In the holiday spirit

The members and guests of the Rotary Club of Effingham County were entertained by the Barbershop Quartet Fully Invested at their last meeting of 2008. The club meets at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rincon, on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. and will resume their meetings on Jan. 8.

McGahee commissioned

Gregory P. McGahee graduated from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn., and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air National Guard.

Woodcock graduates from CBA compliance school

Lisa Woodcock of Citizens Bank of Effingham recently completed graduation requirements for Compliance School, sponsored by the Community Bankers Association of Georgia (CBA). She has been with the bank since its founding in 1998 and currently serves as a compliance officer overseeing deposit controls and various aspects of the Bank Secrecy Act set forth by Congress.

The Chamber’s Holiday Classic

Riecke earns promotion

Army Spec. David M. Riecke has returned to the 164th Military Police Company at Fort Richardson, Alaska, after being deployed to an overseas forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Explorers visit Rotary

The Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club President Bonnie Dixon congratulated Sgt. Ramsey Mannon of the Effingham County Sheriff's Office for his work with the Law Enforcement Explorers program.

Rotary hosts Treutlen House

Effingham Sunrise Rotary President Bonnie Dixon thanked members of the Treutlen House board, Mose Mock, Joyce Anne Tuten and Rebecca Boston.

Collins graduates from basic training

Air Force Airman Bradley M. Collins has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Rogers and Westmoreland complete Georgia Academy

The board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development announces the local graduates from the 2008 Region 12 Multi-Day Training Program. Effingham County graduates at the Nov. 20 ceremony included Amy Rogers of Effingham Hospital and Kia Westmoreland of the city of Rincon.

Rotary helps fill Empty Stocking Fund

Effingham Sunrise Rotary donated $1,000 for the Effingham Empty Stocking Fund. Reggie Loper and Donnie Rahn accepted the check that was presented by President Bonnie Dixon.

Former Guardsmen gather once more

On Dec. 6, retired former members of the old Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 214th Field Artillery, a Georgia Army National Guard Unit from Springfield, had a reunion at Rahn's Pond. The old unit became Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 214th Field Artillery in the reorganization in the summer of 1968. This unit remained as the same artillery unit until its deactivation in August 1993 (a total of 25 years of continued service).

McPherson named 165th senior NCO of the quarter

Senior Master Sgt. Reginald McPherson has been named as the senior non-commissioned officer of the quarter, fourth quarter 2008, for the 165th Airlift Wing.

Red Hatters mark ‘Reduation Day’

The Red Hatters of Rincon recently had a two-fold celebration. It was "National Cookie Day" and "Reduation Day" for one of their members.

Shearouse: system is 'on track'

Effingham County School System Superintendent Randy Shearouse spoke to the Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club and gave a positive update on the current state of the school system. Shearouse told the group that they are "on track" with all initiatives such as new schools and better test scores while remaining within budget.

Historic Effingham Society’s fall festival

Earning his Wings

Airman First Class (A1C) Jason L. Burgstiner of Rincon recently graduated from the 12 week Air Force Cryptologic Technical Training School at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas.

Gomez earns promotion takes the reins of 165th Operations Group

Lt. Col. Rainer "Speedy" Gomez has been promoted to the rank of colonel and has taken command of the 165th Operations Group, a unit of the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard.

Farm Bureau pitches in for FORCE

In celebration of the Farm City week Nov. 18-24, the Effingham Farm Bureau held a food drive for the local food banks.

Hospital’s new beginning at sunrise

Effingham Sunrise Rotary President, Solomon Smith, is shown here thanking Betsy Tallent RN, BSN of Effingham Hospital. Tallent is the chief nursing officer and spoke to the group about the modernization project at Effingham Hospital. If you have any questions for Tallent, contact her at (912)754-6451 or visit www.effinghamhealth.org.

MedBank makes house call

Liz Longshore, executive director of MedBank, recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Effingham County. MedBank helps eligible patients access the Patience Assistance Programs of large pharmaceutical companies to obtain free medications. Through their staff and volunteers, MedBank provides assistance with applications and they work with referrals from physicians, hospitals and social service agencies. MedBank operates on- site services at several area clinics, including one in Effingham County.

Buckling down

Georgia State Patrol troopers and Effingham County Sheriff's deputies were kept busy Wednesday afternoon - for reasons they liked.

Hospital to open its new doors for open house

The 58,000-square-foot, $30 million dollar expansion and modernization project of Effingham Hospital and Care Center is nearly complete, and on Jan. 28 the community is invited to attend a special ceremony, open house and behind-the-scenes tour of the new Effingham Health System.

Health Department, GSP to offer booster seat event

The Effingham County Health Department and Georgia State Patrol will hold a Give Kids a Boost community event Jan. 18 from 3-5 p.m. in the parking lot of Lowe's in Rincon. Booster seats will be given, at no cost, to income-eligible participants including those enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, PeachCare, or Medicaid, who can provide proof of eligibility.

White completes basic training

Air Force Airman 1st Class Jarrod R. White graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Stroke, osteoporosis screenings coming to Rincon

Residents living in and around the Rincon community can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture. Faith Presbyterian Church will host Life Line Screening on Jan. 18. The site is located at 2000 Lexington Ave. in Rincon.

Colon health the focus of next Girls Night Out

Colon health is not often a subject of discussion among women having a night out. But perhaps the subject should come up more often, since according to the National Institute of Health, there were over 100,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed in 2011.

Rotary gets into tax season

Effingham Sunrise Rotary President Solomon Smith is shown here thanking Maria Waller of Hancock Askew and Co. LLP for her presentation on filing 2011 taxes. Waller is a senior accountant with Hancock Askew and spoke to the group about all of the tax code changes that are pending for 2012 and the possible effects of those changes. If you have any questions for Waller, please feel free to contact her at (912) 234-8234 or visit ...

Learning all about tutors

Cheryl Ferguson recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Effingham County regarding the GED Initiative Tutors' program.

‘Elves for Catie’ campaign bolsters effort for CURE

With a check for more than $3,600, the Elves for Catie campaign is making an impact on childhood cancer.

Hospital fills a need at Fillin’ Station

Effingham Hospital employees collected 425 pounds of canned and packaged food for "The Fillin' Station" located in Guyton.