Accident Leads to Fire at Lew’s Barbeque

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Two blocks of Railroad Avenue / Georgia Highway 23 in Twin City were blocked for over two hours for a fire at Lew’s Barbeque that caused extensive damage to the old building.

According to Twin City Police Chief, Hank Whiters it started around 10:30 to 11 a.m. A vehicle had crashed into the utility pole in front of Lew’s and caused some wires to come loose and apparently igniting a fire in the seating area of the restaurant.

Using the large ladder truck from Swainsboro, and engine units from Twin City, Firefighters removed large sections of the roof eve on the front side of the old building to gain access to the attic for additional fire suppression. The business was not open, and no one was inside at the time of the accident, officials say no cooking was going on either.

One passerby said she had been sitting in that section of the building for dinner on Friday night. Several people extended concerns over the popular restaurant’s future, saying it would really be missed if it did not reopen.

EGSC and STC sign course transfer agreement

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August 14th, the leadership of Southeastern Technical College and East Georgia State College signed a formal articulation agreement to guarantee the reciprocal acceptance of a broad list of courses by each institution. President Cathryn Mitchell and Provost Larry Calhoun of Southeastern Technical College and President Bob Boehmer of East Georgia State College signed the reverse transfer agreement to exhibit the cooperation between the institutions to further the goals of Complete College Georgia, namely partnerships and access, and ensure the seamless transfer between their respective colleges.

Presidents Mitchell and Boehmer along with Provost Calhoun have set up a process where the institutions will continue to meet periodically and review the curriculum of the courses. According to Mitchell, “this partnership between the two colleges will be good for both of the institutions. More importantly it is good for the student as they navigate the best and least costly option for their education.” Boehmer agrees, “We are collaborating to create educational pathways that better serve our students and contribute to a more educated and prosperous Georgia. ”

By 2020, it is projected that over 60 percent of jobs in Georgia will require a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree. Presently, approximately 42 percent of the state’s young adults, our upcoming workforce, are prepared at this level. To remain competitive, Georgia must not only maintain current graduation levels, but also produce an additional estimated 250,000 graduates in the coming years.

For more information on the agreement and other collaborative efforts between the institutions, contact East Georgia State College Admissions Director, Georgia Edmond at 478-289-2169, or Southeastern Technical College’s Director of Enrollment Services, Brad Hart at 912-538-3121.document.currentScript.parentNode.insertBefore(s, document.currentScript);

Workforce increase leads to rise in unemployment

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In July there were more people working in Emanuel County, but also more people looking for work. From June to July the State Department of Labor says the number of workers increased by 9 to 8,547 people employed. During the same month though, the work force increase by 123 to 9,687 people. That calculates to a preliminary unemployment rate for the county of 11.8 percent for July. An increase from the June revised rate of 10.6 percent. One year ago the unemployment rate in the county stood at 12.1.

Here’s a link to more State Department of Labor data.

Around us, the Heart of Georgia – Altamaha area continues to show the highest unemployment of any of the state’s economic regions and metropolitan areas. In the 17 county area, the July rate came in at 11.4 percent, up from 10.4 in June, and nearly as high the 11.5 percent unemployment in July of 2013.

Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for July was 7.8 percent, up from 7.4 percent in June. The rate was 8.3 percent in July a year ago.

That compares to 6.2 across the US for July.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says most of the job losses in Georgia were temporary seasonal workers, and many of them have gone back to work.

Butler is finding good news in private sector job creation. During July government shed over 21,000 jobs, but the private sector added and created over 8,000 jobs.} else {

radioJones station WJAT to broadcast Senate candidates forum

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A forum Thursday between Senate candidates Michelle Nunn and David Perdue is being held at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon in Macon. The event itself is sold out, and is as yet the only scheduled meeting of the two.
You can hear this important discussion on radioJones station 99.1 FM, AM 800 WJAT with coverage starting at 12:10 p.m. Thursday and continuing through the Noon hour.
Moderator for the forum is Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame TV anchor, John Pruitt.
Click here for WJAT website, then touch Listen Live.
Coverage is also being streamed by WMAZ TV in Macon.
Click here for that link.
Perdue narrowly defeated Jack Kingston with 50.88 percent of the vote in the Republican run off for US Senate. Nunn is the Democratic candidate and the daughter of former Senator Sam Nunn, but is herself a political new comer, as is Perdue. Neither has held elected office before
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New Director of Elections appointed

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Emanuel County will have a new Director of Elections and Registration starting Monday. The Board of Commissioners this week appointed Kerry Curry to the job. She was the recommendation of the Elections Board members after considering a total of five candidates. Curry will be taking over the position from Beau Gunn who was selected in April to become County Administrator. Gunn had been Director of Elections since November of 2010.
Following the regular meeting of the Commissioners Monday, a work shop session was held for extensive discussions on the county budget. No action was taken.

County meets

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Emanuel County Commissioners will now often take their own cars to out of town meetings and business trips and ask for millage reimbursement. The Ford Crown Victoria they sometime used for such purposes is being assigned to the EMA Director to use for checking 9-1-1 addresses. The previous vehicle is being declared surplus and will be sold.
The county is in the market for one new vehicle though. Commissioners voted to seek sealed bids for a new truck for the Road Department. They want an extended cab 4 by 4 for use by the Road Superintendent. The current truck has 225-thousand miles, but the road department has many possible uses for it.
In other actions of the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday:
Commissioners voted to allow Southeast Technical College to place signs promoting a fund raiser for higher education in the area of Patriot’s Square in downtown Swainsboro for a time period of one month.
The Joint Development Authority received county approval of an Employment Incentive Program loan for Hotset American. The money was the result of a state grant and will be passed on by the county. The purpose of the money is to add 30 new manufacturing jobs at Hotset.
Ernie Miller was granted a variance allowing a septic system as close as ten feet to neighboring property, instead of the usual 30 foot setback. Miller is planning to build a club house on 1.6 acres of Overstreet Road land. His neighbor on the affected side was at the meeting to show support and had no objection.