Page 10 TOWNS COUNTY HERALD April 6, 2016

Prayer...from Page 1A Uses.” CASA...from Page 1A represent the child’s wishes The breakfast will feature “We have children work, then to have them be and rights as opposed to the of Prayer, and they decided the same purpose, which is to appearances from several that they could no longer do get our community together placed throughout the state adopted. Should those two fail, job of the CASA, which is to members of the community. because we do not have enough then to be able to get them a advocate for the child’s best it – it was too much work, and to pray. But there’s going to “Shea Underwood, the not enough workers. They had be more pastor involvement foster homes currently. The permanent home that they will interests.” Towns County football star, majority of our children are be able to stay with and not be The Enotah Circuit about 350 in their last one,” this year, and we expect more will be speaking. He’s also the said Flannigan. people. We had 350 the first actually placed outside of the moved around. served 205 children in 2015, STAR Student. Alan Kendall, community because of the “Very often the children and D’Angelo said that that The year after that, the year. Last year we had about the local gospel musician, prayer breakfast moved to the 700, and we’re looking at lack of foster homes we have are moved many times. Their number is expected to increase is going to be singing,” said today.” caseworkers will change with in the coming years. Towns County Rec Center and about 1,000 this year,” said Flannigan. doubled in size. Phillips. The Enotah CASA some frequency. We even had a “I think one of the One of the biggest is aligned with the Enotah judge change last July with the major contributing factors Phillips said she is Keynote speaking for changes made will be the hoping for an even bigger the event will be influential Judicial Circuit and covers appointment of Judge (Jeremy) is that about two years ago, addition of a youth choir from Towns, Union, Lumpkin, and Clough, and the CASA stays the Division of Family and turnout this year. The event, evangelical pastor Henry several churches. while similar in format to last Blackaby, the founder White counties. with the child, building that Children Services consolidated “The youth choir, that’s Child displacement is a relationship being the advocate all the reporting into what year’s breakfast, will feature of Blackaby Ministries different – that’s going to be several changes. International and author of last resort. CASA attempts to for their best interests during they call Central Intake,” said churches coming together keep the children in a stable, that whole time.” D’Angelo. “And I think because “It’ll have different such books as “Hearing God’s with their youth to sing,” said speakers, and it’s pretty much Voice,” and “The Man God healthy environment, first and A Court-Appointed it’s more anonymous and it’s Flannigan. foremost, within the family. Special Advocate is distinct more efficient also in terms “The CASA builds a from a child attorney. of what they investigate, that trusting relationship with the “All these children will there are more investigations. Yoakam...from Page 1A child and also with the family,” have an attorney appointed to I also think people are more Yoakam for the first time in said D’Angelo. “The goal is them, a child attorney, which willing to speak up whereas concert. working with the Division of is required by the Georgia in the past they may have seen Reece attended the Family and Children Services code, which is required by the it but were hesitant to talk concert with his younger first and foremost to reunify court,” said D’Angelo. “The about their neighbors or their brother Seth and his mom and the family. If that does not job of the child attorney is to family.” dad, Karen and Greg. As for why he’s such a to distribute them, and that’s fan, Reece said that Yoakam ...from Page 1A huge. If you’ve only got two was “kind of a throwback – Sweep or three people, how are you he’s been doing it a long time, Homeowners Association. same time every year just like going to get these flyers out? and he’s adapted pretty good. Although the cleanup event the Hiwassee River Watershed “So this year, committee It’s hard to be this good for began three years ago, it has Coalition does, so it becomes members took responsibility this long.” just now begun to evolve into a part of the things we do in for taking flyers to all of the Larry and Rebecca an organized, coordinated the county. So the committee businesses in Hiawassee and Broach drove two hours from effort. picked the name Towns County Young Harris on the main Bostwick to see Yoakam in “At that celebration Clean Sweep Week, and that’s Highway 76 strip, so we have concert, and while Rebecca dinner we had last year, I our name.” folks that are going out and said she was a bigger fan than did a little feedback sheet for Participants in the actually handing flyers to her husband Larry, Larry said people that were there to find Clean Sweep Week will take business owners.” he’d been enjoying Yoakam’s Blairsville’s own Shannon Carroll with Dwight Yoakam ways that we might improve it industrial-sized trash bags and She has also enlisted the performances for years and backstage before the show on Saturday, April 2 and who would be interested pick up litter throughout the aid of detainees and hopes to years, of both his acting and performance. The crowd knew that in participating on a work county. Last year, prizes were partner with the many churches his singing. “Thank you all again to be the end of the show, committee,” said Howard. “As given out to those individuals in Towns County. “The first time I ever very much for making us feel however, when Yoakam a result of that, I have a nice and organizations that picked “We have two committee saw him was when he was so welcome here tonight and thanked everyone once again little committee this year that up the most trash. Howard members who have taken that young, and he was on some coming out to see us, and any for coming, then tossed his has taken big responsibility for expects that this year, the effort on as responsibility, to make talk show,” said Larry Broach. who have ever come to see me guitar pick into the audience doing a lot of the legwork.” will be even bigger. calls to all of the churches “He sang ‘Ring of Fire,’ and before, thank you for doing for one lucky fan. “It’s much more “Having a committee by phone or in person to that was the best I’ve ever so,” said Yoakam. “It’s been Helping out that night systematic now,” she continued. spreads around the honor engage church members,” heard it in my life. I don’t kind of a season of loss in the were many members of the “We have a plan and we know and the glory in terms of the said Howard. “There are 36 know if he’s ever recorded it, music business, as everybody Towns County Lions Club, exactly what we need to do to physical work that has to be churches in Towns County, and but I saw him sing it and he put I know is aware, a lot of folks Towns County CLEA and execute this. And so this year done in preparation for it,” if every church just picked up it in his style.” have died in the last couple Towns County Sheriff’s Office we decided that we needed to said Howard. “You have to a mile around their property, it Fortunately for Mr. of months that were sudden deputies. name it so that it had a name get flyers ready and you have would do a huge service to the Broach, Yoakam devoted deaths it seemed to a lot of us Lion Henry Harnage that would be recognized going to decide how you’re going community, just for that.” several minutes to that that were fans of their music. carried the club’s Ibanez forward, and having it at the particular song, covering “One of them who guitar backstage just before Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” passed was Glenn Frey, and Yoakam’s performance so that throughout the building, plus a for the enthusiastic crowd that that really got to me a lot, and the Country Music icon could ...from Page 1A redesigned dedicated children’s did more than its fair share of I know it got to a lot of other sign it. Library area. singing along that evening. management, among other “Then contracts will be “We’re most excited to Americans. So let’s sing this Harnage can be found at issued, bonds, insurance. As Yoakam performed for Glenn tonight.” the entrance to the Anderson items, are included in those get a facelift to a building that countless tunes, among costs as well. “We’re hoping long as the state doesn’t have was built in 1978, to get it up to Yoakam started in on Music Hall each show, selling a problem, we’ll be moving them “Please, Please Baby,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” raffle tickets for the chance to that we can pull some extra code,” said Stone. “We’ll have “Little Sister,” “Streets of things out of contingencies for forward. I think we could better bathrooms, everything which kept everyone on their win a guitar that is signed by potentially be breaking ground Bakersfield,” for which he feet, and following the tribute each performer to grace The our windows. will be brand new, yet we’re traded San Francisco for “We’re hoping that we in two weeks.” keeping our same look and feel to the recently departed Eagles Hall in a given year. Originally, Stone and Georgia in the lyrics, “It Won’t member, Yoakam and his band So far, the guitar has quite can afford to replace windows to the community.” Hurt,” and more. instead of simply leaving them, the board had hoped to be Another exciting feature ended the concert with “I Feel the list of names, including able to build an expansion Everyone got to their feet Fine” by The Beatles. Ronnie Milsap, the entire crew because we’ve had leakage will be the addition of a drive- during “Guitars, Cadillacs,” problems for years. It’s a costly onto the library, and even do through book drop, good for Only, it wasn’t the end. from Casting Crowns, and now work on the parking lot. Costs chanting along with the After leaving stage, Yoakam Dwight Yoakam. repair, but we, at this point, readers on the go. “hillbilly music,” and after the think we might be able to do quickly mounted, however, And those who enjoy returned for one more encore, Joining Harnage this and for the purposes of staying show finished, Yoakam walked one more song, and it was a show was his granddaughter, that with our contingencies.” the renovations done with offstage – only to return a few Funding for the library within budget constraints of the Towns County Public doozy – “Suspicious Minds” Aliyah, who is from Kennesaw $1 million, they decided to minutes later for an encore by Elvis Presley. and is on Spring Break. comes in the form of a grant Library in Hiawassee, the same received several years ago concentrate on renovating just architecture firm has been look like and feel like in the in the amount of $900,000, the interior of the building, working with the Mountain with no expansion. ...from Page 1A near future,” said Hazell. with a $100,000 local match Regional Library. GMRC The vision statement provided for by SPLOST funds “Essentially, we are “A renovation is different a thorough presentation on with the plan for the city. for Hiawassee was that “The from the county, bringing the redesigning some of the than a new one, because we’re the Comprehensive Plan for Georgia, like most of the City of Hiawassee will be a total renovation budget to $1 office space for the regional working with the existing Hiawassee. states in the nation, has what’s quality, safe, and affordable million. staff to be better,” said Stone. space, but the circulation, the “My colleague Joe and I known as a Planning Act hometown where all residents In the motion that hired “We’re going to redesign the arrangement of the shelving, are going to be helping Towns requiring local governments can live, work, and play; a Winkler & Winkler, the board multipurpose room, because is very important, to make County, Young Harris and to go through this process. vibrant destination for visitors also accepted the architecture it was dark – we’re putting sure it flows properly,” said the City of Hiawassee with “What the that reflects the spirit of the plans completed by Gardner, in some nice windows to Randy Smith of Gardner, et the update to what’s known comprehensive plan process North Georgia Mountains; Spencer, Smith, Tench and bring in some natural light, al, speaking on one of the as the Joint Comprehensive is supposed to do is help a community that values its Jarbeau as final. and it’s going to have dual considerations his firm took Plan,” said Hazell. “This is the communities look at all history, protects its natural “Next steps will be, we’ll purpose. It’ll be for meetings into account in designing the what we’ve been doing the of their different resources, resources, and works for its pull this package together with and for training and children’s renovation. ground work on, and we’ll be economic, natural, and people; and a city with an drawings, specs, budget, all the programming. But also, the In attendance for the doing more public forums and cultural, and figure out what attractive and prosperous stuff that needs to be submitted Friends of the Library will important meeting were other events over the coming they have in the way of their downtown.” to the state,” said Kevin operate their used bookstore regional board members months. assets, figure out what their Hazell estimated that Hamby of Clough, Harbour & out of that space.” Karan Harper, Susan “Everyone does some obstacles are, figure out what over the next six months, Associates, a project manager There will also be a Sinram, Joan Crothers, Paula form of what you would they want to be, and map out GMRC planners would be who was also in the meeting. 10-person computer lab, with Whitehead, Nick Wimberly consider general planning. You how they want to reach their working with the city on the “We’re going to get that down more computers out in the (who telecommuted), Ernie plan for retirement, you plan desired vision of the future,” next steps to help bring this to the state, that’ll be the next main area, and completely new, Seckinger and board chair for a trip, so it stands to reason said Hazell. vision statement into fruition. leg of the approval. ultra-efficient LED lighting Ron Bolin. that you would ask your local In 2009, Hiawassee “There are going to be government, the stewards of created a vision statement some times where we say we are unknowns. They did not your tax dollars and the folks that was one of the first have to do this, this, and this, in ...from Page 1A know how far it was going to who are putting together your steps toward building the order for Hiawassee to achieve Science be. They were told it could be Ledford coached the Towns Bradley. “You just have to be infrastructure and such, to plan comprehensive plan. that vision statement,” said three meters to eight meters.” County team. able to read a map very well. It what they’re doing as well.” “The last time that we Hazell. “So then we’ll look at Mason Barrett and Will Thomas-Bradley said can be historical, or important Every town is required did the comprehensive plan the resources and conditions McConnell took Third in that Towns County was only a sites on the map. It can be to have a comprehensive plan for Hiawassee and Towns available in order to make “Elements, Compounds, and few points away from moving interstates and state roads, you that is available for review by County, there were what’s these things happen, and find Mixtures.” on to the state competition. don’t have a clue what they’re state and federal agencies. That known as vision statements out if there are more things we Abeni Hogsed and “Union County and going to give you.” way, when the town asks for created for each community need to bring into the picture Ansleigh Harden finished Towns County had done some Bentley Floyd and Ivan money for projects, the state or – a simple paragraph or a few or if we’re all good to go. Fourth Place in “Graph-A- competitions back and forth Chavero won First Place in federal government can ensure sentences that captures what Then we’ll create the future Graph.” where we traveled there and the “Mystery Architecture” whether the project is in line you want your community to development strategy.” “This is our first year, they traveled here, and I think competition. so the plan is to rock their have somebody throw out a that showed,” said Thomas- “Here again, you don’t world next year and be first, ...from Page 1A cigarette because its so heavily Bradley. “We helped them and know what types of things or at least go on to state,” Wildfire part of the National Forest. I they helped us. Since we were – it’s usually things that are said Thomas-Bradley. “If we do around your home and in if the fire stations are going to think over 50 percent of Towns sixth in 22 counties, we ranked, found in an office, recyclables, could have gotten more than your neighborhoods to lessen have open house that day, that County is a national forest.” but only the first five got to go that they may give you,” said 10 points (this year) we could the chances of wildfires, like hasn’t been finalized yet. A community that on to state. Thomas-Bradley, noting that have beaten Union County. clearing away extra brush and “We’re going to have becomes Firewise certified can “And Union County was the kids must build a structure “I think this is fabulous stuff from around your house, hopefully some public service move onto the next step, which fifth, so we lost really by 10 out of the supplies, and that the because it encompasses all the getting leaves out from around announcements at the movie is “Ready, Set, Go!” points. White County was also highest structure able to hold a sciences, and I think this is your house that could catch on theaters and on the radio. “Firewise consists of in the top, so we were proud tennis ball wins. great because these students fire, not stacking wood next to We’re going to hope the signs doing those things outside of that Northeast Georgia was Laura Mauldin and Eli at young ages start to see the your house.” around town will display things your home on your property,” represented.” Phillips took Third in “Paper physics of things. It’s fun and The ways in which for that particular day.” said Elliott. “Ready, Set, Go! is The Indians took home a Rockets.” it’s competitive.” the Fire Coalition will seek Elliott said that doing things inside your home, number of medals. “Paper rockets is where The Mountain Movers to inform the public about residents of Towns County are like having smoke detectors, “There were 18 events they literally made rockets,” and Shakers previously Wildfire Preparedness Day specifically at risk because of knowing your evacuation route where students were paired said Thomas-Bradley. “They donated $160 toward the cost are similar to the work the the location of the county. The if you have a fire in your house, up, or they could compete had a target, and the rocket of drinks and other minor coalition does in certifying fact that Towns County sits in or knowing what important individually,” said Thomas- had to fly and the goal was to traveling expenses incurred Firewise Communities. the middle of a large forested papers, if you had to evacuate Bradley. “Schools can choose hit the target or as close to it as during the trip. “It’s exactly what the area makes it vulnerable to suddenly, that you need to take whether they compete or not. possible. In a lot of this, there Firewise program does, to fire. with you. We received two First medals, encourage homeowners and “So much of our property “It also involves, if you one Second, two Thirds, and neighborhoods to do those is National Forest Service, and are in your neighborhood, that one Fourth. Considering this Parasite Awareness Day things to make their homes a lot of trees is a natural part of you know an immediate way to was our first year and we didn’t and property less vulnerable our environment,” said Elliott. get out of your neighborhood. start till January, we did, I Tri-County Animal Tri-County Animal Clin- for wildfire,” she said. “It’s also an area that wildfires If the main road is blocked, think, extremely well.” Clinic presents the 5th An- ic, 3711 E. US 64 Alt #6, “We hope to have a could erupt. You could have a what is your alternative?” Students Laura Mauldin nual Reduced Cost Vaccine Murphy, NC. For more in- display at Ingles with a variety lightning strike or you could and Abby Pate won First Place of printed materials available. in “Which Way is North?” a and Parasite Awareness formation please call 828- We are going to be providing Towns County Herald Classified Ads map competition. Day on Saturday, April 9, 837-0050 or visit www.tri- information to the residents in “They don’t have a clue 2016, 9 a.m. - 12 noon. countyanimalclinic.com. the 20 Firewise communities SELL SELL SELL what they’re going to be given This event is hosted by about the Ready, Set, Go! Call 706-896-4454 for information and rates (to be tested on),” said Thomas- program. We don’t know yet