Thursday, April 10, 2008
'Disappointing' story included 'uninformed opinion' of Harlem athlete
It was very disappointing that an April 2 News-Times story highlighting the Harlem High School soccer team and one of its outstanding athletes, A.J. Thibodeau, included Thibodeau's opinion of Harlem's baseball coach, Jimmie Lewis.
Topics will examine motivation, strategy
Those wishing to advance their business acumen without a trip to the big city might consider taking in an April 18 simulcast event at an Evans church.
Planning board denies request to rezone
Columbia County Planning Commission on Thursday denied a request proposed by county staffers to rezone an acre at 1353 Furys Ferry Road from commercial to single-family residential.
Wrecks dump logs
Emergency crews work at a wreck involving a log truck at Gordon and Old Augusta highways. Police said the M.D. Forestry LLC log truck, out of Mitchell, Ga., was traveling east on Gordon Highway just west of White Road just before 9 a.m. Monday when a Buick Century, driven by Jamese Lee, 18, pulled out of her driveway at 4028 Gordon Highway. The truck driver, Ronald Hall, 37, of Gibson, Ga., swerved to miss the car. The vehicles clipped each other and veered onto the opposite shoulders. The truck fell against the railroad tracks, dumping logs across the tracks. Trains were delayed until the tracks were cleared. Neither driver was injured. Columbia County sheriff's Deputy Mark Smith said that Lee is at fault for failing to yield the right of way and that charges are pending in the crash.
Ex-mayor to run for commission seat
Scott Dean resigned his position as Harlem's mayor Friday to run for a recently vacated Columbia County commission seat.
Lakeside Middle welcomes parents to rezoning drop-in
The doors of Lakeside Middle School opened to more than pupils Thursday.
Naturalist hunts for wildflowers peeking up in area
Along with spring wildflowers, the longer days and rising temperatures of April are drawing botanical enthusiasts out of dormancy.
Resident's design to be built by summer
A resident of Riverwood Plantation won a design contest that will be used as a landscaping plan for the roundabout at the entry of Riverwood Parkway.
Pet of the week
This male Labrador retriever/boxer mix is friendly, 1 to 2 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 the links to Animal Care and Control. Adult animals, such as today's Pet of the Week, cost $25 to adopt, and puppies and kittens cost $20. Adopted animals must be spayed or neutered. Visitors must wear closed-in shoes to visit the kennel area. Animal Care and Control is open Saturdays from from 10 a.m.. until 2 p.m.
Stevens Creek Elementary School Honor Roll
Third Nine Weeks honor roll.
Get Up and Go
AARP Tax Aide is offering free tax preparation and e-filing for seniors and middle- and low-income residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Columbia County Library, (706) 863-1946; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays at the Euchee Creek Library, (706) 556-0594; and by appointment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the H2U building of Doctors Hospital, (706) 651-6716.
South Columbia Elementary School Honor Roll
Riverside Middle School Honor Roll
Third Nine Weeks honor roll.
Evans Middle eight-graders excel at science fair
Pinwheels highlight child abuse fight
Darin Johnson, a member of the Columbia County Exchange Club, participates in Pinwheels for Prevention as part of April's Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Exchange Club placed 201 pinwheels Saturday at Platt's Funeral Home in Evans. The pinwheels will be placed at the county's courthouse, Club Car Inc. on Washington Road and Southern Siding and Window Company on Bobby Jones Expressway during April. Each pinwheel represents a confirmed child abuse case in Columbia County.
Time Capsule
As reported 32 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, April 7, 1976:
Class Reunions
- The Harlem High School class of 1979 is seeking classmates for a 30-year reunion to be held summer 2009. Provide contact information to Dorothy Shanks at (706) 541-9293.
Current events
A decorated Navy photographer recently returned from duty in Iraq, and has photos to show for it.
Police Blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:
Columbia County means business
Classic South is what the state has named our 13-county region here in the eastern section of Georgia. That is a very appropriate description of what you'll find in our local community as well.
Some things never change
The latest estimate from the U.S. Census says Columbia County now has 109,000 people.
Lawmakers' inaction beats bad action
Just as an audience once applauded the notoriously long-winded Bill Clinton when he said "in conclusion" near the end of a stem-winder, most Georgia citizens should cheer the end of the legislative session.
Athlete Spotlight: Emily Belchyk and Tarah Henderson
Emily Belchyk's mother cut her a nice deal a couple years ago.
Panthers beat 'Pack first time since 2005
Jake Wood's favorite memory hadn't yet been recorded when Lakeside High School's senior baseball players were honored before their final home game.
Brawley leads Lakeside over Greenbrier
Lakeside's Harrison Brawley pitched for the win against Greenbrier on April 4th.
Greenbrier breaks Lakeside tennis streak
Lakeside High School boys tennis coach Donnie Burch lost three key seniors from a 2007 team that won the school's 19th consecutive region championship.
Track Results
Results from the Columbia County Girls Track and Field Championships, held April 3 at Greenbrier High School.
Evans graduate fights his way to top as favorite of TV series
When Forrest Griffin graduated from Evans High School in 1996, few people likely envisioned him becoming one of the school's best-known graduates.