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WEST POINT - Gov. Nathan Deal joined Mr. Byung Mo Ahn, Group President and CEO for Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) at the company’s West Point plant today to celebrate the growth and success at its first automotive manufacturing facility in the United States. The occasion marked Deal’s first official visit to KMMG since taking office.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced he will deny construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline was anticipated to have created as many as 140,000 direct and indirect jobs, would have meant much-needed tax revenue for state and local governments around the pipeline, and would have lowered energy costs for all Americans. Energy prices continue to be a huge drain on the American bank account and are expected to get worse. In fact, many experts expect gas prices to reach $5 a gallon in 2012 in some places.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today strongly criticized President Obama’s decision to kill the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, writing in a letter to the White House that the decision is a missed opportunity to secure America’s energy future and to create tens of thousands of badly needed jobs for Americans.

As part of the payroll tax bill passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the president in December 2011, President Obama was required to act on the Keystone XL permit within 60 days. Obama today said his administration has rejected the application for a construction permit for the proposed pipeline even though the states through which the pipeline would run had Ok’d it.

Click here to read the rest of this article including the letter that accompanies it.

ZEBULON - The Pike County Water and Sewerage Authority page is up to date.

Of particular importance over the past year is the July meeting which was attended by County Commissioner Jarrett and County Manager Bill Sawyer. Click on the Authorities Link above to access these meetings.

Thank you to the Pike County Water and Sewerage Authority for keeping Pike County citizens up to date on its meetings on Pike County Times.

CONCORD - The Pike County Chamber of Commerce now has tickets on sale for the 2011 Annual Meeting & Community Awards Banquet. The event will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 6:00 PM at the Strickland Building in Concord. Ticket prices are $30 each.

Join the Chamber as we reflect on the 2011 year and look ahead to 2011. The Chamber will be presenting several awards including: Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Organization of the Year, Teacher of the Year and Top Recruiter of the Year.

The Chamber is currently accepting nominations for the Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year and Organization of the Year nominations. Nominations may be submitted via fax 770-567-7290 or by e-mail: pikeida@pikecountygachamber.com.

Additional annual awards that will be presented include: Kiwanis Club of Pike County-Citizen of the Year, Pike County Lions Club-Volunteer of the Year and Pike Agri-Business Authority-Producer of the Year.

The Chamber will also be having the 2nd Annual Balloon Pop. Balloons will be sold at the door for $10 each and each balloon is a guaranteed winner of a prize.

For more information or to purchase tickets to attend, please contact the chamber at (770) 567-2029.

Click here to get a copy of your invitation.

THOMASTON - What makes a child who takes up an instrument continue to practice and play that instrument? In Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua described horrific, hours-long practice sessions with her two daughters on piano and violin, in which she screamed at them for how terribly they played and made them play pieces over and over until they were perfect. For three students of Thomaston violin teacher Heidi Strahm, no such tactics are necessary. These young women, Julia Hawkins, Reid Hightower, and Elizabeth Jones, all practice and play for the love of music, the love of their instrument and the love of performing.

Click here to read the rest of this article including upcoming fundraisers as the Sweet Georgia Violins prepare to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

ZEBULON - "History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."

"Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

Are we reaching out to others in our day to day lives? Are we taking a stand against wrongs that we see in the world around us?

Today is a day to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click here to view the "I Have A Dream" on YouTube.

I want to leave my own legacy that I have done what I could in the world and reached out to others with every opportunity. Our lives touch so many around us each and every day. Don't waste a single minute!

There was a parade in Zebulon today as well as other events to honor his legacy. Click here to see some of the photos from this event. Large photos are currently available for viewing and purchase at pikecountytimes.zenfolio.com/p128111347. All purchases help support Pike County Times' efforts to provide community events and news free of charge to readers. Thanks for your support!

“Joyful Noise” (Warner Brothers)

When you have Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in a movie, well you pretty much have it all as far as a large segment of potential movie audiences is concerned. Then if you add in two up and coming young stars, Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan, you bring in another segment. Finally if you fill the film with gospel music that has a new modern sound, then you have it all and audiences should rush to see it. That is what the makers of “Joyful Noise” are hoping will happen.

Click here to read the rest of this review.

©2012 Jackie K. Cooper

[Note from the Editor: This website looks better on Firefox.]

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "Contraband".

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

Newnan - The Newnan-Coweta Humane Society took in 30 dogs and puppies and one cat on New Year’s Eve from a puppy-mill breeder, according to LouAnn Jones, President. The dogs, voluntarily surrendered by a facility located near the Alabama-Georgia border included a number of pure toy breeds and so-called “designer breeds”, including Shih Tzu’s, Toy Poodles, Maltese, Malti-Poos, and Silky Terriers. Also surrendered were Labrador/Border Collie cross puppies, approximately 9 weeks old and one adult Beagle mix male dog approximately 18 months old. Additionally surrendered was one Siamese mix tabby point adult male cat with blue eyes.

Many states and locales around the country are passing legislation to regulate puppy mill operations, with mandated minimum care standards that include room to move around their cages and daily exercise.

Newnan Coweta Humane Society recognizes the difference between reputable breeders of pure-bred dogs and puppy mill operations such as this one, which breed solely for profit and with little or no consideration for the health or welfare of the animals. The American Kennel Club website states, “Good puppies start long before breeding ever takes place. Both parents need long-term care - what dog people call conditioning - to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding tests, and regular exercise and good nutrition.” NCHS definitely concurs and supports responsible, ethical breeding by knowledgeable individuals who seek to promote and improve the breeds they know and love.

Jones said Humane Society volunteers reached out to this particular breeder to assist with the mixed breed puppies, which were not wanted by the facility’s owner. As a result of this overture, it became evident that due to the recent death of the owner’s wife and his own declining health that none of the pets on the property were receiving adequate care.

Humane Society officials did not identify the breeder in exchange for his cooperation. However, the organization released a statement that was said to have been given by the anonymous breeder. Jones reports that not all of the dogs had names, and the NCHS volunteers involved in the rescue, named one male Malti-Poo “Chance” as he was being loaded into the rescue vehicle. When the facility owner was informed of the dog’s new name, he said “Chance? Like a second chance? I like that. I just want these dogs to get into good homes.”

The dogs are currently undergoing physical exams and are receiving veterinary care for a myriad of conditions including dental problems, ear mites, intestinal parasites, etc. All dogs will receive much needed veterinary care, dental cleanings, grooming, and spay or neuter prior to adoption. Once they receive the all-clear from the vet, they will be available for adoption. A special hotline set up to field inquiries about these dogs has been established. Inquiries about the puppy-mill dogs and cat can be directed to 470-215-2760, which is a local telephone number. If you or someone you know would like assistance with shutting down a puppy mill operation, you may call the hotline and make an anonymous report.

About Newnan Coweta Humane Society: Newnan-Coweta Humane Society, the oldest rescue group in Coweta County is a 501(c) 3 all-volunteer, non-profit organization, dedicated to reducing the number of pets euthanized at Coweta County Animal Control and other area municipal pounds. Through rescue, spay/neuter, foster programs and community awareness, our goal is to one day eliminate the euthanization of healthy, adoptable animals in our area. Visit their website at www.NCHSrescue.org.

The County Government pages have been updated.

This is an easy reference to find anything you need to find about the county commission since 2006.

Enjoy!

ZEBULON - Please be advised that Pike County offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, reopening for regular business hours on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

ZEBULON - The annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade will begina at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2012. The parade will go through downtown Zebulon.

According to the Pike Journal Reporter, a play and award presentation will be held at Mt. Hope Baptist Church after the conclusion of the parade. Nina Davis will be the Grand Marshall of the parade.

Click here to read the article.

This meeting was attended by Commissioners Carol Bass, Tamra Jarrett, Tommy Powers, Don Collins and Chairman Doug Mangham, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer, County Clerk Teresa Watson, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton.

Commissioner Tommy Powers made a motion to amend the agenda to include George Norris as the invited guest. Motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner Carol Bass dissenting.

Update 1.12.12: This page is complete including my investigation into the vote which replaced a long-time volunteer and member of the Water and Sewer Authority with a current County Commissioner.

Click here to read this write up.

A new Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group called “Jeremiah’s Promise” is meeting at Rock Springs Church on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm. Meetings are held in The Chapel which is the building located to the left of the Rock Springs Church Sanctuary.

Participation is open to everyone and church membership is not required. Child care is now provided! To reserve a space in child care or for more information please call Kelly Leger at 404-861-6341.

The public is invited to attend a Lunch and Learn and become a part of the Strategy Planning Team for the School Based Health Center. The Y.E.S. Team is looking for a team of volunteers to serve on this planning team. Volunteers can include health care providers, parents, and community leaders who will work with the Pike County School System to develop a plan for this school-based health center.

The next meeting will be held on January 12, 2012 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Professional Learning Center Meeting Room #2 located in the old Pike County Middle/High School (next to Ruth's Restaurant). The program is presented by the Pike Community Resource Network which is part of the Georgia Family Connection partnership of county collaboratives committed to cultivating public and private collaboration at a local level. RSVP by January 9, 2011 to Michael Powell at 770-567-2930 or powellm@pike.k12.ga.us.

Click here to find out more information about this program.

There will be a Chili Cookoff On Sunday, January 15th at 6PM at Williamson United Methodist Church. Proceeds from this will go to the Keystone Club of the Boys & Girls Club of Pike County.

The teen program provides service and leadership development experiences and opportunities for youth in academic success, career exploration, and community service.

Pay only a dollar to come and taste over a dozen different kinds of chili and vote for your favorite! Donations above a dollar will be accepted too.

Please join us January 15th for food, fun, and fellowship as we support our local Boys and Girls Club.

Mrs. Donna Snowden Smith, age 59, of Thomaston, passed away January 5, 2012. She was a member of Life Springs Church in Zebulon and a caring person who loved her family, friends and animals. She is survived by her husband: Hayward Smith; sons: Brian Smith, Jeffrey Smith and Keith Smith of FL; mother: Loretta Snowden of Thomaston; twin brother and sister-in-law: Ron and Clair Snowden of Zebulon; sister and brother-in-law: Lynda and Jim Jones of Woodbine; uncle: Earl Frazier of FL; nieces and nephews: Sabina and Zack Ahlf of Omaha, NE and Robert and Sara Snowden of Milner; numerous nieces and nephews. Friends may visit the family on Sunday, January 8, from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 9, at 2 p.m. in Fincher United Methodist Church with Pastor Kyle Smith officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made on line at www.lymphoma.org or Lymphoma Research Foundation, 115 Broadway, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10006 or www.georgiaeyebank.org or Georgia Eye Bank, 5605 Glenridge Dr., NE, Suite 250, Atlanta, GA 30342 in memory of Donna. Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials:
Lymphoma Research, www.lymphoma.org or The Georgia Eye Bank, www.georgiaeyebank.org

Visitations:
4:00PM to 6:00PM on Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
2:00PM at Fincher Methodist Church on Monday, January 9th, 2012

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

WILLIAMSON - The City of Williamson held an Open House on December 17, 2011 to celebrate the changes that have been made to the Williamson Library/Educational Facility. The building sat in its current location for some time after being moved from the United Bank location across the street before work actually began on the facility. Warden Edd Sanders from the West Georgia Pre-Release Center was instrumental in helping to work get rolling on this facility.

Renovation began in late July when the Mobile Construction Inmate Detail from the Department of Corrections began to work on this library. These low security inmates have put their experience as carpenters, electricians, and plumbers to good use in Williamson on this project. The City of Williamson has bought materials and the Mobile Construction Inmate Detail has provided the labor. In some cases, materials and labor have been donated to this project as well.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

“War Horse” (Walt Disney Pictures)

Stephen Spielberg works his magic one more time in a beautifully crafted movie titled “War Horse.” This tale of a horse and its experiences during World War I make for an emotional journey and also a rewarding one. Spielberg always brings magic in his directorial touch and in this production enhances it with the musical greatness of a John Williams score and the superb artistry of Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography.

Click here to read the rest of this review.

©2011 Jackie K. Cooper

[Note from the Editor: This website looks better on Firefox.]

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

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

It's hard to believe, but another year has snuck up on us. Time has a way of doing that. So does weight. That has to be the #1 New Year's Resolution of all time. Too many holiday cookies, fatty foods and good old indulgence. Last week, I screamed in horror when my husband suprised me with a snapshot of me he took while I was cooking for Christmas Eve. "Look baby, I'm gonna put this by my nightstand", he said. Great.

Before I crawl into the fetal position from that scary image, let's talk about a weight of a different matter. The weight of regret. Or how about the weight of bad decisions of all kinds, personal, financial, and so on? Or even worse, the weight of feeling like no matter how hard you try, you just don't measure up to other's expectations, especially your own?

Hit home yet? I propose before we all get consumed with taking off physical weight, that will probably take all year, how about we take a few moments and shed the emotional weight from 2011. It's over, the fat lady has sung.

Click here to read the rest of Deborah's column.

There is an Autism and Spectrum Disorders Support Group in our area. Go to the Calendar of Events page and scroll down from the top to find out about Jeremiah's Promise and how you can become a part of this group.

It’s a tradition for Americans to look toward the New Year with enthusiasm and the hope of good things to come. It’s also a tradition to establish for ourselves goals or “resolutions” for improving our lives.

It should also be a tradition for Americans to establish resolutions for the improvement of our nation. In fact, there is much we could do in this regard.

First of all, this being an election year, we should undertake to elect men and women of character to represent us at every level – municipal, county, state, and federal. Further, we should endeavor to remove from office those elected officials who, rather than fighting for our best interests, instead line their pockets and feather their nests at taxpayer expense.

Click here to read the rest of this Conservative Commentary.

The Pike County Area Transportation Committee will hold its Regular Monthly Meeting on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. in the Courthouse Annex Meeting Room (BOC Meeting Room).

Click here for the agenda and the proposed minutes from the November meeting. (These minutes can be amended at this meeting before being approved.)

Click here to go to the Three Rivers RC website.

Zebulon - The Kiwanis Club of Pike County is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Citizen of the Year. Do you know someone that has stood out in the Pike County Community that deserves recognition?

Please submit their name with a brief reason why you think they deserve by e-mail: kiwanisofpike@bellsouth.net or fax to 770-567-7290. You may also call the Pike Chamber of Commerce and submit names to Christy Hammons at 770-567-2029.

This award will be presented at the Pike Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting on January 17, 2012 at the Strickland Building.

ATLANTA - Gov. Nathan Deal has approved the final report of the Water Supply Task Force, which outlines water supply initiatives and recommendations for the Governor’s Water Supply Program. The final report, which is available at www.GeorgiaWaterSupply.org, was approved by the WSTF this month.

“I appreciate the work of the Water Supply Task Force in developing this plan to improve Georgia’s water supply resources,” said Deal. “The state, local governments and our citizens share a mutual interest in making sure Georgia has an adequate and sustainable water supply for the future.”

Through the GWSP, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will allocate $300 million over the next four years to support water supply projects. The GWSP will support local government projects and will tailor its financing to meet the unique needs of individual projects. Eligible projects include new reservoirs, expanding existing reservoirs, system interconnections, wells, water supply planning, indirect potable reuse, and aquifer storage and recovery.

To aid the launch of the GWSP, Deal instructed GEFA and DCA to open the GWSP in January with the goal of making funding awards by summer 2012. He also directed GEFA and DCA to work closely with local governments to help them access the program, which includes conducting workshops for prospective applicants. GEFA and DCA will coordinate their activities with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association.

On Jan. 25, 2011, Deal issued an executive order charging GEFA with developing and implementing the GWSP to assist local governments in developing new sources of water supply adequate to meet future water needs. The governor directed GEFA to convene the WSTF to provide expert guidance in developing the GWSP and to ensure interagency cooperation in GWSP implementation. The WSTF was directed to create a water supply plan delineating the most effective approaches to developing new water supply facilities in Georgia; identifying project financing options, including public-private partnerships; and developing a project selection system for water supply projects.

Atlanta – Prompted by the recent tragedy in Stamford, Connecticut, Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens wants to remind Georgians of some safety tips for fireplaces to help keep their homes safe this winter.

“Fireplaces are great for keeping warm, but a few precautions should always be taken when using them,” Hudgens said. “Therefore, when using one, please also keep these things in mind:”

•Always use well seasoned wood in the fireplace with a fire screen or firebox doors. Wood that has not been well seasoned leaves additional creosote in the chimney. Unseasoned wood pops more due to the additional water vapor it contains causing embers to be expelled from the fire box resulting in a potential fire hazard.
•Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid. The ash container should be placed at least three feet away from the dwelling on a non-combustible surface. Extra precaution should be taken on a windy day so as to prevent the ash container from being knocked or blown over.
•Make sure to have your chimney and fireplace inspected annually for cracks and faults. The best cleaning program is to have a professional chimney sweep clean it since creosote buildup varies greatly due to such things as frequency of usage, type of fires, and wood variety.
•Do not burn coal in a fireplace or a wood stove designed to burn wood; coal burns much hotter than wood and can cause damage to the fire box enclosure and flue potentially resulting in failures in the material itself and exposing the surrounding structure to heat and fire.
•Wood and other combustible materials should not be stored on the hearth near the fireplace, as it could ignite and cause a fire to spread quickly in a home. As always, make sure that you have working smoke alarms with fresh batteries. Carbon monoxide detectors are also recommended and should be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Mrs. Bobbie Kendall Wall, age 70, of Molena, passed away December 30, 2011. She was born on April 12, 1941 to the late Robert Alexander and Adell Chambley Alexander. For many years she worked at Pierre Sullivan’s Grocery in Zebulon and she was also a cashier at several local convenient stores. She loved to sing and in her younger years she enjoyed skating and dancing. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, James T. Kendall; her son, Tony Kendall, grandsons, Jason Williams and Justin McElroy; great-grandson, Ryan Woolf; brother, Charles Alexander; sister, Laverne Jackson. She is survived by her husband: Otis Wall; children and their spouses: Judy Kendall of Zebulon, Michael and Nita Kendall of Molena, Sarena Kendall and fiancé Andy of Commerce, Tony Caraway and Angie of Thomaston, Wanda and Derrick Bruce of Zebulon, Donna and Mike Martin, Lisa and Johnny McElroy, Carla and Mark Long and Bill and Rhonda Wall all of Thomaston; grandchildren: Shane Kendall, Blake Kendall, Brandie Kilgo, Jodi Williams, Jessica Kendall, Stevie Williams, Jacklyn Young, Jamie Kendall, Jonathan Kendall, Samantha Kendall, Mason Wall, Cody Wall, Brian Vermeer, Brook Rowe, Kristen Pasley, Levi Long, Chloe Long, Brandon Simmons, Ryan Simmons, Michael Martin and Zack Wall; great-grandchildren: Jason Kilgo, Justis Williams, Haley Kendall, Harley Kendall, Peyton Kendall, Wyatt Kendall, Bailey Kendall, Riley Kendall, Kimberly McDaniel, Jessie Minter, Makenzie DePriest, Reese Pasley, Tyler Pasley, Ellie Pasley, Asher Rowe, Lainey Rowe and Gracyn Rowe; great-great-grandchildren: Natalie McDaniel and Drake Minter; brother: Rudolph Chambley of Griffin; seven sisters-in-law, six brothers-in-law and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home with Rev. James D. Wilson and Rev. Mike Martin officiating. Interment will follow in Moody Memorial Gardens.

Visitations:
5:00PM to 7:00PM on Saturday, December 31st, 2011 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
3:00PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, January 1st, 2012

Cemetery:
Moody Memorial Gardens, 10170 Hwy. 19 North, Zebulon, GA 30295

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

2011 has been a great year for Pike County Times. I have been honored to attend festivals and celebrations all year long so this history can be documented for posterity. And Pike County Commission meetings and other government meetings make up the bulk of how this Pike County Times Editor spends her time. It’s important to me to ensure that citizens are educated about our government and how it affects us.

Looking back on the past year, I am glad to be living in a small town. Yes, there are ups and downs and good and bad in everyone knowing your business, but overall, people in Pike County care about each other and take the opportunity to show that care every chance that we get.

We honor those who have served our country pikecountytimes.com/secondary/mays12.5.11.html pikecountytimes.com/secondary/veterans11.7.11.html and we honor those who have served us at home. www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/Daly8.1.11.html and pikecountytimes.zenfolio.com/p1068882405-Bishop.

We remember 9/11 and those who put their lives on the line for us every single day www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/remember9.11.11.html and we helped those here in and in neighboring counties who have been affected by tornadoes. www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/tornado4.29.11.html

These are just a few of the ways that Pike County has gone out of its way to show people that we care. Photos from other events such as The John Hollis Memorial Boys & Girls Club of Pike County 5K Fun Run, 1 Mile Walk & Tot Trot, The Relay for Life, The fourth annual Pike County Special Olympics, The National Day of Prayer, and so much more are on www.pikecountytimes.com/werpc.html and http://pikecountytimes.zenfolio.com/.

We can’t change the world to fit our vision of what it should be, but by reaching out to others, we are changing the world for that person and for us and our family too.

I am thankful every day to be living in Pike County. I am grateful to be living among people who will step out to help someone else and are not afraid to say when something isn’t right and needs to be changed… and then steps up to do the right thing and help change something instead of complaining about a problem without offering a solution to help fix it.

Nobody is right 100% of the time, but working together can do a whole lot of good for our community. And it helps us too! Learning how to live by “The Serenity Prayer” hasn’t been easy and it doesn’t always come to my mind first thing when I am confronted with a problem, but it helps me to sit back and look at a problem from a distance and then work with others toward a solution every time.

If you have sent a note of encouragement, pictures, news tips, and guest columns or bought pictures, advertisements, sent donations, or helped keep Pike County Times going in any way, thank you very much. It’s a big job keeping up with what is going on in our county and I view this as a community effort. And the encouragement that I have been given over the past year is phenomenal!

I enjoy providing our hometown, online only newspaper and am looking forward to a new year. Happy New Year to you from Pike County Times!

“The Adventures of Tintin” (Paramount Pictures)

There is a process known as “motion capture animation” that has been used extensively over the past few years. It was used in “The Polar Express,” “Mars Needs Moms” and other animated films. Now it is used to its most successful effect in “The Adventures of Tintin,” a Stephen Spielberg directed film that has hints of the “Indiana Jones” series. Full of adventure this movie is enhanced by the process but never overwhelmed by it.

Click here to read the rest of this review.

©2011 Jackie K. Cooper

[Note from the Editor: This website looks better on Firefox.]

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "We Bought a Zoo", "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol", "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "My Week with Marilyn".

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

ZEBULON - More than 300,000 children in Georgia are uninsured and have limited access to routine healthcare according to a November 2, 2010 press release about the Emory Urban Health Program released by the Georgia Family Connection Partnership. One way to provide care to those who have limited access to healthcare is through school-based health clinics as part of a $3 million gift from the Zeist Foundation. The first eleven grants for school-based clinics were awarded in 2010 with seven grants being awarded in 2011. Pike County is one of those seven counties that have been awarded this year.

Click here to read the entire article. Includes a LOT of links to check out the program and an upcoming date where you can be a part of the Strategy Planning Team for this school-based health center at Pike County Primary School.

ZEBULON - The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has awarded a $99,800 grant to The Council on Alcohol and Drugs in order to establish regular and successful Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service (RASS) Workshops in five Georgia counties: Hall, Fulton, Pike, Rockdale and Spalding Counties. The funding period of this grant is from October 1, 2011 thru September 30, 2012. “This grant [the Georgia RASS Program] will allow for the provision of training, technical assistance and a media campaign to educate county stakeholders and alcohol retailers about the purposes and critical need for RASS Workshops,” stated Chuck Wade, President & CEO of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs.

Click here to read this article in its entirety.

ZEBULON - Movie Trivia is located in the middle of the advertising bar on the right side of your screen. Clues go on all month long until someone guesses the answer and wins a prize. Movie Trivia is brought to you by "The Oink Joint BBQ" on the Courthouse Square in Zebulon.

I probably just gave it away, but I am ready to go on with another movie so enjoy guessing the answer!

Here's the rules.
1) One winner from each household every three months.
2) First correct answer to my email address above wins a free pulled pork BBQ sandwich from "The Oink Joint BBQ".
3) One entry per person per day.
4) My family members are ineligible.
5) Email coupon must be used within 60 days.

ZEBULON - Begin the New Year with a ride to Jackson for a Traditional New Year's Dinner with Bad Boy Joe who turns 40. The ride is on Sunday, January 1, 2012 with kick stands up at 1 p.m.

Bad Boys' birthday specials include 15% off Special orders (cash only), 15% off leather jackets, chaps, gloves and vests (cash only), and 25% off other instock items (cash only). These specials run from Monday December 26, 2011 to January 1, 2012. Cash only, no other discounts apply. Click here to see the flyer.

Bad Boys House of Cycles is located at 55 Thomaston Street on US 19 South in Zebulon. 770-567-RIDE (7433)

Photos, postcards, checks, letters, and even wedding dresses and a military uniforms have been recovered after the tornados that struck across the nation on April 25 through April 28 in 2011. Patty Bullion created a Facebook page to help people from across the nation recover their missing pieces of history.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

ZEBULON - Please be advised that Pike County offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2012 in observance of the New Year Holiday, reopening for regular business hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

ZEBULON - An employee of the Pike County Department of Family and Children Services has been suspended with pay after she was arrested by sheriff's deputies during an incident in Griffin. According to a Spalding County sheriff's report, Jeannie Griggers was arrested for criminal damage to property, second degree simple battery and disorderly conduct.

Click here to read more.

ZEBULON - The Lady Pirates are off to an exciting and undefeated start of the hoops season with four successive wins, including their first Region game on the road. Sophomores Lauren Duncan and Aaliyah Williams put up 20 points and 14 points, respectively, against Strong Rock Christian Academy in a preseason scrimmage resulting in a final score of 58-31.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

A lengthy update to this meeting went online today. I have begun writing on the changes between the low bid project and the possible changes that commissioners will vote on in the January meeting.

Please keep in mind that nothing is in written in stone at this point. This will be discussed and voted on during the January 11, 2012 meeting.

Readers can send their thoughts on the project in a Letter to the Editor that I will place on that page through the January 2012 meeting. One letter is already online. Thanks for reading the Pike County Times.

Click here to read more from this meeting as it goes online. This article is now complete.

As we move towards the not much awaited "Ten Reasons to be Optimistic About 2012" column now in the development stage, here are some other issues besides the state budget that will be on the legislative agenda as the General Assembly convenes Jan. 9, 2012.

1. The Criminal Justice Reform Special Council Report has been published, and it appears sentencing reforms and other needed updates could happen this session. These changes are not necessarily due to a broad minded view of the misdeeds of others, but because it can be explained by the potential savings in prisons costs in a state that ranks 4th in the number of people incarcerated. Can a state that embraced not "Three Strikes and You're Out" but a Zell Miller inspired "Two Strikes and You're Out" agree that not all who commit crimes get to that place the same way and don't need or deserve the same imprisonment sentence? When the number of the mentally ill is taken into account, a case for a "Mental Health Court" can certainly be made. The success of drug courts, DUI courts and even veteran's courts make the case that there may be alternatives that can keep the public safe which are not as costly and counter-productive as prison sentences. While legislation has not been introduced as yet, it is likely that attention will be given to giving judges more latitude on "mandatory" sentences and looking at thresholds on theft and other non-violent drug crimes. Additionally, efforts will likely be made to incentivize shortening of probation and parole periods for "good" time. Accountability Courts would be institutionalized with standards and a certification review process to insure compliance and fairness. Again, these potential alternatives are strictly recommendations made by persons familiar with the inner working of our state's criminal justice system. Any changes will require legislation to be introduced, debated, voted on and implemented.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

ZEBULON - This Christmas has been very different for my family. We gathered today to celebrate Christmas as a family. There was still a ton of kids running around the house both inside and out. There were many adults who brought the kids... who were tearing around the house having the best of times playing with each other. But it was the first Christmas without my Grandfather... and he was sorely missed.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Mrs. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Elvie Pennington Price, age 74, of Concord, passed away December 23, 2011. She was born on October 17, 1937 in Ragland, AL. She and her family lived in Riverdale for 27 years before moving to Concord in 1991. For 18 years she worked as a School Patrol for the Clayton County Police Department. She was very active in the lives of her children and grandchildren and never missed any of their events, always arriving first and at least an hour early. She volunteered in school activities as Clinic aide, Room mom, and Band mom. Mrs. Price was a member of Concord Baptist Church, an avid University of Alabama football fan who enjoyed sewing and quilting. She was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Aaron Price, whose birthday was December 23; parents; Ralph Pennington and Elvie Pennington Dean; her grandparents, Buddy and Effie Singleton; and mother-in-law, Minnie Price. She is survived by her husband of 55 years: Aaron Price; children: Sherri Price McCalla and husband Paul of Senoia, Forrest Price and wife Dawn of Locust Grove, Donna Price Behan of Tarpon Springs, FL; grandchildren: Dawn McCalla Kunig and husband Nick of Senoia, Kelli McCalla of Athens, Eli Price and Hannah Price of Locust Grove; brothers and sisters-in-law: Roland and Penny Dean of Longview, TX, John and Marie Dean of Lincoln, AL, and Douglas and Kaye Dean of Foley, AL; sister and brother-in-law: Juanita and Joey Moore of Anniston, AL, special cousins: David and Deborah Heath of Snellville; special family friends: Pat and Ed Glubka of Fayetteville; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may visit the family on Monday, December 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, December 27, at 11 a.m. in the Concord Baptist Church with Mr. Paul McCalla, Rev. Chris Teasley and Dr. Ed Clyburn officiating. Mrs. Price will be taken to the church 30 minutes prior to the service to lie-in-state. Interment will follow at 3 p.m. (central time) in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery in Ashland, AL.

Visitations:
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Monday, December 26th, 2011 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
In-state at 10:30AM, Service at 11:00AM at Concord Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Cemetery:
Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery, State Highway 49, Ashland, AL 36051

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

Ms. Esther Joy Kendrick Sharpe, age 68, of Zebulon, passed away on December 22, 2011. She was born in Pike County to the late Chester Roy Kendrick and Lois Buchanan Kendrick. She was a member of the Lighthouse Church in Barnesville. In her younger years she taught Sunday School. She enjoyed reading and was a loving mother. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Darrell Presley; twin brother, Chester Roy Kendrick Jr.; sisters, Laverne Henderson and Earlene Presley. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law: Kent and Debbie Presley of Lawrenceville & Gene and Jenny Sharpe of Hampton; grandson: Dylan Thomas Sharpe; sister: Vera Kendrick of Zebulon; nephews: Ronnie Henderson of Williamson and Tony Henderson of Zebulon.

Visitations:
1:00PM to 2:00PM on Friday, December 30th, 2011 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
2:00PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, December 30th, 2011

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

ATLANTA - The U.S. Department of Justice has approved the congressional and legislative maps passed into law this summer by the state of Georgia, the state’s elected leaders learned today. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Georgia must receive approval from the federal government before any changes in election practices or procedures are implemented.

“The state of Georgia put forth a tremendous team effort. The maps offer rational district lines, equitable representation and meet the strict standards of the Voting Rights Act,” Gov. Nathan Deal said. “The Justice Department's decision demonstrates that our state’s districts serve our diverse population well. The Legislature conducted an open and fair process that allowed input from all parts of the state, and the final product reflects legislators’ hard work and diligence. Special thanks also goes to Attorney General Sam Olens, who shepherded the maps through the preclearance process.”

“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice affirmed that Georgia’s new legislative and congressional plans meet the legal requirements of the Voting Rights Act,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “The responsible approach taken by the General Assembly during the redistricting process resulted in carefully drawn maps, which ensure that Georgia’s growing population will be fairly represented. In fact, this redistricting cycle marks the first time since the Voting Rights Act became law that all of Georgia’s plans have been approved on the first review. I applaud the excellent work of Gov. Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey, Speaker Ralston and the General Assembly, and outside counsel Strickland Brockington Lewis throughout the process to ensure a positive outcome for the citizens of Georgia.”

“From the beginning of this process, all of us have been committed to ensuring that Georgia’s legislative and congressional maps are fair and meet all legal requirements, including compliance with the Voting Rights Act,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said. “Today’s decision by the Department of Justice is a validation of our commitment to those principles. I appreciate the diligent work of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee as well as the entire Senate that resulted in this important approval.”

“Today’s announcement by the U.S. Justice Department is welcome news and validates what we have been saying all along -- that these maps are fair, sensible and fully comply with the Voting Rights Act. I appreciate House Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee Chairman Roger Lane, the members of his committee and the staff for their efforts that allowed us to successfully reach this point.”

Today's approval by the Democratically controlled Justice Department marks the first time in Georgia's history that the federal government has approved all three statewide redistricting plans on the first review. The federal approval means that the new districts will be used in the 2012 elections.

ZEBULON - please be advised that Pike County offices will be closed on Friday, December 23, 2011 and Monday, December 26, 2011 in observance of Christmas, reopening for regular business hours on Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

ZEBULON - On Friday, December 9, 2011 Pike County Emergency Services held its annual awards ceremony and Christmas dinner. Approximately 100 members and their families attended. Two very special guests also paid a visit – Santa and Mrs. Claus. During the awards ceremony, 13 awards were presented by Chief Mike Grant.

Click here to read this article.

Congratulations to each of these award recipients! And thank you to all of our volunteer fire fighters, paramedics, and EMT's here in Pike County. Your efforts are very much appreciated as you interact with citizens in emergency situations on an almost daily basis.

I remember the first time I ever saw the term Xmas. I was just a kid. It was a week or so before Christmas and my brother and I had gone to spend the night with an older sister, her husband, and their young son. On a large mirror in the living room of their home, written in white shoe polish, were the words “Merry Xmas!” I was confused.

Of course, I knew well the words Merry Christmas. But what was this “Xmas” word? After puzzling over the subject for a few minutes, I conjured up the nerve to ask my sister about it. “Oh, that’s just how everybody spells Christmas now,” she said.

Click here to read this and more Conservative Commentaries.

“Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” (20th Century Fox)

Just in time for Christmas comes another “Alvin & The Chipmunks” sequel. Yes the loveable little animals with the squeaky voices are back again to entertain the kids, and in some instances to drive adults crazy. Adults should know going into this movie that it is aimed at children of a young age, and they will love every tail shaking, squeak singing moment of the movie.

Click here to read the rest of this review.

©2011 Jackie K. Cooper

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Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows".

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2056, legislation sponsored by Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA), and sent it to President Obama for his signature. The legislation will conduct studies looking into potential causes for the high number of bank failures across the United States. Even though financial markets have somewhat stabilized since the dramatic drops we saw in late 2008, 140 banks failed in 2009 and another 157 failed in 2010. Georgia leads the nation in bank failures, with more than 73 failed banks since 2008.

“When I ask federal regulators why so many banks in Georgia and across the country have failed and continue to fail, I’m given dozens of different excuses, but no real solutions to stopping this epidemic. Community banks are the economic engine of our towns and cities, and the large number of failed banks in Georgia can have a devastating effect on our economic recovery. Without these local lenders, job growth and economic investment can dry up – an unmistakable reality proven by the fact that the ten states with the highest number of failures also have some of the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country. Hopefully, this legislation can lead to answers to not only what’s behind these bank failures but also answers to how we can make sure this doesn’t happen again in the future,” stated Westmoreland.

"Since 2008, there have been more than 400 bank failures nationwide. Seventy three of those have occurred in Georgia alone. It is clear that Congress needs more information about the underlying causes of these bank failures. If there is a better way to resolve this crisis, we must pursue it. This bill is the first step to doing that," stated Chambliss.

The legislation would provide for two studies – one conducted by the Inspector General of the FDIC and one by the General Accounting Office (GAO) – to look into the impact some of the policies and procedures of the FDIC, including loss-share agreements and paper losses, and whether they may have negatively affected troubled institutions. The studies would look at banks in the ten states with the highest number of failures: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and Washington. The legislation was initially introduced in May of this year by Congressman Westmoreland. It passed the House in July and was sent to the Senate for consideration. After being amended by the Senate in November, it was sent back to the House for final passage. The president is expected to sign the bill into law before the end of the year.

Click here to read the bill.

Click here to see Rep. Lynn Westmoreland on the floor.

Mindanao Island, Philippines - Communities in the southern Philippines are still assessing the devastation left in the wake of a storm that slammed into Mindanao Island over the weekend. Tropical Storm Washi, known locally as Sendong, triggered flooding and landslides that caused the deaths of at least 700 people—most of them children—in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, and the surrounding towns. Another 800 people are still reported missing on the island, and more than 35,000 people have been displaced. The extent of damage done to more remote villages is still unknown. Heavy rains left large areas without power, so communication, as well as travel to those areas are severely limited.

Click here to read more including a way that you can help.

THE ROCK - The Rock Ranch presents “A County Christmas in Lights”. The drive-through display has over a mile of lights and is free.

We do accept donations to help expand the lights program next year. The lights are on and open to the public through New Year’s Eve.

The display is open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday...closed Monday nights.

Photo by King Davis on the We Are Pike County page.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives rejected the Senate amendment to H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, and requested a meeting with the Senate to work out a compromise. The Senate’s amendment to the legislation only extended the tax relief through February, setting up yet another showdown on this issue in the coming months. Since the passage of the Senate’s amendment, business groups across the country have come out in opposition to it, including the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and the National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors. In addition, the National Payroll Reporting Consortium, expressing concerns that the Senate’s plan could not be properly implemented, said that it “could create substantial problems, confusion and costs affecting a significant percentage of U.S. employers and employees.” Georgia’s House Republicans stood together to oppose this irresponsible bill and called on the Senate to return from its vacation to work with the House to pass a one-year extension of the payroll tax cut before the end of the year.

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03): “Last week, the House passed a comprehensive bill that would among other things, extend the payroll tax cut for middle class Americans through 2012. It was a bill that garnered bipartisan support in the House and was sent to the Senate with the hope that they would act responsibly and pass the bill. Instead, Senate Democrats amended it to include a short-term, two month extension of the tax cut – essentially kicking the can down the road to February. This is absolutely unacceptable and an incredibly irresponsible way to set tax policy. These short-term fixes and the mentality of ‘I’ll think about that later’ only create more uncertainty in our markets and our economy. The American people deserve better from us. The Senate needs to return to Washington, as the U.S. House has done, and get back to work so we can come to a responsible agreement.”

ATLANTA - As folks all over Georgia celebrate their holiday season traditions with food, family and fun, law enforcement professionals throughout the state will also be out in full force for their traditional DUI enforcement campaign to arrest anyone caught driving impaired.

That’s because despite the fact that Georgia saw an 11% decrease in impaired driving fatalities in 2010, motorists are still taking too many risks when it comes to drinking and driving. So from Dec. 16 to Jan. 2, police officers, deputies and state troopers all over Georgia will be participating in the annual Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over campaign.

This is a campaign of zero tolerance that reminds motorists that if they get caught driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, they will be arrested and they will go to jail. And while this is the policy 24/7/365 in all 50 states, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) is using this holiday enforcement period to remind drivers how dangerous driving drunk can be.

“The message is short and sweet,” said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood. “Drive sober or you’ll get pulled over. Drinking alcohol and driving is no present for anyone so if you plan to consume alcohol, you better plan for a sober driver to get you home safely.”

Unfortunately, drivers all over Georgia and, indeed, across the country still think they are invincible and will choose to jeopardize their safety and the safety of others. How do we know? In December 2009, 753 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers or motorcycle riders with a BAC of .08 or higher.

“It’s going to be hard to spread holiday cheer if you’re stuck behind bars for a completely avoidable offense,” said Director Blackwood. “Don’t let your holiday season end in arrest, or worse, death. It doesn’t matter if you’re buzzed, had one too many or way too many. It’s just not worth the risk.”

The good news is there are some simple recommendations for making sure you have a safe and sober holiday season:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your keys at home;
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
• If you see know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take that person’s keys and help him or her make other arrangements to get home safely.

“Whether you’re going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house or down the street to join a neighbor for holiday festivities, driving impaired is a gift nobody wants,” said Director Blackwood.

For more information on the dangers of impaired driving, visit www.gohs.state.ga.us/zero.html.

GRIFFIN - W. Len Moore, Vice President for Adult Education recently announced that Kelsy Dawsey has been chosen to represent Southern Crescent Technical College’s Adult Education Program at the EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) Leadership Institute in Atlanta on February 13-15, 2012. The Leadership Institute recognizes and honors those students who have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes and programs.

Click here to read the rest of this article. Photo courtesy of Southern Crescent Technical College.

Don't forget to pick up your pre-ordered Boston Butts from The Montgomery Lodge #31 F. & A.M.

Pick Up is December 17, 2011 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Contact: Brent Davis-Cell: (404) 567-0610–Email:brentdavis69@yahoo.com or Contact: Jimmy Vincent- Cell: (770) 584-4363-Email:jimmyrvincent@bellsouth.net.

ZEBULON - Each year local American Legion Posts across the nation host a constitutional speech contest referred to as the “Oratorical Contest”. The High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is a public speaking contest for high school students designed to develop a deeper knowledge of the United States Constitution. The Oratorical Contest presents participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation's laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

The contest begins at the local post level as a Legion Post contestant and cumulates with a national competition. Scholarship awards are presented to finalists raging from $50.00 for local post winners and growing to $18,000 for the National Champion.

Click here to read more about this opportunity.

Pike County - The Georgia Forestry Commission is accepting applications for Ranger I in Pike County. Applicants must live, or relocate to, w/in 45 minutes of assigned work, have valid driver’s license at hire, & be able to obtain CDL license.

Preferred quals include 1 year exp operating & maintaining heavy-duty vehicles & equipment, Forestry degree or work exp in Forest Mgt. An ACT WorkKeys assessment in 3 specific categories must be submitted w/ application.

For more info & application, call 770-227-5522 or visit us at www.gatrees.org. Deadline for receipt of completed application is January 13, 2012. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG SCREENING, MEDICAL EXAM, & FITNESS TEST.

ZEBULON - The Atlanta Humane Society Surgical Utility Vehicle will be offering $20-spay/neuter clinics in Pike County at the invitation of the Companion Animal Rescue and Education, Inc. The first clinics will take place January 25-26 in the parking lot of Pike Depot Feed and Lumber on Hwy. 19, south of Zebulon. Thirty clients are needed each day in order for the vehicle to continue coming to Pike County. Clients can register or get more information by calling 678-408-0062 or sending an email to suvspaypike@gmail.com. Some restrictions on pet health, age, size and aggressiveness will apply for the $20-rate.

"The Atlanta Humane Society makes this incredible service available, but every location must have a local ambassador to coordinate the location, schedule clients and publicize the dates," said Lisa Ramos of CARE, Inc. "When I found out about it, I knew I had to try to get them to Pike County so I offered CARE, Inc. to be the ambassador partner. The location was the easiest part thanks to Pike Depot, but I still needed someone to invest a lot of time into taking the applications and scheduling the clients.

"When Amy Smith volunteered her computer skills to do that, I knew we were on our way. Amy also kicks off the publicity by announcing the dates through our network of CARE, Inc. volunteers who are connected to just about anything having to do with pets in the area---Coco's Cupboard, T.A.O. K-9 Unleashed, Friends of Pike County Animals, Dolly Good Puppy Society and other organizations."

The group is looking for ways to connect with financially distressed families who can't afford the other discount spay/neuter clinics. Food pantries, aid agencies and churches who work with needy families can send a contact email address to suvspaypike@gmail.com and request clinic announcements as soon as each date is set. Donations to pay for spay/neuter surgeries for needy pet owners can be made through Coco's Cupboard, 70 Pope Street, Zebulon, GA 30295.

“New Year’s Eve” (Warner Brothers)

Every once in a while a movie comes along that has no deep message; no car chases or tons of explosives; and what’s best it isn’t in 3D. The purpose of these movies is just to entertain, and such a movie is “New Year’s Eve.” This Garry Marshall directed film has a cast of thousands, or at least it seems that way, and they participate in short vignettes that are sad, funny, or musical. Each aspect of the film succeeds, and with all the “heavy” movies being thrust upon us lately it is a welcome relief.

Each of the “stories” are somehow connected; some directly and some indirectly. You have the case of the bike messenger (Zac Efron) trying to fulfill the “wish list” of an unmarried fifty something lady (Michelle Pfeiffer). Efron’s sister in the movie is played by Sarah Jessica Parker, who is trying to keep her fifteen year old daughter (Abigail Breslin) under control.

Click here to read the rest of this review.

©2011 Jackie K. Cooper

[Note from the Editor: This website looks better on Firefox.]

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

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

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) today made this statement on the breakthrough port deepening provisions included in the year-end spending bill that passed the Senate this morning by a 67-32 vote. Ports in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, both have harbor deepening projects they continue to push forward to prepare for the larger ships that will be coming through Panama Canal beginning in 2014.

“With the significant spending cuts contained in this bill, Congress is finally taking a step in the right direction toward reining in Washington's reckless spending spree. This bill also takes a new, commonsense approach toward funding of the critical harbor deepening projects at our nation’s ports now that earmarks are a thing of the past. The new funding method being created in this bill will help ensure taxpayers across America receive the best value for their hard-earned dollars.

“In President Obama’s FY 12 budget submission to Congress, the Savannah Port did not receive adequate funding and the Charleston Port was completely forgotten. This created an unfair situation to both states. Under the new provisions in this bill, no longer will our harbor deepening efforts be held hostage by the President’s budget submission to Congress.

"We realize our states must have the infrastructure in place to ensure the billions of dollars in goods and products manufactured in our states can be exported throughout the world. Likewise, every other state in the nation also relies on our ports to export their goods and products. We must work together to ensure our states and region are not left behind after expansion of the Panama Canal.

“The job creation and positive economic impact of expanding both ports is clear, not just for our individual states, but for the entire region and the nation. We will continue to do all that we can to help in this partnership at the federal level between Georgia, South Carolina and our surrounding states. We also praise the collaboration and hard work of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal in seeing to it that the harbors in the Charleston and Savannah ports are deepened and ready for the larger ships.”

This meeting was attended by four out of the five commissioners, County Clerk Teresa Watson, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton. CM Sawyer advised that Commissioner Carol Bass was absent due to a death in her family.

1. CALL TO ORDER .................................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

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

4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the following: Regular Monthly Meeting of November 29, 2011 and the Special Called Meeting of December 7, 2011.

Click here to read more from this meeting as it goes online. I will note updates on this article as I work to finish it out.

Update 12.21.11: I have begun writing on the changes between the low bid project and the possible changes that commissioners will vote on in the January meeting. Comments from the public will follow these updates. Readers can send their thoughts on the project in a Letter to the Editor that I will place on that page through the January 2012 meeting. One letter is already online. Thanks for reading the Pike County Times.

ZEBULON - Thank you to everyone who has shown kindness to my family and to me during our time of loss.

My Grandpa, George Mortensen, touched so many people with his life. From fishing to his attendance at Rehoboth Church of the Nazarene to taking care of and picking muscadines at the Cochran Muscadine Farm in Meansville, he brought love and laughter into many lives. We have truly been blessed.

Show your love to those who have made a difference in your life. Tell your friends and family that you love them every chance that you get because we are not promised tomorrow.

One of these days when it's my time to go, I want to be sure I leave a legacy like my Grandpa did.

ZEBULON - Military appreciation ornaments are only at Zebulon Pharmacy again this year. These ornaments are a way to show friends and loved ones that you appreciate their sacrifice serving our country.

I painted my first ornament in 2004 as I waited (very impatiently) to see if my husband was going to make it home from combat in Iraq in time for Christmas that year. I have continued to hand paint these ceramic ornaments each year since that time including another deployment for our family. I have been told that these dated ornaments have been shipped to other states and many have honored friends and family in Pike and surrounding counties every Christmas.

Thank you to all who have sacrificed to serve our country both in the past and are serving today. Thank you to the many families who have sacrificed as your loved one served. We remember. And we are thankful because we know that freedom is not free.

Thanks to those who have gotten ornaments to honor your friends and loved ones. Proceeds are going toward stamps to send comic pages to soldiers who are being deployed to Afghanistan in January. Smiles from home...

ZEBULON - The ABC Network News Team with Bob Woodruff produced a one hour Nightline Prime Time Special that aired December 10th at 8 p.m. before the debates. The special was entitled "Bringing America Back" and featured Purple Heart Homes Co-founders Dale Beatty and John Gallina and the renovation of Sgt. Buddy Mays' home in Meansville.

This ten minute segment on Purple Homes and its founders explained how Dale Beatty and John Gallina began their organization as well as how they have worked to make lives easier for disabled veterans. Part of the segment was dedicated to the Mission Accomplished Ceremony for the home of Sgt. Buddy Mays and his family.

Sgt. Buddy Mays' home was made it more accessible and energy efficient though the help of volunteers from Purple Heart Homes, Inc. and Wells Fargo. Dozens of volunteers gave countless hours to help renovate his home. Volunteers renovated two bathrooms, painted the entire house, helped build a back deck with a wheelchair lift, put in energy efficient appliances, weather-proofed the attic, worked with landscaping, and moved the solvent system.

Pike County Times Editor Becky Watts was contacted by phone and asked to send photos from the ceremony to ABC Nightline Prime Time for this special. Seven photos were requested and submitted at their direction. One photo was featured on the short clip prior to the segment and another was featured during the segment itself.

A photo of Sgt. Buddy Mays raising the flag with the assistance of fellow veterans and a member of Cub Scout Pack 107 was featured during the segment featuring the Mission Accomplished Ceremony in Meansville. ABC Nightline Prime Time gave credit to Pike County Times on the bottom of the photo as it was shown on national television. Many citizens from Pike and surrounding counties were featured as well as the camaras captured this happy event.

Thanks to all who volunteered their time and efforts helping Sgt. Buddy Mays and his family during this renovation. His life has indeed been made easier from your efforts through the coordination of Purple Heart Homes, Inc. and Wells Fargo.

To learn more about Wells Fargo and its volunteer work in the community, click here.

Click here to make a donation or learn more about Purple Heart Homes, Inc.

Click here to read the rest of this article and see pictures from the event. Click here to read the first article about Sgt. Buddy Mays, Purple Heart Homes, and Wells Fargo. It has been a privilege to cover this groundbreaking event of the renovation of the first home in Georgia for Purple Heart Homes.

Larry (Lean Meat) Rawlins was born in Zebulon to the late James Phillip and Annie Rea Webb Rawlins. He was a retired air traffic controller. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Jerry Marie Baker Rawlins; their daughter and son in law Cynthia Denise and James Joseph Jones of Naples, FL; son and daughter in law Jimmy Lawrence Rawlins, Jr. and Deborah Cannon Rawlins of Zebulon; grandchildren Morgan Elizabeth and James Curtis “JC” Rawlins, and James Joseph “Joey” Jones of Naples; brothers and sisters in law, Phillip Michael and Robbie Rawlins of Gray, Ricky Alan and Erin Rawlins of Highland, NC, and David Mark and Cherry Rawlins of Zebulon; along with many numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. A gathering of friends and family will be held on Saturday, December 17, 1-4 p.m., at the home of David and Cherry Rawlins, 1100 Old Meansville Rd. in Zebulon.

Visitations:
1:00PM to 4:00PM on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at the home of David and Cherry Rawlins

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

Mr. George Victor Mortensen, age 86, passed away December 10, 2011. He was born in Shelton, NE to the late Victor Andrew Mortensen and Ada Frances Mann Mortensen. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving during World War II aboard the battleship U.S.S. Iowa. He was a life-time member of the VFW and a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. He lived and worked on a farm outside Gibbon, NE for over 40 years. He moved to Meansville in 1993 to live with his daughter and husband and family. He loved hunting and fishing. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Deloris Mae Smith Mortensen; sisters, Polly Lemburg and Lois Miller; brothers, Eddie Mortensen and John Mortensen. He is survived by his children and their spouses: Terrence and Debora Mortensen of Stockbridge, Steven and Regina Mortensen of Atlanta, KS, Diana and Robert Clark of Meansville, Layne and Alan Rose of Spokane, MO; sisters and brothers-in-law: Frankie Shafer of Englewood, CO, Mary and Jack Cardinal of Denver, CO, Betty and Lyle Stearley of Shelton, NE and Ann and Gerald Crumrine of Grand Island, NE; twelve grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many many friends.

Memorials:
Rehoboth Church of the Nazarene, 976 Kings Rd., Meansville, GA 30256 or Thomaston Hospice, 316 W. Gordon St., Thomaston, GA 30286

Visitations:
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
In-state at 12:30PM, Service at 1:00PM at Rehoboth Church of the Nazarene on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Cemetery:
Shelton Cemetery, Nebraska

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

James Carroll "Jimmy" Hammett, Jr., age 56 of Molena passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at his residence. Jimmy was born in Gastonia, NC on July 3, 1955 to Joyce Hammett and the late James Carroll "J.C." Hammett, Sr. Jimmy attended Gordon Grammar School, Gordon Military College and Valdosta State College where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Communications. His film career began with Earl Owensby Studios in Shelby NC, then continued in his love of movies by producing southern folklore videos. He was a historian who chronicled the life of Ches McCartney, best known as the "Goat Man", a name familiar to many who grew up in the South. Jimmy is also remembered fondly in Pike County as the owner of the Video Doctor, a movie rental store. His knowledge of movies and his winning personality made it a popular gathering place for all ages. Jimmy was called into full time ministry fairly late in life. He founded and pastored GraceRock Community Church in Concord, but most recently was on staff at "The Garden" in Atlanta. A part of Seven Bridges to Recovery focusing on getting men, women and children off the streets, providing food, housing, clothing and most of all exposure to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and Judy, his wife of 33 years, were often seen ministering to the homeless under the bridges in Atlanta. He continued in his passion for helping the down and out by founding "Mission of Hope" through the Flint River Baptist Association. This ministry will provide clothing both in Griffin and Atlanta. It has recently raised a record number of socks, coats, hats & gloves through its annual "Sock the Homeless" campaign. Jimmy has said that he spent his time helping others because that's what the Bible tells us to do. He coined his personal motto, "Find a need and fill it. Find a hurt and heal it" Jimmy was preceded in death by his father, the late James Carroll "J.C." Hammett, Sr. Survivors include his wife, Judy Napier Hammett of Molena; Son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Dana Cato and grandchildren Justin, Cameron and McKenzie Cato of LaGrange; Son and special friend, James Carroll "Champ" Hammett, III and Marisa Silva of Atlanta; Mother, Joyce Hammett of Barnesville; Sister, Tammie Hammett Martin and fiance Jay Honeycutt of Milner with nieces Trinity Walker of York, PA; Jerica and Philip Plouffe and children Madden and Kayson of Valley, AL; Sisters-in-law, Pat Napier of Ocean Springs, MS; Beverly and Ken Grant of Milner; Nancy and Rick Christmas of Ocean Springs, MS; Nieces, Natalie and Rick Nicholson and children Brittany, Cody and Trenton of Milner; Valerie and Brett Perkins and their daughter Keri of Milner. And an extended family, church family and a host of friends. Friends are invited to visit the family after the service in the church fellowship hall.

Memorials:
Jimmy Hammett Benefit Fund, c/o First National Bank of Griffin, P. O. Drawer F, Griffin, GA 30224 or Mission of Hope, c/o Flint River Baptist Association, 568 Baptist Camp Rd., Griffin, GA 30223

Services:
3:00PM at Barnesville First United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 18th, 2011

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

MEANSVILLE - Tears, laughter, the will to endure despite overwhelming circumstances, and a deep respect for our disabled veterans were the resounding themes of Saturday’s celebration at Sgt. Buddy May’s home. Purple Heart Homes, Inc. and Wells Fargo hosted a Mission Accomplished Ceremony at the Mays’ home on Saturday, December 3, 2011 in which Pike County and surrounding communities came out to say thank you to Buddy and his family for his service and sacrifice as well as celebrating the completion of modifications that have been made to his home to make it more accessible and energy efficient.

Over the past several weeks, volunteers from Purple Heart Homes, Inc. and Wells Fargo have given countless hours to help renovate Sgt. Buddy Mays’ home. Volunteers renovated two bathrooms, painted the entire house, helped build a back deck with a wheelchair lift, put in energy efficient appliances, weather-proofed the attic, worked with landscaping, and moved the solvent system.

Click here to read the rest of this article and see pictures from the event.

**PLEASE NOTE: The ABC Network News Team with Bob Woodruff are producing a one hour Nightline Prime Time Special to air December 10th at 8 p.m. on ABC PRIOR TO the debates called "Bringing America Back featuring Purple Heart Homes Co-founders Dale Beatty and John Gallina. They will include a segment about the Mission Accomplished Ceremony for Buddy Mays.

All five commissioners were at the meeting today as well as County Clerk Teresa Watson, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer, and County Attorney Tom Morton. (There was a Board of Equalization meeting scheduled at the same time as this meeting so Rob Morton attended one meeting and Tom Morton attended the other.) The meeting lasted a little over an hour. [Note from the Editor: The best part of the meeting was hearing comments from citizens about Impact Fees. Solicitation of public comment enhances our open government because commissioners care enough to hear what citizens have to say. There were some good questions and suggestions that came out of this meeting.]

Click here to read more from this article. This meeting is complete.

Concord, GA – Martis Deron Ferguson, Jr was named 2011 Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of West GA-Pike County Unit. Ferguson will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members from Boys & Girls Clubs of West GA for the local organization Youth of the Year title and a $1,000 scholarship.

Ferguson is among hundreds of local Youth of the Year winners across the country recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for his sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

Congratulations Martis!

MILNER - A new Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group called “Jeremiah’s Promise” is meeting at Rock Springs Church the third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm. Meetings are now held in The Chapel which is the building located to the left of the Rock Springs Church Sanctuary.

Participation is open to everyone and Church membership is not required. The next meeting is December 15, 2011.

Thanks to an experienced volunteer Child care is now provided! To reserve a space in child care or for more information please call Kelly Leger at 404-861-6341.

Barnesville - Natalie Webster Rischbieter has been named the Alumni Affairs and Annual Fund Coordinator at Gordon College.

Rischbieter comes to Gordon from Columbia, S.C. where she was marketing and sales manager at J. Basque Publishing.

At Gordon Rischbieter will be responsible for building and cultivating relationships between Gordon and its alumni. Rischbieter will also be responsible for the campus’ annual fund campaign.

Rischbieter has a deep connection with Gordon. Four generations of her family attended Gordon over the years including her parents, John and Maureen Brown Webster.

“Both sets of my grandparents lived very close to the campus and I can recall as a child coming over to the campus to play. There were a lot of fun places to hide,” Rischbieter said. “Now, through adult eyes, I see a beautiful campus that holds so many fond memories for me and many members of my family. I am very happy to be a part of Gordon and I look forward to getting to know our alumni and reintroducing others to Gordon.”

“We are so happy to have someone with the enthusiasm and drive that Natalie has,” said Rhonda Toon, vice president of advancement. “She will be a great addition not only to the Gordon family and our alumni community, but to Barnesville as well. We are happy to welcome her home.”

Rischbieter and her husband, Mark, have a daughter, Lillian Mabel, who is 7 months old.

In the purest sense, governments deal with the governed in one of two ways: by either promoting or limiting individual freedoms. It’s that smple.

Regrettably, most governments around the world deal with the governed in the latter fashion. In fact, governments that truly promote individual freedoms are the exception rather than the rule.

Click here to read more Conservative Commentaries.

LaGrange, GA. – National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holidays and beyond. District 4 Public Health is partnering with the CDC to dispel the myth that vaccination beyond the holiday is “too late.”

Influenza vaccine is still available at health departments in the district. The cost of the vaccine is $25.00. Please call your local health department to make an appointment.

“While flu vaccine is not 100% effective, it offers the best protection we have against this serious disease,” said Hayla Hall, risk communicator for District 4 Public Health. “Once vaccinated, you can enjoy this holiday season knowing that you have taken the single best step to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu.”

Influenza can make anyone sick but certain people are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu, causing hospitalization or even death, such as:
· People 65 years of age and older,
· Young children,
· People with chronic lung disease (such as asthma and COPD), diabetes (type 1 and 2), heart disease, neurologic conditions, and certain other long-term conditions, and,
· Pregnant women.

Much of the U.S. population is at high risk from serious flu complications either because of their age or because they have a medical condition like asthma, diabetes (type 1 and 2), heart conditions, or because they are pregnant. People with a health condition should receive a flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

There are more choices available than ever available this year, both in terms of where to get vaccinated and what vaccine to get. However, for people who do not receive the flu vaccine, health officials encourage them to take the following steps to reduce their chances of getting the flu:
· Wash your hands regularly
· Cover coughs and sneezes
· Keep household surfaces clean
· Don’t attend work or school when ill
· Don’t share glasses or eating utensils

For more information visit www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.

December 7, 1941 began as any other day in a world that was already dealing with war on the other side of the world. Ten years of failed diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions came to a horrible conclusion that Sunday morning in Pearl Harbor.

In the end, 2,403 were dead, 188 planes were destroyed, and 8 damaged or destroyed battleships were part of the crippled Pacific Fleet. The Phillipines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand were also attacked in an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible.

This led to the uniting of a divided American on the decision of whether or not to enter into World War II.

This foundation led to the Battle of Midway in June of the following year which resulted in a victory for the United States, and ultimately led to the destruction of the Japanese Empire four years later.

This link contains a eyewitness account of that morning: www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm.

This page contains a historical account of the attack including pictures of the attack: www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm.

This page contains ways to visit historical sights including the USS Arizona: www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm.

Thank you to our military men and women who served in World War II and on up through those serving today. Freedom is not free. We thank you and your families for their sacrifice for our country.

Seventy years ago this Wednesday, at a then-obscure Pacific military installation, a couple of terrified young soldiers named Bob were getting their first taste of battle.

Bob Kerr had never driven a truck, but was desperately trying to chauffeur one filled with dead and wounded soldiers to a field hospital. Bob Schmutzler was firing shots from a rifle at Japanese warplanes, caught so off-guard his anti-aircraft station was still covered with canvas.

Click here to read the rest of this fantastic article.

“The Muppets” (Buena Vista Pictures)

In their heyday the Muppets were everywhere, but for the last few years they have been basically out of sight. Now they have returned in “The Muppets,” a movie full of nostalgia for those who grew up with them. It also serves as an introduction for the generation that doesn’t know who they are. Thus it is a two level movie and it succeeds on both.

Click here to read the rest of this review.

©2011 Jackie K. Cooper

[Note from the Editor: This website looks better on Firefox.]

Jackie has many movie reviews on his website at www.jackiekcooper.com including "Hugo", and "Authur Christmas".

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

Ms. Jan Calhoun, age 48, of Griffin, passed away December 3, 2011. She was born in Utica, NY to the late Jay Calhoun and Josephine Slentz Calhoun. She was a Counselor with McIntosh Trail in both Upson and Spalding Counties. She was completing a Master’s degree in Counseling through Argosy University in Atlanta where she was recently inducted into the Chi Sigma Iota, Alpha Upsilon honor society and was elected as their Secretary. She was a long-time member of Carver Road Baptist Church in Griffin. Jan had a passion for missions. She loved all children and especially her family. She enjoyed scrapbooking and for many years she worked on Saturdays for Zebulon Florist and Cindy’s Florist in Zebulon. She is survived by her sisters and brothers and their spouses: Nancy and Bernie Whitacre of West Edmeston, NY, Ginny and Tim Rockwell of Barnesville, Jodi and Danny Hawes of west Edmeston, Jacob Calhoun of NC, and Jim Calhoun of Griffin; Nieces and nephews: Jason and Jon Whitacre, Aja, Kiffen and Ilea Rockwell, Barrett, Jared and Clayton Hawes and numerous extended family members and a host of friends.

Memorials:
Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or on-line at www.samaritanspurse.org

Visitations:
5:00PM to 7:00PM on Monday, December 5th, 2011 at Moody Funeral Home

Services:
7:00PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, December 5th, 2011

Cemetery:
West Edmeston Cemetery, Route 8, West Edmeston, NY 13335

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

ZEBULON - The bids have come in on the renovation for the Courthouse and all are above the price that what was hoped for in this bidding process. Voters approved a SPLOST this past year that includes Courthouse renovation for approximately $2.5 million dollars.

Bids were as follows: John W. Spratlin & Son, LLC out of Lincolnton, Georgia was the apparent low bidder with a bid of $2,995,000. Headley Construction Corp. out of Newnan bid $3,040,000. Ricks Contractors, Inc. out of Buford bid $3,220,000. Hughes Co., Inc. out of Griffin bid $3,999,000.

County Manager Bill Sawyer advised by phone that there are three options at this point. Commissioners can refuse to accept any and all bids and readvertise the project, they can ask the architect to reduce the scope of the project and rebid it, or they can negotiate with the apparent low bidder and see if we can get the price to come down.

At the Tuesday night Regular Called Meeting, County Manager Sawyer suggested accepting the lowest bid and negotiating with the contractor for a lower cost.

County Manager Sawyer advised by phone that this matter will be discussed by the Board of Commissioners at the December 14, 2011 meeting.

ZEBULON - According to the Pike County Sheriff's Office, Investigators arrested Brent Karr, 33 years of age, for burglary on Friday. On Wednesday morning, a resident in the Whitfield subdivision called 911 reporting that an intruder had been found in their house.

The resident was upstairs when she heard a noise from inside of the house and came out of her room to see what the noise was. At that time, Karr was on the steps leading upstairs and turned and fled the residence.

Witness statements and several security cameras in the area lead to Mr. Karr becoming a suspect in the case. During an interview with Karr, he could provide no explanation for why he entered the home.

As of yesterday, he was in the Pike County Jail awaiting a bond hearing for one county of burglary.

There are a ton of things to do in the Pike County area this weekend. You can:

• The Annual Lighting of Concord will take place on Friday, December 2, 2011 beginning at 6 p.m. There will be food available at the Concord Cafe and the Ole Mule Barn along with crackling fireboxes and a hayride for kids of all ages! Santa will arrive at 6:45 p.m. by helicopter and visit with children from 1 to 92 in the Strickland Building. There will be no polaroid pictures this year so be sure to bring your camera to this free community event.

• Pike County Parks & Recreation Authority Presents Second Annual Donuts with Santa on December 3rd, 2011 at The Pike County Senior Center from 9 AM – 11 AM. Have pictures taken with Santa, enjoy activities and story time! Refreshments provided. Free of charge. To register contact The Pike County Parks & Recreation Authority at 770-567-2027.

• Barnesville Nazarene Church will hold its 3rd Annual Christmas Cookie Sale on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Choose from hundreds of homemade cookies! Cookies will be sold by the pound. All proceeds will go to support the Children's Department at Barnesville Nazarene Church. Barnesville Nazarene Church is located at 744 Highway 341 South in Barnesville. www.BarnesvilleNazarene.com

• Participate in a Mission Accomplished Ceremony for Sgt. Buddy Mays on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 1:00 PM at 770 Vickery Road, Meansville to personally thank Sgt Buddy Mays and his family for his service and sacrifice and to celebrate the completion of the modifications that were made to his home to make it more accessible and energy efficient by community volunteers and Wells Fargo Employee volunteers. See more in the article directly below this one. Thanks to our soldiers and their families for their sacrifices paid while serving our country.

• The Williamson Music Barn schedule for Saturday, December 3, 2011 is: 6:00 - Jim and Friends, 7:00 - Line Creek Bluegrass, and 8:00 - Rick Heindselman. We offer the finest in Bluegrass, Country and Gospel music entertainment every Saturday night in an alcohol free family atmosphere. There is no charge for admission as we operate on a "Donations" basis. Everyone is welcome. Bands interested in performing should contact 770-375-8490 for scheduling information. We are located at 2232 Hwy 362 West in Williamson, Ga 30292.

• Journey to the Manger runs through tomorrow night. www.therockranch.com

• The Journal Reporter has a few events that were not sent to the Pike County Times too. www.pikecountygeorgia.com.

• The Montgomery Lodge #31 F. & A.M. is selling Boston Butts for Christmas. $25.00/ 10 lb.Butt (Approximate Pre Cooked Wt.) Order By: December 09, 2011. Pick Up: December 17, 2011 PM from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Contact: Brent Davis-Cell: (404) 567-0610–Email:brentdavis69@yahoo.com or Contact: Jimmy Vincent- Cell: (770) 584-4363-Email:jimmyrvincent@bellsouth.net.

• The American Legion Pike County Post # 197 Christmas Helping Hands Will be collecting toys and donations for needy families in our community on December 6, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The American Legion Pike County Post #197 is located at 645 Meansville Street in Zebulon. Your help and support is greatly needed and appreciated! For more info call: 770-689-7549 or 770-468-4177.

Don't say that you haven't had the opportunity to give thanks and get into the spirit of the Christmas season because there are more opportunities here than one person can go to in a week! Take some time and support those around us here in the community!

“After the German surrender, one of Hitler’s high-ranking naval officers was asked why the Nazi U-boats had been withdrawn from U.S. coastal waters early in 1943. The answer was exploded in a curt guttural: ‘It was because of those damned little red and yellow planes!’” -- From Robert E. Neprud’s Flying Minute Men

Civil Air Patrol members became the Minutemen of World War II, volunteering their time, resources, and talents to defend the nation’s borders. They filled the gaps left by the men, women and resources mobilized to fight abroad. These Flying Minutemen, all volunteers, performed valiantly on many missions including coastal patrol to search for enemy submarines, search and rescue missions throughout the United States, cargo and courier flights to transfer critical materials and personnel. They even towed targets so Army Air Corps personnel could practice air-to-air gunnery techniques. In all, these volunteers amassed a stunning record -- flying more than half-a-million hours, sinking two enemy submarines, and saving hundreds of crash victims.

Where did these volunteers come from? Although Pearl Harbor propelled the United States into World War II, many Americans saw the AXIS threat long before Dec. 7, 1941. Among them were nearly 150,000 men and women involved in aviation.

As early as 1938, they began to argue for the creation of an organization to harness their experience in the event America entered the conflict. Their efforts, led by writer-aviator Gill Robb Wilson and supported by Gen. Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold, resulted in the creation of the Civil Air Patrol. The Director of Civilian Defense, former New York Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, signed a formal order creating the CAP on this day in 1941 -- one week before Pearl Harbor.

A thankful nation recognized the vital role CAP played during the war and felt that it could continue to provide invaluable help to both local and national agencies. On July 1, 1946, U.S. President Harry S Truman signed Public Law 476 incorporating the CAP as a benevolent, nonprofit organization. And on May 26, 1948, Congress passed Public Law 557, permanently establishing the CAP as the Auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force.

With more than 53,000 members, 535 light aircraft and an extensive communications capability, the Civil Air Patrol is fully equipped to continue its mission for America.

Happy birthday, CAP!

Submitted by: Capt. John E. Kimberly, Squadron Commander / ITO
Griffin Composite Squad, USAF Auxiliary - Civil Air Patrol

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – On Dec. 1, Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, observes 70 years of vigilant service. But the celebration won’t be complete until CAP’s earliest members – now in their eighties and nineties – are “rightly honored” with the Congressional Gold Medal. CAP, an all-volunteer service of more than 61,000 members, was founded 70 years ago on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II. Known at the time as the Coastal Patrol, members soon proved their worth by conducting aerial missions at the request of the Office of Civilian Defense, displaying heroism that discouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attacks on supply ships leaving American ports headed to support the Allied war effort.

The “subchasers” flew at great personal risk. In all, 90 CAP planes were forced to ditch at sea. Of the 59 CAP pilots killed during World War II, 26 were lost while on Coastal Patrol duty and seven others were seriously injured while carrying out the missions. Their wartime service was highly unusual because they were civilian volunteers flying combat missions in their own aircraft at a time when the military could not adequately respond the U-boat threat. The military decided to arm their aircraft soon after the patrols began and, all told, they sank or damaged two or more submarines and attacked 57.

Read the rest of this article on the Letters to the Editor page by clicking here.

Click here to read about The Civil Air Patrol Group 3 Drill Team, led by the Griffin Composite Squadron, winning First Place in the all Georgia Civil Air Patrol Drill Team Competition. Click here to find out more about Griffin CAP and how your child can be a part of a great alternative for JROTC.

ZEBULON - A School-Based Health Center has been proposed in Pike County in partnership with the Emory University Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program, the Pike County School System, and Pike County's YES Team, Inc. The YES Team is taking the lead in assessing and planning for this School-Based Health Center over the next ten months. Edd Sanders brought this idea before the Pike County Board of Commissioners at the November 29, 2011 meeting.

The YES Team is leading this process by bringing together potential partners in meetings, focus groups, etc. and developing plans to expand community support, conducting a needs assessment, and creating a business plan for this Health Center.

According to the press release, this proposed facility would provide quality, comprehensive health care services located in or near the Pike County Primary School facility and would be open during school hours. It would be staffed with qualified health care professionals and would be "focused on teh prevention, early identification, and treatment of medical and behavioral concerns that can interfere with a student's learning."

Some of the needs for this proposed Health Center are based on decreasing absenteeism and tardiness, increasing school attendance, increasing GPA over time, increasing access to health care, eliminating the need for parents to take time off from work.

The public is invited to attend the School Based Health Center Lunch and Learn with Dr. Veda Johnson, Director of the Emory University Department of Pediatrics Urban Health Program on December 15, 2011 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Professional Learning Center Meeting Room #2 located in the old Pike County Middle/High School next to Ruth's Restaurant in order to find out more information on this program. The program is presented by the Pike Community Resource Network which is part of the Georgia Family Connection statewide network of county collaboratives committed to cultivating public and private collaboration at a local level. RSVP by December 12, 2011 to Michael Powell at 770-567-2930 or powellm@pike.k12.ga.us.

To read a copy of the information that was passed out to commissioners at the meeting, click here.

ZEBULON - After the first of the year, West Central Pre-Release Center located in Zebulon will become the West Central Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center according to Warden Edd Sanders.

Female probationers who have been sentenced by the court to attend a six month substance abuse treatment program will be able to fulfill the qualifications of their sentence at the West Central Pre-Release Center.

Warden Sanders said that this is the second facility of this type for female probationers in the state.

Earlier this year, West Central Pre-Release Center was advised that it would be closing. Instead, the mission has changed to enable women to get the help that they need and help them get control over their lives.

The weather was beautiful as volunteers from Wells Fargo worked with Purple Heart Homes, Inc. to renovate the home of Buddy and Summer Mays this weekend. Purple Heart Homes, Inc. is a 501c3 organization owned by veterans that is making a difference in the life of this Pike County disabled veteran. Purple Heart Homes received a $37,000 grant from Wells Fargo to make life easier for Ret. Sgt. Charles D. “Buddy” Mays.

The Mays’ home is the first home to be renovated here in the state of Georgia by Purple Heart Homes, Inc. Wells Fargo teamed up with Purple Heart Homes, Inc. to make the home energy-efficient and handicap accessible. Volunteers built a handicap accessible bathroom for Buddy, built a lift system from the back deck that will provide an exit from the house, painted the inside of the home, and provided an energy efficient upgrade through appliances and weather-proofing that will save the Mays family up to $700 per month in their energy bills.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

ZEBULON - In a three minute hearing before Judge Stephen E. Boswell yesterday afternoon, the matter of Pike County versus Loretta Rakestraw was finally decided. Judge Boswell asked the audience in the courtroom if anyone had any objections to the Final Judgment before he made his final decision. When no one spoke, the attorneys for Pike County were allowed to file the Final Settlement which allowed Loretta Rakestraw to return to her position as Assistant Magistrate Court Judge.

According to the Consent Order and Final Judgment, Assistant Magistrate Rakestraw will return to her position on a 20 hour per week basis with full-time benefits until her current appointment expires on December 31, 2012. Rakestraw was also awarded $40,000 in attorney's fees.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

ZEBULON - After numerous Executive Sessions over the past few months, Pike County Commissioners made a motion to authorize the County Attorney to negotiate to resolve Pike County v. Loretta H. Rakestraw which was filed in Pike County Superior Court on April 14, 2010. This case will be heard before Judge Boswell in Pike County Superior Court (in the Courthouse) on November 17, 2011 at 3 p.m.

When asked about this motion, County Manager Bill Sawyer said, "It is my opinion that an agreement is forthcoming on the 17th. It has been over a year and Pike County needs to move on as well as the parties involved."

Click here for the remainder of this article.

Services offered at the Pike County Health Department:

• Immunizations available for children who meet guidelines set by the Vaccines for Children Program (18 yrs and below, Medicaid, no insurance, or insurance doesn’t pay for vaccine).

• Adult Immunizations available: Tetanus Boosters, Flu, Pneumonia, Shingles, Hepatitis A and B vaccines.

• Child Health Program (Well Child Check Up) provides early and periodic health screenings for children up to age 21.

• Hearing/Vision/Dental Screenings are available for children entering public school kindergarten or Georgia schools for the first time (Form 3300).

• BreasTEST and More Program provides clinical breast exams and mammogram screenings at reduced or no cost for low income, uninsured women ages 40-64 years. Must provide proof of household income.

Click here to find out more services that are offered right here in Pike County.

The Regional Roundtable held its meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 8, 2011 at the Turin Community Center in Turin, Georgia.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Chairman Raines called the meeting to order and welcomed all attendees. He then asked Mr. Harvey Norris to give the invocation. After the invocation, Chairman Raines advised the members that the agenda needed to be changed in order to accommodate a quick meeting of the Executive Committee. He then asked the Executive Committee chairman, Mr. Richard Wolfe, to explain the reason why the committee needs to meet. Chairman Wolfe advised the Roundtable that the Executive Committee last met on Thursday, August 4, and at that time they had agreed on a project list to present to the Roundtable. It was late on Friday (August 5th) afternoon that he was informed that GDOT had deleted a Heard County project from the list but the project had remained on our worksheets in error. Chairman Wolfe was not able to speak with Ms. June Jackson about this issue and had requested that the Committee be able to address this situation. He stated that the vote that was taken last Thursday was an invalid one and he wanted to resolve this issue as soon as possible. Chairman Raines asked if any Roundtable member had an issue with allowing the Executive Committee to meet for thirty (30) minutes. No one objected to this; Chairman Raines excused the Executive Committee members in order for them to meet and to address the matter.

Click here to read the rest of these minutes and find out how much of a percentage each of the ten counties will receive this if taxpayers approve this regional tax.

All five commissioners were present for this meeting as well as County Clerk Teresa Watson to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer, and Rob Morton and Tom Morton as legal counsel for Pike County.

District 3 Commissioner Tommy Powers was recognized with a certificate, plaque, and pin for more than 120 hours of training over the past several years to become a certified county commissioner through ACCG (Association County Commissioners of Georgia) with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at UGA. Commissioner Powers attended classes on finance, human resources, county law, economic development and ethics as well as attending district meetings, participating in leadership activities, serving on ACCG policy committees and completing a project summary in order to earn this honor. Congratulations!

5. INVITED GUESTS

a. Proclamation declaring November 6, 2011 as Retired Educators Day in Georgia will be presented to Mary Milner, Public Relations Chairperson of the Pike County Retired Educators Association.
Mary Milner won the Georgia Retired Educator Award this year for serving over 1,000 hours in Pike and the surrounding communities this year. She tutored, drove others to classes, and performed other volunteer work to earn this award. Bonnie Byrd Gardner is retiring this year after 4 years of service as the director. Congratulations to Mary Milner for this honor!

6. REPORTS – From Commissions, Departments, Committees, County Manager, Attorney

a. Monthly Reports submitted from County Departments and County Authorities, including a Revenue/Expenditure Statement for all departments, and a summary check register.
Commissioner Bass commended CM Sawyer and Commissioner Jarrett for attending Water and Sewer Authority meetings in the past several months.

b. County Manager Report
• County Manager Comments: CM Sawyer advised that the finances are changing daily in Pike County. Said that the outlook was rather bleak 2 months ago with the commissioners giving the authority to borrow $800,000 but said that through a lot of hard work and efforts from many in the county, only $400,000 has been used and that may be all that we have to use this year. "We are moving in the right direction," he said.

Update 10.18.11: This meeting is complete.

Click here to read the rest of the write up from this meeting. I will continue writing until finished and update on this page.

Have you ever wondered about your fire insurance rates? Why are some rates higher than others? Why do some companies charge different rates for homes in the same area?

“ISO ratings depend on a combination of different evaluation areas which are combined to become the actual ISO rating for the area,” said Fire Chief Mike Grant of Pike Emergency Services. Insurance companies use classifications to determine the price of fire insurance for homes and businesses in Pike County.

According to www.isomitigation.com, 50% of classification is based on the fire department, how it is dispatched to a fire, and the ability of the fire department to fight a fire based on its personnel and equipment. 40% of the classification is based on water supply in the event of a fire. The final 10% is based on the review of the fire alarm system including whether a community has 911 to dispatch fire fighters to a residence in the event of a fire and how fast that call can go out to 911 in the event of an emergency.

A large portion of the classification is based on the fire department. Since Pike County has a volunteer fire department, the ISO rating is higher than it would be compared to a county with a paid fire department. ISO reviews information such as what type of equipment is housed at a particular fire station, what kind of equipment is on the trucks, how fast and how long water can be pumped in an emergency situation, how many personnel are on the roster, and what type of training the firefighters have had in order to determine the ISO rating.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

My name is Deborah Dennis and I’ve lived here in Pike County for about 16 years. Over that period of time, like anybody else, it’s been a mixture of good and bad, blessings and well, you get it. And with each new experience, each new trial, good and bad, I’ve grown. My latest ongoing accomplishment at personal growth, is being the mother to a child with Special Needs.

That would be my 6 year old son, Owen.

Owen was diagnosed with Autism when he was 2 years, 10 months old. Now I tell you, that was an emotional roller coaster ride just getting a diagnosis. I think a parent’s worst nightmare is having a group of medical specialists collaborating together to decide what’s “wrong” with your child. And then there’s the grieving. I grieved up until the first year anniversary of Owen being diagnosed. May 21, 2008.

Why was I grieving, you may ask? Shattered dreams. Every parent, from the moment that they hear they’re “expecting”, start to dream. What will my child be like? Who will he look like? What will he be when he grows up? A doctor? A football player? Winner of a Nobel Peace Prize? President? The sky is the limit. So we do what every parent does, we decorate the nursery, buy baby clothes. Dads talk to their offspring via mom’s bellybutton, while mom anticipates every fluttery movement and kick. Then the baby is born. Some of us learn at birth something is not quite right. Some of us get increasingly alarmed at every developmental milestone not reached and every “red flag” that goes up because of odd behavior from our little one.

Whenever the dreaded diagnosis is given, at birth or down the road, the same thing happens. All the dreams that were conceived right along with that child shatter into a million pieces, as we the parents, weep over the pieces. But at some point, we dry our faces and find the inner strength to carry on.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

The Pike County Emergency Services (PCES) Fire Chief Mike Grant has seen the need of adding additional emergency support equipment to our fleet.

It is that extra “ARM” that Pike County Volunteer Fire Fighters often need/rely on for that vitally needed/required additional emergency support equipment. When required. This equipment is needed now.

The PCES has stocked a pull along trailer, which contains emergency equipment to support our fire fighters primarily at major structure fires. Frequently, these types of fires totally drain and exhaust our fire fighters. These types of fires often demand that our fire fighters give their maximum physical and mental abilities. Often, they are only seconds away from totally collapsing before they are pulled off the front line. Therefore, fire fighters frequently required immediate attention whenever they become over heated and majorly exhausted a the fire scene.

The drag along trailer is designed for this purpose. It will contain spare SCBA breathing cylinders, oxygen bottles, beds, chairs body cooling devices, and a tent to name a few of its contents. The trailer will provide this critical needed emergency support equipment.

However, this trailer and its stocked equipment didn’t just appear. It has become a reality due to the collective contributions. Individual and personal donations have come from an assortment of members in our Pike County Community. The following is a listing of these individuals and their businesses.

Click here to read the remainder of this article.

This meeting was attended by all Commissioners except for District 2 Commissioner Tamra Jarrett who was absent due to medical reasons, County Clerk Teresa Watson, County Manager (CM) Bill Sawyer, and County Attorney Rob Morton. County Manager Sawyer read a statement from District 2 Representative Tamra Jarrett which advised that she is unable to attend tonight's meeting due to medical reasons. She advised that her surgery will require a recovery period of 4 to 6 weeks and asked the public to please continue to call or email with any issues that they would like her to address. She has asked the county manager to apprise her of all issues that should be brought to her attention as the commissioner for District 2 so she can follow up during this time. She looks forward to returning to meetings as soon as she is able.

• Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
CM Sawyer advised that the county transferred $100,000 from the TAN (Tax Anticipation Note) today leaving a balance of $400,000.

General Fund $12,630.83 (last meeting $4,178.87)
Jury Account $0.00
Cash Reserve Account $2,677.37 (last meeting $2,655.45)
Jail Fund $32,056.37 (last meeting $31,809.04)
E-911 Fund $9,566.36 (last meeting $4,722.55)
DATE Fund $10,596.99 (last meeting $10,790.31)
Juvenile Court Fund $28,536.68 (last meeting $27,731.82)
Residential Impact Fees $268,206.37 (last meeting $265,744.59)
Commercial Impact Fees $12,117.38 (last meeting $12,116.35)
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund 2011 ............... $38,663.11 (last meeting $80,796.17)

Click here to read this meeting which is complete.

ZEBULON - From the Post Agenda

5. INVITED GUESTS

a. Pike County Fire Chief Mike Grant will update the Board on first responders. Chief Grant provided an overview of Pike County Emergency Services (PCES) and its scope of services. The EMS program, which provides for a greater degree of emergency services, supplements the fine job that Mid-Georgia Ambulance Service does for the County. PCES is petitioning for a first responder license and already holds an ambulance license. A used ambulance donated to the County will be fitted for use by the EMS program which will work out of the Zebulon station. A response time of 4-6 minutes can sometimes make the difference in providing life-saving service while awaiting arrival of the ambulance. Two cardiac instances recently in Concord resulted in life-saving procedures being done by EMS trained personnel. As of this afternoon, there are 100 volunteers, 4 paramedics, 18 are EMTs, 30 are first responders, and 48 are firefighters. The current EMT class has 7 personnel, and they each pay $1500 out of their own pockets for this 18-month course. About 17% of calls are EMS related and it complements the fire calls well. Currently 52% of personnel are medically certified, which is amazing for a volunteer workforce. They are exploring repainting the converted ambulance and hopefully will roll it out by October. He thanked the Board for its support.

Also there currently exists no firefighter rehab, and with 60 lbs. of turnout gear for fire fighters in this heat this is a real need, so several officers put their heads together with support staff to rectify this situation. They obtained a trailer on a state grant four years ago and one volunteer has researched and written a standard operating procedure (SOP) for firefighter rehabilitation. They have trained at the county-owned house on Adams Street and this should work well to enhance firefighter rehab.

Fire Chief Grant reiterated he knew that finances for the County are tight; so, PCES has applied for every type grant available. For instance, they recommissioned and put into service a trailer valued at $8000 to $13,000 for only $2,000. Also, they have put PCES back into NFPA compliance. Also, they are looking into state training and certification for those who cannot afford to go the ten days straight in Forsyth.

Chief Grant said they were meeting today with a couple of chiefs to identify some projects that are in progress and need to be completed, but there are a great many people in this department with huge hearts for service.

Mr. Sawyer responded to a question that the Mayor of Meansville was reviewing the proposed agreement; they desire to add the $5,000 payment in the contract and use the same doctor that PCES uses for medical services. Dr. Cox has agreed. Once things were laid in place, Fire Chief Grant said he and Major Snyder visited with them. They will train EMS and fire personnel with the department and use Dr. Cox. Chief Grant and Chief Huckaby will get together on training.

To read the rest of this post agenda, click here. *[Note from the Editor: I did not attend this meeting.]

Members of this committee include: Mike Beres-Chairman, Tom Morton-Vice Chairman, Jim Roberts, Gayle Burden, Elizabeth Anne Barker, Steve Fry, Chuck Ledbetter, Lanier Boatwright, Doug Mangham, Parrish Swift, Bill Sawyer, David Allen, Todd Goolsby, Matt Wood, Jeff Tharpe, and Robert Hiett.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Regular Meeting of May 5, 2011.
(The Thursday, July 7, 2011 meeting was cancelled.)

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

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Next Meeting will be Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 8:30 unless otherwise stipulated

IV. REPORT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
a. Report by Robert Hiett, Government Services Director for Three Rivers RC
• Three Rivers Regional Commission Roundtable Update
• Pike County Transportation Investment Act (TIA) 2010 Quick Facts
b. Comments by Other Members

VI. OLD BUSINESS

VII. NEW BUSINESS

ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Next meeting will be Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. unless otherwise stipulated.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

To read a copy of all information from the past meeting including minutes, click here.

Zebulon – A lawsuit filed last week in Pike County questions changes made by the board of commissioners to the salaries paid in magistrate court.

In her complaint, Chief Magistrate Marcia Callaway-Ingram asserts county manager Bill Sawyer and the Pike County Board of Commissioners violated Georgia law beginning with the 2010-2011 budget year by reducing her annual salary from $63,139 to $49,182. She also claims pay for the associate magistrate was halved to $23,108, effectively rendering it a part time position.

Callaway-Ingram maintains the changes were made over her objection and without her consent or approval. The reductions were apparently part of a larger budget-cutting effort and a central issue in the case appears to be whether reducing the salary of a judicial officer in the middle of a single term of office is legal.

The complaint asks for an evidentiary hearing, the issuance of a writ of mandamus requiring the county to restore salary funding to 2009 levels, back pay for the period beginning June 1, 2010 and for full funding of the associate magistrate position. She also seeks a permanent injunction ordering the county to refrain from interference with her governance of court personnel.

The defendants named include Pike County Manager Bill Sawyer and Commissioners Doug Mangham, Carol Bass, Tamra Jarrett, Tommy Powers, and Don Collins.

Citing O.C.G.A 15-10-23(d), the complaint states, “The county governing authority may supplement the minimum salary of the chief or other magistrate in such amount as it may fix from time to time, but no such magistrate’s compensation or supplement shall be decreased during such term of office.” It also refers to the Georgia Constitution, at Article 6, Section 7, Paragraph V, which states, “An incumbent [judge]’s salary, allowance, or supplement shall not be decreased during the incumbent’s term of office.”

Callaway-Ingram also asserts the defendants have interfered with her ability to hire qualified personnel by withholding numerous applications that were submitted to the county manager’s office.

The case was filed in Superior Court on Monday, August 1st at 2:00pm. Prior to its filing, a letter voicing similar concerns was transmitted to the board of commissioners. That communication, dated June 9, 2011, appears below. [Note from the Editor: The Barnesville Dispatch has a copy of the letter from June 9, 2011 as a part of this article for subscribers.]

It was assigned to Senior Judge Chris Edwards of the Griffin Judicial Circuit.

Callaway-Ingram is represented by attorneys A. Lee Parks and James E. Radford, Jr., of Atlanta.

Becky Watts of Pike County Times contributed to this story.

Click here, here, and here to read discussions that have taken place during budget hearings. [Note from the Editor: The letter is described in depth on the last link on Pike County Times.]

Several people spoke during the Town Hall Meeting that was held at 6:15 p.m. A Town Hall Meeting is held 15 minutes prior to every Regular Called Commission Meeting.

1. CALL TO ORDER .................................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham

3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Commissioner Carol Bass added an Executive Session for the purpose of pending and potential litigation before New Business at the request of County Attorney Rob Morton made prior to the beginning of the meeting. Approved 5-0.

4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the July 13, 2011 Regular Monthly Meeting.

5. INVITED GUESTS
a. County Manager Bill Sawyer and Robert Hiett, Governmental Services Director for Three Rivers Regional Commission, will update the Board on the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (TSPLOST). [Note from the Editor: TSPLOST will be on the ballot next year and is a VERY important issue.]

Click here for the main website for Three Rivers Regional Commission. Click here the minutes from the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) also known as (TSPLOST).

Click here to read the remainder of this article. This is complete.

Today's meeting was attended by all five commissioners, County Manager Bill Sawyer, County Clerk Teresa Watson, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton.

The meeting was about 43 minutes long and that was a welcome change. There was a lot of discussion between the commissioners and both the County Manager (CM) and County Attorneys at this meeting where there hasn't been nearly enough in past meetings.

To read more about this meeting, click here.

Update 7.16.11: This meeting is now complete.

Pike County Times confirmed on June 29, 2011 that the current Pike County Fire Department budget (2010-2011) was used to pay the City of Meansville $5,000 to maintain its fire department. This happened approximately four to six weeks ago according to County Manager Bill Sawyer. Pike County Times learned in this interview that Pike County does not have a current, written mutual aid contract with the City of Meansville for fire protection.

County Manager Bill Sawyer advised that the City of Meansville was paid $5,000 from the fire fund (the Pike County Fire Department/Pike County Emergency Services budget for the 2010-2011 year) to make sure that the City of Meansville Fire Department's equipment could pass their accreditation. "I'm disappointed that they didn't become part of the county department, but they are taxpayers and if we can do what we can to help them maintain the integrity of their equipment then we're going to do that," he said.

County Manager Sawyer said that his intent is to make sure that these funds are only used in the fire department for maintenance or integrity of their equipment, but when asked if the county has anything in writing to this effect, the answer was no. He advised that the verbiage is being worked on at this time by legal counsel. He said that the contract between Pike County and the City of Meansville will say that money specifically has to be used for the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment and stressed that accountability is needed on this. He said the contract should be tied to The Pike County Emergency Services Fire Chief going into the Meansville Fire Department to ensure that the $5,000 has been spent according to the contract.

Click here to read the rest of this article as well as the history of Pike County and the City of Meansville Fire Department.

Update 7.1.11:

Info from Fire Ordinance and Pike County Manager Enabling Legislation:

From the 2010 Pike County Fire Department Ordinance that was signed in December of 2010:

Section 32.02(A) says, "Pike County shall provide fire prevention, fire fighting and other fire/emergency related services within the geographical boundaries of Pike County, Georgia including within the various municipalities within Pike County as may be authorized by law and/or agreement. The services may include fire prevention, EMA, EMS fire fighting services and operations as such may be deemed necessary and reasonable including services by contract or in cooperation with any municipality located within PIke County or in cooperation with any other fire protection entity or emergency service provider."

Section 32.02(C) says, "...In addition, the Pike County Fire Department may provide fire prevention, fire fighting and other fire/emergency related services as set defined herein subject to the review of such policies, procedures, rules and/or regulations by the Board of Commissioners and County Manager." [Italics is my emphasis.]

Section 32.02(E) says, "As with any other county department, the County Manager shall have oversight of the Pike County Fire Department, including but not limited to financial, budgetary and personnel related issues."

[Note from the Editor: I had some questions on whether what was done was legal and it is, but it appears that the 32.02(C) got dropped a bit with three commissioners and the Department Head not being fully notified of this payment to the City of Meansville until several weeks after the fact--after I find out about it to be exact. Common courtesy should have demanded that the commissioners be apprised of this since it falls under policies, procedures, rules, and/or regulations with the Pike County Fire Department. I would think that common courtesy would have demanded that the County Manager apprise the commissioners of this payment, period. Maybe this could be likened to putting calcium chloride on a road in a Commissioner's District (that really will get the phone ringing with thank you's!) or dissolving an authority (or two) in order to put under the county umbrella.

It is a sign of respect to keep commissioners apprised of what is going on in something that will start their telephones ringing so they can answer to the best of their abilities. Our enabling legislation clearly states that "[the county manager] shall be responsible to the board of commissioners for the efficient administration of all of the affairs of the county over which the county manager has jurisdiction." Shall be responsible to the BOC... Am I reading too much into it to say that the county manager should let ALL FIVE of the commissioners know what is going on in something like this?

Here is hoping that changes are being made even as I type. I don't want to see Pike County go back to a place where no one trusted county government and always questioned motives behind everything. I am not looking for things to be done my way, I just want the rules to be followed and for there to be an understanding that just because something is legal doesn't always make it right. The end doesn't always justify the means and we are judged by the mess that we leave in our wake. My resume: Ten years attending Pike County Commission meetings (I also attended meetings in Upson County for several years before moving back home) and almost five years at Pike County Times as a public service making sure that citizens know what is going on in Pike County government. ]

Click on the County Government page link to find old write ups from Board of Commissioners Meetings.

On February 23, 2011, County Manager Bill Sawyer sent a letter to Georgia legislators on the behalf of the Pike County Board of Commissioners. This letter asked Representative Billy Maddox and Senator Ronnie Chance to introduce legislation regarding Pike County's Magistrate and Probate Courts.

The letter states, "Pursuant to a majority vote by the Pike County Board of Commissioners on February 22, 2011, I am requesting that [Rep. Maddox and Senator Chance] introduce legislation to effect the combining of the Pike County Probate Court and the Pike County Magistrate Court. Requested effective dates would be as soon as reasonably feasible, preferably on or about the start of our FY [fiscal year] 2011-2012 which is July 1, or as legislatively practical.

A copy of the draft minutes from the February 22, 2011 meeting signed by County Clerk Teresa Watson and Commission Chairman Doug Mangham were attached to each letter.

Neither office has issued an official statement on the request at this time.

[Note from the Editor: Crossover Day, the 30th day of the Georgia Legislative Session, is on March 16, 2011. This is the final day for bills to be given a vote of approval in the House or Senate so the bills can cross over to the other chamber of the Legislature. Even if our representatives are willing to present this bill to the Legislature on a split vote of 3-2, we are so close to Crossover Day that it may not occur.]

Are you uninsured or unable to pay your co-pay for health care? The Pike County Health Department may be able to help.

Services we provide: Vaccines for all ages, Health checks for children, Developmental screening for children, Breast and cervical cancer screening, Registered Dietician on site, Family planning – includes medical exams, lab tests, counseling, contraceptives/sterilizations, and referral for health needs, Pregnancy tests, Screening and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Hearing/Vision/Dental screenings, Tuberculosis screening and treatment, Blood pressure screening, Lab work (with doctors orders), Women, Infant, & Children nutrition program for pregnant women and children up to 5 yrs old, and Well water testing for bacteria.

Our goal is to provide low cost services. Charges for many services are based on income for people who are underinsured or uninsured.

Same day appointments are available if you call early in the morning. Phone lines open at 7 a.m. The health department is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call today and see how we can help you have a healthier future! 770-567-8972

The Meansville City Council met on February 14, 2011. During this meeting, there was discussion of whether or not to join with the Pike County Fire Department at the next meeting. There were several concerned citizens in attendance at this meeting. Council Members Melvin Colquitt, Betty Bradshaw, Sandy Mitchell, Virlon Rachels and Al Milby were present along with Mayor Gayle Burden, City Clerk Jerome Finley, and City Attorney Tom Morton.

Joy Walker spoke on the upcoming five year, $5,400,000 SPLOST with approximately one half is designated for the Courthouse and one half is designated for work on roads, streets, and bridges in Pike County. This is a one cent sales tax that would be paid on items bought in Pike County that is an effort to keep the costs of these projects off the backs of the property owners in Pike County. Subsidized 40% by people from out of our county. She said that if a person spent $100 in Pike County with this 1% SPLOST, the cost would be approximate to a cup of coffee. Said that in the last month of the past SPLOST collection, Pike County brought in between $8 and $9 million in sales which gave the county about $85,000 in SPLOST funds. She asked the Meansville City Council to encourage citizens get out and vote. Also encouraged citizens to shop in Pike County.

Other business: A public meeting on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant was to be held today at noon. Project was started in September of 2007 and is finished. Congratulations to the City of Meansville on this CDBG. Motion to approve the Easter Sonrise Service at the walking track. Approved 5-0. Other topics were addressed as well.

Fire Fighter Ron Snowden spoke to the City Council about his conversation with County Manager Bill Sawyer on Monday morning prior to the evening meeting. He said that they discussed the possibility of a six month and a year long intergovernmental agreement that could be renewed yearly and either side could back out of the agreement during that time. Said that the city will not lose its charter and could still get insurance rollback money but would be required to spend that money on certain things. This will give better and more training, more calls for the fire fighters to respond to because all have been trained with extensive schooling but not been able to use it, the county carries a higher level of Worker's Comp than the City, the county can help bring up roster numbers, better benefits for the fire fighters, and it will help the ISO rating around the city. Said that it could be written in there that nothing moves or changes and said that an agreement with the county could be a win-win agreement for all involved, but said that without Meansville being a part of the County Fire Department, the county will be forced to build another station real soon. Also said that if an engine went out on one of the trucks or a major equipment purchase was required or there was a liability accident, it would break the city. Said that if it doesn't work out, then tell them and no losses.

Several citizens spoke during the public comment part of the meeting and encouraged the City Council members to join the County Fire Department. Margie Trammell said that not joining will hurt everyone in the county and encouraged the members to get past what has happened in the past in order to help citizens in the city and outside of the city limits. Tommy Burnsed also encouraged Council members to join and Don Bailey said that he thought it would be a great idea for fire support.

Executive Session began at 7:28 p.m. and the meeting was called back to order at 8 p.m. Motion was made by the Meansville City Council to authorize the Mayor, the City Attorney, and the County Manager to draw up an agreement with the county on joining the fire department. Approved 5-0.

Meansville City Council met on January 18, 2011 with County Manager Bill Sawyer, Interim Fire Chief Randy Snyder, District 3 Commissioner Tommy Powers, and Pike County Commission Doug Mangham. This is a contination of meetingsfrom 2009 discussing whether the City of Meansville would join the Pike County Fire Department. At the time, there was a mutual aid agreement between the City of Meansville and Pike County. That agreement expired on December 31, 2009 and has not been renewed.

Notes from those 2009 meetings are contained on the "click here" link below. Many of these same issues were rehashed at this January 2011 meeting: whether the county would give Meansville $5,000 to run its own stand alone fire department, whether the new fire truck bought with SPLOST dollars would leave the City Limits of Meansville, will the City lose its charter if it joins the County Fire Department, will ISO rating and level of protection change, what are the benefits of joining a large group versus standing alone, will the City of Meansville provide mutual aid to the County Fire Department at all, and how will citizens who live outside of the City Limits of Meansville be affected by the choice to stay out of the County Fire Department.

Click here to read the remainder of this article.

The Meansville City Council will be discussing whether or not to join with the Pike County Fire Department at the next meeting. At the heart of this matter is whether citizens are going to have to pay to build a new fire station in the southeast portion of the county to ensure adequate fire protection for citizens who live both inside of and outside of the Meansville City Limits. Some of the things that might be be affected include ISO ratings and the cost of homeowners' insurance.

Update 2.11.11: This article has been updated today. It also contains a letter with a list of concerns from council members, firemen, and citizens as well as the response from Interim Chief Snyder.

The public is invited to attend the next meeting of the Meansville City Council to be held on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 7 p.m. at City Hall in Meansville.

Update 2.14.11: Joy Walker spoke on SPLOST tonight. Ron Snowden spoke to the City Council about his conversation with County Manager Bill Sawyer today. Said that an agreement with the county could be a win-win agreement for all involved but said that without Meansville being a part of the County Fire Department, the county will be forced to build another station real soon. Also said that if an engine went out on one of the trucks or a major equipment purchase was required or there was a liability accident, it would break the city. Said that the city would still get insurance rollback money but would be required to spend that money on certain things. This could be a six month or even one year agreement and if it doesn't work out, then no losses. It would be a written intergovernmental agreement. More on the specifics of this tomorrow.

Motion was made by the Meansville City Council to authorize the Mayor, the City Attorney, and the County Manager to draw up an agreement with the county on joining the fire department. Approved 5-0.

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.

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.

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.

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 38
Parrish Swift - 18

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 175
Spencer Price - 69

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - Not in this voting district.
Parrish Swift - Not in this voting district.

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 152
Spencer Price - 82

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 33
Parrish Swift - 16

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 134
Spencer Price - 93

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 96
Parrish Swift - 83

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 126
Spencer Price - 62

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - Not in this district.
Parrish Swift - Not in this district.

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 259
Spencer Price - 100

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 27
Parrish Swift - 19

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 153
Spencer Price - 70

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 70
Parrish Swift - 65

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 125
Spencer Price - 73

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 57
Parrish Swift - 45

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 244
Spencer Price - 125

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - Not in this district.
Parrish Swift - Not in this district.

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 149
Spencer Price - 45

District 2
Tamra Jarrett - 3
Parrish Swift - 6

State House District 127
Billy Maddox - 50
Spencer Price - 24

County Commission District 2
Tamra Jarrett (Republican) - 324 votes - 56.25%
Parrish Swift (Republican)(Incumbent) - 252 votes - 43.75%
Congratulations to Tamra Jarrett. She will take office in January. Thank you to Parrish Swift for your service over the past 3 1/2 years.

State House District 127 - Pike
Billy Maddox (Republican)(Incumbent) - 1,567 votes - 67.84%
Spencer Price (Republican) - 743 votes - 32.16%

State House District 127 - District Total (from the SOS website)
Billy Maddox (Republican)(Incumbent) - 3,356 votes - 61.2%
Spencer Price (Republican) - 2,126 votes - 38.8%
Congratulations to Billy Maddox. Thank you to Spencer Price for being willing to be a public servant.

The State Election Results can be viewed here.

I have received repeated complaints from someone--who I am not going to name--about the wording of the following paragraph in the write up of the meeting by Guest Columnist Margie Trammell. I note my opinions by placing them in blue as a Note from the Editor but did not require the Guest Columnist to do this with following paragraph:

"It should be noted the Overlay Ordinance as referred to by the members and Director of Community Development disallows mandatory buffering on properties developed prior to the adoption of the Overlay Ordinance unless they are being rezoned therefore making it illegal to require buffering of this property."

There is a reason why I did not require a notation of opinion.

First, the agenda for this meeting plainly states that this is a modification of zoning and NOT a rezoning. This piece of property was rezoned to C-3 in 2006 with a restriction on the use of the property that would require the owner to come back before the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners in order to use this property for any other use/business.

Second, I made a couple of phone calls to confirm that Community Development Director David Allen did inform the members of Planning Commission about the requirements of the Overlay District Ordinance and the fact that this property is exempt from the Overlay Distict Process which was passed on March 31, 2009

In the May 13, 2010 meeting, the Planning Commission recommended approval on this modification of zoning with a stipulation that landscape buffering be required in accordance to the Commercial Overlay Ordinance prior to a business license being issued.

If our ordinances are followed by the Board of Commissioners and the Planning Commission, this piece of property is exempt from the Overlay District Ordinance as is stated on page 4 of the Overlay District Ordinance below:

" ...Section 159.03 Applicability of Regulations

The standards of the US Highway 19 and US Highway 41 overlay district shall apply to all developments except as follows: ...(5) Development approved prior to the adoption of this ordinance provided the property is not rezoned. If rezoning occurs, the requirements of this ordinance shall take full effect on the parcel or lot to the extent parcel dimensions will allow..."

[Note from the Editor: The proper way to rezone a piece of property is to allow C-3 zoning and disallow some uses in C-3 if this is what the Commissioners desire to do. This property was rezoned for a single use in C-3 by a prior Board of Commissioners. This required the owner to come back to the BOC for approval of any other uses--even those allowed in C-3 zoning. I will state plainly that if prior Board of Commissioners had followed our ordinances, this property would not even be going through modification of zoning process and buffering would not be an issue at all. Following our ordinances is important and one of the reasons that Pike County Times came into being in the first place.]

Is it a statement of fact or is it a statement of opinion? I have moved Margie's entire article below this article and include a link to the Overlay District Ordinance that was approved by the Board of Commissioners on 3.31.09. Please review her article and then read the Overlay District Ordinance Section 159.03 located on pages 3 and 4 of this document to make up your mind.

Due to the absence of Chairman Tony Watkins the May 13, 2010 meeting was called to order at 7 pm by Vice Chairman Bennie Evans and attended by members Richard Baskin, John Morrison and Doug Rounds as well as David Allen, Director of Community Development and Kim Morris Secretary.

Following approval of the agenda and the minutes from the April 8, 2010 meeting the first item at hand was a public hearing for MOD10-01 with Tim Daniels requesting a modification of the existing C-3 with restriction on his 2 acre parcel on highway 19 south of Zebulon.

In 2006 when Mr. Daniels applied for C-3 (heavy industrial) zoning on this parcel the Pike County Board of Commissioners approved the request but restricted the property’s use to the sale of portable buildings. Mr. Daniels request to have this restriction lifted has been sent on to the current Board of Commissioner’s with a recommendation of approval with the stipulation that landscape buffering be required in accordance with the Type 1 plan as described in the Commercial Overlay ordinance of Pike County. The Type 1 plan basically requires visual enhancement by installing either a 10 ft wide and 6 ft high buffer of vegetation or an opaque fence. The stipulation if approved by the Board of Commissioner’s would require Mr. Daniel to comply with the buffering prior to any new business license being issued.

It should be noted the Overlay Ordinance as referred to by the members and Director of Community Development disallows mandatory buffering on properties developed prior to the adoption of the Overlay Ordinance unless they are being rezoned therefore making it illegal to require buffering of this property.

Next on the agenda were public hearings on Pike County initiated rezoning of all existing R-6 property to AR. R-6 zoning allows for a minimum lot size of 2 acres with a minimum 600sq ft dwelling. AR zoning allows for a minimum lot size of 3 acres with a minimum 1100sq ft dwelling. In addition R-6 zoning does not allow for certain types of agricultural use, for example the housing of swine. The other items discussed at the same time were recommendations to repeal R-6 zoning, revise the zoning map and make text amendments to the code to clarify the procedure for county initiated rezoning amendments.

In the late 1980’s many areas of Pike County were rezoned by the county from AR to R-6 apparently in an effort to provide areas where people could build smaller homes on smaller tracts of land. At that time there was little to no notification of the intent to rezone land and many land owners have found themselves living on lots that are partially zoned AR and partially R-6. It was noted the entire south side of Vega Rd has a 200 ft AR strip running parallel to the road while the remainder of the lots involved are zoned R-6 which means people in that area can keep a pig in the front yard but not in the back.

Only one of the 3 citizens attending this important rezoning meeting spoke and the board voted to send this on to the Board of Commissioners with a recommendation for approval along with a recommendation of approval to change the county zoning map as well as the procedure mentioned above.

Members had further discussion of the Commercial Overlay ordinance after which the meeting was adjourned.

Roads were at the top of their list when commissioners met last week for a strategic planning workshop at the United Bank lake house in Zebulon. Another Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and the addition of another mill (nearly $500,000) to the digest, specifically for roads, were two of the funding vehicles suggested during the discussion.

During the five and a half hour session held Wednesday, Jan. 20, attended by three citizens, commissioners addressed a number of their concerns, which included capital improvements, policy and personnel - namely the hiring of a new county manager. Department heads, the county manager and the county clerk were called by commissioners during the morning session and asked to appear separately, in half hour increments, after lunch. Citizens Advisory Task Force Chairman Bobby Blalock was also questioned by the board.

Commissioner Tommy Powers first brought up the topic of roads, dissatisfied with the practice of repeatedly putting gravel on dirt roads.

Commissioner Roosevelt Willis said that practice could be avoided if roads are properly prepared and given the right base. Chairman Doug Mangham said the county would need a roller machine for packing the roads.

Commissioner Don Collins asked if the board was dealing with a lack of knowledge. "Not having an engineering study killed us on getting stimulus money," he said. In response to Willis' concern about road preparation, he suggested the board might want to hire a road consultant or expert.

Later, when discussion of another SPLOST arose, Commissioner Parrish Swift recommended roads be one of the capital improvements to benefit. Collins later said commissioners need to set a specific millage rate to accommodate roads and capital improvements.

County Manager Steve Marro, who appeared at 2 p.m., said, "Speaking strategically, we have to start putting money toward roads, whether the taxpayer likes it or not." It would also cost another million dollars to get needed road equipment and the personnel to run it, he added.

Other highlights included:

FIRE FEES. Swift said the fire fees adopted last year need to be amended. Mangham agreed, noting a landowner with a smaller tract of land should not pay as much as those with larger parcels. Swift said commercial businesses may not need to pay $650 either. Fire fees were set based on appraised values, but should be done on a flat rate system, Swift said.

"I personally feel there was some gouging done," Powers said. The board will discuss fire fees in a workshop.

Swift also agreed to look into concerns that some citizens aren't getting a reduction into their fire insurance premiums since the ISO rating was reduced effective Jan. 1.

COUNTY MANAGER ADVERTISEMENT: County Clerk Teresa Watson prepared the advertisement for the job now held by Marro. Commissioners previously decided not to renew his contract, which expires May 31. Key issues the new County Manager will face include budgetary concerns due to challenges by the current economy and its impact on revenue, as well as economic planned growth, development and diversification."

"Candidate should be a motivated individual with a degree in Public Administration and have experience working in a similar government position, preferably in a growing community. A Master’s degree in Public Administration with at least three years’ experience is preferred, but a combination of education, experience and motivation will be considered. County Official certification is preferred, but a commitment to complete such certification in a timely manner will be considered. Salary range will be $70,000 to $90,000 depending on qualifications. Excellent benefits are provided, " it states. The deadline for applications is Mar. 1. In addition to the ACCG web site, the ad will appear in papers in Pike, Spalding, Lamar and Butts counties.

Marro, who has been county manager three years, is enrolled in his last class toward (County Manager) certification, Watson said. She will take her final class toward her Clerk certification in February.

In other personnel matters, Watson said there needs to be a restructuring of job duties for Secretary Nancy Cook since most of her duties now belong to her (Watson). "Nancy's floundering," she said. When asked if there could be a reduction in staff, she said no. She said there needs to be a re-defining of job descriptions and cross-training.

LEGAL SERVICES: Collins said the board agreed to go ahead and advertise for legal services, but said the decision would have to be made in open session. Mangham noted even if he (Rob Morton) doubled his salary, his would be a lower price than many other attorneys. Powers said if the attorney wasn't satisfied with what he was getting, he already been gone.

Swift said he would rather spend $150,000 on a county manager than a county attorney. Watson was charged with the task of researching putting legal services to place it out for a bid. Currently, there is $85,000 annually budgeted for the county attorney.

Collins said he intended to ask County Technician Sean Townsend for a breakdown of all money paid for legal services. There was also mention that financial reports weren't being posted in a timely manner on the county web site, to which Swift said, "If financials aren't on the web site, someone needs to have a write-up in their file."

Mangham said the company that is supposed to manage the web site has been "dragging their feet."

GAS PIPELINE: There is to be another meeting of the pipeline committee, which includes members of the development authority, according to Collins. The basic premise is that the natural gas pipeline would come from Lamar County up Highway 41, which is about half of the pipeline. He said Lamar County has exhibited a willingness to participate in the project - without providing money. The benefit would be in Lamar County lending its name as a less prosperous county than Pike to possibly qualify for a One Georgia grant.

Collins also noted Pike County's grant writer, Bill Chamberlain, has contacted Senator Saxby Chambliss, via his staff, and is working on getting information for other funding. "We can't count on it," Collins added.

According to Collins, Atlanta Gas Light, the company that would sell the gas, wants a six inch line rather than a four inch line. "They have agreed to take off a half of a million on it, which makes it much more reasonable," he said. The county would also get a credit for anyone who ties on. The gas line is expected to cost $1.5 to $2 million.

Collins said Supreme Corporation has already committed to the pipeline (as a customer) and there are possible three more subcontractors who would "put in" facilities to utilize the pipeline, adding there are "no firm commitments." He said the committee, specifically the development authority, is to discuss bond funding with local banks.

"Before I vote for it, if it's a tie, I need some facts," Mangham said.

"It's nice to have all the facts, but the facts are hard to round up sometimes," Collins said. The development authority was to meet with AGL to get the facts, he noted.

SPLOST: The consensus of the board was that if another SPLOST proposal was to come before the voters, it should contain no more than two items. At the top of commissioners' list was roads. Collins said in the past he was in favor of renovating the courthouse. "It's time to look at bringing our judicial center to modern day standards," he said. It was noted superior court judges may demand better court facilities. A previous ballpark estimate for a new judicial center from Precision Planning was $6.1 million.

"With the economy, it's prudent to take a step back, irregardless of what judges may say," Swift said.

Mangham said a jail concerns him more than a courthouse, noting the expense of housing inmates out of the county.

Swift said he spoke with someone in Clayton County and was told it is more cost-efficient to house them out.

Before commissioners determine a capital improvements list for a SPLOST, they must determine whether or not Pike County could hold a SPLOST vote in 2010 after voters failed to pass a SPLOST renewal in a Nov. 3, 2009 election. If an election could be held in November this year, there would be just a four month gap in collections, Collins explained.

CATF: Chairman Blalock met with commissioners to answer questions they have about the number of CATF members. He supports continuation of the advisory committee, and agreed it could function with fewer members, but no less than 13. County code states membership is not to exceed 23; yet there are 28 on board.

Blalock said the CATF has been working on policy for records and retention since the failure of the SPLOST. Collins suggested the CATF could also look at the county's personnel manual, which is about 60 percent complete. There is no mention of a county clerk in it, he added. Mangham said the first order of business is to get the committee "straightened out."

OTHER COMMENTS: Marro said he would not be surprised if the county runs three-quarters of a million dollars less in revenue than last year.

Collins noted the sheriff's office was the main department to go over-budget last year because the board of commissioners didn't set enough money in his budget (for payroll).

Collins recalled Marro had preached "doom and gloom" at a regular meeting about tax collections. Powers and Mangham said they heard it's rolling in.

Swift queried whether Pike County has too many appraisers for its size. Willis contends the chief appraiser isn't getting "the most bang for her buck out of that office."

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

IX. NEW BUSINESS
1. Strategic planning – morning session.
2. Interaction with Staff/Administration – afternoon session.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

[Note from the Editor: This is a public meeting.]

Update 1.23.10: I moved the agenda to correspond with the article above. I am grateful to Tamra for her write up on this meeting because I could not attend and, as readers can see, some very important things were discussed. I do want to note that I attended the morning session of this workshop last year which was held in the same place with very little room for observers.

My biggest problem with this meeting is that the Commissioners may have violated or interfered with the duties of the County Manager. Commissioners brought two Department Heads and the County Clerk before them for questioning/discussion without the County Manager being present.

Our County Manager form of government was clarified with a Consent Interlocutory Order signed on January 21, 2004. HB 1819 incorporated these changes and was approved by the Georgia Legislature on May of 2004. Both of these documents are specifically referenced in the Employment Agreements of the past two County Managers. Section 4.1 of HB 1819 states: "...The powers and duties of the county Manager shall be: ... 4) To exercise control over all departments and divisions created therein or which may be hereafter created by the commissioners; ... 9) To supervise and direct the offical conduct of all county officers and employees except as otherwise provided in this Act (Explanation: Does not include Constitutional Officers such as the Sheriff, Magistrate, and other elected officers spelled out in Section 10)..."

This possible violation needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Commissioners should act in a manner that is above reproach. At the very least, actions like this deepen a distrust between the public and our Board of Commissioners.

Update 1.26.10: I have tried to comprehend why the Commissioners would have questioned County Clerk Teresa Watson about positions in the County Commission Office. It was totally innappropriate. And the more I think back to my attendance of last year's Strategic Workshop, the more concerns I have about the Commissioners ever having another one without proper supervision in a place that is easily accessible to the public. I realize that the Commissioners were looking for a place that was more comfortable for their discussions than the Commission Room which does not have a round table atmosphere, but there were problems with this location. First of all, citizens would have to go an extra step to find out exactly where it is located. I went last year after I called United Bank to get directions and was not comfortable driving to the location. Secondly, it is a gravel driveway which could have led to problems with someone attending who had a disability. We even had one vehicle get stuck in the mud down there last year because of the recent rain before that meeting.

Finally, the commissioners have chosen--twice in the recent past--to gather and discuss items without making any decisions. Both times, the public has raised questions about these meetings showing that there is a lack of trust between the public and the Commission. The relationship between the public and the Commissioners has been damaged over the past ten years and it takes time to build that relationship back up to what it should be. While the Commissioners cannot solve this problem with a magic wand, they can act in a manner that is above reproach. Being a public servant is a tough job that requires sacrifice and concessions. That means going the extra mile to be sure that citizens can see that the Commissioners are acting in a transparent manner so no one can accuse Commissioners of wrongdoing.

The Pike County Board of Appeals met on January 21, 2010 in the Commissioners meeting room. In attendance were Chairman John Hoover, and members Teresa Crow and Ron Snowden. Absent was member Bonnie Gardner. Representing the Department of Community Development were Department Head David Allen and Secretary Kim Morris. Also in attendance were approximately 15 interested citizens.

The meeting was called to order at 7 pm by Chairman John Hoover. The Pledge of Allegiance was followed by approval of the agenda which had been amended to include election of the 2010 Chair and Vice Chair of this Board.

John Hoover was re-elected Chairman for 2010 and Bonnie Gardner elected Vice Chair for the same term.

Following approval of the minutes from the December 17, 2009 meeting the only order of business was a revisiting of the application by American Towers, Inc requesting a special exception for a cell tower on property owned by John E Carter at the corner of Highway 19 and Gresham Rd. north of Zebulon.

American Towers was again represented by Kim Bucciero who had prepared additional information as requested by the board at the December 17, 2009 meeting. Ms. Bucciero had met with residents and conducted another balloon study which marks a visual reference to where this tower is to be sited and provided some additional study information in an effort to explain why this tower is necessary.

There was a lot of discussion about the height, location and necessity of this tower with several residents expressing concerns about the visual effect as well as the effect a cell tower would have on their property values.

After almost 1 ½ hours of discussion a motion was made by Ron Snowden to recommend this application be approved with various stipulations such as site and buffering requirements as well as a 2 year bond insuring that trees transplanted to buffer the site would remain alive after transplanting.

The motion was carried in a 2/1 vote with Chairman Hoover voting against the recommendation.

The meeting adjourned around 9pm

Click here to read the post agenda.

The October 2009 financial statement is available on Pike County Times. It has been submitted to the Pike County Government website for upload as well.

Please note that the statement of revenues and expenditures of Pike County Government Funds for the month of October 31, 2009 will change when auditors send year end adjustments back to the county.

Click here to download a PDF of this financial statement.

This statement and the update for this statement will be uploaded to the Pike County Government website and can be accessed by clicking here.

ZEBULON - The regularly scheduled meeting of the Pike County Board of Tax Assessors was held in the Commissioners meeting room and called to order at 9:00am by Chairman Glen Rawlins. Also in attendance were members Gina Fry, Carol Bass, Charles Burden and James Pickering. Chief Assessor Jeannie Haddock, Secretary Melissa Connell and County Attorney Tom Morton were in attendance as was Community Development Director David Allen, Pike County’s new Clerk of the Commission, Teresa Watson and County Manager Steve Marro. There were approximately 10 interested citizens in attendance.

The agenda was amended in order to move personnel discussion to number 5 under new business and strike it from the Executive Session portion of the meeting.

Election of the 2010 Chairman was accomplished with James Pickering being nominated by Carol Bass and receiving unanimous approval. Charles Burden was nominated by Carol Bass for the Vice Chairman position and he deferred on the basis he would like more experience with the board before accepting that duty. Carol Bass was then nominated and received unanimous approval. Melissa Connell was again nominated and approved for the position of Secretary to the Board of Tax Assessors.

The meeting progressed with invited guest Margie Trammell (this columnist) who addressed the board concerning the proper application of Georgia State Law O.C.G.A. 48-5-306 a which states “corrections, changes or equalizations” have to be made by the Board of Tax Assessors. This information was addressed because of an apparent past decision by the Board of Assessors that allowed the Chief Assessor to have responsibility for these decisions. Additionally a previous board apparently had also instructed the Chief Assessor that she was allowed to handle appeals which again is a violation of state law.

It was asked that the current board put an immediate stop to these decisions being made by the Chief Assessor.

In addition it was brought to the boards’ attention that the loaning of a Pike County owned printer to another county without proper documentation and on a permanent basis was not something that should have happened. According to Chief Assessor Haddock, former board member Terry Ross had said it was ok to loan a printer to Lamar County. This was presented to the current board as an inappropriate and unacceptable action that should not be permitted in the future unless the entire board decides to approve such a decision and follows proper protocol.

County Attorney Tom Morton addressed the appropriate manner with which to handle loaning equipment to another county should the need arise in the future.

Next on the agenda was discussion of an action requested by Mr. Keith Cochran concerning the assessment of a small parcel being taxed commercial. Apparently there is some question about size of this lot and the ability to rezone it AR and there was brief mention of Mr. Cochran’s CUVA status as concerns the consolidation of this commercial parcel with land currently in CUVA. There is also concern because record of this small commercial lot cannot be found as a plated and recorded entity.

Other regular business was handled by the board and there was opportunity for citizens to comment and discuss concerns with the board. This was very refreshing and several people commented on the necessity to tax commercial property as commercial property no matter the current use.

One major concern voiced during the public comment segment referred to the Cochran property which apparently has been brought before the Board of Commissioners in reference to the newly defined and assessed Fire Tax. According to Mr. John Morrison, a current member of the Pike County Planning Commission, Mr. Cochran wanted his commercial status changed because he did not want to pay the commercial fire tax.

The general feeling of those speaking about this issue was that if you have commercially zoned property you should have to pay the commercial tax.

This meeting adjourned around 11am.

After several months of inactivity, the Pike County Board of Appeals met tonight in the Commissioners meeting room at 7 pm. Attending were Chairman John Hoover, members Teresa Crow, Bonnie Gardner and Ron Snowden. The Pike County Department of Community Development was represented by Department Head David Allen and Secretary Kim Morris. There were approximately 25 other people in attendance.

This meeting opened with the call to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and quickly progressed to the only business to be taken care of which was application for a special exception to allow American Towers to build a cell tower on the property cornering Highway 19 N and Gresham Rd.

American Towers, Inc was represented by Kim Bucciero who presented a well put together packet of information for consideration by board members. In addition David Allen had put together a well organized package that contained necessary information showing the application by American Towers had met the criteria required in Pike County for a cell tower to be located on property zoned Agricultural/Residential. Appreciation was expressed by board members for the quality of both packets of information.

Ms. Bucciero presented information on the proposed 195 ft tall tower which appears similar to a telephone pole and outlined options for various numbers of antennas. Consideration had been made for the visual impact this tower would have and an outline offered buffering which is required by the county. Questions from the board at this time centered on how the location was decided upon.

The floor was opened for the public hearing portion of this meeting and citizens first asked questions concerning the height of the tower sitting Pike County’s code of ordinances which required the developer of a cell tower to provide reasonable proof that more than one user will be using the tower if it is to be over 100 ft tall. At this time the only user will be AT&T. Other questions concerned the exact location of the tower and concern about ingress/egress for maintenance. While a few citizens supported the building of the tower provided all questions are answered and regulations are met there was opposition from local home owners who cited concern about property value, future development and aesthetics. One citizen questioned putting the antennas on the water tower and allowing Pike County to profit instead of AT&T. It was however pointed out that would interfere with citizens profit gained from the lease of the land for the tower to American Towers, Inc.

After much discussion and many other questions the Board was unable to come to a majority vote and after voting 2 splits with no hope of reaching a majority decision more discussion was concluded with this hearing being deferred until the January 21, 2010 meeting at which time Ms. Bucciero will return with the information requested by the board.

The Keep Pike Beautiful Authority held a Special Called Meeting on Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. There was a quorum of six present for the meeting. The meeting was posted and the representative for the legal organ of the county was present along with the Pike County Times.

Old business included scholarships and cashing in a Certificate of Deposit to pay for them. A CD was purchased in January of 2000 using fundraising and donations. This CD has accumulated interest since that time. This CD will be cashed in and used to fund two $500 scholarships for graduating seniors for the next five years.

The next topic of discussion was continued from the past meeting. Enabling legislation for the KPBA requires that the Executive Director be a member of the Board of the KPBA. According to the county, no applications have been received for this position. There are currently three positions available.

Chairman Edd Sanders asked if any of the present members wanted to take on this position and was advised that no one wanted this position at this time. Continued discussion from the past meeting on what to do with the $16,551. Motion to turn this money back to the county commissioners with a suggestion to help with furloughs at the Health Department to help Pike County citizens. The decision was unanimous in favor of this.

Chairman Sanders will prepare a letter to County Manager Steve Marro about the $16,551 being returned from the KPBA budget and also a letter to Past Executive Director Virginia Sanford to advise her of this change. Discussion about whether to maintain an office for KPBA. Members decided not to maintain an office since turning over the remainder of their budget to the county.

A motion was made to meet quarterly with the next meeting being held on March 8th at 6 p.m. Meeting ended at 4:58 p.m.

During the November 10, 2009 Commission meeting, the Pike County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to purchase two lots on Adams Street for a future Judicial Center.

The property is located between the cemetery and the school bus barn property and is a little less than five acres. The lots are owned by Charlie Dunn and Walker Chandler.

“On September 29, 2009, we authorized moving $20,000 out of the contingency account for this purpose,” said County Manager Stephen A. Marro. That money was moved into an escrow account where a $10,000 intent to purchase was paid to each seller on these pieces of property.

Pike County offered $90,000 for each parcel of land. Both land owners accepted the offers and the county will pay a total of $180,000 for both parcels of land.

“Both acceptances were done on appraisals done by Pike County on the value of the property,” said CM Marro.

CM Marro went on to say that Mr. Dunn has at least six months to find another place to live. He will continue to pay all of the utility costs and everything else to operate that house until the closing date of November 29, 2009.

There is an agreement with Mr. Chandler that, after the sale of the property, he will lease the building on his parcel from the county for one dollar per month and continue to lease it to his tenant until the county needs that building.

“We effectively own the property between the bus barn and the cemetery,” said CM Marro. “It is intended to become a Judicial Complex Facility.”

“One of the reasons why we chose that specific piece of property was because it keeps the Judicial Complex downtown,” said CM Marro. This was done so that people who go to the Judicial Complex can still spend local dollars on the square in Zebulon.

“We haven’t done any more on the engineering side for building facility, sewer or water,” advised CM Marro.

CM Marro said that the City of Zebulon is looking at doing some projects in that area that would include widening the road, installing sidewalks, and storm drainage. CM Marro said that he intends to talk with the City of Zebulon to ask about a joint project to get the two projects on the same page.

[Note from the Editor: This is pretty much old news now, but I did the interview and wrote the story and am putting it online anyway since this will be archived on the Board of Commissioner pages for years to come.]

This meeting was called to order at 9:00am by Chairman Glenn Rawlins. Attending were members Carol Bass, Jim Pickering and Charles Burden; Chief Assessor Jeannie Haddock and Secretary Melissa Connell.

Not in attendance was member Gina Fry.

Old business discussions concerned the Policy and Procedures Manual which is being updated. The Tax Board meeting schedule which is going to include a quarterly night meeting beginning in 2010 (it is noteworthy this action is being taken so that interested citizens who work during the day will be able to attend these meetings without taking time off from work) and a transfer of surplus salary funds to computer equipment funds.

Under new business notable action was taken concerning applications for Exempt Property by the Montgomery Lodge 31, the Open Range Church, and Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. All of those applications were approved with a unanimous vote.

Other discussions included amending the agenda due to a request by Carol Bass for several reports and questions about contracts involving the Tax Assessor’s office. Apparently Carol had been told by member Gina Fry that she was not supposed to ask for information prior to meetings. The proper process apparently was supposed to be what amounted to asking permission of the entire board to ask for and receive information from the Chief Assessor.

Chairman Rawlins asked Carol why she wanted to see ledger reports and copies of contracts and Carol’s explanation amounted to a statement of being informed so that she could make an intelligent decision based on all of the facts. After taking over an hour to discuss why a board member would want to ask for information regarding upcoming applications and requests, with other new board members Jim Pickering and Charles Burden agreeing that asking for information was a proper and necessary to becoming informed it was agreed that requests by a board member for information would be honored and the requested information would be included in member packets which can be picked up for review several days prior to meetings.

Apparently in the past there were no packets of information prepared in advance and members were given briefs, a recommendation on what to do and decisions were made on the spot concerning citizen concerns, complaints and various actions.

Also on the agenda was a time allotment for Executive Session which this board did not retire to. Member Carol Bass thought the following discussion should be made in public and everyone agreed with her. Under discussion was the annual evaluation of the Chief Assessor and concern was expressed as to who does this evaluation due to the fact that the Chief Assessor does not work for the County Manager and board members really have no way to know how the day to day activity is accomplished nor do they know that she even arrives at work on time. Jim Pickering stated he had not worked with her and could not logically do an evaluation at this time. Chief Assessor Jeannie Haddock stated that her position is filled by the Board of Tax Assessors and the Chief Assessor’s actions are governed solely by that board. Interestingly and hopefully jokingly the Chief Assessor remarked it would be ok with her if she did not get her annual raise and she actually requested she be fired by the Board of Assessors so that she could pick up dead chickens with her husband on their Lamar County chicken farm. This discussion ended with a request by the attending board members that Jeannie do a self evaluation and present it to them at the next meeting.

This meeting was adjourned around 10:35 am.

[Note from the Editor: I attended the City of Meansville Council meeting held on September 14, 2009. So much has gone on since then that I have not been able to complete my write up of the minutes, but the discussion about the Pike County Fire Department and the Meansville City Council’s decision on whether or not to join the County Fire Department is important even now.]

The meeting was called to order and City business concerning the prior meeting minutes and financials were taken care of first. Then citizen Margie Trammell was on the agenda to ask questions about the Pike County Fire District.

Margie presented the Council with a copy of the ISO map, a copy of the County Fire District Ordinance, and a copy of the letter from County Manager to the City of Meansville asking whether it was going to join the County Fire District for their benefit if they did not have this information already. [Note from the Editor: Margie advised me that she had spoken with Mayor Burden and Meansville Chief Scott Huckaby. She had been advised that she had been told that they did not know what Pike County was doing with the County Fire District and this is why she brought the documents to the meeting.]

Margie started out by saying that she understood that this had been voted on in a prior meeting. She said that she does not live in the City of Meansville and cannot vote for anyone on the City Council but stated that what they have voted on affects her and everyone who lives in the Meansville Fire District.

Her first question was how the City of Meansville was going to fund its Fire Department since the City has voted not to become a part of the County Fire District. “If the county doesn’t give you money, how are you going to be buy fuel and equipment for that Fire Department…?” she asked.

She was told by one member that they would do what they did before the county started giving them money. Margie then asked specifically where that money would come from because the City of Meansville does not tax its residents. Mayor Gayle Burden said that the City of Meansville gets Local Option Sales Tax (LOST), revenue from the City’s water department, business licenses, franchise tax from Georgia Power, an ISO check, and other resources as well as donations to the Fire Department.

Mayor Burden confirmed that the City of Meansville does not collect taxes at this time but may have to in the future. She said that the City might have to go up on its water as well. She said that the City of Meansville has always matched the money that the county has given to them to run the Meansville Fire Department. [[Note from the Editor: I have been told by more than one person that water fees cannot be used for the Fire Department.]

Margie stated that she did not want to make any enemies and was not trying to be antagonistic but stated that there were several hundred people that live in the Meansville Fire District and everyone is concerned. She made a point to say that she wasn’t coming to discuss her own property because her house is so far off of a paved road that it would be gone by the time that the trucks could get there, but that she came on behalf of the citizens in the Fire District and everyone that pays the fire tax.

Margie’s second question was what the City of Meansville could do with $5,000. “How far does that $5,000 go?” She was told that specifics on how much fuel that could buy and other answers would have to come from the Meansville Fire Chief.

Margie asked if each Council person had considered the benefit of being a part of a $500,000 budget rather than a $5,000 budget. She asked how that might benefit the citizens that you serve as well as to those who live outside of the City Limits of Meansville. To support this, she said that if there were seven stations, she said that there would be $71,000 per station if that $500,000 was broken down evenly and if there were eight, it would be $62,000. She stated that Meansville could do a lot more with $62,000 than with $5,000.

Margie then asked: What is the benefit to the citizens in the Meansville Fire District for not joining the Pike County Fire District?

Update 10.10.09: Mayor Burden said that she didn't think that the county had this ironed out yet. Margie replied that was why she brought a copy of the ordinance that will be amended as cities join with the county in the Fire District so they would know what was going on. However, it was confirmed that County Manager Marro had brought a copy of this ordinance at the June 8, 2009 Meansville City Council meeting that he attended at Mayor Burden's request. Mayor Burden then advised that the City Council discussed the County Fire District at the July 14, 2009 meeting and they took a vote at that time. Everyone voted against joining the County Fire District except one person who abstained from the vote.

Council Member Al Milby then said that he was the member who abstained and that he was concerned about how the City was going to make up that $5,000 that the county gives each year. Discussion from other members included the fact that there has only been one fire within the City Limits in the past nine years and that the City of Meansville was spending money to buy gas to fight fires outside of the City Limits. However, it was pointed out that the Meansville Fire Department has a mutual aid agreement with the county until December 31, 2009.

Mayor Burden then said that the City of Meansville has to maintain so many services in order to keep their city charter. She also said that someone told her that SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax--a one cent tax on everything that is sold in the county) paid for the new fire truck. Mayor Burden disagreed with that because that money was allotted to Meansville and they chose to purchase the fire truck.

Meansville Fire Station Chief Scott Huckaby came into the meeting to answer questions around this time.

Margie Trammell then asked a question about whether comments from this meeting meant that the new fire truck only stayed within the City Limits of Meansville. Mayor Burden answered by saying the truck doesn't stay inside of the City Limits but that it does belong to the City of Meansville. Margie then commented that the new fire truck was a good expenditure of taxpayer funds and that truck is something that can benefit all of the citizens of the Meansville Fire District.

Margie then brought the discussion back to how the City of Meansville was going to fund the Fire Department if it is not a part of the County Fire District. She asked how does it benefit the average citizens in the Meansville Fire District--not those living within the City Limits--to not be a part of the County Fire District since a majority of the citizens in the Meansville Fire District live outside of the City Limits.

This question was not answered because discussion then went to the 6/9 ISO rating that the county has been given by ISO--the company that evaluated the County Fire Department for insurance purposes. [Note from the Editor: This question wasn't answered in the meeting, but in the letter from Mayor Burden to County Manager Marro which is documented in the article "Meansville City Council Says No", Mayor Burden said: “We don’t see that there will be a general benefit to our community or the southeast corner of the county by consolidating the fire departments.” This attempted to answer a question with a negative but really does not state the benefits of not joining the County Fire District for Meansville Fire District citizens who live outside of the City Limits. I don't live in the Meansville Fire District, but I have friends and family who do. And I am in disagreement with Mayor Burden's statement because pictures from a recent fire on the We Are Pike County page show members from seven departments in the County Fire District working together at a fire instead of one independent department. I saw fire fighters working together and several tanker trucks leaving to bring water to that afternoon house fire. If my house was on fire, I would want all of the help that I could get!]

Update 10.14.09:

Margie Trammell asked if the Meansville Fire Department would send a letter to her insurance company stating that the Meansville Fire Department will respond to her home on a first call basis if there is a fire. There has been some question on this because she does not live within the city limits of Meansville. Meansville Fire Chief Scott Huckaby advised that he would do this. [Note from the Editor: Meansville Fire Chief Huckaby did sent this letter to Margie's insurance company on the same week of the meeting. There is a letter from Margie Trammell on the Letters to the Editor page.]

It was stated again at this point in the meeting that the City of Meansville Fire Department and Pike County have a mutual aid agreement until December 31, 2009. After that, it is up to the City Council. Meansville Chief Huckaby gave a report on calls that had been responded to and then left the meeting.

Council member Al Milby asked again about how the City of Meansville was going to make up the $5,000 that the county has been giving for Meansville's Fire Department. The answer given was that the City of Meansville might have to start charging taxes. He was told that they would cross that bridge when they got to it. [Note from the Editor: Councilman Milby was cut off rather abruptly when he continued to ask this very important question. It seemed to me like the City Council as a whole had made up its mind and doesn't want to hear about any other options. If this is the case, citizens living outside of the Meansville City Limits and those in that southern tip of the county are going to be the ones who suffer the consequences. However, there may be some benefits to those citizens for the Meansville Fire Department staying independent that I haven't heard or thought of. I would be happy to upload a rebuttal in full onto the Letters to the Editor page from citizens who disagree and write an article with a reference to the entire letter if a rebuttal is given by the City of Meansville or other Meansville entity on this topic.]

City Clerk Jerome Finley was sworn in by attorney Tom Morton. An Executive Session was held on personnel matters.

It was decided that public notices will be placed on an enclosed bulletin board so notices are current for the citizens. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

The Pike County Fire Ordinance was passed by the Board of Commissioners on June 10, 2009. Section 103 of the Fire District Ordinance stated what services are provided: “Within the Pike County Fire District, the County shall provide fire prevention, EMA, EMS, Fire Fighting Services and Fire Fighting Operations as it may from time to time determine, including but not limited to the provision of such services by contract or in cooperation with any municipalities within the County or with any other fire protection entity.”

All of the city fire departments except for the City of Meansville have become part of the Pike County Fire District. Intergovernmental agreements have been signed and the bills have been sent out for the funding needed to operate this department.

Attempts have been made by County Officials to bring pertinent information and answer questions for all of the cities. On June 8, 2009, Pike County Manager Steve Marro attended a City of Meansville Council meeting to bring this matter to their attention and answer any questions that Council members had.

Pike County Fire Chief Danny Henderson advised that he had spoken to Meansville Mayor Gayle Burden about a month after County Manager Marro had attended the City Council Meeting. At that time, Chief Henderson offered to meet with the Meansville City Council to bring the facts about the County Fire District to them as well as answer any questions that they might have. This offer was declined. Chief Henderson advised that he has spoken with Meansville Fire Department’s Assistant Chief Ron Snowden many times but that attempts to reach Meansville Fire Chief Scott Huckaby have been unsuccessful.

Pike County Commissioners have asked many times whether the City of Meansville would join the County Fire District. Questions continued as the rest of the cities signed intergovernmental agreements that allowed the fire fee to go out with regular tax bills earlier this month.

When a question arose about mutual aid in the August 25, 2009 Board of Commissioners Meeting, Commissioners asked the County Manager to request specific, written response on the “actual intent of the city’s fire department as it pertains to the existing mutal aid agreement; especially the ‘automatic aid’ portion.”

County Manager Marro did this in a letter dated August 27, 2009. He went on to say that a prompt response would be helpful to the County Commission as it is on the verge of finalizing the Pike County Fire District and agreements pertaining to this and that the Pike County Fire Chief needs to know of these intentions as well since the mutual aid agreement with the City of Meansville is nearing renewal.

There was no notification from the City of Meansville on whether it would choose to join the County Fire Department or its intent with the mutual aid agreement with the county until a letter arrived at the Commission Office and was stamped as received on September 22, 2009. This letter was a response from Mayor Gayle Burden to a letter written on August 27, 2009 by County Manager Stephen A. Marro on the behalf of the Board of Commissioners.

The September 16, 2009 response from Mayor Burden was addressed to Chairman Doug Mangham and County Manager Marro though the letter itself was written to Chairman Mangham. Mayor Burden began the letter by saying that she was “sorry that rumors have caused Mr. Marro so much concern”. She then chastised County Manager Marro for not calling her or one of the Council members to answer questions about the fire department even though he had attended the June 8, 2009 Meansville City Council meeting.

Mayor Burden continued her letter by saying that the City of Meansville also has concerns about the consolidation of the fire departments. “We don’t see that there will be a general benefit to our community or the southeast corner of the county by consolidating the fire departments,” she said.

Mayor Burden praised the City of Meansville Volunteer Fire Department as being “dedicated and professional” and stated that it operates on a budget of $5,000 from the City of Meansville and $5,000 from the county. She said that the City of Meansville will continue to depend on its volunteers and stated that “a county of our size can not afford to have a full time paid fire department.”

County Fire Chief Danny Henderson told the Pike County Times today that a paid, county fire department “was not necessary, not a desire, and not a goal” of the Pike County Fire Department. He advised that the Pike County Fire Department was working toward a more effective, more efficient, and more professional fire department and that pay status has nothing to do with any of these things.

Mayor Burden then commented about higher taxes and reduced services and stated, “… it is our judgment that the county will not be able to provide the level of service that is currently received from the City of Meansville Volunteer Fire Department under county control” and that “It would be in the best interest of Pike County to continue to fund the Meansville Volunteer Fire Department as it is.”

The cost would be $5,000 per year for the county to fund this independent department and that the Meansville Volunteer Fire Department will continue to serve the entire county as needed as it always has. This includes operating under “any and all mutual aid agreements” and that the City of Meansville will consider any mutual aid agreements that are proposed to the City of Meansville.

Citizen Margie Trammell lives in the Meansville Fire District and attended the September 14, 2009 Meansville City Council to ask some of the same questions that were posed in the County Manager’s letter. Mrs. Trammell asked how the Meansville Fire Department would be funded funded as far as fuel and equipment and was advised the same $5,000 from the county and $5,000 from the City as Mayor Burden’s letter states. She also asked if he would provide a letter to her insurance company stating that the Meansville City Fire Department would respond on a first call basis even though she does not live within the city limits of Meansville.

Meansville Fire Chief Scott Huckaby advised during that meeting that the Meansville City Fire Department had responded to calls in the past and would continue to respond to mutual aid calls with the county. Meansville Fire Chief Huckaby said that he would provide a letter to her insurance company stating that the Meansville City Fire Department would respond on a first call basis even though she does not live within the city limits of Meansville. He has since given this letter to Mrs. Trammell’s insurance company.

During the Meansville meeting, Mrs. Trammell repeatedly asked how it would benefit the citizens in the Meansville Fire District to not be a part of the County Fire District. This question was not answered. Mrs. Trammell also asked, “Would it not be of more benefit to the Meansville Fire Department to be a part of the $500,000 budget than a $5,000 budget?” That question remains unanswered.

[Note from the Editor: I have moved this article up to be with my write up from the September 14th meeting. Councilman Al Milby asked more than once where the money was going to come from to replace that $5,000 that the county had paid in the past.]

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) has given Pike County a Public Protection Classification rating of 6/9. Yesterday Chief Danny Henderson of Pike County Emergency Services (PCES) met with ISO officials and received their inspection report. Ratings in the report likely will become effective January 1, 2010.

If improvements resulting in a lower rating are made before January 1, 2010 they would be incorporated and become effective then. This would translate into further savings for taxpayers. However, Pike County has one year from the date of the rating’s issuance to deal with problem areas. After those issues are addressed the county’s rating can be reconsidered by ISO.

“There are definitely some areas where we can make improvements,” said Chief Henderson. “Some have already been dealt with following the initial inspection. We missed a Class 5 by only a few points. We will be working diligently to lower the rating before January 1st.”

The lower the Public Protection Classification rating, the greater the savings passed onto homeowners through lower insurance charges. Split ratings such as ours are very common and are dependent upon a multitude of factors. Properties within five miles of a PCES station are eligible for the “6” classification, while those in outlying areas beyond that distance will be rated at the “9” score. For homeowners in many areas this should translate into significantly lower homeowners’ insurance rates. In fact one homeowner has already taken advantage of the new 6/9 rating, receiving a 40% discount on homeowners insurance.

In November of last year ISO representatives inspected Pike County Emergency Services. Local officials have been looking forward to the report’s completion for some time.

“Now that the consolidating of departments is final,” said newly appointed Deputy Chief Randy Snyder, “we now for the first time have the ability to combine resources to accomplish not only the lowering of ISO scores in both the cities and county, but the ability to better serve the citizens as a whole.”

The Library Board met on February 5, 2009 at the J. Joel Edwards Library. [Note from the Editor: I have tried to attend at least one of all of the county boards and authorities meetings over the past two years. This was my first Library Board meeting. If you attend any of these meetings on a regular basis and would like to send a Guest Column on the proceedings of those meetings that are not on the website, please email me using the editor link at the top of the page.]

Here is a rundown of a few things that have been going on at the library. Two local writers donated their books to the library. Dwain Penn donated a copy of "Christmas Letters from the 20th Century" and Ann W. Yearwood donated a signed copy of "Redbird Farm". The Homeschool Program had a visitor when they met last time. Most of the kids read to the 140 pound therapy dog. It was stated that homebound students appreciate the library's services. (Mary Alice does a great job with the kids!) The Library Board had to meet in the Georgia Room since this was a day when tax help is offered to Pike citizens at the library. Pat said that the line started before the library opened this morning and they cut it off at 12:30 p.m. with the tax representatives working from 1-4 p.m. and later than that today. She said that tax help representatives will be at the library every Thursday until April 9th. And there was one day where it rained a lot and a blockage was a problem with the septic system. It was taken care of though five hours without bathrooms is not something that they want to do again.

The Library was mentioned in the past Board of Commissioners meeting because someone from the Historical Society had spoken to a commissioner and said that they were not going to be allowed to meet after library hours anymore for meetings in order to cut back on heating and cooling costs. The Library Board had received a letter from the County Manager Steve Marro who had been instructed by the commissioners to contact the Library Board and voice the commissioners' displeasure with this. Pat said that there had been a misunderstanding and gave an explanation of what had taken place. The Library Board as a whole basically said that if the commissioners say that they want the meeting room to be available then it will be available. Costs will be addressed at a later point if it they run overbudget. Those who want to reserve this meeting room must call the library and reserve specific dates for the room even if they have been meeting over certain times during the past year. If the meeting has been cancelled, the person in charge should call the library and notify them of this so the heating and cooling doesn't have to be turned on.

The Flint River Regional Library System has a new program for audio books. This includes Macs too. Browse at www.doc.frrls.net to check out and download popular audiobooks from the Georgia Download Destination website which is a virtual branch of the library that includes many of the same titles as the library. (See article above this for more information.)

There was discussion about improvements that need to be made at the library including the need for handicap-accessible doors. There is hope that Impact Fee money set aside for the library can be used for this. Changes will be made to the plants on the islands in front of the library when the weather is warmer. Volunteers and maybe a Boy Scout (or Girl Scout)troop could help with this. Cheryl Fulghum is the new Treasurer for the Library Board. She was elected to the position by those in attendance.

There was much discussion about Bylaws and the Constitution for the Library. There has been discussion in the past about whether to stay with just one library or go to a library system with the J. Joel Edwards Library in Zebulon being the main library with the possibility of a hub or satellite branch in Williamson where the old United Bank building was moved onto a piece of City of Williamson land last year. It has been established that the Board of Commissioners will have to approve any changes to the Bylaws and Constitution of the library. There was a great deal of discussion on whether to change to the Pike County Library System or remain as the Pike County Library. Members decided to come to an agreement and bring it before the Board of Commissioners. The first vote that was taken ended up with three members for it and three members against it with one member abstaining since she will not be on the board very much longer. After more discussion--some of it heated--another vote was taken. The final vote came out 4-2 in favor of going with the Pike County Library System. The Bylaws and Constitution will reflect this change when presented to the Board of Commissioners. On a side note, donations made toward the Williamson library building are tax deductible as they are going though the Pike Foundation. Discussion was tabled on whether to go to a 501(c)(3) for the library itself until later in the meeting.

New Business: The contract from the Board of Commissioners to the Library Board was reviewed and discussed. This contract is one that is being presented to all of the boards and authorities in the county and it addresses required yearly audits and other matters of importance. Authorization was given to the Chair of the Library Board to sign and return this contract to the County Manager.

Keith McClelland is attending grant writing classes and plans to use this new skill to get grants for the library. He has obtained a list of potential sources from this class that will be helpful. Discussion was held during the meeting about whether the library should become a 501(c)(3) so that donations could be tax deductible. This is a long-term solution for helping the library gain donations that will be on hold until the commissioners give approval about the Constitution and Bylaws of the Pike County Library System. Employee benefits and hours were discussed as well. The need for a written policy from the county was stated so that this can be properly addressed. The Library Board will begin working on the budget as soon as possible in order to meet upcoming deadlines for the short budget year that will be the transition for moving to a new year beginning and ending for the entire county.

The meeting began at 4:00 p.m. and ended about 5:45 p.m.

60 to 70 people came out to the High School Cafeteria today to show their support for animal control in Pike County. Don Bailey organized this meeting for the public after attending all of the city council meetings as well as coming to at least 3 county commission meetings to present information to officials in our county.

Don wore a t-shirt in memory of his neighbor, Dolores Smith. Dolores Smith was attacked by a pack of dogs three days in a row on her own property in January. She died from her injuries. Don says that this dog attack on his friend and neighbor is one of the reasons for his efforts to get some sort of animal control in Pike County.

"We need to protect our community," he said. The goal is public safety for Pike County and coordinating with county, state and federal levels to make the most of our local, state and federal resources. "We cannot control every situation, but we are obligated to make the situation safer," said Don. And the citizens are already paying for animal control every time the Sheriff's Office has to handle a call related to animal control--from dog bites to horses and cows in the road. The original response and any follow up on a call plus the time to do the paperwork adds up.

Commissioners Roosevelt Willis and Parrish Swift were in attendance. Their presence was welcomed and applauded by those in attendance.

Smart Web is the Director of the Upson County Animal Shelter. He has been in animal control for about 10 years. Smart said that they get calls from Pike County citizens on a regular basis, but Upson County cannot take Pike animals. Smart cautioned citizens about just shooting a biting animal. "Animals need to be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days to ensure that there is no rabies or other disease," he said. There is no place in Pike County to quarantine a biting animal.

He said that Pike County needs to start out with an ordinance. A residential leash law with fines to enforce it. Then Pike County could do fund raising and start out with a metal building with simple cages. Upson is putting in a metal slab building for an extension of their animal shelter. Upson has a secretary and 3 animal control officers.

Some of the potential costs include: average animal control officer $9.61 an hour/@ $22,000 a year, average dog cage $175, catch cage can cost as low as $39, a second hand truck from Americus can run from $2,500 to $10,000 or so (these are trucks from Georgia Power, etc. that have been retired). Some of the potential payback to the county would include fines through Magistrate Court for irresponsible pet owners and adoption fees.

Smart said that Upson County will be holding a Rabies Clinic in October. $6 for a rabies shot. More details as they become available.

Herb Bartlett, Director of the Meriwether County Animal Shelter and Code Enforcement, spoke about the facility and how citizens worked to get their state of the art facility. Two of the women who worked toward animal control in Meriwether County and are working in the Shelter also attended the meeting. Herb has been in animal control since January but he said that you get educated quick in this business. Meriwether County got a call to come to Pike County earlier this year for a case that he couldn't talk much about because it is still pending. [Note from the Editor: I can tell readers that it was the Prather animal abuse case that will soon be going to trial.] Herb said that this is how he "got his feet wet" in animal control.

Meriwether County citizens put in a lot of hard work to get their animal shelter. A group of citizens got together in 2003 with the idea for animal control and a shelter. Their Board of Commissioners had to be shown that they were willing towards a shelter. A small group of citizens did fundraisers such as bake sales, yard sales, and silent auctions to raise their goal of $225,000 for animal control. With an anonymous donation of $100,000 was made to the animal shelter, the total came to $325,000. Then in-kind donations were made through work on the animal control facility. "Long story short: Meriwether County has s $650,000 facility at a cost to taxpayers of only $140,000," said Herb.

Herb also said that their animal control ordinance has been praised by the State Department of Agriculture and other entities as one of the best in the state. He gave a copy of this ordinance to Don. Herb said "Animal control is a tough job--probably the toughest job in the county, but we do it for the love of animals."

The office manager from the Meriwether County Animal Shelter spoke to citizens as well. She advised that they have one office manager and 2 animal control and code enforcement. She said that Meriwether County cannot take our animals but that they can help in other ways. "Animal control is something that Pike County has to take care of on its own," she said, "but dealing with animal control with a 45 is not the answer."

Citizens were encouraged to "band together and stay tight." Meriwether County's fundraising committee began with 65 members and dwindled to about 15 faithful people. "We worked hard for what we have and we're very proud of ... our state of the art facility." Encouraged Pike County citizens to apply for a 501(c)3 so all donations will be tax deductible and the group can apply for grants. Citizens were encouraged to prove to the Board of Commissioners what can be done because the BOC needs to be on board.

Sandy said that Meriwether County uses 1 state inmate and 2 county inmates in the Shelter. She said that they have a 65% adoption rate and those that cannot be adopted are euthanized humanely.

Joyce Farmer from the Barnesville/Lamar County Humane Society spoke about the benefits of spaying and neutering pets. This Humane Society is also a 501(c)3 that exists on donations and fundraisers. Spay and neuter is the main focus of this group. Joyce said that with the help of S.N.A.C.S. Inc. (Spay Neuter Animal Clinic and Shelter Inc.) over 150 animals have been spayed and neutered this year and over 200 last year. [Note from the Editor: Read more about S.N.A.C.S. Inc. on the Past Stories page dated 6.16.07. Their web link is on the Links page. Don Bailey is hoping to get Dr. Giles to do a clinic here in Pike County.]

Joyce said that they have kittens in Lamar County. $25 for two kittens that are fixed. Their number is 770-358-3330.

Pat Peurifoy from the Dolly Goodpuppy Society, Inc. spoke about the long-term benefits of public education on animals and community outreach with an emphasis on spaying and neutering pets. The Dolly Goodpuppy Society educates children and adults about how to approach animals that do not belong to them, show how to prevent some pet issues, and help to understand the problem of pet overpopulation.

"Acquiring a pet should be a thoughtful decision," she said. Pat also stated that most strays start out as people's pets. "Unwanted animals is a community problem." The Dolly Goodpuppy Society is working in the schools to design good characer traits for more responsible pet owners in Lamar County through a newsletter about animals with different editions based on grade level.

Sandra Barbour is a Pike County citizen with multiple-sclerosis whose service dog was attacked in her yard by a neighboring pit bull. She is working toward a law protecting service dogs. Sampson is an Akita that she has had since 2002. It took two years of Sampson's life and a fee of $5,000 to get him trained to help Sandra.

Sampson does cool stuff that the average dog wouldn't know how to do like pulling Sandra in a wheelchair, or pushing her medic alert button if she is unconscious. "He helps me live an independent life," Sandra said.

When he was attacked in February of 2007, there was no legislation to protect him as a service dog. Sampson is considered to be just another pet by the state of Georgia; whereas, a police dog is protected is considered an officer of the law. Sandra took the owner of the pitbull to Magistrate Court but was only awarded the cost of veterinary bills. There is no leash law in Pike County or a dangerous dog ordinance that would require owners of animals that have attacked other dogs to be restrained where they cannot attack again.

Five months later, Sampson cannot perform his duties. Sandra does not want to get rid of Sampson because he has always been there. She trained him with out of pocket money and does not have another $5,000 to train a working service dog to help her life independently in her own home. Sandra said that she is working with lawmakers to change the ordinary pet status of service dogs.

The Griffin/Spalding Humane Society was in attendance at the meeting but was not prepared to make a statement. The Meriwether Animal Control truck was outside. Pictures are on the We are Pike County page. A $5,000 cage system on the back of a used Ford F150 is not out of our range. [Note from the Editor: I think that cars and trucks for all county personnel performing non-lifethreatening duties should be used vehicles. At least look down at Americus before paying for a new vehicle that is going to depreciate as soon as they drive it off of the lot. Of course the Sheriff's Office is going to be an exception to this rule. Common sense should be applied here along with a respect toward taxpayer funds.]

Don did a great job of putting together this informational session and had a sign up sheet so citizens can band together to work toward a common goal of animal control. He advised that there will be another meeting in the next month or so.

The Dolly Goodpuppy Society will also be giving a Dogbite Prevention Seminar on October 6th. The Pike County Times.com will keep citizens posted on this as well as the Upson Rabies Clinic and any of the surrounding S.N.A.C.S. Inc. clinics.

Citizen Don Bailey has spearheaded this effort to bring some sort of animal control to Pike County. He has attended city council meetings and county commission meetings to bring information to the governments in each city and our county commission in an effort to keep them apprised of his efforts for animal control and to garner their support.

Don has gathered statistics on our county concerning animals, statewide information through the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and nationwide information through the CDC. He has presented this information to the governments to show that there is a problem that can be solved with their participation. Click on the link below to read Don's editorial and link to his statistics.

Don cites the dog attack on his neighbor, Dolores Smith, and subsequent death from her injuries as one of the reasons for his efforts to get some sort of animal control in Pike County. "My goal is to inform Pike citizens on the issues we face when we lack animal control and come up with possible solutions to this ongoing problem," Don states in his Letter to the Editor.

The Animal Control meeting will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 12 noon at the Pike County High School Cafeteria. Animal Control personnel from Meriwether and Upson Counties, the Barnesville/Lamar County Humane Society, Dolly Goodpuppy, and a guest speaker who has a service dog are scheduled to attend.

This is a way for citizens to find out information about animal control. It is also a way for citizens to voice their concerns about animal control.

O.C.G.A. § 4-8-5 deals with cruelty to dogs and the authorized killing of dogs. (a) No person shall perform a cruel act on any dog; nor shall any person harm, maim, or kill any dog, or attempt to do so, except that a person may:

(1) Defend his person or property, or the person or property of another, from injury or damage being caused by a dog; or

(2) Kill any dog causing injury or damage to any livestock or poultry.

(b) The method used for killing the dog shall be designed to be as humane as is possible under the circumstances. A person who humanely kills a dog under the circumstances indicated in subsection (a) of this Code section shall incur no liability for such death.

(c) This Code section shall not be construed to limit in any way the authority or duty of any law enforcement officer, dog or rabies control officer, humane society, or veterinarian.

(Note from the Editor: An Animal Shelter was considered on the current SPLOST and removed from the final list of items because citizens told the SPLOST Committee that they did not want to pay the extra $500,000 that would have to be added to the county budget every year. No new taxes for anything is what the Committee was told repeatedly.

Now the citizens of Pike County are faced with the question of whether we want to pay for an Animal Shelter or not. Send me an email with your thoughts and I will put it on my Letters to the Editor page. Let me know if you have another solution to our dog problem.)

Update 7.1.07: I have passed information along to the CM and BOC that there is a possibility of working with Upson County on our animal control so we would not have to open our own shelter in order to get rid of unwanted or dangerous animals. It would require a new hire of our own animal control officer with the purchase of a truck, catch sticks, and cages, but we might be able to work out an agreement to pay by the animal similar to the agreement that the City of Williamson and the Spalding County Animal Shelter.

I was against an animal shelter because of the costs associated with it in early 2006. After the death of Mrs. Delores Smith, I believe that we are morally obligated to find a solution to the problem of animal control.

Some on the Board of Commissioners may say that the Sheriff should be responsible for Animal Control in our county, but I say that the buck stops at the feet of the BOC. It is clear that we have a problem, we need to search for a solution.

If the cities want to join in on this effort, they will need to work with the BOC to fund a portion of the costs and sign an intergovernmental agreement defining this. The cities are most in need of this because of the close proximity of people and animals.

Animal control is a problem in the county, but the county should not fund the largest portion of animal control. There should be way for everyone to participate in this endeavor as the citizens work to build an animal shelter of our own.