Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers to the recall of more products that may contain peanut ingredients supplied by Peanut Corporation of America which is the subject of an FDA investigation concerning recent Salmonella outbreaks.

Premier Nutrition

Premier Nutrition is recalling certain TWISTED and TITAN nutrition bars.  The following Premier Nutrition products with "Best By" dates ranging as shown below, in the specific sizes and flavors indicated, are included in the recall:

• TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Vanilla
BEST BY: AUG 01 2009A (August 1, 2009), through JAN 09 2010A (January 9, 2010)
• TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Chocolate
BEST BY: AUG 01 2009A (August 1, 2009), through JAN 09 2010A (January 9, 2010)
• TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Peanut Butter
BEST BY: AUG 01 2009A (August 1, 2009), through JAN 09 2010A (January 9, 2010)
• TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Variety Packs 15 and 24 count
DATED: 07/01/09 (July 1, 2009) through 01/09/10 (January 9, 2010)
• TITAN Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Crunch (80g size)
BEST BY: SEP 04 2009A (September 4, 2009) through DEC 17 2009A (December 17, 2009)
• TITAN Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Crunch (25g size)
BEST BY: SEP 04 2009A (September 4, 2009) through DEC 17 2009A (December 17, 2009)

These products were sold in grocery, warehouse and other retail stores throughout the United States as well as over the internet.  No other PREMIER NUTRITION flavors, brands or products are included in this recall.

Anyone who has purchased the recalled products is urged to dispose of them so no one can eat them.  Those with questions or who would like a refund or replacement may contact Premier Nutrition at 888-836-8977. Details also can be found at www.premiernutrition.com.

Boca Grande Foods

Boca Grande Foods Inc. is recalling POCO PAC® and GRANDE GOURMET™ peanut butter and peanut butter and jelly combination products.

POCO PAC®, and GRANDE GOURMET™ peanut butter products were distributed nationally for use in foodservice institutions. The products were distributed in 0.5 oz., 0.75 oz., 1 oz., 1.12 oz., 2 oz., 2.25 oz. and 3 oz. individual plastic containers labeled with POCO PAC®, ™ or GRANDE GOURMET™, as well as unbranded 16 oz., 5 lb. and 50 lb. bulk plastic containers.

Customers who received any products affected by this recall will be contacted directly by a Boca Grande Foods customer service representative. Implicated product is to be isolated for pick-up by Boca Grande Foods. Customers with questions or concerns about the recall may contact Boca Grande Foods at 800-788-8026, extension 15.

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The Brass Lantern Cafe in Summerville has applied with City of Summerville for a wine consumption license.  The restaurant is located on Commerce Street in Summerville.  The application for the license will be presented to the City of Summerville at 5 PM on February 9th in the meeting room of the Summerville City Council.

The Trion School Board met earlier this week in their regular monthly meeting and set the new tuition rate for those who live outside of the Trion City limits and wish to enroll their children in Trion City Schools. 

The tuition rate will be $150 per student with a cap of $450 per family.  The school board has indicated that they will be willing to set up payment plans for families that may need time to pay the tuition. 

The Trion School Board is expected to decide at a later date if they will charge teachers who have children enrolled in the system the tuition.

Also, the Trion School Board has called a special meeting for next Wednesday, January 28th at 6 PM at the Trion High School Media Center.

Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters will begin monthly meetings for the public next Thursday January 29th.  Winters told AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio that the meetings will give Chattooga County residents a picture of what is going on with the county and inform them of upcoming projects and concerns.  Winters plans to hold the meeting at the Chattooga County Courthouse Annex located on West Washington Street in Summerville.  The monthly meetings are expected to have a time of question and answers for the public with the County Commissioner.  Next week’s meeting will get underway at 6 PM.

A battle over state funding for school nurses is brewing as Georgia lawmakers begin wrangling over the budget for next fiscal year.

Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue’s proposed $20.2 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 would eliminate $30 million for school nurses.

That means already cash-strapped school districts would have to find money elsewhere or lay off nurses.

ROME NEWS TRIBUNE

The search continues for someone who broke into Trion Drugs on Monday night.  According to reports, the Sheriffs Department is asking for the publics help regarding the incident.  Investigators believe the suspect is a white male who was driving a dark colored, four-door Nissan or Honda.  A large amount of nerve pills were taken from the drug store.  Anyone with information is urged to call 706-857-3411.

The Summerville News is reporting today that Sheriff John Everett has received new jail inmate uniforms for those incarcerated at the Chattooga County Jail.  The cost of the uniforms was $5,000, paid for by profits from the jail commissary store.  The uniforms are one piece striped jump suites and will replace the two piece orange inmate uniforms.

In other changes at the Sheriffs Department the Sheriff will now allow full time deputies to drive their patrol cars home.  According to the report, the Sheriff said he will "deal with" deputies that misuse the drive-home policy.

ATLANTA (January 21, 2009) — The Senate and House Appropriations Committees began their joint budget hearings today at the state Capitol, led by co-chairmen Senator Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) and Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans).  Lawmakers heard presentations on the Department of Revenue, Education, Natural Resources and the Judicial Branch.

The meeting began with Governor Sonny Perdue outlining his budget proposal emphasizing the need for government to provide the most value to its citizen with the resources available.  He noted that education funding is critically important in shaping the state’s future, and has proposed a $1.2 billion bond package to invest in education infrastructure.  Gov. Perdue also encouraged passage of his “Super Speeder” legislation, where fines for excess speeding will be dedicated to funding a trauma care network.  This proposal, previously proposed in 2008, answers the call of many across the state to strengthen Georgia’s limited trauma care system. 

The committee was then presented with an economic forecast by Dr. Kenneth Heaghney, state fiscal economist.  After listing the downward trends Georgia has recently experienced across all economic sectors, including an average loss of 17,000 jobs a month, Dr. Heaghney said he predicts the state will begin to see a mild recovery in the middle of 2009. 

Departments and agencies then delivered presentations focused on what impact a $2.2 billion budget shortfall will have on their programs.  Despite decreased funding, State School Superintendent Kathy Cox outlined several new goals she plans to implement to meet the pressing needs of Georgia’s students, including increasing high school graduation rates, strengthening teacher quality, improving students’ workforce readiness skills, developing strong educational leaders, improving test scores, and creating policies that ensure the maximum academic and financial accountability.  A major concern for the General Assembly is the reduction in school nurses for 2010.  Nurses are contracted through this year, but could be eliminated in 2010.  

Budget briefings will continue through the week with hearings on transportation, public safety, economic development, the University system, and community health.

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent in December, the highest rate in almost 26 years. The jobless rate was up 3.6 percentage points from 4.5 percent at this same time last year. The December unemployment rate was up seven-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 7.4 percent in November.

The last time Georgia posted a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at this level was in March of 1983 when the rate was also 8.1 percent. The state rate remained above the national rate of 7.2 percent for the 11th straight month. At present, 393,168 unemployed Georgians are looking for work. Of that number, 156,719, or 40 percent, are drawing unemployment insurance benefits.

Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs decreased 121,800 or 2.9 percent. Jobs were lost in manufacturing, construction, and trade, along with professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies. Jobs were added in health care, education, and with the federal government.