Schley  County C-Heart board meets
The Schley County C-Heart board met April 6 in the Schley County Commissioners’ conference  room.
Kristy Smith, Schley County’s Health nurse , called the meeting to order. She gave a report on the District 7 meeting that was held March 24 in Columbus on Ebola and how much they learned about this dangerous disease. She and the board want to protect the citizens of Schley County in case something like this should happen here.
Darrell Enfinger, District 7 Emergency Preparedness director, spoke on how to handle cases such as this with school children, faculty, community and how to manage diseases if there should be an outbreak here brought back from traveling overseas. Darrell said flu is still going around now as late as it is.
Hank Wilson, District 7 Health liaison, discussed being prepared for any disaster. He asked for discussion and everyone participated in the question and answer portion.
C-Heart is organized to work with diseases like Ebola and Zika viruses and more. These are in the planning stages now. We want to prepare our schools, community leaders, businesses, churches and all come together.
All of the this information comes from Georgia Department of Public Health.
Those that attended were Ellaville Police Chief Robbie Lightner, Schley County Sheriff Shane Tondee, Schley County Health nurse Kristy Smith, pharmacist Paula Williams, Schley County Schools Superintendent Adam Hathaway, District 7 Health Director Darrell Enfinger, Schley County nurse Anne Landers, Schley County Health board member Nancy M. Young, Schley County Commissioner Kay Royal, physician assistant Jenny Hatcher, Tamber Fuller of District 7 Health of Columbus and Berta Cox, secretary, Schley County Health Department.
The next C-Heart board meeting will be June 14.

Pinwheels call attention to child abuse prevention
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is time to remind all adults and communities about assuring the well-being of Georgia’s  children throughout the year. Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and the Schley County Family Connection Collaborative have joined to prevent child abuse in America.
“This month we want to raise awareness about how to prevent child abuse before it occurs,” said John Greene, Schley County Family Connection coordinator.
There were 56 cases of child abuse and neglect reported in Schley County in 2015.
In order to raise public awareness of child abuse in Schley County, Schley County Family Connection and Schley 4-H students will be placing pinwheels in the  Ellaville City Park during the rest of the month of April, starting next week. A pinwheel will represent each child abuse case that was reported in Schley County in 2015.
“The primary responsibility belongs to the parents, but often parents can’t do it alone,” said Greene. “These families  can benefit from the help of a strong supportive community.”
The number of child abuse reports, the number of children born and the number of children who will die are smaller than the numbers of caring and responsible adults in Georgia’s communities.   The largest number is the  number of individuals who can prevent  child abuse from happening in the first place. Everyone of us has an opportunity to help ensure all children grow up safe and healthy. Everyone of us has the power of prevention.
Research was conducted by Prevent Child Abuse America estimates that implementing effective policies and strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect can save taxpayers $80 billion per year. The cost of not doing this is measured in increased costs for foster care services, hospitalization, mental health treatment and law enforcement, as well as loss of individual productivity and expenditures related to chronic health problems, special education and the justice system.
In addition to placing the pinwheels in the City Park, Schley County Family Connection also have given pinwheels, pencils and activity sheets to all the Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at Schley County Elementary School.

Ellaville-Schley County Recreation Authority board hires new director
The Ellaville-Schley County Recreation Authority board have hired Lance Brown as the new recreation director. He has coached  football, baseball and basketball for awhile. He works at Warner Robins Air Force Base as a logistics manager. He served in the U.S. Navy.
Brown has just recently completed this bachelor of science degree in sports and recreation management from Ashford University.
He said that you can help children do most anything when you can discipline them. He said that children here in Ellaville and Schley County are the best behaved. He said he had worked with other counties and now Schley Recreation Department and the parents here have prepared their children to exercise discipline and have manners.
“It’s a pleasure to work with such fine people and children,” he said.
Brown and his wife Marie and their third-grader son Colton live in Ellaville.
We all welcome the Browns to our community.

DeVane family holds reunion
On Sunday April 10, the annual DeVane family reunion was held at the Thomas Edwin Wall Post 191 American Legion in Ellaville.
After a short family business meeting, the family enjoyed a covered dish dinner of foods too numerous to mention, but it really was delicious.
Marguerite Dillard Ethridge was recognized as the oldest family member there. She had just celebrated her 98th birthday. Bella Parker was recognized as the youngest, at nine months.
Larry Duncan of Albany was also present. He had done extensive genealogy research on the DeVane family, and brought posters  showing the different branches of the DeVane  family line which is real interesting, according to Judy Eason McClellon.
There were approximately 50 in attendance.

Springtime Ellaville was big success
On Saturday, April 9, Springtime Ellaville was held with a big day of excitement and fun.
Carol Streetman said there were 75 vendors booths.
Kay McCarty was in charge of the 1-mile/5K Color Run.
Patty Wurtz was in charge of the parade.
There was also a car show, featuring cars. motorcycles and old tractors. There were eight categories in the show.
Paula Williams was over the 50/50 Drawing and the winner was Matt McPhil.
There was a big attendance for the concert that night. Starting at 7 p.m. Andy Miller opened with his special music and he sang until 8 p.m. when Brent Cobb performed country music. Both of these men are from Ellaville and they both live in Nashville, Tennessee.
A special thank you to Kim Lawhorn for a job well done on Springtime Ellaville 2016.