Community fireworks show moving to CGTC Milledgeville campus

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — he City of Milledgeville will hold its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration Saturday, July 1 on the local campus of Central Georgia Technical College beginning at nightfall. The show will last approximately 15 minutes. This will be the first year for the event to take place at CGTC. The new location will allow for larger fireworks than in past years. The show was formerly held at the Milledgeville Mall, where shells ranged from 2 to 3 inches in diameter due to area restrictions. This year, shells as large as 4 inches will be shot. Hilson-Butts said she hopes to see a visible difference in the display. Zambelli will shoot the fireworks from the CGTC parking lot, which will be closed to spectators.

 

Charities urged to apply for emergency food and shelter money

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt County has been chosen to receive $20,805 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army, American Red Cross; The Jewish Federations of North America; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; and United Way Worldwide. A Local Board will determine how the funds awarded to Colquitt County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area. Under the terms of the grant, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: (1) be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, (2) be eligible to receive federal funds, (3) have an accounting system, (4) practice nondiscrimination, (5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and (6) if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board. Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Colquitt County has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter funds previously with Colquitt Food Bank, Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Serenity House, and Crossroads Gospel Rescue Mission participating. These agencies were responsible for providing 1,067 meals, 43 rent and utility bills, and 954 nights of lodging in 2015. Public or private voluntary organizations interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Angela Castellow, of the United Way of Colquitt County, at 985-2627 for an application. The deadline for applications is July 7, 2017.

 

AstroTurf combining facilities into one plant in Dalton

DALTON, Ga. — AstroTurf, an artificial turf manufacturer based in Dalton, is streamlining its manufacturing operations into a single facility. It’s a multi-phased endeavor that involves the relocation of existing equipment and the purchase of new manufacturing technology, as well as the alignment of previously scattered personnel groups. AstroTurf’s board approved the proposal on Jan. 3 with project completion slated for the end of June. The plan represents a major capital investment of several million dollars aimed at operational improvement for the global sports surfacing company. “This move will bring all of the operations required to produce synthetic turf under one roof,” said AstroTurf CEO Heard Smith. “We’re going to significantly reduce transportation costs and waste while improving the quality and efficiency of our manufacturing processes.” AstroTurf’s new facility on Callahan Road in Dalton is about 375,000 square feet. It will house the consolidated operations of separate facilities currently in the Synthetic Turf Resources building in Dalton and the Turfstore and Polytex plants in Calhoun. AstroTurf’s corporate headquarters will remain on Abutment Road where marketing, sales and corporate officers continue to conduct business.