Gretna Breaks Ground on New Road
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COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign An “over the moon” love story Destination: Millhouse Inn, coming to Gadsden PAGE 2 that started in Quincy PAGE 3 Staycations Part 3 PAGE 11 The Gadsden County Times VOL. CXX . NO. 13 Copyright © 2021 Gadsden County News Corp. QUINCY, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 Serving all of Gadsden County, Florida 75 CENTS Gretna breaks ground on new road paving project Maybelline Somoza these individuals have put [email protected] forth to make sure that we On Monday March 22, are properly prepared and the Gretna City secure to be that vision for Commission and staff tomorrow.” were joined by Russ added that representatives of C.W. infrastructure had become Roberts Contracting, Inc. one of the pillars he to conduct the considers important in the groundbreaking of the growth and sustainability latest $312,000 road of the community. paving project for “It’s such a pleasure to Williams Road. see how Gretna is “Another great day in progressing,” said Mayor the city of Gretna” said Pro-Tem Evelyn the Gretna Mayor Jeff Goldwire. “And like they McNealy at the always say, behind every commencement of the great man or woman is a ceremony. “Something great organization and I that we as commissioners thank Mr. Jefferson and always try to make sure his staff for the work that that we do is make sure they do along with Justin that we keep roads paved.” and his engineering With an overall group.” investment of just over $1 Goldwire said it is a million, the paving of pleasure to have people Williams Road is the working in the city Gretna City Commission’s pressing forward to make Gretna greater. 11th roadway paving/ PHOTO BY MAYBELLINE SOMOZA resurfacing in the last four “And again, I just want to say thank you to the Jason Hires and Justin (last name unkown) of C.W. Roberts Contracting with City of Gretna Mayor James Mc- years. Nealy, Mayor Pro-Tem Evelyn Riley Goldwire and CommissionersJames Payne and Gary Russ, Jr. stand in “Thank you again for great citizens of Gretna,” said McNealy in his front of a sign describing the Williams Road Repaving Project on March 22, 2021 when they broke ground on your hard work and the project, which is expected to be completed this summer. dedication to making sure closing remarks. “Without that this big city of Gretna you all, we wouldn’t most is a vision for tomorrow,” definitely be able to make move some dirt.” was paved more than 20 hard each year to facilitate Department of said Commissioner Gary this possible. So with that According to years ago and with the community improvements Transportation, and our Russ, Jr. “It’s a pleasure to City Manager, Commissioner James new project it will undergo while working within the residents as well, for their see the hard work that Commissioners, let’s Payne, Williams Road resurfacing it desperately city’s existing resources support and fortitude as needs of. The road has and without raising taxes we continue our several potholes and some or user fees.” community-wide areas are rough. According to the collaboration to “Rebuild Early Learning Coalition Payne added that the release, the project is Gretna One-Brick at a project means a great deal mainly funded through a Time,” added Jefferson. celebrates anniversaries to the city because it grant from the Florida C.W. Roberts fulfills the promise of Department of Contracting is expected to giving the citizens a better Transportation as part of complete the project by in midst of pandemic quality of life. the Municipal Small summer 2021. Megan Glasgow time, and it’s important as the 2020 Non-Profit of In a release Monday, County Outreach This project follows a [email protected] we are able to meet them.” the Year for their Business City Manager Antonio Program. commitment made by the Before the country was The Early Learning Excellence Award based Jefferson said, “(M)y “We appreciate the Commission in 2010 to well versed in masks, Coalition is a private on its impact in the team of dedicated public technical and financial pave at least one road per social distancing, and nonprofit organization community. Annual servants work extremely assistance of the Florida year. “unprecedented times,” that provides services to events like the Run ELC March 2020 looked families, children, and 5k went virtual and still promising – especially so child care providers in the saw a lot of success. Most Good Samaritans reunite for Liz Murphy, the new seven counties that importantly, the CEO of Early Learning comprise northern organization is entering Coalition of the Big Florida’s Big Bend region: its 20th year in service – lost dog with owner Bend. After fourteen years Gadsden, Jefferson, and nothing is going to Ashley Hunter Leon, Liberty, Madison, hold Murphy and her staff with the Coalition – a Gadsden County News Service career that began at the Taylor, and Wakulla. back from recognizing front desk and only Offices regularly met with this milestone. On Friday, March 26, trajected upward – local families to discuss “Many of our staff DeeDee Moore was Murphy was ready to take child care assistance, members and supporters involved in a vehicle the helm of an organization developmental screening, have been with the ELC accident; traveling with she loved and knew well. and provided free since the beginning,” Moore at the time was her What she did not children’s books through explains Murphy. “We small Shih Tzu, named anticipate, however, was a their Word Garden have had the opportunity Bella. pandemic that would libraries. to touch so many lives in The Gadsden County define her first year in the By March, Murphy the Big Bend region and Sheriff’s Office reported position. made the difficult decision we don’t take that lightly. that in the aftermath of the “The biggest challenge to temporarily close all This year is about wreck, which took place offices from the public celebrating who and what near the intersection of we have faced has been PHOTO COURTESY GCSO maintaining the level of and have staff work makes this organization Highway 90 and Selman DeeDee Moore, Shalani Robinson, Judy Dubois, “Bel- customer service that our remotely. However, child an integral part of our Road (east of Quincy’s la” and Rodney Moore. Robinson and her mother, families and providers care centers - a large base communities.” city limits), Moore’s dog Shanterica found Bella after Moore’s dog went missing have come to expect from of Early Learning As she simultaneously jumped out of her arms following a car wreck. us,” explains Murphy. Coalition’s clients - celebrates her first year as and ran away from the “Our customers’ needs are continued to remain open CEO and a year of scene in fright. hours of Saturday, March common occurrence. even greater during this and families continued to navigating the pandemic, “[Moore] was in a 27, volunteers continued When searching for a need child care services. It Murphy is confident about traumatic traffic crash, to search the area for lost pet, especially a dog, was imperative to Murphy the year ahead, no matter and in the midst of all that Bella. Du Bois states that it is that the organization what it may look like. chaos, she had Bella under One such volunteer was important to not get a lot remained accessible and “Failure is not an option,” her arm,” said Anglie Judy Du Bois, of Du Bois of people chasing the dog, attentive. she confirms, “and Holmes, the public Dog Rescue (a but to casually comb Customers are still able challenges are welcomed.” relations manager for the Tallahassee-based rescue, through the area where it to access services virtually The Early Coalition of Gadsden County Sheriff’s rehabilitation, and was lost and allow the dog - via phone, video the Big Bend Region Office via a Facebook live rehoming service for dogs to peacefully return to its conferencing, email, or works collaboratively video. “In some way, the in the area) who says she original location. the family and provider with families, their dog got loose,” didn’t turn in for the night This tactic, Du Bois portals hosted on their children, and local child In an effort to reunite until after 3 a.m. says, is one that obviously website. Internally, care providers to help the owner with her lost Another volunteer for worked in reuniting Bella S communications ramped prepare children for pet, the sheriff’s office the cause was Shalani with her owner. up to ensure clarity and success in school and placed an announcement Robinson and her mother, After being reunited cohesiveness. “Digital support families’ ability to on their Facebook and Shanterica; the mother- with Bella early Saturday platforms became a work. Family support media list, advising that daughter pair searched for morning, Moore necessity for our internal services include tuition members of the Gadsden Bella alongside other expressed her gratitude to communications – daily assistance programs, child County community volunteers, and eventually the community for their H teleconference meetings care information services, should be on the lookout were the ones to find the support. are prioritized based on and community referrals for Bella. small, frightened dog. “I am so happy! I the organization needs,” that support each families’ According to Holmes, According to Shalani, appreciate all the shares says Murphy. “We are still individual success. Child the community responded she and her mother on Facebook,” said able to recognize our staff care providers are able to to the lost dog alert in a returned to the area of the Moore. “I really, really, O and celebrate milestones, receive training and multitude, with countless traffic collision, and it was appreciate it.” albeit from our homes.” assessments through the volunteers turning out to there that they spotted “Thanks to Judy Du Despite the challenges, Coalition, ensuring personally search for Bella emerging from a Bois and all volunteers for the Coalition certainly has compliance for quality Bella, and many others roadside drainage pipe.