Page 10A TOWNS COUNTY HERALD March 16, 2016 ...from Page 1A Mattee meets Movers and Shakers Qualifying By Shawn Jarrard have a representative in every In the District 50 State Congressional District seat, Roger Fitzpatrick. county.” Senate race, Incumbent Incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Republican U.S. Sen. Towns County Herald Staff Writer Various and sundry John Wilkinson, a Toccoa Collins, the Gainesville Johnny Isakson, has opposition services are available through Republican, qualified for Republican, has Republican from both parties. Melissa Mattee spoke county extension offices, and reelection. Sen. Wilkinson opposition. Republicans Derrick on a variety of agricultural Mattee gave a general overview faces Roy Benifield of Martin, From Gainesville, Paul Grayson, and Mary Kay topics in a meeting of the of some of the services she can in the May 24 Republican Broun, from Cumming, Mike Bacallao; Democrats Cheryl Mountain Movers and Shakers offer to residents, such as a $10 Primary. Scupin, from Suches, Bernie Copeland, James Knox, and at Mary’s Southern Grill on soil sample test (all tests that In the race for the 9th Fontaine, and from Cleveland, Jim Barksdale. Friday, March 11. involve the sending of physical Mattee began her job samples cost money), and just as the UGA extension agent being there to take a phone call Seabee...from Page 1A for both Towns and Union and get an answer to a question Medal, the Army Achievement counties back in January, and about a home garden or pest or Medal, and many more. in fact, her public speaking whatever may be plaguing the “These reunions are engagement last Friday was inquirer. important, because it gives us her first since taking on the Over the last few years, a chance to recount stories,” dual-county role. the offering of local programs said Beard, reflecting on the As an icebreaker with a has become a growing domain new audience, she told those Union County Extension stories and history he’d already Agent Melissa Mattee of UGA Extension, and Mattee heard and shared that evening. gathered a little bit about informed those in attendance “That’s all that we have, our herself. that the next program to be Seabee heritage, what we’ve “I’m kind of a good and then there’s also 4-H, delivered by her office would done and when we started. example of you never know that’s our youth development be on high tunnels. And our individual stories are where you’re going to be in 10 program, where youth learn “A high tunnel, or a hoop important. years,” said Mattee, who has leadership skills and teamwork house, is like a greenhouse that “I’m sure some of you both bachelor’s and master’s skills through participating in you can put over your rows of probably have relatives that degrees in entomology, or the different teams.” crops, but the sides roll up,” served in World War II, some study of insects. “I had planned Circumstances not being said Mattee. “This allows you who served in Vietnam. You to go to the University of ideal, as it were, Towns and one month before the normal can’t get them to talk about Georgia for the vet school, and Union counties don’t have six growing season and one month their service. They don’t want then I ended up falling in love agents between them – instead, after, because it shields it from to talk or they don’t think it’s with insects, of all things.” they have Mattee and her boss, the cold weather. And when it significant, that what they Of course, having a Timothy Jennings, who is the gets too hot, you roll up the did wasn’t important. Or general grasp of entomology County Extension Coordinator sides and ventilation can come they don’t think people will comes in really handy when and runs the 4-H programs. through. believe them when they tell dealing with agricultural But the pair are more “So it’s a really great their stories. But those stories issues, and as the self-professed than capable of doing the job, opportunity to extend your are important – if they don’t “resident bug lady” with a which is exactly what they’ve growing season, and you tell them, those stories will get penchant for learning, Mattee been doing, along with very can apply to get one through lost or forgotten.” has already helped many with capable office staff. the state government. This Beard discussed post- Command Master Chief (Ret.) U.S. Navy Neal Beard shares their concerns since starting Mattee also gave the program is going to tell you traumatic stress disorder, which words of wisdom on Saturday, March 5 at Seabee Ball in January, handling both Mountain Movers and Shakers how to do that, what to grow is all too common among insect and non-insect related a brief history lesson on UGA in your high tunnel, how to veterans, and he spoke about Brown began the evening’s obvious that we would need to queries. Extension itself. manage pests within it.” the high suicide rate of veterans ceremony with an invocation, build as well as fight our way “Throughout the state, “It started as what’s called Private pesticide – upwards of 22 veterans a day, followed by the posting of the across Europe and the Pacific pretty much everybody has the ‘College on Wheels,’” said applicators will be able to according to a recent report colors by the North Georgia to attain victory. an extension office, and our Mattee. “The University of get pesticide credit in the from the U.S. Department of Honor Guard. Hoibraten, “With the pacific being job is to get information from Georgia, every year, would Northeast Georgia High Veterans Affairs. who is commander of Island a Naval War, the Navy needed those who produce it to those load up a train with professors Tunnel Meeting, which will “They come back, and X-3, led those gathered in the construction capabilities. To fill who need it,” said Mattee, and exhibits and livestock, be on Monday, March 21, from they don’t feel like they can Pledge of Allegiance, before this need, Naval Construction highlighting the vast resources and all the agricultural related 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the talk about what happened,” Jerry Cannon conducted the forces were formed and that are at her disposal from things that you can imagine, Georgia Mountain Research said Beard. “If you think about Missing Man ceremony. organized into Construction UGA. “So, to the farmers, the and the train would go on a tour and Education Center, also it, the times that you did sit Crenshaw, secretary of Battalions, CBs. These Seabee growers, even the homeowners of Georgia, just like a carnival known as the Experiment down and talk to someone Island X-3, introduced the forces, trained to fight and and just gardeners in general. or a circus. Station. about your service, you felt keynote speaker, and following build, performed splendidly in “In an ideal circumstance, “And it would be just To RSVP for the meeting, a whole lot better inside after Beard’s address Hoibraten both theaters of war. every county would have as exciting to people all or for more information, call you got done talking.” conducted the ceremonial “Since that time, Seabees three extension agents. That’s around the state. They would the Union County Extension His message of cutting of the Seabees’ 74th have made major contributions because there are three program learn the latest and greatest Office at (706) 439-6030. veterans sharing their stories Birthday Cake. in all of America’s military areas – there’s agriculture and in agriculture. This would Mattee was invited back and experiences with others Music for the event conflicts. In addition, Seabees natural resources, which is me; be one of the main ways after her Mountain Movers dovetailed seamlessly with the was provided by Mountain have conducted many people- there’s family and consumer that they would disseminate and Shakers debut, and will be reason for the occasion – the Resort Entertainment, and the to-people construction projects sciences, which we used to information. Now, we have it speaking again in front of the celebration and remembrance night ended with dancing after to build good will and cement know as home economics; a little bit easier, where we can group on Friday, March 18. of the creation of the Navy dinner and closing comments friendships for our country. Seabees 74 years earlier. from Hoibraten. Special note should be made of For Ruback, who was Many special guests their disaster recovery efforts Casting Crowns sells out The Hall one of the Seabees involved in were present that evening, around the world.” the first amphibious landing in including CPO (Ret.) U.S. It should also be noted Vietnam in 1965, the evening Navy C.E. “Bud” Johnson, that Island X-3 of Blairsville was bittersweet. Island X-1 Secretary/Treasurer and the North Georgia “It’s sad and happy LTJG (Ret.) U.S. Navy Rick Mountains region plans to both,” said Ruback. “Sad Conn out of Atlanta, and Union hold an even bigger Seabee memories – you lost your County Sheriff Mack Mason. Ball next year, in celebration comrades. And happy, for all According to literature of the 75th anniversary of the these fine, fine sailors with us made available that evening, Navy Seabees. tonight.” “as the United States entered Island X-3 Chaplain Paul World War II, it quickly became On news from ...from Page 1A Washington, Rep.