Richmond Hill fared a little better than it did last time against South Effingham on Monday, but it wasn’t enough to get past Brandon Wallace. The right-handed Wallace didn’t allow a baserunner past the third inning and went the distance, propelling the Mustangs to a 5-1 nonregion victory over the Wildcats in Richmond Hill’s home opener.

South Effingham (5-5), which previously blanked Richmond Hill 10-0 on March 5, completed the season sweep of the Wildcats, who dropped to 5-7 on the year.

“We’ve been playing well lately, and I felt like a hit here or there tonight could have made it a different game,” Richmond Hill coach Stacy Bennett said. “But they played hard, and we played hard, and that’s just how baseball goes.”

After the Mustangs pegged Richmond Hill starter Randy Giles for two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead, the Wildcats cut into the deficit in the bottom half. Chaise Parker and Justin Henle both drew walks to put runners at first and second, and with two outs, Zach Balcomb lined a basehit through the middle. Parker scored on the play to make it 2-1, but courtesy runner Michael Teston was thrown out by South Effingham catcher Dylan Griffin while trying to take third on the throw from centerfield.

“It was a tough mistake for us. (Teston) is one of our better baserunners, and he’s very aggressive on the basepaths,” Bennett said. “Sometimes if you cut it wide open and you're running hard and aggressively, mistakes are going to happen. But that’s just how he plays.”

Balcomb’s RBI single was the last bit of damage the Wildcats could muster off of Wallace, who set down the final 12 men he faced to close out the ballgame. He allowed just three hits on the day, while striking out eight (five in the last two frames) and walking two. Despite going the entire game, Wallace only had to throw 84 pitches, 53 of which were strikes.

“He came out and threw a lot of strikes early in the count, and he was very efficient,” Bennett said of Wallace.

Still up 2-1, South Effingham provided Wallace with some insurance in the sixth. Corey Horne, who led the Mustangs at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, including an RBI double, walked and scored on an RBI double in the left-centerfield gap by Zack Smith. Smith then moved to third and scored on a pair of passed balls to make it 4-1. The Mustangs boosted their lead to 5-1 in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Dalton Griffin.

The Wildcats will hit the road again Tuesday, as they begin a four-game road trip at Glynn Academy. They’ll then head to Waycross on Friday to face Ware County and take on Camden County and Jenkins next week before beginning a nine-game home stand March 30 against Groves.

“We’ve got a couple of big region games this week,” Bennett said. “It’s going to be a big test for us, so we’ll see how our guys respond.”

SE 002 002 1—5 9 0

RH 001 000 0—1 3 3

WP—Brandon Wallace. LP—Randy Giles (0-2). Leading hitters—SE: Corey Horne 3-3, 2B, BB, RBI, Zack Smith 1-2, 2B, RBI, Dalton Griffin 1-2, 2B, RBI; RH: Justin Henle 1-2, BB, Zach Balcomb 1-3, RBI. Records—SE 5-5, RH 5-7.

The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding this morning with Medient Studios Inc., for a $90 million movie studio that will create more than 1,200 jobs.

Click here to see a slideshow of the studio's past films.

Manu Kumaran, chairman and CEO of Medient, said he wants to revamp the film industry, creating full-time, permanent jobs harkening back to the days when film studios dominated the industry.

The campus, on the IDA's I-16 property, will be environmentally friendly, with no carbon-producing vehicles and with health care, day care and schooling for workers and their families.

Medient is a publicly listed company OTCQB:MDNT, www.medient.com. It is a global film production and distribution company with a strong presence in India and North America.

Kumaran said Effingham beat New York and Pennsylvania for the project, and in Georgia, beat Savannah and Atlanta.

He said good weather was a main draw, as was the lifestyle that the Savannah area affords. He said the business has to be in an attractive, safe place where employees will want to live.

This will be the company's first film studios.

The company's movies include "Yellow,""Garp" and the horror/sci-fi film "Storage 24." 

Return to effinghamnow.com for more details later today.

Unofficial election results from Tuesday night show Justin Howard Cribbs got 49 votes and Wanda J. Laning got seven votes in the election for a City Council seat in Springfield.

Cribbis, 36, will fill the seat left vacant when Troy Allen moved out of the city.

Cribbs is a chemist at Intercat in Pooler. Laning, 53, said she is a stay-at-home wife. She has run unsuccessfully for City Council and for mayor in Springfield.

Allen submitted his resignation on Jan. 17. He began serving on the council in 2008 and was scheduled for re-election in November 2015. His term ends Dec. 31, 2015.

Jeff Ambrose also recently resigned as a Springfield council member because he moved out of the city and into the county. Katherine Pridgeon has been appointed to finish his term, which ends in December 2013.

— G.G. Rigsby

The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority unanimously approved an agreement Tuesday with Medient Studios Inc. for a $90 million movie studio and entertainment facility expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Manu Kumaran, chairman and chief executive officer of Medient, said he wants to revamp the film industry, creating full-time, permanent jobs harkening back to the days when film studios dominated the industry. Kumaran is a veteran of the industry who has produced 19 feature films in four languages.

Medient is a publicly listed film production and distribution company with a strong presence in India and North America. John Henry, chief executive officer of the development authority, said the company is based in Los Angeles.

The company’s goal is to make films less expensive. Kumaran said the costs of producing movies have risen astronomically, while the market is not supporting such increases.

“You’ll go to work in a film studio like you’d go to work in a car factory,” Kumaran said. “The consumer doesn’t care where the green screen is.”

The campus, which will take up most of the IDA’s 1,500 acres near Old River Road and Interstate 16, will be environmentally friendly, with no vehicles that operate on fossil fuels and with health care, day care, schooling, shopping and housing for workers and their families.

In addition to making eight to 10 movies a year, the company will produce video games at the site.

Architect Shaleen Sharma, from Delhi, India, said he was told to “dream big” when designing the complex, which includes tall “trees” with solar panels on the top. The trees will light up at night and have waterfalls inside them.

The entrance to the complex will be a tall bridge over the wetlands, which will end on the sixth floor of the main building.

A feature called the “leaf” will be a glass covering a more than 300,000-square-foot area where large concerts, for 25,000 people, can be held. Sharma said the leaf will be visible from I-16. It will include an auditorium that will seat about 9,000 people.

Kumaran said the goal is to create a world-class destination where famous artists will want to perform.

The complex also will include an “experiential gaming area” where visitors will play virtual reality games.

“This is a monster project, unlike anything we’ve seen in the past, anywhere in the country,” Henry said.

Medient bills the complex as “the largest movie production facility” in America. The first phase of the project will include 16 soundstages in various buildings totaling about a quarter of a million square feet.

No detailed timetable has been completed, but Kumaran said plans call for work to begin on movies as early as this summer, before any new buildings are constructed.

The master plan is ready for submission to the county, and construction is slated to begin in June.

The dollars

The $90 million figure includes $10 million for land, $40 million for equipment and $40 million for buildings.

Kumaran said the company has underwriting from a New York investment bank to start construction.

The $10 million for land is the amount Effingham County IDA will receive over a 20-year lease. No payment will be due for the first or second year. The third year, the rent will cost $555,565. For the fourth through 20th years, the rent will be $555,555 each year.

The IDA will provide $1.25 million for site development.

Medient will pay no property taxes or payments in lieu of taxes for the 20 years, Henry said.

An investment of $90 million and 1,000 jobs are the performance goals called for in the memorandum of understanding. Kumaran said he expects more than 1,200 jobs to be created eventually.

Henry said if the company builds everything it wants, the overall cost of the investment could reach $300 million.

The jobs will not only be in film making and video development but in support services such as food service and health care.

Henry said the average salary for all the jobs will be $39,000 a year. Kumaran estimated one-quarter of the jobs will be given to people from outside the area.

Kumaran said Effingham has been working with his company since the first of November. He said Effingham beat New York and Pennsylvania for the project, and in Georgia, beat Savannah and Atlanta.

He said good weather was a main draw, as was the lifestyle that the Savannah area affords. He said the business has to be in an attractive, safe place where employees will want to live.

This will be the company’s first film studios.

The company’s movies include the dramas “Yellow,” and “Garp,” and the British horror film “Storage 24.”

Big effort

Four county commissioners and the county administrator attended the IDA’s special called meeting at 8 a.m. to approve the memorandum of understanding with Medient.

Landing the project took “a big community effort,” said Dennis Webb, chairman of the IDA. “At the end of today, a lot of people who have never heard of Effingham County will know where we are and what we are doing,” he said.

Trip Tollison, acting president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, called the plans a “wonderful concept, wonderful idea.”

He said the locals and the state have done what they said they would do.

“Now it’s up to the company to put their skin in,” Tollison said.

Michael Chaney, a professor at Savannah College of Art and Design in the film and television department, said the news is “fantastic, particularly since it’s Medient. Medient is producing important films that both challenge and enhance the 21st-century approach to film making.”

He said Medient is a small, independent studio.

“The movie ‘Yellow’ they did was a terrific film that wowed audiences at Toronto last year,” Chaney said. “They seem to take on material that has real significance in terms of character and social significance.”

SCAD’s film school has close to 600 students, he said.

— Reporter Adam Van Brimmer contributed to this story.

About Medient Studios Inc.

Medient Studios Inc. is a publicly listed company OTCQB:MDNT, www.medient.com.

It is a global film production and distribution company. It says its management team has 150 years of experience in the motion picture industry and is responsible for producing and/or financing more than 250 movies.

Fourteen movies, two music acts and several hundred live performance shows have been produced under the Medient banner.

On its website, Medient says it is “focused upon minimizing project risk and generating strong returns for investors by aggressively optimizing the use of subsidy structures, tax benefits and other incentives to reduce production costs, thereby increasing profit potential.”

The company has produced “a broad spectrum of films across various genres.” That includes “Bombay Boys,” an independent film “that carried Indian cinema beyond the song and dance routine of Bollywood,” and the award-winning Malayalam film “Aakshagopuram,” which was the first Indian film to be produced outside of that country. Its latest film, “Yellow,” was directed by Nick Cassavetes, who also directed “The Notebook.” Critics said “Yellow” included “surreal imagination,” “bizarre parallel realities” and was a “cinematic trip of mind-bending proportions.”

About Manu Kumaran

Kumaran is the chairman and chief executive officer of Medient Studios Inc.

Kumaran is a second-generation international film producer who has produced 19 feature films in four languages.

The oldest son of Malayalam film director and producer K.P. Kumaran, he has been in the film business from an early age, working primarily in production and distribution.

In 1988, he produced “Bombay Boys,” a movie that opened a new market for alternative cinema, bringing it into the mainstream.

In 2002, Kumaran established Medient and created ABOB, India’s first boy band. In 2008, he produced the Malayalam film “Aakashagopuram,” (Castle in the Air), based on the Henrik Ibsen play “Master Builder,” which he says was the first Indian film to be entirely produced outside of that country, setting “a new benchmark in East-West collaboration within the industry.”

“The first Indian producer to successfully manage the migration to the West, Kumaran is an expert in film tax credits and incentives and has built a reputation for producing theatrical quality releases at minimal costs with strong net margins,” the website says.

Source: www.medient.com.

All of a sudden, pizza places are popping up all over Rincon. There is a time and place for pizza from a chain of course, but when my family wants to sit down, relax and eat pizza, Uncle Marco’s is the obvious choice. Actually, it is mostly the adults who relax while the kids are completely entertained with foosball, arcade and cartoons on the overhead televisions.

As a parent, getting my kids’ food quickly is important. Here, you pay, fill your plate and commence eating. You can’t even get drive-through food faster than that.

The all-you-care-to-eat buffet includes pizzas, baked alfredo and marinara spaghetti, breadsticks, salad, three types of dessert pizzas and chocolate chip cookies. In addition to the traditional pizza toppings, there are several specialty pizzas available, including baked potato, fajita, chicken bacon ranch and spicy buffalo chicken (my favorite). If your favorite pizza is not on the buffet, they’ll make it on the spot. For the benefit of low-carb dieters, I would like to see some high-protein dishes such as a bean soup, chicken parmesan or grilled chicken strips that would be satisfying with a salad.

The dining area has plenty of room for a birthday party, sports team banquet or church group gathering. There is no party fee. We recently celebrated my son’s fifth birthday here and we brought our own cake, table covers and a professional face painter. The kids had a great time and it could not have been more simple for me.

Uncle Marco’s offers a great dining and entertainment value in a family-friendly environment.

Uncle Marco’s Pizza Buffet

907 Lisa St.

Rincon, GA 31326

Phone: 912)826-3422

On the Web: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Uncle-Marcos-Pizza-Buffet/73115978539?fref=ts&rf=116722301685366

“Like” them on Facebook to keep up with “kids eat free” and “buy one get one free” deals

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday

Approximate pricing includes buffet and drink, no tax:

Children ages 2 and under are free; ages 3-5 are $2; ages 6-11 $5 for lunch and supper

Ages 12-adult: $7.75 for lunch, $8.50 for supper

Reservations: as a courtesy, call ahead if you are a large group

Credit cards: all major

Catering/take-out: yes

Alcohol: no

Note: (Uncle Marco’s is locally owned and not to be confused with a similarly-named chain in Savannah.)

How many times have you heard people say, “Things happen for a reason?”

(That’s a rhetorical question, by the way.)

People might mean many things when they say that, but one thing we can be sure of: Things usually don’t happen for just a reason. They usually happen for a combination of reasons.

Take, for instance, my uncle’s conviction that it was a sin to eat garlic.

I have the Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov to thank for helping me figure out one of the possible reasons why Uncle Tom came to that conclusion.

Pavlov is best known for his work with drooling dogs.

He discovered that if he rang a bell or pushed a buzzer right before feeding a dog, the dog eventually would drool at the sound of the bell or buzzer alone, even without the food.

That seems to make common sense. After all, I drool every morning at the sound of the coffeemaker gurgling.

It has to do with learning by association. The brain associates one thing (the bell or buzzer) with another thing (food), and pretty soon the brain is conditioned to respond to either of them in the same way.

Pavlov called the buzzer or bell the conditioned stimulus. In my kitchen, the conditioned stimulus is the gurgle of the coffeemaker.

Getting back to Uncle Tom and the garlic, whenever he saw his mother in the presence of garlic, or at the mere mention of garlic, he also saw that disgusted expression cross her normally sweet face.

Every single time.

After a while, he came to expect that look on her face whenever garlic became part of the actual or hypothetical environment.

That same look she reserved for those Commandment breakers.

It didn’t take long for him to associate garlic with some serious transgressing.

Garlic, or the mention of it, had become the conditioned stimulus, just like Pavlov’s buzzer or bell.

Uncle Tom had been conditioned not to like garlic.

And that kind of conditioning gets memorized deep in a part of the brain that is not easily reversed by logic alone.

So now we know how to stamp into someone’s brain that something as harmless as garlic is a seriously offensive item.

But there’s more. The brain has a couple ways of making extra sure that the lesson isn’t lost.

It has to do with some specialized brain cells called mirror neurons.

Mirror neurons are the inspiration for the expression, “Monkey see, monkey do.”

We just as easily could say, “Human see, human do.”

Because all of us primates have a lot of mirror neurons in our brains. A lot more than our dogs or cats have.

Next time, we’ll find out how Uncle Tom’s mirror neurons kicked in when he saw his mother’s reaction to garlic.

And how pretty soon he ended up having some pretty strong opinions about the stuff, too.

Just as if the idea was his alone.

I wish Uncle Tom were still around, so I could ask him if he ever started eating garlic.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he — being a primate and all — never touched the stuff.

Julia Cochran is a licensed professional counselor in Rincon. She can be reached at 912-772-3072 or by email at JCochranPhD@GileadCounseling.com.

April 1 is the deadline for filing a property tax return for 2013. The return is your estimation of value of your property. This date is also the deadline for filing for Homestead Exemption and Specialized Assessments such as Conservation Use Valuation covenants for 2013.

Any Effingham County taxpayer who disagrees with the current value of their property can file a property tax return between Jan. 1 and April 1 with the Board of Tax Assessors. All owners of real property (land and buildings) will receive an assessment notice regardless of whether a property tax return was filed or not filed. If a change was made to the property, a new accessory, a new building or an addition to an existing building that was not on the property last year, a property tax return must be filed or a 10 percent penalty may be assessed on the value of the new improvement.

Property owners can apply for homestead exemption year-round; however, the application must be filed by April 1, to be applied for the 2013 digest year. Any applications received after that date will be applied to the 2014 digest.

Appraisers in the Tax Assessors office can explain other special programs available and help with the application. The deadline for filing for a special assessment is also April 1.

For more information and forms, go to www.effinghamcounty.org.

If you have any questions, contact the Effingham County Board of Tax Assessors office at 912-754-2125.

ECHS Class of 1968

Members of the Effingham County High School Class of 1968 will gather for a dutch treat lunch at noon, Saturday, April 13, at Carey Hilliard’s Restaurant at 198 Pooler Parkway, in Pooler. Purpose of the lunch is fellowship and catching up. To be sure there is sufficient room, please reply to: echsclassof1968@hotmail.com.

Bike ride to benefit Mars Theater

The third annual bike ride to benefit the renovation of Mars Theater in Springfield will be on Saturday, April 20. For more information, call Gussie Nease at 912-658-5053.

Bingo

• The Rincon Recreation Department sponsors bingo for senior citizens at 8:30 a.m. every Monday at the Vernon C. Hinely Community Center at Ninth Street and Ga. 21. For information, call 826-0238.

• American Legion Auxiliary, Post 209 for Effingham and Springfield, holds bingo at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Friday of each month at the Legion Hall, 941 S. Laurel St., Springfield. Proceeds go to help veterans and their families. For information, contact Thelma Pierce at 754-2442.

Effingham Tennis League

People of all ages and abilities are invited to join the Effingham Tennis League. Adults and teens may join the singles and/or doubles ladder at www.globaltennisnetwork.com and it’s free. SATA kids clinic for grades kindergarten to eighth grade is $50 per six-week session, playing Tuesdays 5:30-7 p.m. at Patriots Park behind the Rincon YMCA. Info: 912-656-4430.

United Way Yoga

Dr. Jack Heneisen and the United Way are holding free yoga classes each Monday at 6:30 p.m. The classes are held at the United Way Effingham Service Center located at 711 Zitterour Road, Rincon. Participants should wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes and bring a mat or towel for floor exercises.

Auxiliary volunteers needed

The Effingham Hospital Auxiliary is in need of volunteers in the beauty shop from 8 a.m.-noon Wednesdays in the Extended Care Center. You do not need to be a hairdresser to apply, just have a compassionate heart. Perfect for retired hairdressers. Call Brenda Rabun at 346-9536 or email rabonbk@gmail.com.

Alzheimer’s Association Support Group

The Effingham County Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 155 Goshen Road, Rincon. The group is open to family caregivers. It provides education and support. These meetings usually run one hour in length. For more information, call 1-800-272-3900.

Senior movie day

A movie is shown for senior citizens at 9:30 a.m. each Thursday in the Anderson Recreation Building (formerly the Rincon Lions Club) on Lexington Avenue.

Start Smart Child and Adult Care Food Program

The Start Smart Learning Center at 250 Chimney Road in Rincon is a sponsor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded Child and Adult Care Food Program. The same meals will be available at no separate charge to enrolled participants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Contact Jeanne Hamiliton at 912-826-0062 for more information.

American Red Cross

The Southeast Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers for their Disaster Action Teams. Volunteers are needed to provide emergency assistance to victims of disasters and preparedness education to the community. Orientation is required. For information, call 912-651-5351 or email mckinneyj@savannahredcross.org.

Civil Air Patrol

The Civil Air Patrol squadron meets Mondays from 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. in building 200 at Ephesus Church/Effingham Christian School, 226 Goshen Road, Rincon. The organization is for youth, ages 12 to 18 and for adults. It has three programs: emergency services, aerospace education and the cadet leadership program. The Effingham Cadet Squadron is actively recruiting both cadets ages 12 to adult and have several staff positions available. For more information go to www.ga453.org or call Richard Bush at 912-429-8050.

County Commission

The Effingham County Board of Commissioners meets at
5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month in Commission Chambers at the Administrative Office Complex, 601 N. Laurel St., Springfield. For a complete agenda, go to effinghamcounty.org.

Hospital board

The Effingham Hospital Authority meets at 7:15 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the Community Room at Effingham Hospital, 459 Ga. 119 S., Springfield. Agendas and minutes of past meetings are not available online. For information, go to effinghamhealth.org or call administration at 754-0160.

Effingham Now

School board

The Effingham County Board of Education meets at 2 p.m. the first Wednesday and at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the conference room at the Central Office Complex, 405 N. Ash St., Springfield. Agendas and minutes of past meetings can be found at effinghamschools.com. For information, call 754-6491.

County planning board

The Effingham County Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month in Commission Chambers at the County Administrative Complex, 601 N. Laurel St., Springfield. Agendas and minutes can be found at effinghamcounty.org. For information, call 754-2105.

Elections board

The Effingham County Board of Elections and Registration meets at 8:30 a.m. the second Monday of the month in the conference room at the elections office, 284 Ga. 119 S., Springfield. Agendas and minutes of past meetings are not currently available online. For information, go to effinghamcounty.org or call

754-8030.

Tax board

The Effingham County Board of Tax Assessors meets the first Monday of the month in Commission Chambers at the County Administrative Complex, 601 N. Laurel St., Springfield. Agendas can be found at effinghamcounty.org.

Guyton council

The Guyton City Council meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month and at 8 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at City Hall, 310 Central Blvd., Guyton. Agendas and minutes of past meetings are not currently available online. For information, go to cityofguyton.com or call City Hall at 722-3353.

Springfield council

The Springfield City Council meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month in Council Chambers at City Hall, 130 S. Laurel St., Springfield. Agendas and minutes of past meetings can be found at cityofspringfield.com. For information, call City Hall at 754-6666.

Rincon council

The Rincon City Council meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month in Council Chambers at the police department, 107 W. 17th St., Rincon. Agendas and minutes of past meetings are not currently available online. For information, go to cityofrincon.com or call City Hall at 826-5745.

IDA board

The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority board of directors meets at 8 a.m. the third Thursday of the month in the conference room at the Welcome Center, 520 W. Third St., Springfield. Agendas and minutes of past meetings are not currently available online. For information, go to effinghamindustry.com or call 754-3301.

Weight loss

Coastal Champions Weight Loss Surgery Support Group meets from 6-7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Rincon Recovery Resources, 613 Towne Park Drive West, Suite 103, Rincon. Free and open to the public. For information, call Anisa Grantham at 507-8734.

Seniors

Rincon Senior Support Group meets 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays at Vernon C. Hinely Community Center, Ga. 21 and Ninth Street in Rincon. For senior citizens 55 or older. Fellowship and activities. Call 826-4000.

Asperger’s syndrome

A support group for people with Asperger’s syndrome, their friends, family and caregivers, meets monthly at Effingham Baptist Church, 1007 N. Columbia Ave., Rincon. For information, call Patrick Bowers at 346-4912 or email pb4asp@yahoo.com.

The Rosebuds

An Effingham County daytime breast cancer support group meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. at Effingham Hospital’s Community Room, 459 Ga. 119 South, Springfield. For information, call 754-9100.

Clyo school 1961-1966

Contact information is being sought for those who attended Clyo School from 1961-1966 for a possible 50-year reunion. Students of the former school are asked to contact Louise Bazemore after 9 p.m. at 912-659-9513.

High blood pressure

The Community Cardiovascular Council’s Blood Pressure Clinic offers help to people trying to control high blood pressure. If you need help controlling it and purchasing medications, make a free appointment to see if you qualify for services. Call the Rincon clinic, 826-2608, or the Savannah clinic, 232-6624.

Effingham Hospital Auxiliary

The Effingham Hospital Auxiliary offers an opportunity to serve the hospital and the community through volunteer service. The auxiliary provides support to patients, families and visitors. It also raises funds to support special projects that benefit the hospital and the community. Call Effingham Hospital Auxiliary President Brenda Rabon at 912-346-9536.

Hospice

Seeking volunteers to play music to patients, visit patients in their homes and nursing homes (Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty and Long counties), assist staff and families in Hospice House in Savannah or help in the offices on Chatham Parkway. Training is offered the second Monday and Tuesday of every month. Call 355-2289.

LifeLink

LifeLink of Georgia, the local agency that coordinates organ and tissue donations for the state, seeks volunteers to assist with programs pertaining to organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Volunteer activities include public speaking, staffing information tables and more. Potential volunteers include transplant recipients and their families, patients waiting for transplants, donor families or anyone interested in organ, tissue donation. Volunteers trained by LifeLink staff. Call Tracy Gay at 800-365-2066 or 341-0000.

AARP instructors needed

Additional volunteers are needed to teach the AARP Senior Drivers Safety Program (55 ALIVE) classes. The area to cover is Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties. Call 598-1011.

Mentors needed

Effingham Family Connection and Communities in Schools, in partnership with the Effingham County school system, has students who are in need of mentors; to talk, help with homework or listen to music. Mentors are needed to commit one hour per week. Background check required. For information, call Cathy Zipperer at Effingham County High at 754-6404, ext. 1237; or Erin Woodcock at South Effingham High at 728-7511, ext. 1372.

Hands On Savannah

A service of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, recruits and refers volunteers to area nonprofits. Hands On Savannah/Volunteer Center can match volunteer interests with community needs. To browse volunteer options, go to handsonsavannah.org, call 2-1-1 or 651-7726 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, or email volunteer@uwce.org.

CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocates is looking for volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children in Bulloch, Effingham, Screven and Jenkins counties. For information, call Carolyn Fields at 912-764-4849.

Volunteers needed

The Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center in Guyton provides equine-assisted riding and educational activity programs for children and adults with special challenges. The center has many volunteer opportunities for anyone committed to offering their time and talents to help others. Call 728-3728 or go to faithetc.org for information.

Meals on Wheels

The Effingham County Senior Citizens Center, 128 Stillwell Road, Springfield, needs volunteers to deliver meals to the homebound elderly in the county. Mileage is paid. Call Margaret Moore at 754-2138.

Medicare

The Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center is seeking volunteers to help counsel Medicare beneficiaries about their health coverage and options. Volunteers are also needed to assist with the GeorgiaCares SMP project to promote consumer awareness and prevent fraud. Volunteers will receive free in-depth training. Requires at least four hours per month. For more information, call 264-7363 ext. 239, or 800-669-8387.

Hunting-fishing club

The Georgia Hunting and Fishing Federation, Effingham Chapter, meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of every month in the Effingham County Recreation Department on Ga. 119 in Springfield. If you need information about the meeting or becoming a member, call 912-661-1111. Membership is $25 per year.

GED classes

Savannah Technical College offers day and evening GED classes in Rincon at Savannah Technical College Effingham Campus, 2890 Ga. 21 S. Call John Seaman or Alethia Bradshaw-Scott at 754-2876.

Rincon MOPS

Rincon Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) invites moms to come for brunch, crafts, encouragement and friendships with other moms. All mothers of children from birth to kindergarten are invited to attend. Childcare is provided with crafts, games and snacks while moms meet. The next meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Rincon (Memorial Chapel in back). Rincon MOPS is part of MOPS International.

Effingham Rotary

The Rotary Club of Effingham meets at 12:30 p.m. every Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ga. 21 and Seventh Street in Rincon. For information, call Talbert Edenfield at 772-5022 or go to myrotaryclub.com.

Sons of Confederate Veterans

Camp Davis No. 2073 meets the second Tuesday of every month in the former Boy Scouts hut down the hill from the Effingham Historical Society, formerly the old county jail in Springfield. Meeting and program at 7 p.m. Call Mitchell Ambrose at 429-3446.

UDC

United Daughters of the Confederacy Effingham County Hussars Chapter 2285 meets the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Effingham Hospital. Call 772-3340.

Experimental Aircraft

Effingham County Chapter 330 of the Experimental Aircraft Association meets at 11 a.m. the third Saturday of every month at The Briar Patch Airfield in Springfield. Meetings open with a short business session, followed by lunch. Cost is $5. Members and visitors may drive or fly. Go to eaa.org for more information.

Special-needs support

The Effingham County Navigator Team, a support group for families of children with special needs, meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at The Learning Treehouse, 250 Goshen Road, Rincon. For information, contact Pauline Shaw at effingham@p2pga.org or call 912-295-5460.

Special-needs children

A support group for parents and guardians of children with challenging behaviors meets at the United Way Effingham Service Center, 711 Zitterour Drive, Rincon. For information, call Katie McGrory at 441-1435 or email kateemac1@msn.com. Child care may be available.

Alzheimer’s support

The Alzheimer’s Association conducts a support group in Effingham County at 10:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 155 Goshen Road, Rincon. For information, call Jenny House at 912-920-2231 or email jenny.house@alz.org.

Special-needs support

The Effingham County Navigator Team, a support group for parents and caregivers of special needs children, ages newborn to 26 years, meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month in the Blandford Elementary School media center. For information, call Pauline Shaw at 912-295-5460 or email effingham@p2pga.org.

Bereavement counseling

Hospice Savannah’s Full Circle has opened an office in the United Way Effingham Service Center, 711 Zitterour Drive, Rincon. Bereavement counselor Barbara Moss holds office hours 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays to counsel children or adults, individually or in group sessions, and plans to offer workshops and presentations on coping with grief during the holidays. The counseling is offered free of charge as a community service. To schedule an appointment, call 629-1089.

NA of Effingham

Narcotics Anonymous groups meet at 7:30 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Beulah House, 407 Church St., Guyton. Meetings are also at 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Freedom Christian Center, 409 S. Laurel St., Springfield.

Weight loss

Coastal Champions Weight Loss Surgery Support Group meets from 6-7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Rincon Recovery Resources, 613 Towne Park Drive West, Suite 103, Rincon. Free and open to the public. For information, call Anisa Grantham at 507-8734.

Seniors

Rincon Senior Support Group meets 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays at Vernon C. Hinely Community Center, Ga. 21 and Ninth Street in Rincon. For senior citizens 55 or older. Fellowship and activities. Call 826-4000.

Asperger’s syndrome

A support group for people with Asperger’s syndrome, their friends, family and caregivers, meets monthly at Effingham Baptist Church, 1007 N. Columbia Ave., Rincon. For information, call Patrick Bowers at 346-4912 or email pb4asp@yahoo.com.

The Rosebuds

An Effingham County daytime breast cancer support group meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. at Effingham Hospital’s Community Room, 459 Ga. 119 South, Springfield. For information, call 754-9100.

High blood pressure

The Community Cardiovascular Council’s Blood Pressure Clinic offers help to people trying to control high blood pressure. If you need help controlling it and purchasing medications, make a free appointment to see if you qualify for services. Call the Rincon clinic, 826-2608, or the Savannah clinic, 232-6624.

Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church

Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church will hold a community Easter fellowship gathering on Good Friday, March 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. The event is for children and adults. There will be an Easter egg hunt, games, crafts and food. The church is located at 167 Blandford Road in Rincon.

Easter Egg Hunt

An Easter Egg Hunt and picnic will be held on March 30 at 10 a.m. at Rincon United Methodist Church. The event will be held at Cowart’s Retreat site, 365 Bunyan Kessler Road, just off Fort Howard Road. Infants through fifth grade will hunt for eggs, plus games and activities for all. A picnic of grilled chicken, sides and drinks will be provided. Bring chairs or blankets. Have pictures made. There is no charge, this is a gift to the community. Call 826-5796 for information and directions.

Bible Lutheran Church Open House April 7

Bible Lutheran Church is planning a drop in reception and open house from 3-5 p.m. April 7. There will be a short service of thanksgiving at 3 p.m. to kick off the afternoon. The public is invited. The church is located at 812 Blue Jay Road in Rincon. Sunday School for all ages starts each Sunday at 8:45 a.m. followed by worship service with Holy Communion at 10 a.m. Info: 826-2710.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 303 North Laurel Street in Springfield celebrates with worship services every Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday School is held at 9:45 a.m. Holy Trinity is a member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

During Lenten season there is a weekly service at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays from through March 20.

Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church

Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2966 Ebenezer Road, located on the Savannah River at the end of Ebenezer Road, has Sunday school for adults and children each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion follows at 11 a.m. A nursery is provided for children of all ages. Contact the church at 754-3915 if you have questions or need assistance.

Zion Lutheran Church

Zion Lutheran Church - ELCA, is located at the intersection of Ga. Hwy 17 and 30, at 121 Noel C. Conaway Rd. south of Guyton. Worship begins at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Sunday School for all ages is at 9:45 a.m. For more information call 728-3430.

Bible Lutheran Church

Bible Lutheran Church is located at 812 Blue Jay Road in Rincon. Sunday School for all ages starts each Sunday at 8:45 a.m. followed by worship service with Holy Communion at 10 a.m. For more information contact Pastor Andy Krey at 826-0206.

Bethel Lutheran Church

This historic Lutheran congregation invites you to worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday mornings. Sunday School for all ages begins at 9:45 a.m. Bethel is at 1984 Ga. 21 N., two miles north of Ga. 119 in Springfield. The Rev. Bob LeFavi is available for pastoral care or any questions at 912-667-1480.

Tabernacle of Faith

A breakfast fellowship will be held every Wednesday at
8 a.m. at Tabernacle of Faith, located at 540 W. Seventh St. in Rincon. For more information, call 713-3783.

Pierogi sale

St. Mary Magdalene Church, 1625 Fort Howard Road, Rincon, has a pierogi and bake sale from 10 a.m.-noon the first Saturday of the month. Info: 912-826-5176.

Liberty Christian Fellowship

Liberty Christian Fellowship, 302 Church St., Guyton, meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. The Rev. Scott Stringer is the pastor. For information, call 912-772-5522.

Recovery ministry

First Baptist Church of Springfield offers a free Scripture-based recovery ministry based on the 12 steps. The program meets at 7 p.m. Mondays in the chapel, 1435 Ga. 119 N., Springfield. All are welcome. For information, go to fbc-springfield.org or call the church office at 912-754-3443.

St. John’s Lutheran Church

St. John’s, 301 N. Columbia Ave., Rincon, welcomes the community to share in God’s grace during Sunday school at 10 a.m. and church services at 11 a.m.

Med Bank

Med Bank, a volunteer organization, inviting anyone in Effingham County who lacks insurance for needed prescription medications to come in and begin the process to obtain free medicine through pharmaceutical companies’ programs. The clinic is held in the reception area of St. Luke Episcopal Church in Rincon, 155 Goshen Road, from 3-5 p.m. Wednesdays. Patients are asked to come with proof of income such as their latest tax return or last three paycheck stubs; medications lists; and physician information, if possible. For more information, contact executive director Liz Longshore at 912-373-6369.

Hwy. 30 Church of Christ

Highway 30 Church of Christ, 1952 Noel C. Conaway Road, meets at 9:30 a.m. Sundays for Bible study, 10:30 a.m. for morning worship and 6 p.m. for evening worship. Bible study also at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For information, call 912-728-3819 or go to highway30cofc.truepath.com.

New ministry

Shepherds of Grace Church meets at 10:45 a.m. Sundays and at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 3605 Ga. 21 N., Rincon. For information, go to shepherdsofgrace.org or call Charles and Shirley Malphus at 912-663-6814.

St. Boniface Church Mass

St. Boniface Church, 1952 Ga. 21 South, Springfield, conducts Mass at 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays. Call 912-754-7473 or go to sbcatholic.com.

Recovery ministry

First Baptist Church of Springfield offers a free Scripture-based recovery ministry based on the 12 steps. The program meets at 7 p.m. Mondays in the chapel, 1435 Ga. 119 N., Springfield. All are welcome. For information, go to fbc-springfield.org or call the church office at 912-754-3443.

St. Mary Magdalene Church

St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church, 1625 Fort Howard Road, Rincon, meets at 6 p.m. Saturdays (except the first) for Great Vespers. Sunday service schedule: Matins at 8:15 a.m., Hours at 9 a.m., Divine Liturgy at 9:30 and fellowship meal at 11 a.m. For information, go to stmarymagdalenerincon.org or call 912-826-5176.

St. Luke’s services

The Rev. Liam Collins, vicar of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 155 Goshen Road, Rincon, invites everyone to share in services at 9:30 a.m. Sundays and adult Bible study at 11 a.m. Prayers for Healing services are 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. For pastoral care, the Rev. Liam can be reached at 912-398-6859 or 826-3332. Go to stlukesrincon.com.

Grace Community Awana

The Awana children’s program meets every Wednesday at Grace Community Church, 1094 Goshen Road in Rincon. Children ages 3 years through fifth grade are invited. For information, call 912-826-4204.

The Body 

First Baptist Church of Rincon hosts a weekly interactive worship experience for young adults (college age and 20-somethings) at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. “The Body” meets in the white building across the street from the Youth Center on Richland Avenue. Call 912-826-5536 for information.

Crossroads Church

Crossroads Church meets Sundays at the Savannah Baptist Assembly, 930 Honey Ridge Road in Guyton. Coffee and goodies start at 9:30 a.m. with music and message beginning at 10 a.m. Go to crossroadschurcheff.org.

Lighthouse Church

The Lighthouse Church meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Effingham YMCA, 1224 Patriot Drive, Rincon. “The Lighthouse” is a church where the Bible is preached, God is exalted and the love of Jesus Christ is the theme. For information, call the Rev. Rick West at 656-6242.

Awana at Pineora Baptist

The Awana children’s program is every Wednesday at Pineora Baptist Church, 131 Elkins St., Guyton. A meal will be served at 6:15 p.m. Call 772-3044.

Youth fellowship

A youth fellowship gathering is held 1-3 p.m. every Saturday at the House of Prayer of Rincon on Fort Howard Road. Call 826-2570.

Crossroads 2 Recovery

Crossroads Church in Guyton offers a free Scripture-based recovery ministry based on 12 steps at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Savannah Baptist Assembly, 930 Honey Ridge Road, Guyton. For information, go to crossroadschurcheff.org or call the Rev. George Pabst at 441-0004.

Overcoming by Faith

Overcoming by Faith meets for worship at 1:30 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Banquet Room, 135 Goshen Road Ext. For information, call 927-8601.

Louise E. Gilliam Zittrouer

GUYTON — Louise E. Gilliam Zittrouer, 87, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, at Effingham Care Center.

The South Carolina native was a member of New Providence Baptist Church and former member of First Baptist Church of Springfield. She was preceded in death by her parents, John C. Gilliam and Juanita Still Gilliam; brothers, Ellis M. Gilliam and Joseph C. Gilliam; and husband, George Robert Zittrouer.

Survivors include her daughter, Barbara (Jerry) Scott of Springfield; granddaughters, Alicia (Joseph) Brinson of Guyton, and Lori (Timothy) Hood of Springfield; great-grandchildren, Lyndsey, McKenzie, and Kristen Brinson, Taylor Smith, and Tyler Hood; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held March 17 in the funeral home chapel. Interment followed in Guyton Cemetery.

Remembrances may be given to Effingham Care Center Activities Fund, 459 Hwy. 119 S., Springfield, GA 31329.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

H. Lawton Lancaster Jr.

SPRINGFIELD — H. Lawton Lancaster Jr., 91, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2013, at his residence.

The Effingham County native was a member of First Baptist Church of Springfield and was a Deacon. He was retired from Lancaster Well Drilling and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was preceded in death by his parents, Horrie Lawton Lancaster and Lola Futrell Lancaster; wife, Rosa Cleo Edwards Lancaster; brother, Dessie Lancaster; and sister, Doris Wilson.

Survivors include his son, Richard (Teresa) Lancaster of Springfield; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Margaret Coombe of Springfield and Barbara (The Rev. Reland) Morgan of Brooklet; two special nieces, Jane Lee and Trudie Sapp.

Funeral services were held on March 17 at First Baptist Church. Interment followed in Springfield Cemetery.

Remembrances may be given to Hospice Advantage, 310 Commercial Drive, Ste. A, Savannah, GA 31406.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Heidt Johnson

MARLOW — Mary Heidt Johnson, 60, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at Hospice Savannah.

The Chatham County native moved to Effingham when she was 6 and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. She retired from the Effingham County Board of Education after 30 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ewell Ray Heidt and Elizabeth Margaret Green; and sisters, Faye Proctor and Linda Proctor.

Survivors include her husband, James E. Johnson; step-son, Barry Johnson; grandson, K.J. Johnson all of Marlow; sisters, Margaret (Henry) Hall and Diane (Thomas) Counts all of Guyton; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today, March 21, at Zion Lutheran Church.

Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Remembrances may be given to the Alee Shrine, 100 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406 or Hospice Savannah, P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

March 15: A man said his sister hit him and broke his cell phone and glasses. She was arrested and charged with obstructing someone making an emergency phone call and criminal trespass-family violence. Saddlehorn Drive in the Guyton area.

March 15: A real estate agent who was showing two houses for sale said she received a “nasty” phone call about showing houses to African-Americans. She said she then found colorful paper on the garage and front doors of two houses reading: “No Obama voters wanted here.” Gleaston Way in the Guyton area.

March 15: A man said his son hasn’t paid any rent for six months and has been asked to move out of a trailer. A deputy said the owner of the trailer would have to go through the legal eviction process if she wants to force the son to leave. Ga. 17 S. in the Springfield area.

March 15: A Springfield man sent $3,200 to a woman in Mexico City, Mexico because he received calls saying his nephew was in a traffic accident in California. The deputy told him he was the victim of a “commonly used monetary scam.” Shawnee Road in the Springfield area.

March 16: A deputy acted as a mediator between two neighbors who were arguing over one of them playing a guitar loudly every Saturday at 8 a.m. The pair yelled at each other and had both gone inside to get their guns when the deputy arrived. They wound up shaking hands and apologizing to each other. “Future BFF now,” the deputy wrote. Shadowbrook Circle in the Rincon area.

March 16: Lawnmower batteries, valued at $85, stolen from mower at residence on Green Morgan School Road.

March 16: A woman said she took a brown bulldog that has been running loose in the neighborhood to the county animal shelter. Mallard Crossing in the Rincon area.

March 16: A white bulldog that frequently runs loose bit a boy who was riding a scooter. Ga. 21 S. in the Springfield area.

March 17: A neighbor helped corral a large brown horse that was walking around Victoria Oaks Subdivision. Victoria Circle in the Guyton area.

March 17: A man said a noise woke him and he saw a stranger standing in his living room. The stranger ran. $800 worth of electronics had been taken, including a TV. The rear door had been pried open. Sparrow Lane in the Springfield area.

March 17: Cousins who live next to each other argued over one shooting the other’s cats. Sand Hill Road in the Springfield area.

— G.G. Rigsby

Photo courtesy of Effingham Sunrise Rotary

The Rotary Clubs of Effingham County recently held their annual speech contest for high school students. The theme was Peace through Service and how it relates to the Rotary Four-Way Test. First place winner was Hannah Boyd. Second place went to Natalie Starling and third place winner was Jordon Bala. Donald Quinones placed fourth. Two other students also participated.

Shaw Wilkerson was honored as the top Volunteer of the Year in Effingham County for his work with G.A.P. Ministries and My Father’s House, a group he founded that helps people with social, mental or emotional limitations.

Wilkerson received $500 for G.A.P. Ministries at a dinner hosted by the Rotary Club of Effingham County on March 14 at New Ebenezer.

My Father’s House has monthly meetings, offering socialization opportunities. It also hosts a yearly awards banquet to honor the accomplishments of people diagnosed in the autism spectrum and with other physical disabilities.

For the past two years, My Father’s House has partnered with G.A.P. and G.L.O.W. Ministries to fund scholarships for people with autism who are continuing their post-secondary education locally.

Wilkerson, who has autism, has been a volunteer with G.A.P. Ministries for several years.

He was among 18 people honored by Rotary at the 11th annual Herb Jones Volunteer of the Year Award Banquet.

First runner-up was Timothy Kilmer, who won $300 for Habitat for Humanity. He has worked as a volunteer there for nearly two years, installing electrical wiring and working at the RESTORE.

Christina Morales was second runner-up, collecting $200 for Treutlen House at New Ebenezer. She volunteers there every weekend — Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday — helping the residents and the staff.

Others who were honored as volunteers of the year were: Brenda Rabon, Effingham Health System; Carleen Smith, G.L.O.W. Ministries; Brenda Harden, Guyton Elementary School; Mike Crager, Guyton Fire Department; Lillian Cawthon, Hospice Savannah; Brenda Helmly, Live Oak Public Libraries; Jeanette Altman, Manna House Ministries; Natarsha House, Rincon Elementary School; Bonnie Crow, Sand Hill Elementary School; Joe and Monica Bahm, South Effingham Middle School; Amber Pace, Springfield Elementary School; Sandra Gibson, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; Sondra Burns, Center for Working Families, United Way of the Coastal Empire; and Christina Larson, Caring Closet, United Way of the Coastal Empire.

— G.G. Rigsby

The Georgia General Assembly has just a few days of session remaining in the 2013 legislative session. The focus for the remainder of our time under the Gold Dome will include finalizing and passing the Fiscal Year 2014 budget by both chambers, committee meetings and debating legislation on the House floor for possible passage.

Just as families sit down together, determine their needs, prioritize their spending and balance their checkbook, the checkbook for our state is handled the same way. Without spending more money than the household makes, families all across Georgia live within their means. My fellow legislators, both state representatives and state senators, work together between both chambers (and both sides of the aisle) to balance the budget for the state of Georgia. In recent years with a slow economy, the focus has been where to make necessary cuts in order to balance the budget. During these tough economic times, other states across the United States have raised taxes on their citizens to account for the shortfall in state funds; however, in Georgia, the approach has focused on reducing the amount of money spent by the state. Just as many families have had to reduce their spending, our state has done the same. The Fiscal Year 2014 budget has now passed the House and heads to the Senate for review and approval. The General Appropriations Bill, House Bill 106 (passed 159-15), saw passage by the full House this week. This budget, which begins July 1 of this year, totals $19.8 billion and includes a budget cut requested by Gov. Nathan Deal of all state agencies by 3 percent. The total budget for FY 2014 includes a slight increase (2.8 percent) from the previous FY 2013 budget. With our economy gradually improving, this is a start in the right direction, while still balancing the budget for our state and living within our means.

The House has started debating Senate legislation, with several bills passing the House this week. Senate Bill 66 (116-49) increases the fine amount of the penalty for contempt of court from $500 to $1,000 and would not require verification under oath for an answer to a complaint or a counter-claim in Magistrate Court. This fine has not been raised in 30 years. The House also passed House Resolution 218 with only one dissenting vote, and it would urge all local school superintendents, principals and teachers within Georgia to recognize that learning and teaching the United States Constitution is an essential part of their primary education.

Also, two of my bills (HB 365 requiring seat belt use in 15-passenger vans that are primarily used to transport school age children and HB 366 that sets forth new testing, training and disciplinary standards for peace officers) continue to move through the committee and debate process. On March 14, I presented both bills before the Senate Public Safety Committee and received a “do pass” recommendation by committee vote. I have made my formal request to appear before the Senate Rules Committee on behalf of both bills, which will be the final step, if approved, before being presented on the Senate floor for consideration. Since a senator must present my bills in the Senate, Sen. Buddy Carter from Pooler, Chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee, has agreed to carry them for me. Similarly, I have agreed to present Sen. Lester Jackson of Savannah’s Senate Bill 76, which organizes representatives of all seven state agencies that have purview over veteran’s affairs together into a Veteran’s Task Force that will provide for a more unified approach to facilitating assistance to our military veterans returning to civilian life. And since the representatives are already in place, there will be no costs associated with creating the Veteran’s Task Force.

The Georgia General Assembly returned to the Gold Dome on Wednesday, March 20, for the 35th day of the 2013 Legislative Session.

I will keep you apprised of important legislation that affects your families, your freedoms and your pocketbooks.

Working with and alongside the other members of both the House and Senate, your best interests will always remain my first priority. Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you or your family. Please feel welcome to write to me at: 501 Coverdale Legislative Office Bldg., Atlanta, GA 30334, email me at bill.hitchens@house.ga.gov, or call my office at 404-656-0178.

From March 17, 2000

The Guyton City Council voted on March 14, 2000, to withdraw the $26,000 per year it was paying the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department to put a deputy in the city 40 hours per week. Sheriff Jay Space estimated that Guyton’s annual payment to his department would actually cover only 20-22 hours per week of a deputy’s time, including the costs of a patrol car and related equipment.

From March 16, 2001

David Rutherford began working as Effingham County administrator on March, 19, 2001. Rutherford said planning for orderly growth and developing a countywide water and sewer system are priorities. Rutherford was hired in January to replace Lamar Crosby.

From March 19, 2004

RINCON LOSES LEGAL WATER BATTLE WITH STATE EPD

JUDGE: CITY MUST TAP INTO PIPELINE FOR MORE WATER AS IT AGREED TO DO TWO YEARS EARLIER.

Ogeechee Judicial Superior Court Judge Gates Peed has ruled that Rincon must tap a county treated-surface-water pipeline.

Peed’s ruling - delivered after an hour-long pretrial conference followed by less than 25 minutes of legal arguments and five minutes of deliberation - said Rincon must comply with a 2002 state Environmental Protection Division accord in which city officials agreed to tap the pipeline, which runs from the City of Savannah’s water plant in Port Wentworth.

City officials said developers - who sued Rincon for water-sewer service in an adjoined case - made no progress in their effort to proceed with an estimated $50 million in new construction. But the developers’ lawyer, the EPD and county officials said the verdict is consistent with state laws and provides infrastructure services to accommodate growth in the rapidly developing county.

Rincon officials retreated to consider legal options after the Tuesday ruling, but state and county officials, as well as lawyers representing developers, said the judge’s decision is a step forward.

Barbara Gallo, an Atlanta-based attorney that is part of Rincon’s legal team, said, “(Peed) seemed like he had pretty much decided things before the hearing started.”

Opponents of the county’s multimillion-dollar water-sewer infrastructure projects said they felt cheated, but state and county officials said they are just taking care of business.

Source: Savannah Morning News

“I can read lips. So I see that despite your “In God We Trust” and your church stickers, that it’s the profanity you utter while driving that says the most about your character.”

“Can’t they make a one-day antibiotic that works fast, like they do for yeast infections?”

“Since when does reckless driving send anyone to jail?”

“Someone should tell the secretary of defense that nothing spoils the environment like a nuclear bomb!”

“Other than rednecks and billionaires, who would be stupid enough to vote for another Republican?”

“Effingham County ought to give the probation officers a raise. They do a heck of a job.”

The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority scored big this week in landing a movie studio complex project for the county.

Medient Studios Inc. has agreed to a minimum $90 million investment and a minimum of 1,000 jobs at the IDA’s Interstate 16 property. The jobs we are told have an average salary of $39,000.

Those numbers are large enough to make us sit up and say, “wow.”

There are a number of other positives in this deal, including the fact that this type of project will have little disruptive impact on the environment and the neighboring area.

No smokestacks and no large trucks rumbling in and out on roadways should make this a winner for Effingham County.

Plans call for “solar trees” dotting the property, providing much of the site’s electrical needs. Medient executives also say they’ll only use non-carbon-producing vehicles on the site and provide day care services for employees.

The site will be used for more than film making. Facilities planned include housing, cinema and electronic game experiences. It will also feature lots of green spaces with recreational and retail services for the public.

Medient’s CEO, Manu Kumaran, described the project as “Disneyland meets Googleplex” and said it will enhance the community.

Renderings of the architect’s vision certainly have a futuristic look, making us think “The Jetsons” would be right at home there.

We believe when all is said and done, many residents of this “galaxy” will enjoy calling it home or at least a great place to work.

The IDA staff and CEO John Henry are to be congratulated for their hard work in getting this deal to the table.

Kumaran said his company looked elsewhere, but, “John Henry has been quite the bulldog.”

Kumaran said Effingham got the nod over New York, Pennsylvania, Savannah and Atlanta for this project.

As excited as we are about this project, we have to caution that there is much to be done before any earth is turned at the site. For starters, county commissioners must approve the plans and the property has to be properly zoned.

Let’s hope all the red tape doesn’t halt these plans. The number of jobs and the potential this project has are too important.

If all goes well, before long it may be showtime in Effingham.

Seventh-graders from Lyn Long’s class at Effingham County Middle School rewrote history in a mock trial Friday, finding Sacco and Vanzetti not guilty.

State Court Solicitor General Mark Lee portrayed a judge during the mock trial at the old courthouse in Springfield.

Elizabeth Berenguer Megale, a professor at Savannah Law School, helped the defense and Michael King, a first-year student at Savannah Law School, helped the prosecution.

Long said the exercise was particularly valuable in light of a new emphasis in public schools on informational and argumentative writing.

“They’ll always remember this,” said Lee, who has helped students in mock trials before.

In 1920, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were found guilty of two murders. They were executed in 1927.

Many people felt that the trial was not fair and that the men were convicted for their radical, anarchist beliefs.

The chief executive officer of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, John Henry, was tenacious in beating Atlanta, Savannah and the states of New York and Pennsylvania for a $90 million movie studio and entertainment facility expected to create 1,000 jobs.

“John has been quite the bulldog,” said Manu Kumaran, the chairman and chief executive officer of Medient Studios Inc., which announced plans Tuesday for the complex on IDA land at Interstate 16.

Kumaran said mild winters and a tendency to avoid hurricane damage also were big reasons the site in Effingham was chosen. He said the quality of life in the Savannah area also was an important factor.

About one-fourth of the 1,000 people who will work at the complex will come from outside the area, he said. Safety also is important when attracting employees, he said.

Henry said negotiations with the company began the first of November. The company was looking in the Savannah area and came to Effingham IDA because of a broker in the area, he said.

Kumaran, who said he will be moving to the area, said the complex will combine elements of sustainable living and integration of public and private areas.

The facility will be a tourism draw, bringing people to see movies, attend concerts and play virtual reality games.

The project will have jobs for people involved in making movies and video games, but it also will include such jobs as health care and food service.

The goal will be to eventually have a self-sustaining community, with housing and shopping.

Average salary is expected to be $39,000.

Trip Tollison, head of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, said the project is exciting “because of the opportunity it gives us to be involved in a regional project. For us to work with Effingham County is a good sign for things to come. We’re excited for Effingham County. This shows that regionalism works.”

Attracting digital media industry players has been a top priority for SEDA for a couple of years now as they try to leverage the film tax credits. SEDA has “four or five digital prospects” in the pipeline right now, Tollison said.

“The digital industry increasingly recognizes Georgia as a player and now folks have learned and seen the benefits of this tax credit,” Tollison said. “What companies are doing now is looking to see where they can invest. With SCAD in place, it seems like a natural for us to be in the mix.”

Medient would be a direct competitor with Meddin Studios, which is about to move into a new facility in downtown Savannah.

Kumaran said Medient might be able to work with Meddin Studios on some projects.

A Clyo man scheduled to stand trial Thursday on murder charges has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Darrell Lee Lovett will serve 20 years in the death of Arthur L. Scruggs III, 63.

Lovett was accused of beating Scruggs to death with a trenching shovel last Fourth of July.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Deal said Lovett made his guilty plea on Monday.

A jury was selected in the case on Feb. 27 in Judge John R. Turner’s courtroom in Effingham County Superior Court.

Lovett, who was 51 at the time, was charged with murder, aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

The state was also seeking “enhanced recidivist punishment” because of four prior felony convictions against Lovett. The convictions were for theft by taking in 1984, first-degree forgery in 1993, habitual violator in Lovett was accused of hitting Scruggs repeatedly in the head with the shovel after an argument on Sam Smart Road in Clyo, in north Effingham County.

An elderly female resident of the house had died earlier in the day.