The Paper January 3 2013 Edition

CMYK Thursday, January 3, 2013

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HBA supports food program. 2B

Brighter economic days ahead: Speaker

BY STANLEY DUNLAP

Regional staff

Brighter days are ahead for Georgians after drastic legislative changes have made the state more business friendly, says Speaker of the House David Ralston.

Ralston spoke about the economic outlook of the state during the recent annual Eggs N Issues event hosted by the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce. The state still faces many challenges, however, Georgia is in a better position moving forward, he said.

Several other state legislators spoke briefly during the event. Reps. Tom Kirby (R-Loganville) and Terry England (R-Auburn) and Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville)

and Rep. Regina Quick (R-Athens) talked about the teamwork that’s necessary for state government to be successful.

Ralston said once the economic recession hit that legislators had to make the unpopular decision to cut 20 percent of the budget.

During that time, Ralston says he learned that for every potential cut there was someone that would “come flying into the Capitol and say the future of mankind depends on that not being cut in the budget.”

However, with a 10.3 percent unemployment rate, it would’ve been unfair to increase taxes, Ralston said.

“To tell the people of Georgia ‘look guys, we’re sorry we don’t have the political will,

we don’t have the political courage to cut spending so we need you to send us a little more money (is unfair),’” he said during the event, which was sponsored by Jackson EMC. While navigating through the tough times, legislators decided to seize the opportunity of improving the economy. A tax reform council made up of business professionals recommendations led to the most significant tax reform page in the state’s history, Ralston said.

“When negotiating with Caterpillar, they were keeping a close tab,” he said. “I’m not sure they would have come if not for us passing that.”

The next goal is to take on business regu-

lations and “look at the bureaucratic rules and red tape that cause businesses to struggle…,” Ralston said.

Emphasizing technical colleges has equipped Georgia’s workforce better than many other states. That was a factor in Belgian company IVC US’s decision to bring jobs to Dalton, he said.

“We can use that as we build our economic future looking forward to a brighter day,” Ralston said.

Also, deepening the harbor and expanding the port in Savannah should allow larger ships to pass through impacts not just that area but the entire state.

“We are on the verge of doing what will

See OUTLOOK, page 2A

Connell ushering Barrow into new government form

BY STANLEY DUNLAP

Regional staff

The first manager for Barrow County says he’ll spend the first couple of months listening to county officials and employees as he takes on a new challenge.

Jock Connell was to begin Wednesday in the new position that will change how the county government operates.

He said working in Barrow County will be unique since it’ll be its first county manager position, while the other counties he’s served as manager for were already under that type of government.

Connell spent more than 23 years with Gwinnett County including time as the county’s manager and has recently served as interim manager for Hall County.

“I think it’s always wise to come in and make sure you understand what the lay of land is,” he said last week.

It’ll take some time for ev- Connell eryone to adapt to the new system.

“There may be some days we take one step forward and two steps backward,” Connell said. “That’s the nature when you’re implementing something like this. But there will also be days you take three steps forward.”

The amount of resources will be among the biggest changes for Connell. In Gwinnett County, the budget was more than $850 million while Hall’s budget ranged from $85 million to $90 million. This fiscal year’s general fund budget for Barrow County is $34 million.

As with any county, there will be a focus on improving the job market, however more so in Barrow since it’s more agriculturally based. Improving the tax digest, which now comes from mainly residential properties, is essential, added Connell.

The county spends more money when it relies too heavily on residential properties. For instance, providing county services for an average priced home may cost $1.12 for every $1 brought in while for commercial developments it can cost $80 cents for each $1 spent, Connell said.

“If you can get it at the right balance, it’s good economically, but it also gives the dollars to expand resources if you need to,” he said.

Lisa Laskey The Paper

The Duncans’ former home, once the end of the school bus line, still stands at the now bustling intersection of Spout Springs and Thompson Mill roads. Below: Not only a local landmark, the Duncan’s Corner directional sign and its creator, Lucius Duncan, were once shown on the late CBS newsman Charles Kuralt’s “On the Road” feature. Regional staff photographer Tom Reed captured this image.

Country crossroads

Duncan’s Corner: Where travelers once interrupted dinner

BY SHANNAN FINKE

Duncan’s father, asked the county to put up a road sign so people would stop interrupting family dinners.

After being told a sign at that intersection would bankrupt the county, Lucius Duncan took matters into his own hands and erected a handcrafted sign directing people to cities like Winder, Athens, Jefferson, Commerce and even London and Hong Kong.

“We had a lot of people ask how to get to Gainesville,” Frank Duncan said. “But there were people wanting to get all over.”

As the self-appointed mayor of Duncan City, Lucius Duncan even set the

The Paper regional staff

Despite the hustle that surrounds the intersection of Spout Springs, Thompson Mill and Friendship roads in South Hall nowadays, Frank Duncan can remember a time when the land around self-named Duncan City was “a whole lotta nothin’.”

In fact, Duncan City didn’t have as much as a sign to let those passing by know where they were or point them in the direction they were looking to go.

So in the late 1970s, after years of giving directions to lost travelers who would knock on the door of his corner house, the late Lucius Duncan, Frank

See DUNCAN, page 2A

Investing in Georgia’s workforce

State’s joblessness drops to lowest rate in four years

BY KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Unemployment in Georgia is at its lowest rate in almost four years.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced last week that the preliminary unemployment rate in the Northeast Georgia region declined to 7.5 percent in November, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.6 percent in October.

The rate was 8.5 percent in November 2011.

The Georgia Department of Labor recently announced the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is at 8.5 percent,

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a down from 8.7 percent in October.

“This is the lowest state unemployment rate in nearly four years, since it was 8.5 percent in January 2009,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

The state unemployment rate is down from 9.5 percent in November 2011. However, the Georgia unemployment rate still exceeds the national rate of 7.7 percent.

“Once again, the rate dropped because of continued job growth and fewer new layoffs,” said Butler.

The rate declined because of fewer new layoffs, repre-

Volume 7, Number 9 Pastor’s Pen Police report Puzzles School news Sports

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BY KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

cial services, professional and technical services, administrative and support services,

While Georgia’s unemployment has reached its lowest rate in almost four years, the state is still behind the national average, with many individuals still out of work.

However, for those seeking employment, the Workforce Investment Act, or WIA, offers hope.

The Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, or NEGRC, is a government agency that helps with local issues such as government planning, economic development, aging services and job training. The NEGRC’s Workforce Development Division provides management of the WIA funds allocated to the region. They help link individuals to job training and placement.

Carol Rayburn Cofer, Workforce Develop-

See JOBLESSNESS, page 3A

See INVESTING, page 3A

“I am encouraged by the continuing growth in the number of manufacturing jobs in Georgia.”

Gov. Nathan Deal sented by first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits. There were 291 fewer layoffs in construction, trade, information services, finan-

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The Paper | Thursday, January 3, 2013

POLICE REPORT Jackson County Sheriff’s Office ■ A Hog Mountain Road resident reported receiving possible harassing phone calls from another woman Dec. 27 and a threatening text message saying if she wanted an altercation the woman should go to the home of the caller’s mother.

■ A Dec. 27 dispute was reported between a man and the woman living with him, who he had been seeing off and on. The woman, who had slapped the man causing his nose to bleed, was placed under arrest for battery.

■ On Dec. 26, an officer observed a vehicle turning left off Highway 129 to Lee Street laying drag. Once the officer stopped the car, he noticed an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.

The driver was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, having an expired tag and laying drag.

■ A Dec. 28 burglary was reported at a Windy Hill Road residence in Jefferson.

■ On Dec. 27, a dispute was reported at a Lavender Road residence in Jefferson after a woman and her boyfriend got into argument over the man taking meth.

■ A driver on Highway 60 in Hoschton on Dec. 27 was found to be driving with a suspended license and no insurance.

■ A woman reported her pocketbook stolen by a man who had previously been staying with her at her Lebanon Church Road home. The theft was reported Dec. 26.

■ On Dec. 26, a vehicle was found abandoned on Highway 53 in front of Hoschton Park. The vehicle had side-swiped the guardrail for about 30 feet before stopping.

Inside the vehicle were several open containers of beer. The vehicle was reported stolen from Gainesville.

■ On Dec. 26, a woman at a Holiday Cemetery Road residence requested assistance to retrieve her keys from within her vehicle. Her dog was also locked in the vehicle.

■ A man reported his garden tiller stolen from his Old Pendergrass Road home on Dec. 23.

■ A vehicle was found to

be abandoned after it had been wrecked in a ditch on Jackson Trail Road on Dec. 25.

■ On Dec. 25, a woman driving along Highway 53 in Hoschton reported a car attempting to pass her as she was passing another car. The driver and the passenger then made obscene gestures at the woman and attempted to get her to pull into a parking lot. The woman then called 911.

■ A Hoschton woman reported fraudulent charges on her debit card on Dec. 23. There were two separate charges, one for $200 in Miami and a $1 charge in Tennessee.

■ On Dec. 21, a Highway 124 resident reported a metal gate to his property taken off its hinges.

■ A traffic stop for a vehicle with a brake light out on Dec. 22 led to the arrest of a man with an active warrant out of Madison County.

■ On Dec. 22, a man was arrested at a Hoschton restaurant for battery. A woman working at the restaurant said the man threw a mustard bottle at another patron and poured himself beer out of the tap after being refused further service. He then attempted to start a fight when he was being kicked out, and then struck the woman on her face.

■ A woman driving on Highway 129 without tag lights was arrested Dec. 22 when she was found to be driving with a suspended license and a warrant out of Clark County.

■ The owner of a Jefferson area car dealership reported Dec. 21 that two auto dealer license plates either stolen or lost from his lot.

■ On Dec. 22, a resident of Valley Way in Pendergrass reported the screens on three of the windows at his home cut.

■ An Ashwick Drive resident in Jefferson reported damage to her vehicle after her sisterin-law kicked its door on Dec. 22.

■ On Dec. 23, a man was arrested on Highway 129 in Jefferson after attempting to run another car off the road. The man claimed the woman in the backseat of the car stole something from him. The woman, his exfiancé, said he was upset thinking she kept her engagement ring, which

OUTLOOK

Continued from 1A be the biggest economic development project in this state for many generations,” he said.

England, who introduced Ralston during the event, said the former “rainy day fund” of $1.5 billion and stimulus money helped with some budgets. What’s left now in the rainy day fund is just a “drop in the bucket,” he said.

“As we go into the (2013) amended budget and (2014) full budget, we don’t have those cushions anymore,” England said.

While it’s a challenge to balance the budget, England said he’s grateful that the state is required to do so and that Gov. Nathan Deal’s steady leadership helps them get through that process.

Collaboration between the area’s officials is what will help the state be successful, Ginn said.

“You can have your education and your leadership but unless you have teamwork you don’t have anything,” he said.

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she had given to his parents. The man also got out his car and grabbed onto the woman’s car as it was pulling away. He was placed under arrest for reckless driving and disorderly conduct.

■ A Charlie Smith Road resident reported being bitten by a neighbor’s dog on Dec. 18.

■ On Dec. 19, an officer patrolling Thytira Brockton Road due to an earlier copper theft found a man at the residence to have a child support warrant. The man was placed under arrest.

■ A woman reported damage to her vehicle after another driver backed into her car at a Highway 124 business on Dec. 19.

■ On Dec. 18, a Meadowvista Lane resident reported suspicious activity and possible harassment by his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend.

■ A furniture store van knocked over the mailbox of a Mandy Lane home in Brasleton on Dec. 18.

■ On Dec. 18, a man reported his passport missing at riding in a Gainesville taxi.

■ A Dec. 18 dispute was reported between a Branch Drive resident and a tenant renting a room in her basement. Both parties claimed the other wanted a relationship while each said they did not.

■ On Dec. 18, a woman driving on Highway 129 was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

■ On Dec. 17, a man driving on Highway 441 without a working tag light was found to be driving with a suspended license and was placed under arrest.

Braselton Police ■ On Dec. 17, a Sheriff’s deputy from another county notified the Braselton and Jefferson police departments about a Facebook posting by a Jackson County resident related to the recent school shooting in Connecticut. The man was questioned about the posting but no actual threat was determined.

■ A Dec. 24 domestic dispute with shots fired was reported on Riverwood Drive. The shooter was placed under arrest for aggravated

assault, seven counts of reckless conduct and discharging a firearm while under the influence.

■ On Dec. 26, a woman having a party at a home in Jesse Cronic Court reported a Kindle stolen from her residence. The man who was suspected of taking it was found to be wanted on a warrant out of Gwinnett County and was arrested.

■ A man driving on Jesse Cronic Road with a flat front left tire was stopped Dec. 26 and eventually placed under arrest for driving under the influence, drive without a license, failure to obey a traffic control device and driving on the wrong side of the road.

■ A Dec. 27 call about two suspicious persons were reported at a Braselton antique store.

Once officers caught up to one of the men he was placed under arrest for shoplifting several items including two coins and a vintage toy truck.

■ On Dec. 28, a driver pulled over for failure to maintain lane on Thompson Mill Road was arrested for failure to maintain lane, speeding and driving under the influence. The passenger of the vehicle was arrested for disorderly conduct under the influence when he refused to listen to the officer.

■ A Dec. 29 burglary was reported at a Baker’s Farm

Circle residence. Damage resulted and several appliances were stolen.

■ On Dec. 29, a burglary was reported at a home on Spout Springs Road in which only the television was stolen despite other items of value being in the home.

■ A Dec. 17 driveoff was reported at a Highway 53 gas station. A truck driver left without paying for $521.61 worth of gas.

■ On Dec. 17, the pastor of an Ednaville Road church reported two checks valued at almost $1,200 each were cashed and deposited by a man who was unauthorized to do so.

■ Suspicious activity was reported on Dec. 17 on Highway 53 when four juveniles were seen throwing rocks off the Highway 53 overpass of Interstate 85. The young men said they were not throwing anything off the overpass, and were warned they could be criminally charged if they caused an accident.

■ The owner of a store on Highway 53 reported a theft by shoplifting on Dec. 17. A man in the store reportedly stole a bottle of 14-year-old scotch whiskey.

■ On Dec. 17, a man was arrested for disorderly conduct at a Spout Springs Road shopping center after an altercation another man whose twin brother owed the him $5.

DUNCAN

Continued from 1A speed limit for the intersection as “let ‘er go.” He claimed he received his mail from Buford, Hoschton and Flowery Branch, but his love letters always came from out West.

“He had women from all over sending him love letters. A lot came from California,” Frank Duncan said. “They had seen him on television and thought he had a lot of money.”

But despite being interviewed for newspapers and television, including “On the Road” with Charles Kuralt, Lucius Duncan was a farmer just working to make it through tough times a century after his family moved to the area.

“Daddy established Duncan City, and times were hard then. The family came down from South Carolina (in 1877) and eventually a lot of them moved out different ways, but he stayed here and named it ‘Duncan,’” Frank Duncan said.

To get to and from school, Frank Duncan rode a makeshift school bus from Duncan City to Flowery Branch and was named an unofficial member of the school patrol.

“Our house was the last stop on the route for the bus, and I would run up when we got to the railroad tracks to check for any trains

■ On Dec. 18, a truck driver attempting to turn around in a Highway 53 parking lot struck a boulder, which then became lodged under the vehicle until it made a turn that dislodged it. The driver stated he did not realize he struck anything.

■ On Dec. 17, a man returning to his friend’s home on Council Lane after a night out, found the two right side tires of his rental vehicle slashed.

The man said he believes his friend’s wife may have done it because she was upset about the two men going out.

■ A Dec. 19 verbal dispute was reported at a Highway 211 hotel.

The incident occurred between a man and his fiancé after they had been drinking. The man said his fiancé “snapped” and said she was going to call the police and make it look like he hit her. The two were separated, and the man was advised to stay away from the woman.

■ On Dec. 20 around 1 a.m., three individuals in ski masks pried open the door to a Highway 211 gas station and stole multiple cartons of cigarettes.

■ A Dec. 22 burglary was reported at a Reisling Drive residence.

The resident said she believed a friend from her AA meeting stole nine prescription pills while she was sleeping.

coming,” he recalls.

In the evenings after school, it wasn’t uncommon for the Duncan family to sit down for dinner and hear a knock at the door.

“Daddy would tell me to go answer the door cause he was eating supper, so I’d go answer it and have to tell people which way they needed to go. A lot of times, it’d be dark outside and I’d point them down the right road,” Frank Duncan said.

But on those special nights when his mother would kill a chicken for dinner, Frank Duncan said the directions he gave got a little sloppy.

“All I wanted was to get back in the house and eat that chicken, so I wouldn’t really tell people how to get where they needed to.

Daddy told me to stop doing that and give them the right directions.”

Lucius Duncan farmed cotton and corn on the land that is now prime real estate for shopping centers, restaurants and doctors’ offices. Now, his son handles the flurry of commercial development on what is known as Duncan Corner, although the old white house where the Duncan family lived still stands.

“I can’t take that house down, so we’ve got someone renting it right now. This area has changed a lot over the years, really in the last five to 10 years, going from a holein-the-wall, just a hole-in-the-wall, to a lot of movement,” Frank Duncan said.

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The Paper | Thursday, January 3, 2013

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Long-term unemployed

Training may be needed for jobs

By KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Almost half of all unemployed in Georgia are longterm unemployed.

That means they have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks but, according to Carol Rayburn Cofer, Workforce Development Director for the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, that doesn’t mean find-

ing a job is impossible.

“The perception seems to be that when someone is a long-term unemployed person, they’re hard to employ,” said Cofer. “There’s a perception that there’s a mindset among employers that once someone has been out of work that they are harder to put back to work.

“Philosophically, for what we do, we don’t agree with that. Our position is if we have

a long-term unemployed person who engages in training, and that training may take them anywhere from six months to 24 months, then they are working to prepare themselves to change from one occupational career area to a different occupational career area and that takes time,” said Cofer.

According to Cofer, individuals who have worked before or have been laid off

Finetune resume for search

By KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Those seeking employment are often very familiar with the idea of a resume. However, according to Carol Rayburn Cofer, Workforce Development Director for the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, many may not quite understand the value their resume actually has. “[Those seeking employment] need to be making sure that their resume is updated, and is in line with portraying the skills that the current employer base is looking for,” said Cofer. “That may well involve tailoring a resume to the industry you’re applying for, not just having a generic one that says ok here I am, come take me.”

Cofer says job-seeking could have more than five versions of their resume, which need to be easily customizable to each specific job being sought.

“If you’re applying to the manufacturing sector, then you need to look as your skill set and make sure those things you did as skills are relevant to the manufacturing sector are what you highlight,” Cofer said. “It’s really making the best of the skills you’re showcasing in that resume.”

INVESTING

Continued from 1A ment Director, works directly to help individuals find employment, either by direct job placement or through training.

“I don’t think that we’re recovering as quickly as other parts of the country,” said Cofer.

“I think we are seeing a rebound. I think there are additional listings that are appearing. I think there is hiring that is taking place, but it is driven by different sectors so what’s happening in one sector may not necessarily be in another sector.”

Thus, there are jobs out there, and the NEGRC aims to help people find them.

According to Cofer, there are several steps anybody seeking employment should take, even if you are unemployed, underemployed or simple looking to change careers.

“The first thing I encourage anyone to do is make sure they’re utilizing the services of their local department of labor career center,” Cofer said. Many employers list their job openings with the Georgia Department of Labor, which is available at www.dol. state.ga.us, as well as being posted at career centers.

“The reason I would encourage people to physically go to a career center is because they have a computer resource area that any person can come in and use the computer to

JOBLESSNESS Continued from 1A

educational services, health care and social assistance and accommodations and food services.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.2 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11 percent.

Statewide, there was an increase of 9,600 jobs. According to the state Department of Labor most of the growth was in trade, transportation, and warehousing, up 12,400; educational services, up 1,700; information services, up 1,600; local government, up 1,300; financial services, up 1,200; and manufacturing, up 600.

That growth offset some of the losses. According to the Department of Labor, construction cut 4,000 jobs; leisure and hospitality, cut 2,700; professional and business services, cut 2,100; and other services, cut 1,100.

The number of job gains for Gainesville was 3,200 or an increase of 4.2 percent.

The metropolitan areas growth was second only to Brunswick which saw an increase of 4.6 percent.

Athens gained 2,400 jobs, which was an increase of 2.8 percent, and Atlanta gained 33,900 jobs, which was an increase of 1.5 percent.

According to Cofer, the content on a resume is more vital than ever thanks to many companies now using software to sort through applications.

Cofer says the software is set to seek out specific words and “if you don’t have those particular words in your resume then you will not even move forward. “ The reason most companies are now turning to software programs to sort through resumes is the overwhelming number of job applications received in response to job postings.

“When an employer posts a job opening, many more people will turn in resumes than they will ever be able to screen through. So they are looking for every tool out there to help them screen people to get to a manageable number that they can then determine which ones out of this number meet the criteria for us to call in for perhaps the initial interview,” Cofer said.

For help with resumes and other aspects of job applications, visit a local career center.

Nearby Georgia Department of Labor career centers are located in Athens, Monroe and Gainesville. Visit www.dol.state.ga.us for more information.

look up job listings or work on their resume,” said Cofer. “They have a copy machine and a fax machine that people can use to fax applications and resumes if need be. They have staffs that are available to help people navigate that part of the process.”

The NEGRC also helps connect individuals to training opportunities and workshops covering topics such as resume preparation and interview skills.

Eligible individuals also have the opportunity to attend training, usually at a public technical college, to make them better able to find employment.

“That’s really the part that my office plays is the training, we don’t do the training -- we broker the training,” Cofer said. Those eligible receive financial support while attending school. The tuition is covered by WIA funds, and help is also available to cover fees, books, supplies and a small amount is available to offset support costs such as gas or daycare.

“We do not pay them to go to school, they are not paid an hourly stipend to go sit in class, so folks will have to have some way to take care of their basic needs while they are in training,” said Cofer, who admits that school isn’t the best option for everyone.

Whether directly seeking a job or simply looking for options, the NEGRC offers a variety of services to help individuals with employment. To check eligibility information is available on www.negrc.org or call 706-3695703 or 1-800-533-5872.

“I am encouraged by the continuing growth in the number of manufacturing jobs in Georgia,” said Gov. Nathan Deal.

“This is a result of focusing on a pro-business environment and working closely with Georgia employers to help them grow

their businesses, while actively recruiting new industry to our state,” said Deal The state’s labor force is also growing, reaching 4,800,345 in November, the highest level since February 2009. The labor force was up by 7,101 individuals from 4,793,244 in October.

are not unemployable.

“When you’re talking about a person who’s been laid off from their job, they bring a skill set with them, and even if they have been unemployed, if they’ve worked for 20-25 years they’ve got a skill set,” said Cofer. “The skills I’m talking about are often referred to as soft skills. They know how to get up and get to work; they know how to handle transportation challenges should they arise; they know how to attempt to keep their personal issues away from the work place so they can do the job they were hired to do.”

Cofer says individuals with such skill sets are employable. They may require training, but they have the mentality to hold a day-today job.

“At the point in time when individuals are looking for employment, there needs to be a focus of this is my job right now-looking for a job, and that means you get up every day and you go through all those steps,” said Cofer.

Cofer also said that those unemployed may not get the right choice the first day they begin searching; it’s an ongoing process.

Information on jobs and training opportunities are available at the Department of Labor website, www.dol. state.ga.us or the NEGRC website at www.negrc.org.

Priscilla A. Murphy has earned the CMC designation.

Murphy is Certified Municipal Clerk Priscilla A. Murphy is now a Certified Municipal Clerk, designation awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Inc. IIMC grants the CMC designation only to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements; and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state.

Murphy serves as City Clerk and Assistant City Manager for the City of Jefferson.

Jefferson City Manager John Ward said, “Few clerks in Georgia hold this designation and it is a great honor that ours does. Priscilla’s accomplishments add to the trend among our distinguished staff who are constantly pushing themselves to new levels, keeping up to date with new training and becoming the best at what they do.”

“In light of the speed and drastic nature of change these days, lifelong learning is not only desirable, it is necessary for all in local government to keep pace with growing demands and changing needs of the citizens we serve,” said Brenda Cirtin, MMC, IIMC President. “Your City can take immense pride in Priscilla’s educational accomplishments and achievement of this milestone.

“On behalf of the IIMC Board of Directors, I am honored to endorse the conferring of CMC to Priscilla A. Murphy,” said Cirtin. “We share your pride in this achievement and we applaud your support of the role Priscilla plays in your city.”

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The Paper | Thursday, January 3, 2013

Looking happily forward to the new year ahead

jackson county baptist church

LeAnne Akin The Paper

Silt fence is expected to be going up this week in anticipation of construction work for Jackson County Baptist Church. Pastor Jack Lawson read from a Bible which he placed in a plastic bag to protect it. The crowd, including Sheriff-elect Janis Magnum, Tax Commissioner Don Elrod, Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner, Jefferson Councilman and Living Word Worship center Pastor Mark Mobley and members of the new church congregation, gathered for the Sunday groundbreaking and noteburning. See more at ClickThePaper.com

More than 40 years ago, a became and the more posiwiser older man shared his setive results I began to see in cret of success with me. I had my life. sought his counsel because I share this with you today I knew he was looked to as a because this is the day that I person who was successful in will begin my evaluation of life. the past year and move each I have never forgotten the day through this routine that conversation or the counsel he has become second nature Ray Newman gave me that day. In fact, since to me now after 40 years From Where I Stand that meeting, I have applied of practicing this planning the same principles he shared process. with me. I also learned a method by which One of the pit falls of such a plan is the he looked at his life and I determined that temptation to spend too much time lookI wanted my life to reflect the same degree ing back on the past. It becomes easy to of success for which he was known. over think or try too hard to think how a His counsel to me, which I have carried situation or circumstance could have been out from that day forward, was to always different if certain things were done diftake time to evaluate the past, learning ferently. from mistakes and noting the successes, I remember the old truism, of “Don’t cry and planning for the future with great pasover spilled milk.” That simple statement sion and desire. applies as we are looking back. The outMy friend told of taking the last week of come of an event cannot be changed, the each year as the time when he would look only thing about it that can be changed is back over the year that just passed. He set my attitude about it, and how I could do difaside a certain amount of time to look at ferently if that same event happens again. the past and refused to give any more time As I invest the time in the days leading than what was set to think back through toward New Year’s Day, I will have many the events of the year. hours of thinking through my life and Upon taking the time to think through events of my past life. The most important the year, my friend said he would then lay aspect of his plan, however, is the attitude a calendar of the upcoming year in front that I take regarding all that has happened of him on his desk and look at each month to me, or around me. in order to begin setting his plans for the I refuse to be a victim of my circumNew Year. stance. I accept full responsibility for all He was a public speaker, much sought the decisions I made (good and bad) that after to be heard by many people over the impacted the events of my life. One of the years of his life work. He also said that he most important learning events in my life determined that once the review of the came about when I came to understand past year was complete he never looked that blaming someone or something else back again, he only moved forward with for the good or bad in my life will not his plans. change the event, but by accepting perAs a young man, I was impressed with sonal responsibility could very well change the discipline of this elder wise man and how I will respond to the challenges in the how he had stayed with his plan in more future. than 50 years of work.

From where I stand, I look forward with That same year, I put in place the same great excitement to 2013 and all that will plan. I set aside time to look back on all be my personal responsibility to make a that had happened to me or around me difference. during the year that was passing. I then set before me a calendar to begin making my personal and professional plans for the Ray Newman’s “From Where I Stand” colNew Year. umn appears on Wednesdays in the BarAt first, the plan seemed hard to go row County News. He is also a Pastor’s Pen through. I was determined, however, to columnist with The Paper and is pastor of follow through with this plan to see if the Macedonia Community Baptist Church in dividends for me would be close to the Braselton. He can be contacted by email at same payout my friend had received.

Much to my surprise after about five years, hnewmansr@aol.com the more I followed that plan the easier it

I look forward with great excitement to 2013 and all that will be my personal responsibility to make a difference.

CHURCH NEWS Covenant Baptist Church is a group of called-out believers who are committed to following Jesus Christ as Lord. We do this by sharing the good news of the gospel to those who are separated from God; and by teaching believers how to be fully devoted followers of Christ. Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for Sunday school followed by our worship service at 10:30 a.m. at the Depot on Highway 53 in downtown Hoschton. Nursery and children’s church is provided. If you don’t have a church home, looking for a new church home or if you are lost and looking for a way back home, please come and visit with us and see if God speaks to your heart. If you have any questions, please contact Todd Coble, our Pastor at 678-3160273. God bless you and “See you at the Depot! On Sunday!” sss Arbor Pointe Church invites you to West Jackson Middle School every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Beginning Jan. 6, the worship messages will be titled “Red Letter Reset” and will explore themes such as anger, lust, greed and criticism based on Jesus’ direct words and teachings in Matthew 57. Nursery is provided each Sunday, as are special programs for children and youth.

Visit arborpointe.org, contact Rev. Brad Greene at brad@arborpointe.org or call 770-272-6778. sss A southern gospel singing will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2013, at New Beginning Baptist Church featuring “The Gobers.” Everyone is welcome. The church is located at 4403 Winder Highway in Flowery Branch. Call 770-597-7742. sss Calvary Baptist Church will have its First Friday Singing on Friday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. In concert will be Southern Gospel groups The Troy Burns Family, the Matt Dibler Family and the Calvary Baptist Church Choir. A love offering will be taken.

Calvary Baptist is at 1975 Highway 82 in Statham. sss East Side Baptist Church will host the first Rodney Gober New Year’s Jubilee on Saturday, Jan. 5, beginning at 6 p.m. Singing with the Gobers will be Crystal River, Changed 4, Noah’s Faith and C.R.O.S.S. The concert is free. A love offering will be taken. The church is on Bert Day Road and Ga. Highway 8. sss

OBITUARIES Brad Benson

Died Dec. 30, 2012 Bennie Bradford Benson Jr., 73, of Jefferson, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family. Brad suffered from Parkinson’s for the past 10 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, B.B. Benson Sr. and Annie Mae Love Benson.

Suvivors include his wife of 51 years, Barbara Barnett Benson; daughter, Kelli Benson Sosebee and husband, Ted; and four wonderful grandchildren, Kaleb Sosebee, Ashton Sosebee, Kendall Sosebee and Rylee Sosebee, all of Jefferson.

Also surviving are four siblings, J.B. (Jim) Benson and Guy Dean, Marty B. Cooper and Danny of Jefferson and Merita Beatty of Newnan; seven nieces and nephews; 13 great-nieces and -nephews. He was honored to have two namesakes.

He was a Transportation Engineer II and was employed by the Georgia Department of Transportation before retiring after 34 years of as a crew chief of three location survey parties out of Gainesville. He then worked in Barrow County as head of the Engineering Department for 12-plus years.

He served his country in the United States Navy from 19611964 aboard the USS Canberra.

His active duty time included deployments during the Cuban Missle Crisis. He had multiple deployments to ports of call around the world during his time in service. His ending rank was Postal Clerk Third Class aboard the USS Canberra.

The funeral service was held Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in the chapel of Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Mobley, the Rev. Wayne Norris and the Rev. Doug Hilliard officiating. The burial followed in the Evans Memory Gardens with Alex Bryan, Tim Love, Frank Eberhart, Harrison, McDonald, Peanut Evans and Jim Love as pallbearers. Fellow retired Department of Transportation employees were honorary pallbearers.

Memorials made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018, or the charity of your choice.

Evans Funeral Home, Jef-

ferson The Paper, Jan. 3, 2012

Donald W. Costley

Died Dec. 25, 2012 Donald W. Costley, 48, of Auburn, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012.

Born in Atlanta, he was a son of Ann Cash Costley and the late Mack Costley. He was employed at the Home Depot Distribution Center.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his daughter, Katy Costley of Winder.

No services are planned at this time.

Carter Funeral Home, Winder The Paper, Jan. 3, 2012

Opal Spence Deaton

Died Dec. 31, 2012 Opal Spence Deaton, 90 of Winder, died Monday, Dec. 31, 2012.

Born in Barrow County, she was a daughter of the late Olin and Annie Mae Chapman Spence. She was also preceded by her husband, Golden R. Deaton;, and a son, Roger Lamar Deaton. She was the salutatorian of The Winder High School Class of 1937. A homemaker, she was a member of Sharon Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home with the Rev. Jon Reed and Jason Scott officiating. Interment will be in Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery. Flowers are welcomed or memorials may be made to the church or charity of choice.

Surviviors include her daughter, Ann Cronic of Winder; son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Marilyn Deaton of Xenia, Ill.; grandchildren, Jason Scott, Jarrod Scott, Elizabeth Deaton, Katherine Deaton and Tanya Feldhake; and seven greatgrandchildren; and sister, Sarah Pentecost of Winder.

Carter Funeral Home, Winder The Paper, Jan. 3, 2013

Robert Jason Helton

Died Dec. 28, 2012 Robert Jason Helton, 39, of Winder, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.

Born in Athens, he was a son of Randall and Debbie Lawson Helton. He was preceded by a brother, Jeremy Helton.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his sons, Austin Helton Sorrells of Winder and Samuel Helton and Jeremiah Helton, both of Statham.

A memorial service was held Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home with the Rev. Donnie Pennington officiating. Memorials may be made to Eagle Ranch, P.O. Box 7200, Chestnut Mountain, GA 30502.

Carter Funeral Home, Winder The Paper, Jan. 3, 2012

Bobby Junior Hicks

Died Dec. 23, 2012 Bobby Junior Hicks, 66, of Maysville, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.

Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 at Hoschton First Baptist Church. Interment was in Woodbine City Cemetery in Jefferson.

Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton The Paper, Jan. 3, 2012

Leonard R. Motes

Died Dec. 29, 2012 Leonard R. Motes, 82, of Winder, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2012.

Birn in Jefferson, he was a son of the late John Manual and Cleo Motes. He was a retired truck driver for the Frito-Lay Corporation. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Mae Belle Ledford Motes.

Survivors include his daughter, Linda Austin of Flowery Branch; sons, Charles Motes of Winder and David Russell Motes of Kentucky; stepson, David Moats of Jonesboro; and 11 grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in the Dry Pond United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson The Paper, Jan. 3, 2012

Betty Gail Strader

Died Dec. 29, 2012 Betty Gail Strader, 60, of Monroe, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

Of the Baptist faith, she was a secretary for the Georgia Forestry Commission serving Morgan and Walton counties. She also appraised property for the Walton County Board of Commissioners. She was a member of the Southwest Florida Archeologist Society and volunteered the Barrow County Museum and with the Barrow County Historic Preservation Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Thomas Hendon Sr., and Blanche Sweet McLain Hendon; and sister, Charlotte Bracey.

Survivors include her husband, Charlie Strader of Bonita Springs, Fla.; brothers, Blake McLain Hendon or Monroe and John T. Hendon Jr., of Blairsville; sisters, Carol Selando of Winder Jackie Beck of Buchanan; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service with family and friends will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Ronald McDonald Foundation for Children or the Hepatitis C Foundation.

Smith Funeral Home, Winder The Paper, Jan. 3, 2012

Thursday, January 3, 2013

FORUM

5A

Making the most of what I have in 2013 I was always a big fan of Bugs Bunny cartoons.

There was a recurring theme where an electronic machine would transfer the brain and voice of Bugs with Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd or Porky Pig. For a portion of the cartoon, the character would take on the complete personality of the other.

I don’t know that I would want the complete transfer from someone else, but I know several people who I gladly take a small transfer of their talents.

Spencer is a friend of mind who was a star player at Treutlen County High School two decades ago.

He can still throw or hit a ball with a good measure of the prowess he had in high school.

I, on the other hand, was the last kid picked at any sport. I played a game of softball this year for the first time in probably 30 years.

There was no epiphany where I suddenly became a softball aficionado. I’m still about as good as I was 30 years ago.

My friend, Mark, can just do magic things with a piano. I’m a mediocre player and I play by ear.

I could go on about friends who have great ability.

I am a pretty good writer and speaker and there are folks who are envious of that. However, after 52 and half years on this planet, there are things that will not change. I could practice softball or piano every day and I would never be in the league with my friends.

To the best of my knowledge, the transfer machine is only the stuff of cartoons and science fiction.

So, as I approach the start of 2013, I think it is best to focus on the things I can change as I make those oftbroken resolutions.

I’m going to use my abil-

Harris Blackwood ity to write and will write more words of encouragement. I won’t do it by e-mail, either. I want to take the time to write a note or letter to someone every week to brighten their path a bit. A friend and I were talking the other day about how much a hand-written note means to someone.

I’m going to be a better friend. And that’s not a Facebook friend, that’s a real friend. I have used the Internet to reconnect with a few people who have made an impact in my life. This year, I want to sit down faceto-face and talk about times that were good for both of us. There are many people with whom I need to catch up.

I want to use my faith better. On occasion, I have opportunities to share my faith with others. I should do this every day. There is a great old song that says, “If I can help somebody as I go along, my journey shall not be in vain.” I want to repeat that concept often.

There are other things that are regulars on my list of resolutions. I need to eat better, exercise more and take care of myself. I have asked a few friends to nudge me in the year ahead when I stray from that goal.

I want to be a better husband and father. Those are two that I find there is room for improvement.

I hope that a year from now, I can exclude the words, “if only,” from my vocabulary.

Harris Blackwood is a Gainesville resident whose columns appear weekly.

GOVERNMENT CONTACTS U.S. Congress U.S. Rep Rob Woodall, 1725 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-4272, fax 202-225-4696; 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30045, 770-232-3005, fax 770-232-2909; woodall. house.gov.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, 416 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 202-224-3521; 100 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1340, Atlanta, GA 30339, 770-763-9090, fax, 770-226-8633; chambliss. senate.gov Sen. Johnny Isakson, 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 202-2243643, fax, 202-228-0724; One Overton Park, 3625

Cumberland Blvd., Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339, 770-661-0999, fax, 770661-0768; isakson.senate. gov District 45 Sen. Renee Unterman, P.O. Box 508, Buford, 30518, 770-9451887; renee.unterman@ senate.ga.gov District 47 Sen. Frank Ginn, P. O. Box 1136, Danielsville, 30633; 706- 680-4466; frankginn@senate.ga.gov District 49 Sen. Butch Miller, 2420 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, 30504, 678989-5301; butch.miller@ senate.ga.gov Rep. Emory Dunahoo Jr., District 25, 4720 Walnut Lane, Gainesville, 30507, 770-534-0314; 411 emory. dunahoo@house.ga.gov

Letters policy Send letters to editor@clickthepaper.com; fax, 706-658-0177; or P.O. Box 430, Hoschton, GA 30548. Please include name, hometown and phone number. Letters should be limited to 300 words on one topic and may be edited.

The First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Steve Kelley Creators Syndicate

A new year of checks, balances Of course, I’ll be having black-eyed peas and collard greens for New Year’s Day. It has become more than a tradition. It’s almost downright superstition, though I hate to admit that.

And, of course, I’ll make the usual resolutions. I’ll commit those stubborn 6 pounds to a diet, pledge to work out more than once a week, promise to be kinder to those who are meaner and read my Bible daily.

It is safe to say that I will not miss peas and collards on the first day of the New Year and, by sometime in February, I will have already failed at all these resolutions. However, if I can stay away from a problem with the phone company, I may have a chance of stretching the “kinder to meaner” resolution to March.

This year, however, I’m brave enough about my past failures to audaciously add some brand spanking new ones. That’s because I have a brand new husband and I realize that it is my wifely duty to help to make him a better man. I’ll happily use some of my resolutions to do that.

Ronda Rich Since you and I are such good friends, I don’t mind sharing them with you and since my husband is a faithful reader of this column, he’ll have a copy, too.

1. I plan to introduce him to a check register.

It’s helpful device that lists checks that are written and keeps a tally of money in the account. Now you should know; I’m fervent in book keeping and counting my pennies. He, though, totes checks in his pockets, writes them at will and never thinks to record them. “I know what a check register is,” he will say indignantly when I question whether he has ever seen one. This year I resolve that he will prove those words to me.

2. I will challenge him daily to show me that he is carrying a pocketknife.

Every farmer or Southern

man knows that a pocketknife is indispensable. “I need something to cut the twine on these bales of hay for the horses,” he said the other day.

I smiled. “That’s why you’re suppose to carry a pocketknife with you. You never know when you need to whip it out and cut something.”

A wedding gift from our friend, Mike, was a pocketknife. “Every man needs a pocket knife,” Mike explained then tossed a nod in my direction. “And she really likes men who carry pocket knives. She says it’s sexy.”

3. There needs to be more reverence around our house paid to that great and mighty warrior, Gen. Robert E. Lee. I expect his birthday on Jan. 19 to be treated with somber respect and there should be no head shaking over the fact that some Southern states declare his birthday to be a state holiday. Gen. Lee is to the South what bush hogs are to farmers — a hero.

4. I am going to promote less hand washing around here. My husband, who

is not a doctor but often writes one on television, goes through a bar of soap every two days while a bottle of liquid soap lasts less than a week. I believe that a few germs make us healthier. If you keep your body stripped of germs, how can you build up immunity to them?

I will say, though, that of all my resolutions relating to the man of our house, this is the one I have the least faith in. It’s probably a safer bet that I will succeed in reading the Bible daily as opposed to this one. He likes clean.

So, those are my new, never-used-before resolutions. Maybe my husband will clip out this column, put it on the refrigerator and practice these things.

Or maybe I’ll be repeating these resolutions again next year. Just like all my previous resolutions.

Ronda Rich is the bestselling author of several books, including “There’s A Better Day A-Comin’.” Sign up for her newsletter at www.rondarich.com. Her column appears weekly,

Think tank finds columnist is an ‘old geek’ HOMERVILLE —An independent think tank has found that syndicated columnist Len Robbins is an “old geek.”

The Institute for Comparative Study, a Fairfax, Va.-based think tank, concluded that Robbins was an “old geek” after an exhaustive three-hour study.

“Basically, the subject (Robbins) is an old geek, and has been for quite some time,” said Dr. Donald Grantham, who headed the study for the Institute.

“For him to claim he is in any way young, cool, or hip is simply false. We also found ample evidence that he was even never close to being cool or hip when he was young. Our research shows he even attended an Anne Murray concert as a teen.”

The study was commissioned by friends of Robbins, who claim that the 40ish father of three refuses to admit that he’s middle-aged and out of touch with today’s pop culture.

“He owns a minivan, for Pete’s sake,” said a friend who contributed to

Len Robbins the study. “Maybe this will convince him to stop those lame Gary Coleman references. Gary Coleman has been dead for three years now, and didn’t have a job for 20 years before that.

Nobody knows who he is anymore.”

According to a report published by the Institute, the study based its conclusion on the following evidence: ■ Subject (Robbins) occasionally drives a Honda minivan.

■ CD found in subject’s CD player was “Best of Steely Dan.” ■ Search of residence found a Members Only jacket in subject’s closet.

■ Surprise search of subject’s person found the following in subject’s pants pocket: One (1) receipt from Fox’s Pizza Den; two (2) children’s sweat bands;

one (1) receipt from the Shoney’s buffet; one (1) Bob the Builder toy truck, which is believed to have come from a kids’ meal; and three (3) grocery coupons.

■ Interview with subject revealed that he did not know any of the songs or artists from the latest Billboard Top 10 chart.

■ Subject recently updated his prescription glasses for nearsightedness, which subject consistently and mistakenly called “short-sightedness.”

■ During interview, subject made what the study believes were attempts at humor, using the following outdated pop culture references: Rubik’s Cube, “What you talkin’ about Willis?,” Oscar Gamble’s hair, Emmanuel Lewis, “Maude,” Shirley from “What’s Happenin?,” “Disco Duck,” Darryl Dawkins, “Where’s the beef?” and repeatedly quoted someone named Aunt Esther.

Robbins refuted the study’s findings.

“First of all, I’m not that old, compared to Abe Vigoda,” he said. “And to say

Publisher Dennis L. Stockton General Manager Norman Baggs P.O. Box 430 Hoschton, GA 30548 www.clickthepaper.com

Editor LeAnne Akin

I don’t know what’s going on with pop culture today is absurd. I know who Spongebob Squarepants is. I know who that Simon LeBon guy on ‘American Idol’ is. I’ve watched the ‘Deuce Bigalow’ movies, much to my chagrin. And what’s a think tank anyway? These people weren’t from a think tank; they were from a think hot tub. And my mom forced me to go to that Anne Murray concert. I don’t think that should be counted against me.”

Grantham said that Robbins is in the first stage of being an old geek.

“In the second stage, he’ll start losing his hair and do the ‘comb-over’ or the ‘swipe-over,’ with his part steadily moving southward, at about a half-inch a year. It’s just a matter of time,” said Grantham.

Robbins didn’t refute that finding.

“Yeah, I’ve already started doing that,” he said.

Len Robbins is editor and publisher of the Clinch County News in Homerville. His column appears weekly.

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CMYK Thursday, January 3, 2013

SPORTS

B

Athletes earn Associated Press honors

BY LATRICE WILLIAMS

lwilliams@clickthepaper.com

Doug Chellew The Paper

Top: Senior Wesley Simonton led the Dragons in total tackles. Bottom: Senior Bryant Shirreffs anchored Jefferson through a 14-game win streak.

All-State awards have begun rolling in, courtesy of the Associated Press, for athletes who provided many enthralling and entertaining games this year on the gridiron. Jackson County Comprehensive, Jefferson and Mill Creek High School have at least one athlete to garner honors from the AP. Xavier Harper of Jackson County was named to the AAA First-Team Offense.

Harper played an intricate part in ending the Panthers’ 20-year playoff drought.

Against cross-town rival East Jackson High School, Harper scored three touchdowns making it one of his best performances of the year.

For Jefferson, winning the 2AA state championship over Calhoun High School was the icing on the cake of its season and now they have more toppings to add.

Head Coach T. McFerrin was named the AA Coach of the Year, quarterback Bryant Shirreffs took Offensive Player of the Year while sam linebacker Wesley Simonton was dubbed Defensive Player of the Year.

McFerrin sealed his second state championship in his career this season. In 1995, McFerrin led Elbert County High School to a state title. He also led eight different teams to a postseason appearance.

Shirreffs finished the year

Latrice Williams The Paper

Senior Kelsey Griffin will be playing in college football’s most competitive conference. with 1,372 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns. Shirreffs threw for 2,369 yards and aired out 18 touchdown passes. Shirreffs is also currently in the running for Player of the Year from Georgia High School Football Daily as he is currently ranked eighth on the list of nominees.

Shirreffs was also selected to participate in the Georgia NorthSouth All Star Game on Dec. 29 in Columbus. Shirreffs shared snaps with AJ Erderly of West Forsyth High School. The North team won 14-7.

Simonton caused havoc all year long on the defensive side and tallied 189 tackles, along with seven-and-a half sacks, 26 tackles for loss, five pass break ups, one interception, two forced

fumbles and one blocked field goal.

The Hawks boast two athletes in Kelsey Griffin and Jacorey Lewis who were honored for their talent on the turf. Lewis accumulated 2,317 yards and 31 trips to pay dirt. Lewis has received interest from Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi.

Griffin, who is committed to the University of South Carolina, forced a double-team all year long. The future Gamecock was a beast on the defensive line for Mill Creek and showed exactly why he is listed on ESPN’s Top 150 football recruiting list.

Some of Griffin’s most memorable performances came Magic Moment Photography For the Paper against Mountain View High Senior Jacorey Lewis torched defenders all year School where he registered long, earning the attention of many colleges. eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. Ironically, two of Griffin’s most noteworthy performances came in two critical losses. Against North Gwinnett High School, Griffin tallied 10 tackles and one tackle for loss.

He had 14 tackles, one pass break up and one tackle for loss against Norcross High School.

Mill Creek helped Head Coach Shannon Jarvis achieve his first nine-win season since his coaching career with the Hawks began back in 2004.

Will Fowlkes For the Paper

Senior Xavier Harper helped lead the Panthers to a 6-5 record along with a first round playoff appearance against Cartersville High School on Nov. 16.

Miller shoots for big Dragons tumble in WGCT dreams and big three’s

BY LATRICE WILLIAMS

lwilliams@clickthepaper.com

BY LATRICE WILLIAMS

lwilliams@clickthepaper.com

Senior Nadiya Miller of the Mill Creek High School girls’ basketball team isn’t intimidated by anyone twice her size.

She may not have the height to make aggressive moves inside but her shooting from the behind the arc has been a killing her opponents so far this season.

“At first, I wasn’t a big 3-point shooter. When I moved up to varsity I started shooting 3-pointers. I was really small and I couldn’t get inside so I stay outside,” said Miller.

It’s inevitable that Miller gets the ball when she is open and it fuels the fire in her to deliver from the toughest spot on the court.

“It feels really good.

Once I get going, I don’t want to stop. It gets the

adrenaline pumping,” said Miller. “[When] my teammates keep feeding me the ball, it gives me confidence that they trust me.”

Miller was on the Final Four team from two seasons ago and those memories are still vivid.

This year’s team has more to prove but Miller doesn’t mind that. In fact, she welcomes critics with open arms and hopes to silence them during the state playoffs.

“We are trying to get to a place where people think we are not going to go. That’s our biggest drive - making it farther [than people expect],” Miller said.

While Miller has earned a lot of attention, she says the success of the team can’t be attributed to just one person.

“I think the season is more team-oriented. We

don’t have any superstars.

We play together and we have multiple people who can produce,” said Miller.

“The seniors are leaders so I think we are doing a good job of teaching them how to play Mill Creek basketball.”

Miller admitted that she wasn’t as outspoken in the past as she has been this season. She allowed the veterans to lead the way while she let her game do the talking.

“I think my leadership has also grown a lot. I’m more vocal this year than last year,” Miller said.

Miller plans to attend college and would like to continue playing at that level, but before she leaves, she wants to leave her mark in more ways than one.

“I want to leave Mill Creek as a good student and a good athlete,” said Miller.

A trio of Spartans delivered in double-digit scoring to catapult Greater Atlanta Christian past Jefferson High School as the L a d y Dragons tried to capture the Walnut Grove Christmas Tournament title. GAC had other plans.

Brianna Cummings scored 21 points while CiiCii Buford put up 18 and Sydni Means added 15 in the Spartans’ 72-43 win.

Jefferson’s achilles’ heel was turning the ball over and staying in foul trouble. Two costly turnovers by Jefferson handed the Spartans a 6-0 advantage in the first quarter. Head Coach Jason Gibson reloaded with new ammo as the starting five took its first break of the day but not before trimming its deficit to one.

With less than five to play before the break, the Dragons were down 22-19 but sent GAC to the foul line twice in a short period, allowing the Spartans’ lead to grow by four.

A common theme for Jefferson was missed opportunities; when GAC failed to run their plays effectively, Jefferson failed to create easy turnovers.

The nightmare continued for JHS as its deficit grew to 30 late in the fourth.

In the second round, Jefferson turned things around with a 57-46 win over Monroe Area High School. The Dragons didn’t exactly cure its foul trouble yet the Hurricanes tortured itself so much in that area that Jefferson’s mishaps looked minuscule.

Kellie Goza, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, attacked the backboard early on for JHS. She continued to be aggressive under the basket for Jefferson and helped seal a 2521 lead at the top of the third.

Dralynn Vaughn added two for a five-point advantage, and Jefferson continued to execute their screens and maintain a comfortable lead.

By the end of the third quarter, Jefferson looked like a different team from the one viewers saw the day before.

The Dragons played solid in the paint and were not timid in securing rebounds. The Hurricanes crept back into the game but the Dragons never surrendered its lead.

In the final round, a fifthplace finish was up for grabs but Heritage High School served up a 49-31 loss for the Dragons.

Jefferson’s dilemmas from the past came back to haunt them as they struggled at both ends of the floor.

The Patriots took Jefferson out of its element and held the Dragons to just six points at the end of the first quarter. JHS was forced to play a half court game where they lived underneath the Patriots’ basket for much of the contest.

The Lady Dragons will reutn home to host Oglethorpe County High School on Jan. 4.

The two became familiar with each other earlier this season and the Patriots will look to seek revenge against a Dragon team that allowed just 18 points. Show time is set for 7 p.m.

JHS falls in Christmas tourney Jefferson wrestling

BY LATRICE WILLIAMS

lwilliams@clickthepaper.com

It took just 10 seconds for Jefferson High School to draw first blood in the opening round of the Walnut Grove Christmas Tournament but the rest of the game belonged to Athens Christian Academy.

Tay Taylor’s hot hand delivered and a shot fell from the behind the arc in Jefferson’s fast-paced start but it was a shortlived moment to savor as the Dragons would fall 77-57.

The foul bug struck Jefferson which allowed the Eagles to vacation at the charity stripe for most of the game. The Dragons fell behind 16-10 and its foul drama continued to be the catalyst for the Eagles’ success.

Jefferson’s inability to earn time at the foul line limited the chances to climb back. Dangerous passes, turnovers and a long scoring drought sent JHS into the locker room at the half, down 41-22.

Jefferson’s downward spiral continued com-

ing out of the half and knocked them out of contention for a first-place finish in the tourney.

The dark clouds passed on day two as Jefferson faced fewer challenges in a win that really showed their versatility on the roster. Just when it looked like the Dragons’ flame had been put out, they turned things around with a statement with 6356 win over Monroe Area High School.

Tyler Patrick and Jake Franklin set the tone for Jefferson for an early 50 lead. The Hurricanes made their presence felt as they held on to a 2point lead at the bottom of the first quarter. From there, both squads saw a scoring slump.

Taylor showed up to pull the Dragons within one and Satchel Turpin followed with a 2-pointer but the Dragon lead quickly diminished as a

Latrice Williams The Paper

Sophomore Jake Franklin gets the ball away from a stingy Heritage High School defense with a swift dish to senior Tyler Patrick.

trip to the foul line by Monroe tied the game at 19 each.

A 3-pointer by Evan Shirreffs sealed a 12-point lead and was the turning point for Jefferson that had to fend off a hungry Monroe team down to the final seconds.

In the finale, the Dragons were looking to go 2-1, but fell 52-39 to Heritage High School. Nearly five minutes passed before Jefferson sunk its first shot, courtesy of Jeshua Kidd.

The Patriots didn’t have much to brag about either as both teams combined for just nine points in the first quarter. Down 26-13 at the break, Jefferson continued its plunge and struggled heavily at the free throw line where Jefferson could have taken the Patriots out of the game.

Patrick was awarded for his performance and named to the All-Tournament Team for the Dragons. Jefferson will return to action Jan. 4 as they travel to face Oglethorpe County High School.

Showtime is 8:30 p.m.

returns from tough out of state meets

BY LATRICE WILLIAMS

lwililams@clickthepaper.com

After becoming a powerhouse in the state, it would only be fitting for the Jefferson High School wrestling team to test themselves among others outside of Georgia. It seems like no matter where they are on the map, the Dragons are sure to uphold its winning ways.

JHS traveled to Tennessee to take part in the Pigeon Forge Duals; Jefferson held on to its bragging rights after coming out as the victor for the second straight year in the event.

Jefferson battled William Blount HS out of Tennessee and Woodford HS from Kentucky. Gilmer High School, who has a few things to brag about as well, was shut down by the Dragons 37-21.

Zach Rhymer was named the tournaments most outstanding wrestler in the upper weight division for JHS. Jefferson continued its tour in Rochester, MN where they competed in The Clash. The Dragons placed 15th out of 32 teams. JHS

started off on the right foot with a 31-29 win over Prior Lake, Minn. where the Dragons went up against eight seniors.

JHS fell to Simley, Minn. by one point; the Dragons aren’t used to being on the losing side of things and the 35-34 defeat prevented them from placing in the top 12.

However, Jefferson represented well for the state of Ga. by defeating Collins Hill High School, who notched its fifth consecutive AAAAA state title this past season.

The Dragons won 45-23.

Tyler Marinelli set the tone for Jefferson and achieved a 5-1 record. He was defeated by one of the top wrestlers out of the state of Missouri, who is ranked nationally.

Chase Piperato added a major 4-2 record for a Jefferson team that saw two men fall to injuries.

The Dragons will return home to host the Area Duals Jan. 4-5; Rabun County, Oglethorpe County, Social Circle and Washington-Wilkes High School are just a few of the schools that will seek to take down Jefferson at home.

CMYK Thursday, January 3, 2013

FEATURES

2B EMPTY BOWLS Painting effort will fill hungry stomachs across Northeast Georgia

BY KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Katie Justice, staffer at The Paper, (above) joined in with a recent “Paint Empty Bowls to Fill Hungry Stomachs” effort. Additional dates are slated for individuals and groups to take part in readying bowls for the food bank’s fundraiser on March 6.

FalCan food drive focuses on fitness, helping others Jefferson Middle School was the second place winner in the FalCan Food Drive School Challenge, presented by Publix and United Healthcare. The challenge provided an opportunity for communities to help fight domestic hunger.

Elementary, middle and high schools across Georgia could register for the FalCan Food Drive School.

An Atlanta Falcons cheerleader and Freddie Falcon visited Jefferson Middle School to celebrate the accomplishment of the October food collection effort with Falcons prizes including tickets to the Nov. 18 Falcons game against the Arizona Cardinals. Recognition was also given to the school at the game.

The visit to the school found Freddie and cheerleader Sabrina teaming up with students as they competed in a series of fitness stations: tug of war, jump rope, situps and pushups, hula hoop and the shuttle run.

Jefferson Middle School collected 3,428 pounds of food to be donated to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

Kings Bridge Middle School collected 1,279 pounds while East Jackson Elementary

School collected 1,076 pounds and West Jackson Middle School collected 250 pounds.

Sherry Aquino, who has been actively promoting Food 2 Kids, reports that 92 children in Jackson County are currently being served by the weekend backpack-type program.

“I have kids on a waiting list to start receiving food,” said Aquino, who hopes to add more students when school begins in 2013.

“Our focus at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is to support the Food 2 Kids Program by targeting schools that participate in the Food 2 Kids Program and to collect Food 2 Kids specific items: peanut butter, ravioli, or juice boxes,” said Aquno.

“By collecting food for this program, it reduces the cost which allows to add more children. For example, by collecting just 1,000 pounds during this campaign, we can sponsor 2.5 children for an entire school year,” said Aquino.

For more about how you can help with Food 2 Kids, call Aquino at 770-656-6028.

See scenes from the Falcons celebration at Jefferson Middle School at ClickThePaper. com

Almost 15 percent of the residents of Jackson County live below the poverty level and, for some of these people, even a simple meal costs beyond their means.

However, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is aiming to help those in Northeast Georgia, by inviting the community to “Paint Empty Bowls to Fill Hungry Stomachs.”

The effort is a part of the food bank’s Empty Bowls fundraiser. Members of the community are invited help make and decorate handcrafted bowls. Then, on March 6, guests are invited to a meal of soup and bread, and they get to keep their handcrafted bowl. Tickets to the event are $20 a person with the money raised going directly to help feed those served by the food bank.

But, before the food bank can host its Empty Bowls luncheon, it needs to have 450 handcrafted and painted bowls.

While half of those painted bowls will

be donated by Good Dirt in Athens, the other half are plain ceramic bowls that are in need of artwork. To help fill the need for decorated bowls, the food bank is hosting several painting sessions.

Painting a bowl to donate to the luncheon costs $7.

“The $7 helps to cover that cost and the cost of the firing and stuff at the ceramic studio,” said Tina Laseter, event and food donation manager at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. “For every person that does this, we are able to provide 28 meals to hungry Northeast Georgians. Your contribution helps offset these costs.”

For $14, participants can paint a bowl to keep, and for $21, you can paint a bowl that will be returned to you as well as allow you to participate in the March luncheon.

Volunteers can paint bowls Jan. 8, 21 and 29, and on Feb. 7, 9 and 11. The times and additional information are listed on the food bank’s website at www.foodbanknega.org.

HBA SUPPORTS BACKPACK PROGRAM

The Hoschton Business Alliance met at Country Inn & Suites for its last gathering of the 2012 year on Dec. 18. The networking/Christmas party also was an opportunity for the group to present its collective contribution to the Weekend Kids Backpack Program.

The HBA presented a check for $365 for kid-friendly foods to go home with students over the weekends. The group also donated $365 to Jackson County Family Connection earlier in the month. For more information about the Hoschton Business Alliance, visit the website, http://www.officialhba.com/.

Season of sharing and caring should last year round

BY LEANNE AKIN

lakin@clickthepaper.com

When the publicity surrounding a national effort to perform random acts of kindness in memory of the child and adults who lost their lives in the senselessness that was the Sandy Hook shooting took off during the holidays, some people were moved to action.

But around Barrow and Jackson counties, caring people are moved to action whenever they see a need.

Taking care of community isn’t just a holiday happening.

Consider that the Winder Fire Department has eyes

See CARING, page 3B

LeAnne Akin The Paper

The Winder Fire Department loaded up donations of toys and a $615 monetary gift from the Jug Tavern Squares.

CMYK features

The Paper | Thursday, January 3, 2013

3B

Big prize win for Brooks Theatre presents Brighton The Braselton Annumbers. Sure enough, tique Mall recently he won five of the items held a drawing for advertised including the prizes donated by varipainting by Linda Griffith, ous dealers within the a glass bowl donated by Mall. Ticket number Ryan Langford, a floral for each prize were arrangement donated by drawn and posted on Fran and Chester Thomas, Dec. 24 on the front a Cars 2 Toy donated by door, on Facebook Robbie Bettis and an orand the Mall’s website ange glass footed bowl dowww.braseltonannated by Jane Murphy. tiquemall.com.

Judy Brooks of BraselRusty Brooks, direc- Robbie Bettis with the winner of ton also won the BAM Jams tor of UGA Carl Vinson several prizes, Rusty Brooks. and Donna Bailey’s hand Institute of Governloomed bracelet. ment –International No one has claimed the Center, recently purchased moccasins at big prize yet. If prizes remain after two BAM, and this gave him a large number of weeks, new tickets will be drawn and the tickets which he checked for his winning winning numbers posted.

Georgians open their hearts, wallets to charity

By KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Georgia ranks within the top 10 states for charitable giving, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy at Philanthropy.com.

Georgia is ranked eighth in generosity, according to a report compiling data up until August of 2012. According to the report, the average household donates 6.2 percent of their discretionary income to charity.

In regard to total contributions, Georgia ranks sixth out of the 50 states, with total contributions amounting to around $4.8 billion.

On a local scale, Gwinnett County is

ranked 79 out of 3,115 counties in the country in total contributions. The average citizen donates 5.7 percent of discretionary income which amounts to about $351.2 million given to charity.

Hall County is ranked 301 out of 3,115 with total contributions amounting to $83.7 million. The city of Gainesville itself ranks 76 out of the country’s 366 major metropolitan areas, with contributions reaching more than $78.5 million.

Jackson County ranks 580 out of 3,115, with citizens donating 5.3 percent of their discretionary incomes to charities. Total contributions for the county are in excess of $35 million.

‘Novel Affair’ for literacy is Jan. 26 in Barrow Co. From staff reports

The Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education will hold its annual Literacy Gala “A Novel Affair” on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at the Winder Community Center.

Dance to the tunes of Atlanta cover band, “Band of Gold” while dining on delights prepared by “Cornbread to Caviar.” Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6:30 p.m. with dinner following at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar; you must be 21 years of age to attend.

This is the 20th anniversary of the Gala begun in 1993. Members of the Winder Women’s Club saw the need for a certified literacy program in Barrow County. The Literacy Gala, formerly known as the “literacy ball,” was established to help fund the program. It now supports adult literacy instruction, GED exam scholarships, college scholarships for GED graduates, matching funds to secure grant funding and English literacy instruction.

You can provide support on several levels.

Individual tickets are $75 of which $57 is tax deductible.

Sponsorships include tickets to the Gala include a Bronze Sponsorship of $200 ($164 is tax-deductible and includes two tickets); Silver Sponsorship of $500 ($428 is tax-deductible and includes four tickets); Gold Sponsorship of $750 ($642 is tax-deductible and includes six tickets); and Platinum Sponsorship of $1,000 ($856 is tax-deductible and includes eight tickets).

To purchase tickets or sponsorships, contact Dr. Ron Saunders, executive director of the Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education, at the Winder-Barrow Campus of Lanier Technical College, 89 E. Athens St., in Winder, at 770-868-4089, or call Lynn Hammond, Gala chairperson, at The Principal’s Palette, 9 W. Wright St., in Winder, at 770-307-8450.

The Winder Community Center is located at 113 E. Athens St., in Winder.

CARING

Continued from 2B open throughout the year when there are hurting families in need of a helping hand. While the majority of the kindness shown may be evident around the Christmas holidays, know that the awareness of the needs of others, especially children and senior citizens, is visible all year.

The Jug Tavern Squares, a group of area square dance enthusiasts who enjoy getting together for fun and fellowship, marked the holiday season with the presentation of toys collected to be shared with the children of the community.

Working with the Winder Fire Department, a leader in the holiday coordination to make the holidays merrier for families across a multi-county area, the Jug Tavern Squares presented lots of toys at a December dance. Fundraising had also taken place throughout the year with raffle drawings being held for the Christmas effort.

Holiday treats were enjoyed as happy dancers pre-

sented the donations with president Rainger Buehler thanking the firefighters and Joan Mathews, administrative secretary, for their efforts.

Steve Holzhausen is the caller who adds a lively voice to the Jug Tavern Squares dances held from 8-10 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays at the YMCA in Winder. The group, part of the Northeast Georgia Federation of Square Dancers, has a number of veteran square dancers who are involved in refreshing the skills of some returning to the family entertainment and teaching some newscomers.

The sharing hearts of the Jug Tavern Squares enriched my holiday.

Also this season, I had an opportunity to witness the unselfish giving of a group of individuals who come together annually to help others in their community.

Through Jackson County Family Connection, families are invited to spend some time enjoying a holiday

meal.

One family volunteered to be a part of the sharing in celebration of the birthday of a family member. Fitting that a birthday celebration would honor the One whose birthday would be celebrated this season.

It is hoped this 4-year-old outreach can grow to help other families and expand its mission. Networking with caring businessmen like Berlin Reese of Quality Foods, churches and civic groups could foster a spirit of caring and sharing at the holidays, certainly a special time of year. And perhaps the associations made for this effort can link into the potential for addressing ongoing community issues.

Beach Memoirs Jan. 17-20

Neil Simon’s autobiographical “Brighton Beach Memoirs” is bringing a bit of Brooklyn to Georgia, with the help of the Jefferson Community Theatre.

“Brighton Beach Memiors,” is the story of a poor Jewish teenager fantasizing about baseball and girls while living in an overcrowded house with his parents, brother, aunt and two cousins.

The play, which mixes comedy with

drama, will performed Jan. 17-20 at the William Duncan Martin Performing Arts Center at Jefferson High School. Thursday through Saturday shows will be held at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for the Thursday night show.

For Friday through Sunday, tickets are $10 or $7 for seniors.

For tickets, call 706-367-5714 or visit mainstreetjefferson.com.

Does your dog really need a winter coat?

By Lisa Laskey

Regional staff

The dog days of summer have passed, the temperatures have dipped and you’ve pulled out the winter wear; what about your dog? Canine coats and sweaters are a hot trend these days – pun intended. But, do dogs really need outerwear?

“If a dog lives inside during chilly night and has his normal coat,” pet groomer Sandy Hammer said, “he or she should not need a sweater or coat. But, the owner of pet grooming salon Groomingdales said, “If an owner has their dog shaved during winter months, then a jacket or sweater can come in handy. Please keep in mind a dog should never be left unattended while wearing clothing, as they can get hung up on something and possibly hurt themselves.”

When indoors, even if the thermostat has the humans chilly, clothing is not necessary Hammer said. “For the most part, dogs do not need clothing indoors. There may be a few exceptions as with senior dogs, or sick dogs, but I would take it off indoors.”

Hammer works with pet stylist Lisa Benjamin, the former owner of the salon, and they groom and provide doggy day care services to dogs of all breed and size.

Hammer and Benjamin pro-

Lisa Lasky The Paper

A naturally long-haired dog, like Mia Nix shown here after her grooming, may need to wear a sweater or coat outdoors during colder temperatures. vided a few additional tips for maintaining and caring for your canine’s coat during the winter months.

1. If a dog has a coat that constantly growing then they should be clipped in the winter. A dog with a long coat can mat before you know it.

You can always adjust the length according to a dog’s environment.

2. A dog can be bathed on a regular basis, as long as you use a soap-free and detergent-free shampoo; this will not dry out the skin and will

not affect your spot-on flea treatment.

3. If a dog is scaly and itchy, it may be a result of bathing with harsh shampoos or it could be an allergy. The best thing to do is see your vet to rule out any health problems.

4. Flea prevention should be kept up all year. This area does not have extreme cold temps to kill off all the pests. Plus, it needs to be in your dog’s system when the temperatures go up in the spring.

CMYK 4B

schools

The Paper | Thursday, January 3, 2013

Writing scores improve at area schools, across state

By KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Katie Justice The Paper

Fifth Grade Teacher Julie Riley helps Julie Dixon take her fingerprints; Below, left Allison McCall learning about the chemical reactivity of different liquids during “Kitchen Chemistry”; Below, right Mrs. Melissa Peak helps Addison Brantley figure out her reaction speed.

Exploring science at WJIS

Five area high schools followed the state trend and showed improvement on their Georgia High School Writing Test scores for fall of 2012.

The Georgia High School Writing Test is given to all 11th grade students in the state, and the scores represent first time test takers.

Jackson County Comprehensive High, East Jackson County High, Jefferson High, Winder-Barrow High, and Mill Creek High Schools all showed an increased passage rate on the GHSWT. Three of those schools, JCCHS, EJCHS, and WBHS, also showed increases in the percentage of students exceeding the standards on their tests.

In Jackson County 93.7 percent of students met or exceeded standards on the GHSWT. At JCCHS 91.7 percent of students passed their tests, and the percent of those exceeding the standards rose to 13.4 percent from 5.4 percent last year.

Jackson County School System Director of Academics Rise Hawley admitted pride in both county high schools nearly doubling their rates for the percentage of students exceeding standards.

“Of course we’ll continue to work on meeting and exceeding for all students,” said Hawley at the December board of education work session.

Jefferson High School showed an increase from 77.8 percent to 93 percent in students meeting standards. However, there were a decreased percentage of students exceeding standards and not meeting the standards. The percent of student exceeding standards decrease by almost 15 percentage points to 3.2 percent.

Mill Creek also saw an increase and students meeting the standards with decreases in those not meeting and exceeding standards as well. At MCHS 82 percent of students meet the standards, up from 78.8 percent last year. Only 1.6 percent of students tested did not meet the standards, and 16.4 percent of students exceeded standards.

Doesn’t Meet Standards

Meets Standards

Exceeds Standards

Percent Passage

JCCHS

8.3 %

78.3%

13.4%

94.9%

EJCHS

3.9%

85.6%

10.6%

96.1%

JHS

3.7%

93.0%

3.2%

93.6%

WBHS

4.5%

86.6%

8.8%

95.5%

MCHS

1.6%

82.0%

16.4%

98.4%

By KATIE JUSTICE

kjustice@clickthepaper.com

Momentum, force and energy transfer may sound like subjects from a high school physical science class, but these were just a few of the many topics explored at the West Jackson Intermediate School’s Science Night.

Families were invited to join WJIS students to explore aspects of the science curriculum being taught at the school on Dec. 6.

Fun activities enjoyed by the kids delved into a variety of scientific concepts. Students worked with sound vibrations in the “Chicken in a Cup” project where a combination of a cup, string and paper clip were resulted in a sound similar to that of a chicken.

In “Driving Drafts,” students navigated a cotton ball around a maze by blowing through a straw. This was a lesson in force with most students accidently sending their cotton balls flying with their initial blows.

“Bouncing Balls” explored the transfer of energy when a ping pong and golf ball were dropped one on top of the other.

Principal Diane Carr says the school hosts a curriculum night for each content area taught at the school.

“This is something we do to bring our parents in and involve them in their child’s education. This also gives the students a chance to encourage their love of science,” said Carr.

Almost 170 students attended the event,

Katie Justice The Paper

Mrs. Jennifer Grizzle explains how force impacts motion to Jeremy Crane. brining along their family members, which Carr said resulted in around 400 attendees.

“Anyone is invited, so it is also a way to reach out to our school community,” said Carr.

WJIS PTO president Brian McCall attended the event with his daughter who is in fourth grade. “[Science Night] lets the parents know what their kids are learning,” said McCall. “Some of [the activities] blow my mind. There’s everything from something simple and easy to something very complex.”

Parent Stacey Harris said she had a wonderful time at Science Night.

“It’s very informative and parent friendly,” said Harris. “[The students] don’t even really realize what they’ve learned.”

Georgia FFA members eligible for scholarships Louisville, Ky.— Monty’s Plant Food Company, a Louisville, Kentucky-based manufacturer of plant and soil enhancement products for the agriculture, industry, is now accepting applications from Georgia students for four, $1,000 college scholarships. The awards will be made in conjunction with the National FFA Organization to high school seniors who are members of FFA. To be eligible students must also meet criteria including: · Resides in Georgia – Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia residents are also eligible to apply · Live on a family farm · Plan to pursue post-secondary education and study agronomy and crop science, sustainable agriculture, soil science or soil conservation · Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.25 · Have participated in community service A complete list of criteria is listed online at www.montysplantfood.com.

Scholarship applications are available online at www.

ffa.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2013. The Monty’s Plant Food Company scholarships will be awarded in May. “FFA is a wonderful leadership program and we are proud to partner with such an influential organization to offer scholarships to young people in agriculture,” said Dennis Stephens, president, Monty’s Plant Food Company. “We value education and are pleased to help students pursue a college degree.”

Each year, the National FFA Organization awards approximately $2 million in scholarships sponsored by businesses and individuals through the National FFA Foundation. Scholarships are awarded for a wide variety of experiences, career goals and higher education plans. Students can complete one application to be considered for all scholarships offered through the National FFA Organization.

About Monty’s Plant Food Company Monty’s Plant Food Company develops plant and soil solutions for growers around the world in the agriculture,

horticulture, lawn and garden and turf industries. In each segment, Monty’s offer products and protocols to address specific needs and challenges. Founded in 1997, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company’s products are effective, environmentally sound and economically feasible. For more information about Monty’s plant, soil and specialty products, visit http://www.montysplantfood.com or Facebook.com/ MontysPlantFood.

Teen drivers, parents can take free PRIDE course

The Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI) will be partnering with the Winder Police Department and Lanier Technical College to offer a free, two-hour driving course for both parents and teens starting at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Lanier Technical College in Winder.

The course, Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error (PRIDE), helps parents and guardians prepare their teens to drive.

“PRIDE is an excellent orientation to the driver education process and teen driving laws. It’s designed to help young people become better decision makers, especially as new drivers,” said Frankie Jones, GTIPI’s director. “It will help parents and their new teen drivers learn what they need to do during those 40 hours of driving time. Our ulti-

mate goal is to reduce risk-taking behavior and youth related car crashes.”

GTIPI is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and will be partnering with School Resource Officer Missy Towe and HEAT Officer Chris Wigner, both of the Winder Police Department.

Registration forms can be downloaded from the City of Winder website at www. cityofwinder.com under the police department’s “PRIDE program” link or can be picked up in person at the police department located at 94 N. Broad St., in Winder.

Lanier Technical College’s Winder campus has agreed to allow Winder Police and GTIPI to host this event on their campus so more people can attend. Enrollment is limited.

CMYK The Paper | Thursday, January 3, 2013

5B

ENTERTAINMENT

Marriage doesn’t have to be the end goal for everyone Dear Margo: I am writing in response to a letter I saw in your column. When I was 30, I was still single and had been “in love” twice since I was 18. The first one came to an end naturally (he’s now one of my oldest and dearest friends); the second, tragically.

My fiance was killed in a car accident a few months before our wedding when I was 26. I went on with my life, and at 30, I was happily enjoying my career and family and being the favorite Auntie for my nieces and nephews. I was really happy and realized that if I never fell in love again, it’d be cool.

I was just as happy without a significant other as I had been when I had one!

I went along doing my thing, being social, enjoying my job and hobbies, and when I was 30 I met an awesome guy 10 years my senior at a Humane Society fundraiser. We met in May, moved in together in January and got married the fol-

Dear Margo lowing May on the anniversary of our first date.

As a society, we put so much emphasis on marriage as the be all and end all to happiness that we create too much stress and angst about it. Quite frequently, when we stop wigging out about The Big M, as my husband and I jokingly call it, we find someone to be with.

We’re still together 12 years later and are planning on forever. I honestly don’t think everyone has to get married to be successful and happy. For us, this is how it worked out, but we were both happy with our lives before we got together, and if it hadn’t worked out for us, we’d still be happy. And yes, First Love did dance at our

wedding. — Lucky Dear Luck: Hooray for you — and thank you for confirming a few of my beliefs.

One is that a partner does not make a life great, but can share it. Everyone is responsible for their own happiness, and for many people, solo is the way to go. Bachelors were always around, but the women’s movement made it acceptable for women, as well, to travel light.

Not to get too woo-woo about it, but I do subscribe to the Zen tenet that when you stop looking, you will find whatever it is you want — or stumble on it. And lastly, I am a great believer in affinity groups. You and your husband shared an interest from the get-go, which immediately gave you something in common. Long may you love. — Margo, happily Dear Margo: A guy I befriended in the gym a year ago became my client, and we are both aware of the extra mile I have gone and how

well it has served his business. While he’s been verbally appreciative of what we do and has invited me to some of his social occasions, I thought there was a mutual liking, personally.

Just today I was a part of a conversation with him and another woman when she began thanking him for the lovely gifts (this is the festive season here). As we were all standing together, I could sense his awkwardness and discomfort. I am aware that this woman has connected with him in the gym this season. I felt a bit bad. I had presumed we were all on an equal platform. (By the way, the guy and I are both single, and she is married with a family.)

This isn’t some sort of love-triangle at all. If he does not send a gift, that is fine with me. I have a job to do and will continue to do it and remain courteous. But I am anticipating a “corporate gift” to me, and it will feel like a compensatory/conso-

WORKING IT OUT

JANRIC CLASSIC SUDOKU

SOLUTION

lation well-I-meant-to-sendyou-one-as-well thing. How do I respond to this kind of consolation? — Somewhat Disappointed Dear Some: With a cordial thank-you note. — Margo, normally Dear Margo: I suspect you do not, but most people work in an office. Wherever there are different personalities, there are all sorts of things you’d love to tell your boss -- anonymously. I thought you and your readers would like to know about a free new service at tellyourbossanything.com that helps you do just that.

Think of this website as a virtual version of the classic suggestion box. Upon signing up, an employee is prompted to enter their own email address, their boss’s email address and a thoughtful message about what is bugging them. The site then delivers said message to said manager, who can review the complaint and reply in

kind, all without knowing who they’re actually talking to. — Hope This Is Helpful Dear Help: You are right on the money about there being workplace troubles galore, and often the person who would like to report the difficulty feels unable to do so for a number of reasons.

Sometimes the trouble has to do with a relative who is employed, the boss’s secret or not-so-secret romantic interest, or an employee who somehow has ingratiated him or herself with the boss despite poor performance, just to name a few possibilities on a list that is endless.

(And you are correct that I do not work in an office — which is a good thing, because my “office attire” is a nightgown and robe.) Thanks for the good suggestion.

— Margo, remedially

Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers’ daughter. All letters must be sent via the online form at www. creators.com/dearmargo. Due to a high volume of e-mail, not all letters will be answered.

cmyk The Paper

6B

Services 000 028-Child Care IN-HOME CHILD CARE Chateau Elan/ Braselton area.

678-338-0132

KID’S WORLD Christian Childcare Jesse Jewell/985 Now Enrolling 6wks & up. $100/wk.

770-297-1500

Oakwood Daycare McEver Rd. Now enrolling Babies120; One & Up - 110.

770-536-4671

043-Firewood FIREWOODSeasoned Oak. Cut & Split. Free Delivery.

678-630-2775 678-549-6901 leave message

Thursday, January 3, 2013

245-Misc.

Help Wanted Anytime Fitness of Braselton Now Hiring Personal Trainers Gym exp and certification or certification in progress necessary. Resume to: davidewingdt@yahoo.com or call 678-982-2149

POP’S FIREWOOD Proprietor: Dylan Robertson. Pick-up or Delivery. Best Prices In Town!!!

678-997-8737 770-540-5372

Announcements 100 160-Lost & Found $1200 Reward Lost- Brown Female Poodle (7lbs). Wearing pink shirt. Gwinnett/Hall on 11/19/12.

Please Help!

770-633-1994

170-Notices ATTENTION CLASSIFIED CUSTOMERS The Times Classified Department asks that you verify and proof your classified ad(s) the first day that it is scheduled to print.

If any corrections need to be made, please contact our department, Monday through Friday, before 3pm.

The Times will not be held responsible for any issues that may arise after the first day of publication. classifieds@ gainesvilletimes.com 770-535-1199

Jobs 200 227-Education ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPANISH IMMERSION TEACHER to develop & deliver instruction classes in Spanish to 1st, 2nd & 5th graders; Adapt teaching methods & instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs & interests; Assess students’ progress in reading Spanish using techno. & assessment tools; Enforce all administration policies & rules governing students; Maintain accurate & complete student records; Assign & grade class work & homework; Plan field trips; Plan & lead conferences & meetings with parents.

Req: Bachelor’s degree in Education or closely related field; Must have demonstrated ability to perform stated duties gained thru acad coursework/previous work exp. Must have valid teacher certification by the state of GA w/endorsement in Early Childhood Educ. Must be fluent in spoken & written Spanish language.

Competitive salary.

Send resume to: David Moody, Hall County School District, World Language Academy, 711 Green St, Gainesville, GA 30501; Attn: Job MGI

230-General Sales Agents Carriage KIA in Gainesville needs PROFESSIONAL SALES PEOPLE Great pay, good benefits. Will train the right person. Apply in person or fax resume to: 678-717-2155 Carriage KIA, 2815 Browns Bridge Rd. No phone calls please

CLASS A CDL Drivers needed.

Must have clean MVR, 2 yrs. exp.

Must comply with all DOT reg. Apply @ 4880 Leland Dr. Cumming, GA or Call 770-887-6117 Driver

250Offices/Clerical FULL-TIME ADMIN/ CSR POSITION 3-5yrs Exp. Order Entry, Order Billing, A/R, Admin, Payroll.

Must be flexible to work 8am-5pm or 10am to 7pm shifts.

Resume with salary history to: cscott@shastabeverages.com PARTS & SERVICE CASHIER needed.

F/T position for business minded person with professional appearance. Apply in person or E-mail imack@carriageautogroup.com.

Carriage Nissan, 2400 Browns Bridge Rd, Gainesville, 30504 No phone call please

265-Production SEASONED HARDWOOD $75 Per Load; $45 Small Load.

Free Delivery!

706-693-0099

285-Truck Drivers

Growing Plastics Co. needs PRODUCTION WORKERS for 3rd shift (11:00pm-7:00am).

Good benefits.

Starting pay $9.25/hr.

Apply in person Wednesday-Friday between 3pm- 5pm.

706-654-3120.

PMI, 9519 Jackson Trail Road, Hoschton

270-Professional Gainesville State College accepting applications for Manager Of Web Communications Position will oversee the day-to-day and strategic management of content for the university’s external website and intranet (portal for faculty, staff and students).

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, administration, management or field related to position requirements. Minimum 5-10 yrs experience in web development to include at least 3yrs in a management role, preferably in a higher education setting.

For full job description, qualifications and application procedure visit our website www.gsc.edu & link Staff Positions.

Application deadline is Jan. 7, 2013.

An AA/EEO Institution SAWNEE EMC, an electrical utility in the north Atlanta metro area, is seeking an ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Requires a Bachelor degree in electrical engineering. Experience in the electric utility field is preferred, but not required. Applicants must present completed corporate application prior to 5pm, January 28, 2013. Application forms available at 543 Atlanta Highway, Cumming. Website: www.sawnee.com; E-mail: HumanResources@sa wnee.com EOE-M/F/D/V. Drug free workplace

275-Restaurant JIMMY JOHN’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop, Gainesville, GA Hiring: Drivers; In Shop; & Shift Leaders. jhobbs215@yahoo. com

279-Technical

CDL Drivers Needed Tuition Paid by Federal Grants or VA Benefits.

770-614-6022 or 1-877-GET-A-CDL Call and see if you Qualify in 5 minutes! dtruckschool.com

Stuff 300 305-Antiques & Collectibles Antique Slot Machine & Old 1899 Carpets.

Nickel, 1942, cherry, ex. condition, works well. From downtown Las Vegas. Before Bugsy S. Price $1950; appraised at $5,000. 12 antique carpets $250 ea.

Great Christmas Gifts 678-516-4833

310-Appliances WASHER & DRYER, Kenmore, Exc cond $250. 770-983-1507

345-Furniture

Grandfather Clock Must Sell! Howard Miller. Chiming.

610F983 (Made in USA). New! Reg: $2,982 Sell: $1,200.

Will delv & set-up at N/C. 706-344-7283 KING SETPillow-top, Brand New! $250. Still in plastic. Delivery avail 678-617-7353

QUEEN SETPillow-top, Brand New! $175. Still in plastic. Delivery avail 678-697-2842

365-Misc.

For Sale Antique Dining Tables, Antique Sewing Machines, Many Toy Cars, China, Hand Painted Dishes.

Call For Details, 770-744-8721 Boston Accoustics Sound Bar- barely used. $130; Janome Sewing Machine #8077- barely used. $225; Queen Sofa Bed $50.

770-532-0045 INFANT ACTIVITY WALKER, Safety 1st, blue & orange, $15; VIDEO ROCKER CHAIR, Maroon colored, velour, $15; REI Piggyback Baby BACKPACK CARRIER, $65; 770-561-5308 POKER TABLE, like new w/ 8 padded chairs, plus chips, $1700. Cash only.

770-532-7134 POOL TABLE, $150; Stainless Steel REFRIGERATOR, $200.

770-718-8874

380-Pets & Supplies 2 Young Female BEAGLE- Dogs Running. $150/each.

678-622-9032 FREE LOVING KITTENS To good homes.

Litter box trained.

770-530-2811 YORKSHIRE TERR. AKC. Pups. Males, $400 & Females, $500. 6wks old. 1st shots, ready now!

706-654-6654

390-Wanted To Buy SERVICE TECHNICIAN Service/Start up Technicians.

Experience required.

Competitive pay, benefits and Signing Bonus.

CONDITIONED AIR SYSTEMS 2410 Hilton Way, Gainesville, GA 30501 Fax: 770-535-8096

770-536-7509

280-Trades Taking Applications for HVAC/Refrig Service Tech with field exp. Call Gene’s Refrigeration & HVAC, Inc. 706-776-1977

285-Truck Drivers Drivers- Start OTR, advance to SE dedicated!

•Regular runs to Iowa •Salary pay (up to $1,190/per week) •Full benefits Call 1-800-851-8651 kbtransportation.com

GOT GOLD OR SILVER? Not Sure Who To Trust?

Ethical private buyer will help you understand exactly what you have and it’s value. Selling to me is optional. It’s my pleasure to help.

Craig, 404-729-6692

Homes & Rentals 400 410-Apartments Unfurnished 1&2br, quiet, energy efficient, Sardis Rd. 678-776-6432 2BR, full BA, half BA, near colleges, Walmart. $550/mo. $400 dep.

404-401-7339 770-354-7964.

Reduced Rate Free Rent Starting at $85/wk. N. & S. Hall & Gainesville.

770-534-7596 G’Ville- 2BR $610/mo water/trash incld. No pets 678-677-1898

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

410-Apartments Unfurnished

435-Houses for Rent Unfurnished

OAKWOOD 2BR/2BA $575/mo + dep 404-987-0625

2/1 Home. Quiet street. $700.

770-530-6870

Oakwood- 2/1.5,yrd, safe, C/H/A $605$645. 678-357-5044

2BR/1BA, appls., No dp. $550/mo. No pets. 770-536-2906

Oakwood- Cedar Springs. 1-2BR. $540 & up. 770-287-1456 www.callapartments. com

2BR/1BA. Candler Rd at I-985. $425 706-974-3360

415-Business Property for Rent 2 Bay Warehouse 500 SF, $175/mo 770-540-5339

425-Duplexes For Rent Oakwood- 2/2. $675. All Electric. www.callapartments.c om. 770-287-1456 OAKWOOD- 2BR/ 1.5BA. $595mo.

678-315-7051 770-833-9437 Oakwood- Pine Forest. 2BR/1BA $660 www.callapartments.c om. 770-287-1456

Lrg Historic House dwntwn Lula. 2BR/ 1BA.$675mo $500dp.

770-861-8202

MEN-ONLY. Fur Br, All priv + Xtras Oakwd. 770-530-1110

3BR/3BA finished bsmt, lakefront, great location $1,250 770-539-4400

700

FLWRY BR. 3/2 gar. $1100. 770-287-1456 www.callapartments.c om

735-Autos for Sale

445-Lake Homes for Rent Gainesville, 2+2 private dock. $1,500 monthly.

770-503-7253

$0 Application Fee 3BR/2BA HOMES From $629mo All appliances incld NO RENT until Feb. 1, 2013

3BR/2BA Dbl. Wide, $675/mo + $400 dep. 678-776-2422

2BR House- C/H/A , fenced yard on quiet street. Ref req’d. $550. 770-534-3591

Large Furn’d Room w/priv bath, cable, frig, No dep/util fees. $125/wk.

678-943-5143

Wheels

460-Mobile Homes for Rent

SUN HOMES

465-Roommates Wanted

3bd, 1.5 ba city home. Lawn care, water incl. $800 706-499-8186

435-Houses for Rent Unfurnished

888-246-2803 countrysidelakelanier. com EHO WAC

770-535-1199

BUICK 1998 Park Avenue. 3.8L V6, 88k, FWD. $5891.

MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

735-Autos for Sale

FORD 2010 Focus SES, 2.0L, 4 cyl., 54K miles, $12,455.

MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

745-Import Autos

BMW 2006 325i, 3.0L, 6 cyl., 73K miles, $15,455.

MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

HONDA 2003 S2000 Base, 2.0L 4 cyl., 49K miles, $16,755.

MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

745-Import Autos

LEXUS 2005 LS430.

4.3L, V8, 95k, 25mpg Hwy. $17,677 MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

755-Sport-Utility Vehicles CHEVY 1989 Silverado K-5 Blazer, nice cond., complete history file, $4,650.

770-532-1424

JEEP 1981 Laredo $4500. Orig paint, 6cyl, 4spd, new tires on front, straight body, one spot of rust, less than 70k miles. includes hard & bikini tops, 2 soft doors, spare wheel & rack. Good restoration project. Runs Great! No problems!!

770-889-7148

LRG. 3/2 dbl wide, 1 ac, Lula, fireplc. rent/lease purchase.

770-365-9610

CADILLAC 2005 DeVille 4.6L FWD, 89k. $10,455 MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

HONDA 2010 Civic 1.8L, 4cyl, FWD, auto 30k miles. $17,391 MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

KIA 2009 Borrego LX. Exc Cond. 54k, V6, seats 7, Trailer Hitch. Non-smoker. $16,750/OBO. Call 678-928-1853

NISSAN 2005 Xterra Off Road, 4.0L V6, 109K miles, $9,899 MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200 TOYOTA 20064Runner. Wht, Super Clean! All records.

Best used auto you will ever own. Has It All! No tax. 85k miles. 1 owner, newer tires, $15,500.

770-967-8886

765-Trucks

CHEVY 2009 Silverado 1500 LT, 5.3L V8, 22K, $21,455 MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

3BR/2BA- $125/wk.

2BR/1BA- $125/wk.

We pay $100 toward utils No pets.

770-289-9142 CLERMONT 2BR $140/wk. Free heat/ water. 770-654-4073

755-Sport-Utility Vehicles

JEEP 2011 Wrangler Sport, manual trans., 4x4, 3.8L, 17k $22,891 MOSS ROBERTSON Call Today 770-535-2200

770-Vans FORD 1994 Aerostar.

Newer tires, battery & front brakes. Runs Great! 125k. $1400.

678-943-8906