Veterans' tax refunds go in the mail Monday   12/14/12 - 6:11pm

 


Just in time for Christmas, about 275 Columbia County disabled veterans should receive a little extra cash as refunds for property tax overpayments finally are ready.


“I am in the process of signing disabled veterans’ checks,” said Columbia County Tax Commissioner Kay Allen. “They are going in the mail Monday.”


That’s the first batch. About another 75 still need more research, or her office can’t find the veteran listed, she said.

 

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Children ride away from event happy   12/14/12 - 12:14pm

Twitter @ScottRouch


 


The children didn’t say much Thurs­day night, but they didn’t have to. Their smiles told the story.


Thanks to the Santa Wheels program, 200 children – from toddlers to teenagers – went home with a bicycle after a “bike rodeo” at Master Buick GMC in Mar­tinez.

 

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Evans Fitness Club opens to crowd, fanfare   12/12/12 - 2:23pm

Evans Fitness Club opens for business

 


The new Evans Fitness Club opened Wednesday to a hubbub of activity as members checked out the new equipment, and visitors took tours and signed up for workouts.


The area’s newest fitness facility, located on a 31-acre site in Marshall Square in Evans, held a ribbon-cutting with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce at 11 a.m. and officially opened its doors 12:12 p.m.

 

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Nativities staged in area churches

First Christmas re-enacted at community events   12/12/12 - 4:01pm

 


As Christmas approaches, celebrations of the life of Christ are scheduled for three Columbia County churches this week.


• The 10th annual Hayride Through the Life of Christ is open 7-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 13-16 at the Columbia County Merchants Association Fairgrounds on Columbia Road.

 

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Jay Jaffe, 69, died Nov. 21, 2012

Jaffe, former 'News-Times' editor, pioneered law firm marketing   12/11/12 - 4:56pm

 


Jay M. Jaffe, of Eagle, Colo., a former publisher of The Columbia News, died Nov. 21 of complications following surgery,


Jaffe, 69, was the founder and CEO of Jaffe PR, a public relations firm specializing in services to business law firms, according to his obituary in the Vail (Colo.) Daily.


Funeral services for Jaffe were held Sunday at Chicago Jewish Funerals in Buffalo Grove., Ill., with interment in Shalom Memorial Park.

 

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Marathon commission and committee meetings wrap up loose ends   12/11/12 - 6:23pm

Twitter @StevenUhles


 


The calendar, Christmas and a need to tie up some loose ends before the end of the year conspired to put Columbia County Commissioners in a marathon of meetings Tuesday morning.


Instead of the customary pair of committee meetings held on weeks when a Board of Commissioners meeting is not scheduled, the Board found itself faced with five as well as a called Commission meeting.


It all came down to scheduling, said Columbia County Administrator Scott Johnson.

 

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Gun range named in memory of Lt. Gen. Robert E. Gray

Gun range to be dedicated to Lt. Gen. Robert Gray   12/11/12 - 12:09pm

 


FORT GORDON, GA – Fort Gordon will dedicate its new machine gun range on Thursday, Dec. 13, in memory of a former commanding general and Columbia County resident, the late Lt. Gen. Robert E. Gray.


At the ceremony, set for 8 a.m. at Freedom Park, installation leaders will unveil a plaque dedicating the Lt. Gen. Robert E. Gray Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range. Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon Commanding General Maj. Gen. LaWarren Patterson will officiate, according to a news release from the facility.

 

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Bikes still wanted for Santa Wheels

Bikes still wanted for Santa Wheels program   12/10/12 - 5:43pm

 


The Santa Wheels program is still looking for a few good bikes.


The program, operated by Master Buick GMC in Martinez and Goodwill Industries, collects donated bicycles and refurbishes them for children at Christmas. Officials with the program this year plan to donate more than 150 bikes to area children at a “bike rodeo” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Master Buick GMC, according to an announcement from Goodwill Director of Communications Susan Everitt.


Donations of bicycles for this year’s program will be accepted until noon Thursday, Everitt said.

 

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Tax refunds owed to disabled veterans stalled   12/07/12 - 12:25pm

 


Pete Schiffbauer is waiting on his check.


Along with about 345 or so other disabled Columbia County veterans owed a property tax refund, he’ll have to wait at least a couple more weeks, says Tax Commissioner Kay Allen.


“We have run into all kinds of problems,” Allen said. “The process itself is very cumbersome.”

 

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'Boom' being investigated near Appling   12/06/12 - 2:00pm

Twitter @StevenUhles


 


Residents of Columbia County are wondering what, or whom, is responsible for the boom.


Residents on and near Louisville Road near Appling reported hearing, and feeling, a loud boom early this morning.


“It woke me out of a dead sleep,” said Terry Glasscock. “You could feel the vibration. It wasn’t like the whole house shook, but you could feel it.”


He said he went outside to see if a transformer had blown to discover his neighbors outside as well, also investigating the noise.

 

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