Happy New Year to you and your family!
As the year ends we want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and be thankful for the support of our employees.
We wouldn't be here without you.
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Columbus Consolidated Government
Quick Links
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Insight Newsletter Staff
Aron D. Torbert
Sheila Risper
Vickie Hughes
Carmen D. Hood
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Welcome
and
Congratulations to our
Promotions, New Hires, and Retirees..
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November:
Civic Center
Jazmine Scott
Community Reinvestment
Sue Finch
Finance
Francis Holland
Patti Postorino
Legislative
Valerie Thompson
MCP
Dontavious Owens
Miscellaneous
Jose Aviles
Parks and Recreation
Zyniyia Hall
Quinnasia King
Makayla Mitchell
Monique Ervin
Stephon Green
Santyanna McGarity
Valerie Upshaw
Janet Cole
Kiera LaGrand
Jamillia Warner
Tommie Wright
Andrea Davis
CPD
Donald Rambus
Jacob Giles
Joshua Giles
Zuly Morgan
Jacob Meyers
Public Defender
Dion Peebles
Public Works
Keanthony Brooks
Charnae Ware
Asiana Grier
Jeff Richardson
Tawana Farley
Ulanda Harris
Ashley Shelley
Lashawnda Preston
MCSO
Shasta Glover
Recorder's Court
Yasmin Graham
Superior Court
Jayla Foster
Trade Center
Daniel Tajeda
Transportation
Queen Brown
Jesu's Rivera- Ayala
Tiki Wyatt
James Steele
Jontay Reynolds
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December:
Boards and Commissions
Gavin Sinclair
Civic Center
Charity Comer
Markeon Davis
Tiffany Parrish
Tristen Horne
Fire and EMS
Bennett Wilson
Legislative
Gyanna Blackmon
MCP
Rahjee Brown
Caleb Stewart
Jacobe Stewart
Municipal Court
Nickalett Kimbrough
Oxbow Creek
Joshua Grayson
Parks and Recreation
Christopher Brown
Azara Davidson
Austyn Davis
Alyssia Miller
Carrie Cannon
Sarah Gifford
Kimberly Gunn
Latoya Joseph
Walter Parsons
Homer Gallops
Denise Cannon
Markeon Davis
Chelsea Grier
Quinntrya Spencer
Scott Gaither
Jerome Walton
Briell Hudson
CPD
Pierre Kornegay
Marie Vidrio- Giron
Johnathon Risinger
Krystal Risinger
Public Defender
William Biddy
Public Works
Tremain Cooper
Kortavious Bedell
Shekema Adams
Hayden Brown
Jerry Cowell
Jaylin Johnson
Joshua Major
Herbert Thompson
Reynaldo Sanchez
Culver Palmer
MCSO
Megahan Davis
Patrick Hill
Thomas Delong
David Bennett
Henry Wimberly
Teresa Gorney
Superior Court
Laurie Adams
Criscella Kirk
Transportation
Jamaal Ingraham
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November:
Board of Assessors
Willie Davis
Stacy Pollard
Fire and EMS
James Barnes
Dustin Belt
Michael Clay
Kevin Garner
James Johnson
Phillip Marsh
Jason Sandoval
Jamyron Steward
Legislative
Richard Allen
MCP
Jimecheia Banks
Public Works
Antonio Jones
Tracy Long
David White
MCSO
Leonard Forsyth
Tammy Foster
Dajia Glenn
Byron Herbert
Kwame Holt
Steven Sikes
Myron Strange
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December:
MCSO
Arsenio France
Gage Hancock
Antonio Hardaway
Casey Ledbetter
Kolby Williams
Hannah Williamson
Information Technology
Andrew Lesh
John Redmond
Municipal Court
Anthony Humphries
Boards of Commissions
Michele Reynolds
Fire and EMS
Jarrett Reese
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November:
Public Works
Kathy Blair
Larry Starks
Fire and EMS
James Keaton
Carl McCluskey
Robert Poole
Clifton Wherry
Curley Jones
Jackie Miller
Legislative
Evelyn Pugh
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December:
Municipal Court
Wayne Cox
Superior Court
Willie Demps
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January/ February Monthly Observances
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January 20th-
Dr. Martin Luther King Day
February 14th-
St. Valentine's Day
February 17th-
President's Day
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2019
CCG Holiday Social
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Best Tree
Muscogee County Sheriff's Office
Administration
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Best Gingerbread House
Parks and Recreation Aquatics
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Best Charlie Brown Tree
Office of Dispute Resolution
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Best Holiday Scene
Muscogee County Sheriff's Office
Civil Division
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Ugliest Holiday Sweater
Kristi McDaniel
Board of Assessors
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Best Ornament
David Cooper
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Nativity Scene was carved into cut wood by Mr. Cooper
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You will want to be there to hear the amazing things accomplished in 2019 and what Mayor Henderson has planned to continue this success and other important issues that are in his sights for the future.
There will be several local, regional, and state wide elected officials plus your Chamber Investors in attendance who are interested to see the blueprint for the future of our community and region under the continued guidance of
Mayor Skip Henderson.
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Black History Month can be traced back to 1875–1950. A man named
Carter G. Woodson
,
the son of former slaves, family was too poor to send him to school as a child. He taught himself the basics of a school education. Woodson at age 20, completed high school in just two years. He would go on to earn a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1912. Mr. Woodson became the second African American to obtain a Doctorate from Harvard University. With education being a passion of his, he taught both in public schools and at Harvard during his career. While attending the 50th anniversary of the ending of slavery, the excitement of the event urged Carter to study black history year round.
Before leaving Chicago, Woodson along with four other associates created the Association for the Study of Negro Life, in 1915. While panning through ways to spread the word on the achievements of African Americans, he noticed that textbooks at the time frequently ignored the subject. Thus, in 1926 Woodson promoted the idea of "Negro History Week", which was to be held the second week in February. This idea caught on quickly and spread across the states. The demand for study materials soon became high and the ASNLH started the production of various pictures, posters, and informational packets for schools to incorporate into lesson plans.
In 1976, after years of promoting knowledge of African American greatness, on the 50th anniversary of Negro History Week it was expanded to Black History Month. For specific reasons Woodson chose the month of February to commemorate the influence of Negro Culture on America. President Abraham Lincoln's birthday being February 12th and Frederick Douglass birthday being on February 14th. Both of these figures were key in the advancement of the African American society. Over the years there has been more specifics added to the topics on Black History. In the years to come we can not wait to see what will be added to the History books.
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Interesting Little Known Black History Facts
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- The 6888th Battalion was the largest all Black female military unit in World War 2
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- Frederick Jones was an inventor who was responsible for the creation of the cooling system on refrigerated trucks.
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- The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
- The final section of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s eloquent and iconic “I Have a Dream” speech is believed to have been largely improvised.
- African American Boxer Joe Louis fought 71 matches and won 68 of them, 54 by knockout.
- 50 years after Robinson integrated baseball, his number, 42, was permanently retired by every team in Major League Baseball.
- March Against Fear; an attempt to walk from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to promote black voter registration and defy entrenched racism was held in 1966.
- After his participation in the March Against Fear, James Meredith left the civil rights movement and began working as a stockbroker. He entered Columbia University Law School in 1968, and in 1972 he stood unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Mrs. Mildred Cook
Victim Witness Program
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Mildred Cook began working as a victim advocate 22 years ago. 22 years later, her passion, commitment, and compassion to serve the victims of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit have not diminished. A victim advocate’s responsibilities vary and are determined by the situation. She provides emotional support. She may also go to court or ensure that a victim receives compensation. Mrs. Cook finds her job most rewarding when she sees victims take control as opposed to allowing what happened to them take control of their lives. Because of her commitment and love for the work with which she has been entrusted, she completed training from the National Advocate Credentialing Program. She successfully earned her National Credential as an Advance Comprehensive Victim Intervention Specialist.
Mrs. Cook is married to the Reverend W. Frank Cook Jr., and she moved back to his hometown, Columbus, Georgia after he retired from the military. They have four children, grandchildren, and a dog that they rescued 13 years ago. The principle that she lives by is to
treat people the way that she wants to be treated. This principle serves as a guide for what she hopes to accomplish when assisting victims.
Article by: Vickie Hughes
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New Hires:
Gavin Sinclair (December)
Promotions:
Jeff Milam (October)
Glen Thomason (October)
Willie Jean Davis (November)
Stacy Pollard (November)
Khalilah Johnson (December)
Matt McLemore (December)
Michele Reynolds (December
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Cervical Health Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about how women can protect themselves from HPV (human papillomavirus) and cervical cancer. HPV is a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity, and it causes almost all cases of cervical cancer.
About 79 million Americans currently have HPV. Many people with HPV don’t know they are infected. And each year, more than 11,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer.
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.
The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices.
Make a difference in your community: Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart-healthy lives.
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- Valentine's Day is the second most popular day of the year for sending cards. Christmas is the first most popular..
- Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year.
- Approximately 27 percent of those who buy flowers on Valentine's Day are women. Only 73% are men.
- The heart is associated with Valentine’s Day as it is considered the source of all human emotions.
- Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are the biggest holidays for giving flowers.
- Pope Gelasius declared February 14, St. Valentine’s Day around 498 A.D.
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Time to Get Organized:
by
Carmen D. Hood
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Getting organized at work is a daily struggle for some. Multiple sticky notes everywhere, papers pile up and the flood of emails in your inbox that you have to sort through can truly be overwhelming.
The key component to productivity is organization. Our attention and performance diminishes causing our work to suffer when clutter accumulates.
So how do we fix that? These few tips can help and will become second nature.
1)
Get enough sleep
2)
Make an effort NOT to multitask
3)
Take breaks
4)
Start with goals
5)
Outline your priority
6)
Time block each day
7)
Have everything you need within reach
8)
Get rid of non-essentials
9)
Put paperwork in its place
10)
Organize your virtual workplace
11)
Throw out your to-do list
12)
Keep projects front & center
13)
Map out milestones
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How To Deal With Workplace Stress:
by
Carmen D. Hood
There is a high percentage of Americans that are stressed at work and it is continually increasing. Between 29%-40% of Americans are extremely stressed at work.
Work stress has health consequences that range from colds and flu to heart disease.
Common workplace stressors are physical discomfort, interpersonal conflict, disorganization and multitasking.
Tips to deal with workplace stress:
1)
Start your day off right- good nutrition, proper planning, and a positive attitude
2) Be clear on requirements-talk with your supervisor and go over expectations and strategies
3) Stay away from conflict
4) Stay Organized
5) Be Comfortable
6) Forget Multitasking
7) Walk at Lunch
8) Keep perfectionism in check
9) Listen to music
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Find comfort in these awesome and easy recipes
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Eggplant Parmesan, Gluten-Free
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2 large eggplants
2 cups neutral-tasting oil, such as sunflower
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, peeled and sliced thin
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thin
1 red pepper, top taken off, seeds removed, and sliced thin
1 cup basil leaves, sliced thin
1 quart thick tomato sauce (if your bottled sauce is too thin, let it simmer until it thickens)
12 ounces fresh mozzarella
2 cups grated Parmesan
2 large tomatoes, sliced thin
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Instructions
Preparing the eggplant. Take the tops off the eggplants. Slice the eggplants into 1-inch slices. Scatter salt over the eggplant slices liberally. Let the eggplant slices sit for 1 hour.
Preparing to cook. Heat the oven to 425°.
Frying the eggplant. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, pour in the sunflower oil. When the oil is hot put a drop of water in the oil and watch it sizzle lay 4 to 5 of the eggplant slices in the skillet. (Do not overcrowd the pan. You’re going to have to do this in batches anyway.) Fry the eggplant until the bottoms are golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the eggplant slices and brown the other side, about 2 minutes. Remove the eggplant slices from the oil and lay them down on paper-towel-covered plates. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, in batches.
(You can save the sunflower oil in a big jar for the next time you fry something.)
Cooking the vegetables. Set that skillet, drained of the oil, onto medium-high heat. Pour in the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions, garlic, and peppers. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the basil and stir until the scent of the basil releases into the room, about 1 minute.
Heating the tomato sauce. Meanwhile, in another pan, heat up the tomato sauce until it is simmering.
Building the final dish. Ladle enough tomato sauce onto the bottom of a 9×13 casserole pan to cover entirely. Arrange slices of eggplant on top of the sauce. Add a layer of the onion-pepper mixture. Ladle more sauce on top. Make a layer of the mozzarella slices. Add the sliced tomatoes, the last of the sauce, and the parmesan cheese.
Baking the eggplant parmesan. Put the pan onto a baking sheet. (Ideally, you cover the baking sheet with parchment paper too. We had just run out.) Slide it into the oven. Bake until all the cheeses and sauce are bubbling and hot, about 25 minutes. Pull it out of the oven to cool. Serve within a few moments.
Feeds 6.
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Filling:
1 1/2 lbs chicken breast, cut into small bite sized, 1/2 inch pieces ( or replace with mushrooms)
1–2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste
8 oz sliced mushrooms (optional- or replace with 8 oz more chicken)
1/2 onion- diced
6 cloves garlic -chopped
1 T fresh rosemary- chopped
1–2 C packed, chopped fresh spinach ( optional)
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8 ounce package egg roll wrappers, or dry lasagna noodles, or fresh pasta sheets.
12 oz fresh or grated mozzarella, divided -saving 4 oz for béchamel
15 oz whole milk ricotta
3/4 C Parmesan, grated
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Bechamel Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter ( or olive oil)
4 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
3 cups milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg
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Instructions
Preheat oven to 400F
Make the Filling: ( see notes for vegetarian) Cut chicken into 1/2 inch, bite size pieces and season with 1 teaspoon salt and cracked pepper to taste. Saute in a skillet, on medium heat, with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil until golden brown, and cooked through. Place chicken in a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan and add a little more oil. Add mushrooms and onion and saute until tender, on med heat, about 7 min. Add garlic and rosemary, and saute 2 more minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and lower heat to med low, and saute until mushrooms release their liquid. Add chopped spinach, stir until wilted and add this to the chicken. Set aside.
Make Bechamel Sauce: In a
small pot
, melt butter on med low heat. Add flour and stir for 2-3 minutes on med heat until flour is golden. Whisk in milk one cup at a time. Add rosemary and bring to a gentle simmer, do not leave unattended, stirring constantly. Add 4 oz. mozzarella and stir until melted and thickened. Add salt, nutmeg and
white pepper
. Stir until incorporated, set aside.
Assemble Lasagna.
Use fresh pasta sheets if possible. If not available, substitute large egg roll wrappers or dry lasagna noodles. Butter or grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Pour ¾ cups bechamel sauce in the bottom and spread out. Lay down one layer of pasta (or two layers of egg roll wrappers). Using a teaspoon, place teaspoon sized dollops of ricotta, using up about half the container. Spread out the 1/2 of the chicken mushroom filling, drizzle 1/2 C bechemal, sprinkle 1/4 C Parmesan, and 4 oz of the fresh mozzarella and half of the lemon zest. Repeat, adding another single layer of pasta, or a layer of egg roll wrappers, lightly pressing down. Add dollops of ricotta, the remainder of the chicken mushroom filling, 1/2 C bechamel, the remaining mozzarella, 1/4 C Parmesan and remaining lemon zest. At this point, you could drizzle with a little
truffle oil
( it’s delicious). Top with the last layer of pasta ( or egg roll wrappers) pour the remainder of the bechamel, spreading evenly. Add the final 1/4 C of Parmesan. Sprinkle with a little rosemary.
Bake covered tightly with foil in a 400F oven for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Remove foil and bake uncovered until top is golden, about 15 more minutes. Let rest out of the oven 10-15 minutes before cutting, so it sets up.
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Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
1/2 c. sour cream
3 c. mini marshmallows
1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
1 c. shredded coconut
3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
3/4 c. toasted pecans
Instructions
In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
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1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 Earl Grey tea bag
1 tsp vanilla extract
vanilla sugar to taste (optional)
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Instructions
Step tea in hot water for 2-4 minutes.
Heat milk over medium low heat (do not let it boil). Whisk the milk to froth the top.
Remove tea bag, pour hot milk into tea, add vanilla, and stir. Enjoy!
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