On January 24, 2024 River Rock Dog Rescue and Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Community Development Director Samantha Hedgecoke along with Family Connection Coordinator Christina Young and Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Public Library Branch Manager Pam Burgamy presented a check to the Elena Amos Breast Care Center in Columbus Georgia for $758 from the Pink Out event held on Saturday, October 4, 2023. The donation will go towards care packages that are given to each cancer patient. Each care package is filled with love, comfort, and empowerment. They signify commitment to standing by each fighter and survivor on their journey.
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.
On Saturday, October 21, 2023 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 is partners with humane societies, rescues, and animal shelters from across the state to help find homes for dogs and cats in need.
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
Fort Moore Stray Facility hosted their first Ruck-A-Pup PT. 63 soldiers from 2-16 CAV K Troop each chose a dog from the facility ranging from 20 lbs - 57 lbs and took them on a 3.5 mile walk. The catch to this was that if the dog the soldier was walking got tired and decided not to walk anymore, they would have to carry the dog until the walk was completed. Luckily no dogs had to be carried!
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.
Fort Benning Stray Facility Director Lou Beck and Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Lewis along with Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Community Development Director Samantha Hedgecoke attended the Military Spouses Luncheon and Resource Fair that was held at the National Infantry Museum. The team met many military spouses and gave them helpful information on the Fort Benning Stray Facility along with all of the volunteer opportunities they have to offer. They were also able to inform the military spouses on the fun things to do in Chattahoochee County such as the splash pad located at the Parks and Recreation Center along with Riverbend Park off of Highway 27 which includes a boat ramp, camping grounds, and a nature trail.
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.
Chattahoochee County Fort Benning Stray Facility Director Lou Beck and her staff had a wonderful time at the Fort Benning Earth Day Fair! Lou and her staff gave out flower seeds to plant to help students learn the importance of taking care of something prior to pet adoption. They also discussed volunteer opportunities that the Fort Benning Stray Facility has to offer such as walking the dogs, helping feed the animals, helping clean the facility, and fostering animals.
Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Water Department Director Russell Rhodes and Well Operator Josh Sikes had the pleasure of attending Career Day at Chattahoochee County Middle/High School on March 30, 2023. Students who stopped by learned how the water system works throughout the county, how water meters function, as well as how water samples are tested at the well sites to ensure the safety of water consumption.
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.
On May 1, 2022 the Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County had the honor of accepting the GA Trend 2022 Georgia County Excellence Award for CHATTNET, our Countywide Internet Service. This award was only given to 7 counties across the state and our county and project will be featured in the July Edition of Georgia Trend Magazine. What an incredible honor for our COUNTY!