City to consider dog limit

Two items of new business at the City of Swainsboro became the first readings of modifications to city ordinances Monday. The City Council approved a recommendation of the Animal Control Committee to limit dog ownership to 5 adult canines, that’s dogs older than 90 days, and that kennels and places where dogs are kept must be 25 feet away from any neighbor’s property. The committee, made up of council members Johnny Ray Stafford and Rita Faulkner, met with Sheri Watt of the Animal Shelter and Police Chief Randy Ellison to discuss the changes.
Also approved were changes to the Coin Operated Amusement Device ordinance to comply with new state regulations. These will require the registration of certain game machines and a limit of 6 at any one location.
Both of these items will be read again at April’s meeting of the Swainsboro Mayor and City Council and are scheduled for a public hearing and final vote on May 5th.
In other business, Council approved a request from American Cancer Society representatives to close Robert Shaw and Green Streets near Patriot Square from around 5:30 p.m. to after midnight on June 6th for the Relay for Life event that will be held downtown this year. And with paperwork now in order, Council agreed to advertise the application of Wheeler Morris Drake for beer and wine consumption on premises at 112 South Central Street.
The city approved an expense of $20,111 for a Local Limits study for Industrial Pretreatment of waste water. There have been recent reductions in local industry and upgrades to water treatment, but the city was unable to receive an exemption from the study. The last research of this type was done 19 years ago.

Chamber banquet held

After being delayed from earlier in month due to weather, the Swainsboro Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce annual Banquet was held Thursday. A highlight of the event is the naming of the large business, small business and citizen of the year. It is suppose to be a surprise and it was to citizen of the year retiring Emanuel County School Superintendent Erma Jenkins.
Jenkins says, her 39 years in Emanuel County have been the best years of her life, and it has been “her honor to be her and work with the boys and girls of Emanuel County.”
The Large Business of the Year was recognized as Faircloth Welding and Fabrication. Danny Wayne Faircloth called it a “Real surprise.” Faircloth also tells us he couldn’t do it without his family and employees, and that he likes the direction that the Chamber and Joint Development Authority are taking.
Hotset America was named as the small business of year, their spokesman quoted their boss, David Cieslica, who was called out of town.

ORK appeals permit

GreenLaw and Stack and Associates, on behalf of Ogeechee Riverkeeper, have filed an appeal of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s issuance of a water pollution permit for King America Finishing.

The appeal, filed in the Office of State Administrative Hearings, alleges that the water pollution permit issued by the state Environmental Protection Division allows King America Finishing to continue to pollute the Ogeechee River.

Hutton Brown, attorney at GreenLaw, says the state has consistently and repeatedly refused to require King America to stop its pollution of the river. He says the permit violates state and federal law and gives the industry the ability to add more pollution to the river putting fish, wildlife and people at risk.

Ogeechee Riverkeeper argues that the permit issued to King America Finishing should have much more stringent limits for ammonia and other chemicals that lower oxygen levels in the river.

The appeal goes on to say that toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde should not be allowed to be discharged into the river. It also noted that many other known pollutants in the industry’s waste stream are not required to be monitored or limited by the water pollution permit.

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Johnson verbally commits to UGA

Swainsboro Tiger wide receiver/defensive back/track Rico Johnson has verbally committed to attend the University of Georgia to play football. Rico participated in senior day camps at both Clemson University and the University of Georgia in June. He was offered scholarships by Marshall University, Appalachian State University and the University of Georgia. Rico opened everyone’s eyes in Athens when he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.28 seconds on his first attempt. Bulldog Head Football Coach Mark Richt, among many others in attendance at the camp, then came over to watch Rico run his second time. On Rico’s second attempt, he did not disappoint. He ran his 2nd time in 4.25 seconds.

Many college football coaches actually began to notice Rico this spring when he participated on the Swainsboro High School track and field team. He actually won the state championship in the 100 meter and finished 2nd in the state in the 200 meter. After running his 2nd 40 yard dash at the UGA camp, Coach Mark Richt called Rico over and offered him the opportunity to attend the University of Georgia as a member of UGA’s 2013 signing class. When asked how it felt to receive an offer from his dream school, Rico said, “I had to turn and walk away for a second. I wanted to cry. This is a dream come true.”

Rico’s family members, Swainsboro Tiger coaches, friends, SHS students and staff are very proud of this accomplishment and excited about the opportunities afforded him. Everyone is looking forward to seeing Rico play this fall and have a successful season as a Swainsboro Tiger.