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| This Week's Titles: |
| Efforts
By County Keep Water Conservation From Drying Up |
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School Bullying Should
Not Be Ignored |
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| Pre-Packaged
Lunches Not A Healthy Choice |
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| Parents
Must Get Involved Early To Stop School Dropouts |
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| Tax-Free
Shopping For Back-To-School Supplies |
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| Efforts
By County Keep Water Conservation From Drying Up |
1:47 |
A county in Central Georgia
is working to make sure people don't forget the importance of
conserving water. |
Georgia continues under
the effects of a withering drought. Many rivers and streams
are near record low levels, and soil moisture continues to dry
up. In Bibb County, two statewide water conservation programs
took place. The Winning Water festival focused on elementary
students in the Ocmulgee and Lower Oconee river basins. Karol
Kelley, a county extension agent in Bibb County says around
eleven-hundred fourth grade students attended this festival.
The WaterSmart initiative helped educate Bibb County homeowners
on the importance of indoor and outdoor water conservation.
One important item covered was watering while under watering
restrictions. "The bottom line is plants need less frequent
watering and they need deeper watering verses a little bit of
water fifteen minutes every day or every few days. And that's
what we try to get across to the homeowners, things that they
can do to improve their thought process on these things." Karol
Kelly with the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. Around eighty homeowners were educated
on the importance of indoor and outdoor water conservation at
several different seminars across Bibb County. A WaterSmart
exhibit was also displayed at the 2007 Georgia National Fair
in Perry. John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| School
Bullying Should Not Be Ignored |
1:50 |
When the new school year begins,
some students will feel the wrath of bullies. |
School bells will soon ring
in another year of reading, writing, and arithmetic. But many
students dread going back to school because they are afraid
of school bullies. Sharon Gibson, a multi-cultural specialist
with the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer
Sciences says bullying is a serious problem that should not
be ignored by parents or children. She adds there are many forms
of bullying. "Bullying can be physical, it can be emotional.
With the physical it can be a physical attack on the child,
or it can be a physical attack on the child's property. Tripping
a child, pushing a child, name calling, writing things about
the ch ild and passing them around. And today the bullying has
gone from immediate direct between the bullied child and the
bully to being also cyber-bullying." Sharon Gibson with the
College of Family and Consumer Sciences. When parents find out
their child is a victim of a bully, they should first find out
if their child is in any immediate physical danger. It's very
important to find a way to stop the bullying. Ask for a meeting
with the principle of your child's school. When the meeting
takes place, parents should remain calm, since displays of anger
could set up a defensive action by the school, and make a bad
situation worse. John Harrell, University of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Pre-Packaged
Lunches Not A Healthy Choice |
1:37 |
When it comes to nutrition,
prepackaged lunches strike out every time. |
When children go to the
lunchroom this next school year, some children will dit down
and eat prepackaged lunches. But a nutrition and health specialist
with the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer
Sciences says prepackaged lunches have several strikes against
them. They are not nutritious, economical, tasty, or convenient.
She adds they could even increase the risk of children getting
sick with a foodborne illness. "The problem is that they really
do pose a food safety issue as well because they have to be
refrigerated and they aren't in a shape of size that is easily
put in a lunch box. So they have to be put in a cooler that
would have either some blue ice in it or some ice cubes to keep
them at a safe temperature before lunchtime." Connie Crawley
with the College of Family and consumer Sciences. Instead of
sending children to school with prepackaged lunches, parents
should prepare and pack their child's lunch at home. Include
raw vegetables l ike carrots, celery, or broccoli. Include nonfat,
or low-fat milk with a cold source in an insulated lunch box.
Or let your child purchase milk at school. Other choices for
a home-packed lunch include a cheese sandwich, peanut butter
and jelly sandwich, or a bagel with cheese. John Harrell, University
of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Parents
Must Get Involved Early To Stop School Dropouts |
1:27 |
Parents need to take action
early to reduce the chances of their children dropping out of
school. |
According to the Georgia
Department of Education, almost one out of three Georgia students
leave school before getting a diploma. Ted Futris, a family
life specialist with the University of Georgia's College of
Family and Consumer Sciences says dropouts are more likely to
end up unemployed or working in low-wage positions. He adds
they could also turn to crime, and end up behind bars. "When
you look at the prison population the majority of inmates have
less than a high school education. So there is certainly an
association between not finishing school and criminal activity."
Ted Futris with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Preventing dropouts begins much earlier than high school, or
middle school. It should begin during early childhood, with
the skills, relationships, and attitudes that young children
build in early childhood programs. Parents should monitor learning,
and keep up with what children are doing, and don't back away
from asking questions. Parents can stay involved by attending
parent-teacher meetings, and volunteering in the classroom.
John Harrell, University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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| Tax-Free
Shopping For Back-To-School Supplies |
1:43 |
There will be several days
for tax free shopping before school begins in August. |
The price tag can add up
quickly, as parents purchase back-to-school items for their
children. With fuel and food prices continuing to rise, family
budgets are stretched even tighter. Michael Rupured, a financial
management specialist with the University of Georgia's College
of Family and Consumer Sciences says three types of goods are
exempt from sales tax during this time. These include clothing,
personal computers and their accessories, and school supplies.
But don't try to buyout the store, because there is a price
limit on these items. "The school supplies, as long as they
are no more than twenty dollars, up to twenty dollars per item
are exempt from the sales tax. When you look at computers and
accessories you can get up to fifteen-hundred dollars in a single
purchase is exempt from the sales tax, but you have to be careful
because if they ring it up, and it's fifteen-hundred and one
dollars then you have to pay tax on the entire purchase." Michael
Rupured with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, who
adds the price limit for back-to-school clothing items is one-hundred
dollars. The next tax-free shopping period will begin Thursday,
July 31, and continue through Sunday, August 3, to take some
of the stress out of back-to-school shopping. John Harrell,
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, reporting from Tifton. |
Links to audio files:
(files include a brief quote from the source for your use.)
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