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Friday, October 25, 2019 Vol. 13 number 13 Awareness Month Breast Cancer Domestic Violence Awareness Month Jeffersoncounty Journal75¢ +tax ECBPUBLISHING. COM Fulfilling dreams AND winning big Ashley Hunter ECB Publishing, Inc. A young girl named Melba in the 1970s sat in front of her home's television set, staring up at the screen as game contestants from around the nation took their turn at winning big on CBS' The Price is Right show and the Littles girl dreamed of one day being up on that stage herself. In August of this year, that little girl – now grown-up – got her chance to step onto the glossy stage and have her turn at Photo Courtesy of The Price is Right the game show she'd Jefferson County native Melba Hawkins-Littles won big during an episode of The Price is Right, which was aired on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Coming watched for years. onto the popular game show's stage was more than just a chance to win big Growing up in Jefferson for her though – it was the conclusion of a lifelong dream that began when County's town of Lloyd, Melba she was a little girl. Hawkins-Littles said that much of her childhood was spent watching television and staying indoors - not playing outside, running around with her friends or exploring her native town. At the age of eight, Littles was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, osteosarcoma. According to Littles, her illness was discovered when she was at school, playing on the playground. One of the first signs of childhood osteosarcoma is weakened bones, and while playing at school, Littles' leg ended up breaking, which resulted in a trip to the doctor. What her family believed was a simple trip to set a broken bone ended up being an event that, Littles said, rocked her childhood. "No one knew I was sick," she explained, so when the doctors announced that she was battling a rare form of cancer, it took her family by surprise. To combat the cancer attacking her young body, doctors had to amputate Littles' leg, leaving the young girl with a life-long disability. Due to her weakened bones, cancer treatments and the fact that she had to learn how to walk again, Melba Littles ended up spending the majority of her time indoors. "I didn't go outside much," she states. Spending her time indoors resulted in lots of time spent experiencing the world through her family's television set, including watching contestants on The Price is Right game show win prizes. "I Photo Courtesy of Melba Hawkins-Littles was kinda homebound, so the television set became...a sort of friend," adds Melba Hawkins-Littles, a former resident of Lloyd, and her husband Littles. Vince were celebrating her retirement when Melba was selected to come on See PRICE IS RIGHT page 3 stage and take a turn playing on The Price is Right earlier this year. County cuts ties Vet makes case for PTSD treatment with longtime Lazaro Aleman ECB Publishing, Inc. auditor One of the issues brought to the attention of the two legislators at the Lazaro Aleman recent Jefferson County legislative ECB Publishing, Inc. delegation hearing was one that concerns veterans and that its County officials' frustration with their auditor advocate said had local, state and reached the point of no return last week, when the national implications. Jefferson County Commission voted to sever its “We have a problem not just in longtime ties with the accounting firm of Carr, Jefferson County, but in Florida and Riggs and Ingram (CRI). all over the country,” Marine Major The board's decision followed a lengthy recital John L. Haynes, chairman emeritus by Clerk of Court Kirk Reams of alleged recent of the Florida Veterans Foundation and a decorated war hero, told ECB Publishing Photo by Laz Aleman, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019 inactions by CRI relative to the latest audit, which Florida Senator Bill Montford and Senator Bill Montford, left, listens as Marine Major John was due several months ago. Representative Jason Shoaf on Haynes, a decorated veteran of three wars, tells him about Reams began by referencing a letter that he said Wednesday evening, Oct. 2. the benefits of HBOT treatments at a recent legislative See AUDITOR page 3 See TREATMENT page 3 hearing. One Section -14 pages Did you know? Index Almonds are Viewpoints...................................2 Food, Fun & Entertainment........9 Sports.......................................12 members of Community News....................4-7 History......................................10 Health.......................................13 the peach Homeowners Guide...................8 School......................................11 Classifieds & Legals.................14 family. 2 • JEFFERSON COUNTY JOURNAL • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2019 Viewpoints and Opinions Reporter's Corner: Take a vacation already, will ya? Last weekend, I took a be beneficial for kids, having time away from work While dedicating all our time, effort and vacation. can be incredibly valuable for adults too. (sometimes) soul to a job can definitely help us The last time I went on an Taking a vacation (whether to an out-of-town succeed professionally, there are times when we actual vacation away from destination or staying home to relax) can reduce need to lay aside our workload and skip out for home – not counting weekend stress and anxiety, prevent heart disease – especially even just a weekend in favor of simply spend time day-trips to the beach or in men, improve your personal and professional with our families, exploring a new city, having an attending a gala after work – productivity and can help you sleep better at night. adventure or simply just being human in a new was over a year ago. On a more innovative front, taking a vacation environment. Ashley Hunter In other words... I was encourages creativity once you are back at your There's more to life than the workload piled up Columnist long overdue for a trip. desk, gives you new life perspectives, prevents on your desk, and there is more to success than the With some of my family, I traveled up to Stone workload burnout, connects you with yourself and gratification you feel at your job. Mountain (northeast of Atlanta) for the annual is crucial in developing stronger relationships with So here it is to vacations and the people who Highland Games that has been held at the base of your family and friends. take them! the big mountainous rock for 47 years. My family is of Scottish heritage, and attending these games is an incredibly special part of maintaining our cultural heritage and meeting others who share the same "human story" as us. Throughout the weekend, we tromped through mud and lived under umbrellas (thanks to the rain Letters put off by Tropical Storm Nestor), camped at the to the Editor base of Stone Mountain, ate more haggis than we Letters to the Editor are typed word for word, comma for comma, probably should have, listen to bagpipers, wore our clan tartan and had an insurmountable level of fun. as sent to this newspaper. Please keep letter to 600 words or less. Always, whenever I come home from a trip, I inevitably end up thinking, "This was nice... why did it take me so long to just take a vacation?" And the truth is, I'm not alone. Veterans Day Parade on Veterans According to the United States Travel Association, 52 percent of American employees Day Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. finish their work year with unused vacation time. A report published by Travel Agent Central in The Veterans Day Parade on Veterans Day, support of our troops and our veterans. The June of this year says that only 42 percent of Monday, Nov. 11 is sponsored by the American Veterans Day Parade is on Veterans Day, Americans could "confidently answer" whether or Legion Post 49 in Monticello, the American Monday, Nov. 11, and will commence at 11 not they had taken a vacation during their last year Legion Post 234 in Monticello, the Veterans of a.m. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 10 a.m. of employment – making this year's vacation Foreign Wars Post 251 in Monticello and in at the Otto M. Walker Post home, 1065 S. participation level the lowest since 2013. conjunction with the American Legion Post 131 Water St. I know for myself, several factors lend towards in Greenville. Post 49 Commander Ken Faircloth my habit of being a 'work-a-holic.' We sincerely appreciate the community's [email protected], (850) 509-2628 I don't like leaving things undone, I don't like the stress that can lead up to taking a vacation (the planning, saving, ticket buying, etc.), I don't like 2016 Trump election win! leaving work only to know that when I return, there will be a pile of to-do's left for my first day back Russia! Russia! Russia! from my trip. According to a 2014 survey of American Collusion! Collusion! Collusion! workers that was conducted by the GfK Public Affairs and Corporate Communications – my Kavanaugh! Kavanaugh! Kavanaugh! reasons for not taking time off are apparently similar to the reasons that a majority of Americans Impeach Kavanaugh or impeach Trump! use to opt-out of vacation time. It’s time for the House of Representatives to more of their earnings. This new increase in Some said they didn't take time off in fear of get serious about their constituent’s interests and their take home pay has allowed them to buy returning to a "mountain of work." Meanwhile, quit trying to reverse the 2016 Presidential more products or services. This new spending in others believed they couldn't take time off since "no election results.