DEC 5 - 12, 2013 VOL. 03 NO.

24

PD to be restructured: New chief will be hired, several positions eliminated

sheila@the-grip.net

www.the-grip.net ::: free

Code Enforcement officer position, a position at Solid Waste any position we have open within the city they would be eligible to apply for it, Smith said. He explained he is making these recommendations as both a cost saving measure and as a means of meeting the commissioners expressed desire to address issues negatively affecting quality of life.
coNt, RESTRUCTURING, P. 2

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Editor;

riffin City Manager Smith is seeking approval from the Board of Commissioners to move forward with a restructuring plan for the Griffin Police Department. Smiths proposal includes the hiring of a new chief of police; the reassignment of now Chief Frank Strickland as public safety director;

GKenny

the elimination of three high-ranking positions, which will result in two men losing their jobs and one being demoted; and the hiring of one code enforcement officer. Capt. Dwayne Jones, who is assigned to Administrative Services, and Maj. Terry Brock, who oversees the Criminal Investigation Division, have been told their positions will not exist after Feb. 1. Maj. Homer

Daniel, who commands the Uniform Patrol Division, will be demoted to the rank of captain and will incur a five percent pay cut. Daniel will remain over UPD, and Capt. Donald Britt will take the helm of CID. Strickland, who has for 10 years been identified as the citys public safety director, will maintain his current salary of $105,000 annually. The plan that Im going to present to the

commissioners has the Chief (Strickland) being a true public safety director, Smith said. In the past, hes served as both, but the restructuring plan has him moving to One Griffin Center as a true public safety director, and well be hiring a new police chief to run day-to-day operations of the Police Department. The new police chiefs salary will be, at minimum, $70,844.80. Smith said

he has informed Jones and Brock who are both eligible for retirement that although their current positions are being eliminated, three patrol officer positions at the Police Department are currently open, and they are welcome to apply for those position if they so desire. Theyre eligible for those positions at the Police Department, the

Privatization of city yard waste collection results in rocky transition

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Editor; sheila@the-grip.net
in many complaints about slower service, but officials say that was anticipated, and that the issue has been resolved. We knew there were going to be problems, as there are in any transitional period, said Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith. They are having to put in some more time than they expected, but it comes in cycles. Despite the rocky beginning, Smith said there was no option but to privatize this service. coNt, YARD WASTE, P. 2

Twaste collections to Dependable Waste has resulted

he recent privatization of the city of Griffin yard

City commissioners respond to concerns over lack of public discussion of agendas

sheila@the-grip.net

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Editor;

Aoften

County implements changes to increase payroll efficiency

sheila@the-grip.net

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Editor;

Semployees
palding

County will soon be receiving biweekly paychecks, which officials say is the first step in greatly improving the efficiency of time management and payroll systems. Human Resources Director Bill Gay said the change is a necessary, but challenging one. With the current semimonthly system, county employees receive two checks monthly on the 15th and the last day of the month for a total of 24 yearly. Those checks are calculated based on individual employees hourly pay for a 40-hour work week over the course of 52 weeks, or 2,080 hours. That amount is then divided into 24 equal paychecks, which was the equivalent of approximately 86.67 hours. Some months are longer than others, so a semimonthly check can cover different periods of time. The number of days will

be different, but the pay matches up. They didnt overlay properly. The employee is paid fully, but that .67 doesnt precisely match up with any time period, Gay said. In going to biweekly pay, the hours that are on the paycheck will match up with the hours in the pay period. One significant impact of that improper overlay was that necessity to process all time and attendance records manually rather than utilizing available technology. Because of the hours that are captured in half a month, its difficult to make a time and payment system match up. Computers dont do fuzzy math well, Gay said. Its like if you added 1 + 1, which is 2, but try to get it to understand that sometimes, 1 + 1 = 2.1. Gay said this transition resulted from the Board of Commissioners desire to increase efficiency within the county government. Payroll and time and attendance is one of those areas thats easy to take
coNt, PAYROLL, P. 7

Fox5 reporter Cody Chaffins hangs out with the Griffin High School Bear mascot while awarding GHS with the Fox5 High 5 Sports Team of the Week during the week leading up to their semi-final game against Wayne County on December 6. At the printing of this edition of The Grip, GHS Bears are undefeated (13-0) and ranked No. 2 in the state. Photo: Screenshot of Fox5 TOTW Dec. 3 broadcast CONTACT US TOP STORIES

lthough local officials encourage public attendance and participation in city of Griffin Commission meetings, some residents question the benefit of attendance due to the lack of public discussion prior to official actions being taken. Sorry, but I dont go to the meetings because they already have their minds made up, said Griffins Mark Steward. Its a waste of time. All you can do is hope that you voted for the right person to get the job done. Commissioner Ryan McLemore conceded the Commissions meetings are typically fast, but said it is unfortunate that any resident would feel there is a lack of transparency in city government operations.
coNt, DISCUSSION, P. 7

Griffin PD restructuring based on comparison of Griffin and McDonough's crime rate and budget.

PO Box 2251, Griffin GA 30224

THE GRIP 770-229-3559

Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Grip strives for accuracy in all its editorial content. If you have a question, comment, or concern about articles or photos published in The Grip, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us.

Jessica W. Gregory Publisher jessica@the-grip.net

The Grip breaks the Sheila A. Mathews numbers down on page 2. Editor & Ad Executive

sheila@the-grip.net

FOLLOW: FACEBOOK.COM/ THEGRIPNEWS THEGRIPNEWS

Our website has a brand-new look and we have rededicated ourselves to updating quality content more regularly! Check us out at www.the-grip.net.

116 S. Sixth Street, Griffin ::: 770-229-6599

www.stachestudio.net

GET A GRIP AND GET THE GOOD STUFF

THE GRIP

DEC 5 -12, 2013

2 TOP STORIES

Griffin, McDonough officials disagree on PD comparison

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
Editor; sheila@the-grip.net

restructuring, cont.
Back at the beginning of the year, the city Commission had its annual workshop and a lot of the discussion at that time was on code enforcement, substandard housing and quality of life issues. They very emphatically set a goal and told me we needed to get a handle on, and discuss, quality of life issues, Smith said. This led to the formation of an ad hoc Code Enforcement Task Force that was comprised of personnel from the Police Department, Code Enforcement, Griffin Fire-Rescue and the building inspector, among other city departments. The Task Force worked throughout the summer and into October, following a plan that had been laid out to address substandard housing and other code violations. Upon being disbanded in October, the Task Force commander, Capt. Keith Daniel, of the GPD, recommended the city designate a Code Enforcement officer each or Zones 1 through 4. After six or seven months, we had the option of going back to our two Code Enforcement officers or continuing with a plan to continue the inroads the Task Force had made over the summer, Smith said. We have also recognized and realized for probably the last six, seven or eight years or so that our Police Department budget is higher than those of similar jurisdictions our size some larger and we have realized and discussed that our Police Department is heavy on rank and administrative positions. So, actually, the plan came from the Code Enforcement Task Force that we need a minimum of four Code Enforcement officers, and the reorganization plan is to have four Code Enforcement officers. There are now two Code Enforcement officers, but Smith said an environmental compliance officer from the Solid Waste Department is being transferred as a third; and a fourth additional position is being added,to fulfill the Task Force recommendation. That obviously has budgetary implications. Over the last several months, we have been looking at the mid-year budget. Being conservative in nature, were concerned with meeting our budget projections, Smith said, attributing the potential budget shortfall to the cool, wet summer that resulted in decreased enterprise fund revenues. Our General Fund revenues are also down as we approach mid-year in our budget. So, obviously, to add a Code Enforcement officer when our budget is not meeting revenue projections is a dilemma. Smith said by including the annual salary of Capt. Keith Daniel, whose voluntary retirement at the end of November is unrelated to the restructuring plan, he projects savings of $140,000. Asked if his proposal signals the only pending personnel changes at the Police Department, Smith said, That will be addressed by a new chief when they come in. Im doing this and well bring in a new chief who will assess what we need to do then, if anything.

Iof

n determining the need a Police Department restructuring plan that includes the elimination of several positions and the addition of one Code Enforcement officer, Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith said he has compared the law enforcement budgets of other municipalities with populations comparable to Griffins such as Newnan, LaGrange, Forest Park and McDonough. I think McDonough is probably the closest comparison to Griffin, he said. It has to be an apples-toapples comparison. He said the disparity in the law enforcement budgets of the cities of Griffin and McDonough indicates the need to reduce the budget through the elimination of multiple positions. Griffin Commissioner Doug Hollberg, who has frequently expressed displeasure with the PD budget, declined to speak on the record about the restructuring proposal, but did address funding issues. What I will say is that weve got a $9 million police budget and its killing us. Weve got

Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith compares Griffin and McDonough on law enforcement needs and budgeting, but McDonough City Administrator and former Griffin Planning and Zoning Director Frederick Gardner says demographics are too different for an apples-to-apples comparison
a $25 million General Fund and we spend $9 million on a police budget. Decisions are being made to address our inflated police budget, Hollberg said. If you want, you can go and compare other municipalities and see what we spend per capita versus other jurisdictions. The Grip researched the Griffin and McDonough police departments budgets which are $8,940,523 and $3,625,927, respectively and also spoke with McDonough City Administrator Frederick Gardiner. Gardiner, who is intimately familiar with Griffin by having previously served as the citys director of Planning and Development, said he, too, draws some parallels between the two municipalities, but disagrees with Smiths comparison regarding law enforcement needs and budgeting. No. They dont compare. The demographics of Griffin are very different than McDonough. The vestiges of the mill industry remains in Griffin, where we have thriving industries in McDonough. We dont have as many of the depressed areas as Griffin. McDonough is a true bedroom community of Atlanta, Gardiner said. Its the demographic makeup thats different, and because of that, the crime rate and types of crime differs greatly. Even so, if you go back and look at our numbers from even five or 10 years ago, our crime has almost doubled. Were looking at adding additional police officers. Thats something were going to be discussing with our council in the next couple of weeks. Year-to-date statistics compiled through Oct. 31 by each Police Department

provide insight into each of the jurisdictions Part 1 crime rates. In the one-year period, McDonough recorded zero homicides, five rapes, nine robberies, 12 aggravated assaults, 40 burglaries, 251 thefts, 25 motor vehicle thefts and two cases of arson. During that same time, Griffin recorded three homicides, 16 rapes, 58 robberies, 89 aggravated assaults, 304 burglaries, 1,270 thefts, 47 motor vehicle thefts and one case of arson. Altogether, the McDonough Police Department reported 351 Part 1 crimes, and the Griffin Police Department reported 1,788. Prior to the proposed restructuring plan, the Griffin PD budget accounts for 34.4 percent of the citys $26,003,685 General Fund, and the McDonough PD budget accounts for 30.95 percent of its citys $11,826,291 General Fund. The Grips analysis concluded that the proportion of General Fund monies allocated to the Griffin PD exceeds that of McDonough by 3.45 percent, whereas the Part 1 crime rate in Griffin is more than 5.9 times higher than that of McDonough.

yard waste, cont.

If we had not contracted this out, we would be wringing our hands at this time. We knew we were going to be in a mess if we didnt contract this out, he said. Smith explained the necessity of the privatization was based on changes in the state criminal justice system that resulted in the loss of manpower. We had depleted our manpower and inmate labor picked up the yard debris and put it in the truck, he said. We were charging about half of what it cost us. Thats the only way we could do it inmate labor. However, with the states move to relieve the financial pressure of the prison system by releasing many minimum security inmates, the city no longer had sufficient manpower for the yard waste tasks. That inmate pool was shrinking. We needed eight to 10 and we were down to only one, Smith said. The option was to go out and hire eight to 10 people, but that would have put the costs back up. Acknowledging there were bumps in the road in the early weeks of private yard waste collections, Smith said the transition is not the sole reason for service delays. Every year at this time, basically, we are

The city of Griffin has developed a new yard waste pickup map, which correlates with a new service schedule. To enter a residential address for specific information, visit http://cityofgriffin.com/ behind because its the busiest season, he said. Yard waste collection is cyclic, he said, with fall and spring being the times of year when more Griffin residents need service.

This is when the leaves are falling. Theres a much greater work load, Smith said. I dont know that the contractor was fully prepared for the amount of leaves that are out there because its leaf season. He said Dependable Waste employees have worked extended shifts and added weekend hours to catch up on the work load. Its going remarkably good now. We just started at the beginning of the month (November), so after three weeks, we were still in a transitional period, Smith said. Hes on schedule as of yesterday (Tuesday), and Im sure they are today. This is not some flyby-night homebound company; its a wellestablished company. They serve a number of municipalities. Smith also addressed concerns expressed by some residents that the privatization resulted in the loss of local jobs by saying Dependable Waste, at the urging of the Griffin Board of Commissioners, did offer employment to the city workers. He offered our employees positions with his company. In fact, he wanted them to come to work for him because they know the streets, the routes and the equipment, he said. It would have been a much more seamless transition if they had accepted, but for whatever reason, they chose not to, which was their prerogative.

the first in a series of collectible ornaments celebrating Griffin, its history, and the place we call home.
Limited Edition Custom Design Hand Painted Made in the USA

available exclusively at

Top quality car & truck chrome accessories

www.chickenhouseconfitures.com

Inside the Broad Street Mill | Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30

770-468-9813

mybritefuture@hotmail.com

DEC 5 -12, 2013

THE GRIP

GET A GRIP AND GET THE GOOD STUFF

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 3

Griffin singer-songwriter performs Christmas concert

alexander@the-grip.net

Flint River Library hosting Christmas kids craft program

ALEXANDER CAIN :::
Editorial Assistant; alexander@the-grip.net

ALEXANDER CAIN :::

Editorial Assistant;

audiences and at different locations but none of them can match her hometown of Griffin, Georgia. A 2008 graduate of Spalding High School, the Griffin native will be performing A Hometown Christmas with Emily Hearn at the Dovedown Building, 315 W. Solomon St, on Thursday, December 19th from 7:30 10:30 p.m. I love Griffin so much, and I want to celebrate my favorite time of year with them. Griffin has a very special place in my heart so I wanted to play a more intimate and festive show than Ive ever played before. So Ill do a set of my own music, then well have a short break to grab some hot chocolate and cider, and then well play a set of Christmas songs! I cant wait, Hearn stated in a recent email interview with The Grip. Hearn hasnt always thought about making a career as a singer, according to Hearns mother, Griffin resident Robin Hearn. After she graduated, she attended The University of Georgia. While there, she stumbled upon songwriting and started singing. She has always been a singer but it wasnt what she was trying to do at the time. She was a journalism major. She taught herself to play the guitar and wrote some songs. It just became something that she really loved and one thing led to another and began it as a career. Emily released her newest EP album, Promises, in October and has been performing samples of the songs available on the album in some of her recent concerts. In the past several months, she

Ethe country to sing in front of different

mily Hearn has been traveling around

Cfrom

has performed in locations such as Chicago, Charlotte, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia. She performed at Main Street Theatre in Griffin on October 25th where tickets sold out in just three days. She had a lot of people who did not get to see her then, Robin Hearn said. I think that for this December event that those in attendance can expect an evening of hearing original music and festive Christmas songs and that it will be a really fun night of music and having a good time. Emily stated she receives her inspiration from various sources, but does have favorite singer/songwriters that she listens to when given the opportunity. I write a lot about my personal experiences, but I also write about other peoples lives sometimes. I write about what inspires me or moves me. But Ive also been influenced by some truly great singer/ songwriters, like James Taylor. For more information visit emilyhearn.com or email robinwhearn@gmail.com. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10.

hristmas traditions other countries will come to Griffin on December 16 as the library hosts a Christmas Decorations Around The World crafts event for ages 5 12. The event will take place on Monday, December 16 at 6 p.m. at the librarys Memorial Drive location and will be led by Childrens Services Librarian Marsha Parham. Natalie Marshall, Assistant Director for Library Development, said that she has seen similar programs held successfully and with praise from both children and parents in the eight years she has been employed with the Flint River Library system. We have a lot of Christmas around the world books that talk about Christmas traditions, Marshall said. For a program such as this one, we will try to have the

creation of Christmas crafts from areas such as Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Although the library does try to plan carefully, parents and children should be prepared for the possibility of getting just a little messy, according to Marshall. The Flint River Regional Library System supports and encourages the education and entertainment of youth of all ages, Marshall said. For the Christmas Decorations Around The World event, I think what the children get is an opportunity to have fun with the crafts as well as learning about the different cultures, which gives them an education and something to do with their hands. For our events like this one, there can be anywhere from 30 50 kids. Its very popular. The Griffin-Spalding County Library will also host a Super Saturday Santa Show on Saturday,

December 21 at 2:30 p.m. The program is billed for all ages and will be a little bit broader, according to Marshall. We hope that people will come out and see us for our Monday night program. We hold events for both children and teenagers. We held a program for teens just a little while back where they also had an opportunity to make crafts. Some of our kids are very big readers, but we have a lot of kids where this information is new for them. The exposure to different crafts and traditions is something that we hope that they will remember and come back to the library with their parents. For more information contact the GriffinSpalding County Library at (770) 412-4770. The library is located at 800 Memorial Drive in Griffin.

The intricate scroll designs of the Southern Gates collection are a tribute to the skill of artisans in the past who wrought beauty in decorative ironwork of the South in the 18th and 19th centuries. Available at

1435 North Expressway Suite 101, Griffin (behind Verizon)

Mon-Fri 10am-6pm | Sat 10am-5pm

770-227-1157

no seein clearl i drai .

We take multiple insurance plans, including VSP, Eyemed, Spectera, Superior Vision, and Medicare

Dr. Terry H. Wynne 112 W Oak St. Griffin, GA 30224 (770) 227-2924

GET A GRIP AND GET THE GOOD STUFF

THE GRIP

DEC 5 -12, 2013

LIFESTYLES

Using email to land an interview

irst of all, never ever use a cutesy like energybunny, sweetsue or bigdude50@yahoo.com. Youll have several strikes against you for having an unprofessional name. Its relatively easy to get a new email address or take advantage of something that reflects your profession. A few examples of this could include: topsalespro@gmail.com or accountingpro@yahoo.com. If you cant get one of those email addresses because they are not available, you could add your zip code or city. Not only will that gain attention, but it will also identify you geographically which is a good thing when answering an ad. Youve got another opportunity to get noticed by taking advantage of the subject line in your email and turning it into a sales pitch. Every online job board has an ID or Job Posting number connected with a job name. Why not take advantage of your subject line by combining this ID number with a brief marketing pitch for yourself. Think about what would fit the job for which you are applying. Examples of what you could be using this on the subject line are: Job ID #1234 Successful Sales Rep Applying or Job Posting 6789 Accountant CPA/6 yrs. Exp. Or you could feature something such as: Your Next Marketing Manager 10 yrs. successful brand management in packaged goods. Think outside of the box and be creative. Make sure your resume is simple, clean, complete and relevant. Be concise and

Femail

Naughty or nice?
Mthe
y kids love Mookie, elf. We bought into the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon like most of you parents did. We also love Santa Claus. And, for us, we really havent found that enjoying that part of the magic of Christmas takes away from the birth of Christ. However, I certainly dont judge those who choose to not make Santa a part of their season. We all have the same mission in parenting. Just different methods. And, thats okay. In our anticipation of Santa, we have chosen to not emphasize naughty or nice. Our elf doesnt look report back to Santa the behavior of each kid. Santa will not bring bags of coal. And, we dont threaten that if they dont behave, they wont get anything for Christmas. I wont deny it is good leverage for parents during the holiday season. But, for me, I dont like the message it sends and how that message could potentially transcend into their spiritual life. That God is a God who loves us only when we are good. I think too often we play

GALE BROWN SANDLER

GRIFFIN RESUME SERVICE

DUSTY TAKLE
EAGLE'S WAY ASSOCIATE PASTOR

CAREER & RESUME

focus on the facts in your background. Emphasize your achievements with numbers where they are relevant. Use keywords relating to the job description if you are answering ads online. Always use spell check and make sure you have proofread for spelling and grammatical errors. You do not need to list a work history any longer than 10 years. Make your resume easy to read and use white space where needed. These ideas may not get you hired, but theyre going to help you get noticed and set you apart from the mountain of resumes that get emailed to recruiters and companies every day. Keep plugging away. Good luck to you in your job search. Gale Brown Sandler is the founder of Griffin Resume Service and can be reached at galerbrown@gmail.com.

RELIGION/RELATIONSHIPS
the God card with our kids. Its something I once recognized in my own parenting: How do you think it makes God feel when you are being ugly to your sister? How would Jesus had handled this situation? Do you think it makes God happy when you deceive us? But, we serve a God who loves us no matter what. Whose blood covers a multitude of our stupid mess-ups. Who has an endless supply of grace that He lavishes on us. So, instead of asking How would Jesus had handled this situation? I might ask, Why do YOU think its better to forgive? How does it make YOU feel when

you forgive? Teaching our children to do right for the sake of doing right isnt going to cut it by itself. And placing fear in them that they may not be loved or provided for if they dont do right just never sets well in my spirit. Through every life lesson, we need to do our best to tell them WHY His way is better. WHY forgiveness is just as much for us as it is for the one who hurt us. And, I have a life full of examples of why choosing to do things Gods way has made all of the difference in my own life. So, share your own life examples with your children. Tell them why it has worked for you. Dont make your children live in fear of not only disappointing you, but disappointing their Creator. Instead, portray their King in such a way.live for Him in such a way.that they will TRUST that His ways really are better. And, that they will know how much they are loved. Whether they are naughty or nice.

Humane Society Adoptable Pet: CoCo

Cchocolate & white coat. He is a neutered male

oCo is a Chihuahua mix with a handsome that is current on all of his vaccinations. He is a live wire with energy coming out of all of his pores. He loves to play with other dogs of his size and does not seem to mind cats. If you would like to meet CoCo please contact us at catsanddogs4you@yahoo.com. Adoption Fees are $125 and include all vaccinations, rabies shot, spay/ neuter and heartworm checks.

The columnists on these pages are local business owners and church leaders. These columns reflect their opinions, which are not necessarily those of The Grip or Grip staff. We welcome responses to these columns, or any Grip article. Please send responses in writing as a signed letter to the editor to sheila@ the-grip.net or post to PO Box 2251, Griffin, GA 30224.

Dont know what to give for Christmas?

We break our necks to give you quality representation.
We understand first hand how an injury can devastate your life and your family. We want to help you get your life back. Let us focus on the insurance company and you worry about your recovery. Workers Comp & Social Security Disability Car Wrecks & Tractor Trailer Accidents Medical Malpractice Personal Injury

Weekend Treasures
Gift certificates available in any amount EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS DEC 11-23:
Mon - Wed: 11am to 5pm Thurs & Fri:11am to 6pm Saturday: 11am to 5pm Sunday: 1pm to 5pm Open Christmas Eve from 11am to 4pm. 125 S. Hill Street, griffin

Give them the excitement of a treasure hunt at

770-227-5300 www.singletonandsingleton.com

Lic. # 126-226-H

3247 Newnan Rd, Griffin www.brightmoorhospice.com

25% off storewide discounts on layaways for Christmas. Choose your gifts now, take time to pay and pick them up when youre ready! Layaway must be picked up by Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. Dont forget to shop on Small Business Saturday Nov. 30!

EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS BEGIN NOV. 30 Monday - Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am - 5pm
CORNER OF 10TH & SOLOMON ST | 770-227-7715

DEC 5 -12, 2013

THE GRIP

GET A GRIP AND GET THE GOOD STUFF

LIFESTYLES 5

Ho, Ho Help... Christmas back pain

Mshift in their volume. The lawn
ost businesses have a seasonal care industry is busier in warm weather. Painters are busier in dry weather. Retailers are busier at Christmas. In my practice, the Christmas season will bring more low back strains. People are rushing to shop. Getting into and out of a vehicle can be stressful on the structures of the pelvis and lumbar spine. People walk on hard concrete floors with improper arch supports until their feet ache, and the inevitable change in gait aggravates the knees, hips, and low back. Heavy packages must be transported, so shoppers open trunks and lean improperly with those packages to load trunks or the back of an SUV. There are preparations that must be accomplished. Cleaning and vacuuming will be done in case someone comes over to visit. Decorations must be dug out of closets and storage rooms, dusted off, admired, and set out. Sometimes young parents assist Santa Claus with the assembly of swing sets, toys, and other items that may be sprawled along the floor or the ground. People bend, lift, twist, and strain until the work is done. Finally, one collapses in that chair that was comfortable just 12 years ago, but does not really fit or support any more. Does this sound familiar? It is a very familiar scenario for many of our patients, and it is already underway. Back pain is a universal human experience. It will affect 80 percent Watch your body mechanics as you lift, pulling whatever you are lifting as close to the core of your body as possible, keeping your back straight and using your thighs to lift. If you have small children at home, sit down and let them walk or crawl to you and then gently help them to your lap. Many young parents and grandparents take great delight in the newest generations of the family and lift them improperly for closer inspection. This leads to many back strains. Get plenty of rest. Sleep on your side with a body pillow between your knees, and throw your upper arm over it to take the weight of your arm off your neck. Make sure your pillow is firm and the right height. Use good sense with your consumption of alcohol. And, stop smoking, as there is no proper, healthy, or sensible use for tobacco at all under any circumstances. Dont let your back pain get the best if you and steal your Christmas like a Grinch. Get the chiropractic care that you need so that you feel your best at this time of the year. Visit your massage therapist and treat yourself to that relaxing and therapeutic session. Dont wait for someone to give you a gift certificate. Just do it to take care of yourself, and you will appreciate yourself for doing it. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a healthy one! For this and more columns by Dr. Bob, visit www.IrisCityChiro.com.

Birds of a Feather

DR. BOB HAYDEN

DC, PhD, FICC

HEALTH & WELLNESS

of us at some point in life and cause us to seek help with it. Some of these conditions are self-resolving within a few days. Others will require a little bit more intervention. So what is a person to do? Well, here are a few tips to help you through the holiday with minimal orthopedic injuries. Watch what you eat. We all tend to load up on calorie dense foods for the holidays, from eggnog to pecan pie to home-made bread. Pace yourself. You will feel better and enjoy the holiday more if you exercise some caution in what you give your body for fuel. Try to stay physically active in a routine that roughly matches what you do before and after the holidays. This keeps your circadian rhythms on schedule. Limit yourself on how much you will lift as you shop. Wear comfortable shoes with good arch supports. Rest when you need to sit down for a while. Stay hydrated without caffeine.

135 S. Hill Street, Griffin 678-603-2115

Tuesday - Friday 11-5:30 | Saturday 10-4

Bring in your childs Christmas outfit and one of our vendors will custom match a bow just for you!

BOW MAKING PARTY December 7 10am-6pm

WALTER L. MOORE, LLC

Family Law and Criminal Defense

Attorney At Law

770-584-0911
410 E. Taylor Street Griffin Georgia

WalterLMoore@gmail.com

When opportunity knocks, open the door

Ilong-time
f youve been around investors, youll probably hear them say, ruefully, If only I had gotten in on the ground floor of such-and-such computer or social media company, Id be rich today. That may be true but is it really relevant to anyone? Do you have to be an early investor of a spectacular company to achieve investment success? Not really. Those early investors of the next big thing couldnt have fully anticipated the tremendous results enjoyed by those companies. But these investors all had one thing in common: They were ready, willing and able to look for good opportunities. And thats what you need to do, too. Of course, you may never snag the next big thing, but thats not the point. If youre going to be a successful investor, you need to be diligent in your search for new opportunities. And these opportunities dont need to be brand-new to the financial markets they they may not even keep up with inflation, which means that if you own too many of them, you will face purchasing-power risk. To avoid these problems, look for opportunities to broaden your holdings beyond just one or two asset classes. Heres another way to take advantage of opportunities: Dont take a time out from investing. When markets are down, peoples fears drive them to sell investments whose prices have declined thereby immediately turning paper losses into real ones rather than holding on to quality investment vehicles and waiting for the market to recover. But successful investors are often rewarded when they not only hold on to investments during declines but also increase their holdings by purchasing investments whose prices have fallen or adding new shares to existing investments thereby following the first rule of investing: Buy low. When the market rises again, these investors should see the value of their new investments, or the shares of their existing ones, increase in value. (Keep in mind, though, that, when investing in stocks, there are no guarantees; some stocks do lose value and may never recover.) Instead of looking for that one great hit in the form of an early investment in a skyrocketing stock, youre better off by seeking good opportunities in the form of new investments that can broaden your existing portfolio or by adding additional shares, at good prices, to your existing investments. These moves are less glitzy and glamorous than getting in on the ground floor of the next big thing but, in the long run, they may make you look pretty smart indeed.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

The staff at Petro South, Inc. would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We appreciate your business!

AMY DUNHAM

EDWARD JONES

FINANCIAL ADVISOR
can just be new to you. For example, when you look at your investment portfolio, do you see the same types of investments? If you own mostly aggressive growth stocks, you have the possibility of gains but, at the same time, you do risk taking losses, from which it may take years to recover. On the other hand, if youre overloaded with certificates of deposit (CDs) and Treasury bills, you may enjoy protection of principal but at the cost of growth potential, because these investments rarely offer much in the way of returns. In fact,

Dont let a grinch steal your property or your familys peace of mind.

www.495Alarm.com
Call today for a professional consultation

Critical information sent to you immediately Full system control online or mobile Video with secure off-site recording Lighting and thermostat control Change alarm codes instantly online View video online or smartphone

770-412-1150

Well make it oh-sew-easy! Ages 10+

Join our sewing classes

770-229-2077 | 108 N. Hill Street, Downtown Griffin

6 COMMUNITY

GET A GRIP AND GET THE GOOD STUFF

THE GRIP

DEC 5 -12, 2013

calendar :::
Trust us for all of your transmission and auto repair needs. Thursday, December 5-15; Main Street Players presents "Every Christmas Story Ever Told," Evening and Matinee performances; tickets $10$20; for more information call 770-229-9916 or visit www.mainstreetplayers. org. Christmas" at Oak Hill Baptist Church; 7 p.m.; free admission Saturday, December 7; A Downtown Christmas; pho-

tos with Santa, and free old fashioned mule cart rides; the Griffin Welcome Center; Noon 4 p.m. Saturday, December 7; 51st Annual Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade; A Time for Peace; 6 p.m.; holiday music, hot chocolate and more downtown following parade; Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting; 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 10; Jingle Bell Jog; Cowan Road Middle School; 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11; Toddlers in Motion (ages 1-3 with an adult); GriffinSpalding County Library; 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 16; Family Night (ages 5-12) at the Griffin-Spalding County Library; Christmas Ornament crafting; 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 16; S'mores Making; Airport Road Park; 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 17; S'mores Making; Park at Sixth in Downtown Griffin; 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 19; GriffinSpalding County Library Book Club; "Gulp: Adventures on theAlimentary Canal" by Mary Roach; 6 p.m. Saturday, December 21; Santa Experience at Griffin-Spalding County Library for ages 5-12; 2:30 p.m. For more events, visit The Grip's calendar at www.the-grip.net/ community-calendar.

We care about your familys safety 279A Wilson Rd, Griffin 770-227-4580 Friday, December 6; "It's

JRE Wildcat Resolution Run January 11, 2014 9 a.m.

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE FOR THIS PAGE

poll of the week

State reps John Yates and David Knight expressed their support when asked about legislation to allow concealed weapons on college campuses at Eggs and Issues on Dec. 5.

If you would like to submit your article or press release for our printed or online community pages, please email an AP Style press release to sheila@the-grip.net. Inclusion is subject to space availability and content review. We reserve the right to edit all submitted articles for content , grammar, and punctuation.

Do you think students, faculty and staff should be able to carry concealed weapons on college campuses?

VOTE NOW AT WWW.THE-GRIP.NET

Last week's results:
County officials reached a consensus to set daily meal reimbursement for county employees undergoing training at $60. Do you agree with this figure? - Yes it's reasonable for breakfast, lunch & dinner. 23% (8 votes) - No, too high 77% (27 votes) - No, too low 0% (0 votes)

conner-westburyfuneralhome.com

Make checks payable to and mail entry to: Jackson Road Elementary School 1233 Jackson Road Griffin, GA 30223

UGA provides health insurance navigators CRMS, SHS new principals

STAFF REPORTS :::
the Health Marketplace debuted on Oct. 1, University of Georgia health navigators have been working hard to help consumers navigate health coverage options and the new online portal. The UGA employees, housed under the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, have completed 59 hours of comprehensive training through the State of Georgia, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Further, navigators have passed a State Navigator License Exam and are certified by the Georgia Insurance Commissioner. The health insurance marketplace is something new for consumers to learn how to navigate, said Joan Koonce, Family and Consumer Sciences Family Financial Planning Specialist. We are happy to provide unbiased education to Georgians across the state and in all walks of life. We are working to do everything we can to help the people in our state, and this is just one of the many ways in which we can offer our expertise. The UGA Health Navigator program is designed to meet the needs of Georgians by providing assistance in convenient, communitybased locations. Navigators are available at convenient times, including evenings and weekends, at no cost to enrollees and are qualified to:

SInsurance
ince

STATE CERT. 0790 & 0755

Risk Reduction Program Defensive Driving Drug Possession

770-412-0727

604 W. POPLAR ST. GRIFFIN

Provide in-person assistance to those applying for health insurance coverage at the time of initial application or annual renewal; Provide education on the types of health insurance programs available through the marketplace; Offer information about advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions; Refer consumers to other organizations for help with grievances, complaints or questions regarding health coverage or a determination related to coverage; and supply information in a fair and impartial manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate and disability accessible, including for individuals with limited English proficiency. Nykita Scott, the UGA Navigator for Coweta, Fayette, Spalding, Carroll, Paulding, Douglas and Bartow counties, is based out of the UGA Extension office in Coweta County. She is available to assist consumers at a variety of locations in her designated area, including churches, community centers, schools, commercial centers, businesses and other Extension offices. To learn more about health coverage for individuals, families, or businesses, contact Scott at 770-254-2620 or at nbscott@ uga.edu to schedule an appointment. For general information on the UGA Health Navigator program, call 1-877-7NAVIGATE (1877-762-8442) or visit uganavigators.org.

STAFF REPORTS :::

Griffin-Spalding Board of Education named the new principals for Carver Road Middle School and Spalding High School, effective July 1, 2014. Dr. Tiffany Taylor, who has served Griffin High School as Academy Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach since 2010 will move to the principal position at CRMS. Prior to joining Griffin-Spalding County School System, Taylor was the Graduation Coach at Mary Pearsons High School in Monroe County and Henderson Middle School in Butts County. Her experience also includes teaching language arts. Taylor received her Bachelors degree from the University of West Georgia. She completed her Masters and PhD in Educational Leadership at Mercer University. My goal as Carver Road Middle Schools principal is to continue success and ensure college and career readiness for all students, by working with the school, parents, and community, stated Dr. Tiffany Taylor. Lindy Scott, who has served for 10 years as principal at Rehoboth Road Middle School, will transfer to Spalding High School.

TCounty
he

She has been employed by the Griffin-Spalding County School System for over 18 years. Scott is a graduate of Griffin High School. She received her Bachelors degree in Middle Grade Education and her Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West Georgia. She also completed additional educational leadership courses from Floridas Nova Southeastern University. Great leaders must be visionaries, always looking at the bigger picture, what came before and what is to come in the future. This is important to establish a clear vision, focus, and goals to help each student become college and career ready, and capitalize on their abilities and talents to improve their future and our community, stated Lindy Scott. Scott added I am excited about the move to Spalding High School and to work with such a dedicated staff. I am also thankful for the opportunity to follow behind the excellent leadership of Derrell Jeffcoat.

DEC 5 - 12, 2013

THE GRIP

GET A GRIP AND GET THE GOOD STUFF

GOVERNMENT & BUSINESS 7

discussion, cont.
I dont want them to feel like that, he said. I hate that they think were slipping things by. McLemore explained that a lack of public discussion at a Board of Commissioners meeting should not be construed as a failure to adequately prepare for the business presented on the agenda. We have agendas on Fridays, so we have until Tuesday night to ask questions we have of any department heads. A lot of those issues are researched, talked about and voted on, he said. We use that time between when we get the agenda and Tuesdays meeting to discuss it with staff and make a decision. We try to do a lot of the homework before we get in there so we know how were going to vote. However, McLemore reiterated that he does not want Griffin residents to feel as if attending or viewing recorded video of the Commission meetings is a waste of time. Yeah, we need to work on that perception then, because I hate for people to feel that way, McLemore said. Commissioner Dick Morrow also said he appreciates residents concern, but that like McLemore, he, too, always prepares himself for all votes on an agenda prior to the meeting. I can understand why people might feel that way, but I can explain, Morrow said. He cited the morning workshops held the Board of Commissioners holds once monthly as a time when members discuss some issues in greater detail. You can just have a free, open discussion and consider what youve heard before you have to vote, he said, but acknowledged that the following Commission meetings rarely include much public discussion. I agree that the formal meetings are more just votes, but the majority of the agenda is business items. As an example, he cited purchase orders as agenda items that do not require public discussion as the information packets present information on the bidding process. We are told who the low bids are, so theres really nothing to discuss, he said. What Im saying is that 90 percent of our agenda is no discussion. Ill sit down over the weekend with my agenda and agree that our staff has done what needs to be done and Ill vote to approve. If we as commissioners do our homework, its pretty cutand-dried. Morrow also pointed out that the public has access to the same information contained in the commissioners agenda packets, which may be accessed online at www. cityofgriffin.com. Should residents review an agenda and have additional questions, Morrow said they may personally contact the citys department heads, just as commissioners do. It depends on how deep you want to dig. Its all public information, he said, adding that his constituents may always contact him, as well. If they really want to be that involved, then perhaps they should run for the commission. I think people who are really interested should run for commission. Thats what I did. Its good to see engaged people run for the commission.

payroll, cont.
care of with technology, he said. We also trying to move away from using paper, and right now, were still using paper time cards. With all the employees we have, its very time demanding. Currently, employees fill out paper time sheets and sign off on their accuracy in reporting hours worked. They are then individually inspected by a supervisor prior to being submitted to Human Resources, where they are once again manually assessed. Once that step is completed, the information is entered into the computer system. This process increases the possibility for mathematical computational errors and requires the filing and longterm retention of the hard copy records. Were dealing with a lot of paperwork and checking a lot of math, Gay said. The implementation of an electronic time and attendance software will be the next step in increasing the efficiency of the overall payroll processes. If its captured electronically, you can import the data into the payroll system so that youre paying them for the hours they worked, and its a much more accurate and efficient way to get the information into payroll, he said. We have to have a payroll system thats flexible enough that employees can record the days and hours they worked. The technology thats out there now is much more flexible than what was out there even two or three years ago. This flexibility is particularly necessary for employees in the judicial system and public safety sectors that often work

varying schedules and may not have the ability to clock in at one central location. Not everyone comes to an office and can punch in on their desktop computer, Gay said, adding that everadvancing technological developments are addressing those issues. For example, they may use a smart phone application that will capture when their day begins and when their day ends. Spalding County previously purchased and attempted to implement an electronic system, but was unable to utilize the software or hardware. It was a combination it was software and four time clocks that did hand scans that we had installed in separate high traffic locations. It was supposed to interface with the payroll system, but it didnt function properly, Gay said. I hate it that we could not do it with the previous time and attendance system, but it was just not capable of handling the calculations we were doing to pay people semi-monthly. Gay said he anticipates county officials will consider purchasing new electronic time and attendance software as part of the Fiscal Year 2015 budget. He said he is uncertain if Spalding County every received compensation from the company that sold the original nonfunctioning software, and Spalding County Manager William Wilson could not be reached for verification or comment about the software or reimbursement.

NEW LOCATION ON TAYLOR ST.

We assist clients with a wide variety of legal needs including: personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, divorce, child custody and child support, collections, local government issues, ATTORNEYS wills and estates, education law, Timothy N. Shepherd contract disputes and other civil litigation. Patrick M. Shepherd
612 West Taylor Street, Griffin | 770-229-1882

www.shepherdslaw.com

Griffin Downtown Council membership drive

STAFF REPORTS :::
usiness and property in the downtown Griffin area are asked to attend the January membership meeting of the Griffin DownTown Council (GDTC), an association that promotes, develops, recruits and supports businesses, culture and entertainment in downtown Griffin. "This past year has been very fruitful with our events, new businesses, and renovations that some businesses have undertaken. All of that, with a few hurdles that have been jumped, is a reason

Bowners

to celebrate success! Your support and volunteerism is the main-stay for our city and community to draw people downtown to shop and play," wrote current GDTC director Marcia Collins in a press release. It is time for an annual Griffin DownTown Council meeting and membership renewal, which will be held Monday, January 13, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Griffin Regional Welcome Center on the corner of Hill and Broad streets. "At this meeting we hope to see everyone that is a member and a prospective member. Every business and property owner that

is in the Downtown area, along with businesses outside of Downtown and individuals who support a thriving Downtown Area, is invited," said Collins. The agenda for the meeting will include appointing new board directors; input and discussion from downtown business owners, property owners, the Main Street Program, Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Griffin. New officers will also be appointed at the next board meeting from the 2014 Directors. "Please help to get this information out to those you know should be there,"

wrote Collins. "It is vital that we support each other and our downtown. Many hands make a large task become small; more ideas create an atmosphere for diverse people to want to visit Griffin; and the result is that, everyone can be blessed." If you would like a copy of the membership form sent to you, contact Collins at galleryg@bellsouth.net or call (770) 227-9185. If you would be willing to serve on the Board of Directors, please indicate that on your membership form prior to January 10, 2014.

Visit one of our many Spalding County locations for more information. PetroSouth, Inc.www.petrosouth.com

We can help you check off the Christmas Wish List:

www.griffineyeclinicoptical.com | 646 S. 8th Street | 770.228.3826

Cataract Surgery Comprehensive Eye Exams Premium Intraocular Lenses Diabetic Retina Exams Astigmatism Correcting Intraocular Lenses Contact Lens Evaluations Glaucoma Laser Surgery Online Contact Lens Reordering Diabetic Laser Surgery Optical Boutique Macular Degeneration Injections Online Store Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift) Botox Injections

A Full-Service Eye Center

Leiv M. Takle Sr. MD Leiv M. Takle Jr. MD Thomas S. Rowe MD Blaine Cribbs MD Brett S. Bordner OD

646 S. 8th Street, Griffin | 770.228.3826

www.griffineyeclinic.com