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. Collins said Collins it’s time to start thinking about situations – ISIS and what could workers are doing the best an appropriations bill, in which happen to them. I think they’re job they can with the current he would like to see “some getting to the realization that, infrastructure. lower spending numbers,” especially if they’re juniors and Moving forward, including analysis of defense seniors, that this is only a year Rep. Collins has pledged to and discretionary spending. or two away from them. So it continue to hold Windstream Criminal justice reform was a good morning.” accountable, and one of the will also be up for debate, One of the more pressing next steps will be a meeting and the congressman hopes concerns for many of his between the congressman and to see the Apple/FBI phone Windstream, in which Rep. unlocking issue come up for Lead guitarist Josh Mix and singer Megan Garrett perform Who Am I; the band's first chart- constituents for many years now topping hit has been the underperforming Collins, a lawyer by trade, major discussion in the House Internet service provided by plans to put the complaints to of Representatives. By Todd Forrest Windstream. Windstream in a case format. “It’s a very scary slope North Georgia News Congressman Collins “One of the things I that you’re on, to say, well, Staff Writer has made an effort over the last want to emphasize for folks we just want to do this phone,” several years to get answers up here is, this is not a last said Rep. Collins. “Well, what It had been three-and-a- from Windstream, most three month thing for us,” said happens next time, when you’re half years since Georgia's own recently calling the company Rep. Collins. “We’ve been forcing a private company to Contemporary Christian band out for slow service and dealing with Windstream for make a backdoor key – there Casting Crowns performed three years. And we gave them are a lot of questions that need at the Georgia Mountain outdated infrastructure. Fairgrounds’ Anderson Music “I was very disappointed almost two years of, let’s work to be answered there.” behind the scenes, let’s see if The congressman visited Hall. in their response,” said But when the Rep. Collins, speaking on you can work it out – and every with several businesses in the area, a radio station, as well as announcement was made that Windstream’s response to his time we would call them, they the Thrive Tour would be inquiry earlier this year. “It’s would give me half answers the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce. making a stop in Hiawassee, frustrating, because they just or they would never set a it became crystal clear that basically regurgitated their meeting.” Traveling with Rep. Collins that Wednesday were Hiawassee and Northeast talking points, and they never Furthermore, the Georgia were still in love with got to the issue.” congressman has been his son, Copelan Collins, who was on Spring Break from the the Grammy award-winning The congressman made in talks with the Federal band – the show sold out in just sure to draw a clear distinction Communications Commission University of Georgia, as well as the congressman’s district under two weeks. between local Windstream and other agencies, and is “I love coming to employees and the corporate trying to get the state more director, Joel Katz. Hiawassee, and I really enjoy entity, saying that the local involved. the family friendly atmosphere ask FEMA if there are any red here at the fairgrounds,” said flags early on in the game, let lead vocalist Mark Hall. “Last Lead vocalist Mark Hall gets the crowd on its feet when Casting ...from Page 1A them know right away.” time we played here we took Crowns hits the stage with their Number 1 hit Lifesong FEMA a boat out for the day, but this addressed Towns County Sole submit plans to undergo projects Initial estimates put the Commissioner Bill Kendall amount of monetary aid available time, my daughter Reagan and No. 1 hit from the 2007 album, Hall said. that will repair damages done I went antique shopping around and several of the county’s by the storms. If the plans at $500,000, but that number was The Altar and the Door. Later in the show, first responders regarding an are approved by the Federal later re-evaluated and placed at town.” Last weekend's show Crowns’ set list included Until application for reimbursement. Emergency Management closer to $150,000. Throughout the show, also marked an anniversary the Whole World Hears and “The Federal Emergency Agency, then the county will “The money goes to the Hall provided the packed house in Hall's life, as one year Glorious Day, both No. 1 hits Management Agency has to qualify for reimbursement. The state and the state sends it to a look into the background of earlier, on March 11, 2015, from the 2009 album also deem projects eligible, so that’s standards that Towns County the counties if you document the band and what their life was an operation to remove a known as Until the Whole why they’re here, and they’re must meet in order to qualify for and verify that you have damage like off the stage. cancerous mass from his right World Hears. going to be here for a little bit,” reimbursement are rigorous and and the damage occurred during “From Sunday to kidney was a success. Prior to the show, the said Teuta. “We can write a real require heavy review. that incident period, and it was Wednesday we work with the “My doctor told me that band held a Meet-and-Greet to beautiful project, all day long. “FEMA has to deem it caused by whatever, flooding youth in our churches, but if you could take every type of allow the fans an opportunity But it’s going to go through approved, so every guideline or high,” said Jim Zavoral, a now, my daughter is in my cancer there is and lay them to meet with members of the headquarters, and headquarters FEMA representative. youth group, and that's how all out on a table, my type that we talked about is put If the projects that Towns band, get autographs, pose for reviews it. on the table according to the I know I'm getting old,” Hall of cancer was the one you pictures, or just to chit chat. “Environmental County submits are approved, said with a laugh. “Working in projects, has to be processed FEMA will then come and would choose,” Hall said. “I Since 2003, Casting specialists are going to have and approved,” said Teuta. youth ministries is how I got said, 'Doc, isn't there another Crowns has sold more than several conditions and acts that determine how much funding “Ask the right questions while is necessary. my start, and a lot of the songs table?'” 5 million records worldwide, need to be complied with. Then they’re here. we play were first performed at Following Hall's story, won 15 Dove Awards with 38 when we pass that, and you get “What’s going to happen, “If you think that you when we get fully staffed, we’ll our home church.” Crowns performed Just be nominations. The GMA Dove approved, then you will see may not pass the condition, ask have project specialists working The band hit the stage Held and Praise You in the Awards honor artists in the some funding.” how you can meet the condition. in the county,” said Zavoral. with its No. 1 hit Lifesong, Storm, songs that according genres of Christian and Gospel Environmental If you want to see some funding, “They’ll contact you and set the title track off the 2006 to Hall were written for the music. considerations include whether make sure you’re dotting every up a date to go out and look Grammy award-winning and trials of life, though he never They have won four or not the county will be ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’ when at your damage and gather the platinum selling album of the expected the songs would expanding its impact on the American Music Awards with it comes to getting funding for information that we don’t have same name. have such an impact on his eight nominations. They won environment when it replaces these projects. already, and prepare the project Other songs that followed or upgrades culverts. Danger to own life. two Billboard Music Awards “You should receive worksheet and get that into included 2004's No. 1 hit, “We had two weeks with five nominations. They've fish and wildlife will have to be reimbursement within six the system to review. They’ll Who Am I, from their 2003 assessed. of shows left after I was also tallied five Grammy months, if everything goes well, take measurements, pictures, eponymous debut album. That diagnosed, and I was up there Towns County will if there are no red flags. And I do nominations with one win photos.” was followed by East to West, a singing these songs to myself,” coming in 2009.