News - Topics from January, 2009
Nominees for Heisman Award are announced
Zack Westerfield and Catherine Lovin are Pike County High School’s nominees for the Wendy’s Heisman Award.
[Full story »]
Manley is comended
Pvt. second class Timothy Caleb Manley, son of Tim and Sharon Manley, received the Gen. George S. Patton Award for outstanding performance and leadership and the Excellence in Calvary Award in Charlie Troop 5-15, 5th Calvary, 15th Reg., while undergoing recruit training at Fort Knox, Ky., with the 194th Armored Brigade.
[Full story »]
Reaction mixed to teen drivers' cell phone ban
A bill proposed by a Georgia legislator would make it illegal for those 18 years old to use cell phones while driving a vehicle.
[Full story »]
Three Pike County High School students are recognized for outstanding service in school and the community
Three Pike County High School students are recognized for outstanding service in school and the community.
[Full story »]
Poor economy impacts schools
School systems across the state are bracing for serious budget cuts in light of Georgia's expected $2 billion revenue shortfall due to the sagging economy. State tax revenues and corporate tax collections are down.
[Full story »]
Teen Challenge special exception approved
The Pike County commission voted 3-1 January 27 to approve a special zoning exception to allow Teen Challenge to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teenage boys here.
[Full story »]
[Full story »]
Big crowd expected for Teen Challenge hearing
Pike County commissioners expect a large number of people to attend the January 27 meeting to hear them reconsider the Teen Challenge request for a special exception that would allow it to operate a boarding facility, school and ministry for troubled teen boys.
[Full story »]
Teen Challenge becomes a major hot topic
In light of the upcoming meeting/hearing on Teen Challenge, I thought I would share some of the letters that have been coming our way.
[Full story »]
United gives rather than receives
This Christmas UnitedBank decided to donate to local charities in lieu of gift giving.
[Full story »]
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Sears has appointed Superior Court Clerk of Pike County Williams to the Judicial Council of Georgia’s JWAC
On January 15, 2009, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears has appointed Superior Court Clerk of Pike County Carolyn Williams to the Judicial Council of Georgia’s Judicial Workload Assessment Committee (JWAC).
[Full story »]
Marchers take to streets in memory of MLK
To celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. marchers, citizens advocates, and patriots marched through the streets of Pike County.
[Full story »]
Scotts return to find house on fire
A Pike County couple was displaced after a Jan. 5 fire gutted their modular home on Misty Lane in Zebulon.
Diane and Jimmy Scott returned from a trip to a local store that evening and saw smoke coming from the eaves of their one-story house. They had left around 7 p.m. and went to a Zebulon convenience store to pick up a couple of items and their two house dogs rode with them.
When she saw the smoke, Mrs. Scott called 911; then called her sons.
She said her son J.J. arrived quickly, before firefighters were on the scene. As she prevented him from entering the house, her husband threw the breaker to turn off the electricity and turned off the propane gas. He also used his tractor to move a non-working pickup truck.
Firefighters arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire but the home was severely damaged. The Scotts' bedroom and a bathroom were standing, but furniture was damaged and everything was blackened by smoke and fire.
Before the Scotts went to the store, she had cooked supper and washed a load of clothes. Firefighters asked her about use of the stove, but she insists she turned it off before she left.
She said earlier in the evening they smelled a peculiar odor in the house so they called their son Justin, who lives next door, to investigate. She said he looked under the house and in the attic and could find nothing. The odor dissipated after they turned on the ceiling fan.
The Scotts have lived in their house since 1985 and Mrs. Scott has lived on the property all her life. She suspects the fire could have been caused by an electrical problem but that has yet to be determined. The case is still under investigation.
A Red Cross representative came to the scene and provided them a care package. They refused the offer of lodging in a motel because they stayed at their son's home next door.
She said the fire flared up again around 6 a.m. the following day from hot spots that continued to burn throughout the night. It was quickly extinguished.
The Scotts have insurance and their claims representative was on the scene last week to assess the damage, but they have immediate needs such as towels, bed linens and kitchen items. Mrs. Scott also wants to purchase a used laptop to replace her computer lost in the fire.
Those who want to donate household items to the Scotts may call 770-567-3121.
[Full story »]
So far, so good
By Tamra Jarrett
January is widely known as the start of the flu season, but so far, there have been no reports in Pike County schools.
"So far, so good," said elementary school nurse Betty Crawford. "Evidently things are working well."
Pike schools have joined a host of others across the state implementing preventive measures to stave off flu and cold viruses. This includes hand-washing, hand sanitizer and disinfecting classrooms and other parts of school buildings when illness is reported.
Children are also learning to cough and sneeze into their sleeves or elbows, rather than into their hands, said primary school nurse Shanna Callaway. This is a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control.
Most importantly, children and adults who are sick should stay home. No one should return to work or school until they have been fever free for 24 hours, Callaway said.
Pike schools were the first in Georgia to take part in the Flu-Free Schools Initiative Oct. 21-24. Health department officials administered a needle free nasal flu mist vaccine to students. The goal was to reduce flu among students and faculty to reduce absenteeism, which spiked during the flu season during last school year.
District IV public health information officer Hayla Hall said there have been four positive results for the flu from state laboratories this month but this doesn't mean those are the only cases. Influenza is not a notifiable disease and no one is required to report it.
Since the fall there have been seven influenza type A cases and 15 type B cases.
The flu cycle is still sporadic and there has been no large activity, she said. There have been no pediatric deaths or major outbreaks reported.
Hall encourages everyone to practice preventive measures such as getting a flu shot, washing hands and avoiding those who are sick. February is historically the peak month for flu.
County manager Steve Marro, a member of the Governor's Commission on Pandemic Flu Preparedness, noted planning for a major outbreak is evidenced in the community by such features as disinfectant wipes near carts in grocery stores. Stickers in public restrooms reminding people to wash their hands are part of the initiative.
Preventive measures recommended by the CDC include a flu vaccination, covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throwing the tissue in the trash after use and washing hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Avoid close contact with sick people and stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, which spreads germs.
Flu vaccinations are still available at the Pike County Health Department. The cost is $25. There is no flu mist vaccine available, but there are a few children's vaccines. Those with private insurance are not eligible.
[Full story »]
Taxes: No revals in ‘09
There will be no revaluation of any property in Pike County in 2009.
"Unless there's some huge boom in the market, we should be all right with the (current) values," said assessor Paula Nalley at the Jan. 6 meeting.
Assessors agreed last year at a called meeting to withdraw the 2008 property revaluation that drew more than 500 appeals from property owners. Chief assessor Jeannie Haddock said it was brought to their attention there were inconsistencies in the methods an outside firm used to set property values on rural Pike County land parcels and a lack of uniformity. [Full story »]
"Unless there's some huge boom in the market, we should be all right with the (current) values," said assessor Paula Nalley at the Jan. 6 meeting.
Assessors agreed last year at a called meeting to withdraw the 2008 property revaluation that drew more than 500 appeals from property owners. Chief assessor Jeannie Haddock said it was brought to their attention there were inconsistencies in the methods an outside firm used to set property values on rural Pike County land parcels and a lack of uniformity. [Full story »]
Commissioners agree communication is key
By Tamra Jarrett
Personnel policy, execution of board directives and improving customer service were on the minds of commissioners during the first workshop of the new year Jan. 7 at the United Bank lake house.
The goal of the meeting was to improve the working relationship with the county manager.
Commission chairman Doug Mangham and commissioners Don Collins, Parrish Swift and Roosevelt Willis met in the morning and were joined by commissioner Tommy Powers and county manager Steve Marro after lunch.
'I've been bothered by the fact the county manager or department heads are given direction and we never hear about it again," said Collins, who took office Jan. 1. "I call it the abyss. We're here today to work out ways to make things move smoother."
Marro agreed to send the same communications to commissioners as he does to department heads. He noted much of the work is turned over to county attorney Rob Morton, who performs it on a priority basis.
Collins said commissioners want to know the status of their directives in a timely manner.
As county manager, Marro heads county personnel with the authority to hire and fire.
Collins noted there is a personnel manual, but it does not cover job descriptions or disciplinary action. It should be revisited and completed.
Marro said he is in charge of personnel policy, but there is no human resources person on staff.
There was also concern about if employees have adequate training to perform their jobs.
"We should have qualified employees and a lot of times they're here because they've been here," said Collins.
"I for one don't know all the qualifications of the people who work here," Marro said.
Department heads have the authority to hire and fire their employees.
Mangham said employees should receive training if they are qualified to perform their jobs.
Finance technician Sean Townsend recently attended training to become a certified finance officer level one.
Commissioners allowed Marro to address his concerns. He recommended he be given a salary increase.
Willis said he may be going to learn what he should already know.
"You have a $28,000 person in charge of a $10 million budget," Marro said.
"You're in charge of that budget," Willis replied.
Marro noted a lot employees will not receive their 2.5% step increase because they are not qualified.
Collins asked Marro to address customer service by county employees.
"When a taxpayer or potential taxpayer shows up, they should see a smiling face. We can offer customer service," said Collins. "Even if we can't help the person, we can let them know their request has been honored."
To aid the flow of information to citizens, commissioners asked Marro to post monthly financial reports and meeting minutes on the county website. Powers said commissioners voted to have the information posted.
"Is that doable?" Collins asked.
"You're dumping more and more work on people who already have too much for a 40 hour week," Marro said.
Marro noted morale among employees is low because they feel they are being "bashed" by citizens and commissioners.
Citizen interference was among Marro's concerns. He said there are problems with the budget process because of citizen interference. He said they also display a disrespectful attitude toward commissioners and fail to understand a county manager form of government.
"I don't work for the taxpayers. I work for you people (commissioners) in the interest of the taxpayers," Marro said.
Comments