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Gov. Proclaims Georgia's Support of National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month and Gov. Sonny Perdue is encouraging residents to get ready for the unexpected by creating an emergency plan and “Ready Kit” of emergency supplies – steps only about 20 percent of Georgians have taken.

National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready America campaign, is a nationwide effort to increase awareness and encourage action for emergency preparedness. Nearly 2,000 private, public and nonprofit organizations across the country participate as National Preparedness Month Coalition Members to remind citizens of the importance of emergency preparedness by hosting events and initiatives during September.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Georgia campaign, an extension of Ready America, is Georgia’s local, comprehensive resource for emergency preparedness. The campaign’s Web site, www.ready.ga.gov – sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response – offers users an interactive tool that generates a tailored communications plan for the entire family and a list of specific supplies to include in household Ready kits, along with other valuable information for individuals, families and businesses on how to get ready.

To help spread the campaign’s message – prepare, plan and stay informed – The Ad Council in cooperation with DHS, launched a new public service announcement today that was localized for Georgia by the Metro Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative on behalf of Ready Georgia. The new PSA will air on television stations throughout the state to educate and engage viewers in the preparedness process.

“Research has shown that most Georgians feel immune to the threats that are real and dangerous,” said Julia Janka, program administrator for Metro Atlanta UASI. “By creating awareness for the need to be prepared, we hope that more people will act as their own first responders should disaster strike.”

Citizens Corps, Community Emergency Response Teams, local emergency management agencies and organizations across Georgia are planning additional preparedness events in their communities. For a list of events taking place during September and for more information about the Ready Georgia campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.ga.gov .

Gwinnett County Makes More Budget Adjustments

Gwinnett County's separately elected officials and Constitutional officers have agreed to $1.9 million in budget cuts to help commissioners balance the books for 2009.

The Board accepted their recommendations on Tuesday and cautioned that another $11 million in cuts will be needed for next year. These cuts are consistent with reductions in budgets throughout the County. While the Board of Commissioners appropriates funds for departments run by elected officials, they do not directly manage those departments.

The officials include the Clerk of Court, Clerk of Recorder’s Court, District Attorney, Judiciary, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, Recorder’s Court, Sheriff, Solicitor and Tax Commissioner. The County’s Department of Human Resources has offered to work with all these departments to arrange staff reductions through a retirement incentive program in those areas where personnel costs must be reduced.

In related action, commissioners approved a retirement incentive program for Probate Court, similar to the one offered to many eligible County employees last month. It is expected to save $59,295 in 2010.

Stone Mountain Man Arrested; Allegedly Hit Toddler

According to police, a 61-year-old Stone Mountain man annoyed with a crying 2-year-old girl at a Wal-Mart slapped the child several times after warning the toddler's mother to keep her quiet.

A police report says after the stranger hit the girl at least four times, he said: "See, I told you I would shut her up."

Roger Stephens of Stone Mountain is charged with felony cruelty to children.

Authorities say the girl and her mother were shopping Monday when the toddler began crying.

The police report says Stephens approached the mother and said, "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you."

Authorities say after Stephens slapped the girl, she began screaming.

The mother then called for security.

The girl suffered some redness in the face but was otherwise okay.

Stephens was being held without bond.

Cobb Paramedic Honored for Helping Fellow Firefighter's Widow

Dennis Thayer, an engineer and paramedic for Cobb Fire and Emergency Services, was recently honored with the Special Presidential Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs. The award is given at the discretion of the president when someone has met the high standards for the honor.

Thayer was chosen for this prestigious award for his efforts to help the widow of Joey Turner, a volunteer firefighter from Homerville-Clinch County who died of a heart attack while training at the Georgia Fire Academy. Thayer worked tirelessly to raise enough money to buy her a used car, new tires, insurance for a year and make six months worth of mortgage payments on her home.

Thayer also led a group effort to ensure the State Indemnification Commission paid the widow money due from her husband's line of duty death. The commission originally recommended not paying benefits because the firefighter was in training at the time of his death.
Photo by Jim Mykytyn

Grant Park Tour of Homes Set for Sept. 26-27

The 36th Annual Grant Park Tour of Homes will be held Sept. 26-27

Join organizers for the 36th Grant Park Tour of Homes and enjoy "Atlanta's Backyard". Grant Park living has it all, from historic bungalows to new construction and modern city condos.

For ticket information, visit: https://neighborhood.org/net/commerce/signup.aspx?ez=1&s=0.0.0.20

UGA to Host Young Students at Scholar Weekend

As many as 100 of the brightest middle and high school students in Georgia and nearby states will get their first taste of college courses during a Scholar Weekend Sept. 19-20 hosted by the University of Georgia College of Education’s Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development in partnership with Duke University and the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.

The UGA Scholar Weekend, directed by UGA’s Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development, is part of the Duke Talent Identification Program to identify academically talented children and provide resources to nurture and challenge each child’s abilities.

TIP scholars are identified through standardized test scores and invited to take the SAT or ACT in the 7th grade as part of the program. Those scoring exceptionally well are then invited to attend TIP’s Scholar Weekends where they are exposed to interesting and challenging topics not typically covered in middle or high school curricula.

This is the first of three Scholar Weekends planned this fall at UGA, which is one of only eight locations in the nation selected to be hosts. The second Scholar Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 17-18, and the third program will be held Dec. 5-6. Other sites include the University of South Carolina, Appalachian State University, New College in Sarasota, Fla., the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, Texas Christian University and Duke University’s main campus.

At TIP Scholar Weekends, students are introduced to the collegiate experience by participating in two days of intense study in one of the provided courses taught by UGA professors and Athens area school teachers. The overall goal is to enhance student skills, enrich the learning experience and foster an interest in college as well as specific collegiate majors.

The courses available for the Sept. 19 Scholar Weekend include “Introductory Robotics,” “Architecture: From Playhouses to Mansions,” “A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words: Creative Writing and Photography,” “To Climb the Great Wall: Fun with Mandarin Chinese,” “CSI: Plant Pathology,” “Biofuels: The Next Step?,” “Rube Goldberg Challenge,” “Psychology, Human Experience and the U.S. Military,” and “The Physics of the Nintendo Wii.”

Tuition for the Scholar Weekend on Sept. 19-20 is $395 for day students and $425 for overnight students. Some financial aid is available. Registration ends Sept. 1.

For more information on these programs and a printable registration sheet, see the Torrance Center’s Web site at www.coe.uga.edu/torrance/ or call (706) 542-5104.

Gwinnett Co. Fed Stimulus Money Totals $120M

Gwinnett County commissioners heard Tuesday that they have received almost $120 million so far from the $787 billion federal economic stimulus law, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) that became law last February.

The funds are being distributed through various federal and state agencies. Gwinnett’s largest amount to date, totaling $81.3 million, is going to shovel-ready road improvements including the $24 million extension of McGinnis Ferry Road across I-85. Bids for that project were opened on July 17 and construction should begin soon.

Board Chairman Charles Bannister said, “County staff began looking for funding opportunities the day the law was passed, and we’ve obviously been very successful with our many applications. It’s clear that our success is a result of staff having solid plans in place and projects that were ready to go. We also appreciate the help of our Congressional delegations in Washington who are very aware and supportive of our needs.”

Gwinnett focused on four areas for stimulus funding: modernizing infrastructure, clean energy technology, crime control and prevention, and community stabilization in the wake of record foreclosures.

Of the funds received to date, $81.3 million came through Georgia DOT, $21.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), $16.7 million from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, $9 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $7.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, and $2.4 million through the U.S. Department of Justice. The latest award is $1.7 million from HUD to prevent homelessness and help homeless residents find new housing; four nonprofit organizations with experience in serving homeless individuals and families are recommended to receive the funds.

Gwinnett submitted successful applications for a wide variety of projects including road-building, weatherization, homelessness programs, a new Senior Services Center, mid-life overhauls of transit buses, a waste-to-energy power generator, recycling of fats, oils and grease, and new public safety systems including online citizen reporting, and improved forensic and crime scene investigation equipment.

Federal stimulus funds are subject to very thorough audit and reporting requirements and can be tracked at www.recovery.gov for federal projects and www.stimulusaccountability.ga.gov for state projects.