ELLAVILLE — The Schley County Family Connection Collaborative received $15,000 in grants and $4,800 in local area donations during FY17 to fund programs for families and youth in Schley County.
The Cool Kids’ Café, a program for Special Education Students at Schley County  Middle/High School, received $5,000. Students Against Destructive Decisions, SADD, a prevention program for students in grades 9-12 at Schley County High School received $5,000. The new playground to be constructed at the Ellaville/Schley County Recreation Complex received $5,000 to purchase new equipment.
The collaborative also received $4,800 in local donations. The donations include $3,000 to purchase equipment for the new playground, $1,500 to purchase laptop computers to honor   the 2017 Schley County High School valedictorian, salutatorian and STAR Student and $300 to purchase school supplies for the Back to School Bash held in collaboration with the Schley County Public Health Department in August.
Maci Lawhorn, sophomore Student Council representative, spoke at the April Collaborative meeting. She participates in the Move On When Ready Program and attends Georgia Southwestern State University. She stresses the “Excellence in ALL We Do” motto for the school system. She suggested that the school system upgrade technology, build a small auditorium for the fine arts program, and continue to promote excellence within the school system.
The Schley County Board of Education will provide computers next year to students in third and sixth grades. The board hopes to issue computers to two more grades each upcoming school year.
The Schley County High baseball team won the regional championship again this year. The team has won the title three of the last four years. The Boy’s track team won region for the first time in eight years. The new Recreation Complex is nearing completion. Graduation will be held on at 9:30 a.m. May 20 at the new complex.
South Georgia Technical College GED graduation is scheduled for June 1 at the SGTC campus. The GED test changed in 2014, and is now completed on computer. Dual enrollment for GED students and SGTC is now available.
New Hope for Ellaville is collaborating with New Corinth Missionary Baptist Church to provide the Kid’s Café for children ages newborn to 18 this summer. Schley County High School will also provide the program to students who attend summer athletic programs and an academic camp.  The Kid’s Café provides free hot meals to children regardless of income during the months of June and July and is sponsored by Feeding the Valley Inc. in Columbus.
Kristy Smith, Schley County nurse manager, emphasizes the importance of pregnant mothers and infants receiving pertussis or whooping cough vaccinations. Everyone should also update their tetanus vaccination every 10 years. The vaccinations are available at Schley County Public Health and are covered under many insurance programs.
The Ellaville/Schley County Historical Society will have a special flag dedication ceremony on from 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 20 at the historic Schley County courthouse to honor all elected officials in Schley County since 1857. The historical society will present an American flag and a Georgia flag to be displayed in the courtroom. A reception will follow the event. The historical society also approved the repair of the historic Schley County courthouse clock. All four clocks in the courthouse tower will receive new dials, gears, shafts and hands. This will complete the clock restoration and accompany the digital drive that was installed several years ago and partially funded by the late Dr. Harold Holloway. The board also approved the purchase of banners for the Ellaville/Schley County Chamber of Commerce to place around Ellaville to celebrate the 4th of July.
Stephen Woodson, Schley County truancy officer, reported nine cases of truancy he is currently investigating at Schley County Elementary School with about 16 or 17 cases within the Schley County School System for the year.
Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare encourages testing for AIDS once per year. Testing reduces the transmission of the HIV virus by 97 percent.
The Middle Flint Regional 911 Center recently hired five new employees that began working last week.
Southwest Georgia CASA covers 12 counties including Schley County. The program checks on children in foster care on a continuous basis, provides needs to children while in foster care and is the child’s voice in court. The program currently has 472 children in foster care with 80 volunteers.
The Affordable Healthcare Act now requires proof of special requirements for special enrollment outside the normal enrollment period. The new enrollment period is Nov. 1 to Jan. 1. The number of people insured through the program continues to increase.