During a recent visit to Albany, Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler shared his thoughts on the impact the new Georgia Pacific lumber production facility would have on the local economy.
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(File Photo by Walter L. Johnson II)
Press Release courtesy of Phoebe Putney Health System
Albany, Ga. – Phoebe’s Main and North Campuses are now officially recognized as StormReady Supporters by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). To earn the designation, an institution must prove it has a means to receive and relay severe weather warnings, maintain a hazardous weather response plan, have a safe sheltering location and conduct preparedness activities and drills.
“In Phoebe’s 107-year history, we have served this community through numerous natural disasters, including the flood of 1994 and the twin storms in January 2017,” said Joel Wernick, Phoebe Pres. & CEO. “Phoebe is a vital part of every disaster response in our area. The community expects us to step up and meet their healthcare needs in times of crisis, and this designation shows our commitment to making sure we can do that,” Wernick added.
Phoebe regularly conducts disaster drills both internally and in conjunction with multiple community partners. As part of our communication plan, any time severe weather threatens our area, we have a system that automatically sends an email to all employees whenever the NWS issues a severe weather warning for their work location. “Our workforce must be ready to respond immediately if a weather disaster strikes,” said Gary Rice, Phoebe Manager of Security and Emergency Preparedness. “We do all we can to keep them informed and safe when severe weather is possible and to make sure they are ready to put our disaster response plan into effect any time it is needed.”
Phoebe maintains a strong partnership with the NWS, including active participation in any conference calls and webinars when severe weather is forecast for our area. The NWS office in Tallahassee, FL recently sent Phoebe a StormReady supporter certificate in honor of the hospital’s proactive approach to emergency communication and preparedness. In a letter announcing the certification, NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Mark Wool wrote, “This recognition clearly indicates this hospital’s dedication to providing its patients, employees and visitors with the best possible emergency preparedness. The community is well served by these capabilities.”
September is National Preparedness Month, a time to remind you of the importance of preparing for a potential disaster by learning lifesaving skills, making an emergency plan for your family, putting together an emergency kit and reviewing your insurance policies.
“We are proud to have earned this StormReady designation,” said Rice, “and during National Preparedness Month, we encourage all southwest Georgians to think about their readiness to deal with a disaster and to prepare accordingly to keep their families safe.”
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Editor’s Note: Any and all historical information is courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association at http://www.ghsfha.org/. All games listed are played on Fridays unless otherwise indicated.
FIRST DOWN: Sherwood Christian (0-2) at Pataula Charter (0-2)
The Eagles travel to Edison to play against the Panthers in a GICAA vs. GHSA battle between winless teams. SCA has lost 29 straight games dating back to the beginning of the 2015 season, with their last win coming in the 2014 GICAA Class AA state championship game. On November 21 of that year, the Eagles beat Calvary Christian for their lone state title in their inaugural GICAA campaign, finishing at 10-1 overall.
As for Pataula Charter, the Panthers have been outscored 106-14 in both games, both losses. Pataula opened their 2018 season with a 54-14 loss to fellow charter school rival Baconton Charter, followed by a 52-0 shutout loss to Aucilla Christian (Fla.) last week.
SECOND DOWN: Pelham (2-0) vs. Baconton Charter (1-0)–at Centennial Stadium, Camilla (Thursday, August 30)
Speaking of the Blazers, they had a bye last week after pounding Pataula in their opener on August 17. They hope to start a season at 2-0 for the first time in their program’s nine-year history against a Hornets squad that has pitched shutouts in their first two games. Pelham crushed Macon County 41-0 in the season opener for both teams two weeks ago, followed by a 57-0 rout over Randolph-Clay last week.
THIRD DOWN: Peach County (1-0) at Lee County (2-0)
“Trojan Bowl II” takes place at Trojan Field in Leesburg, as the defending GHSA Class 6A state champion Lee County Trojans play host to last year’s GHSA Class 3A state runner-up Peach County Trojans from Fort Valley. While the Trojans from Leesburg have outscored their first two opponents in Dougherty and Dr. Phillips (Fla.) 82-9 in their first two games, the Trojans from Fort Valley pulled off the upset over Region 1-6A Northside-Warner Robins 27-24 at the Macon Touchdown Club Kickoff Classic in Macon. So far, Lee County’s defense has held its opponents to minus-39 yards of total offense.
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Westover (0-1) vs. Monroe (2-0)–at Hugh Mills Stadium, Albany
The Patriots and Tornadoes will square off for the 49th time this week, with Monroe leading the all-time series 30-17-1. Monroe has won the last four meetings over Westover, with the Tornadoes last loss to the Patriots coming in 2013. Both Albany-based programs have played each other every year since 1970, Westover’s second year of varsity football.
The inaugural meeting that season ended in a 14-14 tie, with Monroe winning 30 of the next 47 meetings. The main match-up to watch for in this year’s contest will be between Tornadoes quarterback David Dillard and Westover linebacker Jamie Pettway. According to maxpreps.com, Dillard has passed for 482 yards and four touchdowns in wins over Jordan and Terrell County, while rushing for 231 more yards and eight touchdowns. Meanwhile, Pettway has drawn interest from multiple SEC and ACC schools on the recruiting front. He helped the Patriots take Cook to the limit before losing 14-10 in their season opener on the road two weeks ago.
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On this installment of the “High School Football Round-Up Podcast”, you’ll hear a look back on Lee County’s convincing win over Dr. Phillips of Orlando in the Georgia-Florida State Champions Challenge, Monroe’s double-digit win over Terrell County to go to 2-0, plus a preview of Week 3 action, and a whole lot more.
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NOTE: All final scores, in alphabetical order, with the winning team marked in BOLD type.
Last updated at 6:32 p.m. EDT–August 26, 2018
GHSA Scores–Week of August 24, 2018
Friday, August 24
Americus-Sumter 43, Dougherty 7
Bainbridge 15, Cairo 7
Cook 16, Turner County 13
Dooly County 33, Worth County 21
Irwin County 16, Fitzgerald 10
Lowndes 62, Chamblee 0
Monroe 51, Terrell County 32
Pelham 57, Randolph-Clay 0
Schley County 47, Calhoun County 28
Thomasville 39, Thomas County Central 7
Tift County 24, Valdosta 10
West Laurens 16, Crisp County 0
GISA Scores–Week of August 24, 2018
Friday, August 24
Deerfield-Windsor 15, Westfield 12
Southland 29, Southwest Georgia Academy 6
Tiftarea 55, Terrell Academy 11
Saturday, August 25
Lee County 35, Dr. Phillips (Fla.) 6
(Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge)
Colquitt County 42, Trinity Catholic (Mo.) 14
GICAA Score–Week of August 24, 2018
Rocky Bayou Christian (Fla.) 27, Sherwood Christian 14
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Editor’s Note: Any and all historical information is courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association at http://www.ghsfha.org/.
FIRST DOWN: Westfield at Deerfield-Windsor
The GISA Region 3-3A Knights (7-5 overall in 2017) will take the field for the first time to open the 2018 season against the GISA Region 4-3A Hornets from Perry. DWS holds a 19-16 lead in a series that dates back to 1973. Westfield looks to bounce back after a dismal 2-9 campaign last fall. The Knights downed the Hornets 28-7 in last year’s meeting.
SECOND DOWN: Terrell County (0-1) at Monroe (1-0)
The Tornadoes return to Hugh Mills Stadium for the second of three straight games there to begin the season, this time taking on the Greenwaves. In last week’s 47-14 over Jordan, quarterback David Dillard passed for more than 170 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Monroe leads Terrell County 16-4 in the all-time series, with the Tornadoes defeating the Greenwaves 33-14 in their last meeting in 2015. Terrell County will try for their first win of the season after losing 46-32 to Chattahoochee County last week.
THIRD DOWN: Dougherty (0-1) at Americus-Sumter (0-1)
There will be lots of “firsts” in this contest. It will be the home opener for the Panthers, who fell at Crisp County 17-14 in overtime. It’s also the GHSA Region 1-4A opener for both teams. Additionally, it’s the first-ever meeting between the two first-year head coaches at both schools, in Damien Gary at Dougherty, as well as Larry Harold at Americus-Sumter. If that wasn’t enough, the winner of this game will not only get their first win of the 2018 season but also get their first region win of the year. That’s not to mention that the winner will also get their first win under their new head coaches. The Trojans from Albany opened the 2018 season with a 47-6 loss to the Lee County in the Hamp Smith Classic at the Albany State University Coliseum last week.
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Dr. Phillips at Lee County (1-0)-(Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge)
Speaking of the Trojans from Leesburg, it’ll be a battle of first-time state champions on Saturday, as the defending GHSA Class 6A champion Lee County Trojans will play host to defending Florida Class 8A champion Dr. Phillips of Orlando. While Lee County is coming off a convincing win over this aforementioned Dougherty squad, it’s the season for the Panthers of Dr. Phillips, who finished the 2017 season at 13-2 overall, defeating Delray Beach Atlantic for the Class 8A championship. The Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge should serve as a valuable measuring stick for both teams as August comes to an end, and September arrives.
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A quick look back at Week 1 action, including Lee County’s easy win over Dougherty in the Hamp Smith Classic, as well as a quick look ahead to Week 2 action, on this week’s episode of the High School Football Round-Up, only on the Southwest Georgia Network.
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Editor’s Note: Welcome to the debut of the “Weekly High School Football Scoreboard”, a quick look at the final scores of various high school football games throughout the Southwest Georgia Network coverage area. So, without further ado, here are the Week 1 scores, in alphabetical order, with the winning team marked in BOLD type.
GHSA Scores–Week of August 17, 2018
Baconton Charter 54, Pataula Charter 14
Bainbridge 35, Seminole County 0
Brooks County 43, Mitchell County 6
Chattahoochee County 46, Terrell County 32
Cook 14, Westover 10
Crisp County 17, Americus-Sumter 14
Lee County 47, Dougherty 6
(Hamp Smith Classic at Albany State University)
Miller County 27, Deerfield-Windsor 14
(GHSA vs. GISA Scrimmage at Colquitt, Ga.)
Monroe 47, Jordan 14
Pelham 35, Macon County 0
Thomas County Central 33, Early County 7
Thomasville 15, Cairo 14
Turner County 28, Worth County 19
GISA Scores–Week of August 17, 2018
Brookwood (Thomasville) 17, Westwood 6
Southwest Georgia 40, Abbeville Christian (Ala.) 14
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Editor’s Note: Welcome to the inaugural installment of “Four-Down Territory” on the Southwest Georgia Network at southwestgeorgianetwork.com. Each week, Four-Down Territory will provide brief previews of up to four high school football games in the Southwest Georgia Network coverage area. Now, on to this week’s games.
FIRST DOWN: Macon County at Pelham
The Hornets play host to the Bulldogs from Montezuma in a rematch of a second-round Class A Public playoff game, which the Hornets lost 41-28, to finish the 2017 season at 9-3 overall.
SECOND DOWN: Westover at Cook
Olten Downs makes his debut as the Patriots head coach against a Hornets team that finished second in GHSA Region 1-3A last season at 6-6 overall. Westover looks to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
THIRD DOWN: Jordan at Monroe
The Tornadoes take on the visiting Red Jackets from Columbus in the first of seven non-region games in 2018. While advancing to the Class 3A playoffs despite winning three games last season, Monroe’s last winning season came in 2015, finishing 6-4 overall. The Tornadoes are a combined 5-13 overall over the last two seasons (2016-2017).
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Lee County vs. Dougherty (Hamp Smith Classic at Albany State University)
The Lee County Trojans begin the defense of their first-ever state championship against the Dougherty Trojans in the inaugural Hamp Smith Classic this week. However, the defending GHSA Class 6A champions must try to win back-to-back state championships after losing 41 seniors from last year’s squad, while also playing a tough non-region schedule that includes playing host to defending Florida Class 8A state champion Dr. Phillips from Orlando. Former Georgia standout Damien Gary makes his debut as Dougherty’s head coach after spending the last five years as an assistant coach at UNC-Charlotte. While managing to advance to postseason play despite winning four games combined over the last two years, Dougherty must navigate its way through a GHSA Region 1-4A that has eight other teams in order to make the playoffs for a third straight season.
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The 2018 Georgia high school football season is just around the corner. Here’s what you’ll hear in the debut episode of the High School Football Round-Up Podcast:
-Lee County looks to defend the GHSA Class 6A state championship
-Mid-cycle GHSA Realignment
-Dougherty moves up from 3A to 4A.
-Monroe stays in 3A.
-Westover joins Dougherty in 4A.
-The new playoff format explained
-Top 4 teams from Region 1-4A.
-Top 3 teams from Region 1-3A.
-The at-large playoff berth in 3A.
-New head coaches at Dougherty, Westover, Worth County, et. al.
-Opening Week Games
-Lee County vs. Dougherty (at Albany State University Coliseum)
-Jordan at Monroe
-Westover at Cook
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