This week is national 4-H week, and a proclamation to the Coffee County Board of Commissioners was presented by Kevin Tatum during the regular their regular meeting on Monday to officially endorse the event. After accepting the proclamation, Coffee County has declared Oct. 4 – 10 as Coffee County 4-H Week.
Tatum stated the Coffee County 4-H club is an active club with 1191 students enrolled. A great majority of these members, 92%, are enrolled at the Cloverleaf level which is made up of members in grades 4 through 6. There are nine Master 4-H-ers serving in the club, and these are members who have won state championships in different competitions in the past year.
Many exciting and fun programs are offered by the club, including summer camps, field trips, and agricultural competitions and shows. The 4-H club is a great asset to our community, and Mr. Tatum thanked the club’s advisors and staff for all they do for the students and club members.
Also on Monday, members of the Alpha Theta chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Douglas were present and requested Coffee County commissioners to recognize Thursday, October 29, as “Passionately Pink” Day for breast cancer awareness.
The entire month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there are many ongoing activities and promotions to raise awareness and funds for the cause. The funds raised by Beta Sigma Phi go toward not only breast cancer research and the search for a cure, but also to financially help those in our community who are currently battling the disease.
Through the funds raised by our community and Beta Sigma Phi, they have been able to donate $12,000 for a new mammography machine at the hospital. This machine has helped with early detection of breast cancer, which is key to survival.
This year’s theme for Breast Cancer Awareness month is “Mission Possible—We Will Find a Cure.” This group is going Passionately Pink for breast cancer awareness, research, diagnosis, survival and ultimately the cure, and they encourage everyone else to do the same. They also encourage those who know someone battling breast cancer to contact them and they will try to assist them any way they can.
April Thomason, director of Family Connection for the Coffee County School System, spoke on behalf of school administration and law enforcement that have come together organize Red Ribbon Week.
Red Ribbon Week is an event that was created by the National Federation of Parents to raise awareness of the effects of drugs on families and youth. It first began in 1987, and students all across the nation have been observing Red Ribbon Week for years.
Coffee County Commissioners approved a proclamation scheduling October 26 – 30 as Red Ribbon Week for students and everyone in Coffee County. April Thomason, law enforcement of Coffee County, and members of the Coffee County School Board want everyone to understand the impact of drugs on families. A lot of families are impacted and almost everyone knows someone affected by drug abuse this week. Red Ribbon Week is a movement to remind children and everyone that “Real life is drug-free.”
Clean up at Oak Park is underway, and a community cleanup day for Oak Park is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Those who wish to participate are asked to meet at the Hope Center at around 8:30 am.
A community meeting is scheduled for October 20 at the Hope Center at 6 p.m. There will be discussion about a grant process that will go towards the renovation and upkeep of the community. Residents of Oak Park are encouraged to be present to learn more about their eligibility for grants and report repairs they may need on their property.
The formation of a land bank authority, an entity that would ease the process of cleaning up and renovating homes not only in Oak Park but all of Coffee County, has been discussed at several county commission meetings over the past two months. At Monday’s meeting, the board of commissioners had their first review of a draft for the authority. They will be reviewing the draft and determine if going forward with the creation of a land bank authority will financially benefit Coffee County.
A bid was approved for repairs of the Barrington Road Railroad Crossing in preparation for operations at Premium Peanuts. East Coast Asphalt, along with CSX and other funds, will be putting forth money to strengthen the railroad crossing at Barrington Road since it will be a high traffic area for heavy trucks in the coming months. The roadwork is tentatively to be completed in January or February of 2016.
Also approved was a motion to realign E.L. Curtis Road, connecting it more safely to highway 32. The funding has been appropriated and the construction should begin in about 60 days.