local history will come to life in october

Transcription

Mature
Living in the Southeast
LOCAL HISTORY
WILL COME TO
LIFE IN OCTOBER
SEE PAGE 16
Volume 6, Issue 3
Now Serving Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis and Coffee Counties.
2
A FRIEND TO GEORGIA’S 12TH
Jimmy and Miriam Johnson,
of Baxley, speaking with
Congressman Barrow.
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF JOHN BARROW
Mature Living in the Southeast
What’s inside?
ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
Cover Story:
In October of 2014, the
people of Appling and
surrounding counties
are uniting to bring local
history to the stage of
the Appling County High
School Fine Arts Center
in the form of a play
entitled, “In the Pines.”
See page 16
Feature:
See page 4
FEATURE: ALONG THE BACKROADS OF JEFF DAVIS Tim Varnedore - page 20
Let us know by calling 912-367-2468
or via email at [email protected].
© MATURE LIVING IN THE SOUTHEAST
Managing Editor
Matthew Gardner
Design, Production & Contributing Writers
Mary Ann Ellis
Steve Simmons
Renee O’Quinn
Jim Miller
Sales
Matthew Gardner
Teresa Hipps
241 East Parker Street
Baxley, GA 31513
912-367-2468
[email protected]
At age 86, Harry Cohen works
as a counselor to substance
abusers in Coffee County.
Do you have a story for us?
Editor & Publisher
James W. “Jamie” Gardner
Mature Living in the Southeast is a free publication distributed
throughout southeast Georgia and is made possible by our
advertisers. The publication is delivered through various
mediums and is also available in area hospitals, medical offices,
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Mature Living in the Southeast does not necessarily endorse the
views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor is the
publication responsible for the products and services advertised.
This publication welcomes your ideas, articles and feedback.
To submit a news article or if you would like information about
advertising in Mature, please call 912-367-2468 or send us an
email at [email protected].
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3
Giving hope
of recovery
FEATURE ARTICLE - BY MARY ANN ELLIS
At age 86, Harry Cohen
works as a counselor to
substance abusers in Coffee County. He started this
career in 1985 in Albany,
Georgia, but took a job
in Coffee County when a
position opened up with
Human Resources. He’s
enjoyed working with his
clients—
mainly
people
in Detox
about to
be released. He
sees tremendous change in
people in short periods
of time, but also realizes
what a dangerous place
the outside world is to his
clients. Temptation waits
just outside the jail door
and he wants to help every
one of them avoid it.
“You see, I’m an alcoholic,” said Harry, “but I’ve
been sober for the last 30
years. I know what these
people are going through
because I’ve been there
on both sides of those jailhouse doors. I don’t know
what would have happened
to me without my wife and
4
mother. They stood beside
me, no matter what. Many
of my clients don’t have
any body to help them or
any resources on the outside. And I’m blessed to
have a job where I can help
people and myself at the
same time. Hearing other
people’s stories helps me,
too.”
Harry
Cohen was
born in Coffee County back in
1928, but
moved in 1930 with his
family to a farm in Bacon
County, where he grew up.
In the early part of the 19th
century, his Grandfather
Warnock managed to acquire quite a bit of land. As
his children grew up, he set
them up on farms side by
side only a few miles from
the Appling County line
in the Dyal School area.
Harry’s mother Lois was
one of those children.
Harry graduated from
Bacon County High School
in 1944 and then went to
Brunswick to work in the
shipyards for a year. The
“You see, I’m
an alcoholic”
next year
he attended North
Georgia
College in
Dahlonega.
He spent a
short time
in the U.S.
Navy, but
he was discharged
because
of an injury he acquired during training. After
Harry & Mattie Cohen
a while he
found hima job there. There, Harry
self in Atlanta, where he met Mattie, his wife to be,
worked in sales for about who worked there, also.
3 ½ years. One day upon They married in 1955.
meeting another sales“I know that God had
man who traveled all over a hand in my marriage,”
the state, Harry asked for Harry said. “No other
help.
woman on the face of the
“I really would like earth would have loved
to move back closer to and put up with me for 56
home,” Harry told him. years, but Mattie did. She
“Do you know where I never gave up on me, even
might find a job back in when I gave her reason
South Georgia?”
after reason to do so.”
His friend told him
In 1959 Harry and Matabout a parts place in Way- tie opened a State Farm Incross and helped him get surance Office in Douglas,
and they did well for quite
a while.
“I was still drinking,
but I was handling it, or
so I thought,” Harry said.
“We had money, a nice car,
a great house, all the things
that people think they need
to be happy. We worked
hard for several years and
prospered, but I drank up
our business in 1968. We
lost everything.”
Harry knew how to use
alcohol to his advantage
in some cases though. He
and Mattie had found that
they were unable to have
children. He told social
services that if a child
became available for adoption, they would be interested. One morning a
young lady showed up at
his office with an unusual
request.
“Mr. Cohen, would you
take my children until I
can get my life straight?”
she asked him. “Then I’ll
come back and get them.”
“No, ma’am, I can’t do
that,” he told her. “I can’t
even give up a stray dog
once I taken care of it for
a while, but I’ll be glad to
take them permanently.”
The mother went away
sadly but came back 2
weeks later to agree to his
offer. Harry and Mattie
took the two little boys—
John and Bill, and he set
about finishing up the legal
paperwork—they needed
both biological parents’
signatures.
He found the mother in
a flophouse in Savannah
and she willingly signed
the papers. The father
worked on a shrimp boat
in Key West, so Harry set
off to find him. When he
arrived in Key West, he
found hundreds and hundreds of shrimp boats, but
finding the man he was
looking for was a bit more
difficult. No one was willing to help him. Finally he
explained that he had no ill
will for the man, just a little
business matter, and someone pointed him out only a
hundred yards away.
said.
“We finished off that
bottle and I came away
with my papers signed,”
said Harry, folding his
hands in his lap. “I was
on top of the world in 1964
and completely broke in
1970. We had to start over
once again.”
In October of 1973,
Harry was in Jacksonville,
Florida. He felt really exuberant because he had just
made a huge sale. From
his car window, he saw a
nice lounge and decided to
next 22 years. No matter
what her husband did, she
worked at the school and
became invaluable. Everyone loved her.
In November of 1984,
Harry was trying to make
his way home from North
Florida. On the 20th of that
month, he called a friend,
who came to Hoboken,
picked Harry up, and took
him to a detox center.
“I promised him that I
wouldn’t leave, of course.
The next morning,” Harry
said, “I was about to jump
Cohen resting from his labors at new hope recovery.
“He was standing in
the galley of an old rundown boat, drinking cheap
beer. I recognized his type
and knew exactly what to
do,” Harry said. “I went
back to my nice car for the
bottle stashed there and
approached him. ‘Would
you like a drink of good
bourbon whiskey?’ I asked
him.
“I certainly would,” he
go in to relax, maybe have
a coke. He had no intentions of having anything
alcoholic. He came to his
senses again 7 years later.
During that time he moved
from jail to hospital to jail.
He’d stay sober for a few
months and then take that
first drink. His wife took a
job at Westside Elementary
to help support the family
and stayed there for the
out of my skin. The jitters had set in. I ignored
my promise to my friend
and went to the nearest
liquor store. Something—
probably the power of
God—turned me around
that day, and sent me right
back out the front door of
that liquor store.”
Finally, Harry told Mattie he wanted to clean up
his life and she agreed once
5
Jim Watson, manager, and Harry Cohen in front of New Hope Recovery Center.
again to help him. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous
and she joined AlAnon, a support group for families of
alcoholics. She always told him, “This too shall pass,”
and her stamina and faith in him kept them going. He’s
been in AA ever since, even though he wasn’t sober all
that time. He actually got completely sober in 1984 and
continues his sobriety today.
“From the time I got sober and joined AA,” said Harry,
“my house became a hangout for drunks. Frequently I’d
come home to find Mattie pouring cup after cup of strong
coffee into some drunk at our table. She wouldn’t let
him leave until I got home.”
Harry and Mattie realized how desperately Douglas
needed a halfway house, a place where clients could
be in recovery and in society at the same time, so they
borrowed $5000 from the bank, the same bank that had
almost foreclosed on them a few years before, and started
the New Hope Recovery Center. The group first met at a
vacant WWII building at the airport, but when the owners decided to demolish that building, Harry and Mattie
borrowed more money to buy a house, and moved the
group there in ’94. The half-way house has been there
ever since. They have room for 12 clients at one time
and always have that many. They finally invested well
over $100,000 in their nonprofit recovery business.
Harry’s friend Aden Griffis, with Bridges of Hope,
6
has served as an advisor and has been instrumental in
the planning and execution of the project. Clients are
required to pay a certain amount each month, depending
on their abilities. Clients have such an array of problems
and lack of support that Harry hardly knows how to help
them, but he does his best. One young man (18 yrs. old)
is currently in jail and soon to be released to the halfway
house. He has no family and no resources at all. Harry
has been quietly saving $25 from his own church tithes
so he can finance the first month for this boy. His heart
hurts for him.
Yet another of his clients, a young 21-year-old
woman, has a mother in a nursing home with multiple
sclerosis, a father in prison, and a recently deceased
grandmother. The grandmother was her only help; now
the girl has no one.
Day after day, Harry meets with these people, counseling them and helping them make plans for the outside
world, which they are about to enter again very soon.
His beloved Mattie developed Parkinson’s Disease a
few years ago, and for quite some time remained speechless and motionless, but he could see in her eyes that she
was still there, still cheering him on. Then in 2011 she
was gone. They’d been married 56 years, only 28 of
which he’d spent sober.
Story continues on page 11
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7
Did you know?
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of
arrhythmia, which is a problem with the rate or
rhythm of the heartbeat during which the heart
can beat too fast, too slow or with an irregular
rhythm. Atrial fibrillation, or AF, occurs when rapid,
disorganized electrical signals cause the atria,
which consists of the heart’s two upper chambers,
to contract very fast and irregularly.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute, when a person is suffering from AF,
blood begins to pool in his or her atria. While that
blood pools in the atria, it is not being pumped
completely into the heart’s two lower chambers,
and this prevents the lower and upper chambers
from working together effectively.
Though AF does not always produce noticeable
symptoms, some people with AF experience chest
pain or heart failure, especially when the heart
rhythm is rapid. AF can increase a person’s risk of
stroke, and it may surface periodically or become
an ongoing problem that lasts for years.
8
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Continued from page 6
“The house is lonely
now,” Harry says. “My
happiest hours I spend
helping other people. I’ve
progressed to the point
that I can talk about Mattie
without choking up every
time. They tell me that’s a
sign of progress.”
On his office wall hangs
a collection of awards given him by various civic groups. The Book of
Golden Deeds came from
the Exchange Club in ’99.
The Coffee County Bar
Association honored him
in 2002. One plaque says,
“Given for Exceptional
Community Service” and
was given by Dr. Lewis
Davis in 2002. Harry appreciates all the awards,
but his greatest gratification comes when he is able
to help other substance
abusers.
“The gentleman who
hired me in Albany all
those years ago said that
he hired me because of my
history with alcoholism
rather than for my training and schooling,” Harry
said. “I had managed to
get some education along
the way, but the kind of
training I needed came
from living.”
Harry has no intention
of retiring as long as he’s
able to get down to the
jail. His work is too important to quit. A quote from
the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says that
“some of us have tried to
hold on to our old ideas and
the result was nil until we
let go absolutely.” Harry
had to learn that the hard
way, but now he tries to
help others in every way
he can.
“I don’t know how
much longer I can continue,” he said, “but I hate
to see people fall through
the cracks without any one
to catch them. We really
need some financial help
from the community, also,
for the half-way house.
I’m sure there are folks
out there who are willing
to help. I just need to find
them.”
If you are one of
those folks who can
and will help with this
endeavor, please call
Harry Cohen at 912384-2083 or 912-3108032. You may also call
Jim Watson, manager
of the New Hope Recovery Center, at 912501-9649. ¶
Harry Cohen Hard at work rescuing people.
Got a story for us or do you know a person that you would like to
see featured in Mature Living in the Southeast? Give us a call at
912-367-2468 or email us at [email protected].
11
Retirement ain’t what it
used to be, says AMAC
“The Great Recession hit us all hard, especially older Americans”
WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 22 – The meaning of
the word “retirement” has changed in recent years as a
result of the downturn in the economy, according to Dan
Weber, president of the Association of Mature American
Citizens.
The U.S. Census reported that the average net worth
of Americans 65 years of age or older took a nose dive
in the 2007 to 2009 as a result of the Great Recession.
And, we don’t need statistics
to know that the recovery has
been slow, at best.
“And so, many of us are
continuing to work in either
full-time or part-time positions in order to supplement
retirement savings and income,” Weber said. “We’re
also making life-style adjustments such as reassessing
our housing needs.”
He noted that more than
80% of those in the 65-plus
age bracket own their own
homes in the U.S. and that in
the great majority of cases their homes are their single
biggest asset. “So, it stands to reason that when the kids
grow up and move on, many of them start thinking about
moving into more efficient housing.”
For example, Weber explained, trading your house in
for a condominium apartment or townhouse can provide
a financial cushion, not to mention that it can also help
put a cap on maintenance expenses. In addition, it might
also reduce the number of daily chores such as mowing
the lawn and shoveling the snow. And, it might even
provide an extra measure of security.
“Whether you are thinking about a condo or a smaller
home, making such a lifestyle change may seem daunting at first, but the more you think about it and plan for
12
the future, the more you may come to realize how much
sense it makes at this stage of your life.”
But be sure to keep your options open, he says. For
example, don’t make the mistake of moving from a spacious home into too small a residence. Those kids will
be coming back for extended visits and so you’ll need
at least enough room to accommodate them.
Also, be sure to check out prospective neighborhoods
before making your choice.
Is it easy enough to get to
the stores? How far away
are your medical facilities?
Is public transportation accessible?
“And, if you are thinking
about moving to another
part of the country where
the weather is better, the
cost of living is lower and
there are no local income
taxes, do your homework.
It’s a big move and there are
other considerations such
as proximity to friends and
family.”
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [http://
www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital and conservative alternative to those organizations, such as AARP, that dominate the choices for mature Americans who want a say in
the future of the nation. Where those other organizations
may boast of their power to set the agendas for their
memberships, AMAC takes its marching orders from its
members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting
their interests, and offering a conservative insight on
how to best solve the problems they face today. Live
long and make a difference by joining us today at http://
amac.us/join-amac.
HEALTH NEWS
Understanding Bone Cancer
Few things in the world are stronger than bone. According to the American Cancer Society, some bone is
able to support as much as 12,000 pounds per square
inch, and it can take as much as 1,800 pounds of pressure to break the femur, which is the longest, heaviest
and strongest bone in the human body.
Though bone may appear invincible, anyone who has
ever suffered a broken bone knows
that's not the case. In addition to
breaks, bones can fall victim to disease, including bone cancer. Cancers
that start in the bone are uncommon,
so many diagnosed with bone cancer
often have lots of questions about
their disease. Gaining a better understanding of bone cancer can help men
and women in their fight against the
disease.
What is bone cancer?
According to the National Cancer
Institute, bone cancer is a malignant
tumor of the bone that destroys normal bone tissue. But the presence of a
bone tumor does not necessarily mean
a person has cancer, as not all bone
tumors are malignant and benign, or
noncancerous, bone tumors are more
common than malignant tumors. Benign tumors do not spread or destroy
bone tissue, though they can grow and
compress healthy bone tissue.
How do doctors distinguish between
the types of bone cancers?
There are different types of bone
cancers, and doctors distinguish one
from another by determining the type of tissue in which
the cancer began. Cancer can begin in any type of bone
tissue, including osteoid, cartilaginous and fibrous tissues.
What are some types of bone cancers?
Osteosarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer that
arises in the osteoid tissue in the bone. This type of tissue is hard or compact, and tumors that begin in osteoid
tissue most often occur in the knee and upper arm.
Chondrosarcoma is another type of bone cancer that
begins in the cartilaginous tissue, which is tough and
flexible tissue that pads the ends of bones and lines the
joints. Chondrosarcoma is typically found in the pelvis,
upper leg and shoulder, and a chondrosarcoma that
contains cancerous bone cells may be classified as an
osteosarcoma.
There are
also a family
of tumors that
may arise in soft
tissue, such as
muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, or
blood vessels,
but typically
occur in bone.
This family of
tumors is known
as the Ewing
Sarcoma Family of Tumors,
or ESFTs. These
types of tumors
are most often
found along the
backbone and
pelvis and in the
legs and arms.
What causes
bone cancer?
There is no
definitive cause
of bone cancer,
though several factors have been identified as increasing
a person's likelihood of developing bone tumors. For
example, osteosarcoma occurs more frequently in people
who have previously been treated with certain anticancer
drugs and those who have undergone high-dose external
radiation therapy.
Studies also have indicated that people with hereditary
defects of bones are more likely to develop osteosarMature Living in the Southeast
13
coma, as are people with metal implants that were used
to treat past bone fractures.
Are there symptoms of bone cancer?
The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain,
which may be persistent or unusual near a bone where
a tumor is present. But such pain does not necessarily
indicate cancer, so men and women dealing with pain in
their bones should visit a doctor, who can conduct tests
to determine the cause of the pain. Swelling in or near a
bone also may be a byproduct of bone cancer.
How is bone cancer diagnosed?
When an individual reports persistent or unusual pain
or swelling near a bone to a doctor, that physician will
likely inquire about the individual’s personal medical
history and that of his or her family. A physical examination also will be conducted, after which the doctor may
order certain tests.
One of the tests doctors use to diagnose bone cancer
is an x-rays of the area, which can provide a depiction of
the tumor, including its location, size and shape. Special
imaging tests, such as an MRI, a CAT scan, a PET scan,
and a bone scan, may also be ordered for patients whose
pain is especially unusual or persistent.
A biopsy also may be ordered to determine if cancer
is present. During a biopsy, a tissue sample will be taken
from the bone tumor to determine if it is malignant or
benign. Biopsies of bone tissue are often conducted by
orthopedic oncologists.
Some doctors dealing with patients experiencing persistent or unusual pain in their bones may order a blood
test to determine if a high level of alkaline phosphatase
is present in the blood. High levels of this enzyme are
normal in children and adolescents because they are still
growing, so parents should know that a high level of
alkaline phosphatase in their children’s blood does not
necessarily mean the child has bone cancer.
More information about bone cancer is available at
www.cancer.gov.
These foods may help prevent cancer
Cancer is a potentially deadly disease that does not
discriminate based on a person’s age, sex, ethnicity, or
social status. Though anyone can get cancer, the Na-
14
tional Institute on Aging notes that a person’s risk of
getting cancer increases with age, even if that person
has no family history of cancer. That reality highlights
the importance of routine cancer screenings for men and
women age 50 and older.
While screenings are an important part of detecting
and treating cancer, those over 50 should know they
can take certain measures to possibly prevent the onset
of cancer. For example, including certain foods as part
of a regular diet may be effective at preventing cancer.
Though there’s no way to guarantee a person won’t get
cancer, the following foods may help lower the risk.
• Blueberries: Blueberries may help prevent the onset
of neck and mouth cancers. That’s because blueberries
are rich in antioxidants, which the American Institute
for Cancer Research notes can protect cells from being
damaged.
• Coffee: Though studies about the efficacy of coffee as a potentially preventive agent against cancer are
ongoing, some studies have found that both caffeinated
and decaffeinated coffee can lower a person’s risk of
developing colon, endometrial and prostate cancer.
• Whole grains: Whole grains can help men and
women control their weight, as they are lower in calories
than more traditional options. But studies have shown
that whole grains, which can be found in whole-grain
and whole-wheat pastas, can also reduce your risk of
colon cancer.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, a
carotenoid that numerous studies have indicated can
reduce incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and
macular degeneration. These studies have based their
findings on tomato consumption and not on the use of
lycopene supplements, which may or may not be effective at preventing cancer. Cooked tomatoes can improve
the body’s ability to absorb lycopene, further enhancing
its ability to protect the body against cancer.
• Fatty fish: Fatty fish, including salmon, that is full
of omega-3 fatty acids has been linked to a host medical
benefits, including lowering a person’s risk of cancer
and heart disease.
Mature Living in the Southeast is online!
www.maturelivingse.com
Tell your friends!
Kawasaki
2384 Golden
Isles West
Baxley, GA
912-367-2233
15
Celebrating history with
“In the Pines”
By Mary Ann Ellis
In October of 2014, the people of
Appling and surrounding counties
are uniting to bring local history to
the stage of the Appling County High
School Fine Arts Center in the form of a play
entitled, “In the Pines.”
Sponsored by the Appling
County Arts Council, it
will feature vignettes of
our forefathers’ lives and
a band made up of local
musicians playing lots of
old style music—gospel,
country, bluegrass, and
more. Jimmy Johnson is
on the guitar, Phil Warren
on the mandolin, Bill Watson on the banjo, David
McCluney on the banjo,
and Rick Herndon on the
bass, but that’s just for
one practice; they might
change instruments at
any time.
Laurie Jo Upchurch,
an entertainer and writer
of local fame, is writing
and directing the play.
For eight years now, she
has written, directed, and
acted in “Tales of the Altamaha,” a community production by
citizens of Lyons. She’s also written
“Tabby Walls and Bottle Trees,” a
community play for Darien, Georgia. Baxley folk remember her for
directing and acting in past productions such as “Annie,” “The Wizard
of Oz,” and the “Little Match Girl.”
16
The name Laurie Jo Upchurch is
synonymous with entertainment in
Appling County, as well as in many
others.
When Laurie Jo and the Appling
County Arts Council agreed to do
the play, she started her research
immediately, using Ruth Barron’s
Footprints in Appling County, a history from 1818-1978, and Caroline
Miller’s Lamb in His Bosom, the
Pulitzer-prize winner. However, just
like her famous predecessor Caroline
Miller, she went straight to the people
for much of her information.
“For hours and hours, I drove the
back roads of Appling County talking with JoAnne Switzer, a descendant of the original Moody
family of Moody Swamp
fame, and listened to her
talk about the swamp. Her
mother, Bobby Jo Fennel,
told me stories, too,” Laurie Jo said. “I’ve talked to
many, many people and
collected their anecdotes.
The people at the Heritage
Center have been very
helpful as well as everyone else I’ve talked to.
They are all excited about
this project.”
Laurie Jo and her family
moved to Appling County
in 1966 when she was 6
years old. Joe Chamberlain, her father, worked for
Georgia Power. He came
home one day when they
still lived in Decatur and
told them, “I’ve found the
most beautiful place and I
want to show it to you.”
Once they came down
to see it, her mother, Judy,
decided that she wanted to raise their
children right there on that spot and
they’ve been here ever since.
Laurie Jo Chamberlain graduated
from Appling County High School in
1978. She’s always been interested
in entertaining, and her teachers encouraged her to “find her voice.”
“When I was just a little girl,” ing tidbits about our ancestors when in the Wiregrass Region of Georgia,
she said, “I’d get a big wooden spoon October comes around.
but also to people in other places
from the kitchen for a microphone,
When it’s time to select her cast, as well. People could identify with
once again Laurie Jo turns to the theme of a strong young woman
the people. She needs every bearing and raising children during
age range from the very young such hard times.
to the very old. Any one inMiller was born in Waycross in
terested in acting or helping 1903; both her parents died before
might still find a role to play. A she graduated from high school.
few select roles remain vacant She graduated and then married her
at this point. Just call her at English teacher, William Miller, who
278-0999 and leave a message moved her to Baxley. The house the
if she doesn’t answer. She’ll Millers lived in while she wrote her
get back to you. One of her first novel sits—a little piece of hismain characters will be Caro- tory—right there on Anthony Street
line Miller herself, which is and was recently renovated by curintriguing since that lady had rent owner, Alan Miles. Even though
a reputation for being quite a she had three small children, she’d
character.
walk down to Barnes’ Drug Store and
LAURIE JO UPCHURCH
In the ‘30s when Caroline sit there drinking a coke and writing
stand on the toilet, and sing into the Pafford Miller herself roamed the down stories. The legend goes that
mirror. If someone had left the seat highways and byways of Appling she was not particularly fastidious
up, I’d have been in trouble.”
County collecting stories for her about appearance and tramped to
After high school, she attended novel Lamb in His Bosom, she never town every day in her run-down
Reinhardt College for a while where dreamed that it would
she studied theater and psychol- make such an impact on
ogy, but left to marry her childhood this county and the rest
sweetheart, Kenny Upchurch. They of the world. She beraised two boys and helped raise came the first Georgian
many foster children, but the chil- to receive a Pulitzer Prize
dren have all grown and gone now. for literature. Lamb in
The nest is empty, except for their His Bosom preceded the
granddaughter Triniti, who lives now famous Gone with
with them.
the Wind by a few years.
“Our goal for this production,” The book itself grew out
Laurie Jo said, “is to make people of her interest in her own
love Appling County as much as we history and genealogy,
Caroline Pafford Miller 1903-1992
do, maybe to fall in love with this and characters in the book
Wire Grass Region all over again. are named after her family members. house slippers, causing a bit of gossip
We have everything right here. I As she traveled around the country- among the other ladies of the town.
could live somewhere else, but why side visiting with local people and Her house dresses often had torn
on earth would I want to?”
hearing their stories, she wrote them pockets or rips here and there, but
She has a twinkle in her eye when down in a notebook. She’d drop she didn’t seem to notice and most
she talks and has a way of talking in to talk and stay for supper. The people didn’t either. People liked the
people into things, like acting in her conversations went on for hours. energetic young mother and eagerly
plays or singing or sewing costumes. She especially liked the folktales and told her their stories.
If she used that charisma on the dialect and wrote them directly into
Lamb in His Bosom recounts the
people she interviewed, the audience her novel. Her style, both simple and story of poor pioneers who struggle
will most likely learn some surpris- direct, appealed not only to people on the South Georgia frontier and
17
begins a couple of decades before the Civil War. No one
in this novel owns slaves. They work hard to exist and to
feed their families. Miller makes that point very clear. This
novel is about childbirth and snakebites, panther attacks
and the death of children, about growing crops against the
odds and deadly house fires in the middle of the night. It’s
about marrying a second time after the first husband dies
and wondering what she’ll do when she gets to the Pearly
Gates and finds two men waiting for her. The book is about
real people and real life of the 19th century right here in this
region. For those of you who haven’t read this masterpiece,
it is readily available for purchase at amazon.com or any of
the other online bookstores.
Miller died in 1992 and historian Elizabeth Fox-Genovese said that she died knowing what Miller herself once
declared to be the real reward of a novelist—“the knowledge that after he dies he will leave the best part of himself
behind.” Caroline Miller was inducted into the Georgia
Writers’ Hall of Fame in 2007.
So many students resist learning history and declare
it boring, but the history of Appling County is interesting
and exciting. For example, Creek Indians once lived in
this region and padded softly among the pines beside the
Altamaha. They lived on this land long before any of us
did, bending trees to point directions and making tasty meals
from nuts and berries growing wild along the trails.
Pioneer farmers tamed the wild lands, cleared them
without modern-day equipment, and planted their crops—
cotton, tobacco, cane, corn, and others. In Lamb in His
Bosom, main character Cean planted four corn kernels in
each hill and chanted, “One for the cutworm, one for the
crow, one to rot, and one to grow.” People raised cows,
hogs, and chickens, but hunted wild game to supplement
what they grew. In the fall, cane grindings became festivals
where all the neighbors came to help and to sample the
wares. Always, someone brought a banjo and a fiddle, or
whatever instrument he had. These hard working people
looked forward to these yearly parties.
“In the Pines” is designed to depict all the aspects of
our history, not necessarily all in one year. The plan is for
the play to become an annual event, presenting different
facets of our history each year. The stories from the rich
and expansive history of the region will last indefinitely.
Appling County once encompassed or was the parent county
of all or part of Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch,
Coffee, Echols, Jeff Davis, Pierce, Telfair, Ware and Wayne
Counties.. This region is now commonly called the Wire
Grass section of Georgia. People from other counties are
welcome to participate, too, since our history is their history. And by all means, put the dates on your calendar for
October 17, 18, and 19. None of us want to miss “In the
Pines.” ¶
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R.Ph./Owner
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Bond between grandparents
and grandkids benefits both
What used to be the "golden years" of life for seniors
is now turning into any opportunity to spend even more
time with their youngest family members. Nowadays, a
growing number of grandparents are called on to provide
child care for their grandkids, many of whom are growing
up in two-income households. Others are helping to raise
grandkids while providing financial assistance for adult
children who may not be able to live on their own.
This trend has been corroborated in a few recent studies. Information from the Pew Research Center showed
7.7 million children in the United States were living in the
same household as one of their grandparents in 2011. A
University of Chicago analysis of a decade of data based
on interviews with 13,614 grandparents, ages 50 and
older, found that 61 percent of grandparents provided at
least 50 hours of care for their grandchildren during any
given year between 1998 and 2008. And an April 2012
study for the MetLife Mature Market Institute and the
nonprofit Generations United, an intergenerational policy
group, found that 74 percent of respondents provided
weekly child care or babysitting service for grandkids.
Grandparents often cite helping their own children
financially as well as staying in touch with grandchildren
as motivating factors behind providing care. According
to Generations United, staying in touch with grandkids
can give seniors a feeling of self-worth and improve
their overall health.
When spending so much time together, grandparents
may develop special relationships with their grandchildren, who may benefit from the knowledge and wisdom
offered by their elders. The following are some lessons
grandparents can share with youngsters.
• Empathy: By sharing stories of how things were
when they were younger, when opportunities may have
been more scarce, grandparents can help teach grandchildren empathy. Grandchildren may learn to be grateful for
the things they have and the people around them, rather
than taking what they have for granted.
• Family history: Grandparents can tell grandchildren
about family members, including youngsters' own parents, and shed light on the generations that came before
them. Looking through photos or watching old movies
can provide the avenue by which to start conversations
about family history and give children opportunities to
ask questions.
• Interests: Children may be excited about learning
new skills or hobbies taught to them by their grandparents. Anything from gardening to woodworking can be
shared.
• Respect: Children who grow up respecting their
grandparents may have an increased tendency to respect
authority figures outside their homes, which may help
kids grow up to be more courteous and kind.
Grandchildren also offer benefits to their grandparents. Companionship, new experiences and conversation
can help keep grandparents' minds sharp and bodies
active well into their golden years.
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19
FEATURE ARTICLE
Along the Back Roads
of Jeff Davis County
By Mary Ann Ellis
Tim Varnedore sat in his seat at the front table of the
ballroom of the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel,
wondering how he’d let his friend place him front and
center in the huge conference room. They were practically in front of the podium.
“Every one had on coats and ties,” Tim said, “but I
was there in my khaki pants and a green striped-shirt. I
tables and looked at other programs because I thought
they were playing a joke on me.”
It was no joke though, and they were sitting at breakfast in Mobile, Alabama, at the National Association
of County Agricultural Agents. Tim’s poster detailing
research done in Jeff Davis County had won the competition.
“Hey, man, lend me your jacket,” Tim said to a friend.
“I need one if I’m going
to be in a picture.”
The first one he borrowed was too big, but
he found a gray one that
worked. It didn’t match
his other clothes too well,
but Tim is nothing if not
flexible. He had a jacket
for the picture.
Tim Varnedore has
been the County Extension Coordinator for Jeff
Davis County for the
last fourteen years. Tim
started his career in Ben
Hill and Crisp Counties, where he led 4H and
livestock programs for
students and adults. The
huge budget cuts in ’91
eliminated his job, and
he wound up in Appling
Tim Varnedore out and about, helping wherever he’s needed.
County, not very far from
tried to get my buddy to move to the back, but the room his Alma home.
was filling up fast and it was time to start. Then he
“At the time, I thought it was a catastrophe, but it was
handed me the program for the morning. When I saw really a blessing in disguise,” Tim said. “We had a new
my name, I didn’t believe it. My poster had won 1st place baby and it was good to be back close to home. Also,
in the nation. I was flabbergasted. That was the second I was close enough to help Mama with Daddy when he
time any one from Georgia had ever won. I checked other got so sick shortly thereafter.”
20
Throughout his career,
Tim has always worked
with 4H. He took a group
to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to the Daisy International
BB Competition.
When they drove
back through
Macon, rain fell
in sheets and
flood warnings
were up all over
the area. They
made it through
just in time because the next
day saw I-75
closed. Some
campers were
at Rock Eagle
and were unable to go home
because of the
flooding. Some
didn’t even have
homes to go to.
The staff just ordered extra
food and kept them there
until things straightened up
somewhat.
The ‘90s saw Tim’s biggest shooting sports programs—5 BB teams and 2
shotgun teams. They traveled around the state for
competitions; Statesboro
hosted the region competition and Rock Eagle, the
state competition. Winners went on to Bowling
Green.
Currently, Tim still assists Sheila Marchant with
it as she needs him, but
she’s the official 4H leader
in the office. They have a
strong program. One of
their 4Hers, Oakley Perry,
served as state president
last year. Tim has had state
officers in every place he’s
worked, but Oakley is the
ect. Through his various made it through college.
activities, he has become I certainly wasn’t preinvolved with the national pared,” he said. “During
‘No Bull Challenge.’ He’s my 4th,5th, and 6th grades,
going to ABAC Bacon County schools
in the fall and participated in a state pilot
then on to UGA program and the teachers
to become an didn’t really teach. Each
agent working morning they would pass
out TLUs, (Teacher Learnwith 4H.”
Oakley has ing Units) to the students
also helped with and we’d sit at our desks
research plots and do them. Of course
in the county, I’m not telling you that I
such as tobacco ever did this,” he laughed,
and cotton. He “but answers were passed
has an interest around on the playground
in agriculture as at recess. We were all
well. Some of making good grades and
his family mem- learning nothing. Teachbers still grow ers would help students
who asked for help, but
tobacco.
T i m h a s what kid that age asks for
come a lon g help? I wrote only one
way since he essay during my 4 years
graduated from in high school, and when I
Karen and Tim Varnedore
UGA and be- got to ABAC, I was totally
first state president that came a county agent. He’s unprepared.”
Tim came home from
Tim has worked with.
surprised when he stops
“The program has really
been good for
Oakley,” Tim
said. “He tells
an amazing
story of how he
was bullied as a
child, but when
he became involved in 4H,
he found something he excelled at. He’d
found his niche
and was able to
Tim Varnedore with his prize-winning poster at
overcome his
national convention in Mobile, Alabama.
problems. He
ABAC and went to Ware
mastered in horticulture and thinks about it.
and won state with his proj“It’s amazing that I ever Technical School to learn
21
to weld. He realized that if he ran out of money before Fair or the State 4H/FFA Market Hog Show 12 different
finishing his education, he could use that skill to earn times. No other county agent or ag teacher has had that
some. He worked a night shift at Milliken, and the fac- kind of success.
“It took a lot of hard work,” Tim said, “but that’s
tory work and atmosphere made him determined to go
back to school. He commuted to South Georgia State okay.”
Tim spends his days helping farmers with various
College for two years, and then transferred to UGA to
finish.
“I’ve never had a literature class in my life,” Tim
said. “How on earth did
that happen?”
He grew up on a farm
and remembers that things
got really tough in the ‘70s.
Gas prices sky-rocketed,
and gas wasn’t always available. His family harvested
nothing for 3 or 4 years, but
their chicken houses kept
them afloat financially. Tim
was a bit wary of farming,
but had always enjoyed the
animals, so he got a degree
in animal science.
“Nobody’s had many
good things to say about
tobacco in the last few
years,” Tim said, “but I met
my wife in a tobacco field. Tim is shown Bagging insects for identification with a local farmer.
I never worked in tobacco
until I graduated from high school. One day some friends problems. One farmer had a terrible infestation of inand I had gone to help a family with their tobacco harvest sects in his peanuts. The plants looked gold instead of
and Karen Durrance was there helping, too. Strangely green, but he was able to tell him how to save most of
enough, we grew up about five miles apart, but didn’t his crop. “Specialists are available to identify these problems
know each other. I always tease her and say I’ve never
if I don’t recognize them,” Tim said. “With the great
wanted to work in tobacco again.”
Tim and Karen have two children, Jaimie and Ryan. technology we have today, I can make high quality
Jaimie has a degree in agriculture from UGA and cur- pictures and send them for identification. Experts are
rently works for the Farm Service Agency in Douglas; as close as Tifton, usually, and can often come the very
Ryan is studying ag technology and working for Branch next day if we need them. When you have a crop that
and Branch Farms in Appling County. He’ll be starting cost seven or eight hundred dollars per acre to put in,
an internship with John Deere this fall. By following you can’t mess around.”
In 2004, they discovered Asian soybean rust in the
Tim around all their lives, both Jaimie and Ryan have
gotten to know a lot of people and become a part of the county. They and a Louisiana farm found it about the
same time. They’ve also found Kudzu bugs, which Tim
agricultural network.
Looking back over his career so far, Tim’s really suspects came in through the Atlanta airport. They reproud of his success in working with 4H and FFA stu- cently discovered the Bermuda grass stem maggot for the
dents in livestock. His students have had grand champi- first time ever in the western hemisphere right there on a
ons or reserve champions at either the Georgia National
Story continues on page 27
22
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farm in Jeff Davis County. Ironically, two of these were
discovered in the same field.
Tim has been promoted to Senior Public Service
Associate, which is about the equivalent of a university
professor. The promotion came primarily because of his
work with crops in Jeff Davis County. The University
of Georgia encourages its agents to foster a reputation
outside the state of Georgia, as well as inside. Tim has
earned his reputation and his promotions by presenting
at various conferences the research done in Jeff Davis
County, among other things.
He knows people all over the country, and if he
doesn’t know how to fix a particular problem, he knows
some one else who does. A fellow agent and friend down
in south Florida is an expert on sugar cane, which isn’t
grown extensively in Jeff Davis County, but when Tim
has a problem arise with it, he calls his friend. He’s
pleased to be a part of such an extensive network and
recognizes the benefits.
He served on the national board of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents for 2 years as
the Southern Region Director. In that capacity he added
even more good friends and experts to his network.
Oakley Perry, state 4-H president, from
Tim Varnedore is a county agent and is very good at
Hazlehurst,
is one of many young men and
his job, but his concern for people doesn’t stop when he
women Tim has assisted in 4H.
leaves the office. An incredible number of people know
and like him and know they can call on him for help to become a politician, he’ll certainly win because he’s
any time and anywhere. Former 4-Hers come back to been campaigning all his life simply by abiding by the
visit or call him for a chat on a regular basis. His influ- golden rule. ¶
ence spreads everywhere he goes. If he ever decides
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. - Proverbs 17:22
Mature Wisdom...
After working his farm every day, an old
farmer rarely had time to enjoy the large
pond in the back that he had fixed up
years earlier with picnic tables, horseshoe
courts, and benches. So one evening he
decided to go down and see how things
were holding up. Much to his surprise, he
heard voices shouting and laughing with
glee. As he came closer he saw it was a
group of young women skinny dipping in
his pond.
He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end.
One of the women shouted to him, “We’re
not coming out until you leave.”
The old farmer replied, “I didn’t come
down here to watch you ladies swim or
make you get out of the pond naked. I only
came down to feed the alligator.”
Moral: Old age and treachery will always
triumph over youth and skill.
27
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Swing featuring The Rhythm Masters Band, $45
BAXLEY AND APPLING COUNTY
Advance/$55 At door, 7-10pm at the DGCC,
September:
Tickets Available at the Chamber, FMI 912-592- 20th - Linda Coleman Carson Memorial Canoe
9225
Paddle on the Altamaha River
- 12th CRMC Foundation Fall Golf Classic,
DG&CC, check-in 8:30am, FMI 912-383-6910
October:
- 19th Childhood Cancer Awareness Group
- 7th - Cook out in the Park (Sponsored by the
Cupcake Sale, 8pm-10pm, Jardine Stadium
City of Baxley)
(Homecoming Football Game), FMI 912-381- 16th-17th - Community Wide Planning Retreat
9860
- 26th & 27th Nicholls Founders Day Celebration,
November:
Parade @ 10am on Saturday, Downtown Nicholls,
- 27th - Moonlight Madness Sale with Downtown
FMI 912-345-2421
Baxley merchants
- 27th Childhood Cancer Awareness Group 4th
Annual Silent Auction and Bake Sale, 9am-6pm,
For more information about the events listed
Central Square Complex Gym A, FMI 912-381above, contact the Baxley-Appling County
9860
Chamber of Commerce at 912-367-7731.
HAZLEHURST AND JEFF DAVIS
October:
- 10th - 11th - Cotton Festival, sponsored by the
Friends of Jeff Davis
- 23rd - Annual Homecoming Parade and
Homecoming Parade Merchant Decorating
Contest
- 30th - Business Halloween Costume Contest
November:
- 8th - 1890 Homestead Celebration, sponsored
by the Jeff Davis County Fair Association
October:
- 16th - Chamber Annual Women in
Business:THINK PINK event, 6-8:30pm, Central
Square Complex
- 18th - Douglas Lions Club 15th Annual BIG
BUCK CONTEST, CHS Gym, 10am - Deer
Scoring Begins; 1pm - Outdoor Carnival begins;
6pm - Early Bird Prize Drawing Begins; 8:30pm
- last time to check in deer
8:45pm - Main Event, FMI www.douglaslionsclub.
org
or 912-327-0830
- 30th - Hometown Harvest, Vacant Lot Near
City Hall, 4:00pm - 8:00pm, FMI call (912) 3845161.
above, contact the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County
above, contact the Douglas - Coffee County
DOUGLAS AND COFFEE COUNTY
September:
ALMA AND BACON COUNTY
- 6th - General Coffee State Park Love Bug
For information about upcoming events in this
Festival, 10am-2pm, $5 parking, FMI 912-384community, please contact the Alma - Bacon
7082
County Chamber of Commerce at 912-632- 6th - Coffee Alliance for the Arts Night of
5859.
28
A nationally syndicated information column devoted to older
adults and the families who support them. Researched and written
by senior advocate, author and NBC Today show contributor Jim
Miller, Savvy Senior is published in more than 400 newspapers
and magazines nationwide.
How to Protect Your Medicare
Card from Identity Theft
Dear Savvy Senior,
I just turned 65 and
received my Medicare card.
I see that the ID number
on my card is the same as
my Social Security number,
and on the back of the card
it tells me I need to carry it
with me at all times. What
can I do to protect myself
from identify theft if my
purse and Medicare card
get stolen?
Conflicted Beneficiary
Dear Conflicted,
Many people new to
Medicare are surprised to
learn that the ID number
on their Medicare card is
identical to their Social
Security number (SSN).
After all, we’re constantly
warned not to carry our SSN
around with us, because if it
gets lost or stolen, the result
could be identity theft.
But the Medicare ID is
more than an identifier. It’s
proof of insurance. Beneficiaries need to show their
Medicare card at the doctor’s office and the hospital
in order to have Medicare
pay for treatment.
Over the years, many
consumer advocates, have
called for a new form of
Medicare identification.
The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, which
administers Medicare, also
acknowledges the problem,
but so far nothing has been
done.
One of the main reasons
is because it would cost an
estimated $255 to $317 million to fix it. And that’s just
the direct cost to the federal government. It doesn’t
include the expense for
physicians and other healthcare providers to adjust their
systems, or the cost to the
states.
Other government health
systems like the Department of Veterans Affairs
and Department of Defense
have already begun using
ID numbers that are different from SSNs, but no one
knows when Medicare will
follow suit.
In the meantime, here
are some tips offered by
various consumer advocate
groups that can help keep
your Medicare card safe and
out of the hands of fraudsters.
Protect Your Card
For starters, groups
suggest that you simply
don’t carry your Medicare
card at all, because it’s not
necessary. Most healthcare
providers already have their
patients in their electronic
systems and know how to
bill you.
But if you really don’t
feel comfortable not having
it with you, then the Privacy
Rights Clearing House, a
national consumer resource
on identity theft recommends that you make a photocopy of your card and cut
it down to wallet size. Then
use scissors to cut out the
last four digits of your SSN,
or take a black marker and
cross them out, and carry
that instead.
You will, however, need
your actual Medicare card
with you the first time you
visit a new health care provider, who will likely want
to make a photocopy of it
for their files.
If you’re worried that
you’ll need your card in
an emergency situation in
order to get care, you should
know that emergency
personnel cannot refuse
you care until you show an
insurance card. Although
you’ll need to come up with
billing information before
leaving a hospital, that
doesn’t mean you won’t
receive care.
Lost or Stolen Cards
If your Medicare card
does happen to get lost or
stolen, you can replace it by
calling Social Security at
800-772-1213. You can also
apply for a new card online
at ssa.gov/medicarecard
or go to your local Social
Security office.
If your Medicare card
has been lost or stolen, you
will need to watch out for
Medicare fraud. You can do
this by checking your quarterly Medicare summary notices for services or supplies
you did not receive. If you
spot anything suspicious or
wrong, call the Inspector
General’s fraud hotline at
800-447-8477.
If you need help identifying Medicare fraud,
contact your state Senior
Medicare Patrol program.
See smpresource.org or call
877-808-2468 for contact
information.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O.
Box 5443, Norman, OK
73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show
and author of The Savvy
Senior book.
29
A TASTE OF THE SOUTH
Enjoy
homemade
Italian on a
weeknight
Whipping up a hearty homecooked meal on a weeknight
can be difficult. Commitments to work and family limit the
time many have to cook dinner each night, so an easily
prepared meal like the following recipe for "Chicken
Piccata" from the "Incredibly Easy Italian" cookbook
(Publications International, Ltd.) is perfect for a busy,
middle-of-the-week homemade meal.
Chicken Piccata
Ingredients: Serves 4
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4 ounces each)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
1 tablespoon drained capers
Lemon slices and fresh parsley (optional)
30
Directions:
1. Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow pie plate.
Reserve 1 tablespoon flour mixture.
2. Place chicken between sheets of plastic wrap. Using
flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin, pound chicken
to 1/2-inch thickness. Coat chicken with flour mixture,
shaking off excess.
3. Heat oil and butter in large nonstick skillet over
medium heat until butter is melted. Cook chicken 4
to 5 minutes per side or until no longer pink in center.
Transfer to serving platter and cover loosely with foil.
4. Add garlic to same skillet; cook and stir over medium
heat 1 minute. Add reserved flour mixture; cook and stir
1 minute. Add broth and lemon juice; cook 2 minutes,
stirring frequently, until sauce thickens. Stir in parsley
and capers; spoon sauce over chicken. Garnish with lemon
slices and parsley.
31
“We’ve got our
eyes on you!”
Appling HealthCare is pleased to
announce that Dr. Jack Johnson,
an Ophthalmologist, is now
seeing patients in Baxley.
Dr. Johnson specializes in
cataract surgery.
Patients may call 800-241-2450
to schedule an appointment with
Dr. Johnson.
DR. JACK JOHNSON
www.ahcs.org

local history will come to life in october

Transcription

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