Parkway opens in Port Wentworth
An array of dignitaries helped formally open Port Wentworth's portion of the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway. Armed with brightly decorated scissors, they cut the ribbon--and opened the tie connecting Port Wentworth motorists with Pooler and Bloomingdale.
The multi-million-dollar parkway, built by R.B. Baker, Inc. of Garden City, will eventually extend to I-16, giving drivers a way to reach Highways 80 and 21 without having to enter heavily-traveled I-95.
State Transportation Board Member Tom Triplett served as emcee at the ceremony, which was attended by several DOT officials, engineers, Rep. Ron Stephens, Chatham County Commission Chairman Billy Hair and Commissioner Dean Kicklighter, County Manager Russ Abolt, Port Wentworth Mayor Tim Holbrook and Council members Ed Young and Jimmy Gunby, Pooler Mayor Buddy Carter and Garden City Mayor Andy Quinney.
DOT Commissioner Tom Coleman said, "The extension of the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway represents the commitment of our community to continue the development of the industrial, commercial and residential growth of Chatham County and indeed, Western Chatham County."
He said the majority of the funding for the program comes from SPLOST funds. DOT contributed $1.3 million to add to the more than $6 million Chatham County SPLOST dollars.
The parkway will be a particular asset, he said, for the Georgia Ports Authority. "The Savannah port serves as a magnet, as we all know, for international trade, and it enriches not only Chatham but the entire state economy. The extension of the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway provides direct access from the Georgia port facilities to the commercial and industrial area being developed between I-95 and the Georgia 21 corridor."
He praised Jimmy DeLoach. "I think it is fitting that we pause with ceremonies such as this to honor people who have given much toward the success and accomplishments of our county and our state. Certainly, Jimmy DeLoach is one of these persons."
Chatham County 7th District Commissioner Dean Kicklighter also lauded the former Garden City mayor. "I've known Mr. DeLoach...all of my life," he said. "I can't think of a better person to honor. He's done a lot for the city of Garden City as mayor, he did so much for Chatham County as a whole, as 7th District representative. He's a good honest, good Christian man. I admire him. I appreciate everything he's done."
Of the parkway, Commissioner Kicklighter said, "This is another piece of the puzzle that will help the amazing growth of the west side continue. We are the final frontier in Chatham County."
Port Wentworth Mayor Tim Holbrook thanked all of the dignitaries for attending the ceremony. "I'm sure (the parkway) will benefit the economic development impact that is continuing on in industry and the ports...and the future development of the west side and Port Wentworth."
Show and Tell:
Attack helicopter visits Bloomingdale school
When it comes to Show And Tell, we don't think anyone will ever top what kindergarten teacher Susan Steen brought to school a couple of weeks ago.
Kindergarten teacher Susan Steen happens to be married to Chief Warrant Officer2 Randy Steen of the 1-3 Aviation Viper Battalion, stationed at Hunter Army Air Field.
About two months ago, she came up with the idea of bringing a helicopter to the school, and she didn't plan to show students a mere model, either. She wanted a full-sized, working, straight-from-the-airfield Apache attack helicopter.
"Since I was already married to Randy, I knew who was in charge," Mrs. Steen said, "so I called Major Doug Pavek and asked him to arrange it for me."
While Mrs. Steen's students were aware of her plans to bring the helicopter for show-and-tell, the rest of the student body didn't find out until the day before. And on May 8, CW2 Steen and his copilot, Lt. Mike Labroad, landed in the schoolyard. They arrived around 9:30 a.m., and stayed until early afternoon, said Bloomingdale Elementary School Principal John King, giving every student in the school a chance to see the aircraft and pepper the pilots with questions.
Several of the grade levels at the school are studying different patriotic themes, and a visit from a military helicopter fit right in with the children's studies, he said.
"Kindergarten, which is what I teach, is doing patriotism," Mrs. Steen said. "First grade is doing a unit on flight, and fifth grade is doing a unit comparing World War II technology with modern."
The sight of an attack helicopter coming at you is pretty impressive, even for an adult. The students were awestruck.
"They were so excited," Mrs. Steen said. "When (Randy Steen) got out of the cockpit, they were cheering and clapping for him."
Although not allowed inside the aircraft, the children did get a close look at it and at the ordnance it carries in its weapons array.
"Each grade level spent about half an hour out there with them," Mrs. Steen said.
In keeping with their patriotic theme, Mrs. Steen said, students at the school have also been involved in another, ongoing project with music teacher Christy Bolden's husband, who until just recently was overseas. He is a member of the 160th Special Forces Battalion.
"He was overseas and we were writing letters and sending care packages, and he was sending pictures back," Mrs. Steen said. "The whole school was doing that with him."
Garden City Police Department captures second place in Governor's Challenge
Garden City Police Department took second place in its category in this year's Governor's Challenge. This is the first time the department has entered the annual competition, which is sponsored by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Police departments throughout the state prepared entries detailing their efforts to improve traffic safety in their jurisdictions through participation in programs sponsored by Governor's Office of Highway Safety. These include Click It or Ticket campaigns and Zero Tolerance vehicle checkpoints, community education programs and media coverage.
Staff Sergeant Wayne Daniels, along with Officers Blair Jeffcoat and Benji Selph of Garden City's Traffic Unit, accepted the trophy during an awards banquet held last Friday at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. The unit also won a camera-ready radar system, donated by Kustom Signals.
The awards were presented by Governor's Office of Highway Safety Director Yvonne L. McBride and Deputy Director Ricky Rich.
Georgia Supreme Court Judge Robert Benham drew the names of about a dozen departments, making them eligible to try their luck at winning the Governor's Office of Highway Safety' Ford Expedition. Representatives of each department then chose a key from a bowl. The key that activated a blue light array set up by West Chatham Warning Devices won the Ford.
Second to try his luck was APO Terry Kyle of the Springfield Police Department. Unfortunately, his key didn't work, dashing his hopes but raising those of the remaining contestants--for about ten seconds. Mayor Herb Shaw of Jesup, Ga., was next in line, and living proof that "the third time's a charm." His key set off the blue lights (and a siren nobody mentioned beforehand, startling the daylights out of a nearby photographer for the Spirit).
Mayor Herb Shaw was on his cell phone within minutes, calling Luther Hires in Jesup to give him the good news. Spirit readers may remember that Luther Hires often comes to town to give his rollover demonstrations--a pickup truck mounted on hydraulics and occupied by dummies that graphically illustrate what can happen to people who don't wear seatbelts.
Special Awards were presented to Fayette County Sheriff's Department (child and passenger safety), Jesup Police Department (rollover simulator), DeKalb County Police Department (speed awareness program), Elberton Police Department (DUI enforcement and education), Georgia State Patrol SCRT (Technology), Centerville Police Department (programs to prevent underage drinking), Villa Rica (multi-jurisdictional programs). These departments won digital cameras along with plaques.
Adel Police Department won the First Time Entry award for achieving 100 percent compliance with Governor's Office of Highway Safety standards for training, policy, guidance, public education and information, along with enforcement efforts, that resulted in a 15% gain in seatbelt compliance in its jurisdiction.
First, Second and Third Place winners were judged in seven categories based on size, with the Georgia State Patrol placed in a special category. Pineview, Lyons, Centerville, Morrow, Statesboro Police Departments, Fayette County Sheriff's Office and DeKalb County Police Department all won Third Place awards, along with Americus Post 10 of the Georgia State Patrol. Winners received a trophy and Sniffer alcohol-sensing flashlights.
Nahunta, Livonia, Jesup, Garden City, Dalton, Marietta and Columbus Police Departments won Second Place, along with the Georgia State Patrol SCRT Team. Each winner received a trophy and a Golden Eagle radar system.
First place winners were Braselton, Byron, Adel, Union City, Gainesville, Warner Robins, Henry County Police Departments, and Albany State University Police Department. Troop A of the Georgia State Patrol also won first place. Winning agencies received a trophy and video camera in-car system, including installation.
Entries in the Governor's Challenge will also be entered in a national competition.
The Spirit congratulates Garden City, Springfield, Statesboro and Jesup Police Departments for both their diligent efforts to make our roads safer and their well-deserved awards.
Fair warning:
No warnings during Click It or Ticket campaign this month
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety has announced a new Click It or Ticket campaign. Starting May 20 and lasting until May 31st, more than 400 participating law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia will stop drivers who fail to wear their seatbelts, or have unbelted occupants, or fail to secure children in safety seats. Violators will be ticketed.
"No warnings," declared Yvonne L. McBride, Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, during ab kickoff ceremony last Friday in Atlanta. "Georgia law enforcement officers will conduct thousands of Click It or Ticket checkpoints across the state. As a result of our first Click It or Ticket, Georgia achieved its highest overall seatbelt use rate of 79 percent--the highest automobile usage rate ever recorded in Georgia."
She said the increase in seatbelt use was the result of cooperative efforts by law enforcement, the medical community, service organizations and civic organizations.
"Greater focus will be placed this year on non-users and part-time users of seatbelts and child safety seats, as well as our teen drivers," Ms. McBride said. "Our teens and young adults are dying at far higher rates in crashes because they are caught at a lethal intersection of inexperience, risk-taking and low seatbelt use. More than half of all teens who die in crashes are completely unrestrained."
These tragedies are both predictable and preventable, she said. "With proven techniques like high-visibility enforcement mobilization like Click It or Ticket, we can prevent those deaths."
Mr. Chris Broome, Law Enforcement Coordinator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Southeastern Region IV, praised the cohesiveness of all organizations involved in making Georgia's roads safer.
"Statewide endeavors associated with saving lives on Georgia roadways could not have taken place if it were not for the devotion represented by Georgia police agencies, Georgia Sheriff's Departments, and the Georgia State Patrol."
Nationwide, he said, 60 percent of the more than 32-thousand people killed in traffic accidents are unrestrained. Changing these figures can not be accomplished at the federal level, he said, but only by state and community commitment to participating in lifesaving programs like Click It or Ticket.
"In Georgia's second-year participation in Click It or Ticket, seatbelt use increased 79 percent, up from 74 percent the first year. We know that Georgia will continue to be a model for states in the southeastern region and across the nation."
Major Arthur White of the Georgia State Patrol said state troopers will be out in force for this Memorial Day period, and, along with members of local law enforcement agencies, will encourage seatbelt use in two ways. First, he said, is enforcement. No warnings are issued during Click It or Ticket. Anyone found not secured in a vehicle will be given a citation.
Second, law enforcement agencies, including the State Patrol, will try to educate the public. "That is, by instructing someone on the correct way to install a child safety seat or the importance of using a seatbelt, education will work to increase occupant restraint use. And that saves lives."
The Memorial Day holiday period begins Friday at 6 p.m., he said. "Traditionally, this is one of the heaviest travel periods of the year. It is also the beginning of the summer travel season. Last year, 16 people died on our roads during the Memorial Day holiday period. We will not hesitate to stop and ticket drivers who endanger innocent people."
His advice to motorists is "Plan your trip well, take rest breaks throughout the day, anticipate delays in heavy traffic, obey the posted speed limits, don't drink and drive, and by all means, when you're in a motor vehicle, buckle your seatbelt and take the time to make sure your children are properly restrained as well."
