2017 – Page 2 – Digital Storytelling

Athens Freemasons Claim to Focus Mostly on Fundraising

December 3, 2017December 5, 2017 Jennifer McEntireAthens, Blue Lodge, Founding Fathers, Freemasons, Knights Templar, Masons, Shriners0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA — Officers of the Athens Freemasons, an ancient brotherhood mostly known for their secrets and rituals, claim they are mainly focused on fundraising for their children’s home. Michael Law, the “Worshipful Master” of the Athens Freemason lodge, explained the group primarily focuses on fundraisers for the Masonic Home of Georgia. According to Law, they do this by hosting 5Ks and other events to raise money. “At the end of the day, all the mystery, the ceremony and ritual, are all kind of a minor part of what we do because the bigger part is that we are a standard non-profit organization,” Law said. According to…

Community Education Government News Organizations Uncategorized

Poverty and Immigration Policy May Hurt Hispanic Education in Athens

December 3, 2017December 6, 2017 Sydney NorthDACA, deportation, Education, Hispanic, Immigrants, jobs, Latina, Latino, poverty, students, Trump, tutoring, young, youth0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA— According to national studies and local experts in Athens, outside factors in 2017 may contribute to the continued education gap that has afflicted Hispanic-American students, especially those born into immigrant families. The Pew Research Center reports that the national percentage of Latinx children born to immigrant parents now accounts for less than half of the U.S. born Latinx population. Although the number of U.S. born Latinx children born to immigrant parents is decreasing, another report shows that only 77 percent of Hispanic students graduate from high-school. According to Susan…

Elementary School Boy Finds Leadership Through Athens Mentor Program

November 1, 2017December 5, 2017 Shaquira SpeaksAthens, athens ga, Athens-Clarke County, children, Education, mentor program, UGA Students0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA. – Quienteze, a first grader at Barrow Elementary School, polished his manners and respect after a year of involvement in the Clarke County Mentor Program (CCMP). Before Quienteze entered the program, he struggled with following directions according to Caryn Demarest, his physical education teacher. Greg Waddell, Quienteze’s mentor, said his mentee has really grown into a vibrant young boy. For the protection of the child, the program has chosen to omit the last name of Quienteze. “I know that he looks forward to his mentor being there. We have…

Entertainment Sports

New and Old Faces Ignite UGA Football’s Hot Start

October 1, 2017December 8, 2017 Johanthan SmithDavin Bellamy, Football, Georgia Football, Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm, Kirby Smart, Lorenzo Carter, Notre Dame, SEC0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA – Freshmen impact players and upperclassmen leadership have been key contributors to the Georgia Bulldogs 3-0 start in this 2017 college football season. The Bulldogs have started the season 3-0 despite the setback of losing returning quarterback Jacob Eason in the first quarter of the team’s season opener. On September 2, 2017, in Athens, Georgia, the bulldog offense had 2nd down and 15 yard to go, backed up on their own 11 yard line. Jacob Eason rolled out to his right and scrambled towards the sideline to avoid a…

Health News

Army Veteran Helps Soldiers with Post-traumatic Stress

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017 Brittany Stocusarmy, equine therapy, mental health, military, non-profit, post traumatic stress0 comment

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA- Army veteran, Sam Rhodes, wanted to end his own life years ago due to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, but instead in 2008 he opened a ranch that allowed veterans peace. Rhodes and his wife, Kathy, started a nonprofit facility called Warrior Outreach in 2008. The facility includes 16 horses for equine therapy, Nashville’s singer-song writers for music therapy, and different sorts of events from children’s birthday parties to prayer groups. The goal of this place is to offer soldiers’ help with a mental illness that made…

Education

UGA Students Expand Their Worldviews

September 26, 2017 Hallie SmithDiscover Abroad, Experiential Learning, UGA Study Abroad0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA – Over 2,000 students profit each year by participating in the University of Georgia’s study abroad programs provided for them to study, research or intern in almost 60 countries. Students have the opportunity to expand their worldviews through experiential learning prior to graduation by participating in programs offered by UGA’s Office of International Education. Over 75% of students choose to participate in short-term programs, and most decide to travel to European countries. The graph above shows the number of UGA students participating in studying around the world. (Data from…

Finance

The Cost of Living in NYC Continues to Rise

August 21, 2017September 26, 2017 Amanda AllbeeBrooklyn, living expense, Manhattan, New York City, rent0 comment

NEW YORK – The cost of living New York City continues to rise with residential real estate hitting record prices in 2017 according to a June 2017 report by Politico. According to a second quarter market report by real estate brokerage firm Douglas Elliman, the average price of owning a residential property in New York City has climbed 8% to the cost of $2.2 million. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in New York City is currently set at $3,156 according to a May 2017 Report by Rent Jungle. “On…

News

Budget Cuts to McGovern-Dole Food Aid Program

August 21, 2017 Makinizi HooverFood Aid, International, McGovern-Dole, Trump's Budget, USDA0 comment

WASHINGTON: While President Donald Trump proposed the elimination of international food aid programs entirely, the U.S. House of Representatives’ 2018 agriculture budget has a milder reduction of $16 million from the 2017 budget. The McGovern-Dole program, introduced by former senators Bob Dole (R-Kan) and George McGovern (D-S.D.), was designed to reduce hunger while also educating children in food-deficient countries. In 2016, the program cost around $200 million and provided meals for over 2.2 million people in countries such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Malawi. “The entire time I was [in Ethiopia], I was thinking about the wonderful stuff…

Business

Downtown Hotel in LaGrange, GA Sets the Stage for Sweetland Success

June 26, 2017December 5, 2017 Mary RogersLaGrange, Sweetland Ampitheatre0 comment

LAGRANGE, GEORGIA – Construction is nearing the end on the $2.7 million Courtyard Marriott Hotel in downtown LaGrange, GA and is expected to open late fall of 2017. The addition of this hotel will boost Hotel/Motel tax revenues to an estimated $175,000 each year, according to city officials. These tax dollars, which is a five percent charge on hotel stays, go towards several city projects but were especially instrumental in the startup of Sweetland Ampitheatre, a project of the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority (DLDA). “The Courtyard Marriott will generate about…

News

The Fight to Reduce the Number of Homeless Dogs in the Bay Area

June 24, 2017September 26, 2017 Natalie Wickstromanimals, Bay Area, California, pet adoption, pets, rescue, San Francisco0 comment

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SF Animal Control & Care reported there were nearly 6,000 dogs homeless or in the shelter in San Francisco within the fiscal years of 2015 and 2016. In order to help combat this issue, city-sanctioned organizations such as the San Francisco SPCA Mission and Pacific Heights Adoption Centers joined forces with Clear the Shelters for the weekend of August 19, during which all adoption fees for pets currently in the shelter were waived. Another organization, Northern California (NorCal) Golden Retriever Rescue, focused its efforts on finding permanent homes for purebred…