In partnership with the local legal community, Golden Harvest Food Bank is collecting donations for the 12th annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy competition and local law groups are needed to assist with collection efforts.  The goal of the contest is to help feed children during the summer months when schools are closed.  
Each year, the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar collaborate with Feeding Georgia, the network of food banks in the state, to raise funds to help feed children in need in the community.  In 2022, the local legal community collectively raised $33,056 for Golden Harvest Food Bank, which equates to over 99,000 meals.
The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy contest runs for two weeks from April 17-28 and all monetary donations collected locally are donated directly to Golden Harvest Food  Bank to provide food for children located in the organization's 11,000 square mile service area during the summer months.
"1 in 5 children in our area are struggling with hunger, and we couldn't be more appreciative of the collective efforts of our legal partners in the CSRA for coming together to help us with our mission of making sure that no child goes hungry" says Amy Breitmann, President & CEO, Golden Harvest Food Bank.
For more information on how to sign up, contact Amy Graci, Corporate Development Officer, at agraci@goldenharvest.org. 

By Erin Burditt
eburditt@mcduffieprogress.com

Srinivas Akella, a teacher with the Warren County School District, is a part of Georgia State Superintendents' Teacher Advisory Council who had the opportunitiy to attend a legislative session at the state Senate in January.

Akella said the TAC is comprised of teachers from all over the state representing all grade levels.
He said the group acts as a connection between the teachers throughout the state and the Department of Education.
"Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists and teachers nominated due to their outstanding educational service qualities, ability to articulate teacher issues, and engagement in positive problem-solving collaborative discussions, act as liaisons between the Department of Education and the teachers of Georgia," Akella said.  The TAC meets with the state school superintendent twice during each school year to discuss how decisions that were made at the state level affect teachers in Georgia classrooms.

Akella has been a part of the TAC for five years, and this year they got to visit the Capitol and attend a legislative session at the senate on January 31.

Akella said he's in his 15th year in Warren County Schools, where he teaches the high school math, including Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, College Readiness Math, and College Algebra.
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Originally from India, he taught in his home country for 11 years before coming to the United States.
Akella said he came to Warren County because he wanted to teach high school and his interest was piqued by it being a rural school district.
"When I saw that it was a rural school it attracted me actually," Akella said, who said he hoped he could serve students in a rural school district.
Akellla said serving on the TAC has been a great opportunity for him to advocate for the Warren County School District at the state level.

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) will host Riverfest at the Ogeechee River Mill, on the border of Warren and Hancock Counties, on Saturday , April 15, 9:00 am-4;00 pm.  Outdoor events and activities on the grounds of the Riverview Farms and the Ogeechee River Mill will include:
Music, cornhole, rubber duck race, archery demonstration, tractor display, mule-drawn wagon rides, raffle and more!  Guests are also welcome to paddle or fish but must bring their own equipment.  The mill will have fresh ground cornmeal and a chance to "bag your own."
Admission is FREE for Ogeechee Riverkeeper members, and for children 12 and under.  Admission is $10  per person for all others.  Tickets will only be sold at the door.  
All proceeds from the event will support Ogeechee Riverkeeper's efforts to protect, preserve, and improve water quality throughout the basin.
Food, drinks, and snacks from Mill Rock Missionary Baptist will be available for purchase throughout the day.  A limited number of vendors will also be on site.  Note:  All sales will be CASH ONLY.
There is no reliable GPS , internet or cellular service in this area.  The event is rain or shine.  Outside food and drink is not allowed.  No alcohol is allowed on site.
Where:  Ogeechee River Mill, border of Warren and Hancock Counties.
When:     Saturday, April 15, 9 am-4 pm.
Details:  http://www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/events/riverfest/
About Ogeechee Riverkeeper:  Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c) (3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine's Sound.  The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long.  The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5, 500 square miles across 21 counties in Georgia.
​More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

Warren County Farm Bureau Board of Directors Vice President, Carlton Griffith, presented Amanda Wilkerson, Warren County 4-H Program Assistant, a check for $8,054.  Amanda heads up the planning and implementation of the new Farm to Table Garden.  
At their February meeting, the Warren County Farm Bureau Board of Directors voted to purchase a deer fence for the Warren County School System's Farm to Table Garden.  
Along with Farm Bureau, other local entities have contributed funding for this project. Jefferson EMC and Warren Conservation District have donated funds to purchase an equipment shed for the garden. Washington EMC gave funds to purchase irrigation supplies, growing supplies, seeds, plants and equipment for the school garden. In addition to these monies, Amanda has written and received a grant from the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences that funded the purchase of two greenhouses and other equipment for the garden.   
Warren County Farm Bureau looks forward to helping with the many garden projects that will be offered to the students of Warren County Schools.

Full article can be found in the local Warren County Leader Newspaper.

Harbor Freight Tools will officially open its new store in Thomson, GA on Saturday, March 11, at 8:00 AM.  The Thomson store, located at 679 Main Street, will be open seven days a week from 8:00 AM to  8:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday, and from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
  
The store will stock a full selection of tools and equipment in categories including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment, hand tools and much more.

This new store is the 50th Harbor Freight Tools store in Georgia.  The company, which hires locally, has brought between 25-30 new jobs to the surrounding community.

www.mcduffieprogress.com for full article