Schley County 4-H’ers attend State 4-H Council

Schley County was represented by three 4-H members at the State 4- H Council held June 24-26 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia.
The local delegates were Caleb Smith, Maribeth Arthur, and Anna Trussell. They joined other 4-H’ers and leaders, representing almost every county in the state.
The theme for the meeting was “4-H Mixtape Music to My Ears”.
The 4-H’ers spent two days attending educational programs, participating in a citizen ceremony, studying environmental ideas and issues, attending dances, electing state 4-H officers, and making new friends.
They also competed in the “Iron Clover Award “. This award is presented to the district that excels in friendly competitions such as Musical Chairs and a Cotton Eye Joe-A-Thon, just to name a few of the categories they could compete in. Other highlights included swimming and a spectacular performance by Clover & Company.
The highlight of the council is the Sunday morning Citizenship Ceremony for our rising Juniors and Seniors 4-H’ers.
During the Official Citizenship Ceremony that was held the last day of the State Council, 86 4-H members pledged to become engaged as Americans and to vote as well as to make a difference in their communities.
The Honorable Billy Ray, who is a true friend of the 4-H led the youth during the citizenship ceremony.
Judge Ray is past President of the Central District Board. He is Vice -President of the State 4-H Board of Directors and two-time Master 4-H’er. He currently serves as a trustee of the Georgia 4-H Foundation.
Brenda Welch said it was very moving to watch our 18 year olds participate, who are now ready to help make these critical decisions in choosing to vote for our leaders.
For more information on the opportunities with the Schley County 4-H, contact the Schley County Extension Office at the new location 145 Broad Street downtown Ellaville or call Brenda Welch at 937-1180.

Schley County travelers visited Boston and other cities

There were 33 Schley County travelers that visited Boston, Salem, and Martha ‘s Vineyard on June 10-13, 2016.
On Friday, they saw the U.S.S. Constitution [they went on her deck and down in her hull].
They saw the Bunker Hill Monument and visited Quincey Market and Faneuil Hall as well as the New England Aquarium. They ate dinner at the Fire & Ice and went to the Sky walk and the Prudential Tower for a spectacular 360-degree view of Boston
On Saturday, they visited Salem, toured the Salem Witch Museum, and saw Hawthorn’s House of Seven Gables and Ye Old Pepper Company [oldest candy store in America.] They went to Cambridge and walked Harvard Yard. They also walked along the Freedom Trail and saw the Old North Church, Paul Revere’s House, Boston Commons, the State House, and more. They ate supper and then went to see a hilarious improv show called Shear Madness.
On Sunday, they left early and caught the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. They spent all day out there and toured and shopped in the town of Oak Bluff, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven.
On Monday, they toured Fenway Park [this is the oldest ballpark in America] and the JFK Memorial Library.
Patti Wurtz said this was a great trip; good food and cool, almost cold weather. 70 degrees and very windy. 33 travelers were in the group.

Schley County Library has a new manager

We all want to welcome Mary Ann Roper as our new Schley County Library manager.
Mary Ann said that she retired from Georgia Southwestern State University as daily operations manager of the bookstore in January 2014.
She said during 2015, she and her husband, Willard, had their home completely remodeled.
After remodeling their home, Mary Ann decided that she needed something to else to do to keep busy. She said you can only do so much cleaning, cooking, reading and watching television, so she went to work at the library in Americus as a library clerk in February 2015.
When the manager’s position came open for Schley County, she applied and was hired in May of 2016. She’s enjoying being at the library.
She said that she worked out of the county for the past 26 years since moving to Ellaville and she’s enjoying being able to put faces with names now. She works 17 hours a week. That’s perfect for a retiree.

Schley County Library Reading Program

The Schley County Library sponsors this special Vacation Reading Program every year.
This special reading program started on May 31 with special programs being held every week.
The Vacation Reading Program was held in the lunchroom at the Board of Education Building.
Mrs. Roper said that have had some really good people presenting special programs for the children.
The children have had story tellers, magicians, music, and animals. The last program was held on Tuesday July 5 with Linda Adam and Nell Wall doing crafts with the children.
The artwork that the children have done will be displayed on lamp posts around town.
They ended this special event with a pizza dinner and awards program on July 12, 2016.
All children love this this educational event every year.

Dixon Technologies Mfg. opens with ribbon-cutting celebration

Dixon Technologies Manufacturing LLC. held an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at its new location; 212 Industrial Drive here in Ellaville.
The celebration included many people from that local area that have been instrumental in its success.
Dixon Technologies Mfg. is a father-and-son family business. Back in the late 1990’s owner, Eric Dixon, began developing hunting products for himself which eventually led to his beginning a company that today sells very unique wild game attractants and now an all-natural insect repellent called “Dixon’s Gotcha Covered”.
Mr. Dixon and son Dillon started like so many small businesses in America with a dream and a lot of hard work. They literally began manufacturing and testing their products in the back yard and expanded over time to their current location. With the help and support of many people they have been able to grow their business.
Dixon’s Technologies Mfg. received help with their business plan early on, thanks to Mrs Gayner Cheokas as well as the Georgia Southwestern Business Center, and needed advice from State Rep. Mike Cheokas.
The Ellaville-Schley County Chamber of Commerce works closely with the Dixon Technologies as well as many local businesses that have allowed the manufacturer to sell their products and have given them encouragement to keep pressing forward.
Dillon Dixon makes all the labels and graphics and has proven to be very good at it. “As a father and son team, there are hurdles sometimes but we look to other business like Austin Urethane and know it can be done,” he stated.
Eric and Dillon are best friends and know that, in the end, it is a real blessing to be able to work together. “We have met some of the nicest people while building our business,” he said. They receive calls from many friends each week. They love to build relationships with others.
Dixon Technologies Mfg. have gotten a master distributor, Lynco Products, Inc. Last year, and now their products ae distributed across the United States and Canada. Mr. Dixon said that at some point distribution became a major concern and Lynco has helped to fulfill that need.
The Dixons have so many people that have helped them grow it would be impossible to name them all. “The People’s Bank of Ellaville, Mike and Jean Threadaway, John Yarbrough, Jason, Rusty Taylor, Douglas Jamieson, Ronnie Welch, Stephen Pinnell, and so many others that believe in us and helped us get started in their own special way,” he said.
Their goals are to help provide jobs locally, to constantly improve, and to be able to someday help widows in our community as part of a giving back relationships. “We believe in prayer, sweat, relationships, and more prayer,” he said.
Dixon Technologies Mfg. wishes to thank everyone who has tried our products and ask for your continued support.

Ellaville City Manager Attended GMA Conference

On June 23, 2016, Ellaville City Manager, Lynne McChargue, left for Savannah to attend the GMA Conference.
While there, Lynne attended multiple classes for training and she also attended meetings on policies for her position as City Manager.
Lynne is doing a really good job as City Manager and is always ready to help anyone if she can.
Training is key to having an excellent city or any kind of businesses.

National gospel singers coming to Ellaville

The nationally known, seven-member family gospel group from Slapout, Ala,, The Kempers, will bring their brand of vintage gospel music to Unity Fellowship Church, Ga. Highway 26 west of Ellaville on July 16. The concert is sponsored by the Schley County United Methodist Church.
Chaz, the father, and daughter Danielle had a head start; then the other Kempter children decided to picked up instruments the summer of 2008 and are playing today.
Since that time they have had the honor of serving many Sunday morning parishioners, homecomings, and plenty of good old fashioned Sunday night singings, and even the Bluegrass and Barbecue festivals in Dollywood, as well as trips to Colorado, South Carolina, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and throughout New England and Alabama. They have also appeared many times on TV.
Refreshments will follow the concert. A love offering will be taken for the band and singers.
For more information, call Wayne Morrow Jr. at 937-5486.