Change clocks "Back" this weekend
WE GET AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP THIS WEEKEND. DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME COMES TO AN END EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, SO WHEN YOU GO TO BED SATURDAY NIGHT SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR. STATE INSURANCE AND FIRE SAFETY COMMISSIONER JOHN OXENDINE ALSO RECOMMENDS CHANGING THE BATTERY IN YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS OR INSTALL A NEW DETECTOR THIS WEEKEND. OXENDINE ALSO RECOMMENDS HAVING A FIRE DRILL AND AN ESCAPE PLAN IN CASE OF A FIRE. REMEMBER, "FALL BACK", TURN YOU CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR BEFORE YOU GO TO BED SATURDAY NIGHT.
Georgia's school "report card" released
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT RELEASED ITS ANNUAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT CARDS ON GEORGIA'S SCHOOLS THIS WEEK. THE REPORTS LOOK AT SCHOOLS READING AND S.A.T. TEST SCORES, GRADUATION RATE, ATTENDANCE AND OTHER CRITERIA. THE REPORT ON BALDWIN COUNTY PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL SHOWS INCREASED IMPROVEMENT IN SOME AREAS AND A DECREASE IN OTHERS. HOWEVER, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT GENE TRAMMEL SAYS OVERALL THE BALDWIN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS IMPROVING.
Knox named Baldwin Co. Teacher of Year
THE BALDWIN COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR BANQUET WAS HELD THURSDAY NIGHT...AND THE 2005 BALDWIN COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS MARILYN KNOX FROM EAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY. KNOX HAS BEEN TEACHING FOR 30 YEARS AND WILL BE RETIRING THIS YEAR. OTHER TEACHERS NOMINATED INCLUDED TONYA ARNOLD AT THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER, JAN MILLER AT BLANDY HILLS ELEMENTARY, KEN SMITH FROM MIDWAY ELEMENTARY, CHARLENE THORPE FROM OAK HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, SHERI THORNTON AT CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY AND WILHELMINA WADE FROM BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL.
Mayor asks for election to be monitored
CLAIMING HE HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF PEOPLE BEING PRESSURED INTO VOTING ABSENTEE BALLOT AND TO CURB WHAT HE CALLS "GAMES", MILLEDGEVILLE MAYOR FLOYD GRIFFIN, JR. HAS REQUESTED THE SECRETARY OF STATES OFFICE TO SEND MONITORS TO OBSERVE THE CITY ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH. GRIFFIN TOLD THE UNION RECORDER THAT HE MADE THE REQUEST AS MAYOR AND NOT A CANDIDATE. REPORTEDLY A HIGH NUMBER OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE BALDWIN COUNTY REGISTRARS OFFICE. ADVANCE VOTING FOR THE CITY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BEGINS MONDAY AT THE BALDWIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
Special show during Sweetwater Festival
THE SECOND ANNUAL 'SWEETWATER' FESTIVAL COMES TO MILLEDGEVILLE NOVEMBER 5TH...A WEEK FROM SATURDAY. BESIDES THE MUSIC, FOOD, BBQ COOK-OFF AND OTHER EVENTS, THE MILLEDGEVILLE AREA COMMUNITY THEATER FOR YOUTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH TALES-FROM-THE-BACK-STOOP IS GEARING UP FOR A SPECIAL PRODUCTION CALLED "SWEETWATER TALES". THE PRODUCTION WILL FEATURE FORTY OF MILLEDGEVILLE'S YOUTH IN A SHOW BASED ON LOCAL ORAL HISTORY STORIES. THE SHOW WAS WRITTEN AND IS DIRECTED BY RUBY WERTS. MUSIC WAS WRITTEN BY BOB LAMB. THERE WILL BE TWO PERFORMANCES OF "SWEETWATER TALES" AT ALLEN'S MARKET DOWNTOWN; TICKETS FOR THE LIMITED SEATING EVENT ARE $5.00 AND NOW ON SALE AT ALLIED ARTS.
Low-income may apply for energy help
NEXT TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 1ST - HOMEBOUND AND SENIOR CITIZENS AGE 65 AND OLDER MAY APPLY TO THE STATE FOR HELP WITH THEIR HEATING BILL. THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THORUGH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES WILL DISTRIBUTE FEDERAL FUNDS TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS. OVERVIEW INCORPORATED WILL HANDLE THE APPLICATIONS. YEARLY INCOME IS THE BASIS FOR QUALIFICATION AND IF ELIGIBLE, PAYMENTS FROM $170 TO $220 WOULD BE MADE DIRECTLY TO THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THE HOME WITH HEAT. INTERESTED PERSONS SHOULD CONTACT OVERVIEW INCORPORATED.
Halloween safety tips
HALLOWEEN IS STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY... BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO.. TO KEEP YOUR LITTLE TRICKJ-OR-TREATERS SAFE. WE HAVE SEVERAL SAFETY REMINDERS AIRING HERE ON THE HOME-TEAM SPONSORED BY MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES. SOME OF THOSE TIPS INCLUDE PLANNING A ROUTE FOR YOUR CHILD'S TRICK OR TREATING AND MAKING SURE KIDS TRAVEL IN GROUPS. ALSO, IF YOU PLAN TO BE ON THE ROAD ON HALLOWEEN EVENING.... SLOW DOWN AND .. PAY ATTENTION TO KIDS WALKING ON OR ALONG ROADS. ALSO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CHILDREN CROSSING THE STREET.
Phone calls slam Mayor candidate
WITH THE MILLEDGEVILLE CITY ELECTIONS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY, CAMPAIGNING IS GETTING INTO FULL SWING. CANDIDATES EXPECT TO BE CRITICIZED BUT ACCORDING TO TODAY'S UNION RECORDER, AT LEAST ONE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR - RICHARD BENTLEY - IS BEING ATTACKED BY RECORDED PHONE CALLS TO REGISTERED VOTERS ACCUSING HIM OF ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. THE SOURCE OF THE CALLS IS NOT KNOWN. ACCORDING TO THE PAPER, THERE ARE ALSO UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF NEGATIVE PHONE CALLS BEGIN MADE ABOUT A DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE. ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 8TH; EARLY VOTING IN THE CITY BEGINS MONDAY.
Parade ground at GMC to be dedicated
THE 127TH CORPS OF CADETS AT GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE WILL HOLD A FORMAL PARADE ON THE NEWLY RESTORED PARADE GROUNDS THIS COMING SUNDAY. IT'S THE ANNUAL PRESIDENT'S PARADE WELCOMING NEW CADETS INTO THEIR RANKS. THE EVENT WILL FEATURE A DEDICATION OF THE RESTORED PARADE GROUNDS IN HONOR OF THE GRANT FAMILY OF WHOM FOUR GENERATIONS ATTENDED GMC. THE GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE DEAN GRANT. THE PRESIDENT'S PARADE AND DEDICATION WILL BE HELD AT 2 SUNDAY AFTERNOON
GC&SU Music/Theater Dept. hold dinner
AN EVENING OF CANDLELIGHT, WINE, CHEESE, DESSERT AND MUSIC IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY NIGHT AT GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY. THE GC&SU MUSIC AND THEATER DEPARTMENT IS HOLDING THE EVENT IN THE MAGNOLIA BALLROOM OF THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES CENTER. IT'S CALLED "GOURMET MELODIES: A GALA EVENING OF FINE MUSIC AND EPICUREAN DELIGHTS" AND WILL BENEFIT THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARS FUND. SEATING IS LIMITED AND TICKETS ARE GOING FAST. IT'S $35 FOR GENERAL ADMISSION AND $15 FOR STUDENTS.
Fires break out Tuesday
YESTERDAY TWO BRUSH FIRES AND A STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE AREA PROVED THAT FALL IS A DANGEROUS TIME OF YEAR FOR FIRES. A BRUSH FIRE BROKE OUT TUESDAY MORNING NEAR LITTLE RIVER PARK ON HIGHWAY 441 NORTH IN BALDWIN COUNTY. THEN ANOTHER BRUSH FIRE OCCURRED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON YACHT CLUB DRIVE AT THE MILLEDGEVILLE COUNTRY CLUB. IN HANCOCK COUNTY, A MOBILE HOME CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED TUESDAY MORNING; NO ONE WAS INSIDE AT THE TIME. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAD ISSUED A RED FLAG FIRE WARNING YESTERDAY BECAUSE OF LOW HUMIDITY AND WINDY CONDITIONS.
City Council reduces alcohol fees
MILLEDGEVILLE CITY COUNCIL MADE CHANGES TO THEIR NEW ALCOHOL FEE SCHEDULE AT LAST NIGHTS COUNCIL MEETING. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, COUNCIL ADOPTED NEW INCREASED FEES FOR ALCOHOL LICENSES THAT WENT UP FROM $50 TO $1800. AFTER HEARING COMPLAINTS FROM SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES AT LAST NIGHTS MEETING, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL DECIDED TO REDUCE THE INCREASE TO NEARLY HALF OF THE ORIGINAL APPROVED AMOUNTS.
Police get patrol car computers
THE MILLEDGEVILLE POLICE DEPARMENT HAS OBTAINED SPECIAL LAPTOP COMPUTERS WHICH WILL BE USED INSIDE PATROL CARS TO RUN LICENSE CHECKS AND EVEN PRINT OUT TICKETS. THE COMPUTERS ARE MEANT TO HELP ELIMINATE SOME PAPERWORK FOR OFFICERS; BACK AT THE STATION INFORMATION IS JUST DOWNLOADED TO THE MAIN DEPARTMENT COMPUTER. THE NEW SPECIAL COMPUTERS WERE FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Baldwin High students say No to drugs
STUDENTS AT BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL ARE TAKING A DRUG-FREE LIFE SERIOUSLY. THIS WEEK, THE SCHOOL IS TAKING PART IN THE NATIONAL "RED RIBBON WEEK" CAMPAIGN. THE EVENT ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT DRUGS. SPECIAL PROJECTS ARE TAKING PLACE AT BALDWIN HIGH THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ENDING WITH STUDENTS SIGNING COMMITTMENT CARDS PLEDGING TO LIVE WITHOUT DEPENDENCY ON DRUGS.
Tractor Supply Co. opens Wednesday
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY IS READY TO OPEN IN MILLEDGEVILLE TOMORROW. THE STORE CATERS TO HOBBY AND PART-TIME FARMERS, RANCHERS AND HOME OWNERS WITH PRODUCTS FOR LIVESTOCK, HORSES, PETS AS WELL AS WORK CLOTHING, LIGHT TRUCK EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, HARDWARE AND LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT. TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY HAS 550 STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING 15 STORES IN GEORGIA. THE MILLEDGEVILLE STORE IS BEING MANAGED BY STEPHANIE NEFF WHO TRANSFERRED FROM MICHIGAN. TRACTOR SUPPLY OPENS NEXT TO FREDS IN THE OLD WALMART CENTER WEDNESDAY.
Jason Carter to speak at GC&SU tonight
JASON CARTER, GRANDSON OF FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, WILL SPEAK TONIGHT AT GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY. CARTER WILL TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AS A PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER IN SOUTH AFRICA. HE WROTE A BOOK CALLED "POWER LINES: TWO YEARS ON SOUTH AFRICA'S BORDERS". TONIGHTS TALK IS PART OF INTERNATIONAL WEEK AT GEORGIA COLLEGE AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE ARTS & SCIENCES AUDITORIUM BEGINNING AT 7:30.
Eatonton police officer and wife arrested
AN EATONTON POLICE OFFICER AND HIS WIFE WERE ARRESTED ON CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGES FRIDAY. THE TWO WERE CHARGED IN AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED OCT 17TH WHEN ACCORDING THE PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT THEY GAVE ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA TO UNDERAGE CHILDREN AND ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL ACTIVITY. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE REPORTEDLY ARE BEING JAILED OUTSIDE PUTNAM COUNTY.
Museum lecture Tuesday night
GEORGIA'S OLD CAPITAL MUSEUM LOCATED AT GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE IS HOLDING A SERIES OF HISTORIC LECTURES THIS FALL. THE FIRST IS COMING UP TUESDAY NIGHT AT ALLENS MARKET ON NORTH WAYNE STREET. GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY HISTORY PROFESSOR, DR. LEE ANN CALDWELL, WILL TALK ABOUT WOMEN IN THE 19TH CENTURY. DR. CALDWELL HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HER NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS ON VARIOUS HISTORIC TOPICS. TUESDAY NIGHTS LECTURE BEGINS AT 7 O'CLOCK AND IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. OTHER LECTURES WILL TAKE PLACE UP THROUGH DECEMBER WHEN A PUBLIC UNVEILING OF THE NEW GALLERIES AT THE OLD CAPITAL MUSEUM WILL TAKE PLACE.
Putnam FFA teams head to national's
TWO TEAMS OF PUTNAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL'S FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA ARE HEADED TO LEXINGTON KENTUCKY THIS WEEK TO TAKE PART IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE DAIRY JUDGING TEAM WON THE GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP IN APRIL. THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOUCES TEAM WON IT'S STATE TITLE IN MARCH. BOTH TEAMS WILL BE COMPETING AGAINST 45 OTHER STATE CHAMPION TEAMS. TWO PREVIOUS DAIRY JUDGING TEAMS FROM PUTNAM COUNTY HAVE WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND EIGHT PREVIOUS TEAMS HAVE BEEN IN THE TOP FOUR IN THE COUNTRY.
O'Connor book reading
FANS OF MILLEDGEVILLE AUTHOR FLANNERY O'CONNOR CAN PARTICIPATE IN A READING OF HER BOOK "EVERYTHING THAT RISES MUST CONVERGE" TOMORROW NIGHT. THE PUBLIC READING AND DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD AT THE MARY VINSON MEMORIAL LIBRARY AT 7 O'CLOCK - IT'S FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS THE FOURTH DISCUSSION SESSION THIS FALL ARRANGED BY THE FLANNERY O'CONNOR - ANDALUSIA FOUNDATION. THE FINAL SESSION IS PLANNED DURING THE SWEETWATER FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 5TH HERE IN MILLEDGEVILLE.