The Kiwanis Club of Swainsboro held its weekly meeting, Tuesday night, June 6, 2023, at the Rustic Grille at 7 p.m. President Tammy Allen opened the meeting by welcoming 20 members and guests in attendance. Visitors included Jeff Palmer and Elizabeth DeVane.
The Hersey Bar cake, provided by Gary Couse and baked by Petite Garrett, was won by Tim Goodman. The Domino’s pizza donated by Domino's Pizza was won by Gary Howard. The program for the evening was hosted by Dianna Wedincamp. The program was given by Sheriff Jeff Brewer. Sheriff Brewer gave an update on what is happening at the Sheriff’s Department. The law enforcement department consists of the Uniform Patrol Division, the Traffic Division, the Investigative Unit, and the School Resource Unit. Last year the Sheriff’s Office logged 43,670 hours to go with the 49,211 hours at the county jail. They handled 18,918 calls covering everything from drugs, to murders, to vehicle and house fires, to alligator corralling. They serve official/legal papers and act as funeral escorts also. They also find time for training updates such as for active shooters and gang recognition. Sheriff Brewer noted that the employees of the Sheriff’s Department have the lowest pay of any law enforcement officers in the local area. He noted that the private sector also pays twice as much. In October the millage rate will be set, and they need two additional mills to raise the pay of officers and also of jailers. They need this raise to become competitive with other local law enforcement agencies. He asked the Kiwanis members for their support for the increase in millage. The member spotlight for tonight was focused on Bobbie Daughtry. Bobbie was born and raised in Swainsboro. Her mother owned a fabric shop across from Catered Creations, explaining her love of sewing. After graduating from Georgia State College for Women, she taught art in the Emanuel County School System and at East Georgia College. She also directed the Emanuel Arts Council. She has been married to Jim Daughtry for 43 years, having met Jim at Stewart’s Jewelers where he worked. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. Her favorite candy is M & M’s. Scotty Hattaway introduced the new Read United Site Coordinator for the Emanuel County School System, Elizabeth DeVane. Read United is a comprehensive literacy program that combines school-based grade-level reading support with a structured tutoring model built on volunteerism. Forty 2nd grade bubble students have been identified for the program and Elizabeth will be looking for 40 volunteers to train to deliver the curriculum for the program. The program will last from Labor Day until the end of April. If you would like to become a member of the Kiwanis Club please contact membership Chair Jane Durden at 478-494-4113 or e-mail her at hsdurden@bellsouth.net. Also, if you would like more information about the Kiwanis Club and the many community service projects they do each year, please visit the Swainsboro Kiwanis website: http://www.swainsborokiwanis.org or the Swainsboro Kiwanis Facebook page.
