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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Feds descend on park
There may be merit to allegations of illegal dumping of hazaradous wastes at Reed Bingham State Park. Federal authorities dropped a backhoe into one suspected area Thursday afternoon, and there was an immediate sound of scraping metal. Two drums had been unearthed by 4 p.m. and the digging had only just begun.
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Could school bus ads save school budgets?
School districts have imposed all sorts of drastic cuts to save money during the down economy, canceling field trips and making parents pay for everything from tissues to sports transportation. And some have now resorted to placing advertisements on school buses. School districts say it’s practically free money, and advertisers love the captive audience that school buses provide.
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Bad to the funny bone
Ask George Thorogood how he’s doing, the rocker answers, “Bad.”
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Growth for House of Hope
A one-year residential program for women struggling with drugs, alcohol and abuse, South Georgia House of Hope announced plans to create a chapel and educational space Thursday.
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Authority discuss improving parks
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority approved an extensive list of park improvements at its meeting Thursday.
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Students raise funds for MDA
Students at Perimeter Christian School celebrated with an ice cream party after raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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Fire damages Berrien house
Emergency personnel responded Wednesday night to a residential fire and sounds of explosions coming from inside of the residence.
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Night Moves for tonight
Here’s what’s happening tonight, March 19, according to items submitted.
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Students help Habitat for Humanity
Some 23 students from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island spent the past week constructing a home at 609 Cypress Street.
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‘Remember Me’ worth remembering
“Remember Me” (Drama: 1 hour, 53 minutes); Starring: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper, Lena Olin, Tate Ellington, Ruby Jerins and Pierce Brosnan; Director: Allen Coulter; Rated: PG-13 (Violence, Sexual content and profanity) Movie Review: Numerous critics are denouncing this film, save a few like Roger Ebert who liked this film except for one incident in it. That one incident is perhaps most viewers’ reasons for objecting to this film. Conversely, movies should leave an impression. “Remember Me” does.
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