Whitfield commissioners to vote on whether to extend ambulance contract

DALTON, Ga. — Members of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners are set to vote on an extension of their contract with Hamilton Emergency Medical Services (EMS), part of Hamilton Health Care System, to operate the county’s EMS ambulance system when they meet on Monday. Hamilton has had the EMS contract for 32 years, and the new agreement could potentially extend that contract through the end of 2030. The contract says either party can end the contract on Dec. 31, 2020, by giving six months notice. If neither side does that, it will automatically renew every two years through Dec. 31, 2030, unless one side gives 180 days notice that it wishes to end the contract. The county would pay Hamilton $250,000 a year under the extended contract. Hamilton receives $300,000 a year and $70,000 every other year to cover half the cost of a new ambulance under its current agreement. Commissioners voted last year to renew Hamilton’s contract to operate the EMS through 2018. But commissioners said they wanted to have a full request for information, something the county has not had since 2009. Two providers responded to that request, Hamilton and a company that was not identified by county officials.

Rennie Curran to join Tailgaite for Tykes event

EATONTON, Ga. — Rennie Curran, linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2007-2009, will join the fundraising event Tailgate for Tykes sponsored by Circle Ranch on Friday, Sept. 14 at the Oconee Brewing Company.

Curran, while at the University of Georgia, was a three-time All-American Team MVP, Butkus Award finalist and permanent team captain. He finished his Bulldog career as one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the program.  

In 2010 Curran entered the NFL Draft. He played with the Tennessee Titans, the Edmonton Eskimos and the BC lions. 

He is now a keynote speaker and author.

Tailgate for Tykes will be an event to help raise funds to purchase acreage for the Ranch. Doors will open at 5:30 and event will run though 10 p.m. Wear your favorite team apparel and join us. There will be a taco, fajita bar catered by Lake County catering, a 50/50 drawing, a live auction of six special items and a corn hole tournament. Music will be provided by the Ronnie Pitman Duo.

Circle Ranch is a 501c3 organization, which will provide a working ranch and long term living facility for children within our community who have been abused, abandoned and neglected and are in need of a home and family. Tickets can be purchased by going to circleranchinc.org. 

For more information on Circle Ranch and the need in our community please go to circleranchinc.org. or call 706-467-0004. 

South Georgia stuck in summertime weather

VALDOSTA, Ga. — South Georgia should see the regular summertime weather patterns of hot days and late afternoon storms, say forecasters. Weeklong rain chances for Valdosta should range from 30 to 50 percent, said Jessica Fieux, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Tallahassee, Fla., office. Moisture and daytime heating are causing the thunderstorms, she said. A cold front stretching from Alabama to Louisiana is not expected to make it to South Georgia, she said. “It’s going to be hot and humid but not crazy hot,” said Randy Atkins, a meteorologist with the private forecasting firm AccuWeather. The Valdosta forecast calls for highs around 90 degrees until the end of the week. Then, Hurricane Florence has a say in the mercury, Atkins said. “Florence is expected to reach shore in the Carolinas but it will draw warmer air into South Georgia” at the end of the week, raising the daytime highs by a few degrees, he said. The average high for Valdosta for this time of year is 89, Atkins said. The National Hurricane Center on Sunday expected the hurricane to hit the Carolinas as a major (Category 3 or above) storm Thursday but it’s not expected to impact South Georgia beyond the warm air, Atkins said. Neither forecaster expected widespread severe weather for South Georgia this week, though both said isolated strong storms are always possible.

Alcohol ink artist to display works at Georgia Museum of Agriculture

TIFTON, Ga. — An exhibition on Sept. 16 featuring the works of local artist Donna Falcone will splash the walls with vivid color at the Art Gallery at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. An alcohol ink artist, Falcone is also the illustrator of the children’s book, “A is for Azure: The Alphabet in Colors.” Titled “From Azure to Zaffre,” the exhibit opens with a 2 p.m. reception on Sept. 16 and runs through Jan. 19, 2019. The opening reception is free and open to the community and will feature a demonstration and a brief lecture by Falcone, a question and answer session with exhibit curator Polly Huff, and gallery tours with the artist. Following opening day on Sept. 16, “From Azure to Zaffre” will be open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission to this exhibit will be included in the GMA’s daily admission and will be free with a valid GMA Season pass. For more information on this or future exhibits, visitors can contact Huff at phuff@abac.edu.

Lost policy locator finds $22 million for Georgians

ATLANTA — More than a thousand Georgians have reaped the benefits of Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator since its launch in December 2016. The free consumer tool has matched 1,476 Georgia beneficiaries with unclaimed life insurance policies or annuities returning approximately $22,080,903 to those consumers, according to Hudgens’ office. The Life Insurance Policy Locator Service was created to help consumers locate benefits from life insurance policies and annuity contracts. Individuals who believe they are beneficiaries, executors or legal representatives of a deceased person may submit a search request form. Nationally, the free consumer tool has paid out over $300 million. Before utilizing this service, Hudgens recommends that consumers conduct a diligent search of the deceased person’s records. This search should include looking through the decedent’s files, contacting any previous employers and reviewing bank accounts. Consumers can contact the commissioner’s office online at www.oci.ga.gov or by telephone at 800-656-2298 for additional search tips.

Camera Club to discuss cell phone photography

BRANFORD, Fla. — Want to take better photos on a cell phone?

The Branford Camera Club will be hosting a special presentation of cell phone photography at its Sept. 20 meeting. The Camera Club meets at 7 p.m. at the Hatch Park Community Center, 403 SE Craven St. in Branford.

The presentation will include a how-to on editing photos on a phone. The editing portion will include both minor cropping to improve the scene and making corrections to the photo.

The special presentation promises to be a great time to learn and improve photography skills on a phone.