Claxton Middle School and Claxton High School students competed in the 2019 Southeast District 4-H Junior/Senior Project Achievement Competition held this past weekend. Students competed against other 4-H’ers in their respective project area from across 39 counties in the Southeast District. Through this public speaking and resume contest, the 4-H’ers choose a project, prepare an illustrated presentation, and complete a project portfolio that encompasses a year’s worth of project-related work, community service, leadership activities, academic accomplishments, and more. Many of these students competed against 10+ students in their respective project area. The competition allowed students to gain valuable life skills such as leadership, cooperation, team building, and an opportunity to improve research, communication, and writing skills.

Claxton High School Students:
Salvador Martinez – Photography – 3rd place
Makala Sharpe – Food Safety & Preservation – 3rd place
Sandy Contreras – Workforce Preparation & Career Development – 4th place
Addison Snellgrove – Dog Care & Training – 4th place
Elizabeth Cowart – Photography – 5th place
Taylor Rogers – Dog Care & Training – 5th place
Avery Beasley – Sports – Honorable Mention
Madison Miller – Veterinary Science – Honorable Mention

Claxton Middle School Students:
Anna Cowart – Wildlife – 1st place
Aashi Patel – Health – 1st place
Elijah Waters – Performing Arts – General – 1st place
Andrew Cross – Veterinary Science – 2nd place
Nick Snellgrove – Safety – 4th place

Pinewood Christian Academy:
Jacob Myers – Communications – 1st place
Callie Trani – Marine Science – 1st place
Elizabeth O’Brien – Human Development – 3rd place

Homeschool:
Stephen Scarboro –
Workforce Preparation & Career Development – 1st place
Thomas Scarboro – Safety – 1st place
Joshua Summers – Performing Arts – Other Instrumental –
3rd place
Jonathan Summers – Performing Arts – General – 4th place
Katie Walker – General Recreation – 6th place
Congratulations 4-H’ers! We are all so proud of you!

PRESS RELEASE // ATLANTA, GA – Due to an update to FEMA policy on January 2, 2018, private non-profit Houses of Worship are eligible to apply for potential funding to help with certain disaster-related costs under FEMA’s Public Assistance grant program. There are some requirements that have to be met and 3 informational, applicant briefings are scheduled for interested parties. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS NOT HANDLED THROUGH EVANS COUNTY AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT WE HAVE PROVIDED. ANY DETAILED QUESTIONS CAN BE DIRECTED TO GEMA AT 404-635-7019.

The official documentation from GEMA/FEMA can be viewed here.

Applicant Briefing Information
Information and requirements will be addressed during Applicant Briefings. There are 3 Applicant Briefings scheduled. It is necessary to participate in an Applicant’s Briefing to be considered for this assistance. Applicant Briefings for Houses of Worship are scheduled for the following dates and times:

1. Monday, January 29, 2018 9:30am EST

• To Join By Phone:
  1. Dial 1-855- 282-6330 (Toll Free)
  2. When prompted enter this Meeting number (access code): 645 303 518#
• To Join By WebEX:
  1. Enter in your Internet Browser: https://gema.webex.com
  2. When prompted enter this Meeting number (access code): 645 303 518
  3. When prompted the Meeting password is: PDM3Xuxi

2. Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:30pm EST

• To Join By Phone:
  1. Dial 1-855-282-6330 (Toll Free)
  2. When prompted enter this meeting number (access code): 641 899 421#
• To Join by WebEX:
  1. Enter in your Internet Browser: https://gema.webex.com
  2. When prompted enter this meeting number (access code): 641 899 421
  3. When prompted the Meeting password is: FyZJSG45

3. Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:30pm EST

• To Join By Phone:
  1. Dial 1-855- 282-6330 (Toll Free)
  2. When prompted enter this meeting number (access code): 641 976 412#
• To Join By WebEX:
  1. Enter in your Internet Browser: https://gema.webex.com
  2. When prompted enter this meeting number (access code): 641 976 412
  3. When prompted the Meeting password is: b6uUPgSJ

The Evans County C.A.R.E.S Annual Chili Cook-Off was especially eventful for Evans County. The annual event serves as a community fundraiser to aid in the fight to defeat cancer. Representatives from local businesses, civic associations, non-profits, and churches from around town, go head-to-head presenting their submissions for the public to try, vote, and donate to further cancer research. Officially, it’s a chili cook-off, but as everybody knows, chili is more than what’s on the menu. From chowders to soups to desserts, the possibilities for the palette are almost endless!

We’re proud of the Evans County Board of Commissioners and the Evans County Fire Department for BOTH placing first place in their respective categories. The Evans County BOC won first in the “Main Dish” category and the Evans County Fire Department won first place in the “Best Tasting Chili” category. We want to give a special thanks to Commissioners Irene Burney and Jill Griffin and Firefighters Donny Bates, Tracy Beasley and Amanda Starling for representing their organizations and bringing their culinary A-game to the event! Congratulations!

PRESS RELEASE // WASHINGTON, DC – Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration issued the following statement after the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration for the counties in Georgia affected by Hurricane Irma that began on Sept. 7, 2017:

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Georgia with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist businesses, homeowners and renters with federal disaster loans. Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
The disaster declaration covers Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh counties in Georgia, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Brantley, Bryan, Charlton, Effingham, Evans, Long, Tattnall and Wayne in Georgia; Nassau in Florida; and Jasper in South Carolina.

Businesses and nonprofits can apply up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Loans for working capital, known as Economic Injury Disaster Loans, are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. Homeowners can apply up to $200,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate. Homeowners and renters can apply up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property including automobiles.

Interest rates are as low as 3.305 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations, and 1.750 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA customizes loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s circumstances.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or on the FEMA mobile App. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services may also call 800-621-3362. People who use TTY may call 800-462-7585.

Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to a recovery center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. For more information about SBA recovery assistance, visit www.sba.gov/disaster

The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is Nov. 14, 2017. The deadline for economic injury applications is June 15, 2018.

For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit their website at www.sba.gov/disaster.

PRESS RELEASE (GDOT) // CLAXTON, GA – Gus Tippins Road/County Road (CD) 77 in Evans County will close Monday, July 24 and remain closed while the Bull Creek Bridge is replaced.

The bridge is located five miles east of Claxton and one mile south of Daisy. The existing bridge was built in 1955 and has posted weight restrictions due to deterioration of the timber piling. The bridge will be dismantled and a new bridge will be constructed at the same site, requiring a detour.

This 4.3 mile-long detour route will be signed as: west on Melissa Street; south on Old Highway 250/Main Street; east on Sunbury Road, but motorists can access residences in the area up to the work zone.

If the weather cooperates, the $1.7 million project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2018.

PLEASE CONTACT JILL NAGEL, GDOT DISTRICT 5 COMMUNICATIONS, AT 912.424.6643 WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

PRESS RELEASE // ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $5 million in
low-interest disaster loans for businesses and residents in Georgia affected by Hurricane Matthew that occurred on Oct. 4-15, 2016.

“Currently, 224 disaster loans have been approved in the amount of $5,385,900 for affected survivors,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. “We are pleased to get these loans approved so residents in the disaster area can start to rebuild and resume their normal lives. I encourage anyone who has not submitted an SBA disaster loan application to do so as quickly as possible.”

The disaster declaration covers the counties of Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne in Georgia, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Appling, Brantley, Camden, Candler, Emanuel, Jenkins, Pierce, Screven and Tattnall in Georgia; and Hampton and Jasper in South Carolina.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free Helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY).

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications can be returned to a recovery center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 16, 2016. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 17, 2017.

PRESS RELEASE // SAVANNAH, GA – Georgia survivors who registered with FEMA for disaster assistance after Hurricane Matthew are encouraged to “stay in touch” to resolve issues, get updates on their applications or provide new information.

Survivors can call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 for status updates on their applications or to check whether they submitted the correct documents. Applicants changing addresses, phone numbers or banking information should notify FEMA. Missing or erroneous information could result in delays in receiving assistance.

Callers to the helpline should refer to the nine-digit number they were issued at registration. This number is on all correspondence applicants receive from FEMA and is a key identifier in tracking assistance requests.

Survivors can also call the helpline to:

• Update insurance information.
• Receive information on the home inspection process.
• Add or remove the name of a person designated to speak for the applicant.
• Find out if FEMA needs more information about their claim.
• Update FEMA on the applicant’s housing situation.
• Learn how to appeal an eligibility determination.
• Get answers to other questions about their applications.

Survivors have until Dec. 16 to register with FEMA for storm-related damage in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties. Damage must have occurred Oct. 4-15.

Applicants may update their information the following ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
• Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish).
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Help is available in many languages.