DR. LARRY CLARK CHOSEN AS GRAND MARSHALL OF BAINBRIDGE CHRISTMAS PARADE

Dr. Larry Clark, Principal of Jones Wheat Elementary School, has been chosen as Grand Marshall of the 2010 City of Bainbridge Christmas Parade.  Because of his outstanding community service and dedication to Bainbridge, Dr. Clark was a unanimous choice to receive this honor.

Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Morehouse College.  He also has two Masters of Education Degrees, one from Florida A&M University and the other from Troy State University, as well as an Educational Specialist Degree and Doctorate in Educational Leadership, both from Nova Southeastern University.  He has been teaching in Bainbridge since 1975, where he began as a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Lillian E. Williams Elementary School.  During his time in Bainbridge he has also taught at Hutto Middle School and was an Assistant Principal at both Elcan-King Elementary and Bainbridge High School before becoming Principal of Jones Wheat Elementary School in 1990.  He was named Teacher of the Year in 1986 at Hutto Middle School.

Clark has also coached many Bainbridge athletic teams, including serving as the Varsity Coach of the Hutto Middle School Football Team, Defensive Coordinator of the Bainbridge High School football team, and Bainbridge High School Boys Head Track Coach. He was voted Region Track Coach of the Year in 1986, 1990, 1991 and 2001-2006.  Clark was also a member of the Bainbridge High School coaching staff that was crowned state AAA Champions in 1982 and was the coach of the BHS Track Team that won a State Championship in 2010.

Clark is married to Shirley H. Clark and has two daughters; Shirmil Clark, a Pharmacist at the University of

Tennessee Hospital and Shirelle Clark, a junior nursing student at Florida A & M University.  He is an active

Member of the First A. B. Church Gospel Choir, Sunday School Teacher, Assistant Superintendent of the

Sunday School, and a member of the Trustee and Mission in Action Board.

The City of Bainbridge Christmas Parade is scheduled from Thursday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.  The parade will begin on

Wheat Avenue

and will end in downtown Bainbridge.  Registration is now underway for anyone interested in having a float in the parade.  If you would like to register, please call 229-248-2000 or visit www.bainbridgecity.com for an application.

CITY OF BAINBRIDGE HOLDING RUMMAGE SALE FOR MAYORS’ CHRISTMAS MOTORCADE

The City of Bainbridge will be doing its part to make the holiday season special for residents of the state’s mental health and retardation hospitals and would like your help! 

The Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade, sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association and endorsed by the City of Bainbridge, is an annual event conducted to raise awareness of the needs of patients housed in mental health and retardation hospitals throughout the State of Georgia.  This program has a successful 51 year history and has made a difference for the patients housed in these care facilities.  The City of Bainbridge donates to the Southwestern State Hospital.  This facility houses approximately 60 patients who have tour-rounds needs, especially at Christmas.

This year, the City of Bainbridge is asking you to clean out your closets and donate items for the inaugural Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade Rummage Sale, which will be held on Saturday, November 6 from 7:00 a.m. – 12 noon in the Kwilecki Building downtown.  All proceeds raised from the Rummage Sale will go towards buying Christmas gifts for the residents of Southwestern State Hospital.

If your spring cleaning left your closets empty, there are other ways you can help, including coming to shop at the Rummage Sale on November 6.  You can also help by donating new and unwrapped gifts, including personal care items, clothing, games, and movies.  A complete list of needed items is available at City Hall or on the City of Bainbridge’s website at www.bainbridgecity.com.

To donate items for the Rummage Sale, drop them off at City Hall, 101 S. Broad Street, Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.   For more information on the Rummage Sale or Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade, contact Beth Williams at City of Bainbridge, 229-248-2000 ext. 107.

BASS Open Series

Thanks to everyone who came out to watch the weigh-ins for the BASS Open Series on October 7-9.  It was a great to have them as the first group to use Bainbridge's new mega ramp site. 

Local angler Frank Jordan Jr. made the cut as one of the 30 boaters to fish the final day

Convention & Visitors Bureau Board Chairman Matt Palmer fished on days one and two

Local angler Pam Martin-Wells checks to see her weight on day 2

CHRISTMAS PARADE APPLICATIONS NOW ONLINE

It's time to reserve your spot for a float in this year's Christmas Parade!  Applications are now online at the city's website:  http://www.bainbridgecity.com/ and are due by November 29. 

PUMPKINS IN THE PARK SET FOR OCTOBER 30

The City of Bainbridge is celebrating Halloween a day early on October 30.  So, find the perfect costume, finish carving those pumpkins and head to Willis Park for Pumpkins in the Park. 

This year’s Pumpkins in the Park will include a pumpkin carving contest and a costume contest.  There are four different age groups for the costume contest: 0-24 months, 3-5 years old, 6-8 years old and 9-12 years old.  The pumpkin carving contest has five different age groups: 3-5 years old, 6-8 years old, 9-12 year old and 15 years old and up.  The winners of each age group in both contests will receive Bainbridge Bucks to use at local businesses. 

In addition to the contests, there will be all types of fun going on in Willis Park, including trick-or-treating, games for kids, popcorn, drinks and hayrides!  Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. and judging for the pumpkin carving contest will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by the costume contest at 5:00 p.m.  Following Pumpkins in the Park, the City of Bainbridge encourages everyone to trick-or-treat in their neighborhoods. 

Don’t miss Pumpkins in the Park, it’s fun for the entire family!

Bainbridge Mega Ramp Grand Opening

Mayor Edward Reynolds welcomes everyone to the Mega Ramp Ribbon Cutting



DNR Commissioner Chris Clark

Senator John Bulloch introduces Govenor Sunny Perdue

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue

City Council Members, Rep. Gene Maddox, Gov. Perdue, Sen. John Bulloch, and Decatur County Commission Chairman Earl Perry cut the ribbon!

Public Works Director Tommy King launches the first boat from the ramps

 

Fishing Legend Jack Wingate and Gov. Perdue

MEGA RAMPS ARE GOOD FOR ALL

Over the past several months, the Boat Basin has undergone some big changes.  Take some time to drive by and see all the hard work that City’s Public Works department has put in to get our new boat ramps completed.

In 2007, Bainbridge was chosen by Governor Perdue as one of ten sites to receive funding to build mega ramps as part of his Go Fish Georgia Initiative.  The purpose of the Go Fish Georgia Initiative is to promote and improve boating and fishing tourism and to boost economic development in communities.   As part of the initiative, the state has given Bainbridge $400,000.  In turn, the City of Bainbridge is matching the $400,000 with SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) money.  The use of SPLOST funds is voted on by the citizens of Bainbridge, and the money collected cannot be used for anything other than what the voters decide. 

Thanks to the construction of the new mega ramps, Bainbridge has landed three big bass tournaments for October.  First, on October 7-9, we will host a B.A.S.S. Southern Open Series tournament with 400 anglers.  On October 16-17, the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Regional Tournament will be in town with nearly 400 more anglers. In addition to the bass tournament, the Boat Basin will play host to numerous four-man barbeque teams and judges in the Georgia State Barbeque Championship, a KCSB BBQ event, where competitors are fighting for a birth in the Kansas City Royal Championship.  Tournament directors are planning a festival for the community to enjoy, complete with vendors, kids activities, food and exhibits.  Finally, on October 21-23, FLW will be bringing back its BFL Regional Tournament with over 200 anglers. 

That’s nearly 1000 competitors, not counting tournament coordinators, families and friends that will be in our community, injecting new dollars.  They will stay at our hotels, eat at our restaurants, buy gas from our gas stations, and bait and tackle from our local stores.  Their money will make a huge impact on our local economy.  

In addition to the three bass tournaments, Governor Perdue will be in Bainbridge today for a ribbon cutting in honor of our new ramps.  The ribbon cutting will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Earle May Boat Basin and we encourage everyone to attend as we celebrate the completion of this great project. 

October is set to be a huge month in Bainbridge.  I encourage each of you to come out to the Boat Basin each afternoon to watch the weigh-ins and thank the anglers and tournament directors for coming to Bainbridge.  They truly do make a difference while they are here in town.

Later in the month, the City of Bainbridge will be celebrating Halloween a day early, Saturday, October 30, with Pumpkins in the Park.  Head to Willis Park at 3:30 p.m. for trick-or-treating, a costume contest and a pumpkin carving contest.  We encourage everyone to follow Pumpkins in the Park with trick-or-treating in their own neighborhoods. 

Don’t forget to submit your questions to “Ask the Mayor!”  Email askthemayor@bainbridgecity.com with any question you’d like to ask Mayor Edward Reynolds.  Over the next couple of months, Mayor Reynolds will be answering a few of the questions he frequently receives from the public like, “Who do I report a pot hole to?” and “Why doesn’t the city get an Applebee’s here?” 

For more information on any city services or events, visit www.bainbridgecity.com and be sure to check out our new blog, http://www.bainbridgecity.blogspot.com/ for stories, information, photos and much more!

CITY, COUNTY AND KEEP DECATUR COUNTY BEAUTIFUL TEAM UP TO RECYCLE

The City of Bainbridge, Decatur County Commissioners and Keep Decatur County Beautiful are working in conjunction with Decatur Seminole Service Center to make it easier to recycle cardboard boxes and packaging in downtown Bainbridge.  Beginning on Monday, October 4, a new cardboard receptacle will be located in the County Administration Building parking lot at 203 Broughton Street (old Badcock building).  Businesses, as well as individuals, are encouraged to recycle any type of cardboard. All boxes must be broken down before being put in the receptacle, ensuring space for everyone’s recycling.  The receptacle will be available throughout the Holiday Season.  With Christmas approaching and new merchandise being delivered to businesses weekly, this is the perfect opportunity to repurpose that material instead of sending it to the landfill. 

It is also perfect timing for recycling all of your Christmas packaging and boxes while helping to support a local organization at the same time.  The Decatur Seminole Service Center is in charge of packing the cardboard from the receptacle, which they then sell to support their programs.  They also have four additional bins available for any business that would like to have one to use.  If you would like to have a receptacle at your place of business, please contact them at 229-246-4104. 

For more information on this project or the Decatur Seminole Service Center, contact the Keep Decatur County Beautiful at 229-246-3611, the City of Bainbridge at 229-248-2000, the Decatur Seminole Service Center at 229-246-4104, or visit the City’s website at www.bainbridgecity.com.

Ask the Mayor - September 2010

Mayor Reynolds,

One of the activities my husband and I enjoy doing when we visit other cities is taking our dog (Ralph) to local dog parks.  As Ralph is an “only child” he really enjoys being able to run freely with his canine friends at the park.  Unfortunately for Ralph he only gets this play time when we visit other cities.  Is it possible for Bainbridge to build a dog park? (somewhere at the Boat Basin perhaps?) Ralph and his canine pals (and their parents) would be very grateful! 

Thanks for your thoughts!

Michelle Hufstetler

Bainbridge, GA

Dear Michelle,

  A dog park is a great idea.  While there are some dog parks run by local governments or the state, a lot of dog parks are owned by private citizens or businesses.  What a great opportunity for an entrepreneur in the area, or even a local civic group! 

  While the city has no designated park for dogs to play, residents and visitors are welcome to walk their dogs at any time in any of the city’s many parks.  However, there are a few rules that one must follow.  First, it is the owner’s responsibility to pick up any of the animal’s waste.  Willis Park provides bags for animal waste to be disposed of in. 

   Running at large is prohibited anywhere in the city limits that is not your own personal property.  According the Code of Bainbridge, Georgia Section 10-4, “It shall be the duty of the owner of any animal to keep the animal under control at all times while the animal is off the real property limits of the owner.  For the purposes of this action, an animal is deemed under control when it is confined within a vehicle, parked or in motion, is secured by a leash or other device held by a competent person, is under voice command of a competent person being present with the animal, or is properly confined within an enclosure with permission of the owner of the property where the enclosure is located.”

   I encourage you to use our parks for walking your pets, but be sure to follow the city’s rules while doing so. 

Sincerely,

Mayor Reynolds

GOVERNOR PERDUE TO CUT RIBBON FOR MEGA RAMPS ON OCTOBER 6

Governor Sonny Perdue and Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Clark will be in Bainbridge on Wednesday, October 6 for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of the Bainbridge’s new mega ramps.  The ribbon cutting will take place at 4:00 p.m. at Earle May Boat Basin Park and the public is encouraged to attend. 

In 2007, Bainbridge was chosen by Governor Perdue as one of ten sites to receive funding to build mega ramps as part of his Go Fish Georgia initiative.  The purpose of the Go Fish Georgia Initiative is to promote and improve boating and fishing tourism and to boost economic development in communities.  

Bainbridge will celebrate the completion of the mega ramps just in time to host three large bass tournaments.  The first, a B.A.S.S. Southern Open Series Tournament will begin the following morning, October 7 and last through October 9.  Bainbridge will then host the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Regional Tournament on October 16 and 17, followed by the FLW BFL Regional Tournament on October 21-23.

For more information on the ribbon cutting or any of the upcoming bass tournaments, call City Hall at 229-248-2000 or visit the City of Bainbridge’s website, www.bainbridgecity.com.