Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters and State Representative Barbara Massey Reece have been working behind the scenes for some time to have a local Veterans Service Office in Chattooga County.  Last month they announced the plans have been finalized and the office is expected to open in the next few weeks.

Commissioner Winters told AM 1180 that the office will be staffed part-time by local volunteers who are themselves veterans.  Winters said that a representative from the Veterans Office in LaFayette would be coming to the Summerville office one to two days a week and the rest of the time the office would be staffed by local veterans who have experience with applying for veterans benefits.

There are over 2,400 veterans in Chattooga County and many veterans are inconvenienced by having to go out of town to get help with veterans benefits.  Winters said that the "Volunteer Model" plan is an innovative idea that will help veterans in Chattooga County.

You can hear more about the plan and a meeting to talk with potential volunteers that is scheduled for Monday, March 7 at the Civic Center at 10 AM in a Newsmakers Interview Program that will be broadcast today at 8:15 AM on AM 1180.  You can also hear the broadcast on Saturday at 10:15 AM and Sunday at 5:20 PM.