Thumbs Up!

Thousands of boys join the Boy Scouts as youngsters. It is a marvelous program that teaches young boys everything from honesty to physical fitness, survival skills to serving others, and much, much more. For more than 100 years, boys have gone camping, performed service projects and earned badges. To progress through the levels of scouting, it takes dedication, determination and a lot of time. None of the time spent in the Boy Scout program is a waste. As boys grow and interests expand, many leave the program, but never without having benefited. The most dedicated — about 7 percent — go on to reach the highest level of scouting, earning Eagle Scout status. One such young man, Logan Littleton, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 of Albany, recently reached that goal. Along with the lengthy list of requirements to become an Eagle Scout is a pre-approved service project. Logan built an obstacle course for abused and neglected horses at Dancing Cloud Horse Rescue in Ochlocknee. Congratulations to all the troop leaders along this scout’s path, to his parents and most of all, to you, Eagle Scout Logan Littleton.

Lee County Middle School East Beta Club members hosted a fundraiser for the Lee County local food bank to help provide food and other items to those less fortunate during the Thanksgiving holiday. Knowing well how much further the food bank can stretch a dollar than a private citizen, the club chose to ask for cash donations. The homerooms decorated donation containers and really took on a competitive spirit. The classroom with the “best” container won a cookie party and a $25 gift card for the teacher. The classroom that collected the most money won a pizza party and a $25 gift card for the teacher. The cookie winners (and their teacher) decided to give the gift card to a family in need. The high dollar classroom decide to forego the pizza and let that money go to the food bank as well. In all, the school raised $800 from Nov. 9-19. At food bank per pound prices, that’s about 8,000 pounds of food.

Mental illness is hands down the most misunderstood affliction of humans in all the world. The causes can at times be determined, but the treatment and care vary with the individual and can literally tear a family apart, physically, emotionally and financially. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a strong presence in Southwest Georgia and for this, be thankful. Starting on Jan. 4, the once-a-year Family-to-Family Education Program will hold its first of 12 sessions. Subjects covered, just to name a few, will be medications and side effects, problem solving, living with mental illness, care for the caregiver, the biology of brain disorders and the long list of diagnosis names and meanings. Classes will run 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. each week and there is no charge to participate. Anyone interested in attending should contact Pam Barfield at (229) 343-8791.

Once again, The Albany Herald had the privilege of sponsoring the Albany Middle Schools’ Academic Bowl. And, once again, it was indeed a pleasure. There was perhaps the best yet turnout of parents to show support, the teams were well-coached, the kids were polite to one another and opposing team members. It matters to the teams who takes home the Christine Blaylock Cup, but from a spectator/sponsor view, all were winners!