Just about everything shuts down for Christmas, even Walmart, at least for part of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Trion Walmart closed at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and will reopen at 10 p.m. tonight. Like every year, six off duty Chattooga County Sheriff's Department deputies have been hired to watch the store while it's closed.
Toys for Tots helped 70 local children this Christmas. That according to local coordinator Jamie Mitchell with the Georgia State Patrol. The GSP partners with the Marines each year to provide Christmas gifts for children that otherwise wouldn't have them. Mitchell says the local effort took in about 800 new toys as well as about $2,000 in cash donations. That's down from last year, according to Mitchell, who says every donation was appreciated. Toys were distributed by Susan Locklear and Chattooga County 4-H members from Calvary Baptist Church. Michell said, "we sure do appreciate everyone's help."
The Trion Town Council at its meeting Thursday night recognized the winners of its Christmas Display Contest.
A phone call between Central Scheduler Stacey Henderson and a patient moved† Revenue Management Director Teresa Prevost to tears. That is one of the reason she nominated Stacey as a Floyd Hero.
The patient was scheduled for a radiology exam at Floyd, but the insurance company told her it would be $800 cheaper to go to another company and even scheduled her for an exam there against the patient’s wishes. Teresa says Stacey determined that the insurance company had given the patient false information and that Floyd’s price was actually $100 less than the other company.
She also discovered that the patient qualified for a charity discount of 80 percent on their remaining balance and could pay the amount due over a 12 month period. Stacey even had the patent worked into the schedule the same day.
Teresa says Stacey truly exemplified Floyd's mission and was able to help this family in so many ways. She says the family was also very touched by her helpfulness and willingness to listen and relate to their situation.
Her co-workers say she has a very sweet, caring voice and the patients respond very well to her sincere compassion.
Floyd Heroes are nominated by peers, supervisors, volunteers or customers for being outstanding employees who serve as role models, inspire others and have an indelible impact on the organization.
#
A top aide to Georgia's public schools chief says his boss supports the National Rifle Association's proposal for armed guards in every American school.
But Matt Cardoza told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that state Superintendent John Barge believes the state would have to help local school districts with the cost.
The newspaper calculated that the cost could be at least $47 million annually.
The NRA's top lobbyist, Wayne LaPierre, made the proposal Friday and urged Congress to spend whatever it takes. It was the powerful gun lobby's first extended public statements since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school.
Barge's embrace of LaPierre's position puts him at odds with many education leaders and groups that criticized the proposal.
A development group that is represented by David Doss announced on Friday that they have conditional approval to build a Courtyard by Marriott on West Third in downtown. The group, Samson Developers, was also granted an extension by the city of Rome for a memorandum of understanding to purchase the property by March 10, 2013. The group was originally given until January 3, 2013.
Chattooga DFCS will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the Christmas Holidays. For any child abuse or neglect issues please call the after hours Statewide on-call number at 1-855-422-4453 or call 911 if a child is in immediate danger. Also to apply for benefits such as food stamps, medicaid and CAPS(child care assistance) you can go to www.compass.ga.gov. You may also do your food stamp review information on this website with you client ID.
An inmate was found dead last week at Hayes State Prison at Pennville. Derrick Stubbs was serving a sentence for armed robbery and died while being housed in protective custody inside the maximum security prison. The Department of Corrections would only say that the GBI is investigating the death and would release no further details. Stubbs reportedly had been at Hays for more than a year.
The Lafayette Ramblers swept Chattooga in a pair of basketball games Friday night. The girls won 53 to 48. The Rambler boys beat the Indians 71 to 61.
