Homeless Liaison helps students stay in school

Blue Ridge--Three hundred school-age children have been identified as being homeless in Fannin County this school year, according to Fannin County Schools Social Worker Bill Johnston.

According to “Homelessness and Its Effect on Children,” a 1999 Family Housing Fund report, “Homeless children are more likely to score poorly on math, reading, spelling, and vocabulary tests and are more likely to be held back a year in school.”

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 was passed in order to help homeless students. Several years ago, the act was implemented in the Fannin County school district.

“(The program) is a part of the federal Title I funding for at-risk students. Fannin County has participated in Title I for as long as I can remember. The homeless component has always been a part of it but began to be focused on after No Child Left Behind came into effect,” Associate Superintendent Cynthia Panter explained.

Among those the program identifies as homeless are migrant workers’ children, children awaiting placement in foster care, families doubled up because of necessity or in homeless shelters, runaways, those living in buildings not meant for housing and those living in abandoned buildings.

At the time the act was passed, Congress received reports that up to half of homeless children were not attending school.

“It is mandatory that we provide for any homeless students. We do this at our elementary and middle schools through our regular Title I funding because they are Title I schools. We

also set aside Title I funds each year for the high school, which is our only non-Title I school, to use to meet the needs of homeless students at the high school. This year, that amount is $3,300,” Panter noted.

Johnston explained that the act qualifies homeless students for the free or reduced price lunch program, assistance money for field trips and school supplies and other aid. In addition, he noted, homeless students receive expedited services designed to keep them in school.

“Previously, we couldn’t start them in school until they had all their records and shots. If they’re classified as homeless, if they wait until all that catches up to them, they lose an awful lot of school time,” Johnston said.

Staff in all five district schools receive training in how to identify and help homeless students, Panter stated.

Once students are identified, they are referred to Johnston. He said he uses free or reduced price lunch applications to determine if siblings and families need help. He makes referrals to social service agencies. He also finds transportation to and from schools for students.

The district has a Title I parental involvement plan that also promotes family literacy and parenting skills.

Johnston has noted an increase in the number of students classified as homeless this year. The number of 300 is not current, just the total number that have qualified at different times throughout this school year, he explained.

“We’ve never had over 300 before. Part of the reason that it is!a significant increase is we have better monitoring and we’re able to monitor it more closely,” he remarked. “There is an increase, though, because of the ones having hardship economically. We have numerous people who have lost their jobs, families that have doubled up. We have families who have lost their homes.”

Johnston said that the program is consistent with the school district’s vision statement.

“Our school district’s doing everything we can, not only to comply with the law, but to provide assistance to the students. We realize that if students are in and out of the school year after year, they’re going to get behind. Our goal as a county is to see 100 percent graduation,” he said.

Blue Ridge--Three self-proclaimed soccer fans spoke to the Fannin County Board of Education about the loss of the soccer program at the middle school during its regular meeting February 11.

According to middle school Principal Lori Chastain, the eighth-grade soccer program will be consolidated with the high school's junior varsity program, and sixth- and seventh-graders will be encouraged to participate in county Recreation Department leagues because of the inability to find a head soccer coach at the middle school. Chastain said that the head coach must be a certified teacher or receive special lay coach certification.

Kim Pack and Barry Abbott, coaches for the program this year, told Chastain that they will not be able to coach next year, she said. Chastain said that she contacted other teachers, but many now have second jobs and were unable to coach. She said she asked principals at the elementary schools to ask their teachers. She stated she also contacted Shan Culpepper, the high school athletic director; and high school soccer coach Travis Hodges if they knew of anyone who would qualify to coach.

When it seemed as if no soccer coach would become available to work at the middle school, Hodges and Culpepper, as well as Recreation Director Bernie Hodskins, worked with her to come up with an alternative, she said.

Tim Massaro, whose children attend the high school and middle school, said that soccer is among the most popular sports in Fannin County. "We're concerned that if you drop it now, they may not continue on to high school," he said.

Massaro also said that he considered last year's prices for soccer games, at $5 per person,

too high.Junior Deal, who has a son in

eighth grade, said he agreed with Massaro. "He was very discouraged that middle school soccer was dropped. I feel like Fannin County could be a leader in sports...I hope it doesn't move to the next level, the high school level," he said.

Deal added that Fannin and Union counties were the only ones in the area without middle school soccer.

Department of Recreation Soccer Coach Lonnie Moore said that the loss of middle school soccer might hurt high schoolers' chances for college scholarships.

"With soccer, you can get a scholarship two to one over baseball, maybe three to one," he said. Moore added that his son "eats, sleeps and drinks soccer" and that Moore would be willing to help maintain the middle school soccer program in any way he could.

Chastain acknowledged the speakers' concerns. "I don't want anyone to have the impression this is a decision we took lightly," she said.

Addressing Massaro's complaint about prices, she said that the middle school had planned to lower prices for adults to $3 and students to $1.

Chastain said that parents were informed of the new plan in early February, eighth-graders were told they could play with the high school team, and parents were given recreation department information for those in sixth and seventh grades.

Massaro spoke up again after Chastain stated the plan for soccer next year. "Eighth-graders are not ready to practice or play with 12th-graders. There's a huge difference between eighth-graders and eleventh- or twelfth-graders," he said.

B l u e Ridge--In

spite of cold and ice and threat of snow, 11 Republican candidates for state and national office attended the Fannin County Republican Party Valentine Dinner February 13 in the high school cafeteria.

More than 200 people listened as State Sen. Chip Pearson, Fannin Chairman Ron Bolin, Fannin Treasurer (and event chairman) Brian Stanford, as well as the candidates, paid their respects to House Speaker David Ralston.

"This man is one of the most loved, most admired in the state of Georgia. This man is a servant; someone who lovingly serves others is a Godly man," Stanford said when introducing Ralston.

Ralston, in turn, welcomed the candidates "to the birthplace of the Republican Party in the state of Georgia.

"I...truly stand on the shoulders of those people who have labored for years and for decades. I've felt that sense of standing on the shoulders because I've stood on yours," he said,

thanking his constituents. "This is not my moment; it's yours. Your dreams became mine," he added.

Ralston said that his election as Speaker of the House presaged change. Changes included rewriting the rules of the House to make them more inclusive and changing the rules of the committee process, he said. In addition, he remarked, the House is working more closely with the state Senate and the governor.

He also stressed the challenges facing him and the rest of state government, including the difficulty of passing a balanced budget when the state has a shortfall of $1.5 to $2 billion. Other challenges Ralston cited include

transportation, small business development, job creation, ethics reform, and 2011 redistricting.

Stanford then gave Ralston an engraved gavel from the Fannin County Republican Party, and presented Ralston's wife, Jane, a dozen roses, apologizing for the interruption of their Valentine's Day weekend.

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Annual Republican Valentine Dinner draws over 200By LISA GAGNON

and ELAINE OWEN

www.GeorgiaSentinel.com

Sentinel Volume 4,Issue 7

FANNIN

Rep. Deal encourages Troop 460 Boy Scouts Aaron and Brendan Jourdan and their parents

By LISA GAGNON

Sentinel Writer!

See DINNER, page 3A

Soccer fans decry loss of middle school program

Tim Massaro voiced concerns about the loss of the middle school soccer program at the February 11 Board of Education meeting.

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Call (828) 389-8338

300 students homeless in FanninBy LISA GAGNON

Sentinel Writer!

Fannin County schools Homeless Liaison and Social Worker Bill Johnston

49º/38º47º/31º 50º/34º41º/24º 50º/34º48º/34º 47º/34º

I never think about being old until I think about how old my children and grandchildren are! My thought today: Old age is !f-teen years older than I am."Ol-iver Wendell Holmes. As I men-tioned in last week’s article, my husband and I just returned from Florida, visiting with his mother who was celebrating her 104th birthday. She constantly tells the family members that we will never live as long as she has! “#e world has gone crazy!” #is is her favor-ite expression, and her second one is, “You children just don’t under-stand how it feels to get old!?” She is right; we don’t know how it feels to be 104! (Sometimes I think I may feel close?!)

Ge$ing older is one of those things that nobody wel-comes but no one can avoid. #ere is no alternative to ge$ing older. #erefore, we have to !nd a way to welcome our advancing years with a positive frame of mind. Here are some suggestions on how to keep old age from acting up!

Keep Active – Ge$ing old does not mean we have to vegetate in front of the TV, with the highlight of the week a trip to Walmart or the grocery store. It is important to keep our mind and, where pos-sible, our body active. If we don’t exercise our mental faculties, it will not be a surprise if we lose our con-centration and ability to engage in critical thought. We should try to be a lifelong learner; if we keep our mind permanently busy we will retain our mental faculties for lon-ger. We shall also gain a feeling of continuing self improvement right into old age.

Live in the Here and Now – Don’t live constantly thinking about: “if only…”. #ere will be many things we might have done di%erently, but we have to feel the past is dust. Focus on what you can do now to improve your life. #is does not mean we can-

not cherish fond memories; but, at the same time we need to give most importance to the present moment. None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. – Henry David #oreau.

Age is in the Heart – We can be in our 20s and have the a$itude of an old person. Similarly, we can be in our 70s and still have a childlike approach to life. Age is very much a mental perspective. To remain young at heart we need to retain an open mind and look for the good things in life. Don’t allow yourself to focus on the limitations of age. Instead, think about what you can do. O%er gratitude for small things that you perhaps didn’t have time to appreciate when young. #ey say that age is all in your mind. #e trick is keeping it from creep-ing down into your body. – Author Unknown.

Newness – No ma$er how old you are, try to look for newness in life. Avoid repeating the same rou-tine, try learning new skills or vis-iting di%erent places and making new friends. If we are constantly expanding our horizons, life will o%er new challenges whatever our physical age. If we compare our-selves to other people and what we could do when we were young, we will always feel a sense of inad-equacy. We start from where we

are and seek to make progress in our own way. #e personal joy is in making an honest e%ort; it gives a sense of satisfaction that doesn’t depend on outer results. Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. – Henry Ford.

Don’t Complain – Forgive me, but I o&en !nd that certain old peo-ple become chronic complainers. It seems in life, especially when we are older, there is no end of things to criticize and complain about. In one way they are right"there are many imperfections in life. But, if we only see the darker side of life, we focus excessively on negative things and this will be re'ected in our unhappy state of mind. It is important to be detached from the problems of the world. Also, when our body slows down we have to work hard to focus on other things. #is helps us avoid focusing too much on the limitations and pains of our body. #ere is always a lot to be thankful for, if you take the time to look. For example, I’m sit-ting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt. – Author Unknown.

Always keep in mind a healthy diet and moderation in your con-sumption of sweets/desserts/alcohol. As for nourishing your aging body, the best diet is still low fat with plenty of fruits and vegeta-bles. Add proteins of chicken, !sh and pork. Keep in mind to drink plenty of water and fruit juice.

Claudia Parks, RN, is a former doctor’s o!ce and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator "om Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Ma#ers as a public ser-vice; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband now make their home in the north Georgia Mountains, near Blairsville. Claudia can be reached at yhm@windstream.net

Are you thinking of building or remodeling? #e best time to start working on lower energy costs is before the plans are made.

#e greatest savings for the least cost starts with how the build-ing sits on the site. By pu$ing the most glass where the warm winter sun shines, the least where the hot summer sun shines, and design-ing the roof to keep summer sun o% the house, heating and cooling costs can o&en be cut in half. Add protection from cold winter winds, allow cool summer breezes, and you have a building that not only costs much less to heat and cool, but it is much more comfortable.

Is there more that can be done? Yes. A li$le more money spent on good quality spray foam insula-tion, windows, and doors, and some homes hardly need heat or air conditioning at all. Air tight, well insulated buildings are much easier and less costly to keep com-fortable.

Following these principles !rst usually brings the greatest increas-es in e(ciency for the least cost. It might also leave enough budget to a%ord some other green features. Everyone asks about solar and wind.

In most areas of our moun-

tains, the best of these options is a solar water heater with an elec-tric tank water heater for backup. A$aching this system to radiant 'oor heating system can also be very e(cient. #e system is sim-ple, very e(cient, and might help you qualify for some tax credits. And everyone loves radiant 'oor heat!

Geothermal heat pumps are also very e(cient ways to heat and cool your home or building. #ey usually add several thousand to the cost of a typical home. By us-ing the ground temperature, they can extract heat all winter long. #ey are a great option where it is not possible to design the glass for solar. By adding spray foam insu-lation, the geothermal system can be smaller, and cost a li$le less.

If you are buying new appli-ances, why not choose energy ef-!cient models? Have you consid-ered an induction stove, a smaller convection/ microwave oven in-stead of the standard oven? You might enjoy a basement root cel-lar too. You can also have a switch to shut o% the outlets to your elec-tronics. Many of these electronics use electricity even when they are not running. In some homes this can consume more than $20 per month. All of these are convenient ways to save energy.

Another !eld being studied is energy e(cient lighting. At this time 'uorescent lighting is the best deal for most buildings. But this might soon be surpassed by LED lighting. Meanwhile the engineers have gone back to the laboratories and are developing some super ef-!cient incandescent bulbs.

Our next column will consider our Greening of Andrews Valley Program. Your question might be the perfect topic for a future col-umn. Email me. Richard C. Mac-Crea is the director of #e Green-ing of Andrews Valley, a program of Andrews Valley Initiative. He works in the !eld of energy e(-cient, green building.

Sarah Palin, bless her heart, is such a perfect spokesperson for the tea party crowd. I watched por-tions of her speech in Nashville before the tea party elite and could only shake my head. She has such a way of saying nothing so well it grabs your a$ention and leads you to believe she is on to something big. However, a&er the euphoria dies down, you sit there re'ect-ing on her speech and think, “uh?” It slowly dawns on you that she speaks in broad strokes, stringing together a series of popular sound bites that convey li$le more than patriotic fervor.

As someone trained in critical thinking, I winch when I hear Sar-ah talk about drill, baby, drill, and realize that she has failed to drill down into her “positions.” Do not think that critical thinking is about criticizing everything. Indeed, it is about taking an argument apart, looking at its components, and making up your mind whether the argument has validity, whether the argument has merit, or whether the argument is robust or weak. It is examining an argument to make sure you are not suckered by the snake oil salesperson. However, Sarah fails to provide any details. #erefore, you cannot assess the impact or the consequences should her broad statements be converted into policy. For a thinking person, this is heresy. She mines the shal-lows and collects the easy pickings, leaving behind complexity and de-tail.

Sarah taps into anger. She taps into emotion. She taps into the

mood of her audience. However, she does not tap into reason. She is the best snake oil salesperson I have ever seen working a crowd. She is like a mirror, re'ecting the mood, and misinformation, of her audience. You really have li$le idea about her true, behind-the-scenes beliefs. She is so good at re'ecting your beliefs you believe they are her beliefs. She re'ects, and feeds, the worst emotional excesses of tea party members.

When she says, “We want our Constitution back,” I wonder what part of the Constitution is lost. I am unaware that I have lost any of my rights granted in that document. At the tea party convention in Nash-ville, it was said that we do not need any document but the “four pages of the Constitution.” I guess they forgot the Bill of Rights, the aboli-tion of slavery, giving women the right to vote, gun ownership, and a host of other issues not addressed in the Constitution. Sarah re'ects the tea party crowd because they speak before they think. #ey for-get that the states had to ratify any changes to the Constitution.

#ere is li$le doubt I would like si$ing down and having a beer with Sarah. I think we could have a great conversation. However, I do not think the conversation would have much substance. Interview a&er interview reveals that she does not know basic facts about the issues important to our country. Any-body who thinks looking at Rus-sia from Alaska constitutes foreign policy experience has just included anyone who has ever travelled to a foreign land.

What Sarah has going for her is

a folksy, down-home friendliness. It is with a smile that she criticizes everything without o%ering solu-tions. Indeed, her criticisms re'ect her lack of understanding of the is-sues. You cannot help but like her as a vivacious person but the shal-lowness and negativity of her argu-ments does li$le to li& the political discourse. Or, include facts.

To listen to Sarah is like listen-ing to a string of marginally related ideas. Her talks go something like this: “We need to be energy inde-pendent and give our hard work-ing people a tax cut and make sure there is a gun in every home and put our country !rst and get our Constitution back and reclaim the freedoms we have lost, and … did I say give our people a tax cut?” I will make a deal with you. I will show you Obama’s birth certi!cate if you show me Sarah’s high school diploma.

Sarah quit the governorship of Alaska a&er two years because she recognized that more money could be made running around the country talking sound bites. Com-pared to running a state – which requires detailed, complex think-ing - addressing angry crowds who demand li$le more than platitudes is easy pickings.

People who refuse to do their homework are destined to follow snake oil salespersons like Sarah. Intellectually, the easiest route to travel is to rail against positions for which one lacks understanding and detail. However, to be a true patriot, one needs to be informed about the issues facing this country and appreciate the complexity of society, and thus solutions.

Page 2A GEORGIA SENTINEL

CO LU M NS & O P I N I O NSLEANING  LEFT

By Jim Fitzgerald

Sentinel Guest Columnist

To the Editor:#e Democrats are jumping with joy that the

tea-party crowd has splintered into its more than 200 entities and disrupted the Republican Party, to boot, they say.

) #e Republicans are oblivious to the tea-party phenomenon and claim victories for themselves in Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachuse$s.

) And the tea-party movement keeps on truckin’ like some disjointed “herd” of cats towards a plat-form of balanced budget, small government, and low taxes.) But wait, wasn’t that the platform of the Good Old Party circa mid 20th century, and before?) And wasn’t that about the time we sent men to the moon and before we sent jobs overseas, in droves?)

A time before the Bush dynasty, Newt, and what-ever it is we have now?

) But what came out of Nashville is that the tea-party folks are pu$ing away their 'ags and form-ing PAC’s to support conservative candidates from both parties. Rasmussen says independents (tea-party folks) make up a third of the population and gaining.) ) So maybe the tea-party phenomenon is not something new.) Maybe it’s just the mid-stream American heartland majority waking up from a long nap like Rip Van Winkle.) If this is the case, perhaps you should join the movement, whatever it is, where ever it is?)))

M. J. BlanchardBlairsville

!e GOP (?) TEA Party

EDITOR'S  INBOX

YOUR  HEALTH  MATTERS

By CLAUDIA PARKS RN

Columnist

By RICHARD C. MACCREA

Andrews Valley Initiative

The Green Column

Several weeks ago Prevent Child Abuse Habersham ran a simple ad in the paper requesting help with the “First Steps” program. North Georgia Technical College student Tasha Horne saw it and immedi-ately took it to her HEROES (Hav-ing Equity Resources and Oppor-tunities Equal Success) student organization.

First Steps is a community-based parenting support and education program that is provided to families of)newborns a&er the birth of their baby at the Habersham County Medical Center. ) First Steps vol-unteers o%er emotional support, a gi& packet of helpful information speci!cally selected for parents of newborns, and referrals to com-munity resources.)

Tasha’s idea was to have the club collect children’s books for the First Steps program gi& packets. Club advisor Trudy Ayers con-tacted First Steps Coordinator Tari Ramos and the students were soon kicking o% their drive.

Placing collection stations throughout the campus, more than 60 new and “gently loved” books were taken by a very appreciative Ms. Ramos on Wednesday, Feb-ruary 10. She will include them in her gi& bags to new mothers in the maternity ward at Habersham County Medical Center.

“I have always wanted to include books in these packets for the new mothers, but I could only stretch the budget so far,” explained Ra-mos. “Reading is so important and we want new mothers to start read-ing from the get-go.”

“It was the best thing that we have done in this club so far,” said an excited Krystal Moss, President of the Clarkesville Campus HE-

ROES. “We have a lot of plans for the future!”

#e group plans to continue col-lecting books, taking advantage of the momentum that is building. “I have several books at home that I need to bring in,” said new club member Dana Sullens.

#e HEROES club is an organi-zation for non-traditional students. Non-traditional students are per-sons who meet one of the following criteria: must be 27 years of age or older, a single parent, a single preg-nant woman, a displaced home-maker, or enrolled in a program in which they are of a minority gen-der. #e purpose of the HEROES club is to develop leadership, team-work, and technology skills of the members.

For more information on Pre-vent Child Abuse Habersham or First Steps, contact www.pre-ventchildabusehabersham.org or e-mail !rststeps@hemc.net.))))) ))))

Tari Ramos is surrounded by NGTC's HEROES students with children's books for First Steps.

HEROES provides books for babies

GEORGIA SENTINEL Page 3A

N E W S

Results of the audit by the Gov-ernor’s O!ce of Student Achieve-ment into cheating on the state 2009 Criterion-Referenced Com-petency Tests (CRCTs) put Fan-nin County in the clear. "e tests are taken by public school students in #rst through eighth grades.

"e audit cleared all three pub-lic elementary schools and the middle school in Fannin County.

"e middle school and West Fannin Elementary School had no classrooms $agged with wrong-to-right changes that fell above the state average. Blue Ridge Elemen-

tary had 3.2 percent and East Fan-nin Elementary had 3.6 percent. Schools that had 5.4 percent or less classrooms $agged are consid-ered clear.

At the Fannin County Board of Education meeting February 11, Superintendent Mark Henson broached the subject, con#rm-ing that Fannin schools had been cleared.

“All our schools are $agged as clear,” he said. “We have empha-sized honesty.”

Henson added that Fannin County schools preferred to de-

pend on the students’ and teach-ers’ skills and “take their lumps” if necessary.

“I want to commend the teach-ers of Fannin County for that (honesty),” he said.

"e state audit, which was re-leased in June 2009, indicated that answer sheets for a math test were tampered with at four elementary schools the previous summer. Ten percent of Georgia’s public and middle schools, a total of 191 schools, were investigated for pos-sible cheating.

Fannin County not part of cheat scandal Governor Sonny Perdue an-

nounced Friday that Senator Bill Heath, the Governor’s Floor Leader in the Senate, is introducing legisla-tion and a Constitutional Amend-ment to create a cabinet form of government. Under the proposal the heads of the state’s Agricultural, Insurance, Education, and Labor departments would be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate con-#rmation.

“"is proposal will result in be%er government for Georgians,” Gover-nor Perdue said. “It will ensure that agency heads are focused on good policy, and not bogged down with the politics of running for re-election.”

Currently, only nine states elect Commissioners of Agriculture, 12

states elect Insurance Commission-ers, 14 states elect State School Su-perintendents, and #ve states elect state labor commissioners.

“"is is an opportunity to create a more e!cient and cohesive govern-ment,” said Sen. Heath. “We will have professionals running agencies who will be directly accountable to the Governor and legislature every single day they are serving.”

"e agencies that would be ap-pointed by the Governor under this proposal have almost 6,000 employ-ees and budgets of more than $7.5 billion.

“"is measure will allow us to take the politics out of what are admin-istrative and policy positions,” said Majority Leader Jerry Keen. “Some-times the best policies are not the best politics, and the people in those

jobs should be free to make the best policy decisions for the state of Geor-gia.”

If the General Assembly approves, the Constitutional Amendment would be on the ballot this Novem-ber for approval by voters. "ose cur-rently running for these o!ces would be able to serve a full term upon win-ning, and the positions would be ap-pointed by the Governor elected in 2014.

“A vast majority of states have these o!ces as a part of the executive cabinet,” said Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers. “Clearly there would be cost savings and e!ciency improve-ment if this were the case in Georgia. However, it is the citizen’s right to de-termine this for themselves and that is why I support this measure being placed on the ballot.”

Governor Perdue Introduces LegislationConstitutional  Amendment  to  Create  a  Cabinet  Form  of  GovernmentBy ELAINE OWEN

Sentinel Writer&

Blue Ridge--On February 11, a bunch of dummies were at the county detention center. Naked and lifeless, the helpless dummies were nothing more than prac-tice for workshop participants. County and city law enforcement o!cers and sta' practiced rescue procedures, cardiopulmonary re-suscitation (CPR) and how to use an automatic electric de#brillator (AED) at workshops held in the county detention center.

Instructor Jim Cutcher, an EMS training specialist, supervised the workshops. "e training con-sisted of all rescue procedures, including one-person and two-person procedures, and adult and child/infant CPR; adult and child obstructed-airway procedures; and AED training, he said. Partic-ipants received American Heart Association certi#cation for two years.

“"e sheri' ’s department is be-coming aggressive. "ey’re mak-ing sure the deputies are ge%ing training,” Cutcher said.

He added that life-saving train-ing for law enforcement personnel is increasing nationwide. In some areas, he noted, training was as low as 10 percent; now, it’s as high as 80 percent.

Cutcher said it’s important for all emergency personnel and #rst responders to be trained in these life-saving skills, because, fre-quently, they may be #rst on the scene. In the past, he said, usually ambulances with trained para-medics or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were #rst on the scene. Now, law enforcement and #remen may be sent to the scene #rst.

According to the American Red Cross, up to 50,000 of the annual 300,000 deaths by sudden cardiac arrest could have been prevented if CPR had been performed and an AED had been available for im-mediate use.

"e American Medical Asso-ciation supports the widespread placement of AEDs, because ventricular #brillation will cause brain death in four to six minutes, and the chances of successful de#-brillation decline by about 10 per-cent for each minute of delay. "e sooner an AED is used in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, the more successful the outcome, physi-cians advise.

“It’s a big lifesaver with sudden cardiac arrests. "e quicker the de-#brillation, the be%er the chance for survival. (Sometimes) police o!cers can...get there quicker than we can,” Fannin County EMS Director Lonnie Oliver said.

All of the county’s ambulance already have AEDs, he added. Of the 36 de#brillators purchased, 17 will be distributed to Fannin County Fire Department engines, 16 to the sheri' ’s department, one to the McCaysville Police De-partment, one to the Blue Ridge Police Department, and one to

the EMA Department truck, ac-cording to Oliver.

Fannin County EMS will also be spearheading a public educa-tion e'ort for early recognition of heart a%ack and stroke symptoms. Oliver said that the meetings will be scheduled soon.

Cost for the AEDs and life-saving training is covered by a $200,000 grant from the North Georgia Health District. Region 1 EMS Director David Lo(in, who collaborated on the grant, said that the two-year grant allocates $100,000 this year for AEDs and training for Fannin and Gilmer counties. Next year, he added, an-other $100,000 will be allocated for AEDs and training in Mur-ray County, as well as additional AEDs purchased and placed in each school in all three coun-ties. "e grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services O!ce of Rural Health is one of only #ve awarded nationally.

Law enforcement o!cers receive AED trainingBy LISA GAGNON

Sentinel Writer&

American Heart Association EMS training specialist Jim Cutcher instructs McCaysville Police Chief W.L. Panter in how to use an automatic electric defibrillator as part of a workshop at the county detention center February 11.

Blue Ridge--Several weeks ago, Fannin County elementary school principals presented a wish list of items to the school board. "is month, the cameras on their wish list will become a reality, because the board voted unanimously to purchase cameras and installa-tion from Atlanta Closed Circuit Television (ACCT) for all three elementary schools and the Tech-nology Building.

“"is was one of the things the principals talked about at our work session,” Superintendent Mark Henson reminded board members at the February 9 work session.

"e purchase will increase cam-eras in each elementary school from 16 to 32. "e Technology Building will get a #ve-camera system that includes security and interior alarm equipment.

Cost of the upgrade for Blue Ridge Elementary is $11,825; for East Fannin, $10,250; for West Fannin, $9,825; and for the Tech-nology Building, $6,000. "e project will be totally funded by special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST), Henson said.

Assistant Superintendent Art Hubbard said that ACCT was the only company contacted for the project. "ey installed the present system and, as a result, their hard-ware is compatible, he explained. In addition, they were the lowest bidder for the previous project, and ACCT’s proposal prices are very similar to the prices from the previous project, he said.

School district policy does not require bids under $50,000, and the total proposed cost is $37,900, Hubbard added.

Hubbard pointed out that AC-CT’s #nal cost includes a total $2,250 deduction ($750 for each facility) for trading in each ele-mentary school’s present 16-chan-nel DVR, which the company didn’t have to do.

Henson said that the installa-tion of the security, alarm and camera system at the Technology Building is important, because the building contains some very expensive hardware.

"e next step, he said, is to get back-up power systems for each school.

During the regular meeting, high school Principal Erik Cio! reported on changes in the organi-zational structure, processes and procedures at the high school, as well as facility updates. Sequenc-ing for certain classes--for exam-

ple, biology, physical science, U.S. history and world history--has been changed, he reported. Cio! added that the school has devel-oped support for math, one of the state’s challenges, as well as de-veloping a summer literacy plan. "e school has also instituted a pre-Advanced Placement track to ensure students understand the “rigor of AP,” he said.

"e school is also considering implementation of a%endance monitoring to hold students ac-countable, Cio! said. He ex-plained that if students miss more than 10 days, they would lose the course credit if they passed the course. “I’m very proud of what the sta' has done, and the student body at the high school,” he said.

As the work session was taking place February 9, teachers were voting on one of three 2010-11 school year calendars presented to them, Henson said. Hubbard, Di-rector of Transportation and Safe-ty Bennie Long and Nutrition Di-rector Candice Sisson comprised the commi%ee that worked with assistant principals at each school to produce the calendars.

“We tried very hard to get input from those involved,” Long said.

During the regular board meet-ing February 11, it was announced that the sta' had chosen option one, the only option with a start date in August, for next year’s cal-endar. Henson added that the new teacher orientation date of July 30 was inaccurate, and a new date would be announced soon.

Karen Walton, director of

school improvement and instruc-tional services, spoke about how the district is working to meet Georgia Performance Standards in math.

Henson announced that the el-ementary schools and high school had been honored by the Geor-gia Department of Education for a high participation level in the school nutrition program during the 2007-2008 school year.

In other business, the boardvoted to terminate the em-

ployment of Glenda Beach and Jayne Reece, nutrition work-ers at West Fannin Elementary voted to #nance the lease/pur-chase of two new buses with United Community Bank, which submi%ed a winning bid with an interest rate of three percent and total payback of $196,488.55 voted to hire Tracy Car-roll, Rebecca Lee and Tammy Standridge as substitute teachers approved the dis-trict’s budget calendar approved fundraising e'orts approved use of school fa-cilities for several events approved several #eld trips A(er the board voted to approve use of the new stadium for the June 11-12 Relay for Life event, Henson said, “"is is what we’ve envisioned all along--a commu-nity center that the community can use.”

"e Fannin County Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. the second "ursday of each month at the board o!ce. "e public is welcome to a%end.

Director of School Nutrition Candice Sisson spoke about the Georgia Department of Education honor for high participation in the school nutrition program for Blue Ridge Elementary breakfast, East Fannin Elementary breakfast and lunch, West Fannin Elementary breakfast and lunch and high school breakfast and lunch during the 2007-2008 school year. "This participation is among the highest in the nation," Sisson said.

School board ful"lls camera wish listBy LISA GAGNON

Sentinel Writer&

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CALENDAR

UG Hospital Auxiliary to host a Gold Buying Event

on Tuesday, February 23rd from Noon to 7:00pm at the Union General Hospital in Blairsville.

Go through your jewelry box and pull out all the old pieces you no longer wear—broken chains, a single earring, out of style earring jackets, class ring, a forgotten boyfriend ring or pendant, an old gold watch (doesn’t matter if it works) and bring it to the hospital. South-east Gold Buyers will determine if its 10K, 14K

or 18K and you can trade it for current market prices and get PAID on the spot!!!!

Southeast Gold Buyers will be making a -

ing Home Special Needs and to provide schol-arship for local medical students.

For more information on this event, please contact Pat Cook at 706 781-1908 or email xp-cook@windstream.net

Grassroots groupWill be meeting on February 11th at 6:30

P.M. at the Civic Center. Advocacy discussions will be conducted. Jeff Langley candidate for

Jones candidates for 9th District will discuss the grassroots efforts and his campaign. Please bring non-perishable food for the 9th district food bank. Contact 706/745-7201.

Free native plant sym-posiumFebruary 20, 9am-3pm at NC Arboretum, Asheville, presented by NC Native Plant Soci-ety. Ed Schwartzman, NCDENR, Natural Her-

River; Scott Dean, WNC Naturally, on Great

hike and many other presentations. Brought to you by Gardens of The Blue Ridge & Carolina

index.php/site/event_details/1445/

MOPS"Blairsville Mothers of Preschoolers will meet February 18th at the First Baptist Church of Blairsville from 6-8pm. Join us as marriage counselors Phil and Mary Mason answer all your relationship questions and offer tips on keeping the SIZZLE in your marriage! MOPS is open to mothers of children birth-Kindergarten. To make a reservation

706-745-2469. Visit us at www.mops.org for more informa-tion!"

Union General Hospital Auxiliary

is hosting a gold buying fundraiser on Tuesday, February 23rd from Noon to 7:00pm at the Union General Hospital in Blairsville.Go through your jewelry box and pull out all the old pieces you no longer wear—broken chains, a single earring, out of style earring jackets, class ring, a forgotten boyfriend ring or pendant, an old gold watch (doesn’t matter if it works) and bring it to the hospital. Southeast Gold Buyers will determine if its 10K, 14K or 18K and you can trade it for current market prices and get PAID on the spot!!!!Southeast Gold Buyers will be making a 20%

Home Special Needs and to provide scholar-ship for local medical students. For more information on this event, please contact Pat Cook at 706 781-1908 or email xpcook@windstream.net.

Saved by Grace Full Gospel Church will be having a All

Weekend Service on Saturday, February 20th- Sunday February 21st.

Saturday, February 20th Services will be at 10 a.m. until ?, Saturday evening 7 p.m. to ?

Sunday Morning Service begins at 10 a.m. all day food and refreshments will be served on Sunday.

The church is located on Burnt Schoolhouse Ridge Road. Everyone is invited to attend.

Reverend Shannon Burrell.For more information contact Mary Jane

Kitchens 828-389-4180

Road to RecoveryAre you a cancer patient? Do you need

a ride to and from your treatment ses-sions? A lack of transportation should not be the reason why cancer patients do not receive the life-saving cancer treatment they need. The American Cancer Society offers their Road to Recovery program to help transport cancer patients to and from their treatment. The Society has a toll-free number that you may call, and an operator will put you in touch with lo-cal volunteers that give cancer patients without personal transportation rides to and from their cancer treatment sessions. Give them a call at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Man to ManProstate Cancer Support Group—3rd

Monday of every month from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at The Cancer Treatment Center Au-ditorium, 750 Deep South Road, Blairs-ville.

Parkinson’s supportOur group meets at 3 p.m. on the 2nd

Wednesday of each month in the confer-ence room of the Union County Public Library. For further information contact Paula Wilde at (706) 745- 6594 or Peter and Helen Schultze at (706) 745-9171.

Alcoholics Anony-mous

Blairsville group meets every Monday and Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and Sat-urday mornings at 8 a.m. at the Mountain Presbyterian Church on Hwy. 515. For more information call 706-994-4462.

T.O.P.S.TOPS (Take Pounds Off Sensibly)

support group is moving to a new loca-tion at Zion United Methodist Church, 4812 Young Harris Hwy. Time weigh in 5:00; meeting starts at 5:30. Come join us to learn how to lose weight the sensi-ble way. Membership fee of $24 includes monthly magazine subscription. Monthly awards and contests, weekly programs on nutrition and health. For more infor-mation call Sandy at 706-835-1607.

Morning Coffee Group

Regency Hospice announces Men’s Morning Coffee Group at Mary Ann’s Restaurant. For men who have a lost spouse, partner, or experienced other losses and would like to share with other men, please join us on Tuesday at 10 a.m. We meet the first and third Tuesday morning of each month.

For more information call Suzanne Repp, Bereavement Counselor at Re-gency Hospice in Hiawassee, Ga., at 800-577-8791.

Cancer Support Group

At the United Community Bank in Hayesville, N.C. Patients, families and friends are all welcome to attend. United Community Bank is located at the corner of Hwy. 64 and Hwy. 69. Meeting time is 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The group will meet twice a month (on the 2nd and 4th Mondays). For more information, please call Janet Curns evenings at 828-389-0295.

Narcotics Anony-mous Weekly Meet-ings List

Mondays - 7 p.m. 12-Step meeting at Union County Annex Building located at 71 Hospital Street. This is an open meet-ing. Union County Anti-Drug Coalition

Tuesdays - 4 p.m. Open discussion meeting at Towns County Avita Commu-nity Partners. Meet at 1100 Jack Dayton Circle, Young Harris, Ga.

Tuesdays - 7 p.m. Discussion meeting at Union County Annex Building & New Hope Counseling at 71 Hospital St.

Wednesdays - 6 p.m. Open discussion meeting at Union County Avita Commu-nity Partners. 41 Hospital St., Suite 100, Blairsville.

Fridays - 8 p.m. Open discussion meeting at Union County Annex & New Hope Counseling, 71 Hospital St.

All the meetings are open & anyone can attend. For more information regard-ing any of these meetings, please call 706-897-9775, 706-896-6263 or 706-745-4066.

Bereavement Sup-port Group - Meet-ing Changes

Welcome to a community bereave-ment support group. A place to share your thoughts and feelings and grow to-gether with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

First Thursday of every month at Unit-ed Community Bank, Small Community Room, Blairsville from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

We will only meet once per month. Facilitator: Suzanne Repp, LCSW. The group is presented by Regency Hospice and is free of charge. Please call 1-800-577-8791 or 706-896-1251 for more in-formation.

Young Harris Al AnonThe Young Harris Al Anon Family

Group will meet at 12 Noon every Tues-day in Young Harris, Ga., at Sharp Me-morial United Methodist Church, Room 105. For more information, please call 706-781-3158.

Your Journey from

Mourning to JoyGriefShare is a Biblically-based week-

ly support group for people grieving the death of someone close. It’s a place where you can be around people who understand how you feel and the pain of your loss. At GriefShare, you’ll learn valuable information that will help you through this difficult time in your life.

A GriefShare group meets every Tues-day, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting Sep-tember 1, at All Saints Lutheran Church in Blairsville. Call 706 745-7777 for more information.

GWRRA meetsChapter J of the Gold Wing Road Rid-

ers Association (GWRRA) meets the fourth Saturday of each month at Daniel’s Steakhouse, Hiawassee, GA. We eat at 11 AM followed by the meeting at 12:00 during which rides and other activities are announced and discussed.

We encourage current members of the GWRRA and anyone interested in becom-ing a member to join us. All motorcyclists are welcome and we look forward to see-ing participants from other chapters. There are great rides coming up and we hope many of you will join us.

For further information, contact Chap-ter Director, June Gottlieb, 706-896-7403

Tri-State Business Women

Formerly known as Business Women of Blairsville, the Tri-State Business Women is an organization of entrepre-neurial women in Georgia, North Caro-lina and Tennessee who own and operate their own businesses and are a positive force in the community. Their vision and mission is to support one another in con-tinuing success through networking and marketing.

If you are a woman in business in the area, there is a place for you to receive support, gain leads, and spread the word about your practice or business in the area.

Meetings are held every Tuesday of the month at 8 a.m. at Grinds N Glazes in Blairsville. For more information, please contact Susanne Johnson, President, at 706-781-1678 or Cathy Wheeler at 706-781-1050.

Ga. Mtn. Writers ClubWe meet 10 a.m. to noon the sec-

ond Wednesday of the month at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church on the Young Harris Highway.

We have no membership dues or elect-

and provide helpful criticism, inspiration, motivation and encouragement to each other. Everyone is welcome. You do not have to be a writer - just visit and enjoy listening to readings and discussion. You will be entertained – and maybe acquire a new interest.

Call for information: Larry Casey at 781-6636 or Ellie Dobson at 745-0678.

Knights of Columbus, North Georgia Council

Knights of Columbus, North Georgia Council, monthly meeting is on the sec-ond Thursday of the month and meets 7:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Blairsville. All active mem-bers are invited to attend the meeting and social hour.

Bagpipe InstructionThe Appalachian Saint Andrew’s Pipes

and Drums bagpipe band is offering free instruction to all who want to learn how to play the Great Highland Bagpipe or learn Regimental Drumming. The band meets each Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon in the Parish Hall of Saint Clare’s Episcopal Church for instruction and practice. For further information, please call 706-835-9071 or 706-745-3526.

Mountain High Hik-ers Schedule

Mountain High Hikers schedule two hikes each Tuesday, occasionally spe-cialty hike, and regular trail maintaining trips- all in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and Georgia.

Check the web site: MountainHigh-Hikers.org for schedule and meeting lo-cations or call 828-389-8240 for informa-tion.

Kiwanis ClubThe Kiwanis Club of Blairsville is dedi-cated to serving and supporting young people in the immediate area around Blairsville through numerous projects. The Kiwanis Club meets at the Cobb’s Mill restaurant in Blairsville at 12:00 Noon each Monday. Come join in the fun with us. For more information, con-tact President Charlie Krick at (706)781-6793.

DAVThe Disabled American Veterans meet

monthly on the second Monday of each month at noon in the Old Nursing Home, Room 116, in Blairsville. Please join them.

Club 180 for TeensJoin us on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. for fel-lowship, fun and snacks at Choestoe Bap-tist Church, 4455 Choestoe Church Rd., located south of Blairsville off Hwy. 129 and Hwy. 180. For more information and directions, please call the church at 706-745-6370.

Mountain Sounds Dulcimer Club

We meet every 2nd & 4th Tuesday

from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30p.m. at the Senior Center in Blairsville. No matter if you just started playing the dulcimer or if you are experienced, come join us for a good time playing your favorite songs and learning new songs. For more information, please contact LaDale at 706-835-1688 or ray-dale@windstream.net. Hope to see you at our next meeting!

Just 4 HoursJust 4 hours a week can make a big

difference in caring for abandoned and abused animals. Just 4 hours to walk dogs. Just 4 hours to groom dogs or cats. Just 4 house to clean the cattery. Just 4 hours to transport dogs and/or cats to the vet. If you have just 4 hours a week to volunteer your time and energy, please contact Castaway Critters at 706-781-3992 or call Martha at 706-379-2729.

Trout UnlimitedTrout Unlimited meets the 2nd Thurs-

day of each month at Cadence Bank con-ference room in Blairsville at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please call Marcus Tuschel at 706-835-9010.

Experimental Aircraft Association

The Experimental Aircraft Association - local tri-state EAA Chapter #1211 meets the third Thursday, 7 p.m. of each month at Blairsville airport. For more informa-tion, contact Jim Olson at 828-557-2446.

Shooting Creek Bas-ket Weavers Guild

The Shooting Creek Basket Weavers Guild meets on the 2nd Wed. of each month from 9:45 until 2:00 at the Shoot-

-tion) in NC. Refreshments are served and a business meeting is held before a weaving project is presented. For more information, contact Joan (Guild presi-dent) at 706-896-1534.

UC Republican PartyThe Union County Republican Party

holds its monthly meetings on the third Saturday of each month at Victoria’s Sweet Shop. Meetings begin at 9am and have an optional breakfast for $6. More information can be found at www.union-gop.org.

Tri-State Business Women

Women business owners in the tri-state area are welcome to attend and join our weekly meeting every Tuesday at 8am. Meetings are held at the Blairsville Res-taurant with breakfast available to those interested. Come and see how women are making an impact as leaders in our com-munity. For more information visit www.tri-statebusinesswomen.com.

Republican Women of Union County

The RWUC meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Meetings are held in the Brackett Room at the United Com-munity Bank. For more information visit www.RepublicanWomenOfUnion.org.

Mothers of Preschool-ersmothering organization, creates commu-nities and resources to help make "bet-ter moms who make a better world." A MOPS group is a place where moms can come-just as they are-to build friendships, receive mothering support, practical help and spiritual hope. Join us - because bet-ter moms, make a better world! Visit us at www.MOPS.org

Mothers of Preschoolers meets on the Third Thursday of each month in the new fellowship hall at First Baptist Church of Blairsville from 6-8pm. Call the church

-tion or email us at mopsofblairsville@gmail.com.

Smokie Mountain Melodies

Smokie Mountain Melodies is a ladies barbershop-style chorus whose members

and Western North Carolina. As a chap-ter of Sweet Adelines International, the chorus is committed to a goal of advanc-ing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and perfor-mances.Smokie Mountain Melodies meets every Tuesday night at 6:30 at the First United Methodist of Union County in Blairsville, Georgia located at 859 Highway 515. Any women who have a love of singing are welcome to join. For more informa-tion call the Director, Phyllis Baker at 706-379-3836.

Forming Gourmet Dinner Clubdining connoisseurs, must have some gourmet cooking skills and room to host candle light, sit down dinners in your home. Full time and part time residents welcome. Hiawassee and Young Harris. Limited membership. Call Diane 706-835-5007

Amateur RadioAttention HAMs and anyone interested

in Amateur RadioThe North Georgia Tri-State A.R.C.

(Amateur Radio Club) meetings are

7 p.m. at Branan Lodge in Blairsville. All of our meetings are open to the public. Our next meeting is to be held December 1st and will begin with a special techni-cal session on Amatuer Radio Emergency

Tarheel Network in North Carolina. For

more information about joining the Club or becoming a HAM, call Don Deyton at 706-781-6665.

Amateur license testing will be held on December 7th in Blairsville at

310 Welborn Street, Blairsville, GA. Contact Bob Ochs at 706-838-4728 for more information.

DAR MeetingThe December meeting of the Old Uni-

coi Trail Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolu-tion will be held at the Big Springs meet-ing room at The Oaks in Hiawassee, GA, Saturday, December 12th, 2009, at 10:15 AM. OUTDAR members will tell about their memories of celebrating Christmas in other countries. Members will also

club chapter projects. If you are inter-ested in learning more about DAR, an organization for women who have Revo-lutionary War patriots in their family his-tory, contact Eloise Wolfersteig, Regent, 706-379-2533. Old Unicoi Trail Chapter serves Towns, Union, and Fannin Coun-ties. The Old Unicoi Trail homepage is found online at http://oldunicoitrail.geor-giastatedar.org.

Computer ClubThe Mountain Computer User Group Will meets in November on TUESDAY at 7 PM in the Goolsby Center, Young Harris College. Please note this is a change from our normal meeting date. At this time we will be presenting a program on all the new technologies that you can expect to get for Christmas. Come join us as we travel into the land of new technology. You might just get a glimpse of what Santa has in store for you at Christmas this year. Don’t forget we are meeting on Tuesday, November 10th. at 7 PM and not on Monday as we normally do.We will start the evening with our usual Q&A session. Come and join us for a lively session that is bound to increase your computer knowledge. Our Q&A session begins at 6 PM. Bring a friend and join us for the evening, you’ll be glad you did.

Union County Repub-lican Party will be holding its monthly meeting on Saturday, January 16th at 9:00 am at Vic-toria’s Sweet Shop at 2386 Young Harris Highway, Blairsville. A buffet breakfast for $6 will be available and is optional. Everyone is invited to attend and meet

-ers this month are:

Max Wood, running for Attorney General - By way of Presidential appoint-

ment, Max Wood served as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia beginning in 2001. He served as the Chief Prosecutor and law enforce-

70 county Middle District of Georgia. This district includes the cities of Athens, Macon, Columbus, Albany and Valdosta.

Insurance Commissioner - She is a con-servative running to serve Georgia as Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. Pro Fair Tax, Pro Gun, and Pro Life.

Doug MacGinnitie, candidate for Secretary of State Candidate - Doug be-lieves the key to creating jobs during the current recession is a focus on small business.“More than 75 percent of jobs that are created in this kind of recession are created at the small business level,” he said. “If you care about jobs in the state, then you should care about small business.”.

Melvin Everson, running for Labor Commissioner - Republican Melvin Everson has developed a reputation for strong, conservative leadership as a State Representative from Gwinnett County. Prior to being elected to the State Legis-lature, he was elected City Councilman in Snellville twice. Everson has made a dif-ference for those he has served at both the local and state level. He served 23 years in the military before retiring in 1999.

Additional information may be ob-tained at www.uniongop.org or by calling 706-781-1013.

Patriots of Union County

The Patriots of Union County meet on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 P.M. at the Civic Center (next to Steve's Steak House). 185 Wellborn St. This is a non-partisan group and every-one is invited.

The meetings will feature discussions on Constitutional rights, state's rights, right to bear arms, Fair Tax, border secu-rity, energy dependence and more.

A canned and non-perishable food drive will be held in conjunction with the meeting for the 9th District Food Bank

For more information call: 706-745-7201

Auto ClubThe next meeting of the Good Neigh-

bors Auto Club will be on Thursday, Jan-uary 21st, starting at 7:30 PM. Meeting to be held at Brothers Restaurant in Murphy, NC . All meetings are open to the pub-lic and are held on the third Thursday of each month.

Mountain Communi-ty Seniors meets second Thursday each month at Senior Center in Hiawassee at 2:00 P.M.. We invite and welcome all Mountain Seniors from Towns, Union and Clay Counties to join us. We have Music,

trips. On Thursday Feb. 11th We have Roy Perrin, Principal of Towns County High School who will give us his very entertaining rendition of Elvis. Light refreshments served. Do come join us.

Un ion :   Recur r i ng    Events

Church

SUPPORT

Un ion :  Upcoming  Events

ACTIVITIES

Fann in :    Upcoming  EventsMOAA

The Blue Ridge Mountains Chapter of -

ca (MOAA) meets the third Monday of each month at various area restaurants. All active duty, National Guard, reserve, retired, for-mer military, Public Health Service, NOAA

spouses are invited to attend.For information please contact one of the

following individuals, in North Carolina: Jim Ferrell at 828-335-9203, and in Geor-gia: John Quinlan at 706-896-2430, or visit www.moaa.org/chapter/blueridgemoun-tains.

Community Prayer Meeting

This Thursday, February 11,2010 a community prayer meeting will be held at

downtown, Blue Ridge at noon. Everyone is invited to attend as we continue to pray for our nation'sand community's leaders and true repentance for our country. Please come and support our efforts as we join with

questions please contact : Lydia Long 706-374-4750

Some  look  to  things  to  satisfy,To  bring  euphoria  and  contentment.

But  pursuit  of  more  can  lead  to  miseryAnd  the  never-satiated  desire  for  greater  possessions.

Some  hope  to  have  a  life  without  trialsAnd  so  seek  to  avoid  pitfalls  that  would  bring  sorrow.Along  the  journey  the  traveler  must  take  heed  to  self.

Peace  and  joy  are  inward  traits;  the  way  we  think  is  who  we  are.               -Ethelene  Dyer  Jones  

“I’ve  learned  from  experience  that  the  greater  part  of  happiness  or  misery

depends  on  our  dispositionsand  not  on  our  circumstances.”

          -Martha  Washington

Worth ConsideringA thought for today

As I sit by my woodstove on this cold February day, I find my thoughts drift-ing towards that bright spring day when I will pick the first sugar snap peas grow-ing in my garden. Soon I’ll be sowing flats of seeds, watching in amazement as the tiny seedlings beg to be transplanted into larger pots which will fill my green-house with promises of summer flow-ers and fresh garden vegetables.

I have gardened for more than twen-ty-five years and yet, each spring, I am awestruck by the magic and productive power of a tiny seed. This same magic takes place every year on our forest floors. Where there is now a dusting of snow across leaf litter, there will soon appear hepatica, bloodroot, trillium, solomon’s seal, trout lilies and ladies slippers. Whether scattered by the wind and wild life or carefully planted by the human hand, seeds fill our world with beauty and life sustaining nourishment.

As impressive as the seed may be, it could not survive without Mother Na-ture’s black gold ---- rich fertile soil. Dur-ing the quiet months of winter as well as spring, summer and fall, the living soil is replete with activity. One acre of fertile topsoil contains approximately eleven

tons of biological life. Earthworms aer-ate the soil and fertilize it with their cast-ings. Millions and millions of micro-organisms – bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa – work in the top! six to twelve inches of the soil decomposing, digest-ing plant and animal matter and feed-ing nutrients to plants. Nature’s perfect recycling system is in constant motion turning plant and animal matter into rich humus and top soil. But nature works slowly, taking up to 500 years to build one inch of topsoil.

I have always believed that close ob-servation of the natural world can be one of our greatest teachers. Nature is patient, slow and precise. In nature nothing is wasted. If we want healthy and productive soil that will sustain us for many years, we must nourish that soil.

Composting is a perfect lesson from nature. By creating a home composting area, we can recycle our food and yard wastes and produce our own “black gold” which feeds our soil, our plants and ourselves. Compost enclosures can be as simple as a hardware cloth cylin-der large enough to circle the compost heap, to a commercially produced re-volving drum unit. Turning the pile will hasten decomposition, lending a hand

to the busy microorganisms and worms working in the pile.

Learning from nature is both edu-cational and rewarding. Following her lead will point us towards a sustainable future!

The Preservation Committee spon-sors projects to promote environmen-tal stewardship and the preservation of native plants. For more informa-tion about projects and volunteer op-portunities, contact Jennifer Cordier (706-745-9317) or Clare Johnston (706-745-2655; www.gmrec.uga.edu; Georgia Mountain Research and Edu-cation Center).

GEORGIA SENTINEL Page 5A

CO M M U N I T YTributes

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Loretta Elizabeth Butts Thomas Mrs.Loretta Elizabeth Butts Thomas age 75 of

Home Run Rd. Blairsville passed away on Feb.10,2010 in the Willow Wood Nursing Home following an ex-tended illness.Mrs.Thomas was born on May 16,1934 in Union County,the daughter of the late Homer Butts and the late Minnie Ledford Butts.She was a native and lifelong resident of Union County.Loretta was a loving mother,sister,grandmother and great grandmother.She was preceded in death by a grand daughter,Bridget Totherow. Mrs.Thomas was a mem-ber of Philadelphia Baptist Church

Surviving Mrs.Thomas are one daughter and son in law,Raelene and David Geer of Tuscaloosa, AL.,three sons and two daughter in laws,Tony and Rob-bin Totherow of Gainesville,GA .,Flint Totherow of Buford,GA .,Nathan and Mary Totherow of NY.,one sister,Lorene Grace Shepherd of Dalton,two brothers and one sister in law, Arnold and Lou-

ise Butts of Blairsville,Ivan Butts of Blairsville,four grandchildren,Franklin Geer,Mindy Totherow,Tyler Totherow and Mindy Mosser,three great grandchildren,Kennedy,Jackson and Carter,many other relatives and friends also survive.

Funeral services were held on Saturday Feb.13,2010 at 11:00am from the Mountain View Chapel with the Rev.Tommy Jones officiating. Special music was presented by the Philadelphia Church Choir.The following gentleman served as pallbearers,Vernon Patterson,Vester, Jonathon, Buck,Jacob and Joshua Dills. Intermen followed in the Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery.The family met with friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-9pm.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com

Joseph Murray Brown Jr. Mr.Joseph Murray Brown Jr. age 71 of Deerberry

Drive Blue Ridge passed away on Thursday Feb.11, 2010 in the Union General Hospital following an extended illness. Mr.Brown was born on Dec.30,1938 in Richmond,VA .,the son of the late Joseph Murray Brown and the late Coy Eloise Ward Brown.He was a veteran of the US Navy.Joseph was a loving father and grandfather.He was preceded in death by a son,John Brown in 2006 and by a sister,Judy Pointer.Mr.Brown was of the Catholic faith.

Surviving Mr.Brown are one son and daughter in law,Patrick and Stephanie Brown of San Antonio,TX.,one daughter and son in law, Anna and

Steven Balser of Stauton,VA .,five grandchildren,Evan Williams,Logan Hogan,Jaron Brown,Katherine Brown and Emily Brown,many other relatives and

friends also survive. A memorial service will be held at a later

date and will be announced.In lieu of flowers if you wish,the family requests that memori-als may be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Mr.Brown.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.You

may sign the family guest book and send con-dolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneral-

home.com

Harry Leroy DennisMr.Harry Leroy Dennis age 88 of 120 Fine Drive

Murphy passed away on Thursday Feb.11,2010 at Stonehenge Drive Blairsville following an extend-ed illness.Mr.Dennis was born on Dec.8,1921 in Niagara Falls,NY.,the son of the late Wil-liam Rimert and the late Alice Dennis Rimert.He was a veteran of the US Navy of WWII.He was preceded in death by his wife,Dorothy Louise Conoway Dennis in 2006.He retired in 1986 from NY.State Power where he worked there and Niagara Mohawk for over forty years.Mr.Dennis was of the Protestant faith.

Surviving Mr.Dennis are two daughters and one son in law,Barbara and Roland Verrico of Murphy,Linda Dennis of Pittsburg , PA .,three grandchildren,Kelli

and Mario Oliverio,Brook Wilson and Michael Verrico,three great grandchildren, Domenic,Victoria and Rocco Oliverio,many other relatives and friends

also survive.Services w ere held on Saturday Feb.13,2010 at 5:00 pm from the Mountain View Chapel

with Minister Terry Stuart officiated. Inter-ment followed in the Bushnell National Cemetery in Bushnell,FL.,where he will rest next to his wife Dorothy.The family

met with friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 4-5pm.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairs-ville in charge of the arrangements.You may sign

the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com

Jeramiah”Jeremy”David HaistMr.Jeramiah”Jeremy”David Haist age 32 of Hem-

bree Crossing Roswell,GA .passed away on Tuesday Feb.9,2010 following a brief illness.Mr.Haist was born on May 4,1976 in Indiana,the son of Rob-ert L. Haist and Catherine Wells Haist.He was a loving son,brother,grandson and was a friend to many.He was preceded in death by his grandparents,Elizabeth Bohl Haist and Lloyd and Edwina Haist.Mr.Haist was of the Christian faith.

Surviving Jeremy are his parents,Robert and Catherine Haist of Blairsville,one brother,Joshua Haist of Roswell,grandparents,Paul and Dorothy Hussey of Lawrenceville,IL.,aunts and uncles,Sally and Mel Lockwood of Columbia,SC.,Carol and Da-vid Gaddey of Tuscola,IL.,Cindy and David An-

this of Mt.Carmel,IL.,John Anderson and Terry Powell,special friends,Katrina Smith-Mays and Austin Mays,many other relatives and friends also survive.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday Feb.13,2010 at 2:00pm from the Mountain View

Chapel with the Rev.James T.Paul officiating.Special music will be presented by Kristi Conley.In lieu of flowers if you wish,the family requests that memorials may be made to ActionAid International,1420 K

St.N.W.Suite 900 Washington,DC. 20005 or to Castaway Critters in memory of Jer-

emy.The family will meet with friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 12-2:00pm.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville in charge of the arrangements.You may sign the family guest book and send condolences at www.mountain-viewfuneralhome.com

Eileen Theresa Walsh Eileen Theresa Walsh, 60, a ten year resident of

Blairsville, Georgia and previously of Vero Beach, Florida, died on February 9, 2010 at home after a long battle with cancer and lupus.!

She was born on September 13, 1949 in Worcester, MA to the late Claire Lil-lian (W helan) Walsh and Vincent Martin Walsh, Sr.! Survivors include her long-time friend, Sandra Campbell of Blairsville; her brother, Vincent M. Walsh, Jr. of Boylston, MA; two sisters, Joanne C. Carlson of Man-chester, Conn. and Sheila M. Shrewsberry of Edgewater, MD. and nine nieces and nephews.! Eileen was predeceased by her brother, Martin J. Walsh of New York City, NY.

After moving to Montvale, NJ during her senior year of high school, Eileen returned to Worcester, Mass. to graduate from Marian High School.! She earned her

Bachelor 's Degree from St. Joseph's College in W. Hartford, Conn.and then, following her dream,

became a successful folk artist, jeweler and equine portrait painter.

Services and interment are private.! In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catho-

lic Church, 3717 Highway 515, Blairsville, GA, 30512-3288.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairs-ville in charge of the arrangements.You may sign

the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com

www.ngpg.org

Now Accepting Patients in Blairsville!Neurologist Shaena Blevins, MD, of Northeast Georgia PhysiciansGroup Neurology, is now accepting patients in two locations:

BLAIRSVILLE77 Weaver Road, Suite BBlairsville, GA 30512Friday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

GAINESVILLE 1315 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Suite 300Gainesville, GA 30501Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Call 770-219-6520 to schedule appointments.

Shaena Blevins, MDNortheast Georgia Physicians Group Neurology

www.ngpg.org

Habitat for Humanity Bowling Tournament"e Fi#h Annual Habitat for Hu-

manity Bowling Tournament will take place Saturday February 27th at the Galaxy Bowling Center in Blairsville.

"e tournament is open to the public and is designed to bring the community together for fun and fellowship. Proceeds from the tour-nament will be used to further the Habitat Mission to provide a$ord-able housing in the Towns Union County community.

Reducing poverty in this eco-nomically depressed time is chal-lenging. We all have had to cut and get back to the basics however, for some of our friends and neighbors this has been a way of life for many years. Doing without or having to pay most of their income for hous-

ing perpetuates the problem. Sharing your blessings with

those in need makes us all winners! Local businesses are rallying to sup-port the bowling tournament. All we need is your team to compete in this fund raiser.

If your business or organization has not been contacted and would like to be a sponsor, contact the Habitat o%ce for a “sponsor pack-et” and Habitat will promote your business during the tournament.

"is is a non-sanctioned tour-nament and no previous handicap is required. Teams should be com-

posed of four bowlers with at least two women per team. Handicap will be based on 90% of 210 at the time of the tournament. Cash and door prizes will be provided as well as fun and fellowship.

Deadline for team registration is Feb. 20th. Cost is $25 per per-son, $100 per team. Registration forms are available at Galaxy Bowl-ing Center and through the Habitat o%ce at PO Box 270, Young Harris, GA 30582 or by calling the Habitat o%ce at 706-379-2484 or by email-ing habitato%ce@brmemc.net.

Habitat for Humanity of Towns Union Counties is a nondenomina-tional Christian housing ministry building a$ordable housing for the needy in our community.

Compost: Mother Nature's black goldBy JENNIFER CORDIER

Plant Rescue Team

Fannin County residents were among hundreds of Alzheimer’s advocates from across the state at the Georgia Capital Monday for Alzheimer’s Awareness Day.

Local advocates joined with other Alzheimer’s advocates to ask members of the Georgia Legislature to support legislation to help those individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and their caregivers.

Dressed in purple shirts and armed with knowledge of the bills they were advocating, the local group included Gina Adams, Elaine Owen, Glenda Page, Wanda K Bell, Glenda Simonds and Sharon Van Huss.

Commission Chairman Bill Simonds, in Atlanta for other meetings with legislators, briefly joined the group to meet with their congressmen.

Walking into the Capitol was a sobering experience as a bell

tolled once every 71 seconds. This was a reminder to recognize the frequency with which someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Awareness Day at the Georgia State Capitol is the signature event in Georgia for attendees to tell their elected officials how Alzheimer’s has directly affected them and their families and to ask for help for Alzheimers families.

After lunch, Gov. Sonny Perdue joined advocates in the South Wing for a brief ceremony and pictures.

Of special interest to the advocates was House Bill 999, the Physican Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment that would allow an individual to select any end-of-life care that he/she chooses, and make them doctor’s orders, so the orders would be followed whereever the individual receives care. Too often, papers are misplaced and caregivers are under tremendous pressure to find copies of a Living Will or other

directive to make sure their loved ones wishes are followed. H.B. 999 would make it possible for those orders to follow the patient from home, to hospital, to long-term care, to hospice, etc.

"We support this legislation because individuals with Alzheimer’s deserve to have their wishes honored--and this bill will do that," Gina Adams told House Speaker David Ralston.

Ralston was the first legislator the group met with and was most receptive to their cause as Alzheimer’s has touched his family. "I know what you’re saying and I understand," said Ralston. "I watched my mother go through just what you’re talking about."

Ralston promised to watch the legislation as it went through the legislative process and keep the group informed.

Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger) also met with the Georgia Mountain

group. While Graves does not represent Fannin County in the Legislature, he knows the Fannin County group and was receptive to their pleas for support of pending legislation.

"I know enough about Alzheimer’s to know that it doesn’t just happen to those with the disease," said Graves, "it affects families, friends, and the larger community--so I hear you."

As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to increase to 16 million by 2050. In Georgia alone, more than 200,000 residents age 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. As many as 350,000 caregivers are dealing with the emotional and financial burden this disease brings.

Alzheimer’s is said to have the power to undermine efforts to control health care costs because of its real potential to bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid and the retirement security of generations to come. Nationally, 65% of residents are Medicaiad beneficiaties, 69% have some degree of cognitive impairment and 47% have an Alzheimer’s or other dementia diagnosis.

In other long-term care programs in 2000, of the individuals with Alzhiemer’s or other dementias, 20% received in-home care, 11% rely on the Medicaid Waiver program and comprise 50% of the senior propulation in Adult Day Care.

"We’re in Atlanta to tell the people who represent us in the legislature that it is important to address the funding and care for Alzheimer’s patients before it becomes too much of a burden for individual families and Georgia taxpayers to bear," said Elaine Owen, co-chair of the Georgia Mountain Walk.

Other public policy priorities legislators were encouraged to support included restoring the proposed $225,000 cut of Alzheimer’s respite services, and House Bill 1040 that would allow individuals and/or caregivers to care for persons with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, with training and written direction by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant. This will improve access to care and potentially decrease costs for care.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.

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F!""#"S$"%#"$&PUBLISHER

Frank Bradley

EDITORRandal MacCrea

!e Fannin Sentinel (USPS # 024-582) is published weekly each !ursday by Sentinel News Group at PO Box 799,

Blue Ridge, GA 30153. Subscriptions are $25 for 1 year in Fannin County; $45 out of area. Single copy rate is 50¢.

Periodical postage is paid at Blue Ridge, GA. To subscribe: call 706.745.6397.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the address listed below: Fannin Sentinel, PO Box 799, Blue Ridge,

GA 30513.

706-745-6397CORRECTIONS: If you "nd a mistake of fact in the Fan-nin Sentinel that is serious enough to warrant a correction

or clari"cation, call or stop in so we can make it right in the next week's edition. Email us at fanninsentinel@gmail.com

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Fannin County Alzheimer’s group goes to the Gold Dome

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has just added early-onset/younger onset Alzheimer's to the list of conditions under its Compassionate Allowance Initiative, giving those with the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Alzheimer 's Association, a longtime advocate for those with early-onset Alzheimer 's, has played an integral role in this movement to reduce the length of disability decision process.

This is a victory for individuals with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and is a direct result of the hard work

done by Alzheimer's advocates. Since 2003, the Alzheimer 's Association has been working on behalf of individuals with early-onset Alzheimer's disease to improve the Social Security disability process.

Many people with early-onset Alzheimer's or other dementias have faced long waits and other challenges when applying for Social Security benefits. Individuals are often initially denied but usually win benefits on appeal, a process which can take several years.

Georgia Mountain Alzheimer’s Walk committee is the Alzheimer’s advocate in Fannin County. For more information, please contact Elaine Owen at 706-632-0021 or Gina Adams at 706-374-4286.

Social Security Ruling could help local residentsBy ELAINE OWEN

Sentinel Writer

Blue R idge--EMA/EMS Director Lonnie Oliver appeared at the February 9 Board of Commissioners meeting to inform commissioners of the results of the 911 address resolution. The resolution, passed during the board’s January 26 meeting, requires owners of rental lodging or lodging used by third parties to post the 911 address within the building and the street number at the structure’s driveway.

Oliver reported that already 50 to 60 rental property owners had called to verif y their addresses. For seven or eight, the department had incorrect addresses, and three properties with active phones weren’t in the database, he said.

“ We’ve had a lot of good progress with that. We’re encouraged that people are verifying this,” Oliver said.

He urged residents, as well as owners of rental properties, to ensure that a physical address is posted at their driveways so emergency crews can easily find and identify buildings.

Chairman Bil l Simonds commended Oliver and emergency workers for their rescue of an injured woman

during the recent snowstorm. “That’s the reputation we need to get up in these mountains,” he said.

Post 2 Commissioner Steve Morris praised emergency workers. “ These g uys continually do a phenomenal job. I’m amazed at what they get done short-handed and with what they have,” he said.

In other business , commissioners

approved a variance request from John Sillay for a garage on his property at Shady Falls Road voted to enter into another four-year lodging tax contract with the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce authorized the Chairman to sign and file all documents needed for financial assistance for the county water system appointed Jerry W hitehead to a five-year term and David Lewis to a two-year term on the county Board of Tax Assessors appointed Myra Mason to the Fannin County Development Au thor i t y approved the lease of two new patrol cars for the sherif f ’s department The Fannin County Board of Commissioners meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the court house.

911 address resolution showing resultsBy LISA GAGNON

Sentinel Writer#

Alzheimer's group posed for picture with Governor Sonny Purdue at Capitol

Place your ad in our classi!eds and reach thousands of North Georgia readers. Cost is only $5 for the !rst 10 words for one

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Caremaster Medical Service is now hiring CNA’s for in-home care positions in the Hiawassee and Clarkesville area. We offer flexible staffing, competitive pay, and benefits. To begin your application process, go to our website at www.caremastermed-ical.com. You may also call our Job Hotline at 1-866-703-1566. EOE/ Drug -free workplace.

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BEAUTIFUL CREEK FRONT CABIN – 2 Bedroom, 1 bath cabin on rush-ing creek just minutes from marina and downtown Hiawassee. Very private, end of lane location. Updat-ed kitchen, hardwoods throughout and large wood burning fireplace in great room. Being offered fully furnished, or will consider offering unfurnished or partially furnished if desired. Must have references and good credit. Small pet ok with pet deposit. Prefer year lease, but will consider 6 month lease with good references. Call Scott at 404-542-2152. $675.00/mo. plus 1 month security.

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Blue Ridge--Blue Ridge was voted one of Georgia's top mountain destinations in the October 2009 issue of Georgia Magazine, according to Jan Hackett, president of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce.

At the chamber board of directors meeting February 10, Hackett showed the award and told members that Blue Ridge received the second highest number of votes after Helen in the reader survey.

Hackett mentioned the award winners from the January chamber banquet. They are Bill Prather and Bill Walden, Lifetime Membership; Ken Williams, Ambassador of the Year; Dianne Mallernee, Chamber Member of the Year; and Fannin Regional Hospital, Chamber Business of the Year.

Hackett announced that Blue Ridge Mayor Donna W hitener will be joining the Leadership Fannin Class of 2010. Other members are Mary

Jane Cox, Lauren Darnell, Adam Davenport, Paul Gribble, Marilyn Harbin, Susan Hayes, the Rev. Keith Jones, Kim Knutzen, Mary Kulig, David Lillard, Laurie McClearen, Mike Miller, Robbie Muschamp, Keith Newton, Melinda Passmore, Page Reynolds, Becky Ratcliff, Jackie Seabolt, Candice Sisson, Steve Smith, Carol Smith, C.J. Stam, and Amanda Wishon.

North Georgia Tech will be teaching an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) class at the chamber in March. Cost for chamber members is $125; cost for nonmembers if $149. Dates were not available at press time, so interested parties should contact the chamber.

Rita Suiter will present three more hospitality training

work shops. The first two will take place February 22 at A ppalachian Community Bank. One is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. and the other from 1:30 to 5 p.m. The third is a free Tourism Development Workshop for lodging businesses on February 23 from 8:30 am-12 p.m. in the chamber's conference room. Reser vations are required for each class.

The next board meeting, a member-board lunch, will take place March 10 at Appalachian Community Bank.

Call (706) 632-5680 for more information or to make reservations for any of the above events.

After acknowledging the gift, Ralston nodded toward his wife and stated, "There's one house where I'm not the speaker."

District 51 Sen. Chip Pearson gave the crowd bad news and good news. The bad news, he said, is "we got no money." The good news is that this year is the 100th

anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. He informed the audience that a program will have Scouts performing service projects in each of the state's 519 parks and historical areas.

He said he looks forward to state Rep. Tom Graves' House Bill 1023, which offers income tax credits as

a small business incentive. "The things inhibiting job growth are taxation, regulation and litigation," he said.

Stanford then introduced the candidates for governor, beginning with Rep. Nathan Deal.

"I have no way to judge the future except through the past," said

Deal, adding that he stands on his conservative record.

"If you elect me your governor, you will have a governor who will work with David Ralston. You will have a governor who will work with Casey Cagle. You will have a governor who will work with members of the General Assembly. I will seve with honor and make you proud," he said.

Former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel cited her accomplishments as president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and Secretary of State. She said she is not a career politician, but a business person first.

According to Handel, issues important to Georgians include jobs, agribusiness, tourism, small business and entrepreneurial development. She believes that income tax should be lowered and a broader sales tax implemented.

"The next governor has got to be a real leader with rock-solid principles. This is our opportunity to seize this moment, this time to change these challenges into opportunities," she said.

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine reflected on the problems facing Georgia, saying that his 12-point Contract with Georgia addresses the 12 most important issues in the state and includes zero-base budgeting, state income tax abolition, a statewide transportation system, new water reservoirs, education vouchers, a new educational model, right-to-life, immigration, business attraction, and the Fair Tax.

He added that perhaps the biggest problem with any legislative body is short-term thinking and actions.

"I really am getting tired of things not getting done (such as water, transportation, taxes, education)...There's one reason these things are not being addressed and it's credit," he said. Oxendine explained that politicians tend to indulge in short-term efforts because, instead of working for the people, they are more interested in getting credit for their actions.

Stanford then introduced Dr. Chris Cates, the first of six Congressional candidates vying for Nathan Deal's seat.

Cates, a renowned cardiologist, healthcare expert and Blairsville physician, said he's a businessman as well

as a doctor. He cited the refusal of the Democratic majority to listen to doctors and, in particular, Rep. Steny Hower (D-MD) threat to "get on board or we'll crush you.

"We want to fix health care, but

with the patient as a focus," Cates remarked. "Ninth District people have trusted me with their hearts for the last 25 years; now I’m asking you to trust me with your vote."

State Rep. Tom Graves, the next candidate, said that his 440 volunteers work for him because they want "energy, ideas, solutions." He added that it's important to empower people, not government and promised to cut taxes,

reduce barriers to hiring, and provide incentives to businesses.

Graves sponsored the Jobs Opportunity, and Business Success Act of 2009 (JOBS) and House Bill 1023, which offers income tax credits to early-stage investors in companies with 20 or less employees. "I'm a true believer in the free market system and capitalism," he said.

State Sen. Lee Hawkins, a Gainesville dentist, sponsored Senate Bill 344, which would provide sovereign immunity for physician assistants in free clinics, which serve close to 200,000 people in Georgia.

Hawkins added that he plans to introduce economic development and jobs legislation soon.

He said he can empathize with the challenges faced by North Georgia residents today. Calling himself a "common sense" person, he added that the Constitution and the Bible should provide the nation's foundation. "The 10 Commandments are the cornerstone of a stable society," he said.

Georgia Rep. Bobby Reese detailed his history as an Army veteran, businessman, real estate broker and legislator of 10 years.

Reese said he supports term and time limits, so the amount of time a legislator spends in session is limited. In addition, he wants to base the salaries of Congress on anything above the normal unemployment rate to solve

the unemployment problem..He said he wants to "get the

government out of our business. Leave us alone and leave our money in our pockets so we can invest it, so we can build our business."

Former state Sen. Bill Stephens brought his mother, Morganton Mayor Barbara Stephens, as his date to the event. Stephens is considered "Fannin’s own" and has lived in Fannin and Union counties for six generations.

He said that during his eight years in the Georgia Senate, he sponsored 31 pieces of legislation and

initiated the "Stuck Pig Award," which is given to the "worst single expenditure of money I could find."

He said he believes all bills should be read before votes and all bills

should be posted on the Internet for 72 hours before a vote.

"I ask you for your prayers. I ask you for your support. I ask you for your vote," he stated.

Steve Tarvin said that term limits are detrimental, because if term limits had been in place in Congress, the health insurance bill would already have passed. He added that term limits are imposed during each election.

He told the audience how he had started working at Crystal Springs Print Works at minimum wage and owned the company 12 years later.

A lifelong conservative and contributor to the Republican Party, he reminisced about how, in 2002, he refused to donate until Republican legislators "quit spending money."

Tarvin concluded with, "I know what it is to create and keep a job. There's no one who will outthink me or outwork me. If you support me, I promise you will never be sorry."

Stanford next introduced state Sen. Seth Harp, an attorney and candidate for insurance commissioner.

"In 1966, I was a young Marine in Vietnam and it was there that I decided I had to do more to serve my country. I came back without a lot of my hearing, but otherwise okay. I began then to get involved in conservative causes and I served in almost every position in the Republican Party at a local and state level, Harp recounted.

In 2000, he was elected state senator and began "translating words into action."

Harp promised that, if elected, he would keep in mind that he is working for the people of Georgia. "I promise not to reinvent the office, not to reinvent the wheel, but to put honesty and dignity in there and to fight for the people of Georgia," he said. "And I will remember that I am working for you."

The final speaker and candidate for insurance commissioner was Gerry Purcell, who said that his fight with cancer influenced him to choose a career in health care.

A former pharmacy benefits manager, Purcell is now a health care consultant.

An Army veteran, he has started two churches and managed a $2 million budget at the age of 27, he said.

Purcell said that in order to fix the healthcare system, it's necessary to make changes in competition and group insurance, examine the 70-year-old laws in Title 33, prevent insurance fraud and implement tort reform.

"I know how to fix our health care without destroying the best guys in the world," he finished.

Page 8A GEORGIA SENTINEL

CO M M U N I T Y

By LISA GAGNON

Sentinel Writer!

Blue Ridge voted among top mountain destinations

Gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal talks to former Fannin County Schools Supt. Cecil Davis and Fannin County Commissioner Bill Simonds

Fannin native and Congressional candidate Bill Stephens chats with candidate Lee Hawkins and local attorney Harmon Smith

Chamber:!Lynda Thompson, chair of the chamber's Tourism Committee and chamber President Jan Hackett display the Georgia Magazine award for top mountain destination.

Picture! of the winners of the!2009 BRMHAPhoto left to right: Standing, Ronnie Smith, Open HalterStacey Smith, Halter 2 and UnderPeggy Blanche, Open western Pleasure

Kristin Miller, Combined Running EventsFront row left to right: Adriana Smith, Western

Pleasure 12 and Under!Josh Blanche, Western Pleasure 12 and underJessie Sevenson, Combined Running Events

Blue Ridge Mountain Horseman's Association

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