Devane family holds reunion
The Devane  Family reunion was held on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Thomas Edwin Wall Post 191 American Legion here in Ellaville.
This family looks forward to being with family members every year. A lot of the family lives here in Ellaville and Schley County.
They served a covered dish dinner.
The two family members that traveled the longest distance were Kenny and Deloris Hill from the Atlanta area.
Everyone had a good time recalling the good old days. There about 50 that attended this special event.
They have this reunion in memory of Eva Robinson Devane’s  birthday. The family consists of mainly grandchildren, great-grandchildren and  great-great-grandchildren.
This reunion is held at the same time every year, the last Sunday in September.

Special reminder to all Ellaville-Schley County Historical Society members
This is to remind each and every one that the annual dinner party is almost here. By this time you should have received your invitations.
RSVP to me before noon Tuesday, Oct. 20. I need to know for our caterer.  My number 937-2116.

This is National 4-H Week
4-H is one of America’s largest non-formal education programs for youth. It makes a major contribution to our nation by helping youth acquire knowledge and develop life skills that help them become self -directing, productive and contributing members of our society.
Today 4-H involves young people, from the city, from the farm and in between. They are learning practical skills in hundreds of projects. But more importantly, they’re developing attitudes and habits that help them meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
4-H not only asks youngsters to make the “Best Better,” it gives them guidance to reach their goals. 4-H is conducted by the University of Georgia  Cooperative Extension Service of state land -grant universities and the CSREES/U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A strong educational base is extended to the youngsters through 4-H  leaders who share their time and talents for help 4-Her’s “Learn by Doing.”
4-H is family -and community-oriented. 4-H members devote much of their time to community service in a wide variety of projects, ranging from helping the elderly and disabled to restoring historic sites, to landscaping public buildings, to helping preserve their environment.
More than 45,000 4-H alumni point with pride to share their experiences, telling how much they gained from the discipline of keeping written records, making oral presentations, developing  leadership, management and communications skills and gaining an understanding of citizenship responsibilities.
4-H today is having a strong impact on youth and on America. Find out how you can become  involved by calling Brenda Welch at the Schley County Extension Office 937-2601.

Schley County C-Heart holds  quarterly meeting
On Oct.  7, the Schley County C-Heart board held its quarterly  meeting in the Schley County Board of Commissioners’ conference room.
C-Heart is mandated by the federal government and Georgia Emergency Management Agency through the Emergency Support Function, Mass Care, Public Health and Medical Services.
Hank Wilson, state Emergency Planning instructor, called the meeting to order. Pam Fair, state instructor over transmitted diseases, was introduced to give guidelines on ebola. In 2014, the ebola epidemic was the largest in history. It affects multiple  countries in West Africa. The CDC and partners are taking precautions to prevent the further spread of ebola within the U.S. Remember the only way you may contract ebola is if you’ve visited West Africa or have had contact with someone that has been there and returned home with the disease. Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood, urine, feces, saliva, vomiting, sweating and semen. It is not catching when you drink water, breathe air or eat food. Wash your hand with a alcohol-based sanitizer. If you feel like you are coming down with ebola call your local health department or call 24 hours a day 1-866-782-4584 or the CDC 1-800-232-4636.
Wilson spoke on the Georgia Department of Agriculture and what to expect. He said get prepared for Avian Flu, known as the bird flu. This virus likes cool weather; anything  below 60 degrees F. is its best period. The virus spreads in poultry. This is highly contagious and spreads fast to birds and wild fowl. The virus got to the U.S. by migrating wild water flocks from Asia and Canada. Birds fly four different fly ways heading south for winter. The ones that have been more affected by this outbreak are concentrated in the Northwestern United States, but has spread as far as South Arkansas.
The U.S. turkey industry have lost 7.46 percent of its average inventory to HPAC. Forty million turkey’s have been killed because of this virus. Wilson said if we want turkey for Thanksgiving, get it now. He said when the virus crosses the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, it’s over for poultry for awhile. He said layers and pullet industries  have lost 10.01 percent and 6.33 percent  of their average inventory respectively. Sixteen poultry houses, chickens and turkeys, have been destroyed in Georgia by this flu. Everything within six miles of the houses have been destroyed like homes, barns and more. Georgia HPAl  calls for depopulation. This means that the exposed birds would be humanely euthanized. The state is loosing 10 million pounds of poultry each day.
You may contact the Georgia  Department of Agriculture at 1-404-656-3600.
Those who attended the meeting were Darrell Enfinger, director of State Emergency Planning; Pam Fair, state instructor on diseases like ebola and other deadly viruses; Hank Wilson, state emergency planning instructor; Duane Montgomery, over EMS and Ellaville Fire Department; Duane Register instructor, over the Schley County Citizens Corps; Adam Hathaway, superintendent of Schley County Schools; Anne Landers, school nurse; Kay Royal, member. Schley County Board of Commissioners; Kristy Smith, Schley County Health nurse; Shane Tondee, Schley County sheriff; Nancy McMath Young, Schley County Board of Health and former Schley County director of the Red Cross; Robby Lightner, Ellaville Police chief and Berta Cox, secretary of the Schley County Health Department.
Watch out for yourselves and your families and try not to get these diseases. Buy your turkey now for Thanksgiving.

Residents urged to participate in
comprehensive plan meetings
The City of Ellaville and Schley County encourage all residents to participate in Comprehensive Development planning. This is a effort to make the community an even better place to live by capitalizing  on the good and the strong points, and addressing and hopefully  resolving the less desirable points. The assistance of the general public has been solicited  but the city has asked that you receive an invitation  directly to participate  and continue the effort. The end product will be a work program that both the city and the county will implement.
The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Schley County Board  of Commissioners’ Conference Room. We hope to see all of you then.
The River Valley Regional Commission is assisting  with plan development and this invitation is being sent at the direction of the  City of Ellaville. If there are any questions call the City  Hall at 937-2207.