The Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO will be held April 17th through May 9th. The event will feature a grand parade hosted by the Shriners, plus many familiar events from recent years such as pine tree sitting with a tree house wedding, beauty pageants, flower show, BBQ grill-off, battle of the bands, 5-K run, bike ride around Emanuel County, lawnmower race, and celebrating the arts in downtown Swainsboro.

New to the festival, the Emanuel County Pilot Club will host an evening of "Emanuel County's Got Talent" on April 18th. Swainsboro Raceway will host a special "Pine Tree 150 Race on the night of Saturday, May 9th.

On Friday night, May 8th, Brantley Gilbert will be featured in an outdoor concert at the EXPO site on McLeod Bridge Road. Gilbert is considered one of the country's top unsigned recording talents by those familiar with the music industry.

In addition, the second annual Southeast Timber EXPO has booked four major attractions this year. The BMX Bicycle & Skateboard Stunt Show is a high- energy show featuring aerial stunts and mind- boggling technical maneuvers on bicycles and skateboards. Hailing from Stillwater, Minnesota, will be the All-American Lumberjack Show. The All- American Lumberjack Show is also scheduling two kids' Lumberjack "Sports Camps" on Saturday where youngsters can try their hand at lumberjack sports.

"The Snakes of Georgia Encounter" out of Barnesville, is another new show at this year's EXPO. It is a seminar with live venomous and non-venomous snakes of Georgia, as well as alligators and other reptiles. The purpose is to promote understanding and respect for these creatures.

The McLeod Moring SCV Camp and Emanuel Rangers UDC Chapter 2318 will again present "Camp McLeod," a living history encampment complete with tents, cannons, re-enactors in period uniforms and numerous wartime artifacts. The camp site at the EXPO has been expanded so that re- enactors can engage in a full-fledged battle on Saturday afternoon. Included is a field hospital, complete with patients, nurses, and true stories about local soldiers and their families.

Another new event to the festival on Saturday will be a "loggers' rodeo." Prentice/Caterpillar will sponsor a "loaders' competition" with $1,000 in prize money awarded. The national qualifying event will host local loggers demonstrating their talents and prowess on loader equipment.

The festival will also have arts & crafts, commercial vendors, education exhibits, antique cars, and kids' games. The Timber EXPO will be open to the public at 3 P.M. on Friday, May 8th, and all day on Saturday, May 9th, and will take place at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreational Complex on McLeod Bridge Road.

Thursday and Friday morning are reserved for Emanuel County school children. Over 3,000 students are expected. Students will receive free drinks and popcorn during their field trip exercise.

The gates will open to the public at 3:00 P.M. on Friday. Ticket prices will be $10.00. This includes all EXPO events plus Brantley Gilbert Concert admission. The ticket prices for Saturday are $5.00 per person.

The Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO puts the spotlight on Emanuel County's forestry legacy. Forestry & logging equipment will be on display throughout the Timber EXPO. Educational exhibits will be on hand from UGA's Warnell School of Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Association, City of Swainsboro's Fire Department and "Haz-Mat" Unit and Jesup City Police "Rolling Car" exhibit.

For more information on the Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO, call the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce at 478-237-6426.

Swainsboro/Emanuel County Festival Foundation, Inc., in conjunction with the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and the UGA Warnell School of Forestry, will offer workshop courses as part of this year's Pine Tree Festival & Southeast Timber EXPO. The courses will be held Thursday and Saturday at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreational Complex on McLeod Bridge Road.

For the professional, two one-hour classes will be presented. "Ethics in Forestry" will be presented on Thursday, May 7th at 5:30 P.M. prior to the Georgia Forestry Association Regional Dinner meeting.

On Saturday, May 9th, an additional course will be offered to professionals, "Using GPS in Timber Harvest." This class will be held at 1:00 P.M.

Both of these workshops are designed to encourage professional development, provide standards for achievement and advance skills of those engaged in logging. Workshop attendees will earn credit hours toward the Continuing Logger Education Program.

For the landowner, two one-hour classes will also be presented. "Pine Straw Production for Landowners" is scheduled for 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, May 7th, prior to the regional dinner meeting.

"Timber Management for Landowners: Best Thinning Practices" is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 9th.

Forest landowners will receive up to date information on generating revenue through improved timber management practices.

For pre-registration or ticket information, call George Elder at 478-763-3631.

In action taken Thursday, March 19th, the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously to send a letter to Congressman John Barrow against proposed federal legislation entitled Employee Free Choice Act 2009 (EFCA).

In the opinion of the board, this proposed legislation would have dire consequences for businesses and industries located within Emanuel County, the state of Georgia and nation.

The legislation, as currently written, would effectively take away an employee's right to a secret ballot during a union organizing campaign, leaving the employee vulnerable to intimidation by union leaders. Doing away with the right of secret ballot is against basic democratic principles and contrary to fair elections we as a nation have enjoyed.

The proposed legislation would strip employers of their right to share information with employees, including the impact unionization would have on the company such as increased costs or mandates. Another provision of the bill would leave employers with only two choices--give in to union demands within 120 days or allow an outside, government-mandated arbitrator to determine wages, benefits and other contract-related matters. Even if an employee does not support the creation of a union in his workplace, he would be required to pay union dues and operate under new contract rules.

"In short, we believe this bill to be one of the most devastating pieces of anti-business legislation ever proposed before Congress. We earnestly hope you will vote against this proposal and join with us in opposition to this legislation," stated the chamber's letter to the Congressman.

The overall winner in this year's "Flavors of Georgia" contest was Emanuel County's own Flat Creek Lodge. The Lodge's dairy won the highest honor for its Aztec Cheddar Cheese.

The Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest is hosted and organized by the University of Georgia's Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, along with Georgia Agribusiness Council, Governor Sonny Perdue's Agricultural Advisory Commission, and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department of Food Science and Technology.

Other awards went for BBQ & hot sauces, confections, jam, jellies, meats, snack foods, and other specialty foods.

After 30 years, Emanuel Arts Center is "still the one" for quality arts programming in southeast Georgia.

To celebrate the event, the Center will host a "30th Anniversary Celebration" at the Cadle Barn on Friday night, April 17th.

Folks can enjoy an evening of entertainment by past and present local performers and there will be an auction led by Auctioneer Rusty Lane.

Among entertainers slated to perform are Alan Brasher, Jeb & Jordan Cameron, Donna Brinson, Whitney Bush, Phyllis Free, Houston Sisters, Donald Jenkins, Betsy Johnson, Al Lawson, Bobby Reeves, Anna Thibeault, and Sharon Weatherford to name a few.

Tickets are $15. For more information call the Emanuel Arts Center 478-237-2592.

Friends of Franklin Memorial Library have announced plans for a "book sale" the weekend of the Pine Tree Festival. Books will be on display in the Smith Room of the library. Hours are Thursday, May 7th, 9:00 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.; Friday, May 8th, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.; Saturday, May 9th, 9:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.

Chamber Board Chairman Milton Gray, Chairman- Elect Kenny Griffin, and Treasurer Stephanie Fagler are now famous! They are pictured in this month's Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives' newsletter.

The picture is of the executive group as they welcomed attendees to the annual banquet of the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce. The event was held in February at East Georgia College.

The group was decked out in "crew attire" for the banquet. This year's theme was "SS Emanuel-Full Steam Ahead!" and came complete with passports, cruise ship entranceway, a 20-ft high life preserver and nautical icons.

Michelle Lank, an Early Childhood Care and Education student at Swainsboro Technical College has been named as the college's winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).

The announcement was made by Larry Calhoun, President of Swainsboro Technical College, at the annual GOAL luncheon hosted by The Pilot Club of Emanuel County and the Chamber of Commerce.

GOAL is a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia that honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state's technical college students.

As a benefit to all chamber members, your Chamber of Commerce participates in a statewide program called Member Care Alliance. This alliance is a network of over 125 Chambers who have used large group buying power to negotiate favorable cost savings on group insurance products, many at discounted premiums. The program features coverage made available through well-known carriers and includes group health insurance, group and voluntary dental insurance, group and voluntary term life insurance, disability income, vision care insurance, disability overhead expense insurance and long term care insurance. For more information, contact the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce at 478-237-6426.

On Saturday night April 4th, some of the country's best dirt late model drivers will go head to head on the 3/8 mile, red clay, dirt track here in Swainsboro Georgia. Drivers such as Scott Bloomquist, Dan Shilper, Chris Madden, along with locals Ben & Jeremy Faircloth and Chesley Dixon are just a few of the drivers expected to compete for $10,000 in the "April Fools 50" event.

Racing will kick-off on Friday night, April 3rd with Super-Street, Mini Stock and Road Warriors. Crate Late Models will take to the track Saturday night for the $2500 Lucas Oil Series Race.

The track, purchased several years ago by Paul and Debra Purvis of Wadley, Georgia, has been transformed into one of the finest dirt tracks in the state of Georgia. For more info about the "Aprils Fools 50" or the PineTree Festival 150 you can visit us at www.swainsbororaceway.com

RadioJones LLC was recently announced as the winner of the Paragon Consulting Network's "Radio Stimulus Package" in the commercial radio division. Radio Jones is the owner of a cluster of commercial stations in southeast Georgia. Winning in the public radio division was New Hampshire Public Radio.

Both radio companies were selected from a field of 27 entrants. The winning companies are now receiving free consulting services from multiplatform media consultants within the Paragon Consulting Network.

Paragon's Mike Henry said, "All of the entrants are on intelligent paths to higher ground and deserving of our industry's support. I wish we could have 27 winners, but we picked the two winners because they are highly committed to providing local media to their communities. Both companies have long-term multiplatform strategies and are building for the future. Essentially, we feel these winners will benefit significantly from our services."

RadioJones stations include WXRS-FM (Country), WJAT-AM (News/Talk/Sports) and WRJS-AM (Gospel) in Swainsboro; and WEDB-FM (CHR) in Dublin.

President/General Manager Dennis Jones submitted the entry and commented, "We are so pleased to have won this national contest where we competed against some of the largest major and medium market commercial radio groups in the nation. Our winning long-term strategic plans bode well not only for our company but for Emanuel County, Laurens County and, indeed, all of the Southeast and Central Georgia counties served by our four stations."

Jones continued, "While only a few select sections of the country have caused most of the relentlessly negative economic reports, I am particularly proud of our local areas where, though we may not experience some of the lofty highs, our area businesses are smart enough to escape the really deep lows by focusing on the long term. Paragon Media Strategies is one of the premiere consulting firms in the radio, television and new media business and their services are going to help our radio stations emerge in the second half of this year poised to provide our listeners and advertisers with major market, national level entertainment, information and marketing expertise. We are proud to share this vote of industry confidence with New Hampshire Public Radio on the non- commercial side, and we look forward to sharing new and innovative ideas with them. Oh, and if I might add, we're hiring!"

Paragon Consulting Network is a division of Paragon Media Strategies in Denver, Colorado.

"Happy Birthday Relay For Life ~ Celebrating 25 Years of Hope" is the theme for the Relay For Life event to be held in Emanuel County on Friday, April 24th. Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 7 PM. This year's event will be held at the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Recreation Complex on McLeod Bridge Road. A cookout for cancer survivors will begin at 5:15 PM and the 'Kids Zone' will begin at 6 PM. The public is invited to attend.

For more information on Relay For Life, please contact Donna Brinson at 478-237-6426.