilion for campground guests, of the oldest state parks in the U.S., McIntosh who signed a treaty Santa Claus. a swimming pool and two boat with mineral rich waters and natural deeding Native American land to Address: 678 Lake Clark Road, ramps. settings. Its activities and displays Georgia in 1825. A museum highFlovilla Things to do and see include cover a timeline from its Creek lights Creek Indians, the resort era Park hours: 7 a.m.–10 p.m. hiking 4.5 miles of trails, fishing, Indian origins to the stone buildings and CCC history.

Office hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. boat rental, kayak, canoe, standbuilt by the CCC during the Great Accommodations at the 528Phone: 770-504-2277 up paddle board and aqua-cycle Depression. acre park include 10 cottages, 60 Website: gastateparks.org/Indirental, swimming, geocaching, a For centuries, Creek Indians campsites, seven picnic shelters and anSprings playground, miniature golf and collected the spring water for its a group shelter and Stone Pavilion

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Butts County Community Living

Health department offers variety of services As part of the Georgia District IV Public Health Division, the Butts County Health Department promotes good health by focusing on prevention, healthy lifestyles, education and research.

The health department provides child health checks through age 21 and screenings and referrals for children with developmental or physical needs. During routine exams, the staff may be able to identify symptoms of a larger problem and help a patient and his or her family avoid complications.

“We offer child development screenings to see if children are on track with others in their age group,” County Nurse Manager Krystle Whitten said.

At the beginning of the school year, the health department offers hearing, vision and dental checks for school entry and various immunizations for all ages in one location.

Nurses can discuss birth control options and help women plan healthy pregnancies, Whitten said. Pregnancy testing is offered on site and women’s wellness exams are offered and referrals given for mammograms for women over age 40. Screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, breast and cervical cancer and tuberculosis also are available.

The Butts County Health Department is run

by Program Associate Tina Brooks, from left, Environmental Health Specialist IV Robert Waggoner and County Nurse Manager Krystle Whitten. (Staff Photo: Sherri Ellington)

In addition to Medicaid and PeachCare, the health department can take some insurance plans.

WIC The health department also offers WIC (Women, Infants and Children) services to women who are pregnant, just had a baby or are breast-feeding an infant. Children may qualify up to their fifth birthdays. Participants receive nutrition assessments, health screenings, nutrition education, referrals to

other health and social services and vouchers with which to buy healthy foods.

“There are monthly cooking classes, and we’re setting up shopping tours that will also be monthly,” Whitten said.

Environmental Health Environmental Health Specialist IV Robert M. Waggoner is in charge of Butts County restaurant inspections. The goal is to prevent illness through education, surveillance and enforcement.

Waggoner also handles sewage management programs such as tests for proposed septic tank sites and evaluations of systems already on site, Whitten said.

Public pools, spas and recreational water parks get operating permits from the health department. Environmental Health inspects facilities and works with staff to minimize illnesses and injuries associated with contaminated or hazardous conditions.

Butts County Health Department Krystle Whitten, county nurse manager Robert M. Waggoner, environmental health specialist IV Tina Brooks, program associate 463-A Ernest Biles Drive, Jackson Phone: 770-504-2230 Appointments: 1-866-636-7942

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Butts County Community Living

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016 • 11

Fire service providers fully equipped The Butts County Fire Department has a new pumper truck on the road, and it’s housed at the department’s newest fire station.

Housed at Station 8 near the Indian Springs community, the 2016 E-One truck was purchased in March at a cost of $283,000 from 2012 special purpose local option sales tax funds.

Located in the Indian Springs community, Station 8 serves a fire district area that includes primarily southeastern Butts County. Firefighters and members of the department’s administrative staff, including Fire Chief Mike Wilson, have offices at the station.

“We’re happy to be on this side of the county to support the citizens on this side of the county and support the city of Flovilla with fire protection,” Wilson said during the station’s dedication ceremony last year.

Butts County Fire Department stations include Station 1 at 154 Sylvan Road, Jackson; Station 3 at 121 Keys Ferry Road, Jackson; Station 4 at 211 Maple Drive, Jenkinsburg; Station 6 at 991 Halls Bridge Road, Jackson; Station 7 at 144 Colwell Road, Jackson; and Station 8 at 1372 Ga. Highway 42 S., Flovilla.

Jenkinsburg Fire services in Jenkinsburg are provided under an agreement between the city and the county. According to JenFamily Tradition Since 1966

kinsburg Mayor Eddie Ford, the city provides the station, repairs, utilities and the fire truck and Butts County fuels and maintains the truck. “(The county) mans the station 24 hours a day. … It’s one of the biggest advantages we have had in this part of the county,” Ford said.

The Jenkinsburg station is known as Station 4.

Jackson The city of Jackson Fire Department is located at 139 Holley St. and offers several services to the residents of Jackson. The chief is Harvey Norris.

In addition to fire protection, the Jackson Fire Department offers: • Smoke detectors upon request; • Fire extinguisher instruction classes; • Fire safety education; • Inspections for new businesses; • Construction plan review; and • Burn permits.

To contact the Jackson Fire Department, call 770-7758054.

Flovilla The Flovilla Fire Department was founded in 1968 with Luther Jones as its first chief. The department currently operates as a volunteer fire department with Shane Thompson as its chief. He has been in the post since January.

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Butts County officials dedicated Fire Station 8 in July 2015. (File Photo)

to calls in the southeast part of Butts County. The department’s equipment includes: • Engine 21, a 1994 Pierce engine; • Tanker 22, a 2011 Southern fire tanker; • Utility 24, a 2001 F-250 used for medical calls; and

• Squad 25, a 2003 E-One mini-pumper.

For information on volunteering, pick up an application at Flovilla City Hall or the Flovilla Fire Department, both of which are located at 308 Heard St., Flovilla. Call 770775-5661.

12 • wednesday, july 27, 2016

Butts County Community living

Law enforcement agencies protect community Law enforcement in Butts County is provided primarily by two agencies: the Butts County Sheriff’s Office and, within the city limits, the Jackson Police Department.

Sheriff Gary Long took office in 2013 and successfully ran in the Republican primary for another term earlier this year. No Democrats qualified for the seat.

Long began his law enforcement career in 1996 with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.

He has worked for a number of police departments and sheriff’s offices since then, including agencies in Henry County, Union City and Butts County. He specialized in working in interdiction units, set up to catch drivers transporting drugs and money, particularly along interstate highways.

Long also worked for a Department of Defense contractor as a law enforcement trainer and mentor on two assignments in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012.

He has lived in Butts County since 2001.

Gary Long

James Morgan

Deputies with the Butts County Sheriff’s Office serve warrants, protect the Butts County Courthouse and staff and maintain the Butts County Jail, among other functions. The sheriff’s office has roughly 85 employees.

The Butts County Sheriff’s Office also operates a number of community programs, including several aimed at young people.

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association’s Choosing Healthy Activities

and Methods Promoting Safety (CHAMPS) is taught to Butts County fifth-graders and includes lessons on a number of safety topics.

The Butts County Sheriff’s Office also offers a citizens academy, a women’s self-defense course and a firearms safety course.

To reach the Butts County Sheriff’s Office by phone, call 770-775-8216. The sheriff’s

office and jail are located at 835 Ernest Biles Drive in Jackson.

Jackson Police Department Butts County native James Morgan leads the Jackson Police Department as its chief. He was appointed to the position in February 2015, after working for more than 30 years for the Georgia State Patrol. He worked for the Butts County Sheriff’s Office for several years in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Morgan oversees a department of 10 sworn officers and two civilian employees. The department includes a two-person investigation unit overseen by Capt. David Akins and an eight-officer patrol unit overseen by Major Stephon Daniel and Capt. Bob Carrick.

The patrol division also includes a K-9 officer, Ric, and handler Lt. Corey Biles.

The department responds to approximately 400 calls per month.

The Jackson Police Department is located at 135 S. Mulberry St. in Jackson. The non-emergency number is 770-775-7878.

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Butts County Community living

wednesday, july 27, 2016 • 13

Butts County courts have criminal, civil functions Butts County’s court system includes Superior Court, Probate Court and Magistrate Court, with each responsible for different judicial functions. Butts County is part of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit, with its Superior Court judges and district attorney serving three counties — Butts, Lamar and Monroe.

Superior Court Judge William A. Fears Judge William A. Fears is a native of Butts County and practiced law in Jackson from 1985 until 2003, when he was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Fears is the former vice president of the Towaliga Bar Association and was a past president of the previous Flint Bar Association.

Fears volunteers with the Butts County Department of Leisure Services and is a member of the Butts County Rotary Club and the Daughtry Foundation Board of Trustees. He is also an active member of Towaliga Baptist Church.

He has been married to the former Joyce Lewis, a native of Jackson, for 27 years. They have two children. Daughter Natalie Fears Sundeen is a local practicing attorney. Son Matthew Fears is a registered nurse at Baptist Hospital in Louisville, Ky. Superior Court Judge Thomas H. “Tommy” Wilson Judge Thomas H. “Tommy” Wilson has lived in Forsyth all his life. He is a graduate of Mary Persons High School and went to Mercer University and the Walter F. George School of Law. He graduated from law school in 1987.

Wilson also served on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners for 14 years, 10 of those as chairman.

He was elected to the Superior Court bench in 2002 and took office Jan. 1, 2003. His and his wife Penny have four children — Courtney, Thomas, Harrison and Chelsey — and three grandchildren.

District Attorney Richard Milam Jackson native Richard Milam has been the district attorney for the Towaliga Circuit since the circuit was formed in 1999.

He and his staff work to prosecute criminal cases and protect victims of crime in Butts, Lamar and Monroe counties.

Milam graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1974. The district attorney’s main office is located at the Butts County Administration Building, at 625 W. Third St., Jackson.

Superior Court Clerk Rhonda Smith Rhonda Smith serves as the Clerk of Superior Court of Butts County. She has worked in the clerk’s office since 1984 and became clerk in 1994. She received

Judge William A. Fears

Judge Thomas H. Wilson

her clerk’s certification from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

She is a lifelong resident of Butts County and raised two children here. She attends Paran Baptist Church and is married to Judge E. Byron Smith.

The Clerk of Superior Court is divided into three divisions. The administrative division accounts for all funds paid into the registries of the court and files and maintains various records. The judicial division maintains civil and criminal court records, and issues subpoenas, summonses and trial notices, among other duties. The real and personal property division receives, records and maintains documents related to deeds, plats and liens.

The clerk’s office is located at 26 Third St., Jackson, and is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 770-775-8214.

Chief Magistrate Rebecca J. Pitts Rebecca J. Pitts is serving her 12th year as a full-time magistrate judge in Butts County, after being first appointed by former Chief Magistrate Gigi Leverette Hoard in 2005. Pitts was elected to succeed Hoard as chief magistrate in 2012 and was re-elected this year without opposition.

Pitts is a lifelong resident of Butts County, is a member of the Council of Magistrate Court Judges and is a charter member of the Butts County Kiwanis Club.

The Magistrate Court handles civil claims involving disputes of $15,000 or less and holds civil hearings and bench trials as necessary on a case-by-case basis. Judges also issue criminal arrest

and search warrants, and hold first appearance bond hearings and preliminary hearings as necessary. Civilian arrest warrant applications and code enforcement and animal control cases are also handled here.

Magistrate Court is located at 835 Ernest Biles Drive, Jackson, and is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Call 770-775-8220.

Probate Judge Elizabeth H. Biles Elizabeth H. Biles is the probate judge of Butts County. She was elected in 2012 and took office Jan. 1, 2013. She will begin her second term in office in January and is serving as the district director for District Four.

She is a 1985 graduate of Jackson High School and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgia College and State University in 1988. She served as a deputy clerk in the Superior Court of Butts County for 12 years and is a lifelong resident of Butts County.

Probate Court’s Civil Division is responsible for all types of estate matters.

The Vital Records Division issues and records all marriage licenses and is the registrar and custodian of all birth and death records. The Licensing Division issues Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses.

The Criminal Division handles traffic citations. Administrative duties include recording oaths and bonds of elected officials, issuing fireworks permits, registration of brands and certificates of residency.

Probate Court is located at the Butts County Courthouse, 25 Third St., Suite 7, Jackson, and is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 770-775-8204.

14 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Butts County Community Living

Butts County School System making strides The Butts County School System operates five schools — three elementary, one middle and one high school — with some 3,400 students and 500 employees.

From pre-kindergarten to graduation, the school system’s theme is “Expect More, Become More” and it offers many opportunities to help fulfill achievement goals.

The school system was approved this year for a sixth Bright from the Start Georgia Lotteryfunded pre-kindergarten class to be placed at Daughtry Elementary School. In the fall, the system will have two pre-K classrooms at each of its three elementary schools.

Butts County schools are also centers for community activities such as Parent Teacher Organizations, school councils, drama and music programs, academic nights and athletic events.

Outstanding employees Clyde Newman, a seventhgrade math teacher at Henderson Middle School, is the 2016 Teacher of the Year. He was also selected the STAR Teacher by 2015-16 STAR Student Griffin Fletcher.

Patricia Henderson of Jackson Elementary School is the Support Personnel Employee of the Year. Henderson has been with the school system more than 20 years and has had perfect attendance in the last two decades.

Each school chose a Teacher of the Year. Jeanne Mathias is the TOTY for Daughtry Elementary School; Tessa Yarbrough for Jackson Elementary; Margaret Bobbitt for Stark Elementary; and Elizabeth McConnell-Granger for Jackson High School.

Dianne Allen was named the

MORE INFO Butts County School System Central Office 181 N. Mulberry St. Jackson, GA, 30233 Phone: 770-504-2300 Website: www.butts.k12.ga.us Daughtry Elementary School 150 Shiloh Road Jackson, GA, 30233 Phone: 770-504-2356 Principal: Fran Dundore Henderson Middle School 494 George Tate Drive Jackson, GA, 30233 Phone: 770-504-2310 Principal: Tracey Allen Jackson Elementary School 1105 Brownlee Road Jackson, GA, 30233 Phone: 770-775-9480 Principal: Sheila Barlow Jackson High School 717 Harkness St. Jackson, GA, 30233 Phone: 770-504-2340 Principal: Todd Simpson Stark Elementary School 209 Stark Road Jackson, GA, 30233 Phone: 770-775-9470 Principal: Derek Vander Ven

The floor of the new gym at Jackson High School shines under the lights as workers were giving it the finishing touches ahead of the gym’s official open date in January. (File Photo)

bursed by the state Department of Education.

The gym connects to a new wing of Jackson High School, also paid for with E-SPLOST pennies.

It boasts new classrooms, computer and science labs, administrative offices and a conference area.

The E-SPLOST has also paid to paint all five schools, repair or replace heating and air conditioning equipment in various schools central office Support Personnel and offices and replace roofing at Employee of the Year. Other Sup- Jackson High School and the Erport Personnel Employee of the nest Battle Professional DevelopYear winners were Patricia Duffey ment Building. of Daughtry, Amy Williams of Use of E-SPLOST money has Stark, Kay Duke of Henderson allowed school board members and Tiana Hamm of Jackson to reduce the tax millage rate for High. five consecutive years due to the E-SPLOST flexibility of using the penny sales A 2012 special purpose local tax instead of property taxes for option sales tax for education paid capital projects. for the construction of the new Upcoming E-SPLOST projects Jackson High School gym, which include correcting sideline drainopened in January. The $4.9 milage issues at the Red Devil Hill lion project was funded by school football field, which is expected to system E-SPLOST revenue with be done before the 2016-17 school $1.1 million of that being reimyear begins, and the addition of a

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fine arts complex and career labs at the high school by 2019. The schools can also use these funds for textbooks, software, technology upgrades, buses, athletic equipment and musical instruments for students.

Technology improvements Through E-SPLOST, the system has invested more than $2 million since 2012 in technology. The system’s capacity to use the internet is being expanded.

Schools will open in 2016 with a bandwidth capacity of 10 gigabytes per second per school. This means better and faster access by students to audio and video educational resources.

Telehealth A Southside Butts County Medical Center telehealth initiative at Daughtry Elementary School is to expand to Jackson and Stark elementary schools when classes begin in the fall of 2016.

See SCHOOLS, Page 15

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wednesday, july 27, 2016 • 15

Children’s programs abound at library The Jackson-Butts County Public Library, managed by Donn Taylor, houses items and hosts events suited to almost anyone’s interests.

When the Butts County Genealogical Society presented a wish list of 15 books to the Friends of the Jackson-Butts County Public Library, the latter group bought all of them. Presented in April 2016, the books are now among the materials housed at the library in the Georgia Room.

New books include “The Reconstructed 1790 Census of Georgia,” made up of substitute records for Georgia 1790 Census records lost during the War of 1812. There are atlases, research guides, information on the pottery industry, weird history, a book about patients of Georgia State Mental Hospital in Milledgeville, county histories and books on the Civil War and slavery. There are also books about college football and famous Georgians.

The library offers a wide range of children’s programming under the supervision of Program Coordinator Libby Spence.

Events include Story Time, Spring Break Specials and the

•From Page 14

The Jackson-Butts County Public Library Summer Reading Program features a variety of performers.

Safiya Johnson of the Good Times Traveling Theatre is pictured in this 2013 performance.

(File Photo)

Summer Reading Program.

During spring break 2016, the musical “A Fairyland Fable” was presented by A Company of Friends Theatrical Productions of Fayette County.

Story Time is held at 10 a.m. every Tuesday except for holidays.

The Summer Reading Program offers programs each Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for children up to age 9. Programs for children ages 10 and older are held from 6 to 7 p.m.

A PINES — Public Informa-

tion Network for Electronic Services — library card in good standing allows residents to check out items from the Jackson-Butts County Public Library. The library has hardbound and softbound books for all ages and audio books available for checkout.

The library has Kindles that can be checked out by patrons ages 18 years old or older.

Thousands of e-books are available to download from Amazon and from the Georgia Download Destination website gadd.lib.

overdrive.com.

The Jackson-Butts County Public Library is part of the Flint River Library System and is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mondays through Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays.

Jackson-Butts County Public Library 436 E. College St. Jackson, GA 30233 Phone: 770-775-7524 Website: frrls.net/jacksonbutts-county-public-library

Schools

Jackson High was named a Georgia Advanced Placement If a student or staff member STEM School in 2014 and has had becomes sick, he or she goes to the record achievement in all core conschool nurse’s office. The nurse tent areas. In 2015 the high school will consult, via computer, with a was named an AP Honor Roll doctor at the medical center. The School by the College Board. center can send a vehicle for the A number of students are dually child, with the parent’s permission, enrolled in college or technical and take him or her to the clinic in school at Gordon State College downtown Jackson. and Southern Crescent TechniIf a student can be treated at cal College. During the 2016-17 school, the child does not miss school year the high school will classes and parents do not miss send students to the new Grifwork. Prescriptions called in via fin Regional College and Career telehealth will be waiting on paAcademy for pathway courses tients at the end of the school day. in automotive, cosmetology, film Jackson High School studies, forensic, welding and Jackson High School prepares college essentials. The system students for college and careers provides transportation. and had an 85.7 percent graduaHenderson Middle School tion rate for the class of 2015. This Henderson Middle School is is above the Georgia statewide preparing students for high school, graduation rate of 78.8 percent. college and careers, offering high

school credits in coordinate algebra, ninth-grade literature, physical science and Spanish. The middle school is part of the REACH Scholarship Program.

Elementary schools Butts County has three elementary schools — Daughtry, Jackson and Stark.

All three schools are Authentic Literacy Focused Schools with reading, writing and speaking programs and have thriving art, music, drama and after-school enrichment programs. A concert band program for fifth-graders will begin in the 2016-17 school year.

The system has a grant-funded Family Enrichment Center with a parent involvement coordinator at each elementary school. They make home visits to help children make the transition to kindergarten. The free program provides

parents of newborns to 5-yearolds with support, programs and services including developmental screenings and play-and-learn groups.

School officials Superintendent Robert “Buddy” Costley came on board with the system in 2011. School board members are Bobby Craven, who represents District 1; Mamie Crawford representing District 2; Johnny Morris representing District 3 and serving as chairman; Clifford Marshall representing District 4 and serving as vice chairman; and Millard Daniel representing District 5.

Kim Raney had no opponents in the May 24, 2016 election for the Butts County Board of Education seat representing District 3 and will take her seat in January 2017, replacing Morris.

16 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Butts County Community Living

Linda Parrish leads Leisure Services Linda D. Parrish is the director of Butts County’s Department of Leisure Services. She took over the job as the head of the county’s parks, youth sports and senior citizens programs in July 2015, succeeding Dan Magee.

“I am very pleased to welcome someone of Linda Parrish’s caliber to Butts County to head our Leisure Services Department,” Butts County Government Relations Director J. Michael Brewer said when Parrish was hired. “This department oversees our offerings in parks and recreational activities for our citizens ranging from small children to older adults.

Organized sports programs, fitness classes, community events and much more take place in our park every day. Our Senior Citizens Center is also very active now with a range of programs available to our active older adults. All of this is due to the efforts of our dedicated staff, and I feel that Linda Parrish will only enhance that and take us to the

Linda Parrish of the Butts County Department of Leisure Services serves spaghetti dinners to those attending a Valentine’s Day dinner and dance for local seniors.

(File Photo)

next level.”

Parrish worked from 1997 to 2012 as the Greene County recreation director and from 1994 to 1997 as the parks and recreation director in Jackson County. In the three years before coming to Butts County, she worked as the health and nutrition coordinator at a Greensboro preschool and day care.

Before her stint in Jackson County, Parrish spent 11 years with the YMCA, seven as a program director in Ithaca, N.Y., and four as a senior program

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director in Winter Park, Fla. She holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation with emphasis on the outdoors from Ithaca College, with minors in business and sociology.

Parrish has also been active in the Georgia Recreation and Park Association, having graduated from the George Harris Executive Management Institute, a program of the GRPA, and has earned several GRPA awards.

“She was awarded the GRPA Sixth District Distinguished Professional Award in 2002 and the Beacon of Light Award that same year,” Butts County officials said in announcing her appointment. “As director in Greene County, her department was awarded the District 6 Agency of the Year award from GRPA. She also served as district chairperson for six years from 2006 to 2012.”

Butts County’s Leisure Services Department offers organized sports leagues, instructional camps, summer camps and numerous competition opportunities. Whether a child is interested in football, soccer, softball, baseball or basketball, there is an age-appropriate team they can

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join. Recreation sports are held in spring and fall while sports camps are held during summer.

The department also offers tumbling lessons, cheerleading and gymnastics. Numerous exercise classes like Zumba offer adults an opportunity to stay in shape.

Inside the Butts County Community Center, an open gym allows residents to play at their leisure during certain hours.

The Department of Leisure Services also offers facilities such as ball fields and meeting rooms for rent. There are art classes, art and theater camps and a summer day camp that offer a variety of activities.

Contact the Department of Leisure Services at 770-7758228 or visit www.bcdls.org.

The Butts County Community Center is located at 576 Ernest Biles Drive, Jackson.

Senior Center Butts County residents ages 50 and older can find programs and services from knitting classes to line dancing at the Butts County Senior Citizens Center, a division of the Department of Leisure Services.

The center, under Senior Center Director Chrissy Crabtree, also offers congregate and home-delivered meals to Butts County seniors.

Except for some field trips and a few other social activities, all programs and services provided by the Butts County Senior Citizens Center are free for county residents. The center is located at 580 Ernest Biles Drive, Jackson.

For more information on the Butts County Senior Center and its activities call 770-775-8238.

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Butts County Community living

wednesday, july 27, 2016 • 17

Quick guide to local governments Butts County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners responsible for setting policy, setting the county’s budget and tax rate, and other duties. Each member is elected from one of the five commission districts to serve a four-year term.

The board’s chairman is selected from among the five members by his or her colleagues to serve a one-year term that begins at the first meeting of the year each January. The board holds regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. and special-called meetings as needed. A workshop typically precedes each regular meeting at 5 p.m.

The Board of Commissioners meets at the Butts County Administration Building at 625 W. Third St., Jackson. The general information phone number is 770-775-8200.

County Commissioners District 1: G.S. “Gator” Hodges ghodges@buttscounty.org Phone: 678-758-5631 District 2: The Rev. Robert L. Henderson Sr. rhenderson@buttscounty.org District 3: Joe Brown jbrown@buttscounty.org District 4: J. Keith Douglas (chairman) kdouglas@buttscounty.org District 5: Roger D. McDaniel rmcdaniel@buttscounty.org Other Departments Fire and Emergency Medical Services: 770-775-8212 (non-emergency) 911 Center: 770-775-8232 (non-emergency) Community Development: 770-775-8210 Public Works: 770-7758213 Leisure Services: 770-7758228; www.bcdls.org Government Relations: 770-775-8038 Elections: 770-775-8202 Tax Assessors: 770-7758207

G.S. “Gator” Hodges

Robert L. Henderson Sr.

Joe Brown

Keith Douglas

Roger D. McDaniel

Kay Pippin

Beth Burns Ogletree

Eddie Ford

Burt Jones

Susan Holmes

Tax Commissioner: 770775-8206 Animal Control: 770-7758011 City of Jackson The city of Jackson was founded in 1826 and boasts a central courthouse square, downtown business district and access to a number of state highways, several of which converge through the heart of the city along a main artery known as Third Street.

The mayor is Kay Pippin.

Theodore Patterson represents District 1, Lewis Sims represents District 2, Ricky “P-Nut” Johnson Jr. represents District 3, Don Cook represents District 4 and Beth S. Weaver represents District 5. The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the municipal court building located at 132 S. Mulberry St. City Hall is located at 134 S. Oak St. Phone: 770-775-7535.

Visit: www.cityofjacksonga.

Andrew Welch

com.

The city operates of number of departments to serve the needs of the citizens.

Police Department: 770775-7878 (non-emergency) Fire Department: 770-7758054 (non-emergency) Public Works/Streets: 770775-3198 Electric Department: 770775-3858; to establish electric service in the city, call City Hall at 770-775-7535.

Water & Sewer: 770-7758058 Municipal Court: 770-7758030 City of Flovilla The city of Flovilla is Butts County’s southern-most municipality.

It is governed by a mayor and five council members all elected at-large in staggered terms. The mayor is Beth Burns Ogletree. The council members are Catherine Watson, J.C. Hosford, Willie Morgan, Thomas “Son” Douglas

and Lillian Cowell.

The city operates a fire department, streets department, municipal well water distribution system and cemeteries.

The City Council meets on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, which is located at 308 Heard St. Call 770-775-5661 or visit www.cityofflovilla.org.

City of Jenkinsburg Jenkinsburg is governed by a council of five members and a mayor who meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 211 Maple St. The mayor is Eddie Ford.

Council members are Richard “Dickey” Weaver, who serves as mayor pro tem, Susan Barabas, Joye England, Kenneth Rooks and Jason Watts.

The city of Jenkinsburg maintains its own parks, city streets, sanitation and water billing system, and supplies housing and equipment for Butts County’s fire station located adjacent to City Hall.

Call 770-775-4850 or visit www.cityofjenkinsburg.com.

STATE State and federal REPRESENTATIVES representatives State senator Burt Jones, R-Jackson, District 25 327-A Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: 404-656-0082 email: Burt.Jones@senate. ga.gov State representatives Susan Holmes, R-Monticello, District 129 501-F Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: 404-656-0178 email: sdholmes@bellsouth. net Andrew J. Welch, R-McDonough, District 110 508-C Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: 404-656-0213 email: awelch@smithwelchlaw.com

18 • wednesday, july 27, 2016

Butts County Community living

Hospital a part of nonprofit WellStar system Sylvan Grove Hospital has been serving the health care needs of the Butts County community since July 1962. It officially became part of WellStar Health System in April.

A nonprofit organization, WellStar is based in Marietta and, with the acquisition of Tenet Healthcare Corp.’s four other Georgia hospitals and 26 physician clinics — along with the takeover of West Georgia Health in LaGrange — it became the largest health system in the state.

Tenet announced in December that it had reached a deal with WellStar for the sale of its Georgia operations, which included Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta Medical Center-South Campus, North Fulton Hospital, Sylvan Grove and its sister hospital in Griffin, Spalding Regional.

Tenet said in a statement the sale had been completed for $575 million in cash. WellStar, in a statement in December, said the deal involved 1,192 licensed hospital beds, approximately 4,300 employees and a medical staff of 1,390 physicians and other advanced-practice professionals.

By adding the five Tenet hospitals to its network, WellStar grew to a portfolio of 11 hospitals and more than 200 medical office locations, outpatient centers, health parks, a pediatric center, nursing centers, hospice and home care operations.

“The geography of West Georgia Health and Tenet’s five Georgia hospitals complements WellStar’s current footprint,” WellStar said in a statement.

“With a larger, integrated sys-

Ed Whitehouse, left, administrator and vice president and COO of WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital, is pictured with Tamara Ison, the president of WellStar Spalding Regional and WellStar Sylvan Grove.

(File Photo)

tem, WellStar will continue its strategic focus on the triple aim — higher quality, improved access and affordable health care.”

On April 1, the first day the hospitals became WellStar properties, WellStar officials hosted a luncheon at Spalding Regional Hospital to unveil the new Spalding and Sylvan Grove logos.

Tamara Ison was introduced as the new president of Spalding Regional and Sylvan Grove.

She had formerly been a Tenet employee at Spalding Regional.

“It’s been a great transition, and again, I have to compliment my hospital leadership. We were here most of the night last night,” she said. “This has been a transition over the last 10 months, but all in all, it’s gone very, very smooth. Now, with WellStar, we will have better access to health care, more physicians, (and) we Need to manage your account on the go?

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will begin to kind of look at programs we need to develop and grow and look at certain capital projects we need to work on. …

But first of all (we will be) just really working with the WellStar leadership and learning their organization and bringing that back to this organization.”

Dr. John A. Brennan, WellStar’s executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer, said WellStar wants to maintain the access to health care that Sylvan Grove and Spalding Regional provide in their communities.

“They’re together in the sense that there’s shared leadership but they provide access to different communities and that’s what we want to maintain,” Brennan said.

“They’ve been doing that now, as a really good team, collaborating and helping each other when they need certain things that the other has that one doesn’t have, so I think it’s a great collaborative relationship.”

Ed Whitehouse, who had been administrator of Sylvan Grove Hospital under Tenet, retained the role and took on the title of vice president and chief operating officer of WellStar Sylvan Grove.

“Really the culture is very similar,” Whitehouse said.

“There’s a real high emphasis on quality and patient care. That’s it.”

The site of the hospital itself is ingrained in Jackson’s history. It was the site of the Sylvan Grove Plantation, originally settled in 1817 by Williams Buttrill.

The property remained in the family for generations until part of it was deeded to the Butts County Hospital Authority by Annadawn Watson Edwards, Buttrill’s great-great-granddaughter.

WellStar leases the hospital building and grounds from the authority under an operations agreement.

The hospital’s primary services are its Emergency Department and in-patient Center for Rehabilitation Services.

WellStar Sylvan Grove also provides diagnostic imaging, physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as respiratory therapy and nutritional counseling.

WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital is also involved in the community. The hospital staff conducts an annual community health fair and offers regular lectures and seminars on a variety of healthcare topics.

WellStar Sylvan Grove Hospital is located at 1050 McDonough Road, Jackson. For more information, visit www. wellstar.org/locations/pages/ wellstar-sylvan-grove-hospital. aspx or call 770-775-7861.

Butts County Community living

wednesday, july 27, 2016 • 19

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20 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

Butts County Community Living

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