Local News
Library reaches out to migrant community
VALDOSTA — A semi-truck converted into a high tech mobile classroom in the middle of the Ortega Migrant Camp is bringing opportunity to dozens of children in Echols County this week. Part of the Georgia Department of Education’s “Mobil Unit Summer Pilot Project,” the truck is delivering opportunity to underprivileged families via English as a Second language classes, computer training and literacy programs.
During the day, the mobile facility will be used to improve the vocabulary and reading comprehension of the area’s migrant children. This is, for most, the only exposure they will get to literacy skills until school resumes.
Transportation issues keep many of the children away from traditional summer enrichment programs, such as the library’s annual Summer Reading Program. For this reason, the South Georgia Regional Library has sent representatives to the mobile classroom in order to bring the children quality library programming. This partnership is in line with the system’s ongoing relationship with the Mexican Consulate. Since November of 2007, the Allen-Statenville Library has hosted the “Plaza Comunitaria,” a center where Mexican nationals can complete their education.
Recently three members of the library staff took stories and crafts to the migrant camp and spent the day working with the children. Over 20 youth squeezed into the trailer to listen to stories and create bag puppets which they then introduced in both Spanish and English.
If the pilot program goes well, the Georgia Department of Education is considering keeping a mobile unit on the road to visit migrant families and out-of-school youth through out the state.
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Quakes torment Chile as president sworn in
The earth shook and shook Thursday as dignitaries walked in for the swearing-in of Sebastian Pinera as Chile’s president. It shook some more as they waited for him.
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Rezone of Gornto Road on hold
Residents worried about a possible rezone of residential property on Gornto Road will have to wait another 60 days for a decision from Valdosta’s City Council.
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Georgia system to defend poor still reeling
Georgia’s public defender system is still trying to recover its financial footing five years after a courthouse gunman racked up a $3 million taxpayer-funded defense tab on the way to his conviction.
- Night Moves for Friday March 12, 2010
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Echols County hosts all-school reunion
The Sixth Biennial Echols County Schools Reunion is scheduled for this weekend. If you attended, worked at, or sent your children to any Echols County school, you are invited.
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Kiss Me, I’m Hahirish
Downtown Hahira will host Green Day on Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Activities include a cleanup, a chili cook-off, a parade and more.
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In Friday's edition of The Valdosta Daily Times
6 P.M. UPDATE: Here is a list of some of the stories and photos that will be featured in Friday's edition of The Valdosta Daily Times:
• Valdosta City Council discusses the rezoning of Gornto Road.
• Sebastian Pinera is hurriedly sworn in as Chile's first elected right-wing president in 50 years.
• Georgia's public defender system is still trying to recover its financial footing.
• Hahira prepares for Green Day activities on Saturday.
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Flood watch in effect through tonight
NOON UPDATE: According to The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla., Lowndes County remains under a flood watch until 7 p.m. tonight. The same is true for the counties of Berrien, Brooks, Cook and Lanier.
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Obama pushing on health care end game
President Barack Obama is pushing a new anti-fraud plan and his top health official is challenging the nation’s insurers as the administration cranks up the pressure for a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s medical system.
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State must hand over $18 million
Georgia’s top lawyer says the state must hand over $18 million in disputed sales tax revenue to local governments in the midst of a crippling state budget crunch.
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