Georgia News Briefly — April 8, 2016

Supreme Court to hold off-site session

ATLANTA — The Supreme Court of Georgia will hold oral arguments at Savannah Law School at 2 p.m. Thursday. Court will be conducted in the 4th floor courtroom of the new law school, which graduated its first class of law students last year.

The court will hear appeals in two cases – one criminal and one civil.

In the first case, state prosecutors are appealing a Georgia Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a Bryan County Superior Court’s decision transferring to juvenile court the case of a 16-year-old who was arrested for aggravated sexual battery.

The appeal in the second case stems from a dispute between the Chatham County Board of Commissioners and the clerk of Superior Court over whether in addition to state cost-of-living increases, the court clerk also is entitled to local cost-of-living increases.

Georgia dairy farmers OK marketing order

ATLANTA — Georgia dairy farmers have voted to extend the Georgia Milk Marketing Order for an additional three years, with 96 percent of the eligible ballots returned supporting the extension. The voting was conducted over the month of March.

Federal law requires U.S. dairy producers to pay 15 cents per hundredweight into the national dairy check-off program, which is used by the Georgia Milk Commission in efforts to increase sales of and demand for dairy products and ingredients. Under the order, two-thirds of the revenue generated under the fee remains in the state with the Milk Commission, which was formed in 1969.

The money received by the Milk Commission is used in-state to promote milk consumption, and education about the benefits of dairy products and where milk comes originates. Milk Commission officials note the program funds projects such as its Mobile Dairy Classroom, which travels to schools, and events demonstrating how cows are cared for and milked. More than 100,000 people watched demonstrations by the Mobile Dairy Classroom last year, the commission says.

Nominations sought for GHRAC Awards

MORROW — The Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council is looking for nominations of people in the state who have done outstanding work to use, preserve, or make accessible historical records.

In 2003, the GHRAC established its Archives Awards Program to recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia. Council officials say that by recognizing excellent achievement, they hope to inspire others. Nominations may be submitted through June 1. The awards ceremony is set to be conducted in October, which is Archives Month.

The GHRAC has 12 award categories for individuals and organizations. Eligible for nomination (including self-nominations) are local governments, courts, school systems, state agencies, and institutions; historical records repositories, historical societies, libraries and museums; educators, students and researchers; legislators and government officials; individuals and organizations that support archives and records management, and specialized subject societies in related fields such as oral history, genealogy, folklore, archaeology and business history.

The Georgia Archives is a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and identifies, collects, manages, preserves, and publicizes records and information of Georgia and its people and assists state and local government agencies with their records management.