Wednesday, January 27, 2010

News notes
North Augusta Planning Commission approved rezoning about 22 acres along Martintown and Gregory Lake roads for commercial development.

Male Sale will be part of church's fundraiser
The men's ministry at Kiokee Baptist Church plans to liven up the corner of White Oak and Ray Owens roads Saturday.

Saturday Sacks fight weekends of hunger
About three years ago, Columbia County teachers started noticing that some pupils seemed too eager for the lunch bell to ring.

Planning commission denies commercial rezoning request
The Columbia County Plan-ning Commission was divided Thursday when deciding a rezoning request for two Washington Road properties that conflicted with the county's growth management plan.

School budget woes top concerns
Budget woes lead off a list of the top 10 issues facing educators this year.

It's a sure bet Las Vegas-style charity gala will be fun event
What happens in Columbia County on Feb. 27 will stay in Columbia County -- according to the mantra for this year's annual county charity gala.

McGuire announces Columbia County chairman bid
Retired businessman Brett McGuire railed against what he termed irresponsible fiscal management by Columbia County leaders during his formal announcement last week as a candidate for commission chairman

Lewiston Elementary School Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
A and A/B

Help for Haiti
Martinez Elementary School held a Hands Helping Haiti fundraiser Friday. Photos by Barry Paschal.

On vacation
Mark and Cheryl Salter attended the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with their son John and nephew James Joyner.

Charity walk
Lakeside High freshmen Aubrey Postma (from left) and Minna Hassan and senior Preethi Murugappan walk on Lakeside's track in the Jordan River Foundation 5K Classic, part of Lakeside student Amala Sarvepalli's senior project on women's rights in the Middle East.

Say cheese
Daniel Waugh and Alexandra Moyes, 10th-graders at Greenbrier High School, had their picture taken with mystery writer Charlaine Harris at the Columbia County Library on Saturday.

Pet adoption spotlight
These pets are available for adoption from Columbia County Animal Care and Control.

Belair Elementary School Second Nine Weeks Honor Roll
A and A/B honor roll

Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:

Current events
Covenant United Methodist Church will hold a Hearts for Haiti concert at 6 p.m. Feb. 6 at the church, 4536 Washington Road, Evans. The proceeds with go to Haiti through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. For information, call (706) 496-3623.

Get up and go
A Valentine sale to benefit When HELP Can't Wait, featuring seven vendors, will be held at the organization's office at 3822 Commercial Blvd. near the Martinez Post Office from 1-5 p.m. Saturday. For information, call (706) 855-0715.

Gloomy times under the Gold Dome
This is not a fun time to be a state legislator in Georgia. You can see it in all the long faces in the House and Senate chambers. You can hear it in the committee rooms as lawmakers fret over the difficulty of dealing with constituents who keep complaining about services being cut.

Transfer numbers shed light on rezoning
Friday is the deadline for parents of Columbia County students to apply to send their children to a different school.

Tea parties fill prediction
The greatest value in newspaper editorial contests, for me, isn't in winning. It's in entering.

Editorial cartoon
Editorial cartoon for Wednesday, January 27, 2010.

Sports calendar
The Marshal Family Y will hold its spring soccer registration until Friday. Registration is open to boys and girls ages 3-10.

Sports newsmakers
Augusta Arsenal U14 Gunners Gold 3v3 Team took fifth place in the 96 Male Gold Bracket at the Kick It 3v3 Soccer: World Championship held Jan. 16-18 at the Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.

Watch Evans, Grovetown on Signing Day
College football's National Signing Day is one week from today, and several Columbia County players are deciding where they will play this fall.

Prep calendar
Augusta Christian at Hammond, 6:30 p.m. girls, 8 p.m. boys

Warriors lose two region contests
Grovetown High School boys basketball coach Casey Dees saw in Richmond Academy's characteristics what he wanted to see in his young Warriors team.

Clester Hornsby wins disc golf Ice Bowl
Clester Hornsby came prepared for the elements.

Evans senior accepts softball scholarship
Evans High School softball coach Colette Cassedy devised a method a couple of seasons ago for choosing which of her two standout pitchers would take the field against certain teams.

Honored at coaches banquet
Gary Tam (left) received the Richard Butler Service Award from Richard Butler for outstanding recreation employee. [CAPTION] Janice Petsch (from left) and David Petsch, of Petsch Respiratory Services, received the award for Outstanding Support to CCRD from Jim Mock. [CAPTION] Rachel Ellis (left) received the Girls Coach of the Year Award from Christy DeLoach. [CAPTION] John Sandlin (right) received Boys Coach of the Year Award from Kelvin Lampkin. [CAPTION] Special Photos The 2009 Dixie Ozone received their World Series rings during the Columbia County Recreation Department Coaches Banquet.

Martin leads Grovetown girls to win
There are times, like late in the game this past Friday, when Grovetown High School girls basketball coach Jamie Echols can remain in his seat and watch the action unfold on the court.