Thursday, August 3, 2006

School board should set up committee to study superintendent needs
Editor: "Not who - but what?" is the question.

Ruling puts off offender arrests
A federal court ruling Friday blocked Columbia County police from arresting registered sex offenders living within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop.

New church grows out of healing after tragic wreck
When The Sanctuary church holds its inaugural service Sunday, Pastor Bryan Cockrell and his wife, Sharon, will set a new milestone in their lives. They will also mark the fifth anniversary of a family tragedy.

Water system is going strong during hot, dry spell
Despite high temperatures near 100 degrees and little rain to sustain plants and lawns, Columbia County's water system has been able to keep up with water demands this summer, says Billy Clayton, the county's Water and Sewer Division director.

Grovetown fights bond issue
Grovetown officials decided at a special called meeting Friday that they cannot support Columbia County's proposed $40 million bond issue.

16 remain in scholarship drawing
Though a few were too young to stand, the 16 children still in contention for a $10,000 scholarship bond were walking tall Saturday after being chosen for the next round of The Augusta Chronicle's Make Kids Count drawing.

Festival gives head start on school
Hundreds of students and their parents got a head start on the new school year at Saturday's seventh annual Columbia County Back to School Festival at Evans High School.

Martinez Elementary principal chosen
Corey Ellis was picked Friday as the new principal of Martinez Elementary School in a meeting of the Columbia County Board of Education.

900 have fun until rain falls
Though dark clouds threatened much of the day, officials said about 900 people took part in Summertime on the Canal before showers shortened the festival Saturday at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

Trial set for witch, bad wolf
As the founder and director of the Children's Musical Theatre Ensemble, Mickey Lubeck knows all too well that the venue of a performance can make or break a show. That's why Lubeck is excited to bring a second show to the county's Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center at the Columbia County Library.

Current Events
The Rev. Jimmy Snow, son of Grand Ole Opry star Hank Snow, will be the guest speaker and vocalist at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday at Bible Fellowship Church, which meets at the Belair Conference Center, in Martinez. For information, call (706) 651-1971.

Newsmakers
William Bryce Crane, of Evans, recently graduated with a juris doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi.

Dixie Boys team wins state title
The Columbia County 14-and-under Dixie Boys All-Star Team won the Georgia state title in Lagrange July 8-12. The team swept the double-elimination tournament by scoring 43 runs and allowing only 10 runs in four games. The team is headed to the Dixie Boys World Series in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Aug. 5-10. Team members are (first row, left to right) Derek Beasley, Zach Hayden, Justin Thigpen, Ben Morgan, Cameron Logan, Jeff McGowan. Coach Earl Thigpen (2nd row L to R): , Chad Farmer, Kip Custer, Tevin Nelson, Michael Brantley, Coach Charlie Blackwell, Forrest Christian, Mike Gram, Phillip Summers, and Coach Charlie May.

Things to Do
- Lakeside Middle School will hold an election from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 17 for a parent to serve on the 2006-07 school council. Nominations may be made by calling (706) 855-6900, or e-mailed to fdumas@ccboe.net by Aug. 11. The council will meet Aug. 28, Nov. 14, Jan. 20 and April 10 at 1:30 p.m. in the media center conference room.

School Lunch Menus
Here are Columbia County school lunch menus for August.

Crash injures two teens
Two Loganville, Ga., teens received only minor injuries after the car they were in Friday afternoon flipped several times on Interstate 20 at the McDuffie County line. Police say Brittany Amber Deaton, 17, lost control of her Toyota Camry while driving west near the White Oak Road overpass. Deaton told police she was distracted when her car drifted from the inside lane onto the left shoulder.

Police Blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:

Send your photos!
Columbia County middle and high schools have held their open houses, and elementary schools and Evans Middle School will hold theirs Thursday; the first day of school is Friday. Take a photo of your child meeting their teachers or going to their first day of school, and send it in for publication in an upcoming issue.

Pet of the week
This female border collie mix is affectionate and playful. She is about 1 years old and available for adoption from Columbia County Animal Care and Control. For more information, call (706) 541-4077 or visit www.columbiacountyga.gov and follow links to Animal Care and Control. Adult animals cost $25 to adopt; puppies and kittens cost $20. All animals must be spayed or neutered. Visitors must wear closed-in shoes in the kennel area.

Trailer collapses
A Paragon Leasing trailer collapsed in the middle as the driver was leaving the Food Lion parking lot on Old Petersburg Road at Old Evans Road in Martinez just before midnight July 25. A.R. Transport employees waited until Thursday for the leasing company to send a representative before they could unload the 46,000 pounds of recycled plastic into another trailer. As Nate Hilton, the truck's driver, turned out of the lot, the center of the trailer gave way because of a structural collapse, Hilton said. The truck was not involved in a collision, and no one was injured. The truck was unloaded and moved Thursday afternoon.

Like the bond? Hate it? At least get it right
Columbia County commissioners have until next Tuesday to finish a list of projects that would be funded by borrowing money and paying it back with a property tax increase.

Rules change deleted Evans
Retired Lt. Col. Charles L. Schuman and Joe Spina, both of Evans, found the answer I'd missed.

County swimmers making big splash
Only the best swimmers in the country are still swimming competitively when the calendar turns to August.

Athlete Spotlight
Michael Crosland, basketball.

Every school should have an Ed Amerson
When the Greenbrier Wolfpack sealed the deal on the school's fourth state baseball title in May, the players formed a dog pile, were mobbed by fans and immediately passed around a cell phone.

Loss ends season for FireBall
After making the playoffs in only their second year, the Augusta FireBall saw their season end Friday with a postseason loss. The soccer team fell to the Laredo Heat, 3-2, in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament in Greensboro, N.C.

Prep began, ended year in top form
A memorable 2005-06 sports year at Augusta Preparatory Day School started and ended in state championship competition. Between a near state title in cross country in the fall and state championships in golf and tennis in the spring, the school said goodbye to two old friends: soccer coach Doug Williamson and the sufficient, but outdated, gymnasium.