In this week's Savannah How, Teri Bell AKA Miss Sophie shows you how to make Christmas decorations out of gumdrops.
Watch the video above.
Savannah How is a weekly video series that answers every day, how-to questions. Visit the Savannah How page for other videos on a variety of topics including cooking, financial advice, beauty care, pet tips and much more.
Have an idea for Savannah How? Email your suggestions and experts to interview to jennifer.menster@savannahnow.com.
Interest in retail space in Rincon has been so strong that nine new tenants have been lined up to fill 12,600 square feet of space that is being added to the new Kroger shopping center on Ga. 21.
Rincon City Manager Wesley Corbitt said Kroger already has letters of commitment from nine businesses that will fill the strip center that is being built to the north of the new Kroger store.
He said developers have not shared with the city the identities of the new retail businesses, but said two would be small chain restaurants and one would be a nail salon.
Corbitt said the extra space was added to the project because there was so much interest by retailers after the development began.
The city is doing what it can to try to increase interest in Rincon among retailers.
Earlier this year, Rincon hired a consultant -- The Retail Strategy Real Estate Group, based in Austin, Texas – to help it attract more retail businesses.
Corbitt said the city is paying the firm about $50,000 a year for two years to market Rincon to retail companies.
City Planner LaMeisha Kelly said the consultant staffs a booth with information about Rincon at about a dozen trade shows across the country each year.
Corbitt said retailers rely heavily on demographics about potential customers, such as age, education and income in deciding where to open stores.
The consultant studies the demographics and then uses its contacts in the retail business to try to make matches.
No specific announcements have been made because of the consultant’s work, but it’s still early in the process, Corbitt said.
He said decisions about where to locate new stores generally take several years, and the economy is just now starting to recover from the economic downturn a few years ago.
Corbitt said Kroger has set aside about an acre in front of its new store that will be sold for a sit-down restaurant.
He said the developers likely will hold out for a steakhouse or seafood restaurant. “They can be choosy who they sell that parcel to,” he said.
Corbitt said Rincon is ready for a big chain restaurant. He said the city modeled its alcohol ordinance after Pooler's ordinance, requiring a restaurant to have 50 percent of its sales be from food and the rest from alcohol.
Kelly said the Chick-fil-A that is planned for an outparcel in front of the new Kroger will be built next year, after some roadwork is finished.
Rincon applied for and received a $500,000 state grant to improve the road in front of the new Kroger.
A traffic signal and turn lanes will be added in front of the new store, with roadwork beginning in January.
The Kroger gas station is scheduled to open in December and the new Kroger will open by the end of May, Kelly said.
The new Kroger Marketplace store will replace the current Kroger that’s farther south on Ga. 21 in Rincon. The current store has 44,000 square feet.
The new store will have 115,000 square feet.
In addition to the fuel center, the new store will have a drive-thru pharmacy, Starbucks, apparel department, expanded natural foods and organic section and Chef on the Run.
The project is estimated to bring approximately 250 to 300 new jobs to the community, according to Glynn Jenkins, spokesman for Kroger in Atlanta.
Kroger’s Atlanta division introduced its first Marketplace store in Carrollton, Ga., in 2013.
The Atlanta division operates five Marketplace stores in Savannah, Athens, Carrollton, Gainesville and Warner Robins.
From incident reports at the Rincon Police Department:
Nov. 14: A woman said someone used her sister’s identity to file a fraudulent income tax return.
Free boots
Nov. 14: A 43-year-old Rincon man took new boots off of a shelf in Walmart and put them on his feet. He put his shoes in the shoe box and returned it to the shelf. He then paid for a soda and a bag of chips, but did not pay for the $48 boots.
He was stopped by a loss prevention clerk and gave back the boots, but ran out the store’s emergency exit. He left his ID card behind.
Nov. 16: A nail gun valued at $350 was stolen from the bed of a truck on Williams Street.
Nov. 16: A Rincon man said he found his wallet on the ground of the Walmart parking lot. He said $270 was missing.
Nov. 17: An officer stopped a vehicle on Ga. 21 because the driver was not wearing a seat belt. She was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug-related objects.
Nov. 18: The back door of a residence on Sherwood Court was damaged and the house was trashed. A pistol and three tattoo guns were stolen.
Nov. 18: A Rincon man who was trying to buy a house discovered that someone had used his identity to rack up charges of $4,000 at Sprint and about $1,500 at DIRECTV.
Nov. 18: An officer stopped a vehicle for going 44 mph in a 30 mph zone on Middleground Road. The driver, a 19-year-old Guyton man, was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, possession of hash oil/wax, possession of tools for commission of a crime and speeding.
Wobbly driver
Nov. 19: Several drivers called to report a car weaving on Ga. 21 as it approached Rincon. A Pooler police officer followed the vehicle until it stopped in the parking lot of Doodles bar.
The driver, a 49-year-old Springfield man, was arrested for driving with a suspended license, failure to maintain lane and drunken driving-refusal.
Nov. 19: An officer stopped a vehicle on Ga. 21 for having a missing registration decal. The driver was arrested for having a suspended license and the missing decal.
New property transfers in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties have been added to the database.
Search here by buyer, seller, address, city, zip or month of sale for the latest property transfers.
All data are public records and are obtained from each county or municipality, unless otherwise sourced. Information fields may vary.
It's a jammed packed holiday season with events all around the area from parades to home tours to ice skating at the Civic Center and much more.
View a slideshow here of holiday events in the Coastal Empire and start planning your holiday fun now!
Effingham County will be treated to an early Christmas present when the Equinox Orchestra takes the stage at the Mars Theatre on Dec. 12.
The group, featuring Effingham County transplant Jeremy Davis, and fellow Louisiana native Clay Johnson, will bring their big band sound for a Christmas music show in Springfield one day after filming a national PBS spot.
“The PBS show is our biggest,” Davis said. “It has the potential to reach 60 to 90 percent of North America.”
The show will be used by Georgia Public Broadcasting, and then other states, during their membership campaigns.
That show will be performed at the Charles H. Morris Center in Savannah and is sold out.
Fans are in luck, however, and can still get tickets to see the group live at the Mars starting at 8 p.m.
Davis who has lived in Effingham County for the last decade, is excited to be going from the national stage to one at home. Davis is a deacon at Grace Community Church. He and his wife have three children.
“We have so many friends in Effingham,” Davis said. “The show at the Mars will be a wonderful set of our best Christmas time classic big band swingin’ favorites. We love Christmas and the music that goes along with it.”
Davis hopes to fill the Mars with friends who enjoy live music.
“Our goal is to connect with the audience,” Davis said.
The group, usually 18 pieces, will be scaled down to their “Little Big” band, Davis said to fit the Mars stage.
“It’s a great show and still that big band sound.”
Tickets are available at the Mars Theatre website for $30, visit marstheatre.com or at the box office.
Doors open at 7 p.m.
To learn more about the orchestra and other tour dates, visit equinoxorchestra.com.
From incident reports at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office:
Nov. 12: A purse and wallet were stolen from a vehicle on Woodpecker Trail in the Guyton area.
Nov. 16: A resident of the Rincon area reported getting a call from a man in the 227 area code, saying he was with the IRS, and asking for her personal information. She said the man sounded like he was from India.
Say what?
Nov. 17: When an Effingham deputy was in Screven County, he watched a railroad crossing arm come down in the middle of an empty logging truck.
The truck kept rolling, breaking off the crossing arm, which was then struck by an oncoming train. The driver of the logging truck claimed he didn’t realize he had broken the crossing arm. Ga. 24 in Oliver near Ga. 17.
Nov. 17: Neighbors reported a man going through vehicles on Melrose Place in the Rincon area. The man was arrested for burglary, possession of meth, possession of drug-related objects and loitering or prowling.
Nov. 17: A deputy answered a call about a suspicious vehicle the area of Southern Hills subdivision on Goshen Road in the Rincon area. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for driving with a suspended license.
Go away
Nov. 17: A man said he wants his cousin to quit calling and texting him. He said his cousin is concerned about him, after he broke up with his girlfriend, but he doesn’t want her help.
Nov. 18: A vehicle with a flat tire was towed from Sand Hill Road in the Springfield area.
Nov. 18: A resident of the Guyton area said someone has been opening accounts using his identity, without his permission. Accounts were with PayPal, Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Citibank.
Dead dog
Nov. 19: A black Labrador was found dead, floating in a pond in the Park West subdivision. The female dog was wearing a blue collar with white paw prints and no tags. No owner had been found. Amsonia Circle in the Guyton area.
Nov. 19: A woman who drove her car into a ditch was arrested when a deputy discovered she didn’t have a driver’s license. She said she never had a license. McCall Road near Low Ground Road in the Springfield area.
Nov. 20: A woman said she’s been receiving profane and threatening text messages from her ex-husband. She wanted him served with a criminal trespass warning.
Nov. 20: A resident of Zittrouer Road in the Guyton area said his driveway was cracked in two places and his mailbox was damaged. Muddy tire tracks led him to believe the damage was caused by a logging truck.
Nov. 20: A man said the mother of his children has been harassing him via text message.
Nov. 20: Tires and rims were stolen from a vehicle at a used car dealership on U.S. 80 in the Bloomingdale area.
Equipment vandalized
Nov. 20: Someone damaged several pieces of equipment at a sand pit on Godley Road in the Bloomingdale area. Fire extinguishers were discharged and windows were broken on an excavator.
Illegal drivers
Nov. 21: A man who had a Mexico driver’s license and passport was arrested for driving without a license. A woman who had a Mexican passport and no license also was arrested for driving without a license.
They were among the people who were stopped at a driver’s license check on Ga. 21 near Old Augusta Road S. in the Rincon area.
Nov. 21: A resident of Whitaker Road in the Clyo area complained about his neighbor’s dogs barking. The neighbor was given a warning.
Nov. 21: A resident of Roebling Road in the Guyton area said two pickup trucks parked in her yard without her permission. One was driven by her estranged husband’s nephew.
The occupants of the trucks said they were there to gather some wood. They left after she told them twice to leave.
Nov. 21: A vehicle was towed. It was left partly in the inside lane of Interstate 16 near Old River Road, in the Eden area.
Nov. 21: A shed door was kicked in and some items were stolen. Ollie Morgan Road in the Clyo area.
Nov. 21: A teacher at Ebenezer Middle School was instructed to get a report after she replied to an email that requested her name and password.
No shame
Nov. 21: Two people were arrested for entering autos near a church where a funeral was being held. Samuel Smalls Senior Avenue near Magnolia Street in the Guyton area.
Nov. 21: A deputy stopped a vehicle for having a broken tail light lens on U.S. 80 at Old River Road in the Bloomingdale area. The driver was arrested for driving with a suspended license.
Nov. 21: A deputy saw a woman hanging out of a truck and screaming as the vehicle pulled on to Ga. 119, near Forrest Road in the Springfield area. The couple had been at a party and argued about his ex-girlfriend.
The woman hit the man in the head with a beer bottle. She was arrested for battery under the Family Violence Act.
Nov. 21: A man said the passenger sides of his car and his truck had been keyed. Old Mill Road in the Guyton area.
Nov. 22: A resident of Tunnel Road in the Springfield area reported a prowler. A man who was wanted on a warrant from Chatham County was arrested.
Nov. 22: A man found a purse on the side of a road that a woman lost when she stopped for gas. Ga. 404 near Old River Road in the Bloomingdale area.
Distracted driver
Nov. 22: A deputy flashed his lights repeatedly at an oncoming car on Rincon-Stillwell Road, but the driver did not dim her headlights. She was stopped and charged with drunken driving, open container and failure to dim headlights.
The deputy said the driver may have been using the app “Snap Chat” while she was driving.
Nov. 22: A woman said her drunken husband accused her of seeing other men. She said he broke her work phone, took her purse and left when she called authorities.
Health inspection scores for Bulloch County food establishments have been updated through today.
Search here by name, city, grade or date of inspection for the latest scores and grades.
Health inspection scores from the Bulloch County Environmental Health Department. Scores will be updated monthly.
BASKETBALL:
SOUTH EFFINGHAM
SOUTH EFFINGHAM 39
BRADWELL 33
Faith Harris 16
Shae Leverett 13
Cheyenne Boswell 5
Mallori Jenkins 4
Diera Newberry 1
SOUTH EFFINGHAM 56
NEW HAMPSTEAD 32
Shae Leverett 18
Alissa Epling 13
Faith Harris 6
Mallori Jenkins 4
Jillian Pelote 4
Cheyenne Boswell 3
Diera Newberry 3
Jordan Bisard 2
Lei-Lani Beasley 2
Teonna Hayes 1
BOYS BASKETBALL
SOUTH EFFINGHAM 32
BRADWELL 50
Ben Brennen 9
Travis Simmons 7
Shamar Orr 7
Kenny Durden 4
Turner Davis 3
Jamar Washington 2
Quarter Scores:
SEHS 8, 17, 28, 32
Statesboro 8, 21, 42, 50
SEHS’ Record: 2-3
SOUTH EFFINGHAM 43
NEW HAMPSTEAD 86
Jamar Washington 9
Turner Davis 7
Denzel Walls 6
Collin Rish 5
Derrick Newberry 5
Shamar Orr 4
Amari Gaines 2
Ben Brennen 2
Jordan Floyd 2
Travis Simmons 1
Quarter Scores:
SEHS 10, 15, 31, 43
New Hampstead 23, 50, 73, 86
SEHS’ Record: 2-4
I love performing in “A Christmas Carol.”
When I am fortunate enough to play Scrooge, as an actor I revel in the range of emotions the character goes through. The change from selfish ogre to generous and kind patron to those around him, and as the story implies, to assist those around him in what ways he can, and to assist all the children living in ignorance and want all around the world.
Regardless of what part I play, I still love to be part of the message of this show. I can’t think of a more special and important Christmas message.
Here is the message: We need to care for each other or we are doomed.
What good does all the money in the world do us, if we have earned it by impoverishing others? Who are we if we pay our employees whatever little the social and economic system lets us get away with, not caring whether they will have enough to get by on?
Scrooge learned through the Cratchit family the harsh realities of his disregard and mistreatment of those he employed. He observed their meager existence, and the vulnerabilities and lack of decent health care Tiny Tim and the family had to endure. He reformed and began to treat Bob Cratchit as a fellow human being and not just as a cog in his profit-generating wheel.
Scrooge learned through Marley that “mankind was his business.” That if his firm and activities were contributing only to itself and not also to the “profit” and welfare of mankind as a whole, then he was accomplishing nothing.
Scrooge learned through the Ghost of Christmas Past of all the real human emotion, contact and love he had given up in his worship of the “Mammon” idol.
Scrooge learned through the Ghost of Christmas Present of the joy he was missing, of how the Cratchits loved each other despite their meager resources, how Tiny Tim would suffer because of those limited resources, and how children all over the world were being hurt and left out by an unnecessarily cruel and selfish system. And that the punitive measures that Scrooge supported, the prisons and workhouses, were cruel and horrible hoaxes, which merely punished the poor for being poor. He needed to do more, and others needed to do more, to relieve the suffering caused by their own greed.
The poor will always be with us, you say? SO WHAT!!! Does that mean you should stop the never ending struggle to make the world a better place? I think not!
Scrooge learned through the Ghost of Christmas Future what his lack of caring would lead to, not just to his lonely and isolated death, but also to the death of Tiny Tim, symbolic of all those left vulnerable to a system centered on greed and income inequality.
After his transformation, Scrooge gave to everyone he saw. He forgave and extended a loan, realizing that there were circumstances that warranted extension. He gave to children that were fighting. In one play version I was in he even gave to a blind beggar, who, as it turns out can see. Scrooge is so giddy he doesn’t even care. If there is a choice between not giving because he feels he’s being taken, or giving without conditions, he’ll take that chance. He sees the man who earlier approached him about the charity to help the poor, people Scrooge does not even know, and he gives generously to it.
Dickens was trying to make a commentary about the system as a whole. Scrooge is only representative of the worst elements of that system. Would Scrooge or Dickens support efforts to make the government more caring, generous or supportive? Of course they would! You can’t change the system without actually changing the system!
Dickens wrote in a time when income equality was an ugly, brutal problem. Just as it is a growing problem today. And I pray in some small measure that this story wakes up at least a few people. To be more generous, kind and caring. To rethink the focus on the idol money, and instead center more on the value of caring about others, both in our actions on a personal level, and also to mankind as a whole.
It’s what Dickens would have wanted.
It’s what Jesus would have wanted.
Merry Christmas!
God bless us, EVERYONE!
T. M. Strait (Tom) is a CPA, actor, blogger and an enthusiastic storyteller.
“The POTUS once said ‘all they think about is their God and their guns,’ yet aren’t those the most appropriate things to think about when your life is being threatened?”
“Growing up there were several things that were considered taboo. Now most of these have been decreed acceptable and the ‘taboo’ has become the politically incorrect application of the original term.”
“I find it amusing that those of you that can’t let go of a war that happened 150 years ago have completely let go of a war that ended 70 years ago as you drive around in your Japanese and German cars.”
“Who in the world chose the five potential names for the new Savannah baseball team? Are you serious?”
Contribute to Vox Populi by calling 912-525-0VOX (0869) or emailing us at vox@savannahnow.com. Be sure to mention Effingham County in your call or write Effingham Vox Populi in the email subject field. Not all responses are used.
One holiday afternoon about 20 years ago, a friend tried to pick a political argument with me. He wasn’t successful, because I had no idea what he was talking about.
It’s hard to start a fight when the other guy doesn’t know what you’re fighting about. Not impossible, but certainly more difficult.
My friend started the conversation with a pleased look on his face, the kind of “Gotcha!” look that says, “You seem like somebody who might disagree with me on this issue, and I’ve given it so much thought, there’s no way you could possibly win an argument about it.”
He must have been thinking about it for a while, too, because the subject came up out of nowhere. In fact, the second before his face lit up in my direction, we all were talking about something as controversial as the merits of cornbread versus bread crumb turkey stuffing.
(Granted, that issue can have certain political overtones as well.)
It was a little embarrassing to admit I was so clueless, because what he wanted to fight about was an idea that apparently a lot of other people were familiar with. It’s never comfortable to think you might be the last to know. About anything.
If my friend had wanted to pick a fight with me about just any old topic, my cluelessness would have been enough for him to win the argument.
But his motive wasn’t so personal, and he wasn’t that mean. He just had an idea stuck in his craw and was hoping to unstick it by winning an argument with the right sparring partner.
Trouble was, for this particular sparring session, he picked the wrong opponent.
At first, I suspect, my friend thought I was pretending ignorance by trying to avoid an argument I couldn’t win. But that would be giving me too much credit.
I just didn’t understand the question.
So he had to spend a few minutes bringing me up to speed with the issue, defining some terms I had never heard, and then hoping I would be sufficiently armed to jump into the fray.
But by then, I was too busy digesting all that new information.
To his credit, my ideological friend backed off from that particular debate, and we went back to discussing burning issues like jellied versus whole-berry cranberry sauce.
And I ended up learning something I didn’t know before. For starts, I became acquainted with some new issues, and some words and terms related to them.
I also ended up discovering a wonderful way to avoid an argument with a friend when you’d rather be enjoying your figgy pudding.
Just ask them to explain the issue to you. Or define a word or term you’re not familiar with.
They’ll be off and running with the opportunity to get something out of their craw, and your friendship will emerge stronger than ever.
If, on the other hand, you’d prefer to jump into the fracas feet first, by all means go for it.
The figgy pudding can wait.
Julia Cochran is a licensed professional counselor in Rincon and a psychology instructor at Armstrong State University. She can be reached at 912-772-3072 or by email at JCochranPhD@GileadCounseling.com. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Armstrong State University.
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Salvatore Guglietti and Irma N. Alford a/k/a Jeannie N. Alford to Salvatore Guglietti and Irma N. Alford114 Needle Pointe DRGUYTON3131210.00Timothy Cronk to Investment Purchases, LLC106 Mill Creek DriveRINCON31326135721.00HORIZON HOME BUILDERS OF SAVANNAH, LLC to MARK ANTHONY ROYSTON and VICKIE LYNN ROYSTON 204 Beaubrook BLVDSPRINGFIELD31329180000.00GREENLAND DEVELOPERS, INC. to WR ENTERPRISES, LLC135 BLANFORD XINGRINCON3132645000.00SCOTT A. SHUMAN to CHRISTOPHER R. DESRUISSEAU110 Sand Pine CTSPRINGFIELD31329113000.00south georgia bank to randall o ott and jenny lynn newell 103105 crestview DRGUYTON88000.00Troy & JINCI, LLC to Kieffer Properties, LLC613 Towne Park West DR 106RINCON313260.00Tallen, LLC to Kieffer Properties, LLC613 Towne Park West DR 106RINCON313260.00PATRICK M. FLUEGEL to ALEJANDRA URIBE233 Antigua PLGUYTON31312165000.00Bernard Purvis to Stephen Mullis108 Covered Bridge Blvd.GUYTON31312405000.00KEYSTONE HOMES, INC. to STEPHEN C BROMLEY and MEGAN L BROMLEY 129 WILLOW DRGUYTON31312144500.00FranklinConstruction, LLC to Norman E Davis106 Cobbleton DRRINCON3132622000.00Norman E Davis to Norman E Davis and Evelyn L Davis 106 Cobbleton DRRINCON313260.00Herbert Schmitt to John H. Schmitt3220 McCall RDRINCON130000.00Nelwyn M Cade to American Homes 4 Rent Properties Eight, LLC, A Delaware Limited Liability Company104 JamestownRINCON31326122000.00DTG Investments, LLC to Joseph Construction Company, Inc.102 Tolliver LNRINCON3132627000.00DTG Investments, LLC to Joseph Construction Company, Inc.115 Tolliver LNRINCON3132627000.00Brian K. Lusk to Charles R. Harrison and Toby Harrison 215 Sandy Springs DRRINCON31326279900.00Margaret MacAtee McIntyre to Susan Jones114 Principal WAYGUYTON31312153000.00ROBERT W. CORLESS to DEQUAN B. JONES and ANDREA JONES 103 BROKEN BIT CIRGUYTON31312289500.00FIDELITY BANK to FRANKLIN CONSTRUCTION, LLC103 Kingsley DR SGUYTON313120.00BGN Investments, LLC to JJ&Z Builders, LLC214 Cypress Lakes DRCLYO37500.00CYNTHIA E. HOWZE to GENE A. WILDER, SR. and DONNA M PERKINS 915 BERRYVILLE RDCLYO313036500.00BGN Investments, LLC to JJ&Z Builders, LLC329 Old Rail RDCLYO37500.00Michael Vangeel to Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC172 Kensington CIRGUYTON31312178388.00Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation172 Kensington CIRGUYTON3131210.00Country Meadows Estates, LLC to Jeffrey B Owens and Tracy Owens 145 Greystone DRGUYTON31312185000.00FRANKLIN CONSTRUCTION, LLC to GEORGE J. ARNSDORFF545 BRAVES FIELD DRGUYTON31312253500.00Ernest Signature Custom Homes, LLC to Demetreis Richburg and Mary Richburg 234 Veranda AVEGUYTON31312234925.00Melissa Ann Farr to Renee M. Farr107 Brandi LNGUYTON313120.00STEVEN P. CATES to JAMES S. OAKES116 SAPPHIRE CIRGUYTON31312307000.00Judy A. Davis, as Executor of Last Will & Testament of Hurley E. Davis to Judy A. Davis5 Jasmine LNGUYTON313120.00THOMAS D. KOEHN to NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL NOMINEE SERVICES, INC.193 CLOVER POINT CIRGUYTON31312279900.00NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL NOMINEE SERVICES, INC. to SHAWN A. HAYDEN and MYESHA S. HAYDEN 193 CLOVER POINT CIRGUYTON31312279000.00Berneta R Wallace to Marsha R Bascombe119 HWYCLYO10.00Thomas C Strickland, Jr. to Open Your Hand, LLC1029 Ash STSPRINGFIELD313290.00ROBERT LANCASTER to ROBERT WILLIAM LANCASTER1000 SPRINGFIELD EGYPT RDSPRINGFIELD313290.00ALAN F WALDHOUR to ALAN FLETCHER WALDHOUR and LYNN JENKINS WALDHOUR 4300 BLUE JAY RDGUYTON313120.00DANNY C. LOFTIS to CHRISTOPHER M. PROCTOR137 RUNS CROSSING DRSPRINGFIELD3132945000.00
GUYTON CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS
During breakfast every Wednesday, Pre-K students at Rincon Elementary welcome volunteer readers from South Effingham High School. Rylee Kirk, a senior at SEHS, leads the Pre-K Literacy Project. Kirk is actively involved in the National Honor Society and is also an ambassador in Girl Scout Troop 30519. She created the project to earn a Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
“Everyone knows about the Eagle Scout service project while not too many know about the Gold Award,” Kirk said. “It is a “take-action” community service project. You must identify a need or problem in your community and devise a plan/project to correct or solve the problem. The project must be created by an individual, must be sustainable, and the guidelines recommend approximately 80 hours of work to attain your goal. Girl Scouts do so much more than cookies.”
Kirk said a passion for reading inspired her to organize this program.
“When I was little my parents read to me, which really encouraged me to read,” Kirk said. “I was fortunate enough to have access to books at home and I saw my older siblings reading. I wanted to inspire other children to read.
I was speaking to my neighbor, Marcy Welch, a school teacher at RES, and found out that many students do not have access to books in their homes. That was how I decided I wanted my project to be about literacy and weekend books.”
Kirk was able to meet with Jan Davis, ECSD’s Lead Resource Coordinator for Pre-K. Davis was “extremely supportive and enthusiastic” about the project and provided Kirk with information about Ashley Kieffer’s logistics class as well as a book supplying program at the Effingham College and Career Academy. At the time, Kieffer’s class was working with FirstBooks, the company that contributes reading materials for Kirk’s project.
“Mr. Kieffer’s class helps FirstBooks with their distribution and in return, FirstBooks donates a portion of the books to our county,” Kirk said. “I thought Mr. Kieffer was donating some books to my Pre-K lending library until I arrived at the warehouse. I went through the books and found the ones that I thought were appropriate for Pre-K. He explained that he was giving me books for the students to keep. We completely loaded my mother’s car with seven hundred books.”
Kieffer has since become the principal of ECCA, and Kirk now works with David Wilson when selecting books. Since the start of the school year, five hundred books have been given to preschool students, and Kirk has since collected another seven hundred books to continue her program.
Because of Kirk, Pre-K students at RES are beginning their own personal libraries and developing a new enthusiasm for literature.
Teachers at Rincon Elementary agree that their students look forward to the weekly story times.
LaShunda Posey believes her students look up to the visiting high school students.
“I think the students view Rylee as a mentor,” Posey said. “They are very respectful when she’s reading and seem to enjoy the stories read. She has set great examples of being a leader.”
Through this program, Kirk has sharpened her leadership skills, demonstrated consistent punctuality, and reached new heights of perseverance and patience. Those who have been in contact with Kirk are continually impressed with her professionalism and are inspired by her efforts to better her community. Jan Davis works closely with Kirk and recognizes her admirable qualities.
“Rylee met a few roadblocks in getting administrative attention at first,” Davis said. “She was patient and flexible as she tried a few different tactics until she had success. Rylee has been prompt and professional in her communications, meetings, performance. She is open to suggestions for improvements and willing to hear other participants’ point of view. Her enthusiasm seems to be contagious as she recruits other NHS students to join in and read to students.”
Even though she is now officially Golden, Kirk remains humble and stated that she couldn’t have accomplished her goal without support from parents, teachers, and administrators.
“I could not have done this without the help of several awesome people including my mum, the NHS director at SEHS Mrs. Crapse, Mrs. Jan Davis, Mrs. Welch, Mr. Kieffer and Mr. Wilson, and Dr. Winters who encouraged me to have the NHS members read on a weekly basis to keep the Pre-K students excited about Wednesdays.”
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program added 903 new toys to their Christmas present total on Wednesday with donations gathered by Effingham Health System.
The toys were picked up by Staff Sergeant Timothy G. Riddle and Lance Corporal Faustino Delarosa.
Riddle, a California native, said he was impressed with the generosity of area communities.
“All this support, it’s just amazing,” Riddle said.
Hospital staff gathered in the hospital’s atrium to send off the toys.
Health System CEO, Norma Jean Morgan, said the gifts do more than make a child smile.
“In a world turned upside down, what better way to lift our spirits than to give to others,” Morgan said.
Michael Murphy, strategic business liaison and emergency management coordinator for Effingham Health, listed the top donors to the program when he thanked the group for all their help.
The top three gift donors were: Effingham Family Medicine at Rincon, 208; Effingham Extended Care Facility, 171, and Effingham Family Medicine at Guyton with 160 gifts.
The Effingham County animal shelter will hold an open house and fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.
The shelter is trying to raise $3,500 to buy panels that will separate the dogs from nose-to-nose contact in their outdoor runs.
Helping out Pets in Effingham (HOPE) is helping with that project.
The shelter also has a wish list: puppy and kitten food; dry dog and cat food; bleach; laundry detergent; dish soap; bath rugs; flea meds; tapeworm medicine; antibiotic ointment; cotton balls; cotton swabs; bleach wipes; hand sanitizer; cat toys; Kong dog toys (or similar); plastic pallets for dog cages; pens, office supplies; laminating machine; space heaters; and a washing machine.
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics made two more moves to boost their pitching staff Wednesday, acquiring a pair of minor leaguers including Guyton’s J.B. Wendelken from the Chicago White Sox for third baseman Brett Lawrie and agreeing to terms with right-hander John Axford on a $10 million, two-year contract.
Axford’s deal was pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the agreement said on condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been announced.
The A’s announced the trade of Lawrie, an anticipated move for the club during baseball’s winter meetings. Oakland received right-hander Wendelken, a South Effingham High School graduate like Oakland’s veteran right fielder Josh Reddick, and minor league left-hander Zack Erwin in the swap.
Wendelken, 22, who pitched for the U.S. team at the Premier 12 tournament last month and played in the Arizona Fall League, went a combined 6-2 with five saves and a 3.20 ERA in 39 relief appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte this past season. He was selected out of Middle Georgia College by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2012 draft.
Reddick’s foundation holding charity golf event
The Josh Reddick Foundation’s second annual charity golf tournament is Sunday at 10 a.m. at Southbridge Golf Club in Savannah.
The event is an 18-hole, four-person scramble. Entry is $75 for an individual, $300 for a team. For information, go to joshreddickfoundation.org or the Facebook page.
Reddick is a South Effingham High School graduate who plays outfield for the Oakland Athletics. All funds raised will be put back into the local community, the foundation stated. Email registration to reddickfoundation@gmail.com.
Other events upcoming include partnering with the city of Rincon on a Jan. 9 concert featuring country music star Colt Ford and opening acts including Josh Sanders and Brian Fuller.
Also, a home run derby is slated for Jan. 16 at Effingham County’s Sandhill Recreation Park, behind Sandhill Elementary School.
From incident reports at the Springfield Police Department:
Nov. 13: A woman who works at an antique store downtown said she felt threatened by a man who came into the store. He left when she called police.
Nov. 16: The automatic tag scanner sounded on a car on Ga. 21 for having no insurance and suspended registration. The car was towed for a lack of insurance and the driver was given a warning for the registration.
Nov. 18: A residence in Lakewood Manor was entered when no one was home. Some things were not in their usual places.
Bad customer
Nov. 19: An employee of Huddle House said a regular customer became disorderly. The elderly man sexually harassed a waitress, demanded $20 from her and threatened to slit her throat. The man has been disruptive in the past. He left before officers arrived.
Nov. 19: A resident of Holly Court said someone cut a cable wire and moved items in his back yard. Nothing was taken. An officer said he would perform extra patrols.
Nov. 19: A resident of New Stillwell Road said his son left his flute on the school bus two weeks earlier and it hasn’t been found.
Nov. 22: Officers helped the Sheriff’s Office by answering a call about a prowler on Tunnel Road. One man was arrested on a Chatham warrant.
Couple argue
Nov. 22: A woman said her boyfriend pushed her and left on foot. The man returned in a vehicle and said he didn’t push her.
He was cited for driving without a license and she was cited for permitting an unlicensed driver to drive. She also was given a warning for hindering law enforcement, for lying to officers.
Nov. 22: An officer stopped a vehicle for going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone. The driver was arrested on a Jasper County warrant and cited for speeding.
A lane will be closed today on the new U.S. 80/Ga. 26 bridge over the Ogeechee River.
A contractor will be using flags to close one lane of the bridge at a time so it can be paved.
Expect delays and avoid the area if possible.
