Thumbs Up! Nov. 13, 2017

Gary Rice is the security manager and emergency preparedness coordinator for Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Rice’s qualifications, although never in doubt, were put to an extreme test following the two storms that devastated large sections of Albany and Dougherty County in January. It was Rice who was the powerhouse behind keeping staff and patients safe at the hospital. In addition to his regular duties, he served as a special consultant to the county as recovery work within the community got under way. When done with his regular tasks, rather than calling it a day, a long day, Rice delivered firewood to those with no power who had a fireplace. For his hard work, dedication and caring, the Georgia Hospital Association has named Rice as one of nine Georgia Hospital Heroes from throughout the state.The organization certainly picked the right man for this recognition.

Throughout the month of October, Ameris Bank, headquartered in Moultrie, held a companywide food drive. The goal was to collect 500,000 non-perishable food items. That goal was apparently a bit low. In the end, the item count topped 999,000. In addition, Ameris Bancorp, the bank’s parent company, donated $100,000 to the effort. The money and food will be distributed to food banks in locations where the bank has a presence, including here in Albany. Food insecurity for children in Georgia runs from 20-30 percent. Ameris Bank is well on its way to helping lower the number of bellies that are sent to bed hungry. Thank you for organizing this eighth annual drive.

With five candidates running for the Albany City Commission seat in Ward II, it is no surprise that a Dec. 5 runoff will be necessary to fill the spot. What is surprising is the low voter turnout. Of the 6,157 registered voters in Ward II, a measly 917 chose to take the few minutes required to select a candidate. In addition to the availability of early voting and absentee voting, which was truly minuscule in numbers, election day was sunny and warm. No more beautiful a day could have been custom-ordered. The good news is that those same faithful voters (thank you) and the other 5,240 get a second chance to exercise their right to vote. Mark the date on your calender or enter it into your phone now. After the runoff, here’s hoping the numbers will improve so much that they will appear in this editorial again. And to those who did vote, thumbs up!

Casey Parrott spent about two decades of his early life committing petty crimes to support his involvement with drugs. For the choices he made, Parrott spent several years in a Georgia prison. Once paroled, the still young man turned not back to his previous life but moved in an entirely different direction. First came an undergraduate degree. Next came a master’s degree. Along with that came certification as a licensed clinical social worker. Now Parrott owns his own counseling practice and works as a case manager with the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, counseling homeless veterans. He has created a video to be used to help offenders by sharing his own life and testament. Earlier this year, Parrott received a pardon and, more recently, at the monthly meeting of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, he was given a framed copy of that pardon. Parrott doesn’t live in South Georgia, but his story could happen anywhere. This young man will forever have a criminal past, but it is to the future he has chosen to turn.