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 With our busy schedules, it is hard at times to fit in cleaning the house sometimes especially first of the year cleaning or spring cleaning but if tips like this keep coming in, it will be a piece of cake!  This is easy as can be to clean your blinds.  Simply get one of your pair of tongs from the kitchen, attach a cloth to it and attach it with rubber bands and dust away!  This will be easy to keep the blinds cleaned monthly now.  Just a quick tip from Windex.  I read recently that if you keep your house picked up on a daily basis and do one chore like this one once a week then you are able to do them once a month and have your house always looking like you have just finished your spring cleaning.  

Source: Chehaw Park & Zoo

 Source: Glued to my Crafts 

  Rifle is a highly competitive GSHA sport. The competitions test the athlete's ability and precision in the standing, kneeling and prone positions. 

  The team once again had a spectacular season.   At the Area 2 Regional Championship the Rams placed 3rd qualifying the team to host the first round of State Qualifiers. The Rams also achieved a host of individual awards in the Region.  Judge Dallas, a senior and Captain of the rifle team earned three individual awards.  He was named and awarded the trophy for the Area 2 Regions Top Overall Shooter.  He also earned the trophy for the Region's Top Standing Position Average. Judge also was awarded a medallion and named to the Region's 1st All Area Team. Kassidy Jackson, a freshman earned the trophy for the Area 2 Regions Top Overall Rookie of the Year. 

Kassidy also earned a medallion and was named to the Regions All Rookie Team. Browning Watts, a Junior, earned a medallion and was also named to the Regions All Rookie Team. 

  WCHS is so proud of these young men and women of their hard work and dedication.  They are a true representation of the Ram pride and spirit here at the High School. 

Source: WCHS

The Georgia peanut industry joins together to celebrate National Peanut Month in March and donate peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

TIFTON, Ga. (March 6, 2025) - March is National Peanut Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s favorite foods! The Georgia peanut industry kicked off the celebration this week by hosting the 2025 Georgia PB&J Day in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud donated 7,200 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Peanuts and peanut butter were promoted during the event by industry partners serving grilled PB&Js, country-fried peanuts, peanut candy and more. Governor Brian Kemp presented a proclamation recognizing March as National Peanut Month while Sen. Russ Goodman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, and Rep. Robert Dickey, chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee presented resolutions recognizing the importance of Georgia’s peanut industry.

“Peanuts are Georgia’s official state crop, and the state boasts the largest share of peanut production in the U.S. at 50 percent for the 2024 crop,” says Joe Boddiford, chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission. “Georgia’s 4,000 peanut farmers contribute approximately $2 billion annually to the state and local economy.”

Sponsors and exhibitors included the Georgia Peanut Commission, National Peanut Buying Points Association, Kroger, Georgia Farm Bureau, National Peanut Board, Peanut Proud, Atlanta Community Food Bank, The Peanut Institute and the University of Georgia Peanut Team.

As part of the celebration, peanut butter valued at $10,000, was presented to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Atlanta Community Food Bank provides food and grocery products to more than 700 community-based, nonprofit partners throughout 29 counties in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. According to Kyle Waide, president & CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the need for food assistance is not going away.

“The Food Bank has seen a 60 percent increase in the need for food assistance over the past three years. We are distributing food in record volumes to 240,000 households each month,” Waide says. “Peanut butter is a protein-rich food that can be a versatile pantry staple for a family or individual in need. We are grateful to the Georgia Peanut Commission and Peanut Proud for this generous donation that will help serve the 13 percent of the state’s population and 1 in 5 Georgia children who are food insecure.”

Coincidentally, March is National Nutrition Month - a great time to recognize the nutritional value of peanuts. One serving of peanuts is a good source of protein, vitamin E, niacin, folate, phosphorus and magnesium. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.

For additional details and photos from the 2025 PB&J Day, visit the Georgia Peanut Commission website at GaPeanuts.com.

Children have to make many different kinds of decisions throughout their lives.  You can help your child learn decision-making skills he or she can use now and in the future.  Here’s how:  Start small. Let your child make daily choices, such as picking out an outfit for school or deciding whether to take or buy lunch.  Give them options if they need help, but let them have the final say.  They will be gaining experience in making decisions on his own.  Plot a destination.  Help your child figure out what he or she wants to accomplish.  If they decide that they want to finish their homework before dinner, they may have to choose between phoning a friend and starting their homework right away.  Thinking about the end result can make decisions easier.  Step back.  Allow your child to experience the consequences of his or her choices.  For example, if they wear a T-shirt to school when it’s snowing outside, they may be too cold to enjoy recess.  Experiencing consequences – good and bad – will help develop your child’s judgment and give them a better idea of where their choices will lead him. Discuss results.  Without criticizing, ask your child how they think a particular decision worked out.  Would they do it again, or choose to do something different?  They will learn to evaluate their own choices, which will help her or him make better decisions in the future.  At the end of discussing things, the decision ultimately is in the parents hands but letting the children learn how to make decisions is part of a great learning process.  We want to help our children be productive citizens when they enter this big world called Life!

National Walking Day encourages the public to embrace a healthier lifestyle through walking, which has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.  Adults nationwide are encouraged to make the pledge to start walking and become heart-healthy.  Just 30 minutes of physical activity each day can improve heart-health.  One suggested that the American Heart Association suggests is to wear red shoelaces to remind yourself of the benefits of exercise.  Taking just 10 minutes three times a day to walk will help individuals live longer.  In fact, studies show that just one hour of vigorous exercise will increase life expectancy by two hours.  Physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease, which kills 1 in 3 people every year.  Becoming more active can lower your blood pressure by about as much as some high blood pressure medications.   Walking, swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing or any of dozens of other activities can help your heart. They all cause you to feel warm, perspire and breathe heavily without being out of breath and without feeling any burning sensation in your muscles. Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all exercise adds up to a healthier heart.  Take the first step by walking. It's free, easy to do and when you have a walking companion, you're more likely to stay motivated.  Here are some tips for exercise success:  Dress for success!  Wear comfortable, properly fitted sneakers or flat shoes with laces and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing appropriate for the weather and the activity.  Make the time!  Start slowly. Gradually build up to at least 30 minutes of activity on most or all days of the week (or whatever your doctor recommends).  Exercise at the same time of day so it becomes a regular part of your lifestyle. Look for chances to be more active during the day. Walk the mall before shopping, take the stairs instead of the escalator or take 10–15 minute breaks while watching TV or sitting for walking or some other activity.  Don't get discouraged if you stop for a while. Get started again gradually and work up to your old pace.  Don't exercise too vigorously right after meals, when it's very hot or humid, or when you just don't feel up to it.  Make it fun and get started today!

Two of Sylvester’s Firefighters were recognized at the March 3 rd

Sylvester City Council Meeting! Waylon Anderson and Cody

Humphrey competed the Firefighters Skills USA in Atlanta on

Friday, February 21 st ! The contest is designed to bring the best

Firefighters from across the State, together for a day of

competition! After competing in the skills required in their

field’ they took the two top positions! Anderson winning the

Gold and Humphrey willing the Silver! Not a small task when

you are competing with the best from across the State!

Firefighters are a family! Competing in this challenge, and

winning the two top positions for our City, has brought these

two Brothers even closer! Waylon will continue on and

compete, in the Nationals in June! Let’s keep our fingers

crossed and hope to have a National winner from Sylvester!

How many times have we all asked that question?  More times than I can remember personally.  Everyone always needs a pencil!  March 30th is National Pencil Day.  My friend Judy, from North Georgia, takes pencils to a whole new meaning. When I met her in 2001, she collected pencils.  She has so many different kinds of pencils.  Around 2003, my daddy built her a pencil holder that held about 250 pencils and she filled it up.  It was the coolest thing he built and neat to see all of her pencils.  It’s the smallest things in life that make us smile.

American Diabetes Association Alert Day is observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March. This one-day “wake-up call” informs the American public about the seriousness of diabetes and encourages all to take the diabetes risk test and learn about your family’s history of diabetes.

Diabetes Facts:

· Diabetes impacts approximately 34.2 million Americans.

· That’s about 10.5 percent of the U.S. population.

· Of those living with diabetes, 7.3 million – 1 in 7 adults – don’t know they have it.

· The risk of developing diabetes increases with age. But there are other factors, too.

· Ethnic background may increase your risk.

An additional 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year.   There are two types of diabetes. While Type 1 diabetes is not as preventable, it can be managed well with insulin injections. Managing Type 1 diabetes might also require frequent blood sugar monitoring, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight. Education is key to learning how to manage symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 is much more preventable, and some actions can be taken. 

Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes:

· Eliminate sugar and refined carbs

· Work out regularly and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle

· Make water the primary beverage

· Maintain a healthy weight

· Quit smoking

· Eat a high fiber diet

· Optimize Vitamin D levels

Take natural herbs, such as curcumin and berberine, that increase insulin sensitivity.  Type 2 diabetes is not preventable for everyone. However, making healthy choices provides the best chance of not getting it. In the United States, 9 out of every 10 cases of diabetes can be avoided if the above lifestyle changes are implemented. Families, schools, workplaces, communities, and healthcare providers can all work together to make healthy choices easy ones.  The observance encourages you to discover if you or loved ones are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Consider taking this fast and easy Diabetes Risk Test. 

Organization doesn’t just happen—it’s a result of conscious actions. Practice this method until it becomes second nature reports All You magazine.  Start by tackling a particular room armed with a trash bag, a giveaway box, a box for items you want to sell and a box for things that belong in another room of your home. Make quick, unemotional decisions: If it’s broken, obsolete or redundant, get rid of it.  Sort through all the items that will stay in the room, matching like with like. Cluster books together with other books, DVDs with DVDs and outerwear with outerwear. Don’t commingle dissimilar things—it makes it hard to find what you need and creates visual chaos. Make an inventory of what you’re holding on to, then determine how the items should be stored and what types of furniture and containers you’ll need. For example, “To keep these stacks of sweaters and T-shirts separate, I can use shelf dividers. Now that I’ve counted my CDs, I know I need a CD organizer with eight shelves.” Find solutions that work with your personal habits. For example, if you’re a no-fuss type, just grouping things together might be enough, so store pictures in photo boxes marked by year. If you are more detail focused, use photo albums. Don't stop until every object or type of object has a place where it lives all the time—be it a tray on your desk for your cell phone or a hook for your keys. Then, commit to returning each item to its home after every use. Soon, putting items away will become a habit.  Getting organized is a great March task!  It is always great to clean up and out after each season.  Keep things packed and organize which will make it easy to find when you need it and it makes it easy to store.  And always remember when packing things up that you label all the boxes and containers!

Source: MJPL