Town Crier: Feb. 6, 2015

Published 2:00 pm Saturday, February 7, 2015

Americus

Farmers Meeting: Sumter County Corn Production meeting is at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Sumter County Agricultural Center, 127 William Bowen Pointe. UGA Specialist Dewey Lee presents the program. Earn one hour pesticide credit. There will be a sponsored meal so please call 924-4476 to register.

Charter School: Furlow Charter School holds a community interest meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at First United Methodist Church. The meeting is open to the public.

Board Meeting: Furlow Charter School board meets at 6 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Media Center of the Cherokee School building, 300 Cherokee St. The meeting is open to the public.

Servsafe® Training: Servsafe® Training for Food Service Managers is March 5-6. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 13. Cost is $140. Call 924-4476 for more information or stop by the Sumter County Extension Office, Sumter County Agricultural Center, 127 William Bowen Pointe.

Authority Meeting: The Schley Sumter Macon Joint Development Authority mees at 2 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Rees Park Economic Development Center, 409 Elm Ave. in the conference room on the second floor. The meeting is open to the public.

Third World Seminar: “Crisis in Ukraine: Causes and Implications” is the title of GSW’s Third World in Perspective Program Seminar at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Nursing Auditorium of the Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex.The public is invited and encouraged to attend this free program, which is a GSW Windows to the World sanctioned event. The seminar features presentations by two GSW professors with expertise on Ukraine. Richard Hall, professor of history, will discuss the background and causes of the crisis, and Philip Szmedra, professor of economics, will analyze the implications of the crisis. A session for questions and discussion will follow the speaker presentations. The forum, moderated by GSW Professor Emeritus of History Harold Isaacs, is co-sponsored by the Department of History and Political Science, the School of Business, the Office of International Programs, the GSW Foundation Inc., the Office of Continuing Education, and the Association of Third World Studies Inc.

Free Fruits and Veggies: Twenty dollars worth of fruits and vegetables for children ages 2-18 are available free from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at The Columns, 408 Rucker St. The requirements are attendance at a monthly meeting and enrollment in the Obesity Prevention Program. Courtesy of Southwest Georgia Health Care Inc., GSW School of Nursing, Sumter County Family Connection, Rudy’s Happy Patch and Sumter County Parks and Recreation.

Ellaville

Schley School Council: The Schley County School Council invites all interested persons to attend meetings: 5 p.m. May 5 in the Schley County High School Media Center.

Macon County

Macon County Forestry Pageant. The pageant is now taking applications for the 56th Macon County Forestry Pageant scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 21. This is a scholarship pageant. The newly crowned queens will receive a round crown, sash and crown pin. They will also represent Macon County at the 76th Annual Georgia Forestry Pageant in June. Ages are: Baby Miss (0-23 months); Teeny Miss (2-3 years old); Tiny Miss (4-6 years old); Little Miss (7-9 years old); Junior Miss (10-12 years old); Teen Miss (13-16 years old) and Miss (17-24 years old). This pageant is open to the following counties: Macon, Taylor, Peach, Schley, Sumter, Marion, Dooly, Crisp, Houston, Chattahoochee, Upson, Crawford, Bleckley, Pulaski and Talbot. Contact Amy R. Parker 478-244-1562 or by e-mail amymaconcoforestrypageant@yahoo.com. Deadline for applications is Feb. 7.

Albany

NARFE Meeting: National Active and Retired Federal Employees, Chapter 643 meets at 11:30 a.m. Feb 18 at Knights of Columbus, 2009 Gillionville Road. Lunch buffet available. Speaker is Buffy Hankerson on Alzheimer’s.  

Vienna

Board Meeting: The Lake Blackshear Regional Library board of trustees holds its quarterly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb.19 at the Vienna United Methodist Church, 313 Church St. The meeting is open to the public.

Ongoing

Americus

Volunteers Needed: Learning for Everyone Inc (LEAP) is seeking volunteers for its Mentor Partnership with the Sumter County School System. Volunteers will mentor children in the grades 3-9. Interested applicants may check out our website at www.learningforeveryone.org or contact Brittany Dawson, Mentor coordinator at 229-924-9443 or bdawson@learningforeveryone.org. They may also attend our mentor trainings. Mentor trainings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at 200 Cotton Ave. 

Breast Cancer Awareness: The Americus Fire & Emergency Services is selling its 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirts. All proceeds from this annual fund raiser are donated to Relay For Life.This year’s shirt is pink, with the “Fight Like A Firefighter For A Cure” artwork on the back. Sizes Youth S, M & L and Adult S, M, L & XL are $10. XXL & XXXL are $12. They also have some 2012 & 2013 shirts on sale for $5 each. To purchase, come by the Americus Public Safety Building (119 S. Lee St., Americus), call 229-924-3213, or contact any Americus firefighter.

Volunteers Needed: The Flint River Chapter of the American Red Cross seeks volunteers willing to invest time in Disaster Preparedness Education for our chapter and the surrounding areas. We are looking for dedicated individuals that are willing to speak and train others on what to do before, during and after a disaster. Any volunteer with time on his/her hands is an excellent candidate for this program. This is of vital importance to our area as we never know when a disaster will happen. Call Marvin Grace, Community Disaster Educator at 229-733-9738 or the chapter at 229-436-4845 for more information.

Urgent Need: Harvest of Hope Food Pantry is in need of plastic bags (regular Walmart or grocery store size). The pantry always need plastic bags but during the spring they need extra. They can sometimes use 3,000 bags in one day! They are at the pantry on McGarrah Street from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Mondays and 7:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays.

Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers meets Thursdays at First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Jackson St. Weigh-in is at 5 p.m., followed by meeting at 5:30 p.m. Visit weightwatchers.com

Become a Mentor: LEAP “Learning for Everyone … Avenue to Progress” continues to provide mentorship to elementary, middle and ninth-grade academy students and free adult education classes to the citizens of Sumter County. LEAP is currently accepting applications for the 2013-2014 school year. Applicants need to be 18 or older and commit 30 minutes per week for one academic school year. For more information or to make a donation, contact Brittany Dawson at leapcis@gmail.com or call at 229-924-9443.

Mustard Seed House: Calvary Episcopal Church’s Mustard Seed House is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday on Brannan Avenue. Stop by for some great deals.

Al-Anon: You do not have to be an alcoholic to suffer from the affects of alcoholism. We offer a safe place to recover from the effects of another person’s drinking. Meetings are 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at the AA Clubhouse, Ga. Highway 30. All meetings are confidential and open to interested persons.

A.A. Meetings: Alcoholics Anonymous meets from 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays at New Beginnings and the Addiction Recovery Center of Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare, 952 Anthony St. (across from GSW baseball field). Call 928-2201 for more information.

Help Available: The ROAD Program (Reaching Out to Assess Dementia) is a free and confidential memory screening. Our goal at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is to screen for memory loss and refer for further follow-up, as indicated. Stay active in your care and decision making. Call today for your free screening 229-928-1234. We are here for you. You are not alone.

GED Testing Hours: GED testing at the Stein Center are 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and the first Saturday of each month.

Recycling Project: 4-E Learning & Prevention Center Inc. is sponsoring a recycling project. Call 928-5605 to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up of large items. Bring other items to the 4-E Center, 1405 First Montgomery St. All types of metals are needed such as old vehicles, bikes, electronics, microwave ovens, file cabinets, appliances, etc.;; aluminum items; paper items such as old books, magazines, etc.; plastics such as water and drink bottles and other items; and ink cartridges of all sizes, brands and kinds.

4-E Learning & Prevention Center: After School program for k-8th grade students is 2:30-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Registration fee is $25 or $60 for pickup from school. You might be eligible for free or reduced child care. Contact DFCS. To register, call 928-5605 or e-mail fourecenter@yahoo.com or apply online at www.compass.ga.gov

Youth Mentoring: Love & Mercy Outreach Programs Inc. presents the S.O.L.A.C.E. Youth Mentoring Program from 7-8 p.m. every Saturday at 1243 Faith St. Annex Building; LMOP Inc. Activities Center. All teens ages 12-18 are welcome. For more information or for a ride, contact Tanya Reese 229-591-2565 or Qaijuan Willis 229-942-7220. Also e-mail us at solaceyouthprogram@gmail.com

Americus Volunteers Needed: The Flint River Chapter of the American Red Cross needs local volunteers. If you are interested in working as a volunteer in our office or helping with local disasters such as single-family fires, call 924-2026 and speak with Wanda, volunteer coordinator.

Anonymous Crime Tipline: The Americus Police Department has an anonymous crime tip line 924-4102. Citizens can leave information for police about crime in their neighborhood or other areas. The calls are completely anonymous.

Faith Clinic: Sumter Faith Clinic is a non-profit organization directed at meeting the spiritual and health care needs of residents of Sumter County who do not have health insurance or an affordable means to health care. Services include basic, non-emergent medical care of acute conditions as well as treatment of some chronic conditions. Services are delivered by volunteers. The clinic is located at 127 S. Jackson St. next to First Presbyterian Church. Hours of operation are 6-9 p.m. Mondays and 1- 5 p.m. Thursdays.

CPR Classes: Americus Fire and Emergency Services will offer American Heart Association CPR certification classes. Call Harriett Williams at 924-3213 for more information.

Water Restrictions: The City of Americus has implemented the following water restrictions, established by the state Environmental Protection Division as Level II drought restrictions. Outdoor watering is allowed on the following days: North of Lamar Street on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and South of Lamar Street on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. No watering is allowed on Fridays. Outdoor water use is allowed only between midnight and 10 a.m. on scheduled days. Restrictions affect all residential, commercial, government and institutional outdoor irrigation and other nonessential water uses. These include watering lawns and landscapes, gardens, washing cars at residential sites and hosing streets and sidewalks. These restrictions will be strictly enforced. For information call Charlotte Cotton, Chief Administrative Officer at 924-4411.

Drug Problems: Narcotics Anonymous meets 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays for a members only. A meeting open to the public is held on Thursday 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All meetings are held at Williams Road Church of Christ. Call George C. 942-3752 or Charlie S. 938-0218 for more information.

Volunteers Needed: Phoebe Sumter Hospice is looking for volunteers to help with the needs of the terminally ill and their loved ones. This includes house-sitting, doing light chores or just providing spiritual or emotional support during this difficult time. Call Wendy Peacock 928-4000 if interested in becoming a volunteer.

Needs Volunteers: The Mattie Marshall Center is looking for volunteers to help do activities. Do you play an instrument, sing, dance or have a club or group that would like to come visit? We need volunteers of all ages and types for parties, Bingo, exercise, church services, snacks, etc. For information call Nikki Jones 924-9352, ext. 3089.

Ambassadors Needed: The Ambassadors of the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce are looking for new members. Chamber member businesses are invited to nominate someone to join this elite group of business minded individuals who perform volunteer work on behalf of the Chamber. Call 924-2646 for information.

Free Classes: Free GED classes are 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays in Sumter, Schley, Marion, Macon, Webster and Crisp counties. For information call 931-7323.

Share Group: The Grief Share Group meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of every month at First Baptist Church, South Lee Street. Meetings are open to anyone grieving the death of a loved one. For information, call the church office at 924-9035 or Ann Creel Beaver at 924-7652.

Support Group: The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group meets from noon-1:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the Magnolia Room at Magnolia Manor Retirement Center. A light lunch will be served.

Substance Abuse: Love and Mercy Outreach programs presents Alpha and Omega Substance Abuse and Awareness Program from 6-7 p.m. every Saturday at 511-D W. Forsyth St. All people with alcohol and drug addiction issues and their friends and family are welcome. For more information or for a ride, call James Ross 229-331-4746 or William Wallace 229-331-8160.

American Legion: American Legion Post 2 meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month.

Lodge Meeting: M.B. Council Lodge No. 13, F&AM meets at 7 p.m. first and third Tuesday of very month at the Masonic Temple, 1209 Crawford St.

Pilot Club: The Americus Pilot Club meets (focuses on brain-related injuries and disorders) meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the Magnolia Room, Magnolia Manor Retirement Center, South Lee Street.

Soup Kitchen: The Soup Kitchen, at 437 S. Hampton St., is open at 6 p.m. every Wednesday to all in need.

Volunteers Needed: SOWEGA Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), office serving a six-county area, needs volunteers to work with abused and neglected children who are involved in the court system. A CASA volunteer advocates for the child’s best interest before the court. Training classes are available soon. For more information, call 931-4488.

Family Workshop: Who would make your final health care decisions if you couldn’t make them for yourself? The Critical Conditions Family Workshop can help you and your loved ones talk about these issues before decisions might have to be made. The CRITICAL Conditions Family Workshop is free! If you are aware of a group who would be interested in participating in a workshop presented by United Hospice of Cordele, call contact Jana Dew at 1-800-288-8466.

Adult Reading Skills: Adult Literacy Action Inc. has several openings for adult individuals interested in improving their reading skills. The organization is affiliated with the Lake Blackshear Regional Library. Volunteer tutors are available to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. Generally sessions are held one or two times a week for about an hour. Training materials are furnished at no charge. If interested, call 924-9010.

Recovery Program: Doing things the same never brings change. Got problems? Drugs, divorce, alcohol, porn; it doesn’t matter. Join us at 7 p.m. every Monday at 245 Southland Road for Celebrate Recovery. Contact us at 924-7409 or 937-2966 for more information or visit www.cornerstoneamericus.com and click on Celebrate Recovery.

Al-Anon: You do not have to be an alcoholic to suffer from the affects of alcoholism. We offer a safe place to recover from the effects of another person’s drinking. Meetings are 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Carswell House, Calvary Episcopal Church, 133 Brannen Ave.. All meetings are confidential and open to interested persons. 

Girls Rock: 4-E Learning & Prevention Center Inc., 802 Ashby St., sponsors Girls R.O.C.K. (Respecting Ourselves with Charisma & Klass) from 4-6 p.m. every Friday for girls ages 8-16. Learn etiquette skills, music and dance, participate in community projects and enjoy field trips. Membership is $40 per month. E-mail fourecenter@yahoo.com or call 928-8001 for information.

Make A Difference: Become a volunteer at Magnolia Manor Nursing Center where there are several opportunities for you to make a difference in someone’s life. Contact Activity Director Sherry Beck, 924-9352, ext. 3079.

Plains

Lions Club: The Plains Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Call President Doug McKinney at 924-1433 or information.

Free Classes: GED prep classes are offered from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at the Boys & Girls Club. Classes and books are free. Participants can study independently. Practice GED tests are given. Call 824-5388 or South Georgia Technical College Adult Literacy for more information.

Ellaville

AA Meetings: Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the John Gill House, 2237 S. Broad St. between Ameris Bank and Ellaville United Methodist Church. Call for 815-3001 for more information.

Montezuma

Al-Anon: The Macon County Al-Anon Family Group has changed its meeting time from Wednesday nights to 1:30 p.m. Sundays. St. Mary’s is located at 608 Rawls Street. Parking is in front of the church.