Thumbs Up

Congratulations are in order for Tracy Hester, Albany’s Development Services coordinator through the municipal Planning Department. The Building Officials Association of Georgia recently named Hester its Building Official of the Year. When the time came to be recognized by the Albany City Commission and the Dougherty County Commission, Hester brought his entire staff along for the honor. Giving credit to his staff for the success of the department, Hester graciously accepted the recognition for the team.

CRCT results are in on the systemwide level, and Dougherty County scores improved in 22 of the 30 sections of the test with only a slight drop in the remainder. All grades tested checked in with improved math scores with the fifth grade showing a 13.8 percent rise over last year’s fifth-grade class. There is always room for improvement, and that is just what the school system has done. The hope is that the trend will continue in the right direction. Keep up the hard work, staff and students.

One gallon bag at a time, 14-year-old Taylor Colon of Decatur County has worked his way toward earning his Eagle Scout badge. As a candidate, Taylor decided to help the less fortunate by collecting money to fill bags with emergency supplies for persons in need, including the homeless. Each of the more than 100 bags contained approximately 20 items and was marked for a male or female adult or child. Some of the items included in the kits were toothpaste, toothbrush, hand sanitizer, shampoo, deodorant, Band-Aids, socks, Kleenex, wipes, bottled water, snacks and more. When all items were packed and delivered to Decatur County Family Connections, there was an additional $868.44 cash to give the organization. Well done, young man.

There simply is no person in Albany who works harder than Mimieux Land. This young lady track star from Monroe High School continues to excel at her chosen events: the high jump, long jump and triple jump. There may be no classroom assignments this summer, but Land continues to train and competes as often as possible. At a recent IAAF World Youth Championship qualifying event, Land faced competitors from all over the country in hopes of moving on to the world championship event in France. It did not work out that way, but there is always next year. Albany can be proud of Mimi Land for all her hard work and focus and for her representation of her school and city at such a prestigious level.

SASCO Chemical Group has done what some other companies either cannot or have chosen not to do. SASCO is expanding its facility, and doing so right here in Albany. The officers of the business considered the fact that many of its employees were long-timers and probably would not want to relocate. Construction is under way for a new and bigger facility that can mean only one thing … more jobs. Already six new employees have been hired with at least five more to be added within a year. Small business at its best!

An energy reduction mandate from the Pentagon to all military installations must be met by 2015. Marine Corps Headquarters is mandating that a reduced energy consumption of 30 percent be reached by that year. Geothermal energy, solar panels, gas-to-energy from the landfill, rainwater harvesting, motion-activated lighting and even a solar-powered vehicle are methods already, or soon to be, in use locally. Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany is in fact a front-runner in military “green” initiatives and expects to meet the energy reduction mandate by 2013, two years ahead of schedule.