8.25.10: Movie Trivia has a new sponsor! Scroll to the middle of the advertising bar on the right to read who it is and see if you can figure out the movie. Look for more clues soon.

7.9.10: Photos are available for purchase by digital download or print on pikecountytimes.zenfolio.com. If you would like to purchase a photo that is not on Zenfolio yet, send me an email and I will get that taken care of ASAP. Thanks for supporting the Pike County Times.

When you do business with anyone who advertises on my website, please tell them that you saw their advertisement on the Pike County Times.

Pike County Sheriff's Office Investigators concluded the investigation in to the death of two year old Tyqwan Edge. Results from the GBI Medical Examiner's Office have indicated the cause of death as being blunt force trauma.

Warrants hvae been obtained for Chiquita Snipes and Kenesha Neal for Murder. They have both been in jail since their arrest on June 8, 2010 for additional charges of Aggravated Assault, Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree, and Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree.

Deputies originally responded to a residence on May 22, 2010 in which the child was found deceased. A search warrant was conducted at the residence after conflicting statements were given by the suspects.

Both suspects will have to appear before a Superior Court Judge for a Bond Hearing on the charge of Murder.

SECOND CHANCE DOGS OF PIKE COUNTY will be strutting their stuff from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 4, on the courthouse lawn in Zebulon. Thanks to some volunteers from Friends of Pike County Animals, this joyous group of dogs may yet avoid impending euthanasia by finding foster families or forever homes before Labor Day. All the dogs are well socialized, immunized, spayed or neutered, and even micro-chipped so they will never lose their home again.

Special friend of endangered dogs, Chris Duke will be lending a hand with his grooming van while he chats with fellow dog lovers who drop by. Here's a link Katie Couric's broadcast about Chris and his dog Rufus who saved each other in Afghanistan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlqGd9lLE14.

"It's going to be a fun day with a serious purpose," says Susan Goodwin, head of the Friends of Pike County Animals Adoption Committee. "As soon as our fledgling committee was formed a few weeks ago, we heard about this urgent situation where a one-person rescue organization in our county had about 30 dogs more than she was certified to keep on her property. She has invested so much in these dogs that we can't let them down now. That's why we have been calling them the Second Chance Dogs. We have to place them in foster families or with permanent owners before Labor Day or they could be seized and euthanized."

See some of the Second Chance Dogs at
www.facebook.com/album.php?id=25007&id=100000447912044&l=b7a4dc2316"

Pike County has no animal control or public shelter. Abandoned animals depend on compassionate individuals like Lisa Ramos, the woman who rescued and rehabilitated the Second Chance dogs. Lisa can be reached at her home in Molena by phone (770) 884-9620.

Please be advised that Pike County offices will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2010, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Offices will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.

Pike County Post 197, The American Legion, Department of Georgia and Prayer Power of Georgia will hold a short service to offer thanks and prayers for our military on September 6, 2010 at 12:00 pm (noon). This is a monthly service that is held at the Veteran’s Memorial on the Pike County Courthouse grounds.

This will be a time to offer thanks and prayers for the men and women serving in our Military. The public is invited to gather at the Veteran’s Memorial for a focused time to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who have served, and seek protection for those who are serving. Pike County Post #197 will provide the military circumstances to recognize and honor our military, while Prayer Power of Georgia will provide the spiritual support.

If your family has member who is currently serving or know of a Veteran who has recently passed away, please provide the information to us so we can include them in the prayers.

If your family has member who is currently serving or know of a Veteran who has recently passed away, please provide the information to us so we can include them in the prayers.

The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact www.prayerpower4u.net (770-689-7549) or pikepost197@hotmail.com (770-468-8726).

A short service is held on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 pm (noon)

I. CALL TO ORDER .............................................................................. Chairman Mike Beres

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. September 2, 2010 regular bi-monthly meeting.

III. PUBLIC COMMENTS

IV. REPORT OF CHAIRMAN

V. REPORT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

VI. OLD BUSINESS
a. Development of comments to be submitted by Roundtable members Mike Beres and Doug Mangham to Todd Long, Director of Planning for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) regarding criteria established for T-SPLOST, including percentages, that will affect the 75% nondiscretionary funding source for counties in the region.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
a. Next Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting will be November 4, 2010 at 8:30 unless otherwise stipulated.

IX. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda subject to revision.

“Takers” (Sony Pictures)

Gives More Than It Takes

“Takers” is a fast moving, well acted crime film. It holds the audience’s interest from the start but loses their support at the end. What could have been one of the year’s best cops and robbers movies lets a weak ending spoil the effect. It ends up being just an average movie that was rife with potential.

A bank heist starts the film. It is organized by a crew headed up by Gordon Jennings (Idris Elba) and John Rahway (Paul Walker). Included in their crew are AJ (Hayden Christiansen), Jesse Attica (Chris Brown), and Jake Attica (Michael Ealy). The only person missing from their group is “Ghost” (Tip T I Harris) who was arrested after their last heist and went to prison.

After this latest bank job “Ghost” is released from prison. He comes back with plans for another job. He has made some connections while on the inside and knows this job can get them millions. Gordon thinks it is too soon to take on another job but eventually “Ghost” wears down his doubts and they begin planning the job.

On a side note Jake is now involved with Rachel (Zoe Saldana) who used to be involved with “Ghost.” This makes for some tension between the two men. Jake doesn’t trust “Ghost” and lets the rest of the crew know it.

While this is all going on the police are investigating the bank robbery. Chief among the investigators are Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) and Eddie Hatcher (Jay Fernandez). Welles is estranged from his wife and daughter due to the fact that he lets his job control his life. Eddie has his own problems with a son who has kidney disease.

Director John Lussenhop does a good job of letting these individual stories draw you into the overall film. The more personal the stories, the more involved the audience. It seems there could be much more made of the Rachel/Jake/Ghost triangle but it remains obscure.

The action sequences in the movie are the best parts of the film. They keep you on the edge of your seat as the good guys chase down the bad guys. The ebb and flow of the crews’ success is well thought out and appeals to the logic of the story.

The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.

Elba, Harris and Dillon are the strongest actors in the film with all the rest of the players creating interesting roles too. Saldana’s part is no more than a cameo and Walker also has little screen time which is surprising.

If the movie had had a more thought out ending the film could have been so much better. As is, it is just a fairly interesting film with a clunker of an ending.

I scored “Takers” a giving 5 out of 10.

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

Official Website

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "The Last Exorcism".

Jackie also has reviews of the latest books, DVDs, television shows as well as columns on life and living in the South.

La Grange, GA - The Pike County Health Department has received funding through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support vaccine purchase and administration. This has provided the resources needed to offer a FREE dose of Tdap vaccine to all residents 10-64 years of age regardless of insurance coverage. It also provides for other vaccines AT NO COST regardless of insurance coverage including: Menactra to prevent Meningitis for 11-18 year olds, MMR to prevent Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, HPV to prevent cervical cancer in females 11-26 years old and prevent genital warts in males 11-18 years old, Hepatitis A (must meet risk criteria) and Hepatitis B (must meet risk criteria).

Adults often don’t understand that they, like their children, should be immunized regularly. Adult immunizations are very important and often overlooked. In an effort to increase awareness about the importance of adult immunizations, District 4 Public Health encourages adults to review their shot records.

“Vaccines are key to good health in every stage of your life. Prevention of illness is much more cost effective than treatment. Just like shots protect children, adult immunization protects grown-ups from serious diseases that can threaten your health and welfare.” says Dr. Michael Brackett, District 4 Medical Director. “This is an excellent opportunity to get current on your vaccines without the added expense. Tdap is a version of the tetanus booster shot that protects you from whooping cough, diptheria as well as tetanus. Immunization isn’t just for kids.”

Each year an estimated 36,000 individuals in the United States, especially our older citizens, die needlessly from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. By preventing illness, vaccination saves many healthcare dollars by keeping people healthy and avoiding the extensive therapies and hospitalizations needed to treat illnesses like influenza and pneumococcal disease. Immunizations also help reduce absences at work, school and social events, and decrease the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this offer now because vaccines are limited in supply. For more information please call the Pike County Health Department at 770-567-8972.

The health department will see people on a walk-in basis on Monday’s between the hours of 8:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. An appointment is needed for services Tuesday through Friday.

For over 100 years, our family has been rooted in Pike County. It began with my grandparents, Otis and Mae Turner. In the early 1900’s, they moved here to begin their own family, on a long country dirt road, between long stretches of farmland and pastures placed between Hollonville and Concord.

On that stretch of road, my grandparents maintained over 100 acres for farming, employing and providing for many of those in the area. In those times and because the area was so poor, there were only a few ways to get into town to buy basic family needs. With that, my grandmother started a small, community served, country grocery store. Made of wood, smaller that most bedrooms--that store anchored our family ties for four generations in the community known as Pedenville.

In those early years, my grandmother, affectionately known to everyone as “Miss Mae”, would often keep the store open late into the evening so that those coming in from the fields and other work would be able to get what they needed.

Some folks were limited on how and what they could pay. For a few, “Miss Mae” would just barter trade--fresh eggs for bread, milk or can goods. Fresh baked goods for kerosene to use in lamps. If she could use it for the store, she worked with them to get those families what they needed when they couldn’t pay.

For many others, their pay was based on when the crops came in or when they were paid for daily or weekly service from the farmers. Thus not having money on hand to buy goods daily. Miss Mae created a unique credit system, more common in the bigger towns or cities, but rare on such a small, unsecured business scale. She trusted them, knew their families and wanted to help.

As a child growing up around the store, I learned what “put that on my bill” meant. A small slip of paper with a few items jotted down, put in a small wooden box that is still in the store today. In a time where blacks were told to use a separate entrance in back, or not allowed at all, they were welcomed as any other, through the front door. In a time of accepted racial barriers, Miss Mae served her customers--all of them--the same way. She was respected by all and she respected all.

In that time and through the depression, Otis and Mae Turner had five children. Edwin, Trudie, Nadine, Albert and “Buddy”. Times were tough, but there was always food at the store.

Not having much was a way of life in this community. Daddy often told us about how as a kid to relax and have fun, they would all gather in the field, put on a sheet for a ‘picture show’. Or gather on the big front porch, with everyone coming over to play banjo’s and fiddles.

The Turner Family was one of the first in the area to have a car. This car was used mainly for delivery of groceries, rather than for leisure and convenience. But ironically, it was a car that their first child, Edwin, was killed in on the railroad tracks, not too far from their home. Back then, it was rare for a young teen to die in a car wreck---it was a big blow to the family and the main reason family was always so important to my grandmother. Something that my father adhered to and demanded of his own family.

Over the years, their remaining four children went their separate ways throughout the South, but each one returned home at retirement to build their own home on the land that was left to them by their parents.

As the years clicked passed, Miss Mae, was getting too old to run the store as needed. She was still able to cut hoop cheese to the exact pound by hand—no scale needed. Kerosene was still pumped by hand for customers bringing in their own milk jug. Delivery men would either wait on the front store steps if the store was closed for a run to the bank or go knock on the back door of her house which was right next door.

So when my father retired for the second time, he decided to take over the grocery store from my grandmother. Then a small, cement block building, bursting at the seams, trying to contain all the needed items for the growing community. Where there was once less than 10 homes in the area, there were now some 50 + homes in the immediate area.

I was fortunate enough to be ‘working’ in the store as a kid on weekends when my “MeMa” was transitioning the store over to my Dad. There was a pull handle adding machine, a pull handle register (still used today) and an old picnic bench beside the ice cream box......supposedly for waiting customers, but really used for visiting or an occasional nap.

It was in 1976, my Dad became the second generation owner of Turner's Grocery.

Since the location of the store was so close to the house, MeMa found happiness in her retirement by making fresh homemade biscuits (with Lard!) every morning for my Dad as well as a full dinner at noon--after all that was her ‘Albert’.

In the years of helping out in the store, I never appreciated the real reason local folks chose to shop there--even when Griffin had high tech inventory systems to make sure all the shelves had every possible item always available.

Each store day would bring a daily walk in from Mr. Jim or Miss Ruth. Miss Ruby would give me a penny for a purple gum ball on her Saturday visit to the store for her groceries. Others were just dropping in to discuss local gossip and politics--usually one in the same.

Mr. John H. Gregg was one of those gentlemen that lived in our area that came to the store. I can still smell his big cigar and see him with his large hat getting out of his big Lincoln Continental. He just wanted a small bottle coke, bag of salty peanuts and to check in. Mr. Perrin Blake was another older gentleman that would come in regularly. Always driving a brand new Oldsmobile with his two large dogs riding along in the open trunk. These men and so many others like them, just sat while, sometimes not even needing to talk. The store still has that same wooden bench that all the visitors and waiting customers in line would sit on. Oh if that bench could talk!

Thirty four years later, the ‘new’ store, built in 1980, is still open.

Only one missing figure. He was larger than life to his five girls. He was a great provider—not just for his wife and family, but for the community. A few weeks ago, our family was given many stories of the ‘behind the scenes” gifts, money and food our father gave to those in need. We were overwhelmed with praises of his kindness and generosity to those in times of need. Our grandmother’s legacy truly continued.

This quiet man of few words, did quite a bit in his 83 years. There were no awards, plaques to signify all he gave but spiritual reward will prove to be enough. Albert Turner, a retired, decorated veteran of the army’s 82nd Airborne Paratrooper unit, married 60 years to his small town girl. Proud father of five girls, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, this man left large and now empty black dress shoes for us to try to fill.

The one thing you always got from Turner’s Grocery was a “how you doing?”--but he really meant it each time, each day.

The store continues, the community is growing more and more. Times, circumstances and economics are much different, but we are determined to make it another 100 years.

Our family business appreciates all the many people that have come through our doors. We have been given lifelong friendships memories, support and genuine caring in our father's passing.

So as you travel, and you see a small store, stop in and visit with them. Sit awhile and let them know ‘how you doing”. Sometimes you are more than a customer.

Lisa Turner Bleckley
“the baby”

Taste the Flint is a family campout & outdoor adventure on the Upper Flint River featuring barbecue, bluegrass, canoeing, family-friendly camping and more.

The Flint is one of Georgia’s most beautiful rivers as well as its most threatened. To celebrate and raise awareness of the Flint, the Georgia Conservancy and Flint Riverkeeper are sponsoring three days of fun on the upper Flint River on Sept. 9-11.

The Flint River Fest will kick off Thursday, Sept. 9 on the banks of the Flint near Molena for a wonderful evening of music, food and river talk. Chow down on barbecue while listening to the Packway Handle Band, a bluegrass band from Athens.

The second part of the Flint Fest is a family-friendly campout and adventure trip. On Friday, Sept. 10, REI instructors will lead a “tent camping basics” lesson which will be followed by a cookout, campfire, s’mores, environmental education activities and an “owl prowl.” Everything is provided, even the tents.

On Saturday, Sept. 11, there will be a “tike hike” for the younger kids and a guided canoe trip down the Flint to Sprewell Bluff for adults and children ages 11 and up. Both groups will meet at Sprewell Bluff for lunch on the banks of the Flint before departure.

It’s sure to be a great time. It’s also an important chance to raise awareness of the Flint, Georgia’s most threatened river.

Recent legislative efforts to dam a 50-mile stretch of the Flint to create several reservoirs to relieve metro North Georgia’s burgeoning water crisis have earned the Flint River the No. 2 spot on the list of Top 10 Most Endangered Rivers, published by American Rivers.

On Friday night, Georgia Conservancy President Pierre Howard and Flint Riverkeeper Director Gordon Rogers will discuss the pressing issues of the Flint River and how you can get involved in the fight to save the Flint.

“Please come join us for good, clean family fun and to learn how to get involved in our work to restore and protect the quality and flow of the Flint’s waters,” Rogers said. “My family will be there. I hope that many others will join us.”

Flint River Fest is being sponsored by REI, Whole Foods and REM.

For costs, more information, and to register, visit: www.georgiaconservancy.org or www.flintriverkeeper.org.

This meeting was attended by all five commissioners, the County Manager, County Clerk, and County Attorney.

I. CALL TO ORDER ............................................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ........................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

III. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))

IV. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
1. Minutes from the following: Regular Monthly Meeting of August 11, 2010 and the Special Called Meeting of August 23, 2010.

Update 9.1.10:

V. INVITED GUESTS
1. George Norris will be attending with members of Boy Scout Troop #37 who are satisfying requirements for a Merit Badge in the area of Citizenship in the Community: This troop is sponsored by Life Springs Church. These scouts listened to what went on in the meeting and discussed it after the meeting to meet the requirements for their badge. Photo will be online soon.

VI. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTS, COMMITTEES, AUTHORITIES
A. Monthly Reports submitted from County Departments and County Authorities
B. County Manager Report
• Update on County finances: General Fund Balance - $43,531; Cash Reserve - $32,194; Jail Fund - $125,868; Impact Fees - $168,401; E-911 - $47,607; Fire Fund - $153,116; DATE Fund - $13,550; Juvenile Court - $26,132; General Obligation Sales Tax Bond Sinking Fund - $425,365.
• Update on County projects: Caldwell Bridge Road repair was going to cost the county $130,000. Now expected to cost about $18,000. Hoping to see action on this project in the next 7 to 10 days.
• Other topics as required.
C. Commissioner Reports: District 1 Roosevelt Willis - No comment. * District 2 Parrish Swift - No comment. * District 3 Tommy Powers - Was advised that the water sample for Mr. Kendrick on Sheperd Road has been sent to the Department of Natural Resources a second time with a request for chemical analysis as well. This water had a strong odor which prompted the complaint. * District 4 Don Collins - Said that he thinks things are moving more smoothly than ever before. Commended the County Manager, the County Clerk, and employees for the county for this. * Chairman Doug Mangham - No comment.
D. County Attorney Report to Commissioners: None.

VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION - 6:38 p.m.
1. County Attorney requests Executive Session to discuss pending and/or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the county or any officer or employee or in which the county or any officer or employee may be directly involved as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-2(1): Back into Session at 7:07 p.m.

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Consider County Attorney’s recommendation regarding a call for a 2010 SPLOST: Commissioners voted to accept the County Attorney's recommendation not to move forward with the November call for the SPLOST because the county cannot meet the 90 day notice provision that was passed this year in HB 3540. Approved 4-0.

Update 9.2.10:

2. Consider request of Don Bailey and Friends of Pike County Animals to utilize Courthouse grounds for routine animal adoptions, provided the animals will be spayed/ neutered and properly cared for by adopting families and provided that personnel will satisfactorily clean up after animals, which will be vetted prior to display with no dangerous or potentially dangerous animals allowed. Sheriff advises allowance provided stipulations are maintained. : Commissioner Willis had a concern about whether citizens could be required to spay or neuter. Citizen Chris Curry advised that the pets will already be spayed and neutered prior to adoption. Motion to approve 4-0.

IX. NEW BUSINESS
1. PUBLIC HEARING: Consider public input for Text amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 156, Zoning Code, Section 156.007 Districts Established through Section 156.124 Duplex Residential (Repealed), to provide for revisions to text. : This is continuing with improvements to the code of ordinances in Pike County. Motion to Open Public Hearing. No one spoke. Closed.
2. Consider, on first reading, Text amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 156, Zoning Code, Section 156.007 Districts Established through Section 156.124 Duplex Residential (Repealed), to provide for revisions to text. Staff recommends approval of amendments as presented. : Motion to approve 4-0.
3. Consider appointment for two board vacancies to the Pike County Agribusiness Authority for Tom Lacey and Rex Yerkes, both of whom fill board positions that expired March 31, 2010. These are for three-years terms set to expire March 31, 2013. Recommended applicants have met criteria. : Motion to appoint Tom Lacey and Rex Yerkes. Approved 4-0.
4. Consider an amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 116 Fire District Ordinance, §116.02 Definitions to add places of religious worship and an amendment to §116.06 Assessment Rates for the purpose of exempting said places of religious worship, as defined, from the collection of fire district fees. Staff recommends approval of amendments as drafted by counsel. : This exemption has been discussed in the past but never adopted. Motion to approve 4-0.

X. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) : None.

XI. ADJOURNMENT : 7:15 p.m.

Through a special camp offered by Georgia 4-H, children of soldiers experience what life is like for their parent during active duty.

Operation Military Kids is a week-long camp designed for children whose parents are currently deployed, soon to be deployed or have recently returned from deployment by any service branch or component. It takes place this summer at Georgia 4-H’s Camp Wahsega in Dahlonega

Free to military families

The camp is free and funded by a grant from the 4-H National Headquarters and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. OMK is a partnership between 4-H and the Department of the Army. More than 150,000 youth participated in national OMK events across the country last year.

In Georgia this summer, campers visited nearby Camp Frank D. Merrill, an Army ranger camp in Dahlonega.

“If you are an Army ranger, Camp Merrill is one of your stops,” said Marcus Eason, the Georgia OMK coordinator. Camp Merrill is the home of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion and the mountain phase of the U.S. Army Ranger School. “They’ve been doing mountain training there since the ‘50s, and our campers used the repelling wall there and used the wire bridge to cross the river.”

Making new friends with shared lifestyles

Campers learned skills to help them cope with the stress of their parent’s deployment, Eason said. “And they got to spend time making friends with other military kids who are also missing their mom or dad.”

Thirteen-year-old Katrina Petersen’s father, Staff Sergeant Robert Petersen, has served two tours in Iraq. She has lots of friends at Academy of Richmond County in Augusta, Ga. Thanks to the OMK camp, she now has friends who can relate to her home life.

“(The camp) helped me a lot because I got to meet other military kids,” she said. “They all live about three hours away from me, but we keep in touch by texting each other, and we’ll see each other at camp next summer.”

In the past, Georgia guard and reservists have sacrificed time with their families by spending one weekend a month and one training week each summer away from home, barring any state or national disaster.

A need during current times

"With Operation Enduring Freedom and the Overseas Contingency Operations, our country is relying more and more on guard and reservists,” Eason said. "When a parent leaves for duty, it impacts the entire family. These OMK summer camps are designed to help them cope."

Petersen knows this first hand.

“When you are in the military, you have to make a lot of commitments. You have a lot of responsibilities, and so does your family,” she said. “My dad was away from home for a year and then for 15 months. I’m really glad he’s home safe now.”

Most of the children who attend OMK camp in Georgia have parents stationed at Ft. Benning, Ft. Gordon and the Ft. Stewart area. “But there are also a lot of military in our state that aren’t necessarily assigned to a military installation,” Eason said.

The kids experience military life and gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, he said. But they are still at 4-H camps. Campers swim, make crafts, climb the ropes course, play sports and participate in environmental education classes.

Swimming and having fun, too

"The kids get to do all the things we do in every other 4-H camp across our state," Eason said. “Except, OMK campers made a special trip to raft down the Ocoee River and go spelunking in Tennessee. We want these kids to be able to just get away from home and be kids.”

Each year, more than 700 military families and youths participate in Georgia 4-H camping programs specifically designed for military families, like OMK.

To learn more about Georgia 4-H’s military programs, visit www.georgia4h.org/omk.

(Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington, D.C. Aug. 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. America has come a long way from this time. I am young enough that I have never been to a segregated school or ridden on a segregated bus. Whether you agree with the politics of the current administration or not, we have passed a historic milestone with the election of our first black president. We have been told what the speech says over the years, but have you ever read it for yourself? I had not until a year or so ago so in honor of that day, I have uploaded a copy of Dr. King's speech as well as a link to a video of this historic speech.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Click here to watch a video of the speech.

The Right Stuff BBQ Team outscored 49 other professional teams to claim the title of Grand Champion at the City of Kennesaw's Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival held on August 20 and 21. Craig and Deeanna Cardell won $2,000 in cash, a Big Green Egg cooker, a one-of-a-kind ceramic trophy and bragging rights as State Champions in the Georgia State Championship Barbeque Cookoff and Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition. They took home additional cash, prizes and trophies in other judging categories, including 1st place in the beef brisket category and 5th place in the pork category as well as 1st place in the Anything Butt competition.

Craig and Deeanna will be bringing their competition style cooking to Pike County in mid-September when they open "The Oink Joint BBQ" on the square in Zebulon.

Photo on the We Are Pike County page courtesy of the City of Kennesaw's Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival.

"The Oink Joint BBQ" is sponsoring Movie Trivia on Pike County Times. Scroll down to the middle of the advertising bar on the right side of the paper to see if you can figure out the clues to win a free 20 oz. milkshake of your choice when "The Oink Joint BBQ" opens in mid-September.

I. CALL TO ORDER .............................................................................. Chairman Mike Beres

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Meeting of July 21, 2010

III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
a. Report by GDOT representative(s).

IV. REPORT OF CHAIRMAN
a. Update on HB 277 and Development of the Investment List per the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 – Feedback due by 9-30-10 to be finalized by 11-15-10 for first meeting of the Regional Roundtable.
b. Update on the Transportation Policy and Leadership Forum held on August 12, 2010 in Warm Springs.
c. Update on local transportation projects.

V. REPORT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
a. Report by Robert Hiett, Governmental Services Director for Three Rivers RC
b. Comments by Other Members

VI. OLD BUSINESS

VII. NEW BUSINESS

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
a. Next Meeting will be November 4, 2010 at 8:30 unless otherwise stipulated.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

Mrs. Betty Sue Keith Smith, age 86, of Williamson, formerly of Summerville, passed away August 28, 2010. She was born in Stutgart, AK to the late Claude Keith and Molly Burdette Keith. She was a homemaker who enjoyed crocheting and playing cards with friends. Ms. Smith was a long-time member of Fishers Chapel United Methodist Church in Summerville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter H. Smith; brothers: R.C. Keith and Jack Keith and grandsons, Keith and Troy. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Patricia Folds of Myrtle Beach, SC, Lee and Kathryn Eskew of Woodstock, Linda Golden of Wilmington, NC, Wayne and Charlotte Eskew of Meansville and Sherri and Gilbert Trevino of Ellenwood; grandchildren: Billy, Jay, Jeffery, Ryan, Jonathan, Kevin, Allen, Melissa, Alana, Amy, Lori, Elisha and Todd; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Visitations:
3:00PM to 6:00PM on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at Moody Funeral Home (map/driving directions)

Services:
In-state at 2:00PM, Service at 4:00PM at Fishers Chapel United Methodist Church on Monday, August 30th, 2010

Cemetery:
Fishers Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Fishers Chapel Road, Summerville , GA

For more information, directions or sign the guestbook at Moody Funeral Home.

Mrs. Mary Ann Kreider Frontz, age 82, of Concord, passed away August 25, 2010 at her residence. She was born in Landisville, PA to the late Elias Kreider and Anna Trayer Kreider. She was an avid reader, enjoyed puzzles and antiquing. She loved animals, especially dogs and horses and was a supporter of the Humane Society. Mrs. Frontz was a friend and “surrogate mother” to many people. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Clinton Frontz II and her sister, Dorothy Bevan. She is survived by her children: Howard Clinton Frontz III and wife Debra of Montezuma, Mark Elias Frontz of Concord and Ruth Ann Clements and husband Holmes Clements IV of Atlanta; granddaughters and their spouses: Amber and James Sapp of Auburn, AL, Lisa and Paul Hill of Valdosta and Laura and John Pellicone of Valdosta; great-granddaughter: Jaslynne Sapp; special family friend: Kenneth Korman of Concord.

Visitations:
9:30AM to 11:00AM on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
11:00AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, August 28th, 2010

For more information, directions or sign the guestbook at Moody Funeral Home.

The Pike County Sheriff's Investigators made another arrest in the ongoing investigation of individuals involved in air conditioning thefts. Joshua Harper, age 31 of Griffin, was arrested after being found at a vacant residence by an Investigator.

A copper line had already been cut on the air conditioning unit as he was in the process of stealing it. Harper quickly left the scene but was apprehended a short distance from the residence. Bolt cutters and other similar items used to steal air conditioning units was located in the vehicle that Harper was driving.

Investigators are working to link Harper to any other thefts that he may be responsible for. He has been booked into the Pike County Jail on charges of Criminal attempt theft by taking, Possession of tools for commision of a crime, Criminal trespassing and driving on a suspended license. A bond has yet to be set in this case.

“Nanny McPhee Returns” (Universal Pictures)

Back With All the Magic and Charm Intact

In 2005 Emma Thompson appeared on movie screens as the strange and wonderful Nanny McPhee. She wrote the screenplay herself, got herself cast in the lead role, and surrounded herself with a brilliant supporting cast. This all added up to movie magic for a large number of moviegoers and paved the way for a sequel. It has taken five years but Thompson has written another screenplay and is back in the lead role in “Nanny McPhee Returns.”

The first “Nanny McPhee” took place in an indeterminate location and time. In the sequel the time is definitely during World War II and the place is a farm somewhere miles outside of London. On this farm lives Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and her three children Norman (Asa Butterfield), Megsie (Lil Woods) and Vincent (Oscar Steer). Her husband (Ewan McGregor) is away at war.

Mrs. Green works part time in a store owned by Mrs. Docherty (Maggie Smith). Between working at the store, mothering her three children, and taking care of the farm she has her hands full. Then her nephew Cyril (Eros Vlahos) and niece Celia (Rosie Taylor-Ritson) arrive from London to stay with the family. This poor woman needs the help of someone like Nanny McPhee, who miraculously appears at her door.

Once Nanny McPhee arrives the movie takes a whimsical bent. The magical scenes give new meaning to the term “when pigs fly.” But then the movie turns serious and stays partially that way until the end.

Thompson is perfect as Nanny McPhee and the idea of having her get less gross looking as the children learn their lessons is a good one. It added charm to the first film and it adds charm here. Maggie Gyllenhaal is totally loveable as the set upon Mrs. Green. It is a totally different type of role from what she usually plays but it fits her like a glove.

The children are all solid actors with Butterfield being outstanding. If you wonder where you have seen him before, he was “The Boy In the Striped Pajamas.” Smith adds fun to the film as the doddering Mrs. Docherty, and Ralph Finnes has some good moments as Mrs. Green’s stuffy brother in law. McGregor also has a few good moments in flashbacks as the long lost Mr. Green.

Rhys Ifans is almost in a different movie as Mrs. Green’s scurrilous brother in law Phil. His scenes are so over the top that you can’t take his villainy too seriously. In many ways he is almost identical to the character of “Rooster” in the musical “Annie.”

The movie is rated PG for mild profanity and some adult situations.

“Nanny McPhee Returns” is the type of movie that will not appeal to everyone. It is too sweet in some ways and too unrealistic in others. Still for those in the mood for a fairy tale of sorts this is a great movie for family viewing. Emma Thompson has created a wonderful on screen character and here’s hoping she brings back “The Nanny” for many more sequels.

I scored “Nanny McPhee Returns” a well tended to 7 out of 10.

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

Official Website

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "The Switch" and "Vampires Suck".

Jackie also has reviews of the latest books, DVDs, television shows as well as columns on life and living in the South.

The Friends of Pike County Animals scheduled on August 26, 2010 has been cancelled.

Update 8.26.10:

The next FPCA meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m., 9 September 2010 at the J. Joel Edwards Library (meeting room).

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today announced that following the State’s June 22, 2010 lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the DOJ consented to preclearance of the State’s voter verification process, including verification of U.S. citizenship. After the DOJ consented to the process, the State filed for and received administrative preclearance from the DOJ. The State and the DOJ therefore have now filed a joint request to have the lawsuit dismissed.

“After nearly two years, we can now verify that voter registration applicants are who they say they are and that they are U.S. citizens,” said Secretary Kemp. “When we filed the lawsuit, I was criticized by some because they believed it would be too time-consuming and expensive. However, after waiting for nearly a year and a half for a final administrative decision from the DOJ, I was certain that litigation was the only way to put Georgia in a position to obtain final approval from the federal government of our voter verification procedures. After the litigation was filed, it took less than two months for the DOJ to consent to preclearance of the verification process.”

Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Georgia must obtain federal preclearance of any change affecting voting by bringing a declaratory judgment action in federal court or, in the alternative, by submitting the change to the DOJ for administrative preclearance. In October 2008, the Secretary of State’s Office first submitted the verification process to the DOJ for administrative preclearance. After extended administrative review and numerous discussions with representatives of the State, the DOJ denied administrative preclearance of the State’s voter verification process and later refused to withdraw that denial. During the administrative process, the State provided substantial amounts of information about its verification process, sometimes providing the same information several times.

In June of this year, Secretary Kemp announced that the State of Georgia filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the DOJ to obtain preclearance of the voter verification process. After the lawsuit was filed, the DOJ determined that the verification process did not have a discriminatory effect or purpose and expeditiously consented to the federal approval of the verification procedure. Georgia was previously the only state in the country barred from complying with the federal Help America Vote Act’s voter verification requirement.

Secretary Kemp added, “I am glad the DOJ ultimately recognized the importance of ensuring a secure elections process in Georgia and consented to the Section 5 approval of Georgia’s voter verification process. As Georgia’s Chief Elections Officer, my job is to ensure secure, fair, and accessible elections for every Georgia citizen who is eligible to vote. Every ballot cast by a non-citizen erases a ballot cast by an eligible Georgia voter.”

Under the Help America Vote Act, states are required to verify the information provided by first time voter registration applicants with information currently on file in state or federal databases. In Georgia, the applicant’s first name, last name, date of birth, driver’s license or identification number, last four digits of his or her Social Security number, and United States citizenship status are verified with the Department of Driver Services or Social Security Administration databases to ensure that the information matches.

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that Georgia was selected as a winner by the U.S. Department of Education for the second round of “Race to the Top” grants. The state is projected to receive $400 million over four years to implement its plan.

“While this has seemed more like a marathon at times, now the real race begins,” said Governor Perdue. “I want to thank our Race to the Top teams, including teachers, principals, superintendents and other education professionals, for their hard work in preparing a great application. This is truly a unique opportunity to implement a Georgia-created plan that will accelerate our work in improving student achievement.”

Two weeks ago, a team of five Georgia education professionals traveled to Washington, D.C. to present Georgia’s application to a five-person panel of evaluators. State Board of Education Chair Wanda Barrs, State Superintendent of Schools Brad Bryant, Gwinnett County Public Schools Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks, Governor Perdue’s Director of Policy Erin Hames and Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Executive Director Kathleen Mathers made up the Georgia team.

The Race to the Top fund is a $4 billion grant opportunity provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to support new approaches to improve schools. The fund is available in the form of competitive grants to encourage and reward states that are creating conditions for education innovation and reform, specifically implementing ambitious plans in four education reform areas:

· Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;
· Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;
· Recruiting, preparing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
· Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.

“I am so pleased that Georgia has been named a winner of Race to the Top,” said Superintendent Bryant. “Going for Race to the Top has never been about just the money, but more about further development of our foundation to drive increased student achievement. But now that we have the additional resources, we can put an even greater focus on implementing that foundation for the benefit of Georgia's students.”

Georgia’s application was prepared through a partnership between the Governor’s Office, the Office of Student Achievement, the Georgia Department of Education and education stakeholders. Four working groups and a fifth critical feedback team consisting of teachers, principals, superintendents, higher education faculty, non-profit and informal education organizations, state policy makers, and members of the business and philanthropic communities developed the ideas for inclusion in the state’s application.

Recommendations focus on strengthening traditional and alternative preparation programs for teachers and leaders, supporting teachers more effectively in the classroom, evaluating teachers and leaders with consistent and objective criteria that inform instruction, and rewarding great teachers and leaders with performance-based salary increases.

The application also calls for Georgia to adopt and implement common curricular standards and internationally-benchmarked assessments that indicate Georgia’s ability to compete within a globally-connected economy. The State Board of Education adopted these standards in July.

Twenty-six local school districts have signed on to partner with the state in implementing Georgia’s Race to the Top plan. These districts, which make up 41 percent of public school students in Georgia, include: Atlanta, Ben Hill, Bibb, Burke, Carrolton, Chatham, Cherokee, Clayton, Dade, DeKalb, Dougherty, Gainesville, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Jones, Meriwether, Muscogee, Peach, Pulaski, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Valdosta and White. The participating districts include 46 percent of Georgia's students in poverty, 53 percent of Georgia’s African American students, 48 percent of Hispanics and 68 percent of the state’s lowest achieving schools.

Georgia added three school districts, Dade, Peach and Pulaski, to the 23 districts that applied in the first round as part of its Phase II application. The three new districts were chosen to align federal School Improvement Grants with Race to the Top.

The state will work closely with these systems to implement the ideas contained in the application. 50 percent of the funds awarded to Georgia will be distributed to the local partners to meaningfully enact the Race to the Top reforms. The state will study the effectiveness of these practices to identify and scale up those that prove to be effective.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation selected 15 states, including Georgia, to benefit from technical assistance for Race to the Top application development. The states were selected based on how well poised they are to win Race to the Top based on progress in education policy and reform. Georgia partnered with The Parthenon Group, a consulting firm based in Boston, which specializes in part in education reform.

I. CALL TO ORDER ......................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

II. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG .............................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

III. ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Consider Resolution to Adopt the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Pike County Tax Levy.

All five commissioners were present along with County Manager Bill Sawyer, County Clerk Teresa Watson, and County Attorney Rob Morton. After the meeting was opened, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer read the Pike County Tax Levy resolution aloud. Motion was then made to approve. Approved 4-0.

WHEREAS, Georgia Law authorizes the Pike County Board of Commissioners to levy and collect taxes, and said authority includes the setting of the mills, upon motion duly made and passed, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Pike County, Georgia, duly convened this 23rd day of August, 2010, that upon the County Tax Digest of $483,820,170, which represents the net digest value of all property taxable for County purposes in Pike County, Georgia as of the first day of January 2010, as appears upon the digest thereof; and upon all other taxable property in Pike County, Georgia, both real and personal, there be levied and collected for County purposes as authorized by law, a tax, ad valorem, for the year 2010-2011, the aggregate rate for all such purposes, of 12.864 mills or $12.864 per $1,000.00 of taxable property of assessed valuation in the County incorporated and unincorporated areas, which shall constitute a total tax levy for all such purposes of 12.864 mills, and that the same be collected by Tax Commissioner of said County at the same time and in the same manner as the tax levied by the State of Georgia, is collected, and when collected that the same shall be deposited by the Tax Commissioner with the treasurer of Pike County, Georgia, and that the treasurer’s office receipt be taken therefore, and pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 45-5-220 County Taxation, as applicable to-wit.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that on recommendation of the Board of Education of the Pike County School System, the following rates of taxation be likewise levied and collected, and when collected that the same be paid to the Board of Education of said County, as provided by law, to-wit: Based upon the net 2010 School Maintenance and Operation Digest of $486,289,571 , which represents the net digest value of all property taxable for educational purposes as listed on the Pike County Tax Digest, including school maintenance and operations in Pike County, and upon all other property in Pike County, both real and personal, there shall be levied a tax for education purposes, as provided by the Constitution and laws of Georgia: 13.563 mills or $13.563 per $1000.00 of assessed taxable property on the Pike County Digest.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED upon recommendation of the Pike County Board of Education, that upon the net 2010 School Bond Digest of $493,839,091, which represents the net digest value of all property taxable for the payment of educational bonded indebtedness, both real and personal, there be levied a tax, ad valorem, for the year of 2010-2011 for bond indebtedness in the amount of 2.417 mills or $2.417 per $1000.00 of the assessed valuation on the School Bond Digest, which shall constitute a total tax levy for the payment of School Bond indebtedness, and that this order be spread upon the minutes and that the same be advertised and posted in accordance with Section 48-5-232 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and the pertinent laws of Georgia. [End of Resolution]

IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Began at 9:03 a.m.
1. Discussion or deliberation on the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a county officer(s) or employee(s), countywide, as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(6).

Back into session at 9:27 a.m. Two motions were made as a result of the Executive Session.

Motion was made to approve County Manager Sawyer's recommendation for approval of a four day work week for Public Works effective September 1, 2010. This will be a 40 hour work week with hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a person will be on call as needed. Approved 4-0.

Motion was made to approve County Manager Sawyers's recommendation to reduce one employee from Public Works and one employee from the Planning and Development effective September 1, 2010. Approved 4-0.

V. ADJOURNMENT: 9:28 a.m.

[Note from the Editor: I spoke with Tax Commissioner Donna Boyt about the Tax Digest after the meeting and was advised that she will hand-deliver the Pike County Tax Digest to the State on Monday, August 30, 2010. Tax Commissioner Boyt said that she is hoping to get tax bills out to residents by September 20, 2010.]

The first public hearing on the Board of Education tax increase was scheduled for August 12, 2010 at 6 PM at the new Pike County Middle School Cafeteria. All Board of Education members were present along with School Superintendent Dr. Duncan.

Finance Director for Pike County Schools, Kenneth Carter gave a very detailed explanation of the tax increase and some very good questions were answered at this meeting. There were about 50 people in the audience. [Note from the Editor: I commend the Superintendent's Office for getting the word out about the change of meeting places for this meeting. Phone calls were made, it was in the print newspaper, and Fun 101 WTGA out of Thomaston was notified as well. News spread from the by diligent citizens. The Superintendent's Secretary, Karen Davis, even stayed at her office to direct citizens to the new meeting place on the night of the meeting to be sure that everyone was given the opportunity to attend this meeting. Thank you to Jane Gaulding for calling me!]

All who attended were given an 8 page hand out so we could follow along as Kenneth Carter explained the changes in detail. The proposed Maintenance and Operations millage rate is going to be the same as it was last year: $6,595,553.

The proposed Bond millage rate is for a smaller amount and is separate from the Maintenance and Operations millage rate. It will be going up by 108.63% to 2.417 mills for a total of $1,193,541. Last year's millage rate was 1.127 for a total of $572,077.

Bond millage and SPLOST collections are repaying the amounts that were needed to build both the High School and Middle School. The 2006 voter approved sales tax for the Middle School is helping to repay some of this debt but it was not enough to pay off the total amount that was needed this year. The current 2.417 mills is what is needed to pay this amount.

Kenneth Carter showed in the Tax Digest and Levy where the Board of Education did not tax citizens on the true value of the school bonds over the past three years because the Board was concerned about keeping taxes low for property owners during that time. In 2007, only .35 mills was levied in citizen taxes to pay for the interest on the bond which was what was required that year. In 2008, .35 mills was levied on citizen taxes but SPLOST brought in enough money to pay this. Last year, the millage rate was raised to 1.127 mills which was half of the amount needed to pay for the bonds on the schools. The other half of the money needed to make the bond payment came from general fund reserves last year.

Dr. Duncan said that SPLOST projected a 5% increase per year when it was voted in, but that the unpredicted, immediate economic downturn resulted in a decrease in the SPLOST. Dr. Duncan also said that in hindsight, keeping the taxes low probably was not the best decision since the decreasing SPLOST amounts and state funding cuts have resulted in the raising of the millage rate for citizens.

The good news is that the Middle School will be paid off in the next 3 years. The projected date of the current total bond repayment is scheduled to end around February of 2015. And if there is no further debt at that time, then the bond millage rate will be 0 with no levy against citizens taxes. However, Mr. Carter did say that with the growth that our county has seen in the past, there is no guarantee of not needing another school. [Note from the Editor: The school system has state and federal mandates that must be met with our schools. This cannot be planned for and I appreciate Mr. Carter being up front about this to citizens.]

The current interest rate on the bond is 4 1/2%. Citizens were informed that, by state law, the school system can only tax when debt is incurred. However, future construction money is earned through the state. The current Middle School was paid for by 60% state funds and 40% local funds.

I will continue writing on this meeting next week because the questions that citizens asked at the meeting were very interesting and will help give insight into the plan that is in place for our school system.

Click on this link http://pikecountytimes.com/boe8.3.10.jpg to see the Five Year M&O Tax Digest Levy History - 2010 Tax Digest and Tax Levy for FY11 Budget. The proposed budget can be reviewed at:
pikecountytimes.com/2011SchoolBudget.pdf. It should be on the school website soon too.

THE LOTTERY ISSUE - PART I
WHERE DOES THAT LOTTERY DOLLAR GO?

Recently, the House and Senate higher education committees met to discuss the future of Georgia's lottery funded programs. Fiscal Year 2010 was the first year that lottery-related expenditures outpaced deposits into the Lottery for Education account. With nearly $1 billion in lottery reserves, these programs are not in danger for the short term, but Tim Connell, president of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, estimates that those reserves will shrink to $371 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2012 due to projected expenditures.

With these looming shortfalls in mind, it is important to examine how lottery revenues are collected and expended. According to preliminary 2010 numbers, the Georgia Lottery Corporation sold $3.6 billion in lottery tickets last year, and the Commission will deposit nearly $884 million into the Lottery for Education account. Where did the rest of those lottery funds go? For each one dollar ticket sold:
· Twenty-four cents is deposited in the lottery for education account to spend on educational programs. In 1995, two years after the lottery's inception, 35 cents was deposited for every dollar, and that percentage has steadily declined nearly every year.
· Sixty-five cents is paid in prizes. Of this, seven cents is paid out immediately for instant win tickets and is never realized by the Georgia Lottery. The proportion spent on prizes has steadily increased since the lottery first began in 1994. This has caused the amount paid to educational programs to decrease.
· Seven cents is paid in commissions to retailers.
· Four cents is paid in gaming and operating expenses to gaming vendors, etc.

STATE LAW- NOT FOLLOWED TODAY

Georgia statute states that "as nearly as practical," net proceeds should equal 35 percent of lottery proceeds. At the end of each quarter, all net proceeds should be deposited by the Georgia Lottery into the "Lottery for Education" account established by the Treasury. The statute also says "as nearly as practical" 45 percent of actual lottery sales should be made available as prize money. But since the lottery first began selling tickets in 1994, it has only deposited more than 35 percent of lottery proceeds in FY95, one of the two years it was only required to deposit 30 percent. Since then, the Georgia Lottery has not met the 35 percent mandate established by the legislature. While the actual amount deposited into the Lottery for Education account has increased every year except FY98, the percent deposited compared to total proceeds has steadily declined. At the same time, the percent spent on prize money has steadily increased.

OTHER STATE LOTTERIES

Forty-four states and the District of Columbia currently have lotteries. Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas are the only southern states without a state lottery. Georgia is unique in mandating that lottery funds cannot supplant state funds and must be spent on a narrow range of educational programs. For example, Florida uses their lottery funds to supplement the state's education system, but also finances a scholarship program and a Pre-K program as well.

With the available census data from FY07, only a handful of states pay a higher percentage in prizes than Georgia, with the national average at 59 percent. In terms of the proportion remitted to the state, Georgia has one of the lowest rates, 25 percent, and falls below the national average of 28 percent. With regards to lottery administration costs, Georgia spends only 4 percent of gross lottery sales on general operating expenses and 6 percent on commissions to retailers. This is below other states which spend an average of 6 percent on general operating expenses and 7 percent on other expenses, which includes but is not limited to commissions to retailers. Below is a comparison of Georgia, Florida and the national average as it relates to how lottery funds are expended.

In future columns we will address the individual lottery programs and possible solutions to address the discrepancies in percentage funding.

Thank you for your interest. Please contact me if I may be of assistance at (404) 463-1366 or at ronnie.chance@senate.ga.gov.

From the Pike County Sheriff's Office:

Over the past several weeks, Pike County Sheriff's Deputies and Investigators ahve made ten arrests of suspects involved in separate theft incidents. Due Due to an increase in reported air conditioner thefts from houses, Sheriff's Office Personnel conducted an operation targeting anyone involved with thefts.

Willis Jackson, 41 years old, and Donna Harralson, 49 years of age, were arrested after they arrived at a vacant house and were found to be in possession of tools commonly used to steal air conditioning units. The suspects could not provide an explanation of why they were at the vacant house since they both live in Meriwether County.

Two brothers, Richard and Mitchell Swygert, both from Griffin, were arrested along with Estoria McQurter for burglarizing a vacant residence two separate times.

Investigators have obtained arrest warrants for Osaze Buhati, 29 years old from College Park, and Aaron Horne, 22 years old, for burglary. Both suspects have been linked to the break in at a residence on Highway 362. Their current whereabouts are unknonw.

Further arrests are expected as investigations continue into other reported thefts.

The Barnesville-Lamar County Humane Society (BLCHS) is struggling to overcome the theft of its trailer used to transport supplies to fund-raising events.

The trailer was allegedly stolen from the yard of BLCHS President Joyce Farmer.

“It was either (last) Tuesday afternoon or evening, or sometime before 3 o’clock Wednesday,” Farmer said.

Farmer said she was able to pinpoint that window of opportunity for the theft because she was away from home during that time.

“My husband called and asked me if I had moved the trailer and I said, ‘No.’ That’s when we realized it had been stolen,” she said.

According to Farmer, the trailer was purchased for $2,100 in September 2009 and contained approximately $6,000 worth of goods at the time it was stolen.

“Everything we used for festivals and fund raising was in there, and it’s all gone,” she said.

Farmer said she does not know what the BLCHS will now do in light of the loss.

“This has been terrible. I’ve been in this for 30 years and this is just one of the most devastating things that has ever happened. We worked very hard for these things. If it had belonged to me, it would have been bad enough, but we used these things to help people in our community and animals who can’t help themselves,” she said. “I know it’s bad times — it’s hard times — but if someone needed help, all they had to do was ask me.”

Farmer said a reward is being offered for information that leads to the recovery of the BLCHS trailer and its contents.

“It won’t be a big reward because I’m having to pay that myself,” she said. “I would just appreciate information that helps us recover our property, and I would also like to prosecute whoever did this.”

In addition, for those interested in assisting the BLCHS financially, donations made be made to an account established Monday at any United Bank location.

Information regarding the theft may be reported to the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office at 770-358-5159, or Farmer may be contacted at 770-468-1409.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (Universal Pictures)

The Best Michael Cera Movie To Date

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is Michael Cera’s best move yet. Now don’t get overly excited because in some people’s minds the bar set by his previous films was pretty low. Still this new comedy feature finds Cera showing a broader range of acting talent and even something of a forceful personality as the put upon Pilgrim.

Scott Pilgrim (Cera) is a twenty two year old who plays in a band. He is dating a seventeen year old high school student named Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) and generally just treading water in his life. Then he meets the unique Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and his life changes drastically.

If he wants to pursue Ramona as a love interest then he will have to fight her seven ex-loves. He not only has to fight them, he has to obliterate them. Meanwhile he is still playing in the band which has now entered a “battle of the bands” contest.

Watching the film you are never quite sure as to what is real and what is not. Some of the events and scenes seem to play out in Scott’s mind. When he does battle with the seven exes the confrontations are more like a video game than reality. This adds an other worldly effect to the storyline and makes the movie more enjoyable in the process.

Cera is also backed up with an array of youthful talent. Winstead and Wong are both perfectly cast as the two women who love him. Both are a little exotic in their looks and their actions. Anna Kendrick has a small but pivotal role as Scott’s sister Stacey. Jason Schwartzman is maniacally entertaining as Gideon, one of the exes. And Kieran Culkin comes close to stealing the film as Scott’s acerbic roommate Wallace Wells.

The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence. That is a pretty loose rating for this film since it is chock of full four letter words and video type violence.

The visuals and the acting are the two main reasons to go see “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” The story itself is fairly bland. Cera takes the character of Pilgrim and makes him an everyman. You can’t help but root for him to vanquish the seven exes and walk into the sunset with the strange girl he loves.

If you are not a Cera fan don’t dismiss “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” out of hand. Take a chance on it and you may find you like it. It is a new type of role for him to some extent and one you might embrace.

This is a film definitely aimed at twenty five year olds and younger but those who are above that cut off point will still be able to squeak some fun out of it.

I scored “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” a battling 6 out of 10.

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

Official Website

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "Eat Pray Love" and "The Expendables".

Jackie also has reviews of the latest books, DVDs, television shows as well as columns on life and living in the South.

From the Pike County Board of Assessors:

The regular scheduled meeting for Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 9 am has been cancelled due to a lack of a quorum.

Press Release from the Chamber of Commerce:

“A Taste of Pike” is here! The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the arrival of the Pike County cookbook. The book contains a collection of mouth-watering recipes from our members and the community.

The cookbook features photographs from around the county on the cover as well on the dividers of the book.

The book sells for $10 ($12 if shipped) and makes a great gift!

The Chamber extends a special thank you to all those who took the time to share their favorite recipes that made this book possible. Proceeds from the sale of this cookbook will help the Pike County Chamber of Commerce continue to serve its members and in turn the community.

Books may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office on the square or by calling the Chamber at (770) 567-2029.

REVENUES ARE UP!

July state revenues were up 4.7% for the month and it is hard to portray this as anything but good news. Unless there is an unknown amount of income tax refunds laying in wait, this is a solid month of growth at $1.147 billion in revenues, or about the 2006 level.

Individual Income taxes came in at $540.6 million or up 3.6%. Sales taxes in total were up 3.0% or $818.5 million. Local Sales tax distribution was off by -5.1% but state net sales taxes were up 2.4% or a total of $454.9 million for the month.

Motor Fuel taxes were encouraging as well. Total collections were up $16.1 million or 24.8% with fuel sales taxes increasing $12.6 million or 47.2% and excise taxes up 9.2% or $3.5 million.

Corporate income taxes had a good month, up $5.5 million or 40.2% but tobacco tax collections were off $3.2 million or -26.0%. Alcohol tax collections were down slightly at -1.0%.

So, Fiscal Year 2011 is off to a good start. It is our hope that the state has turned a corner ever so slightly as the unemployment rate also improved slightly this past month. Georgia's $17.8 billion dollar budget only needs another $16.8 billion in the next 11 months to make budget.

LOTTERY REVENUES AND THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP

Much has been written in the press recently concerning the lottery funded HOPE Scholarship, and legislative committees are beginning to consider the fact that lottery funding is essentially flat and the costs of lottery funded programs including the HOPE scholarship is growing. While there is a robust reserve approaching $1 billion, the deficit will increase dramatically over the next few years according to the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Over the next weeks, this column will examine these issues as well - considering the operation of the lottery and the entire range of programs funded by the lottery. It is important, though, to understand the entirety of the lottery expenditures before considering reducing HOPE or making any changes. Additionally, understanding what the standards are for each program is revealing.

Here are the major lottery funded programs and their status as to how they are earned.

There are about 2.8% of other scholarships including Engineering, GMC, Accel and the College Opportunity Grant in addition to the 1% Student Finance gets for the administering of HOPE.

So the HOPE Scholarship only accounts for half of the Lottery expenditures. The legislature must evaluate all lottery funded programs the way we are evaluating the HOPE Scholarship.

Thank you for your interest. Please contact me if I may be of assistance at (404) 463-1366 or at ronnie.chance@senate.ga.gov.

When the Gulf oil spill began, visions of oil-covered pelicans and other wildlife came to mind from previous disasters. Not ospreys Then the call come to Bubba and Friends, Inc that two young ospreys were in need of rehabilitation.

These ospreys came from somewhere along the Mississippi along the Gulf. Ospreys migrate along the rivers all of the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. The ospreys have been with Bubba and Friends, Inc. for several weeks now. (At the time of this interview, the ospreys had been with Bubba and Friends, Inc. for about two weeks.)

“Up until about a week ago, they would eat and just lay around,” Steve Hicks said. They are much more active now. As I took pictures through the flight pen door, both ospreys stood in defensive posture with their feathers puffed out and a fierce look to ward off a potential predator. They had no worries since I wasn’t getting that close!

Steve said that these ospreys are eating about seven bream/brim about as big as your hand every day now. They are starting to use their wings and fly up to their perches in the flight pen now. Their wing span is about three feet across and will be over six feet when they are released.

This is not the first time that Bubba and Friends, Inc. has rehabilitated ospreys. Three ospreys were brought to Zebulon in 2007 when their nest fell out of a tree at Lake Sinclair in Central Georgia. The story of Stoops the Osprey can be viewed at http://www.pikecountytimes.com/ospreys.html.

“They are a lot different than raising Stoops,” Steve said. Stoops could be brought outside of the flight pen as she was being rehabilitated. She is on YouTube eating her bits of fish and screeching to stay back from her as she was hunched in protective mode just as these babies were when I took pictures.

So far this year, Bubba and Friends, Inc. has received 80 birds for rehabilitation. The latest arrival was a Great Horned Owl with a broken wing that arrived just before I did for the interview. “We had 72 birds total last year,” Steve said.

Bubba and Friends, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is rehabilitating birds of prey and releasing them into the wild. Bubba and Friends, Inc. came to the Dog and Pony Show in Zebulon in May with special guests of a baby Turkey Vulture and Lanner Falcon.

The Turkey Vulture, the Lanner Falcon, and a baby owl helped Steve give a wildlife education program during the summer reading program at the J. Joel Edwards Library too. Steve taught a room full of children about raptors and why wildlife do not make good pets. The children look forward to seeing Mr. Steve and “his birds” in the community at special functions. Happy the Vulture was a favorite of kids all over the state until she passed away last year. She lived for two months short of 15 years. Steve said that Happy used to get her own email and letters. She is very much missed.

Bubba and Friends, Inc. is located in Pike County and while state and federal regulations do not allow tours of the facility, Bubba and Friends, Inc. can give educations programs at schools, churches, and special events. Bubba and Friends, Inc. operates on private donations and receives no state or federal assistance. Bubba and Friends, Inc. can be contacted at 770-567-1852 or bubbanfriends01@yahoo.com.

Donations can be sent to:

On a side note, the baby Turkey Vulture was named T.J. That is short for Turkey Vulture Juvenile. He was learning to flap his wings when this interview was conducted.

Pictures are on the We Are Pike County page.

Update 8.16.10: Steve Hicks from Bubba and Friends, Inc. told me this morning that the ospreys are doing well. He said that the ospreys are eating about nine brim/bream (fish) between the two of them every day now. He also said that they think that the ospreys are either both males or that the oldest osprey is a male. And that Bubba and Friends, Inc. is up to 90 birds for the year... and it is only August.

“Get Low” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Soars High

There are certain movies that are big because of their smallness, such a film is “Get Low.” This simple but affecting film is fascinating in its story but soars high with the acting involved. Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Bill Cobbs and Lucas Black give their best performances to date in this story of an old man’s final wishes.

Duvall plays Felix Bush, a man who has been a virtual hermit for forty years. One day he ventures into town and tells the local pastor (Gerald McCraney) that he wants to have a funeral but he wants to attend it. Buddy (Black) who is the local mortician’s assistant overhears this conversation and brings the information back to his boss Frank Quinn (Murray). Knowing that Felix has money, Quinn jumps on the idea.

It finally comes down to Felix having Quinn and Buddy arrange a “funeral party.” Everyone is invited who has a story to tell about Felix. He also has a story that he wishes to be told from his perspective. He asks his old friend, Reverend Charlie Jackson (Cobbs), to tell this story.

While in town Felix runs into Mattie Darrow (Sissy Spacek). As Mattie explains it to a friend, she and Felix once had “a thing.” Now is the time for them to renew their friendship but an old secret from the past comes between them. This secret has haunted Felix for years and he is ready to “get low” and explain some things.

Duvall gets better with age. His performance as Felix is nuanced in every move and every action. He is the center of the plot and the character on whom all eyes are focused. The other lead character belongs to Murray. Duvall’s Felix may be the dramatic center but Murray’s Quinn is the heart and the comic relief. He is a man worn down by life who is always looking for one last chance for happiness.

Cobbs is powerful as Felix’ long ago friend who knows the most about the old man. Cobbs helps the audience see the different facets of Felix’ life. Lucas Black, who should win awards for his supporting performance in this film, is the glue that holds everything together. Watch Buddy’s reactions to all that is going on around him and you will see the intelligence of Black’s talent.

The weak link in the film is Spacek. Somehow she never captures the essence of Mattie. She is outside the circle of performances and never draws the audience to her. Spacek has an abundance of talent as she has proven in the past, but she and Mattie just never connect.

The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and mild violence.

“Get Low” is a quiet film, a touching one, and in some aspects a brilliant one. Every scene has a purpose and that is to tell the story fully. When the movie is over there is a completeness that is so necessary for greatness.

Search out “Get Low” and have a movie experience that is rare these days. You will be drawn into the story and thoroughly entertained.

I scored “Get Low” a high flying 8 out of 10.

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

Official Website

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "The Other Guys" and "Step Up 3D".

Jackie also has reviews of the latest books, DVDs, television shows as well as columns on life and living in the South.

This meeting was attended by four of the Commissioners, County Clerk Teresa Watson to take minutes, County Manager Bill Sawyer, and County Attorney Rob Morton. Commissioner Don Collins was absent.

I. CALL TO ORDER ............................................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ........................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

III. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))

IV. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
1. Minutes from the following: Regular Monthly Meeting of July 27, 2010, the Public Hearing of July 28, 2010 (11:30 a.m.), the Public Hearing of July 28, 2010 (6:00 p.m.), the Public Hearing of August 4, 2010 (4:00 p.m.), and the Special Called Meeting to Adopt the Tax Levy of August 4, 2010 (5:00 p.m.).

V. INVITED GUESTS

1. Mark Hardison with the CPA firm of Clifton, Lipford, Hardison & Parker will present the Annual Financial Report for the FY ending October 31, 2009: A presentation was given to citizens. One note of importance is that property taxes make up 63% of the General Fund Revenues. Some problems from the past year were noted. The County Manager advised that these problems have been addressed.

2. Don Bailey, would like to update the Board of Friends of Pike County Animals (FPCA): Don asked for permission for FPCA to use a part of the Courthouse lawn once a month to encourage the adoption of pets in the county. He said that they are working on a way to provide spay and neuter coupons as well as providing a waiver that states that the animals will be vaccinated against rabies. Advised that it would likely be puppies and kittens along with pictures of older animals and contact information for someone to adopt those animals without them being physically present on the Square. Motion to postpone until the County Manager can talk to the Sheriff about this proposal. Approved 3-0.

3. Pam McCollum, Executive Director of McIntosh Trail Community Service Board, would like to update the Board and solicit an appointee for the open CSB Board position for Pike County-Item was removed from the agenda.

Update 8.18.10:

VI. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTS, COMMITTEES, AUTHORITIES

A. Monthly Reports submitted from County Departments and County Authorities: Motion to approve. 3-0.

B. County Manager Report: Update on County finances. Update on County projects. Other topics as required.: Update on County finances: $36,712.11 in general fund; $20,000 reserve account; Jail fund is $166,871.69; Residential Impact Fee account is $175,786.86; Commercial Impact Fee account is $6,527.57; E-911 is $78,157.76; Fire fund is $71,942.00 for deposit; DATE fund is $13,550.36; Juvenile Court is $25,302.49; and General Obligation Sales Tax Bond Sinking fund is $425,364.88. * Advised that Karen Brown and the CM are working with a prospect to come to Pike County. *

C. Commissioner Reports: District 1 Roosevelt Willis: Commended Double P Grading for putting up the fence that was required.

D. County Attorney Report to Commissioners: None.

VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Consider appointment for the Pike County Board of Tax Assessors to fill the vacant position formerly held by Carol Bass which expired on June 28, 2010, for a five-year term to expire June 28, 2015. Applicants have met criteria and been requested to attend: Both were present. Motion to appoint Robert Marriott. Approved 3-0.

2. Consider approval, on second reading, of Text Amendment to the Pike County Code of Odinances, Chapter 156, Zoning Code, Sections 156.001 Short Title through Section 156.006 Definitions, to provide for revisions to text. Staff and Planning Commission recommend approval, and Board of Commissioners approved on first reading 7-27-10: : No Changes. Motion to approve. 3-0.

3. Consider approval, on second reading, of Text Amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 160, U.S. Highway 19 and U.S. Highway 41 Overlay District, Section 160.03, Applicability of Regulations, to provide for text changes to Subparagraph (5). Staff and Planning Commission recommend approval, and Board of Commissioners approved on first reading 7-27-10: No Changes. Motion to approve. 3-0.

4. Consider approval, on second reading, of Text Amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 112, Occupation Taxes and Administrative Fees, to provide for revisions. Staff recommends approval, and Commissioners approved first reading 7-27-10: No Changes. Motion to approve. 3-0.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

1. Consider request of Pike County Tax Assessors Office to refund $948.65 to Rebecca Bates for a refund of County/State/School 2007, 2008 and 2009 taxes that were assessed on an incorrect dwelling value. Staff and Board of Tax Assessors recommend approval: CM advised that the county portion of these taxes will be the only part refunded by the county.

2. Consider approval of contract renewal with Traylor Business Services, Inc. for a scope of service to include assisting the Tax Assessors Office with personal property verification reviews of Pike County’s business taxpayers, in the amount of $10,000 for a period to end June 30, 2011. Staff and the Board of Tax Assessors recommend approval: This was already budgeted. Motion to approve. 3-0.

IX. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)

X. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Began at 9:46 a.m.

1. County Attorney requests Executive Session to discuss pending and/or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the county or any officer or employee or in which the county or any officer or employee may be directly involved as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-2(1).: Back in session at 10:33 a.m. No decision was made on this.

XI. ADJOURNMENT: 10:33 a.m.

About 75 people attended the Prayer Walk for Pike County Schools on Saturday, July 31.

Family members, students, and other citizens joined together to pray at each school location as well as the Board of Education building and the bus barn.

"We hold an annual Prayer Walk to emphasize to people that our schools need daily prayer," said organizer Ben Maxedon.

The annual Prayer Walk was sponsored by Prayer Power of Georgia, Inc., a local prayer ministry that organizes and helps plan events such as the National Day of Prayer, an email prayer chain, the Prayer Guardian Ministry, and co-sponsors the prayer for our military on the Courthouse Square in Zebulon at noon on the first Monday of each month.

To find out more about Prayer Power of Georgia, click on the following link: www.prayerpower4u.net

Pictures on the We Are Pike County page courtesy of Prayer Power of Georgia, Inc.

Zebulon, Georgia – Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. announces that USDA Commodities will be given out on August 25, 2010 from 10:00am to 4:00pm or while commodities last. They will be distributed at the Pike NSC located at 10 Hall Street, Zebulon.

Certification will take place at the distribution site when you come to pick up your commodities. Identification must be presented when applying for commodities. Only ONE person in the household can sign up. If you are having someone else pick up your commodities for you, they must have an authorization form signed by you. With an authorization form, an individual can pick up for themselves and one other household only. Forms must be picked up prior to the date of distribution. Forms can be obtained from your local Community Service Center. If you need additional information concerning the USDA COMMODITIES, please call Beth Brenner, Pike County Developer at 770-567-8116. Commodities will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.

“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

ABOUT MIDDLE GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY - Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc (MGCAA) is a private non-profit social services organization. MGCAA has been providing a helping hand to Middle Georgians since 1974. There are 22 counties served by the agency. Programs for individuals and families range from Commodity Food Distribution, Energy Assistance, Head Start, Housing Counseling, Prescription Assistance, Senior Centers, Transportation, Weatherization, and Long Term Care Resident advocates called Ombudsmen. For businesses, MGCAA offers competitive prices on their employee drug testing service.

Atlanta, Ga. – Georgia Relay, the free public service that enables people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind and speech-impaired to place and receive calls via a standard telephone line, has announced that it will be holding its annual picnic at the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake in Clarks Hill, SC on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

The picnic is free for Georgia residents and will take place from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The event will feature free food and drinks, door prizes and children’s games and activities. Georgia Relay will be present at the picnic to help those in the community gain a better understanding of the organization and the services they offer. The picnic will also serve as a chance for those in the deaf community to network with one another.

Please RSVP by Friday, September 10, 2010 to Karin Sack at 706-621-4661. (Directions to the picnic are available at the link below.)

About Georgia Relay

Georgia Relay provides services that enable people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and speech impaired to place and receive calls via a standard telephone. Free specialized telephones are available to applicants who financially and medically qualify through the Georgia Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program (TEDP). Georgia Relay is easily accessed by dialing 7-1-1 and is overseen by the Georgia Public Service Commission. For more information about Georgia Relay and its services, please visit www.georgiarelay.org or call 1-866-787-6710.

The public hearing on the Board of Education tax increase scheduled for August 12, 2010 at 6 PM has been moved to the new Pike County Middle School located on Hughley Road. The hearing will be held inside at the Cafeteria.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held on August 12, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the new Middle School Cafeteria on Hughley Road.

Update 8.12.10: I did attend this meeting along with about 50 others in the audience. It was attended by all Board of Education members and School Superintendent Dr. Duncan. Kenneth Carter gave a very detailed explanation of the tax increase and some very good questions were answered at this meeting. I recommend attending one of the next two meetings on August 19, 2010 at 11:45 AM and August 19, 2010 at 6 PM if you have any questions. I will be writing on this at the beginning of the week if not sooner.

Protest organizer Margie Trammell spoke with W. Kenneth Carter, Finance Director for Pike County Schools, today and obtained clarification on the Bond Millage increase.

"The 114.27% increase applies only to the portion of the bill that says School BND. On a $200,00.00 house the tax last year would have been $90.00. With the 114.27% increase that portion of the bill will be $193.00 this year. That is a significant increase but is NOT the increase indicated by the newspaper ads." Mrs. Trammell said this by email today.

"With this in mind I do not believe the protest should be pursued and do not believe we need to have citizens upset and out in the heat over what may be on their bill a very small dollar amount," she said.

The Press Release from The Board of Education is published in its entirety below.

[Note from the Editor: I brought this back to the top in case anyone had not heard that the protest was cancelled and to let readers link up to the new BOE 2011 budget included at the bottom of the article below. Thank you to Kenneth Carter for filling my Open Records Request for this item as quickly as he did. I have had no problems obtaining information from the Board of Education. I just took the time to ask questions.]

Press Release from the Board of Education:

The Pike County Board of Education today announces its intention to increase the property taxes it will levy this year for Maintenance and Operations by 2.25 percent over the rollback millage rate. Additionally, the Board also announces its intention to increase the property taxes it will levy this year for School Bond repayment by 114.27 percent over the rollback millage rate. Therefore, before the Board of Education may set a final millage rate, Georgia Law requires that three public hearings be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on this increase.

For the past three fiscal years, the Board of Education has levied a School Bond repayment millage which was significantly lower than that required to repay annual Bond debt. The result was tax savings to the local property taxpayer for three consecutive years. The tentatively adopted millage rate for fiscal year 2011 accurately reflects the total amount, coupled with SPLOST sales tax revenues, needed to fully fund School Bond debt payments. Those bonds being repaid were sold for the construction of our current High and Middle School facilities.

The tentative Maintenance and Operations millage rate will collect no new property tax dollars but calls for slight millage rate increase due to a 2.29% drop in the total value of our local property tax digest. To provide historical perspective, the Maintenance and Operations millage proposed for the current fiscal year is just slightly higher than that levied in fiscal 2005. Couple this with the fact that State funding for school operations has decreased due to “austerity reductions” in a drastic way during that five year period. In this light, the relatively steady millage rate for maintenance and operations during this time of economic downturn and State funding loss reflects the Board to Education’s philosophy to operate our schools in a prudent and fiscally conservative manner - all the while seeking the highest level of student achievement.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held on August 12, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the new Pike County Middle School Cafeteria on Hughley Road.

Click on this link http://pikecountytimes.com/boe8.3.10.jpg to see the Five Year M&O Tax Digest Levy History - 2010 Tax Digest and Tax Levy for FY11 Budget.

Note from the Editor: The proposed budget can be reviewed at:
pikecountytimes.com/2011SchoolBudget.pdf. It should be on the school website soon too.

Update 8.4.10: The protest that had been planned on the day of this meeting has been cancelled.

Article from 7.30.10:

Sometime before 9 p.m. this evening, a Deputy from the Pike County Sheriffs Office was involved in a two vehicle accident. The accident occurred in Zebulon in the area of Dairy Queen and Country Gold gas station.

Two people were transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Sheriff Jimmy Thomas advised that there were no life threatening injuries to those involved and that the accident is under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol.

Update 8.11.10:

Major Doug Morris of the Pike County Sheriff's Office advised that the investigation of the Georgia State Patrol is complete on this case.

"Due to evidence on the roadway determined by the Georgia State Patrol, Robert O'Neal was cited with improper lane change," said Major Morris.

The Pike Deputy, whose name has not been released, had no injuries and was not cited in this accident.

Mr. O'Neal had two passengers in his vehicle who were transported by Mid Georgia Ambulance to Upson Regional Hospital for complaint of injury on the night of the accident.

Pictures are on the We Are Pike County page.

Press Release from the Governor's Office:

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced three judicial appointments in the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Robert Crawford and Fletcher Sams were appointed to the Superior Court of the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Carla McMillian was appointed to the State Court of Fayette County in the Griffin Judicial Circuit. The vacancy on the Fayette County State Court was created by the appointment of Fletcher Sams to the Superior Court of the Griffin Judicial Circuit.

Brief biographies are provided below:

Superior Court, Griffin Judicial Circuit

Robert M. Crawford – Crawford is the director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council. Crawford was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives where he served as the Chairman-Joint House-Senate Legislative Oversight Committee on Indigent Defense. Previously he was a partner with the Crawford and Morton Law firm in Zebulon. He is the chairman of the Deacons-Concord Baptist Church and serves on the Pike County High School FFA Advisory Council. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a juris doctorate degree from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He and his wife, Jamie, have two children.

W. Fletcher Sams – Sams has served as judge for the State Court of Fayette County since 1997. Previously he was a partner with Murphy and Sams in Fayettville and served as the District Attorney for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. He is a member of the Georgia Council of State Court Judges and attends Fayettville First United Methodist Church. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and his juris doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law. He and his wife, Dana, have two children.

State Court of Fayette County

Carla W. McMillian – McMillian is a partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. Previously she was a law clerk to the Honorable William O’Kelley in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. She serves on the board of directors for the Partnership Against Domestic Violence and is a member of Dogwood Church in Tyrone. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. She and her husband, Lance, have two children.

Unofficial results from the Secretary of State's Office show the following from yesterday's state run offs:

Governor Republican
Nathan Deal with 290,580 votes and 50.2% of the vote.
Karen Handel with 288,091 votes and 49.8% of the vote.

Attorney General Republican
Sam Olens with 299,235 votes and 58.9% of the vote
Preston W. Smith with 208,926 and 41.1% of the vote

Commissioner of Insurance Republican
Ralph T. Hudgens with 284,140 votes and 55.2% of the vote.
Maria Sheffield with 230,100 and 44.7% of the vote.

Public Service Commission, District 2 - Eastern Republican
Tim Echols with 247,907 votes and 52.3% of the vote.
John Douglas with 225,998 votes and 47.7% of the vote.

Secretary of State Democrat
Georganna Sinkfield with 62,345 votes and 61.6% of the vote.
Gail Buckner with 38,319 votes and 37.9% of the vote.

Click here to see results from the Secretary of State's website.

Press Release from Gordon College:

The following students from Pike County were named to the summer 2010 semester Dean’s List at Gordon College. In order to be named to the Dean’s List, a student must be in good standing with a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher for 12 or more semester hours of course work.

Rhianna Bennett, Kellan Harwood, Stacy Brown, Taylor Granger, Christie Stoermer.

Gordon College, in Barnesville, is a residential state college of the University System of Georgia and offers more than 40 programs of study to more than 4,500 students.

Press Release from Gordon College:

The following students from Pike County were awarded a scholarship through the Gordon College Foundation to attend Gordon College.

Anna Rebecca Blount - Patricia L. Bell Scholarship
Stacey Lynn Brown - Cobb and Margaret Edwards Business/Fine Arts Scholarship
Jana Michelle Carden - Cobb and Margaret Edwards Nursing Scholarship
Hiram Keith Dunn - Red Edwards Memorial Pike County Kiwanis Club Scholarship
Kayle Lauren Evans - Bank of Upson Scholarship
Benjamin Lee Haygood - Hightower Family Scholarship
Jennifer Lynn Hurley - Kelli Hammond Memorial Pike County Kiwanis Scholarship
Jacinda Annette Kirkland - Evelyn G. Bush Nursing Scholarship
Emily Leigh Mallory - Elijah Wisebram Memorial Scholarship
Emily Denise Mayo - Shi Gray and Martha Kendrick Holmes Scholarship
Lauren Michelle McGee - Elsa B. Hinck Endowment Scholarship
Sarah Margaret Muccillo - Shi Gray and Martha Kendrick Holmes Scholarship
Jessica Leigh Sheffield - Shi Gray and Martha Kendrick Holmes Scholarship

Gordon College, in Barnesville, is a residential state college of the University System of Georgia and offers more than 40 programs of study to more than 4,500 students.

Mrs. Edith Reeves Huckaby, age 77, of Fayetteville, passed away August 10, 2010 at the Piedmont-Fayette Community Hospital. She was born in Pike County to the late James Eugene Reeves and Lillian Tolen Reeves. She worked for the Georgia Highway Department in Atlanta for many years before joining her husband in their family business, Huckaby’s Grocery in Brooks, where she worked for over 25 years. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Huckaby; brothers, Millard Reeves and Eugene Reeves Jr., two sisters; Elizabeth Poole and Carolyn Buffington. She is survived by one son: Stacy Huckaby of Fayetteville; granddaughter: Erika Huckaby; two sisters and a brother-in-law: Nadine Buffington of Zebulon and Mary Ann and Tommy Brown of McDonough; one brother and sister-in-law; Leyman and Ruth Reeves of Zebulon; several nieces and nephews.

Visitations:
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at Moody Funeral Home (map/driving directions)

Services:
11:00AM at Graveside on Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Cemetery:
Brooks Memorial Gardens, Price Road, Brooks, GA 30205

For more information, directions or sign the guestbook at Moody Funeral Home.

Press Release from The Southern Regional Medical Center:

ATLANTA – The Southern Regional Medical Center Foundation will host its annual Crescent Ball on Saturday, August 28. This year's event will highlight technological advances made by the hospital. Funds raised support healthcare services offered by Southern Regional Health System.

Crescent Ball 2010 will be held in the Atlanta History Center Grand Overlook Ballroom. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner following at 7:30 p.m. The Foundation is particularly excited for this year’s event as it is the first ever masked ball. Guests can bring their own masks or purchase one at the event.

At the event, attendees may enter a raffle drawing for a chance to win the following prizes valued at $100 or more: a 46” LCD TV with Blue Ray DVD Player, a week-long stay in Fort Meyer’s, Fl., spa and golf packages, passes to Atlanta attractions, one-night passes to hotels and resorts around Georgia, and more.

This year’s presenting sponsor is Southern Crescent Hospital for Specialty Care.

If you are interested in attending, would like more information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please call the Foundation office at (770) 991-8004 or go online to www.southernregional.org/about-us/foundation/cresent-ball-tickets.aspx to purchase tickets or to www.southernregional.org/about-us/foundation for additional information.

In other news, the Foundation recently launched an iPhone application with mobile giving partner, mGive. Through mGive, learn about upcoming events such as the annual Crescent Ball, Foundation news and donate directly to the Foundation.

About Southern Regional Health System
Southern Regional, a leader in providing innovative healthcare to metro Atlanta, exists to improve the health status and quality of life for its community. The health system meets this mission by supplying comprehensive health resources starting with Southern Regional Medical Center, a 331-bed, full-service hospital in Riverdale, Georgia. Of note, the medical center offers comprehensive testing and treatment for cardiovascular disease and is a Primary Certified Stroke Center. Southern Regional’s state-of-the-art surgery department is equipped to perform complex procedures such as robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Southern Regional Health System is also comprised of the Georgia Orthopedic Institute, The Women’s Life Center for expectant mothers, four sleep diagnostic centers, and a Bariatric Center. Spivey Station, a second location in Jonesboro, Georgia offers women’s services, complete lab and imaging services, and a newly integrated outpatient surgery and pain management center.

Eligible voters who did not vote in the General Primary can cast a ballot in the run-off. However, eligible voters who cast a ballot in the General Primary must choose the same party’s ballot for the run-off. For example, if you voted in the Republican Primary, you have to vote Republican. If you voted in the Democratic Primary, you have to vote Democrat.

Candidate Information

sos.georgia.gov/elections shows the results of the Primary and look for answers to questions that are not answered in this article.

A list of state and federal candidates and websites can be viewed at http://qual.sos.state.ga.us/runoffcandidates.asp on the Secretary of State's website.

Required Identification

According to the Secretary of State's website, identification that is required for voting includes: A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired; Any valid state or federal issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS); Valid U.S. passport ; Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U. S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state; Valid U.S. military photo ID; or Valid tribal photo ID.

Please note, from the Secretary of State's website: "If you are currently enrolled in a state college, university or technical college listed below, you may use your school photo ID. If you attend a private college or university, you must show one of the other acceptable forms of photo identification."

If you arrive at the polls on election day and do not have your identification with you, you can still vote a provisional ballot. However, you have up until two days after the election to present required photo identification at the county registrar's office to ensure that your ballot is counted.

Answers to frequently asked questions can be obtained by clicking here and voters can look at a sample ballot by clicking here.

Voter Registration Deadline and Election Dates

The Runoff Date after the Primary will be held on August 10, 2010.

The Voter Registration Deadline for the General/Non-Partisan/Special Election is October 4, 2010. The General Election will be held on November 2, 2010. The Runoff Date (if needed) will be held on November 30, 2010.

A General Primary run-off will be held on August 10, 2010 between the two candidates who received the most votes in races where no candidate received a majority of votes cast. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Early voting will begin as soon as ballots are available and will end Friday, August 6, 2010.

To find early voting locations in your county, please visit the Secretary of State’s MVP website at www.sos.georgia.gov/MVP/Login.aspx. On MVP, registered voters can view a sample ballot, find their Election Day polling location and early voting locations in their county, check their registration status, track the status of their absentee ballot, and more.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business on Friday, August 6, 2010. All absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar by close of business on Election Day, August 10, 2010. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail.

Voters will be required to show photo identification when voting in person. For more information on the requirements for photo ID, please call 1-877-725-9797 or visit www.GaPhotoID.com.

[Note from the Editor: I was out of town last Saturday so I am uploading the minutes from this meeting.]

The Pike County Board of Commissioners held its Special Called Meeting on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room in the Courthouse Annex at 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia. Convening the meeting was Chairman Doug Mangham, and Commissioners Don Collins, Tommy Powers and Roosevelt Willis attended. County Manager Bill Sawyer, County Attorneys Rob Morton and and Tom Morton, and County Clerk Teresa Watson attended, as well. Absent was Commissioner Parrish Swift. (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))

Also in attendance were: For the City of Zebulon, Mayor Mike Beres, and Councilmen Rick Obarr and David Wood; For the City of Molena, City Manager Jim Roberts; and Mayor Gayle Burden from the City of Meansville. Mayor Sonny Story from the City of Concord was not able to be here. Mayor Steve Fry is also out of town and could not attend. This meeting will provide an opportunity to propose projects.

I. CALL TO ORDER ......................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

II. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG .............................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

III. ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. Discuss with Pike County municipalities the proposed SPLOST and any project(s) considered for inclusion on same for a possible November 2010 referendum, including any municipally owned or operated proposed projects. County Attorney Rob Morton opened the meeting, saying this satisfied OCGA 48-1-11 requirements to discuss with all municipalities proposed projects. Mike Beres, Mayor of Zebulon spoke first, noting they would like to include five projects:

1) transportation to include parking, way-finding, drainage, roads & sidewalks, 2) facility improvements to city hall and public works, 3) water and wastewater improvements to include funds required to pursue dual permit, lift station rehabilitation, leak detection, AMR meters and a service truck to anticipate when the recession ends so the City will be ready with infrastructure development, 4) public safety to accommodate the large traffic daily through the City to include police vehicles, technical upgrades to equipment, fire equipment and implementation of impact fees, and 5) city park which is being done on a shoestring budget as funds become available through park funding with some County assistance with grading and dirt hauling.

Jim Roberts, City Manager with the City of Molena, was present on behalf of Mayor Elizabeth Barker. The City of Molena, in the last SPLOST, requested needs similar to those of the City of Zebulon to include public safety resources and transportation projects, as well as water infrastructure projects. He reiterated they have very limited budget and funding sources and are in desperate need of assistance. They will submit a formal list of projects prior to the August 11 Board of Commissioners meeting.

Attorney Tom Morton introduced Mayor Gayle Burden of the City of Meansville. Mayor Burden and Mr. Morton stated the City’s water system has deteriorating lines and facility improvements are needed to their fire department. They need new air conditioners in city hall and the voting precinct area, paving around city hall, and a new computer. She noted any resources would be appreciated. The City of Meansville also intends to provide a specific list prior to the August 11 commissioner meeting also, to outline specific projects.

Joy Walker, Chairman of the SPLOST was present, as well, but elected not to speak.

IV. ADJOURNMENT

Motion/second by Commissioners Willis/Powers to adjourn at 10:11 a.m. carried 4-0.

Applications for the September 8, 2010 meeting must be received by August 25, 2010

What is Operation Round Up®?

One of the Cooperative Principles that governs Southern Rivers Energy is "Commitment to Community" and that's something that we take great pride in. This innovative program gives you the opportunity to make a difference in your community by providing financial assistance for charitable and educational projects within our communities.

Operation Round Up® was originally started by Palmetto EMC, a co-op in South Carolina and has now been adopted by a number of co-ops in Georgia. This program is designed to assist a variety of worthwhile community, youth, educational and environmental programs.

How does it work?

Each month, your electric bill is "rounded up" to the nearest whole dollar amount with those extra few cents going into a separate Operation Round Up® fund. So, if your bill is $87. 23, you will actually be billed an even $88.00 and the extra 77 cents will go directly to the Operation Round Up fund. Doesn't sound like much, does it? And, if you figure the average member will only contribute approximately $6.00 PER YEAR, it still doesn't sound like much - until you multiply that $6.00 by about 12,000 members and that equals a lot of change!

Of course, all contributions are tax deductible. Any individuals or organizations seeking assistance through the Operation Round Up® must submit 15 copies of an application (which can be downloaded at the top of this page) that will then be reviewed by The Southern Rivers Energy Trust, Inc. Board of directors at their bi-monthly meeting.

This is a voluntary program and our members can sign up or opt out at any time by contacting our office at 770-358-1383 or toll free, 877-358-1383.

The program at Southern Rivers Energy began in November of 2005 and currently an estimated 72% of our members are participating in the program.

The Trust is governed by a separate Board of Directors made up of community volunteers that were nominated by the Southern Rivers Energy Board as follows:
Frank Fowler - Woodbury;
Cecil Harbuck - Culloden;
Kelly Hughes - Barnesville;
David L. Mincey, Jr. - Roberta;
Noel Riggins, Vice Chairman - Yatesville;
Dale Royal, Chairman - Barnesville;
Ann Yearwood, Secretary - Concord;
Ann Tidwell - Lizella;
Nedam Walker - Lizella;
Bob Wiggins, Treasurer - Forsyth;
Steven Yerkes - Meansville

Teachers in SRE's nine county service area are invited to apply for grants that fund creative lesson plans...can earn up to $1000.

The application deadline for this year's Bright Ideas grant competition is Friday, September 10. Teachers can earn up to $1000 to bring their creative and innovative lesson plans to life.

Bright Ideas is a program aimed at funding creative, innovative classroom projects. Teachers, grades Pre-K-12 at any public or private school within Southern Rivers Energy's service territory can earn up to $1000 to energize their lesson plans!

Projects must directly involve the students, provide a creative learning experience through innovative teaching methods, provide ongoing benefits to the students and create an opportunity for teamwork.

Teachers must submit their applications online by midnight on Friday, September 10, 2010. Any applications received by the Early Bird deadline of Friday, August 27 will be entered in a prize drawing for a $250 Office Max gift card. Grants will be awarded by the Bright Ideas Brigade the week of October 18th.

This program is sponsored by the Southern Rivers Energy Trust and Southern Rivers Energy. For more information contact Erin Cook, Communications Specialist by email, erin.cook@southernriversenergy.com or by phone at 770-358-1383 x332, toll free 877-358-1383.

From Southern Rivers Energy:

Recent hotter temperatures are affecting energy bills...what can you do to reduce your usage?

Recent hotter than normal temperatures are affecting energy bills. When the temperature outside is in the 90's but the thermostat inside is set to 70 degrees, your air conditioning unit is working extra hard to cool your home which means it's using more energy and costing you more money.

According to the recent Atlanta Climatological Data produced by the Atlanta Weather Bureau for the month of June, every day during the month of June had hotter than normal temperatures. Here are a few statastics from that report:
•There were 40 consecutive days with above normal temperatures
•June required 81% more cooling than May
•May required 63% more cooling than normal.
•May required 50% more cooling than last May.
•January was 17% colder than normal.

Other factors may also play in part driving up your energy usage if you're not careful. For example, what is your thermostat setting? If it is lower than the recommended 78 degrees, you may want to consider raising it. If the temperature outside is in the 90's, coming home to 78 degrees is going to feel nice and cool and help reduce your usage at the same time!
•Are you changing your filters each month?
•Have you had your HVAC unit serviced recently to be sure everything is working properly?
•Are you using ceiling fans or other fans to help circulate the air so that it feels cooler inside?
•Are you closing your curtains/blinds during the day to block some of the heat from the sun?
•Have you sealed up all the cracks in your home that may be letting in warm air?

These are just a few things that can help reduce your energy usage but you can find out more detailed and customized information about where you can cut your usage by taking an online energy audit using our Home Energy Calculator. http://southernriversenergy.apogee.net/homesuite/calcs/rescalc/ You might be surprised where your money is going!

“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” (Warner Brothers)

Not Nearly As Much Fun As the First One

In 2001 the first “Cats & Dogs” movie hit the screen. At that type CGI effects were not as common as they are today so there was some real fun in seeing dogs act as spies to solve the crimes of the world. They moved and acted almost human. Now we get a sequel titled “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” and it again features dogs, cats and other animals as secret agents but the newness has worn off and the thrill is gone. Once you get used to once again seeing animals talk and act like humans the movie becomes just another mediocre spy adventure.

This time out the story focuses on Diggs (voiced by James Marsden), a police dog who gets in trouble by not following orders. His human partner Shane (Chris O’Donnell) tries to protect him but he ends up in the kennel. There he is miraculously approached by Butch (Nick Nolte) and recruited to be an agent in a secret organization.

His mission is to find and capture Kitty Galore (Bette Midler) before she goes through with her nefarious scheme to use a satellite to emit a high scream which will drive dogs crazy. Their one clue to finding her is a pigeon named Seamus (Katt Williams). He has information that he doesn’t even know he has. They are joined in their pursuit by a cat named Catherine (Christina Applegate) who has her own reasons for wanting to bring Kitty down.

In this movie the real fun is in the voices. Nolte’s is creaky and crusty which perfectly suits the world weary Butch. Williams is a walking catalogue of one line jokes as Seamus and he delivers them perfectly. Best of all is Midler as Kitty Galore. She makes her deadly lines purr, and when they are coming from a hairless cat they are purrfect.

The movie is rated PG for some mild violence.

The movie is mildly entertaining for adults and will be even more so for kids. The special effects that have animals talking, flying and doing all manner of exciting things gets tedious after a while for those over thirteen. It becomes a case of “what else is new?” Still you won’t be bored. There is enough action on the screen to prevent that from happening.

So take a kid with you to see “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.” Try to watch it through their eyes and you will have a much better time.

I scored “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” a Midler of the road 5 out of 10.

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

Official Website

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "Charlie St. Cloud" and "Dinner For Schmucks".

Jackie also has reviews of the latest books, DVDs, television shows as well as columns on life and living in the South.

ATLANTA – Governor Perdue along with 19 other state attorneys general and governors today filed a response to the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care reform act. Today’s filing also includes the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) as a co-plaintiff on behalf of its members nationwide, as well as two individual citizens.

“The new federal healthcare mandate passed by Congress over the will of the American people will have unprecedented impact on state budgets and is an affront to individual liberty,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.

The lawsuit alleges that the new law infringes upon the constitutional rights of Georgia’s residents and residents of the other states by mandating all persons have qualifying health care insurance or pay a penalty. By imposing such a mandate, the law exceeds the powers of the United States under Article I of the Constitution, including the ‘Commerce Clause,’ which has never been applied to allow Congress to compel people to buy unwanted goods or services. Additionally, the penalty enforcing the mandate, if a tax at all, constitutes an unlawful direct tax in violation of Article I, sections 2 and 9 of the Constitution.

The lawsuit further claims the health care reform law infringes on the sovereignty of the states and Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by imposing onerous new operating rules that Georgia must follow, as well as requiring the state to spend billions of additional dollars. This burden comes at a time when Georgia faces severe budget cuts to offset shortfalls in an already-strained budget.

The Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the case in June, claiming the individual mandate fell under Congress’ ‘taxing and spending’ authority. This argument conflicted directly with comments made by President Obama during the debate on the health care reform bill, including the President’s insistence on national television that the insurance mandate was “absolutely not” a tax.

The motion to dismiss claimed the timing of the lawsuit was too early, but the states responded today that resources are already being spent on planning and operational activities they must undertake to meet the federal requirements of the law. The states argued that they have standing to bring the lawsuit because the federal health care law negatively affects state sovereignty and provides additional stress on already lean state budgets.

The lawsuit was originally filed in federal court in the Northern District of Florida on March 23, minutes after the health care reform act was signed into law by President Obama. The hearing on issues raised by the motion to dismiss will be held on September 14 in Pensacola before Judge Roger Vinson. Earlier this week, a judge in a similar lawsuit in Virginia ruled against the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss, allowing Virginia's lawsuit to move forward.

A copy of response to the motion to dismiss will be available online at www.healthcarelawsuit.us.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today announced he is co-sponsoring five pieces of legislation aimed at repealing provisions of the Democrats’ terribly flawed, $2.5 trillion health care law.

“The health care law will have a devastating impact on our nation. The tax increases in this bill will be massive, immediate and couldn’t come at a worse time for families and small businesses. The policy mandates in this bill are being challenged by states and rejected by voters,” Isakson said. “I will work to fight this law every step of the way.”

Here are the five bills Isakson is co-sponsoring:

The American Liberty Restoration Act, S.3502, would strike provisions in the health care law requiring individuals to purchase health insurance. Georgia is one of 20 states challenging the constitutionality of the individual mandate requiring Americans to purchase health insurance. On Aug. 3, Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected the health care law, with 71 percent voting in favor of establishing a state law barring the government from forcing people to pay a penalty or fine if they fail to carry health coverage by 2014.

The American Job Protection Act, S.3501, would strike those provisions in the health care law forcing employers to provide health insurance for their employees or face a massive tax increase. The Congressional Budget Office estimates employers will face $52 billion in new taxes under the health care law.

The Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, S.3653, would remove unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats from seniors’ personal health decisions by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board. Under the new health care law, this board empowers 15 bureaucrats to make substantial changes to Medicare—without full transparency and accountability to America’s seniors or their elected officials.

The Excluding Abortion Coverage from Health Reform Act of 2010, S.3723, would prevent coverage of abortion services under the new health care law. The legislation would guarantee that no federal taxpayer dollars can be used to pay for elective abortions.

The Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, S.3578, would eliminate a massive new tax reporting burden that small businesses face under the health care law. Specifically, Section 9006 of the new health care law requires business owners to submit a separate 1099 reporting form for every single business-to-business transaction that totals more than $600 in a given year. As a result, small business owners will have to complete and submit 1099 forms for basic businesses expenses, including phone and internet service, shipping costs and office supplies. The legislation would repeal this overly burdensome reporting requirement. [Note from the Editor: I am still trying to figure out what this mandate has to do with healthcare.]

ATLANTA – Have you ever been eating at your favorite local restaurant and wondered what their score was on their last health inspection? Well, wonder no more! The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is pleased to announce the launching of Georgia’s statewide health inspection search tool. The tool was created to provide Georgians with accurate health inspection records.

“The food inspection process for restaurants, carry-out facilities, mobile food service operations and temporary food service operations ensures that food is handled, stored and prepared safely for human consumption. These critical steps help to minimize food–borne related illnesses,” said Scott Uhlich, DCH’s Director of Environmental Health. “This tool will allow Georgians the opportunity to make informed decisions when dining out.”

To search for health inspection records, visit the Environmental Health Web site at www.georgiaeh.us, click on the food service inspections online link and select a county to start your search for the latest inspections of food service and tourist accommodations. Searches can be conducted by:
• Using a specific date range;
• Entering keywords;
• Choosing an establishment’s name,
• Address, city or zip code;
• Choosing a letter grade; or
• Choosing the first letter of an establishment’s name

Counties that have made their scores and inspections available through DCH’s statewide system will have food AND tourist inspection records online. Counties that have made their inspection record available through their local county system will ONLY have food inspection records listed. All inspections should be available online, but please contact your local health department about any questions or concerns about any missing or specific inspections.

To learn more information about environmental health regulations, food service permitting and other services, call your local health department or visit www.georgiaeh.us.

The 2010 Summer Reading Program at the J. Joel Edwards Library in Zebulon began on May 24, 2010 and ended on July 24, 2010. 137 children up to age 16 read a total of 3,918 hours during the summer. 53 students earned a gold seal for reading 20 hours or more, 54 earned a regular certificate for reading 10 hours but less than 20 hours, and 29 children read up to 10 hours.

The Summer Reading Program is supported in whole or in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provision of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Georgia Public Library Service.

There were 7 special programs on Wednesdays during the summer. Steve Hicks with Bubba and Friends, Inc. presented a Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Program. "Even the youngest kids loved the birds," said Children's Librarian Mary Alice Holloway. "These birds have personality plus." Kathy Harper, the art teacher at Pike County Elementary School set up centers for art activities that went along with the summer theme. "As usual, the numbers of attendees was the largest of the year," said Mrs. Holloway.

Yvonne Baboi and her daughter gave a program on sketching. She helped them sketch a beach scene on a sheet with a border that the kids got to take home with them, said Mrs. Holloway. Kevin Murdock showed the students how to fence with the help of a helper named Hunter Davis. "He let some of the kids put on fencing protection to fence with Hunter and then had "noodles" available to let any child who wished to fence with a partner," she said. "They loved it!" The final program was presented by Centerfield Owner Mike Grant. Two girls came to demonstrate some tumbling feats. Mrs. Holloway said that students got to do cartwhels and rolls during this program.

Two programs were paid for with grant money, said Mrs. Holloway. Fiddlin’ Dan the Mountain Man with Reuben Haller was a musical presentation with interaction with the kids. Peter Hart with the Atlanta Puppets brought marionettes and interacted with the kids as well. "The hit of the program was the finale when a crying puppet cried 'real tears' and got the students."

14 Middle School students participated in the reading program. "They kept up with their hours on their "Make Waves at the Library" tickets and recorded hours read since their last visit to the library and put it in a bottle," Mrs. Holloway said.

Katie Wood was top reader with 304 hours. Katie received a gift certificate from American Pie for a large pizza with three toppings. 2nd place was Halley Andrews with 246 hours. Halley won a medium pizza with two toppings. "We would like to give a big thank you to American Pie for giving us a special price for these pizzas," said Mrs. Holloway. Levi Caldwell was the 3rd place winner with 121 hours and 20 minutes. Eli Caldwell was the 4th place winner with 113 1/2 hours. Soren Wood was the fifth place winner with 113 hours. Each of these boys won a coupon for a free sandwich from Blimpies. The J. Joel Edwards Library extends its thanks to Blimpies for their generosity.

In the order of the hours read are the following Middle School students: Makia Jenkins, Brandy Winkler, Marisa Hutchens, Andrew Ward, Briana Winkler Tuesday Hurt, Clara Coleman, Danyelle Hewitt, and Justin Brown. They all earned a certificate. Jackie Landers also read.

Among those who read in the traditional way was first place winner Gabby Caldwell who read a total of 113 hours. Gabby received a gift certificate from Novel Experience Book Store. Two people tied for second place. They each received a certificate from Novel Experience. Courtney Johnson and Alanna Wood each read 104 hours.

Gold Seal winners are as follows by hours read: Michael Johnson, Arielle Watts, Landon Holcomb, Mia Holcomb, A.J. Harper, Alexi Harper, Kaylan Andrews, Zachary Beddingfield, Tiffany Karpinecz, Drew Allen, Carlee Banks, Emilee Hutchens, Aidan Souza, Connor Souza, Andrew Cunningham, Blain Hutchens, Carey Sue Linkous, Sarah Jones, Kayla Wilson, Brooks Huber, Davis Huber, Trudy Peek, Abby Arnold, Anna Edwards, Kasie McCurdy, Leala Hutchens, Titus Peek, Christina Neath, Brookelynn Winkler, Tatum Miller, Alexis McCurdy, Will Watts, Maddie Hendrix, Andrew Edwards, Adam Vaughn, MacKenzie Mcintyre, Faith Durham, Joy Park, Abigail Thomka, and Anna Jones.

Regular certificates were earned by Ivy Coleman, Noah Hendrix, Dylan Johnson,Ryan Johnsonm Eliza Huber, Mason Forsyth, Nolan Terry, Larissa Terry, Becky Linkous, Kara Hendrix, Jordan Nunz, Mark Linkous, Anna Roberts, Caleb Vaughn, Elia Linkous, Sarah Cochran, Maelee Hendrix, Brianna Keese, Kyle Keese, Caleb Prewitt, Luke Allen, Steven Miller, Ally Welch, Skylar Welch, Luke Welch, Nolan Poston and Nate Terry.

Kensley Keese, Ema Maxedon, London Gresham, Caty Hellwig, Lily-June Prewitt, Micah Callaway, Tobey Maxedon, Isabella McGuffey, Levi Wilson, Lauren Wilson, Cal Johnston, Teagan Brown, Shaun Thomas Wood, Thomas Wimbush, Alexis Williams, Callie Williams, and Joseph Beal also read.

"We appreciated the fact that Kidz Konnection teachers helped 36 kids read," said Mrs. Holloway. In the younger class, Ben Parker earned a gold seal on his certificate. Eighteen other children earned a certificate in this class: Houston Bingham, Emma Bingham, Matthew Burge, Tyler Campbell, Jackson Coates, Grace Gilbert, Preston Gray, Matthew Lawson, Landen Milford, Haley Petsch, Wyatt Quick, Brandon Scott, Emily Scott, Alexis Smallwood, Shaniyah Smith, Mason Teal, Mason Trucks, and Hayden Turner. In Mrs. Chris's class, Harland, Smith, Mariah Smith, Zymria Mahone, Jada Marshall, Jordon Marshall, Cody Adams, Austin Cousson, Kiya Hooks, Crystal Huddleston, J. T. Quick and Vaden Wiggins and Diamien Orr, also read.

Special thanks to McDonalds on Hwy 19 across from Ingles for the free Happy Meal prizes, to Griffin Chick-fil-A for free brownie coupons, and to Dairy Queen in Zebulon for providing $1 off and free coupons for prizes. Thanks to West Central Georgia Workforce Development Corporation WIA Program with Executive Director, Debbie Woerner, who shared pudding cups and Fruit Snacks that we were able to share with kids at the end of two different programs,

All who participated in the traditional program will receive a plastic bag with the theme picture on it, a book mark, a sticker and tiny thank you gifts.

"Please come and pick up certificates and octopus name tags preferably before August 31st," said Mrs. Holloway. The Middle School/High School group may also pick up their certificates.

From the Pike County Chamber of Commerce:

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is please to announce the arrival of the 2010 Pike County Community magazine. This annual publication depicts the community, its past, present and future. It includes beautiful photography of the area as well as demographics and newcomer information that new and current citizens will find helpful.

Thank you to our advertisers who provided the revenue to cover the cost of this publication. Without their support this publication would not have been possible. This publication was produced in partnership with SouthComm Publishing located in Alpharetta, Georgia. SouthComm Publishing is a nationally recognized company specializing in Chamber publications.

The magazine features a directory of Chamber member businesses with contact information. This publication is available at the Chamber of Commerce located at 416 Thomaston Street, Zebulon and at many locations throughout the county

Specially trained employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission are being commended for their work in response to the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Since the April spill, more than 50 GFC employees have served in an Atlanta command center established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and at locations along the Gulf coast being impacted by the oil slick.

"The Georgia Forestry Commission stepped up at a time when we could not fill all our resource needs," said Roger Boykin, Incident Advisor and retired Fire Management and Disaster Coordinator for the southern region of the USFWS. "The large number of GFC employees who are qualified to respond to this type of situation has been a huge help to us."

Those eligible to serve have extensive experience in the National Interagency Incidence Management System and are certified to staff a wide variety of positions on teams that respond to emergencies including wildfires, weather events, and all hazards incidents.

"The Georgia Forestry Commission provides incident management expertise at local, state, and national levels," said Alan Dozier, Chief of Protection at GFC. "Our people have a reputation for being very strong in these capabilities." Dozier added that Georgia is experiencing a record low number of wildfires this year, which gives the GFC team an opportunity to assist with the oil spill. Compensation for expenses is covered through prearranged inter-agency agreements.

According to Boykin, GFC workers have served in the Atlanta center as resource unit leaders, ordering managers, dispatchers, and plans chiefs. Along coastal regions impacted by the oil, the GFC team has assisted with bird search and rescue operations and sensitive habitat protection.

"Supporting these operations helps our team hone their skills and increases our capability to serve Georgia when called upon," said Greg Strenkowski, GFC Staff Forester. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is our partner agency, and we are proud to help our partner in their time of need. It is a winwin for us all."

For information about the Georgia Forestry Commission and its services and the agency's Type 2 Incident Command Team, visit GaTrees.org.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today voted to prevent tax increases on American workers, families and small businesses that are scheduled to take place on Jan. 1, 2011. Isakson has advocated repeatedly that the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 should be made permanent.

“In 2001, Congress passed the largest tax relief package in a generation and then expanded those tax cuts in 2003. This historic tax relief has helped American workers, families and businesses for nearly 10 years,” Isakson said. “However, these tax cuts are set to expire on Dec. 31, and that is creating widespread uncertainty. There's nothing that stifles economic growth more than uncertainty about a tax bill coming from Washington. I am disappointed the Senate defeated these motions because we must do everything we can to create a pro-growth economic environment where families and small businesses can thrive.”

During a debate on legislation to provide a teacher bailout and additional Medicaid funding, Isakson voted for a motion to suspend the rules and send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to permanently extend the current individual marginal income tax rates and to offset the cost with spending cuts. The Senate defeated the motion by a vote of 42-58. If the current tax rates are allowed to expire, marginal tax brackets will rise significantly on individuals, families and small business to their pre-2001 levels.

Isakson also voted for another motion to suspend the rules and send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to permanently extend all of the current individual income tax rates for small business owners and to offset the cost with spending cuts. The Senate defeated this motion by a vote of 42-58. The majority of small businesses files taxes as individuals and would be directly impacted by increases in the individual income tax rates.

Both procedural motions required 67 votes to pass.

Nita Lummus, the wife of retired Zebulon Police Chief Robert Lummus, let me know that Chief Lummus is coming home from his surgery. He had his vocal box removed from the cancer.

"[I] want to thank everyone for all the prayers," Nita said. "Please keep the prayers going."

THE ROCK, Ga. – The Rock Ranch will offer an opportunity for families and couples to enjoy a movie under the stars Friday August 6, 2010. Gates open at 7:45 and the movie will begin at dark. The movie will be shown on a giant outdoor inflatable movie screen in front of “The Barn.” “The Barn” is a new facility that serves as a museum for some of Truett Cathy’s collection of antique automobiles and tractors. Guests will enjoy the barn at no additional cost and some guests will be able to secure a spot in a rocking chair on the porch to watch to movie. Guests will be able to sit on the porch, on the front patio or on the large front lawn of “The Barn.” All are encouraged to bring camping chairs or blankets. Popcorn, candy and drinks will be available to purchase at reasonable prices. Admission is only $5 per person (age 12 and under admitted free).

This event will provide a great opportunity for couples to enjoy a date or for families to have a nice outing. This is also a great opportunity for church groups to enjoy good wholesome entertainment. “Faith Like Potatoes” is an inspirational true story about a farmer. It is wonderfully entertaining and supplies a strong dose of perspective. This story of a man’s journey of faith will be a great experience for your family. Angus Buchan and his family are the subjects of this movie. Angus is not a scholar, celebrity or polished public speaker. He is a farmer and he has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives.

Angus didn’t allow anyone to tell him that he wasn’t smart enough or wealthy enough or strong enough to succeed. He had faith. This farmer is quoted as saying, “The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility.”

Visit www.therockranch.com or call 706-647-6374 with questions. Tickets to be sold at the door – no reservations required. No pets or alcoholic beverages.

Our update this week is running a little late compared to normal but we haven't really had much to report. The flow of names for our Hero Packs has slowed so we're limping along a little more than normal. That being said, we do have some good things to pass along to our followers and fellow Hero supporters. We shipped 4 Hero Packs this week bringing our total to 484. These are going to service members who are actually in a position to help us gather some additional heroes to support. Let's hope that goes as planned.

Our "Hero of the Week" is EN1 Soliz Eusebio who was recently promoted and supplied the picture you see posted. Serving with the US Navy, he is certainly one of our great American Heroes. Thank you for your service EN1 Eusebio!

Click Here To View The Site.

We also had an opportunity to bake and package 546 bags of cookies (for a total of 1,638 cookies) to be handed out to between 250 and 275 soldiers deploying from Ft. Benning, Georgia to Afghanistan this past week. It was a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation! You can see pics from that event posted on the blog at http://blog.ThankYouSoldier.com

You can also still support this project on our web site by clicking the secure "Donate" button and all donations are tax deductible.

God Bless America,
Support@ThankYouSoldier.com.
http://facebook.ThankYouSoldier.com.
http://twitter.com/ThankYouSoldier.
http://www.youtube.com/ThankYouSoldier.

BlackBerry Users: ThankYouSoldier BlackBerry Theme available on the web site's "BlackBerry Tools" link. Once loaded, chose Options > Theme > ThankYouSoldier to enable.

ThankYouSoldier is an official mission of East Highland United Methodist Church, Columbus, Georgia and is covered under the non-profit statue as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, your donation is tax deductible in accordance with applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Lamar County Humane Society helps citizens in Lamar and the surrounding counties to get their pets spayed and neutered at a reasonable cost to pet owners and provides the transportation back and forth from the veterinarian in Fort Valley. This is important in Pike County because we do not have animal control and unwanted pets can become a nuisance or even a threat to others if proper care is not taken for our pets.

If you are interested in low cost spay and neuter for your cats or dogs, call the Lamar County Humane Society at 770-358-4569 and leave a message with your contact information as well as whether it is a dog or cat and how many animals you would like to them to take on their vet.

Someone will return your call before the next trip to Fort Valley with further instructions including price, etc. Those interested can also email at blchumanesoc@bellsouth.net.

The Lamar County Humane Society transports animals back and forth to Dr. Giles at the Fort Valley Animal Hospital for spay and neuter procedures at different times during the year.

You do not have to be a Lamar County resident to participate in this clinic. Further information will be provided in the return call from the Lamar County Humane Society. Let the Lamar County Humane Society know that you read about the clinic on the Pike County Times!

A reflection on the events at the end of the FY2010 shows effects into FY2011 and FY2012 as well. What this means is that the state's economy, while marginally improving, has not shown any signs of growth meeting the predictions as represented by the revenue estimate in FY2010 and therefore presents serious problems in the FY2011 Amended and FY2012 budgets as well. This spring state revenues were supposed to level out and equal the level of a year ago and set the stage for growth in FY2011. That has not happened.

Despite the revised revenue estimate during the Session, the state was short in cash by some $128 million at the end of the fiscal year in June. Meeting this shortfall has ramifications for FY2011. The Governor's announcement of a 4% withholding of allotments to state agencies (excluding K-12 ed.) is probably only the start of budget cuts in this fiscal year.

There are three separate but interrelated budget events:
• The 2010 shortfall and how that was met
• Issues with the FY2011 budget just begun in July
• The writing of the FY2012 budget and the political and budgetary issues

The state has taken actions to squeak through the year's end. There appears to be a cash shortfall of $125 million or so; however, there are potential accounting actions that may help cover this deficit. Among the actions taken to meet the shortfall were: the state withheld year-end allotments and stopped non-critical purchases and moved Federal Stimulus Funds from the FY2011 budget in K-12 and Regents.

FY 2011 Issues

The $37 million in AARA funds moved from FY11 creates a hole because those funds were counted in the FY2011 budget.

The issue you have read about is the Federal Medicaid match differential, (FMAP). When the recession started, the federal government, as part of its efforts to assist states with budget problems, increased the federal match percentage for Medicaid from 60% to 75% which saved Georgia hundreds of millions of dollars. It also insured that states like Georgia would not cut Medicaid benefits to save money. That enhanced match runs out in December and if not renewed by Congress creates a $370 million hole in the budget we are in right now, FY11. This issue was mentioned in the Governor's 4% agency cut announced recently.

For the second year in a row, there is an unknown amount of state income tax refunds that have been pushed into July and August. That pay-out will affect the revenue picture in FY11. Last year the total was reported at about $160 million. If the amount still to be paid to Ga. taxpayers exceeds $160 million, then there is an additional hole created in FY11 compared to last year.

When a number of factors are considered, the amount of tax growth in state revenues built into the FY11 budget totals about 4.24% or over $600 million. Remember, the last months of FY10 were under predictions. If that continues and the very optimistic growth planned in this budget does not materialize, that shortfall could total several hundred million dollars.

While some of these numbers do depend on factors still unknown, the common belief among budget writers is that there is a potential shortfall in the FY11 budget of several hundreds of millions of dollars. Coming on the heels of reductions of 20% or more, this has the potential of seriously reducing state services.

FY2012 Issues

Tax cuts passed as part of the Hospital fee legislation start phasing in FY2012 and start reducing revenues. Removing the ¼ mill of property tax the state presently receives will begin phasing out in FY12 and will cost state coffers $16 million. Eliminating state income taxes for senior citizens also starts phasing out in FY12 and will cost the state $14 million in revenue.

The biggie is that Medicaid match or FMAP extension. If the enhanced match is not passed by Congress, the present day cost to the state is an entire year or about $787 million.

Estimating growth for the next fiscal year will be a huge issue and certainly hard to do in these uncertain times. To use a baseball term, revenue estimators for Georgia are below "the Mendoza line" in batting average for estimating state revenues.

Contributions to state retirement funds will need to increase to keep those funds up. Estimates are that the Employees Retirement System will require employer contributions to increase by $30 million. The Public School Employees Retirement System will need $8.3 million and the Group Term Life Insurance fund may require $15 million but would probably be funded internally. Even in these austere times, Behavioral Health has received over $70 million dollars of new funding during the FY10 and FY11 budgets in response to the state's court actions with the U.S. Justice Department. Recent developments in federal court may result in additional new funds that would be mandated for Georgia's mental hospitals and mental health delivery system.

The GEFA securitization and other one-time sources of funds will dry up in 2012 as well. GEFA alone was $287 million and the remainder could push this well over $300 million.

Also, don't forget that areas such as education, universities and Medicaid are still growing. This could run several hundred million depending on how forecasting proceeds over the next few months.

Post Script:

The FY12 budget is complicated by the fact that presumably there will be no new federal stimulus funds so the state is essentially on its on. Not listed as issues but almost surely to be fiscal issues are the health of the State Health Benefit Plan and Medicaid expenditures. There will be problems in those areas that will have to be solved.

Thank you for your interest. Please contact me if I may be of assistance at (404) 463-1366 or at ronnie.chance@senate.ga.gov.

Mrs. Carolyn Reynolds Howell, age 69, of Meansville, passed away July 31, 2010. She was born in South Carolina to the late Joseph Reynolds and Ethel Steadman Reynolds. Carolyn was a faithful, devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She avidly enjoyed bowling and loved being a member of two leagues, a seniors league and a league that assisted people with special needs. She enjoyed crocheting, reading and hosting ladies luncheons. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Joe and nephew Wayne. She is survived by her husband of 53 years: Ed Howell; children and their spouses: Ed and Linda Howell of Fayetteville and Lynn and Greg Burrell of Gainesville; brother: James Reynolds of Kennewick, WA; grandchildren: Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Hannah, Grace and Jennifer; great-granddaughter: Sadie; nieces: Anne, Debbie and Susan; aunt: Edith.

Visitations:
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
10:00AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Cemetery:
Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, 210 Andrew Chapel Road, Swansea, SC 29160

For more information, directions or sign the guestbook at Moody Funeral Home.

The Moody Funeral Home is independent and locally-owned by the Moody Family and has been serving families since 1982. Currently, owned and operated by Terrell and Sherri Moody, the firm was founded by Terrell’s parents, Charles and Betty Moody.

In the spring of 1981, the Moody family purchased 12 acres of land on Highway 19 North of Zebulon. The purchase of this land was the first step in the fulfillment of the family dream to provide a funeral home for the people of Pike County.

"Our dream became a reality in November, 1982 as Moody Funeral Home and Moody Memorial Gardens were opened. We are pleased to have facilities where families can gather together to celebrate the life of their loved one in a warm, inviting space."

It continues to be a family-centered firm. The words, “our family serving your family” are at the heart of everything we do.

I. CALL TO ORDER ............................................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

II. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING
1. Conduct Public Hearing to receive comment on the notice of proposed property tax increase.

III. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING

IV. ADJOURNMENT

I. CALL TO ORDER ............................................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

II. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG ................................................................. Chairman Doug Mangham

III. ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Consider Resolution to Adopt the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Pike County Tax Levy.

IV. ADJOURNMENT

Pike Pest Management is owned and operated by Mark Andrade. Mark advertises with Pike County Times and is offering a special to Pike County Times readers.

$25 off of your first service. Choose from monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. Don't wait until it's too late!

Call Pike Pest Management at 770-567-FLEA (3532) for all of your pest control needs. NO WEEDS. NO BUGS. NO PROBLEMS.

Please tell Mark that you read about the Pike County Times Special!

Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. Will be distributing Commodity Foods in Pike County on Wednesday, August 25th at the Neighborhood Service Center located at 10 Hall Street in Zebulon, Georgia.

Please bring proof of your address

If you are picking up food for a household other than your own, you must have a completed authorization form signed by the head of that household.

For additional information, or to obtain an authorization form, please contact Beth Brenner at the Neighborhood Service Center prior to the distribution date above, at: 770/567-8116

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382(TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

It may be hard to believe that you can have access to quality law firms in North America and Canada for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day.

Just like car insurance which was started back in the 1950's, people pay a small premium for coverage. The imbalance in wages did not keep up with the cost of car repairs and people are not all going to have an accident at the same time so an industry was born. The 1960's brought us health insurance and HMO's. Wages could not keep up with the rising cost of doctors & hospital fees and again, not everyone is going to be sick at the same time so an industry was born.

With the combined power of over 1.5 million members of Pre-Paid Legal, people can now have access to the legal system that was once only for the rich and powerful. Since not everyone would need an attorney at the same time, an industry was born in 1972... Pre-Paid Legal.

Check out Pre-Paid Legal by clicking below and contact Daniel Morgan, an Independent Associate of Pre-Paid Legal, at 770-567-5169 with your questions.

Help us help thousands of Americans by marketing a service that everyone needs: Identity Theft Shield with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. With today's concerns about rising taxes, now is the time to plan your strategy and consider the advantages of running your own business. Making a living. Making a difference.

"You are at the right place at the right time. Select Business Opportunity from my website and see how it can work for you," said Daniel Morgan, Independent Associate PPLSI. www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/dmorgan68.

Close to 1,700 Upson EMC customers in Pike County were without power for about two and a half hours after a snake decided to climb into the Molena Substation last night.

Customers experienced an immediate blackout around 9:30 p.m. after a large snake climbed nine feet off of the ground to get on a breaker for the Molena Substation that is shared by Georgia Power and Upson EMC. The snake tripped the breaker and blew a three phase transformer.

The outage included customers in Molena and extended all of the way out to Highway 19. Highway 19 was dark from the Rock Store at Highway 109 down to Sheperd Road over the mountain just inside of the Pike County line.

"This very rarely happens," said Upson EMC Line Superintendent Jody Bennett.

Line Superintendent Jody Bennett said that a Substation Test Engineer had to drive from Columbus to test the equipment to be sure that everything was in working order before the power could be turned back on around midnight. A crew from Upson EMC was out last night and worked to restore the power in just two and half hours.

Upson EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving portions of six counties including Upson, Pike, Talbot, Meriwether, Crawford and Taylor.

Pike Pest Management is owned and operated by Mark Andrade. Mark advertises with Pike County Times and is offering a Spring Special.

$25 off of your first service. Choose from monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. Don't wait until it's too late!

Call Pike Pest Management at 770-567-FLEA (3532) for all of your pest control needs. NO WEEDS. NO BUGS. NO PROBLEMS.

Please tell Mark that you read about the Spring Special on Pike County Times!

It may be hard to believe that you can have access to quality law firms in North America and Canada for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day.

Just like car insurance which was started back in the 1950's, people pay a small premium for coverage. The imbalance in wages did not keep up with the cost of car repairs and people are not all going to have an accident at the same time so an industry was born. The 1960's brought us health insurance and HMO's. Wages could not keep up with the rising cost of doctors & hospital fees and again, not everyone is going to be sick at the same time so an industry was born.

With the combined power of over 1.5 million members of Pre-Paid Legal, people can now have access to the legal system that was once only for the rich and powerful. Since not everyone would need an attorney at the same time, an industry was born in 1972... Pre-Paid Legal.

Check out Pre-Paid Legal by clicking here and contact Daniel Morgan, an Independent Associate of Pre-Paid Legal, at 770-567-5169 with your questions.

USA Today said in 2003 that Americans are more worried about becoming a victim of Identity Theft than getting laid off. "Help us help thousands of Americans find out how the Identity Theft Shield can help them," said Daniel Morgan, an Independent Associate of Pre-Paid Legal. www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/dmorgan68.

Be your own boss ; unlimited income potential marketing a service everyone needs, Identity theft shield with Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. With todays concerns about rising taxes, now is the time to plan your stategy and consider the advantages of running your own business. Making a living, making a difference. You are at the right place at the right time.. Select Business Opportunity from my website and see how it can work for you....Daniel

Williamson Learning Center offers an alternative to large class sizes and impersonal atmosphere. We allow children to excel in subjects they are good in while encouraging them in classes they do not enjoy. Give us a call to discuss how we can help your child.

Williamson Learning Center offers grades 1-12 with a small class size and small teacher student ratio with individualized learning plans in a family-like, low-stress atmosphere. ITBS testing is offered each year. All of this for very reasonable prices.

Tutoring is offered for all grades, all subjects and High School remediation in Math: algebra, geometry and trigonometry; Science: physical science, biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy/physiology, environmental science; Social studies: geography, world history, US history, psychology, economics, civics; and English grammar, composition, literature. Other classes may be available as well.

Williamson Learning Center is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission.

Call Carol Berry at 770-584-4013 for more details about Williamson Learning Center. Click here for more.

The Moody Funeral Home is independent and locally-owned by the Moody Family and has been serving families since 1982. Currently, owned and operated by Terrell and Sherri Moody, the firm was founded by Terrell’s parents, Charles and Betty Moody.

In the spring of 1981, the Moody family purchased 12 acres of land on Highway 19 North of Zebulon. The purchase of this land was the first step in the fulfillment of the family dream to provide a funeral home for the people of Pike County.

"Our dream became a reality in November, 1982 as Moody Funeral Home and Moody Memorial Gardens were opened. We are pleased to have facilities where families can gather together to celebrate the life of their loved one in a warm, inviting space."

It continues to be a family-centered firm. The words, “our family serving your family” are at the heart of everything we do.