December 8, 2009 - David Jenkins and Economic Development

Director tells of development efforts

David Jenkins, Director of Economic Development for the City of Washington (left), told the Washington Kiwanis Club about development efforts in the city and said that all of the Payroll Development Authority buildings are rented leaving no buildings available for prospective businesses. He mentioned various other projects and activities and said that the MainStreet Project and the W-W Historical Foundation have produced a children’s coloring book featuring historical sites around Washington/Wilkes. Jenkins further asked the members to contact him if they have ideas for projects for economic development. Pam Eaton was program host.

Speaks about economic opportunity, September 29, 2005

David Jenkins, Wilkes County’s Payroll Development Authority director (left), spoke to the Washington Kiwanis Club at its regular Tuesday lunch meeting last week and told members about opportunities and plans for economic development in Wilkes County. He was introduced by Pam Eaton (right) who was program chairman for the day.

Explains water management issues, September 1, 2005

Stanley Simpson (left), Water Control Manager of the Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, told members of the Washington Kiwanis Club about the management of water levels, flow rate, and water quality of Clark’s Hill Lake, Lake Russell, and Lake Hartwell during the club’s regular meeting on Tuesday, August 30. He was assisted by Jason Ward, hydrologist. Mark Waters (center) was program chairman for the day.

Talks about dam security, August 25, 2005

Mitch Overend (left) was the guest speaker for the Washington Kiwanis Club at its regular Tuesday lunch meeting on August 23 where he discussed security issues of dams on the Savannah River. He specifically talked about threat analysis, vulnerability, risk, and the protection of critical dams on the river including Strom Thurmond, Hartwell, Richard B. Russell, and the Clemson Diversion Dam. Sherry Hudson (right) was program chairman for the day.

Sprucing up The Square, August 18, 2005

Although it may look like Kiwanians Bill Steed, William Johnson, Ross Maynard, and Bill Boyd were goofing off while Pam Eaton was doing all the hard work, it was really the whole Washington Kiwanis Club that turned out to plant flowers on The Square, livening up a spot right in front of the new Welcome to Washington/ Chamber of Commerce building.

December 1, 2009 - David Toburen & God's Marketplace

Explaining that “We don’t sell clothes, we build relationships,” God’s Marketplace director Dave Toburen (left) told members of the Washington Kiwanis Club all about the faith-based organization that ministers to people living in and around Wilkes County. He described the Thrift Store, the Food Pantry, the Sewing Center, and other various ministries conducted by God’s Marketplace. Sherry Hudson was program chairman for the day

November 17, 2009 - Defensive Driving

 

"I never saw him!" is the most common excuse heard after a collision. Was the other vehicle invisible? Virtually all collisions involve inattention on the part of one or both drivers. Inattention can involve many things, some of which are daydreaming, distractions, sleepiness, fatigue, "highway hypnosis," talking, etc.

A moving vehicle develops thousands of foot-pounds of energy. YOU as a driver have the responsibility not to use that energy to injure or kill others, or damage their property. Paying attention makes it possible for you to see, recognize and avoid the hazards lurking on the road; these are the three basic elements of defensive driving. The primary attribute necessary for a safe driver is alertness, and paying attention is the most important driving task because it helps create the time you need to recognize hazards and avoid a collision.

Lt. D.D. Smith of the Georgia State Patrol spoke to the club on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, on the subject of Defensive Driving. He was introduced by Vice President Lillie Crowe, program host for the day. These are some of the ideas included in Lt. Smith's talk.

One statistic often quoted is that most collisions happen within a short distance from home. Why is this true? Since we mostly drive in our own neighborhoods, the odds are we'll have most of our mishaps there. Close to home we get more comfortable and perhaps let our guard down (and the other guy does the same thing); you've heard that "familiarity breeds contempt?" Better yet, familiarity breeds inattention. We don't often consider that serious or fatal injuries can occur in low speed collisions.
I have a challenge for you. While it is important for you to be alert and aware, it isn't an easy task. The next time you drive, try concentrating solely on the driving task. Think of nothing else. Then see how far you get before your mind wanders. Many drivers won't even get out of the parking lot! Seasoned drivers don't HAVE to think about driving much. It's something we do automatically, and our minds are free to wander. And our minds WANT to wander. Have you ever driven somewhere and been so lost in thought that you couldn't remember anything about the trip itself? Is this a problem?

Is this a curable problem? Paying attention can become a habit, but you have to work at it. Make conscious, persistent choices NOT to eat while driving, or whatever you do that takes your attention off where your moving vehicle is pointed. Connect your mind to your eyes and work at consciously analyzing what you see while you drive. We call this "situational awareness." Driving is the most dangerous thing most of us ever do. It deserves your full attention. Mastery of this one habit can almost make you bullet-proof. Not quite, but almost.

Pam Eaton is shown above with her packages.

A fund-raising project was introduced by President Sherry Hudson, shown here with Denni Moss, Bill Boyd, and Bill Smith - the sale of one-pound packages of shelled pecans for $8.00 each, with each member entrusted with five packages to sell.

October 10, 2009, Mule Day will see two new mule events

There's something about mules that kids really love, and much of Saturday's Mule Day will be aimed at entertaining, informing, and amazing children.
New mule events including a mule pull and a mule race are expected to add to the fun Saturday at the 29th annual Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival.

The event will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and run to 4 p.m. at Callaway Plantation on Highway 78, rain or shine. Admission is $5 a carload.

"We should have quite a few more mules than in years past," said mule czar James Callaway, "including three of my own. We have a specially made pulling sled for mules, so we'll have a mule pulling event, and we're going to have a mule race in the arena if we have enough entrants."

"We really feel we've returned to the Mule Day of old when it was so popular," said Carol Cartledge, who is organizing the event for the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. "With the return of Ricky Callaway's wonderful old tractors and equipment, and all the mules and mule events arranged by James Callaway, everybody says we'll see a real return to the way Mule Days were in the past."

More than ever before, she said, visitors can see primitive craft demonstrations including apple coring and peeling, blacksmithing, butter churning, candle making, chair caning, hand corn shelling, tomahawk throwing, hand spinning, log hewing, rope making, plowing, quilting, soap making, sorghum syrup making, weaving, and wood shake making.

"You'll be able to participate in select primitive demonstrations," she said. "And docents led by Debra Denard will be giving tours of the homes of Callaway Plantation, and four camps of Sons of Confederate Veterans will be on hand, too."

There will be displays of antique engines, tractors, cars, chainsaws, hand tools, muzzle-loading rifles, and Native American arrowheads. There will be a sawmill, a shingle mill, a grist mill, and a tar still.

"In addition to our mule events, we'll have a pumpkin patch, hayrides, storytelling, historic home tours, arts and crafts, and delicious food," she said. "And as always, we'll have Mule Day t-shirts for sale."

Weather permitting, the Young Eagles and the Washington Kiwanis Club will sponsor free airplane rides for children at the Washington- Wilkes Airport. The day's children's activities are sponsored by First United Methodist Church of Washington. "For entertainment, we'll have Sylvia Walker of Rayle and the Southern Influence Band," she said.

There will be programs and lectures on honey and beekeeping, sheepdog herding, and turkey calling.

Wilkes CountyTourism Director Ashley Barnett said that the Mule Day festival is the work of many hands. "Mule Day would not be possible but by the help of so many people, including the Boy Scouts of Troop 33, Hubert Bailey, Keith Bailey, Shari Bryson, James Callaway, Ricky Callaway, the City of Washington, the DAR, David and Deborah Denard, Tanya Fair, Mark Davis, Kathy Dinnewith, Mike Dyches, Lewis Hall, Geoffrey Hill, Mary Lodwick, Louise McClearen, Tim Miller, Jeff Murphy, G.B. Newsome, the Washington Rotary Club, David Russell, the SAR, Lois Soerster, David Vanhart, Tyler Verdery, and Billy Walker. This is a real community event, and I hope everyone comes out to enjoy it!"
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Mule Day festival big success with more mules, more locals

Old engines and tractors, as well as shady picnic tables, were a big attraction at Mule Day.
Saturday's October 10, 2009, 29th annual Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival was a big success, organizers say, with more mules, more local participants, and more exhibitors than in years past.

"People have been stopping me all day and saying how much they enjoyed Mule Day this year," organizer Carol Cartledge said. "I was very pleased at how many local participants we had, and at how many people came out to enjoy the events."

Along with the mules, the event showcased some 45 primitive craft demonstrators and 55 vendors, Tourism Director Ashley Barnett said. "Carol Cartledge did a great job and worked so hard at chairing the event this year," she said. "With about 2,000 people in attendance, we are so thankful to those who came out for the event. We had so many travel from all over to attend Mule day from Tennessee, South Carolina, west and south Georgia, North Carolina, and so many other places."

In the day's mule events, Smith Wilson's 13-year-old Belgian mule Kit took Grand Champion in Singles, and Kit, paired with the blond Belgian mule Bird, took the Grand Champion trophy in Pairs. In awarding the trophies, Judge Jack Logan of Eatonton said that Kit and Bird were "the finest pair of mules in the state."

"We had an outstanding selection of mules to compete," said James Callaway. "I'm very pleased at the turnout."

Adding to the historic feel of the day were the Confederate encampment complete with regular cannon fire, and some 40 costumed docents from the United Daughters of the Confederacy. "David and Debra Denard really added a great historic touch to the day bringing to life the period of the War Between the States," Cartledge said.

Displays of antique tractors and old traction engines were popular, too, along with several antique and classic autos. Old-time craft demonstrators showed visitors how their ancestors made soap, made chairs, and a dozen other primitive crafts. "Thank you to Ricky Callaway for his leadership on bringing back the antique machinery and tractors," Barnett said, "and thank you to Tammy Bryngelson for lining up First United Methodist Church for the children's games. The kids had a great time with all the games."

It took a community effort of dozens of local citizens to pull it off, Barnett said. "Mule Day is one of the great events that Washington- Wilkes has, and we are so thankful to all those who made it possible."
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Jennifer Atkinson new Teacher of the Year

High school's Jennifer Atkinson announced as Wilkes County's new Teacher of the Year

Wilkes County's Teachers of the Year were honored at a reception Monday night, including (l-r) Katy Meech of W-WMS; Nicole Smith of W-WPS; system-wide Teacher of the Year Jennifer Atkinson of WWCHS; and Jennifer Holton of W-WES.
Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School science teacher Jennifer Atkinson has been chosen as the Wilkes County Teacher of the Year for 2011.