AMERICUS — OCTOBER
• In early October the City of Americus was notified by the local Wal-Mart that all three recycling bins belonging to the City of Americus were to be removed.
In addition, the city’s drop payment box, the U.S. Postal Service mailbox, the Fed Ex drop box, and the local Goodwill Industries donation box were also removed because the bins did not fit into a “general layout plan.”
• Souther Field Airport was officially renamed “Jimmy Carter Regional Airport” on October 12. The renaming of the airport from Souther Field Airport to its current moniker would not come without controversy. A group of citizens voiced their dissent to the renaming by starting a letter-writing campaign stating that changing the name would be as if the history that the name Souther Field has held would be erased.
• The Sumter County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two separate motions that would allow the County to create its own department apart from the City of Americus as the current contract between the two for fire services will be up at the end of the year. Americus Fire and Emergency Services will continue to provide the following services outside the city limits of Americus through Dec. 31, 2009 midnight: fire suppression, fire prevention, First Responder and rescue services, extrication using the Jaws of Life, medical response to homes and accidents, smoke alarm program, hazardous materials response and abatement, fire marshal (investigation of fire origin and cause), fire and life safety code inspections, consultations with architects, engineers, contractors, and citizens on fire and life safety issues, review building plans as they relate to fire and life safety codes, conduct annual fire and life safety inspections in the county, training and assistance to volunteer fire fighters and allow volunteers use of Americus Fire & Emergency Services radio frequency.
• Due to anxiety and controversy surrounding the creation of a new county run fire department, the Mayor and City Council discussed their options to insure that residents outside of the city limits will receive the level of service that they are used to.
The City of Americus offered a proposal to provide emergency response services outside of the City limits of Americus for a five-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
• The Sumter County Board of Commissioners held their first meeting at the new Sumter County Courthouse.
The new commissioners meeting room was packed with citizens and members of Boy Scouts from Troop 26 who came and sat in on the meeting as part of earning their citizenship badges. After a roll call, and a rousing invocation given by Commissioner Andrea P.F. Brooks, the Board opened the meeting to citizens’ comments.
• Melanie Grace, executive director, Americus-Sumter County Tourism Council announced that tourists spent almost $34 million ($33.76) in Sumter County during 2008 (up 5.7 percent from 2007).
Grace’s activity report revealed a long list of media inquiries as well as mention in the media. She pointed out stories on Margaret’s Cottage in Andersonville and the Plains Peanut Festival in the September issue of Americus Scene magazine in addition to a story in the Oct. 15 edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Americus’ grand past, rich present,” among others.
Grace also shared an interesting communication from Jeff Meyers about the Southeastern Electric Flight Festival which is held each spring at Hodges Hobbies in rural Sumter County. In an email, Meyers said he surveyed participants and found that the average participant in the event spent $380 at Americus businesses; $90,000 in local hotels/motels; about $65,000 at stores in Americus (65 percent of which was at Wal-Mart); $35,000 at local restaurants, and some $20,000 at local gas stations.
• Americus Mayor and City Council, well wishers, former students, co-workers and former colleagues of Eddie Rhea Walker gathered to honor her years of service to the City.
Walker resigned from her District One council seat, in August, citing that her health “was not conducive to the challenges of the office.” Walker served on the city council for 14 years. Mayor Barry Blount, who before reading the proclamation, recalled a story from his high school days (where he first encountered Walker, as his high school teacher). After the reading of the proclamation, Walker addressed the meeting. “Thank all of you, Walker said. “You have shown throughout my tenure that you wanted a good Americus. I wanted a good Americus, and I still want a good Americus, and we have worked very hard over the past years to make sure that this is true.”
• A loan, of $400,000, was approved by the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority at a called meeting. The recipient of the loan was Specialized Food Products LLC (Eugene “Gene” M. Smith Jr.) for the purchase of a special “spiral” freezer. The company, which was supposed to be “up and running” in Americus by August 2008, was to initially create 40 jobs in the manufacture of Italian ices and bagel dogs.
Questions whirled around the community for several months, prompting a local businessman to write a letter to the editor of this newspaper, published on Oct. 16, asking questions about the loan.
• South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) set a new all-time high annual enrollment record with 3,558 students for this past year. Enrollment at SGTC has grown for 17 consecutive quarters and this is the eighth time the college has set single or all-time high enrollment records in the last eight quarters. This is the longest streak of sustained consecutive quarters of growth posted by a college in the Technical College System of Georgia. SGTC offers over 90 degree and diploma programs in addition to short-term technical training for area businesses and industries. For more information visit www.southgatech.edu.
NOVEMBER
• A ground breaking ceremony was held in a pecan orchard off of U.S. Highway 19. In two years time the construction of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center which will feature a four-story, 76-bed hospital will be finished. Three free-standing medical office buildings will also be constructed, which will house oncology, surgery, women and children’s health services, wellness and orthopedics. The 40-acre construction site will also feature a running/walking track.
At the event, Keith Petersen, who served as interim CEO for the hospital since July, was named chief executive officer of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. The appointment was approved unanimously by the hospital's board of directors at its noon meeting held at Georgia Southwestern State University.
The keynote speaker for the event was former President Jimmy Carter, who spoke of the importance of health care, and the impact that the service provider has on the community. “I think one of the things we all need to remember is how historic this occasion will be,” said Carter. “The quality of health care is one of the most active measurements of the quality of a community. It shows not only the presence of great and dedicated health care professionals, but it also indicates quite clearly the degree that various people in the community can work together in harmony to bring about the realization of an exalted dream.”
After Carter’s remarks, state Rep. Mike Cheokas, D-Americus, spoke about the day of the tornado, and how the people in the community showed their ability to come together. “One of the things that I remember very vividly, was Council member Walton Grant standing in the parking lot of the interim facility, ready to help out his community after having his own business destroyed. That dedication is unmatched anywhere. After that, I was so proud to give the Governor updates on how this community came together. I would always begin my remarks by saying that I represent the greatest district, and I think it’s because of all the people coming together and setting the tone for the future.”
• The Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) 2009-2010 Featured Scholar Award was given to Richard C. Hall, Ph.D. for his devotion to research and commitment to scholarship. Hall's research focuses on the origins of the First World War which began in southeastern Europe, principally Bulgaria. On this subject he has written four books and numerous articles and papers. One of his latest two books — "Consumed by War, European Conflict in the 20th Century" — was published this month and "Balkan Breakthrough, The Battle of Dobro Pole 1918," is set to be published in March 2010.
Prior to his tenure at Minnesota Mankato (1990-2002), Hall served as a member of the faculty at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (1989-1990) and Ohio State University (1985-1987). He earned a bachelor of arts with honors in history from Vanderbilt University and a master of arts and doctoral in history from Ohio State University. In addition, Hall served as a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1974 to 1978. He completed his term of active duty with the rank of captain.
The award was initiated in 2008 to recognize, once a year, a GSW faculty member who has made significant contributions to his or her discipline in the form of artistic accomplishment, basic research, writing, publishing, editing, presenting and grant awards. The award recipient is chosen by a committee of faculty members representing each school selected by the Faculty Senate chaired by the past recipient of the award. It carries a stipend of $500.
• In response to parents concerned with the removal of the Bible and biblical principles from the educational system, a new school is being born, the River of Life Academy.
Local ophthalmologist, Dr. Chanh M. Tu, a board member of the new school, says, “This will not be a school that just teaches a Bible class; rather, every topic will be taught with Jesus at the core. This will give students a Christian world view training.” Tu added that Biblical principles should not be just taught and followed on Sundays, but should be integrated into every subject taught every day of the week.
According to a news release from Tu, after considering what is wrong with today’s educational system, he and other parents came to three missing “key ingredients.” These are “the systematic expulsion of Biblical principles and laws from schools’ curriculum; parents’ abdication of their responsibility and role in training their children; and the shift in the educational system from teaching how to think to teaching rote information.”
Tu says that the River of Life Academy will be a “classical Christian school” that will integrate Christian principles into its curriculum. The school also considers itself an “extension of the family” and “hopes to help parents recognize and reclaim their primary role in the training of their children,” as mandated by the Bible.
• Friends of Georgia State Parks, SAM Shortline Chapter rewarded a $20,000 cooperative tourism marketing grant by the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division.
SAM Shortline Executive Director Kathy Odom said the funds will be used to produce marketing materials and advertise the train’s excursions in various publications.
According to a press release from the Department of Economic Development, the purpose of the cooperative tourism marketing grants is to assist communities in reaching a larger audience through marketing projects they may not be able to fund on their own.
• Clarence Leonard Jordan, Ph.D., William, William B. King, Ph.D., J. Frank Myers Jr., Roy Lee and Susan Smith and Luther Story all received Walk of Fame nominations.
These six outstanding citizens, all selected for the 2009 Walk of Fame nominees, were honored posthumously by the City of Americus at the historic Rylander Theatre Sunday afternoon. An engraved bronze plaque in their name and listing their exceptional contributions has been permanently affixed into the pavers on the sidewalk in front of the theater on West Lamar Street.
Clarence Leonard Jordan was born in 1912 in Talbotton and died in 1969 in Sumter County. Jordan along with Martin and Mabel England, founded Koinonia Farm in 1942, that led to the partnership housing idea and establishment founding of Habitat for Humanity by the late Millard Fuller and his wife Linda Fuller, who survives. He graduated from the University of Georgia with doctoral in Greek New Testament and is author of “The Cotton Patch Gospels” series that led to the Broadway gospel musical and the February 2005 release of the film, “Briars in the Cotton Patch,” developed by Faith Fuller Umstadt of Americus.
J. Frank Myers Jr., a well known Americus attorney and local and state elected official, served two separate terms as mayor of Americus (1961-1963 and 1971-1974). He was district attorney of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit from 1965-1968 and served in the Georgia General Assembly 1949-1950. He was president of the Americus Jaycees and the Chamber of Commerce. He was the leader behind the development of an industrial park, that which now bears his name that has helped increase the local economy through the manufactured housing business and other related businesses. He was co-founder of the Georgia Southwestern State University Foundation.
Educator William B. King, Ph.D., a past president of Georgia Southwestern College, serving in that position from 1963-1978, a period that brought great growth to the institution. He presided over the transition to the four-year degree program plus graduate school that rose from a student enrollment of 593 to 2,409 with the physical plant growing from 13 to 28 buildings, increasing the value from $2.5 million to $16 million. He served as associate director for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission, chaired the department of Counseling and Guidance at the University of Georgia and served on the Lake Blackshear Regional Library board of trustees.
Local philanthropists Roy Lee and Susan Smith were well known in the community for their efforts in generously funding educational programs and scholarships at both Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College and were each awarded honorary degrees by both educational institutions. Roy Lee served as a trustee on the GSW and SGTC foundations, was a member of local Rotary Club and the American Legion. The Smiths were both major supporters of the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes, as well as annually sponsoring “Roy Boy Days” at their home near Andersonville and funding scholarships for these youths to attend GSW and SGTC.
Luther Story (1931-1950) is a local hero and gave the ultimate contribution — his life. He dropped out of high school to join the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. It was while serving in the line of fire that he was killed in action while bravely defending others. He was honored posthumously by President Harry S. Truman with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the only citizen of Sumter County to receive this high military honor.
• Citizens made their voices heard on election day.
2009 featured two contested elections in Districts one and four with two candidates in the running for the District four seat vacated by Alex Saratsiotis, who decided not to seek reelection: Carla Gammage Cook and Bobby Harris. In this race, Cook defeated Harris by a vote of 272 to 50.
Two candidates were also running for the District 1 seat vacated by Eddie Rhea Walker, who retired: Albert Cooper Sr. and Juanita F. Wilson. Election results were close when the first numbers came in with Cooper and Wilson separated by only three votes. After absentee ballots came in, Wilson padded her lead, and in the end was declared the winner by a vote of 184 to 121. Mayor Barry Blount, District three Council member Lou Chase, and District five council member Lorenzo Johnson all ran unopposed in the race.
The city of Plains also featured two contested races for city council. In post two, John (Johnny) Walker, Sr. ran against Incumbent Eugene Edge Sr. In this race, Edge defeated Walker by a vote of 135 to 53. In post six, Amy E. Wise squared off against incumbent Andrea D. Oates, with the incumbent retaining her seat, and Oates winning the election by a vote of 106 to 80. Mayor L.E. (Boze) Godwin and Post one councilman Jimmy Bagwell were running unopposed in the race.
The city of Andersonville held one contested election in of the city council. Velma Coley and Bobby Hobbs were running for the open seat vacated by Roy Carter. In this election, Coley defeated Hobbs by a vote of 30 to 18.
• Sen. George Hooks, D-Americus gave a report of his trip to Cuba.
Hooks traveled to Cuba with delegates from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The trip, which included about 20 Georgians and delegates from Florida, Alabama, Maryland and Virginia, was an effort to promote and increase trade of Georgia Agricultural products.
Hooks and the other delegates each paid their own expenses for the opportunity to visit Cuba, and to see, first hand, the growing number of U.S. agricultural exports being bought by the communist run country.
Georgia’s number one export to Cuba is first poultry and then pork products. Georgia based companies like Pilgrim’s Pride and Cargill have sold approximately 185 million pounds of frozen poultry and pork to Cuba since November 2008. The 1961 trade embargo was altered in 2000 with The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act that allowed for agricultural and medical exports to Cuba.
• A Leslie machine operator won $2.5 million, playing the instant game Millionaire Jumbo Bucks.
McCray won $1,000 and then stopped later in the day to buy another ticket, which netted him the “jumbo” prize. “I just had that feeling,” explained McCray, who purchased his $2.5 million ticket at Double D Fast Food, located at 1409 Felder St. in Americus.
DECEMBER
• Middle Flint Behavioral Health name a new CEO.
Thomas Updike, Ph.D., attended high school in Charlottesville, VA. He studied at Lynchburg College as well as the University of Virginia. After that, he attended the Medical College of Virginia where he did post-graduate work, while holding a joint appointment with the department of pathology and biochemistry. Then it was off to Michigan State University, where he received a clinical doctoral degree.
Updike found his specialty when he began running large, fairly complicated companies that found themselves in some financial trouble. Updike said, “I found out one of my skills is going in and fixing troubled organizations. I have always been interested in the problem of getting mental health and health services into rural areas, because my background is in rural mental health. I was raised on a farm, so I feel comfortable in rural areas. I have lived in some of the largest cities in the world, but I still am very interested and concerned about the problems that we run into in rural areas, mainly being accessibility to health care.”
• A severe thunderstorm hit Americus at about 6:45 p.m. Monday Dec. 15., and brought with it lots of rain, which flooded several streets and roads and knocked down many tree branches and a few trees in the area.
Although initial reports of a tornado touching down on Church Street and between Plains and Americus and a large funnel cloud spotted over Americus, authorities could not confirm any of the accounts Tuesday afternoon. Georgia Southwestern State University’s and the City of Americus’ warning sirens sounded several times between 6:30 and 8 p.m., as well.
• The Associated Press reported that there were 211,323 more Georgians on food stamps in September than at the beginning of the recession. The recession officially began in December 2007, according to Georgia’s Department of Human Resources.
Every county in Georgia, according to AP’s report, has shown an increase in food stamp use, which ranges from a few dozen to a few thousand.
Although Sumter County’s Department of Family and Children Services was unable to pull specific numbers from December 2007, it reported that, for the year, there were 3,376 households in Sumter County receiving food stamps, and there were 8,053 recipients in the county receiving help. The state was spending $9,432,414 to provide assistance to Sumter County residents.
• Project Manager Brian Smith, who works for Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors, the company in charge of the hospital’s construction rolled out a timeline for the construction of the new hospital.
Construction will be underway Jan. 18. The hospital will be four stories and include 190,000 sq. ft. There will also be a Women’s and Family Health building, which will be 16,000 sq. ft., a surgery and oncology center that will be 20,000 sq. ft. and a wellness and education center that will be 18,000 sq. ft. The entire skeleton will be made of steel, and the outside will be modular-sized brick. The roof will be shingle or a standing green roof.
• Requests came from residents in the county to have the City annex their properties to as to receive Americus City fire protection rather than from the Sumter County Fire Department.
• According to a report given by Sumter County School Board member Doug Goodin, who’s in charge of finance for the board, state employees may be taken down a pay grade. According to Americus’ representatives, Sen. George Hooks and Rep. Mike Cheokas, Georgia’s facing a huge deficit, and state law requires that the budget is balanced at all time.
“Because of the furloughs, Georgia’s saved 2,000 jobs. We have nothing but high regards and praise for state employees, from teachers to the department of natural resources workers to park rangers to prison wardens to DFCS workers — they’ve all been dedicated and pulled together, and should be congratulated on that,” said Cheokas.
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