Education in Morgan County

    • At the Morgan County Board of Education’s special called meeting on Tuesday, July 28, board members unanimously, save for member Dave Belton, who was not present to vote, approved two textbooks, Glencoe/McGraw Hill’s “Marketing Essentials” and “Sports Entertainment,” as recommended by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ralph Bennett and Morgan County High School Assistant Principal Davis Bell. Both books will be utilized in the new career pathway “Marketing Careers & Service” at the school.
    The board also unanimously, with the exception of Belton, approved hiring a new Morgan County Middle School Language Arts teacher, a replacement bus driver, and a new school nurse at Morgan County Primary

School.Local News

    • Berryman's Service Station, downtown Madison's sole gas station, shut its doors in mid-July. Asked about the closing, manager David Berryman refused to comment at this time.
    • A new restaurant, Girasoles, opened in the Town of Bostwick on Monday, July 20. This is the second in the area, with the original Girasoles restaurant in Watkinsville.
    Jose Zambrano, who owns the small taqueria, said that he chose to open another in Bostwick after a number of people requested its presence in the town. According to Zambrano, business is going well at both locations. Girasoles is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday.
    • Local woman Becky Massey, who has been in the military for five years, flew an osprey plane over the City of Madison on Monday, July 20.
    Those that heard a rumbling from the sky that afternoon may have seen the aircraft circle the city. According to her father, Larry Massey, she was the third woman ever appointed by the Marines to fly an osprey plane. The purpose of the flight was to provide cross-country flight training for two of the crews. “Since she was in charge of planning [the flight], she planned it like she did – with approval,” Larry Massey said.
    • In an update to the recently run article regarding the Friends of Hard Labor Creek State Park, the Rockdale Trailblazers and another club aiding the organization, the Back Country Horseman of Middle and South Georgia, were both present at the park at the beginning of the month and spent an additional 154 volunteer hours clearing trails, according to an e-mail from Friends of Hard Labor Creek State Park President Harold Hammond. "They are planning a major ride with over 200 horses in the fall to help the park through Friends of Hard Labor Creek State Park," Hammond said, in the e-mail. Further, according to Hammond, "Mr. Michael Lamar, Morgan County manager, was out last week for a tour of the park and he has had his Special Projects Manager join our Friends group to keep abreast of any special needs he may be able to assist us with.
    A number of local vendors have offered their help, as well. One large contributor is Top Gear Motor Sports, who is helping with much needed repairs on our off-road equipment at cost. With the dramatic cuts in the state budget, without the community's assistance we would have a difficult time keeping the parks open.
    The financial impact on the local community could be as much as $20 million on an annual basis. The state is relying on Friends of The Parks to work with and partner with local groups to make sure all parks stay open."
    The Hard Labor Creek State Park Friends organization is the newest of 40 similar organizations in the state.
    For more information on Friends of Hard Labor Creek State Park, call (706) 557-9163.