Albany and Southwest Georgia News Briefly — April 19, 2016

Bishop hosting online town hall

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, is asking the public to share their opinions and ask questions in an online town hall he’s hosting on his Facebook page.

The question submission period will continue through Friday and Bishop will answer the submitted questions, some each day, Monday through April 29.

“Democracy is at its finest when the ideas, opinions, and views of the people are recognized and shared with one another,” said Congressman Bishop. “Our Facebook Townhall provides transparency and accessibility to your government, serving as a platform where everyone’s voices can be heard.”

Bishop’s office says that only questions submitted by Friday underneath the “Please Submit Questions Below” posts will be considered for the town hall.

Session to focus on issues of seniors

ALBANY — How senior citizens of Georgia fared in the 2016 General Assembly session will be the subject of a presentation Thursday at the SOWEGA Council on Aging in Albany.

Officials with the local council say members of the Georgia Council on Aging’s COAGE group (the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly) will make presentations at the 1 p.m. meeting at the local council’s Senior Life Enrichment Center. Kay Hind, director of the SOWEGA Council, will be one of the presenters.

Discussion is expected to include both a reflection on this year’s session and sharing plans for the future.

Traffic pacing Wednesday on I-75

TIFTON — Interstate 75 northbound and southbound traffic will be paced as a Georgia Department of Transportation contractor works on the new overpass under construction at Exit 66 (Brighton Road exit), GDOT officials said.

Law enforcement will control traffic, which will move at a slow pace in all lanes, but will not be stopped. Motorists are asked to be patient moving through the area and prepare for delays, GDOT officials said.

Work on the reconstruction of the Brighton Road interchange began last summer. The project is scheduled to be finished this year.

Officials said traffic will be paced on the northbound side first and then move to the southbound side. Pacing is expected to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday and end at midnight.

Former lawmaker to speak at GSW

AMERICUS —Former state lawmaker George Hooks will be the speaker May 6 at Georgia Southwestern State University’s spring 2016 commencement ceremony.

The ceremony at which an expected 200 students will graduate is set for 3 p.m. in Convocation Hall in the Student Success Center at GSW.

Hooks, an Americus insurance agent, served 32 years in the General Assembly. Elected in 1980 to the State House, he served 10 years in that chamber before running for the state senate seat vacated by Sen. Lewis “Bud” McKenzie, who retired in 1990. Hooks represented the 14th District in the State Senate for 22 years. Upon his retirement from the Legislature, he was named by Gov. Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

A sixth-generation native of Sumter County, Hooks graduated from Americus High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. He also holds an honorary law degree from Mercer University.

Striping work continues in SWGA

TIFTON — Georgia Department of Transportation officials are urging motorists to use caution and to be prepared for delays on state routes where striping work is being performed in Early, Miller and Seminole counties.

Officials with the Tifton District Office of GDOT say that contractor Ozark Striping Co. is continuing to install new road markings/stripes on multiple state routes those counties this week. The slow-moving operation requires rolling lane closures, and GDOT officials are asking motorists to use caution, reduce speed and remain alert to changing traffic conditions.

The work is expected to be continue through Friday. Affected roadways include parts of State Route 253, SR 91 and SR 91 Alternate in Seminole; SR 1 Business, SR 370, U.S. Hwy. 84, SR 39, SR 273 Spur and SR 200 in Early, and SR 91 Spur in Miller.