Thumbs Up! March 26, 2018

The Southwest Georgia Home School Association is the oldest and the largest of its sort in this part of the state. Parents who make the decision to educate their children at home know that through the association, their children are not isolated and they have ample opportunity to participate in everything from field trips to spelling bees to get-togethers. Supplementary classes are available through SGHSA, as are banquets and even a yearbook. One of the many elements of SGHSA is participation in service clubs. At the Kiwanis District of Georgia Key Club Convention held recently in Macon, South Georgia home-schoolers were well-represented and garnered much recognition. The SGHSA Key Club received the Dr. Robert Barron Outstanding Service Award and was also named a “Distinguished Club.” The group also earned second-place honors in four other categories. Congratulations!

Rhiannon Belcher, a student at Lee County High School, is vice president of the school’s Students Against Distracted Driving chapter. A contest, sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation, invited students to create original public service announcements aimed at stopping distracted driving. The idea is that kids will listen to kids, while many times turning a deaf ear to adults. Belcher entered the competition, creating a powerful script about texting while driving and the possible consequences. “Split Second Regrets” was named the best entry and Belcher, with $2,000 in prize money, has been busy with the filming. More than 150 television stations across the country will air the 60-second message, and it can be viewed online at www.teenlane.org. Watch and listen, young people, one of your own has a very important message for you.

How much management does it take to run a city the size of Pelham? The answer is “more than you think.” While all municipalities have struggled with budgets, infrastructure needs, tax revenue and public safety for the last few years, Pelham has certainly had its share of financial issues. In 2015, the city of Pelham was facing a $1.45 million deficit. Today, the same city has a positive balance of $1,145,865. City Manager Jim Hedges was hired in 2015, and things began to happen. Perry Henry, a CPA for 24 years, says this is the largest and fastest financial turnaround he has ever seen. An example of the Pelham finances include the fact that expenditures have increased by 2.9 percent, but revenue is up by 26 percent. Hedges has done what he was hired to do. What was a dire situation just two years ago has made a 180-degree turnaround in record time. Perhaps other municipalities should look into just how this was accomplished.

All Dougherty County students are out of school this week for spring break. As you go from place to place during the week, keep an eye out for kids walking and/or riding their bikes. If you are lucky enough to be a stay-at-home parent, help out a working neighbor, friend or family member by inviting a child to spend time with yours. Let neighborhood parents know that you will be around the house if their children need something. Maybe you can pack a picnic lunch and take an extra child or two to Turtle Park. There was a time when there were no day camps or special programs during school breaks. Neighbors helped neighbors, family helped family and friends helped friends. Why not give it a try?