Georgia State Capitol Paws, Policy, and Protection Day

 On Thursday, March 27, 2025, Director Lou Beck and kennel technician Heather Lorenz, joined by Shakira and Pug-Pug from Cusseta-Chattahoochee ACO and the Fort Benning Stray Facility, participated in Paws, Policy, and Protection Day at the Georgia State Capitol. This event brought together animal welfare organizations, legislators, and the community to encourage shelter pet adoptions, honor the commitment of animal services professionals, and advocate for legislative protections for animals in Georgia.

 The image features Kennel Technician Heather Lorenz, Georgia State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, and Shakira.  

 Cusseta-Chattahoochee County posthumously honored the late Commissioner James "Jim" Lawrence with a proclamation recognizing his love, dedication, and commitment to the county. His family received the proclamation during a recent board of commissioners meeting. 

The Sumter Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) Foundation recently made a significant impact in Cusseta -Chattahoochee County by awarding nine grants totaling over $39,000 to local organizations. These funds aim to enhance the quality of life for residents in Sumter EMC’s service territory.  

 On Saturday, September 21, 2024 Director Lou Beck, volunteer SFC Sandra Renforth, and kennel tech Heather Lorenz from the Fort Moore Stray Facility attended the Pet Adoption Day held at the Governor’s Mansion that’s hosted by First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp. To make the Pet Adoption Day at the Governor’s Mansion possible, Mrs. Kemp partners with humane societies, rescues, and animal shelters from across the state to help find homes for dogs and cats in need. The adoption event started at 10:00am and by 10:02am, Lucille was adopted which just so happened to be the very first adoption at the event. Here's a little background story about Lucille- Lucille and her 4 puppies were found at an abandoned home in Fort Moore Georgia.  Lucille and her puppies were nursed back to health by SFC Sandra Renforth as she fostered them off post. Though the 4 puppies were adopted, Lucille was still waiting to find her furever home! 

On Thursday, November 9th, Fort Moore Stray Facility/The Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Director Lou Beck and her staff Kat Rose, Tina Farmer, and Heather Lornez partnered with the Martin Army Community Hospital - Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention (MACH-SHARP) team to host an event to bring awareness to Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. The SHARP program reinforces the U.S. Army's commitment to eliminate incidents of sexual harassment and assault through a comprehensive policy that centers on awareness and prevention, training and education, victim advocacy, response, reporting, and accountability.

In order to help raise awareness, teal-colored shirts were worn as the color teal represents sexual assault awareness and prevention.  Active duty members, retirees, civilians, and their families walked 3.5 miles while walking dogs on leashes and carrying a cat in a cat backpack carrier.  All twenty-one dogs and one cat from the Stray Facility were taken on this journey.  Not only was awareness of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment raised at the event, the Stray Facility had two dogs adopted and three dogs placed with foster families.    

Chattahoochee County, TIYA, and Fort Moore, have come together to establish a series of Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs) aimed at enhancig the infrastructural and emergency preparedness of the Installation. These agreements provide crucial services such as Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) maintenance, Emergency Generator maintenance, and Vent Hood Cleaning.

A Synergistic Approach to Infrastructure Asset Maintenance

The partnership between Chattahoochee County, TIYA and Fort Moore underlines the power of collaborative efforts in advancing shared goals. Recognizing the need for dependable and efficient infrastructure maintenance, the three entities have combined their resources, expertise, and dedication to form a lasting alliance.

1. HVAC Maintenance Agreement:

The HVAC agreement focuses on ensuring the optimal functioning of HVAC systems across various public facilities within the Installation. Regular HVAC maintenance is critical to preserving indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and the comfort of occupants. 

2. Emergency Generator Maintenance Agreement:

Power outages can cripple essential services during emergencies. To mitigate such risks, the partnership has established an IGSA for the maintenance of emergency generators in key facilities. These generators will act as lifelines during unforeseen events, enabling uninterrupted operations in critical locations.

3. Vent Hood Cleaning Agreement:

Maintaining safety and hygiene standards in public spaces is a shared responsibility. The Vent Hood Cleaning Agreement addresses this by focusing on the upkeep of ventilation systems in the Dining Facilities. The cleaning and maintenance of vent hoods play a pivotal role in preventing fires and promoting clean air quality. 

Championing a Brighter Future Together

In conclusion, executing an Intergovernmental Support Agreement presents significant benefits to Fort Moore, Chattahoochee County, TIYA and the U.S. Army. Some advantages include reduced costs, flexibility, community support, job opportunities, cost savings, and a streamlined procurement processes. By uniting their visions, they are not only ensuring the safety, comfort, and sustainability of their communities but also embodying the spirit of unity that paves the way for a brighter future.

Author: James Clark The Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County

  Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Parks and Recreation Director Mordie Askew along with Family Connections Coordinator Christina Young had the pleasure of taking a lovely group of ladies to the RVRC Area Agency on Aging annual Wellness Fair.  At the Wellness Fair, the group learned about the importance of health screenings, medical transportation, Medicare/Medicaid, scams targeting seniors, and many other knowledgeable information pertaining to Seniors.  

At the Board of Commission Work Session the evening of April 24th, the Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation of Jimmie Donald Moore to his family for his service on the County Commission from January 2017- December 2018. Mr. Moore passed away on April 12, 2023. 

Let’s take a hike!  Cusseta-Chattahoochee County celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new and improved nature trail at Riverbend State Park on Friday, July 1, 2022.

The Riverbend nature trail is a restoration of an existing hiking trail and was made possible by the hard working public works employees led by Public Works director Sylvester Evans.  The trail is three fourths of a mile long with a resting area at the halfway point and includes flora, fauna, and plenty of birds and wildlife.  Chairman Charles Coffey, Commissioner Tim Biddle, County Manager Laura Lee Bernstein, along with other county employees had the opportunity to explore the nature trail during the grand opening.

The main entrance to the Riverbend nature trail is located at the far end of the campgrounds and is marked with a gravel entrance along with a rope fence.  The trail is open for hikers,  nature enthusiasts, and is designed for pedestrian use only.  Trail hours are from sunrise to sunset.  The new addition allows kids of all ages to have the opportunity to be “unplugged” from social media to explore nature first hand.