The goal of this project is to identify inefficiencies within the system and to monetize inefficiencies to make capital improvements at the Law Enforcement Center.

The Spalding County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved this contract at their Regular Meeting on June 3, 2019 and authorized NORESCO, a leading national energy services company to perform energy conservation services and installations at buildings owned by Spalding County.

This agreement calls for NORESCO to analyze a number county facilities to determine and design potential energy conservation measures. Spalding County officials will then have the opportunity to proceed with implementation of the proposed design. Energy and water consumption savings from the improvements are expected and it is hoped that the anticipated savings from these efforts will pay for the replacement of the Law Enforcement Center roof and potentially other building system and facility upgrades.

William Wilson, County Manager stated: “The contract with NORESCO is moving in a positive direction to not only access and make our current buildingsmore energy efficient. Then utilizing the savings on energy bills to fund improvements to county buildings.”

The scope and value of this project will be specified as the audit work continues.

USDA has announced the details of the relief package for farmers suffering losses from unjustified retaliatory tariffs.  Georgia farmers can start signing up on Monday, July 29 at their local Farm Service Agency office for the Market Facilitation Program and the Food Purchase and Distribution Program.

“Our farmers have certainly had their fair share of challenges this past year,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. “We are proud of Georgia’s farmers for displaying strength and resilience during this trying time and for the Administration and USDA for their efforts to assist. This substantial effort is very encouraging, and we believe that it will greatly benefit all of our Georgia producers, especially our pecan, peanut and cotton growers.”

The Market Facilitation Program will assist row crop growers based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings in 2019.

Pecans who have been profoundly affected by the retaliatory tariffs are also available for assistance through the Market Facilitation Program with a payment of $146 per acre.

Spalding County Extension is offering ServSafe® Manager Training on:

Tuesday, August 20, ,2019& Wednesday, August 21, 2019

From 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

LOCATION:

Spalding County Extension

835Memorial Drive

Griffin, Georgia 30223

ServSafe® Manager Training is nationally recognized food safety training for food service professionals, managers in training and anyone who needs advanced food safety training. This training includes: 1.5 days of instruction and issuance of a five-year certification from National Restaurant Association Education Foundation upon successful completion of the examination.

Pre-registration with is required to attend, pre-registration deadline is August 14, 2019. Registration forms can be picked up at the Extension office or online at www.ugaextension.org/spalding.

Contact Cindee Sweda at 770/467-4225 or csweda@uga.edu for more information.

For more information or to register contact 

Spalding County Extension at 770-467-4225

Email: uge2255@uga.edu or visit

www.ugaextension.org/spalding

About 5:20 on Tuesday Morning Spalding Fire Chief Jamie Clark said units of the Spalding Fire Department, Spalding Sheriffs Department, Spalding Regional EMS, Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster, and Troopers from the Griffin Post of the Georgia State Patrol, were called to Bates Road and Highway 92 to a massive one vehicle collision that took the life of two Spalding County Residents.

Coroner Foster identified the individuals as William Slieger, and Austin Garner of Spalding County. Foster said the accident was one of the worst he had ever seen.  A Chevrolet Corvette was traveling at a High Rate of Speed when the Driver lost control, the vehicle overturned several times ejecting one individual and smashed into a large tree when the other individual was ejected, along with parts of the vehicle. Coroner Foster said the vehicle was not recognizable and was demolished.

Troopers in their investigation said that excessive speed traveling too fast for condition was the cause of the accident.

GRIFFIN BEARS 

BEARS    44

SPALDING JAGUARS

JAGUARS   0

GRIFFIN – Janet Boerner from Kennedy Road Middle School, Shanika Freeman from Moreland Road Elementary School and LaSondra Thrash-Harris from Rehoboth Road Middle School are finalists for the Griffin-Spalding County School System 2019-2020 District-wide Teacher of the Year (TOTY). The finalists were announced during the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education meeting held at the Griffin Region College and Career Academy (GRCCA) Sept. 3.

Pictured (L-R): Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) Deputy Superintendent Dr. Kiawana Kennedy, GSCS 2019-2020 District-wide Teachers of the Year Finalists LaSondra Thrash-Harris, Janet Boerner, Shanika Freeman and GSCS Superintendent James D. Smith.
Janet Boerner – Kennedy Road Middle School
Janet Boerner, a.k.a Coach B, has been a secondary educator and coach for almost 30 years. She has taught physical education at Kennedy Road Middle School (KRMS) for the past 13 years. At KRMS, Boerner has served as athletic director, girls basketball coach, teacher support specialist and a representative for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). Boerner helps coordinate a variety of KRMS activities including Relay For Life, American Heart Association Hoops for Heart, Special Olympics and Red Ribbon Week. During her career in education, Boerner has been selected as Teacher of the Year twice, Connections Specialist of the Year, Employee of the Month and nominated for Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers by former students. Boerner received her bachelor and master degrees in K-12 Health & Physical Education from Tennessee Tech University.
In her application, Boerner stated, “Education builds a person’s intellectual knowledge as well as their social skills and character. My educational philosophy allows me to adjust to every student’s needs and help them become productive citizens. I do this by setting high standards for all my students in every area of their life. Looking at each student’s abilities and needs is a key source for helping them become successful. Each student has the right to learn and the ability to learn in the best environment possible.”

Shanika Freeman – Moreland Road Elementary School
Shanika Freeman has been an educator for six years. Since 2017, she has taught fifth-grade social studies teacher at Moreland Road Elementary. Freeman is currently the school’s social studies professional learning facilitator, PTO co-chair and Relay For Life committee member. She served on the GSCS Social Studies Task Force as a fifth-grade social studies curriculum writer and was identified as a GSCS Model Classroom Teacher. Freeman received her bachelor, master and specialist degrees from the University of West Georgia. She also recently completed eight years of service in the Georgia Army National Guard.
“Every day that I step into my school, I say to myself, ‘Shanika, be the teacher you would want your child to have!’ This simple statement is the driving force behind my philosophy of teaching and everything I do for my students, school, district and the state as an educator. It is important for me as an educator to make learning and my classroom environment as fun as possible for students. Many of our students never have the opportunity to experience certain things within their lives due to limitations that they cannot control. As a result, it is my responsibility and duty to bring those experiences to them through my teaching. I believe that I need to create an environment that is welcoming to all students. By creating an environment where my students feel comfortable and welcomed, I can start to build lasting relationships with my students. Once that relationship is formed, that is when true learning occurs within my classroom,” stated Freeman in her application.

LaSondra Thrash-Harris – Rehoboth Road Middle School
LaSondra Thrash-Harris has been a GSCS educator for almost 20 years. She currently serves a sixth-grade math teacher at Rehoboth Road Middle School. Thrash-Harris currently chairs the school’s PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions & Support) team, she is an AMP-IT-UP (Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping to Unlock Potential) ambassador, a RCD (Rigorous Curriculum Design) writer, a mentor teacher and master teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree from Claflin University, master’s degree from Georgia Southwestern University and specialist degree from Argosy University. In the summer of 2017, Thrash-Harris participated in GIFT (Georgia Intern-Fellowships For Teachers) as an intern at Hoshizaki America in Peachtree City, where she learned about the design, manufacturing and marketing of ice machines and refrigeration.  In her application, Thrash-Harris wrote, “I believe great teachers never stop learning. They want to know more about their field/content area and participate in any activity and experience to maximize their teaching potential and their students learning capacity. I believe that when teachers invest their time and energy into learning something new, they are excited to share this new knowledge with their students and thus spark a wave of enthusiasm in the classroom.”

The GSCS 2019-2020 school-wide Teachers of the Year are:
Anne Street Elementary – Keisha Walton
Atkinson Elementary – Rachel Bailey
Beaverbrook Elementary – Niya Davidson
Cowan Road Elementary – Jodi McGavin
Crescent Elementary – Lisa Webb
Futral Road Elementary – Ashley Reid
Jackson Road Elementary – Cindy Cummins
Jordan Hill Elementary – Chikina Barkley
Moore Elementary – Tedra Mullins
Moreland Road Elementary – Shanika Freeman
Orrs Elementary – Cheyanne Pullum
Carver Road Middle – Jarshee Jenkins
Cowan Road Middle – Shamonda Josey
Kennedy Road Middle – Janet Boerner
Rehoboth Road Middle – LaSondra Thrash-Harris
A. Z. Kelsey Academy – Anthony Armstrong
Mainstay Academy – Corendishe McCune
Griffin High School – Justina Russell
Spalding High School – Chris Godat
The criteria for Teacher of the Year is as follows: A certified classroom teacher (clear and renewable certificate) in public prekindergarten through grade 12, including special education, physical education, art, music, media specialists and ROTC teachers. (Counselors are not eligible.) An exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher who is planning to continue in active teaching status. A teacher who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. A teacher who has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues. A teacher who plays an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school. A teacher who is poised and articulate and possesses the energy to withstand a taxing schedule. A teacher who displays a good attitude about their school, district and education. A teacher who has a good attendance record, dresses professionally and uses social media appropriately. A teacher who has had a satisfactory evaluation for the past two years. ### About GSCS The Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) is an award-winning, AdvancED accredited district that serves 10,000 students in 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools, one alternative high school and the Griffin Regional College and Career Academy. GSCS offers everything a child needs to nurture and grow academically, foster and sustain social-emotional development with educators who collaborate using innovative instruction, that engage students to succeed. For more information about GSCS, visit www.spalding.k12.ga.us, follow us on Twitter at @GriffinSpalding, Instagram at @GriffinSpaldingSchools, visit www.facebook.com/GSCSS or download the GSCS app.

SPALDING FIRE DEPARTMENT

Spalding County Fire Units were called to A&B mobile home park to the scene of a structure fire about 4:45 Friday afternoon.  Chief Jamie Clark  said the units found heavy smoke showing when they arrived on the scene. While attempting to assist occupants from the home. one female firefighter had to be treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. There were no other individuals treated at the scene and the cause of the fire is still under investigation and more information is expected to be released later.

$7,742 Raised by Spalding County Fire Fighters During 2019 Fill the Boot Campaign to Give Strength to MDA
GRIFFIN, GA, September 11, 2019 — During the 2019 MDA Fill the Boot campaign, the dedicated members of the Spalding County Fire Department took to the streets and continued a 65-year tradition of giving strength to the MDA community.

“The fire fighters of Spalding County Fire Department have once again gone above and beyond for MDA’s families during this year’s Fill the Boot campaign,” said Bridgett Monroe, Executive Director. “We are so grateful for their dedication and for the generosity of those in the Spalding County community who have helped to raise critical funds to help transform the lives of kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases.

Funds raised through Spalding County Fire Department’s Fill the Boot event help MDA save lives and lift those up in need, by providing the MDA with vital resources to advance their mission of driving innovations in science and care for the neuromuscular community.

Contributions have helped fund groundbreaking research and life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support groups and Care Centers, including the MDA Care Center at Emory University and Scottish Rite Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta. They also help send more than 100 local kids to “the best week of the year” at MDA summer camp at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA – all at no cost to their families. Today the Fire fighters and MDA partnership is finding new ways to save lives by working to expand newborn screenings in the U.S. with Pompe disease or Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), so that they can be immediately eligible for lifesaving and life changing therapies.

GRIFFIN BEARS.           7

NEWNAN COUGARS.   6

IN 4TH JAGUARS AT MCDONOUGH

SPALDING JAGUARS  47

HENRY WAR HAWKS   13

13

SPALDING FIRE DEPARTMENT

SPALDING SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT

EMORY HELICOPTER AIR AMBULANCE

Spalding County Fire Department personnel were sent to River Bend Road off Highway 155 Thursday afternoon to a 4 wheeler accident in which the drive was reportedly seriously injured. Upon arrival the first resonder’s found the occupant of the 4 wheeler unconscious  and the decision was made to call life flight air ambulance based at the Griffin Spalding Airport to the scene.  A hasty landing zone was established. The injured individual was airlifted to the Atlanta Medical Center or treatment.  The accident remains under investigation and more information is expected to be released later. 

About 2:30  Friday morning units of the Griffin Fire Department were called to the UGA Griffin Campus to a report of smoke and fire.  Upon arrival of Griffin Fire Rescue they found smoke and a small blaze in a storage building on the campus. The fire was extinguished quickly and units remained on site to help ventilate the smoke from the building.  The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.  

 2ND QUARTER

          SPALDING JAGUARS

7

FAYETTE COUNTY TIGERS

13

 2nd QUARTER 

                           GRIFFIN BEARS

6

UPSON LEE KNIGHTS

0

Sheriff Darrel Dix reminds everyone that students are returning to school be sure and drive with care and watch for School Buses loading and unloading our students each day throughout the school year.  Watch for stopping buses and obey all posted speed zones and bus stops. 

Schedules will remain the same as last year (elementary: 8 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.; middle: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; High: 7:40 a.m. – 3:20 p.m.).

For student transportation needs such as school zone lookup, transportation services or to track your student’s bus live through the Griffin Spalding School System My Stop app visit the GSCS Transportation Department website  http://www.spalding.k12.ga.us/Departments/Transportation.

For more important news and information, stay social with GSCS by following  Twitter: @GriffinSpalding, on Instagram @griffinspaldingschools, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSCSS .

As part of its sustainability efforts to leave morehandprints than footprints, Mohawk Group has partnered with the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) and SUN-CATCH ENERGY to install a smartflower solar energy unit in Griffin, Ga. The smartflower technology was unveiled at a special ribbon-cutting event and reception earlier today at Griffin Region College and Career Academy (GRCCA).

The solar energy project—the first in Georgia that is part of the Mohawk Group initiative—is the third of 10 smartflowers to be established by the Georgia-based flooring manufacturer across the U.S. Other units have been installed in Chicago and Eden, N.C. Another will be unveiled later this week in Cocoa, Fla.

“We are honored that this portion of our hand printing initiative focuses specifically on helping schools with STEM programs to create exceptional education environments,” said David Dembowitz, senior vice president of education and government at Mohawk Group. “This program brings the benefits of solar power to our surrounding communities, creates strategic learning opportunities for students to become more familiar with solar power and sustainability and, ultimately, helps Mohawk in our corporate commitment to give back more than we take.”

Griffin Region College and Career Academy was chosen as the recipient of the smartflower unit through a special competition coordinated by Mohawk. The new solar energy unit will help to offset the power consumption and utilities costs at the school while also providing students with learning opportunities focused around alternative energy sources.

“The smartflower is a great asset to the campus of GRCCA for students who may be interested in pursuing a career in robotics, technology and environmental science,” said GSCS superintendent James D. Smith. “Additionally, students at our Elementary Enrichment Center will be able to take advantage of the smartflower through hands-on instruction about energy conservation and sustainability right in their backyard.”

The new smartflower unit now blooms just behind the school’s main building, which is adjacent to Orrs Elementary School and Southern Crescent Technical College.

The smartflower installation in Georgia is part of an ongoing social impact strategy for a selection of Living Product Challenge Petal certified flooring products within Mohawk Group’s larger portfolio. Each smartflower optimizes the generation of solar energy using modular petal-shaped panels that autonomously follow the sun throughout the day. The solar energy collaboration was created to reduce Mohawk’s greenhouse gas emissions and offset energy and resources used during some of its manufacturing processes.