Monday, March 31, 2008
Story on deaths of motorists 'inappropriate'; 'insensitive' to families
How so very disgusting to me that the facts were not researched or revealed and that The News-Times used pictures of Melissa Eustice and Jessica Fulmer in its March 23 edition. Inappropriate indeed.
Use containers for vegetables
If you enjoy growing your own vegetables but don't have the acreage, don't despair. An assortment of vegetables can easily be harvested from containers.
Greet new season with color
Looking for some tips on sprucing up your home this spring? Libby Langdon, the commentator on HGTV's Small Space, Big Style , offers her secrets on quick tips to redesign your home and get ready for spring in style.
Boy saw fire in time to get help
Unsure as to what he wants to become when he grows up, 4-year-old Jacob Gurzi seemed certain he won't become a firefighter. The Grovetown boy saw smoke rising from a house fire in Evans on Tuesday afternoon.
Protect your house from termites
As the weather warms, termites are eager to get at your tasty home. That's why homeowners need to be attentive to the increased potential of termite infestations during the warmer months and to learn the signs that termites may be on the march.
Clean smarter, not harder
A good dose of spring cleaning can help put the final touches on breaking out of the winter blues. Here are some tips from HousekeepingChannel.com:
Pupils, teachers tune up for musicals
Columbia County teachers and pupils will provide the community with plenty of entertainment this week. The Harlem High School faculty will kick off the week's performances with Faculty Follies at 7 p.m. Monday.
Choices are critical when painting house
Looking to welcome spring and enhance your home's curb appeal? Painting your house's exterior can be a big job, with a big reward. But before starting, you'll need to make some critical choices -- whether you're doing the job yourself or hiring a painter.
Clean house to reduce allergens
It's time to throw open the doors and windows and get ready for spring cleaning. Be sure to pay special attention to those spots in your house where allergens can collect from cats, dogs and dust mites.
Selection of books provides helpful hints for Georgians
Cool Springs Press, which specializes in books from authors who are expert gardeners and professional horticulturalists, has a list of titles specifically geared for Georgia.
Put junk on curb for Grovetown cleanup
The city of Grovetown is offering its residents a chance to tidy up by holding its annual Citywide Spring Cleanup next week. "If it is at the curbing, (crews) will pick it up," said Vicky Capetillo, a Grovetown city clerk.
Certification includes class, hands-on work
With summer just a few calendar pages away, neighborhood pools and aquatics centers soon will need certified lifeguards to watch over the waters.
Scouts honor teen for helping friend in river
While camping with friends during the summer on a Savannah River island near his home, Greenbrier High School senior John William Richards III heard his friend Andrew Campbell calling for help from about 50 yards off shore.
Board names elementary director
The Columbia County school board named Michele Sherman, the principal of Greenbrier Elementary School, as the county's new director of elementary student learning Tuesday. Sherman will replace Phyllis Means, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
Spring cleaning means organizing your home
For many people, spring means cleaning out and decluttering. One local professional says it's all about simplifying.
Senior surprised to be STAR
Evans High School literature teacher Debbie Daniel has been in the classroom for 35 years and in each of the five times that she's been named STAR teacher, she has been humbled by the experience.
Store, volunteers help improve Evans Middle
School improvement was in full force at Evans Middle School Monday, and the concept had nothing to do with test scores. Pupils, parents and faculty joined about 60 Home Depot employees to spruce up the school property.
Options abound for flowering trees
All my life, I have heard that when the dogwood trees bloom it is time to go crappie fishing. The dogwoods are in bloom and the fish are biting.
Affordable steps help environment
Going green doesn't have to mean buying an expensive hybrid car or installing solar paneling on your roof. Homeowners can take several affordable steps to save money through reduced energy use and smart shopping choices that can help the environment.
Chamber's Masters party tickets going fast
Tickets for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's inaugural Masters party might soon become tough to find.
Make house energy-efficient
Home energy costs really can take a bite out of your bank account, especially in the warmer months when electricity prices rise along with the temperature. In fact, total 2008 home energy costs for U.S. households are projected to be close to $2,200 per home.
Springtime is for the birds
The first sightings of hummingbirds in our area this season have just been reported, which means that bird enthusiasts and novices will want to prepare for the influx of feathered friends that will fill yards this spring and summer.
Calculator judges refrigerator
Remember when your parents admonished you not to keep the door to the refrigerator open for too long because the cold air would leak out? Today, your hard-earned cash might be leaking from your refrigerator all the time if it's not an energy-efficient model.
Westmont Middle School's MS Walkers
Members of Team Z, made up of teachers and pupils at Westmont Elementary School, participated in the MS Walk on Saturday at Stevens Creek Elementary. Team Z raised more than $600 for the walk, with pupils bringing in loose change for the Multiple Sclerosis awareness fundraiser.
School Lunch Menus
Lunch menus for students in Columbia County schools.
Current events
Monday is the deadline for entries in the eighth annual Poetry Month Tribute, open to middle and high school students and adults.
Adoption spotlight
Heartsong Animal Rescue is a non profit organization located in Martinez. We need foster homes and donations of cat litter, and other items. If you can assist us with our rescue effort, or provide a forever home for one of our beautiful animals, please call, 706-855-1241.
Marriage licenses
Matthew Lucus Williams and Elizabeth Marie Gahagan applied for a marriage license on Feb. 1, 2008, and were married Feb. 2, 2008, in Evans.
Vacation photo
Sisters Harriett Wilkinson and Pamela Anderson visited Rome, Florence, Venice and Tivoli during a vacation to Italy. They made a wish by throwing coins into the fountain at Tivoli (from the movie Three Coins in the Fountain.)
Property Transfers
Hereford Farms Development LLC to Holmes Construction and Development, 514 Oconee Circle, $56,000.
Easter Scenes
Americus Lawson, 1, and her sister Carla, 4, hunt for Easter eggs at their grandparents' home in Martinez. Carla and Americus are the children of Jonathan and Candace Lawson and the grandchildren of Ronald and Joyce Cooper, of Martinez.
Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:
Divorces
Candace M. Bridwell and Joseph C. Bridwell, March 18, 2008.
Time Capsule
As reported 40 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News, Thursday, March 28, 1968:
Editorial cartoon
Editorial cartoon for Sunday, March 30, 2008.
Transplants get a boost
There has been plenty of bad and just plain stupid legislation to go through our state government this year, the sort of things that make you ask, "What were these people thinking?"
Tragic cost of Sunday alcohol sales
Do no harm. It might sound like a simple concept, but it is one that I am afraid supporters of Sunday alcohol sales might have forgotten.
Evaluation process seems backward
Columbia County's school board and Charles Nagle this past week agreed on criteria for evaluating Nagle's first year as superintendent. Pardon the skepticism, but isn't that just a tad late?
Attention to detail got catcher noticed
Softball player Nicki Kinner proved her worth as a catcher during the 2007 region tournament. Greenbrier twice tried to steal third on the Evans High catcher, and she threw the runner out both times.
Greenbrier wrestling wins awards
Greenbrier High School wrestling team awards were presented to Sam Doran (from left), Wolfpack Award (top JV wrestler ); Tim Stahman, Mat Monster Award (most pins varsity); John Rice, Most Valuable Wrestler (most wins varsity) and Walter Ramsey, Most Improved Varsity.
Young Prep team gets second win
The Augusta Prep coach wanted no lollygagging from his team during a Tuesday game he knew they could win. "Hit the field running, let's go," Tyler Bromley told his baseball team before its 18-8 victory against Wardlaw Academy.
Hits don't translate to wins
Lakeside High coach Jay Matthews thought his team hit the ball well last week. The Panthers managed seven hits against Greenbrier, and 11 against Evans as subregion play heated up.
Visit to tournament was great memory
There was a time I hated watching golf, for the same reason some of you probably don't watch golf. I considered it a dull game that I didn't understand.
Sports calendar
The Columbia County Storm 9-under travel baseball team is seeking players. To be eligible, players must be 9 years old by May 1. For information, call Shayne Vining at (706) 306-3728.
County athletes do well on junior-college teams
It might not have the talent of Florida, California or Texas, but few other states can boast the junior college talent that the Peach State produces each year.