Teen Maze grows in Gilmer

Bobcat's Corner

Ellijay, Ga. – At the Lion’s Club Fairgrounds, the High School’s annual Teen Maze saw students traversing their mock future through both good and bad decisions by random chance.

Spreading the thoughts across the students, they flip cards and take chance spins of wheels to see how one bad decision spirals into catastrophe for their lives. Though some make it to “graduation,” many fall short as their mock decisions lead to probation, early parenthood, STDs, Jail, or even death.

The event continues to grow over recent years, though it still retains much of the highlights from the past including the ever popular, yet all too realistic, crash involving a drunk teen. The crash kills one and sends two into critical condition, with a third still needing hospitalization. It seems the only one to make it through the wreck without major injury is the drunk teen himself. As the mother of one of the critical students screams at him for what he’s done, she yells out that he should be the one on the ground. Through the continued abuse, emergency responders try to redirect her into an ambulance as the teen is led to the back seat of a police car, and inevitably on to a string of events that many of the students themselves will soon walk through in the maze.

The wreck includes critical care life-flight, firefighters, police, and actual response procedures for the student’s injuries. Around a hundred students watch from each group through the day as the sheet is pulled over the one dead, and the others are placed in neck restraints and emergency response wades through the blood and carnage.

Past the grisly scene, the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office put the students themselves behind the wheel as they attempt to navigate a small driving course in a golf cart while wearing “drunk goggles” to simulate the disorientation. One of the newer additions to the maze, the response to this course went so far as to ask for another course requiring the students to write a text while driving, catering to both the rising concern over texting and driving and Georgia’s new law against it. Having begun the project this year, it is a continuing part of the overall project.

These are the kinds of comments and suggestions that Director Merle Naylor, of Gilmer Family Connections, asks for each year from those involved. Naylor confirmed this year saw 325 students attend the event throughout the day hosted by over 125 different volunteers dedicating time to the event. Most were all day volunteers.

A great chunk of the volunteers, this year saw 47 senior nursing students come from Chattahoochee Technical College, according to Naylor. Some of these volunteers man the hospital zone where Gilmer Students look closer at a medical dummy simulating many of the injuries they saw in the crash outside.

Even with the volunteers and Lion’s Club members aiding in set up, the process begins for Naylor months in advance as she begins writing scripts and conceptualizing the program. Finally, the Friday before the event, she and other Lion’s club members set up everything for the event and spend the next three days decorating and preparing the zones with their displays and the needed supplies.

Over 30 stations are constructed, not including the outside zones like the party scene, the wreck, and the drunk driving course, for the one-day event.

It has become so large that Naylor voices concerns over the size and how she can fit everything in every year. Added stations and courses require more time for students to navigate the entire day, and some don’t even make it through the whole maze before their allotted time is completed. Add in unexpected events and a slight delay in arrival could mean cutting half the program for a group.

On top of that Naylor says one of her biggest desires would be to allow students to navigate the maze a second time to see things or experience stations they may have missed the first time.

As the program’s popularity continues to rise, those involved have been spreading the message, too. Naylor confirms that Pickens County School System has been observing the program over the last few years and are even considering hosting their own day next spring.

 

Reality Day sees success despite reduced numbers

Community

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Sophomores of Gilmer High School (GHS) were treated to the annual Reality Day that is put on every March.

Sophomores from GHS make decisions about cell phones and activities among others at the Entertainment station of their budget process.

Sophomores from GHS make decisions about cell phones and activities among others at the Entertainment station of their budget process.

Set 10 years into the students’ future, the day sets up budgetary needs for a student offering randomized “life-situations” like number of children, marital status, and job description and pay. They take this monthly income and travel to different stations in order to budget their life and what they want including cell phones, Internet, clothing, transportation, home, charity, insurance, and even unexpected events based upon random card draw.

Volunteers from across the county help the day progress through four groups throughout the day. Gilmer Family Connection Director Merle Naylor, who organizes the event, told FetchYourNews it’s the volunteers she relies on to make the day happen. Allowing students a glimpse of the general is what she points to as the real meaning of the day, but she also enjoys the time for citizens to volunteer showing that the students matter and are worth the time taken for the day.

Sophomores from GHS prepare for Reality Day with friends at the Ellijay Civic Center.

Sophomores from GHS prepare for Reality Day with friends at the Ellijay Civic Center.

This year saw a few hiccups, as far fewer students showed up for the day than were expected. Several issues were noted as contributing factors from students not getting permission slips to others being absent. Naylor commented on the reduced number saying, “I think it went well, maybe not as well as last year because of the number of student were probably a third of what we’ve had in past years. But the students certainly learned, and I’ve heard some comments from volunteers that they actually learned more because they could spend more time with the students … I look at in the positive that if a few of the students gained the knowledge, then it was well worth it all.”

Naylor went on to note that she takes a lot personally from the day to know that people are willing to volunteer for the project. The interaction with the students goes a long way, but more, the interaction with each other builds the community support of the students and of each other.

 

Be sure to check out FYN’s Facebook page for more photos from Reality Day 2018.

Dog trapped between rocks dies during rescue

News

Photos by Leah Britt

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Yesterday, Jan. 3, several people became aware of a developing situation through a viral Facebook post about a dog who had become stuck.

Photo by Leah Britt

According to that post by local citizen Leah Britt, the animal had been stuck for some time with authorities unable to help. As the post has reached nearly 6,000 shares, the viral nature brought out several citizens in attempts of continued rescue for the animal.

Through the continued popularity of the post, more information came to light as the dog, named Handsome, had allegedly been trapped in the hole for three days.

Despite continued efforts from all involved, the animal did not survive, passing away during the rescue operation. However, support continues to flow for the dog and its owners through the post with comments and posts on other people’s pages like Sean Davis, one of the volunteers desperately trying to save the animal. Comments generally contained sympathy for the animal and those involved asking for updates and showing support for those who continued attempts at rescue with a few noting alleged injuries the animal had received including several claiming a hip injury among others.

Check out Leah’s post below:

Update on Hurricane Irma Cleanup and Relief Efforts

State & National

ATLANTA (September 18, 2017) | On Thursday, September 14, 2017, Senator Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega)  joined Governor Nathan Deal, local elected officials and first responders for a press conference in Habersham County  to address Hurricane Irma cleanup and relief efforts.

“First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude to the first responders and volunteers who are helping the ongoing recovery efforts in our local communities and throughout the state,” said Sen. Gooch. “It is an honor to join Governor Deal, our local elected officials, first responders and citizens in any and all efforts to get our state back up and running. Our citizens are resilient and I am confident that by working together, we can help those in need and rebuilt each and every community that was impacted. It was very uplifting to witness the outpour of assistance from the hundreds of employees of utility companies from all over the United States.”

On Monday, September 11, 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Georgia leaving around 1 million citizens without power. The impact from Irma was felt from the coastal plains to the north Georgia mountains. The state of Georgia saw unprecedented damage caused by the tropical storm force winds that reached more than 400 miles from the storm’s center. Relief efforts are ongoing and first responders, power companies, state agencies, volunteers and citizens are working around the clock to rebuild and restore power.

Governor Deal and the federal government responded quickly and declared a state of emergency in Georgia so that funds could be appropriated to help with the financial burden of the storm. Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) is coordinating their efforts with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state agencies and local authorities to ensure recovery, rebuilding and cleanup is completed in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

Additional information can be found on the GEMA and FEMA websites:

http://www.gema.ga.gov/Pages/default.aspx

https://www.fema.gov/

Missing Woman in Coosawattee

News

ELLIJAY, GA – A woman around the age of 40 has been reported missing in the Coosawattee area of Gilmer County.

Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, volunteer Fire Fighters, and other enforcement have been called in to aid in the search for the woman. She was last reported wearing shorts and a black bikini top with flip flop sandals.

While officials continue their search, they have asked that anyone with information regarding this search to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 706-635-4162.

UPDATE: It is FYN’s understanding that this photo was recently offered by a family member to aid in the search.

BOE Recognizes Volunteers for Seamless Summer

News

At their work session on Monday, September 19, the Gilmer County Board of Education recognized several members of the community for volunteering with the Seamless Summer Program.

Whether it was helping serve the children, transport food, coordinate locations, or just offer time to supervise the locations, citizens of Gilmer County have become the core of this summer program. Director of School Nutrition, Kim McBurnett thanked several of these key volunteers with special recognition at the meeting, a Certificate from the Board, and a basket of local apples.

Those who volunteered included (pictured) Darien Bowen, Whitney Crouch, Jan Day, Karleen Ferguson, Meg McHale, Glenda Murphy, Daniel Petkus, James Stanley, and Sue Stanley as well as (not pictured) Rod Combs, Marianne Evans, Steve Fields, Diane Fowler, Teresa Hall, Maria Harmon, Karen Hoesen, Julia Jabaley, Saber Marks, Janice Morgan, Becky Patterson, Karen Pinson, Chuck Prater, Lynn Ringwalt, Krystal Sumner, Dave Valdez, Judy Valdez, and Marc Zirkle.

These volunteers made it possible to serve the 14,432 lunches and 5,576 Breakfasts this program provided this summer. However, McBurnett stated her greatest asset in the program belonged to School Nutrition Coordinator Lisa Lowman stating, “When director Linda Waters retired in December 2015, the vacancy was not filled until the following June. Lisa took over the responsibility and organized the Seamless Summer Option Feeding Program, planned the menus, sought the volunteers and employees to feed the children during the summer. She is the most selfless individual that I know and wants what is best for the children at all times.”

Forrest Bramlett Volunteers Services to Tennessee

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

Former Gilmer High School Bobcats baseball player, Forrest Bramlett, will continue his baseball career at the University of Tennessee. Bramlett played catcher for the Bobcats before signing to play for the Volunteers. Congratulations to Mr. Bramlett.

Shane’s Rib Shack serves Patriotic BBQ

Build an Ark, Business

Recently Gilmer County’s Build an Ark Animal Rescue received a life changing visit from NewYorkSaysThankYou and as part of the event had the distinct honor and excitement of bringing America’s 911 Flag to our community! Gilmer County took possession of the Flag in Marietta for an unforgettable experience of escorting to a waiting crowd in Ellijay, GA!

Today Fetchyournews.com would like to highlight and extend a big “Thank You” to our friends at Shane’s Rib Shack for their amazing contribution during the recent events! Shane’s Rib Shack exhibited their willingness to “Pay it Forward!” by serving up delicous BBQ on more than one occassion to hungry volunteers. (more…)

Community in Action-American Owned Ingles “Pays it Forward” in Gilmer County

Build an Ark, Business

Special volunteers joined forces to create the best in America in Gilmer County this week-end to “Pay it Forward”! Advance teams arrived early in order to begin the project. They were joined by hundreds more traveling from all across America starting this past Thursday to hold a barn raising for Build an Ark Animal Rescue, which was this year’s project picked by New York Says Thank You. Hundreds of volunteers working together sharing a common American Spirit is a wonderful event!

Fetchyournews.com heard numerous comments expressing the amazement of how our local community companies stepped up. So we decided to say a special thank you to our local heroes by highlighting their willingness to do what they can (in no particular order). It seems fitting to see this sort of willingness since the week-end was in honor of our local 1Lt. Noah Harris and his dedication to the sentiment of “I do what I can”! Our first special thank you goes to an American owned company, Ingles, that really went above and beyond in so many ways. (more…)

Barn Moves Toward Completion

Build an Ark

On Thursday morning, Susan Littlejohn’s barn-to-be was nothing more than a skeleton of a building, a strong frame bearing the likeness of a sea-worthy ark. But, by late Friday afternoon, (more…)

Jeff Parness – New York Says Thank You -Rides into Town

Build an Ark

Jeff Parness, Founder & Chairman of New York Says Thank You, rides into town Tuesday, July 26, to join the advance team working at Build an Ark Animal Rescue – Re-build a barn week-end. The eventful weekend is dedicated in honor of 1Lt. Noah Harris. (more…)

New York Says Thank You “Build an Ark” Weekend in Ellijay, GA July 28-31

Community, News

New York Says Thank You “Build an Ark” Weekend in Ellijay, GA July 28-31 (more…)

Donations Needed for Build an Ark Animal Rescue Center

News

As Fetchyournews.com reported earlier this week, the Build an Ark Animal Rescue Center on Highway 382 West, southwest of Ellijay, was destroyed by Monday night’s storms. The operator of the center, Susan Littlejohn, has asked us to reach out to the local community for donations.

(more…)

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