JUNE  2008

STC Names Instructor of Year

June 30-- The instructor of the year at Southeastern Technical College is pharmacy instructor Karen Davis of Lyons.  Davis has been teaching at the college since 2004 and was chosen from five nominees for the honor.  She will represent the college in regional competition and could win a chance for the state title to be announced in September.

Shown above are other nominees and officials (L-R) including Stephanie Moye, computer instructor; competition coordinator Cheryl West, business office instructor Tina Jernigan, STC President Dr. Cathy Meehan, Instructor of the Year Karen Davis, paramedic instructor Jim Jones, academic affairs vice-president Teresa Coleman, and Donna Jean Braddy, Medical Assisting Instructor.

Vidalia Considers Annexation

June 30-- The Vidalia city council is interested in adding more homes to the city.  The council asked city manager Bill Torrance to find out how many homeowners in the area around C.V. Mosley and Loop Roads are interested in city water and sewer.  At the same time, the council agreed to change its policy allowing provision of water and sewer outside the city limits in cases of financial hardship.

The council also was informed some future EPA regulations may cause an increase in city water and sewer rates.  Details should be forthcoming at the council's August meeting.

And the council has also approved an economic development loan of up to $180,000 to Riley McDonald for Vidalia Lab Services.  The seven-year loan would be at three percent.

Montgomery Commission Seeks Courthouse Repairs

June 30--  The historic Montgomery County courthouse in Mount Vernon needs repairs and the county commission wants it done right.  At a called meeting, commissioners agreed to contract with Macon architect Mike Parker to oversee the project.  At the same time, the commission is applying for a $20,000 state grant to pay a portion of the cost.

The commissioners also gave the go-ahead to seek bids for resurfacing of two roads in the Rocky Creek Golf Course area.

Toombs Commission OK's Ambulance Agreement

June 30-- Toombs County commissioners held a called meeting Monday and signed an agreement with Montgomery County for a new ambulance service to serve both counties.  MedStar of Savannah has been operating the service for the past several years but is not renewing its contract.  The new county-operated service will start July 12th.

"Dinero" the Drug-Sniffing Dog

June 30--  Vidalia police are crediting a drug dog owned by police Sergeant Tony Phillips with helping them make a dent in local drug traffic.  Police chief Frank waits says the Belgin Malinois named "Dinero" helped with 24 busts in the last 18 months.  The latest was a marijuana find at 610 Fifth Avenue and the arrest of 20-year-old Marquise Ockletree.

Non-Partisan Candidates Qualify

June 28--  There are six contested non-partisan races in Toombs and Montgomery counties in the November general election.

In Toombs County, incumbent state court judge Tommy J. Smith is challenged by Vidalia attorney Mackey Bryant.  Running for probate judge will be Stan Bazemore, Dustin Tapley and Larry Threlkeld.  Those three are also in the July 15th special election for the uncompleted term of Jackie Driskell who resigned before her term of office ended.

On the Toombs County school board, two seats are contested.  District six incumbent Wayne Kirkley faces opposition from Anna Williams Bullard and Daniel Caraway.  Distict four incumbent Duane Tomlin is challenged by Lamar "Bubba" Mixon, III.  District two board member Darrell Nobles is unopposed.

In Montgomery County, two school board incumbents are being challenged.  District one-Kibbee incumbent Monty Burns will face Henryy Price, District two-Higgston/Alston incumbent Buddy Thigpen is challenged by Deloris Hart James, and the District three-Mount Vernon seat is being vacated by Gary Braddy with Jackson Posey qualifying to run without opposition.

STC Earns Accreditation

June 28--  Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia is moving up a notch in its academic standing.  The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools announced last week STC has earned accreditation.

"We are ecstatic!  The staff and I couldn't be happier.  We've worked on this for so many years," says STC President Dr. Cathy Meehan.

According to Dr. Meehan, the accreditation sends a message to students that STC is a quality educational institution.  In practical terms, it will help them earn college credits close to home with can be transferred to other colleges.

"It means if they want to transfer to another college, they will know we will have agreements with other colleges so their courses will transfer," she reports.  

The school already has agreements for transfer of core courses like English, psychology and math.  Dr. Meehan says accreditation will allow the college to start working on other courses.

Bond Revocation Hearing Delayed, Again

June 27--  For the second time this month, a bond revocation hearing for former Montgomery County High School counselor Carrie O'Connor has been delayed.  In early June, O'Connor's attorney told the judge she needed more time to examine the state's case against her client.  Friday morning the attorney requested a continuance due to illness and the hearing was rescheduled to Wednesday, July 23rd.

The state says it has evidence O'Connor has violated the terms of her bond by calling and texting Fabian Pineda, the student with whom she's been indicted for having sex.

Also Friday, O'Connor waived arraignment and entered a not guilty plea before Judge Frederick Mullis in Montgomery County Superior Court.

Show Cause Hearing Delayed

June 27--  A show cause hearing for former Montgomery County School Superintendent Dale Clark has been delayed a week.  County Magistrate Mona Bell says Clark's attorney requested a date change from next Wednesday, July 2nd to Wednesday, July 9th.

The boy with whom Clark's daughter is accused of having sex and his mother are seeking a criminal warrant accusing Clark of making terroristic threats against them earlier this month.

Principal Denies Suit Allegations

June 27--  Montgomery County High School principal Luke Smith is asking a judge to dismiss a slander suit against him.  The suit was filed by teacher Christopher Bowman who claims Smith made negative comments about him to prospective employers. Bowman's the teacher who notified juvenile justice authorities about the alleged sexual affair between the school superintendent's daughter, a high school counselor, and a 16-year-old student.  The superintendent relieved Bowman of his teaching duties March 20, 2007 but later met with him privately in her home and offered to give him a positive recommendation if he would resign voluntarily. 

Smith claims his comments to possible employers were made in his official capacity as school principal and should be granted "qualified immunity" from Bowman's civil suit.

Area CRCT Results

June 26--  Like students in the rest of the state, many first through eighth grade students in the area were unable to pass science and math portions of this year's state competency tests known as "CRCT."

Failure rates on the social studies part of the test were so high statewide that state school officials decided to throw out the results.

Eighth graders in Vidalia, Toombs, Treutlen and Montgomery counties also had trouble passing math and science.  Even though more than a third of Vidalia eighth graders failed math and science, their failure rates were lower than other area systems.

"It goes to witness how diligently our teachers are working with these students.  We're certainly not terribly proud of the scores because the state has raised the bar and every time that happens, we lose some of the children," says Vidalia School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith.

Math and science pass rates among Treutlen eighth graders were nearly as good as Vidalia's, as were math scores among Toombs eighth graders.  However, 54.4 percent of Toombs eighth graders failed the science portion.  In Montgomery County, 60.2 percent failed the science portion and 45.2 percent failed the math test.

Dr. Smith says educators recognize many students have trouble with math.  "Math is a difficult subject for some students.  We have pre-math classes, we have extra math classes, we provide extra teachers to come in and with students.  But it's just a very difficult thing to work with a bar that keeps rising higher and higher," he point out.