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Burke County school board members tentatively approved a $41.1 million budget for 2007-2008 at a called meeting last week. But it didn't pass without serious hesitation. The budget, which would increase spending by around $3.2 million, would create a $5 million deficit for the year, according to business manager Les Peel. More ... Dr. Deena McKinney, a professor at East Georgia College (EGC), was recently nominated for the Regents' Teaching Excellence Award. This system wide award recognizes both individual faculty/ staff and departments/programs for a strong commitment to teaching and service to students. Award winners will be announced by June 30. She also recently received the Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology at the 18th International Conference on Teaching and Learning in Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. McKinney resides in Burke County and will serve as EGC's Coordinator of Teacher Education beginning this fall. More ... Welcomed showers settled in last weekend as slow, steady rain fell over much of the county. Burke County Cooperative Extension Coordinator Will Duffie said some isolated areas in the county experienced high winds that caused some crop damage, such as this corn that was blown over, but most crops benefited from the long overdue watering. "It was perfect," he said of the rain. "A majority of it soaked in. If we would have had that rain in a two-to-threehour period, it wouldn't have meant that much." Many farmers reported that their crops received an average of about three inches of rain. The soil profile was dry down to about 10 inches deep, Duffie said, and the rains should provide some relief. More ... Midville's main event will take over the town this weekend. The 23rd Ogeechee River Redbreast Festival will pack a boatload of activities into the riverside city Friday and Saturday. The annual softball tournament will begin Friday afternoon, and anglers will take to the river early the next morning for the redbreast fishing tournament. More ... This Saturday, one "terrific" pig will take over the big screen in the Waynesboro City Park. This weekend's Movies Under the Stars feature is sponsored by Delta Termite and Pest Control and presented by DOOR (Downtown Organization of Retailers). More ... Midville citizens are noticing some changes on their water and sewer bills for the first time in years. A new rate structure for the services went into effect last month. The changes, according to Midville Mayor Pro Tem Scotty Womack, are designed to make the cost of the services more appropriate for the amount of water customers use. More ... More than 500 soldiers and family members of the Georgia Army National Guard Battery C1/214th Field Artillery were gathered for their mission: readiness Monday morning at the Burke County Recreation Department gymnasium. Gen. Larry Ross spoke with family members about their role on the homefront while soldiers train for their Middle East mission at Fort Bliss, Texas. More ... With the start of the hurricane season upon us, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is urging residents, especially those in hurricane prone regions, to start preparing in case an emergency hits home. "When you prepare for hurricanes, you prepare for several events in one" said Dr. Stuart Brown, director of DHR's Division of Public Health. More ... A new law that affected the driver education courses at Burke County High School this year is leaving its mark on summer school, too. Joshua's Law, which went into effect in January, requires all 16- year-olds seeking licenses to take a driver education course accredited by the Department of Driver Services. More ... Landowners have until midsummer to sign up for Project WINGS 2007 - USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service's wildlife incentive program. More ... U.S. Congressman John Barrow paid a visit to local cattle farmer J.L. Glisson's place last week to talk about issues affecting farmers and rural communities. A crowd of at least 50 gathered for the event, which marked one of Barrow's stops on his annual "Listening Tour" of the 12th Congressional District. Burke County Farm Bureau president Lee Webster said that the Farm Bill debate, drought assistance and the closing of the Rural Development office in Waynesboro topped the list of concerns brought up at the meeting. "I was real pleased he chose us for an evening meeting," Webster said. "He had plenty of time. He sat there and talked to everyone until everybody was ready to go." Webster said one of the reasons they chose to meet at Glisson's farm was to highlight the situation cattle farmers are facing as they cope with the drought and high feed prices. More ... Children and adults were wowed by the tricks up magical educator Chad Crews' sleeve last Friday at the Burke County Library. Crews performed before a packed audience - sharing his knowledge of animals while turning fire into a snake and even escaping from a straight jacket in just two minutes. This Friday, June 8, the library will hold a frog jumping contest beginning at 10:30 a.m. More ... The effects of fear are far reaching. Fear can thwart success, obscure opportunities, inhibit personal growth, induce depression and encourage inactivity. In the past, fear has served a vital function. Fear of fire, pain and death has been essential to mankind's survival throughout history. Fear was an important asset that helped an individual stay alive. More ... Since April 12, this plant has shot up to nearly 25-feet tall. It is native from Mexico but is cultivated worldwide. Pictured here with her plant is Bobbie Walker. According to Walker, the century plant was put in the ground about 25 years ago. She said these plants only bloom once in 25 years and die after blooming. More ... Traffic in downtown Waynesboro was backed up last Tuesday afternoon after a three-car accident on Sixth Street. An ambulance was called to the scene for one of the drivers, whose injuries were not believed to be serious. More ... The Burke County Library, located at 130 Highway 24 South, Waynesboro, has received the following books: Fiction A Little Bit Married by Debra Borden; River of the World, Chaz Brenchley; The Wedding Officer, Anthony Capella; The Overlook, Michael Connelly; The Unquiet, John Connolly; Simple Gifts, Lori Copeland; Cat and Mouse, Harold Coyle; Leopards Kill, More ... |
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