Bishop tours Southwest Georgia 

By Kirsten J. Barnes

Communications Director Bishop for Congress

U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-Albany) ended his 32-county tour of Georgia’s Second Congressional District on Oct. 31 with stops in Stewart, Webster, Schley, Macon, Crisp, Sumter, and Dooly counties.

After visiting with city officials in Lumpkin, Congressman Bishop traveled to Preston, where he visited with constituents at Mom’s Kitchen owned by the Crimes family.

“I wanted to come by and let you know that I’m not taking you for granted,” Congressman Bishop told constituents. “I hope that you will extend my contract for two more years.”

In Ellaville, Ga., Congressman Bishop toured John H. Lewis High School with members of the Schley County Association of Concerned Citizens, Inc.

The group purchased the school and 20 acres of land in August 2007 in hopes of transforming the school into a community resource center.

“We paid $100,000 for the building and 20 acres,” said Maggarie K. McCluster, president of SCACCI.

The group was formed in September of 2006 after McCluster found out the school board was planning to level the building.

            “It’s the school I graduated from in 1968 and the school I taught at for 10 years,” McCluster said. “I couldn’t just let them push it down. I want to use the building for a community center.”

            McCluster told Congressman Bishop about the group’s plans for the building, which is approximately 38,000 square feet.

            “We can do some things for the city, the county and surrounding counties,” McCluster said.

She said several leaders of area organizations have expressed an interest in partnering with SCACCI to provide resources for residents of Ellaville and surrounding areas. South Georgia Technical College, the Department of Juvenile Justice, Head Start, and Bethany College have all expressed an interest in having offices or classroom space in the new facility.

However, before any services can be provided the building must be completely renovated.

“This school reminds me of the school I attended,” Congressman Bishop told the group. He advised the group to put their ideas for the building on paper and submit them to his office so that his staff could see if any federal resources are available to make the group’s dreams for the building a reality.

“Write down what it would take to make it a first-class facility,” Congressman Bishop said.

            McCluster said the group is hopeful, because they had to borrow funding to buy the property and until it is up and running resources.

“So far, we’ve been able to pay our bills, but we don’t have enough left over to go full force,” McCluster said.

            From Ellaville, Congressman Bishop traveled to Plains, Ga., to present a Congressional Medal of Honor to Mallard Simmons.

Congressman Bishop began his 32-county tour on Tuesday, visiting Chattahoochee, Crawford, Marion, Muscogee, Peach, Talbot, and Taylor counties.

On Wednesday, the Congressman traveled to Worth, Lowndes, Brooks, Thomas, Grady, Decatur, Seminole and Miller counties.

Thursday, the Congressman began his day with a stop in Quitman County, before moving on to Randolph, Terrell, Lee, Mitchell, Baker, Early, Clay, Dougherty, and Calhoun counties.

While traveling the Congressman told constituents that he wanted to come by to let them know that “I still belong to you and you still belong to me.”