State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) will host an online chat about “Surviving a Layoff” Wednesday, Jan. 25. The chat will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the GDOL website www.dol.state.ga.us.
The 90-minute, question-and-answer chat is called “Ask T.E.D.” (Type, Explore, Discover). A panel of experts will provide information on dealing with unemployment, networking, locating financial and job search resources, preparing for job interviews, retooling and setting goals, conducting self-assessments, recognizing the dos and don’ts of job search, developing effective job search documents, understanding labor market information, and identifying retraining opportunities.
People who wish to submit questions in advance to be answered during the chat may do so on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Georgia.Department.of.Labor and Twitter at @GeorgiaDOL. To sign up for a reminder, or join the chat, go to the Spotlight or Quick Links sections on the GDOL website at www.dol.state.ga.us
Previous chats can also be replayed from the Spotlight section of the department’s website by clicking on the “Chat with an Expert: Replay” link. The topics previously covered include “Starting Your Own Business,” “Services for Veterans,” “Profit by Investing in Workers with Disabilities,” “Workforce Development,” “Making the Most of GDOL’s Online Services,” “GDOL Services for Businesses,” “Job Searching in a Tight Economy,” “Options for Your Next Career,” and “Resumes.”
Connect with us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter @GeorgiaDOL, which can be conveniently accessed at www.dol.state.ga.us
The outcome of a groundbreaking effort by the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests to work with trail users to identify and maintain a diverse, quality trail system on the national forest will be unveiled during a weekend of public workshops and meetings beginning January 20 at Unicoi State Park near Helen, Ga. Last year the Forest Service began the Collaborative Trails Initiative, or “CoTrails,” by bringing together trail users to address shared concerns. The result is a five part strategic plan that the Forest Service and CoTrails volunteers are now ready to start implementing
“The influence of this effort will be far-reaching, benefitting not just trail users by offering a more satisfying recreation experience, but also by protecting watersheds, improving forest health, and contributing to local and regional economies that depend on forest-related recreation,” says Forest Supervisor George Bain. “This collaborative effort has the potential to have a lasting impact on quality of life for generations to come.”
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests receives 2.2 million visitors each year, and the primary activity is use of the national forest’s 850 miles of designated system trails. Hikers are not the only ones who take advantage of the recreation opportunities that the trails provide. Cyclists, hunters, anglers, off-highway vehicle enthusiasts and horseback riders all recreate on national forest trails. Collaboration with all trail users offers the opportunity to address management challenges of increasing public demand and use, limited agency resources for maintenance, and potential competition between recreation users.
Beginning in 2011 the Forest Service hosted a series of meetings in communities surrounding the national forest to find out how all trail users could work together and with the Forest Service to help create a diverse, quality trail system that is maintainable and minimizes environmental impacts. More than 350 people attended those meetings, and a core group of forty plus volunteers coalesced to see the effort through the planning stage.
“Now we’re ready to begin the real work implementing the plan,” said Carlos Martel, a horseback rider and volunteer member of the CoTrails Working Group who helped author the plan. “We need everyone who uses and cares about recreational trails on the national forest to join this effort and volunteer to make our national forest trail system the best it can be.”
The CoTrails Strategic Plan outlines five objectives that include engaging volunteers, inventorying and assessing existing trails, creating a forest-wide interactive online map of the trail system, and identifying unauthorized trails and opportunities to incorporate new system trails on the national forest.
“Together we’ve already made great progress” said Bain. “Accomplishing these objectives will give us a well-defined trail system that will better meet users’ expectations and be sustainable on the ground.”
The weekend of CoTrails activities begins on Friday, January 20 at 6 p.m. with the CoTrails Strategic Plan launch and general meeting followed by a social hour. This meeting is open to anyone interested in supporting and becoming active in the implementation of the CoTrails Strategic Plan. Volunteer project teams will be formed to work on specific plan objectives.
A Saturday morning kick-off begins at 9 a.m. and will include presentations from the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, CoTrails volunteers, and Applied Trails Research, with the goal of providing an introduction to a trails assessment process that will be occurring on the national forest. Following the kick-off, one of the most popular and sought after trails training opportunities, “The Art and Science of Trails,” will be offered free to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the science behind creating successful trails. This two day training includes a Saturday indoor class and a Sunday field session conducted at nearby trails. Workshop pre-registration is required, and capacity is limited.
Anyone interested in participating in these activities should contact John Campbell, at jwcampbell@fs.fed.us. Read the CoTrails Strategic Plan at www.CoTrails.org, and find more information on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests’ website at www.fs.usda.gov/conf.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Encompassing around 867,000 acres across 26 counties, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests provide the finest outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resources in Georgia. Featuring nearly 118,000 acres of designated wilderness, approximately 850 miles of recreation trails, and dozens of campgrounds, picnic areas, and other recreation activity opportunities, these lands are rich in natural scenery, history and culture. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is part of the Southern Region, with the Forest Supervisor’s office in Gainesville, Georgia, managing four District units in Blairsville (Blue Ridge District), Lakemont (Chattooga River District), Chatsworth (Conasauga District), and Eatonton (Oconee District).
Shannon Matthew Bennett of Summerville, Charged with Contempt of Court for Child Support
Kristi Maria Dearden Cheshire of Lyerly, Charged with Failure to Appear
Lisa Ann Hampton of Summerville, No Charges Listed
Hobert Sutphin Haney of Summerville, No Charges Listed
Steven R. Jones of Summerville, Charged with Contempt of Court for Child Support
Johnny Mack York of Summerville, Charged with Public Drunkeness
Chattooga County Schools – 2 Hour Delay
Walker County Schools – 2 Hour Delay
Cherokee County, AL Schools – 2 Hour Delay
DeKalb County, AL Schools – 2 Hour Delay
Trion City School is operating on regular schedule
see related statement from Superintendent Phil Williams
In its regular monthly meeting Thursday night the Chattooga Board of Education unanimously approved a partnership with Chattooga County, Chattooga’s Young Farmers and Farm Bureau to add bathrooms and assist in other improvements at the Ag Center across from the superintendent’s office on Highway 100.
The Ag Center will be used for livestock judging shows according to Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters, who attended the meeting and spoke to the board. Winter’s said the cost that the school board will split with the county is about $50,000. The building was built by Smith Iron Works in Lyerly and initially paid for by the county. The general consensus of the board is that holding the livestock shows at the pavillion will bring some revenue into the county by out of town visitors coming to the shows.
In other business, the school board approved Ra-Lin Construction Management Team to build the new high school. Superintendent Jimmy Lenderman told the board that the superintendent of the firm is local and the same firm build Leroy Massey School. The board also approved the continuation of board meetings on the first and second Thursday of each month with the exception of holidays that fall during those weeks.
Also during the meeting, Lenderman told board members that the school system is in good shape financially and it will be the first year in many that they haven’t had to borrow money.