Thumbs Up! Nov. 6, 2017

Congratulations are in order for the Bainbridge High School Air Force Junior ROTC “Wings of Blue” drill team. At the most recent drill competition, held in Gulf Breeze, Fla., these young men and women took home the top award. This was, in fact, the second time this team has won the Overall 1st Place award. Because of its brilliant performances, the team has earned a spot in the National High School Drill Team Championships next May in Daytona. Drill team members are Kaila Padron, Jordan Oliver, Cassie Roland, Peyton Strange, Curtiss Watson, Jonathon Farrington, Matthew Godby, Christian Perez, William Vulgamore, Katie White and Logan Spooner.

The Golden Radish Award is a Georgia-grown way of recognizing school systems with outstanding farm-to-school programs. The Dougherty County School System has been so recognized at the gold level for accomplishments achieved during the 2016-17 school year. During the year, three new teaching gardens were established and the harvested food was integrated into the school menu. DCSS served locally grown food daily, involving more than 2.3 million meals. Additionally, 14 farmers were invited to different schools throughout the year to teach about growing food and eating healthy. Lee County Schools were also tapped for the Golden Radish Award for establishing raised beds, preparation of dishes with school-grown food and for field trips taken for students to see farming in action.

Sponsored by Modern Gas, the Oct. 21 Walk to End Alzheimer’s was even a grander success than planners had hoped it would be. Organizers set a goal to raise $80,000. When the day was done and the tally taken, the total raised reached $90,025. Anyone who has brushed elbows, however distantly, with Alzheimer’s already knows why it is so important to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and how the condition affects to an individual and his or her loved ones. As more people are touched by this horrible disease, the need to fund research also rises. To all who registered and walked, to Modern Gas and to every individual giving to this cause, thank you.

Tift Community Market has wrapped up its third and, by far, its most difficult season. Winds from the Jan. 2 storm ripped through Albany’s historic Tift Park, leaving behind many, many trees on the ground. Because of its historic designation, the work of cleanup took several months. When the Market was ready to open its 2017 season, the park was not. With the help of Women’s Health Professionals, vendors opened shop across from the park. Not all vendors came nor did the crowds from the two previous years. But, word got out about the temporary location and the faithful came. In mid-July, the Tift Community Market returned home. One more time this calendar year, in conjunction with December’s Jingle Bell Jog, vendors will set up shop, friends will visit and children will play. Don’t miss it.

Butch Mosely came into the Dougherty County School System in January 2013 as interim school superintendent. He willingly stepped into a world of educational and financial disorder teetering on disaster. In April 2014, he accepted the position on a permanent basis. Mosely officially stepped down from that seat at the end of June this year. What this man brought to the DCSS was concern, organization, a lack of fondness for nepotism, experience, and so much more. In recent cases of two employees, one an assistant principal and the other a substitute teacher, facing accusations of sexual misconduct with a student, Mosely spoke to the newspaper about the instances, both of which started on his watch. Among comments from Mosely were, “Was that a mistake? Yes. But an honest mistake.” Mosely also said, “This is on my conscience, now that I have made a mistake, and it’s something that I have to live with.” In retirement, as in his 50 years as an educator, Mosely understands not only responsibility, but honesty.