Great things happening in Emanuel County

·  Gov. Sonny Perdue to sign conservation bill during Pine Tree Festival

·  It's Pine Tree Festival Time!

·  Wash Pot is heating up!

·  You are Invited!

·  Pine Tree Festival 150 is slated for May 2 & 3

·  Emanuel County has new chiropractor

·  VIP Tour a great success!!!

·  Small Business Seminar on Postage Pays Dividends

·  No winner in Chamber's Cash Jackpot

·  Gigantic Sidewalk Sale is planned.

·  Good News for region!

It's Pine Tree Festival Time!

This year's Pine Tree Festival is now underway! For the first time, it is being planned and sponsored by the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Festival Foundation, with the assistance of civic clubs and other groups throughout Emanuel County.

The dates of the Festival this year will be from April 26 to May 10, giving a full two weeks of activities. And a full two weeks it will be!

By the time this newsletter is published, the Pine Tree Breeze Bicycle Race, the Pine Tree Golf Tournament, the Pine Tree Beauty Pageant, and the Pine Tree Festival Flower Show will already be history. On Saturday night, April 26th, Miss Taylor Breedlove was named 2008 Pine Tree Festival Queen.

On Friday and Saturday, May 3 & 4, the Pine Tree Festival 150 race will be held at Swainsboro Raceway. On Saturday, May 4, Emanuel County Farm and Home Museum will host an open house. A barbeque dinner will be served with "Pine Bark Stew." Tickets are $7.00 and are available at the Chamber of Commerce or by contacting any Emanuel County Historic Preservation Society member.

On Wednesday, May 7, the State FFA Forestry Field Day will be held at the Swainsboro Recreational Complex on McLeod Bridge Road. While this event will not be a public event, it will bring 200 - 250 FFA students, advisers, teachers, and parents from across the state into Swainsboro for a variety of competitions dealing with forestry and forest management. A 10 AM forestry "hot topics" discussion will be presented. The public is invited to attend.

On Thursday, May 8, another big day is scheduled at the Swainsboro Recreation Complex. There will be the Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Show, something unique to the Festival. The show hails from Wisconsin and has been seen on ESPN and on ABC's Wide World of Sports. On this day, there will be performances for students in the Emanuel County School System. There will also be a Civil War Camp Reenactment and a Timber Expo Show, where manufacturers of heavy equipment used by the forestry industry will have their equipment on display. There will be a number of educational exhibits including the Swainsboro Fire Department, Magnolia Springs State Park, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Association, Shriners Hospitals Traveling Display and much more. The Georgia Forestry Commission helicopter will also conduct a water drop demonstration.

That evening, the Georgia Regional Timber Landowners Association will have a dinner. While this event will not be a public event, it will bring about 125 people from this region to Swainsboro.

Activities schedule for Thursday will continue into Friday, May 9th, at the Swainsboro Recreation Department Complex. Fred Scheer's Lumberjack Show is scheduled for a 7 PM performance. In addition to the other activities carried over on Friday, there will be an arts and crafts show. These events are scheduled to open at 8 AM. "Sam's Drive-In" will perform in concert at 8 PM that night.

Saturday, May 10th, will be another day full of interesting events. Beginning at 8 AM, the Knotty Pine Run will take place in downtown Swainsboro. There will be a Grill Off in downtown Swainsboro also beginning at 8:00. At 10:00, special ceremonies will be held to name this year's Grand Marshall. The annual Pine Tree Festival parade under the direction of the Swainsboro Shrine Club will step off at 11 o'clock in downtown Swainsboro. At noon, the Battle of the Bands will take place; and at 2:00, there will be a Lawn Mower race. Lots of activity will be taking place in town on Saturday.

The Recreational Complex will open at 8 AM with three Fred Scheer's Lumberjack shows slated, at 2:00, 3:00, and 5:00 PM. An antique car display will be on hand along with forestry equipment displays, arts and crafts, educational displays by Swainsboro Fire Department, Georgia Forestry Commission and GSU Raptor Center. Activities at the Recreational Complex will continue until 6 PM.

Meanwhile, in downtown Swainsboro, the second Saturday Art Stroll will take place, beginning at 5:00 PM. During the event, you will have an opportunity to sample offerings of local restaurants, when Taste of Emanuel begins.

All in all, it looks like it is going to be an exciting two weeks for Swainsboro and Emanuel County.

Wash Pot is heating up!

Plans are ready for the 10th Annual Garfield Wash Pot Festival, to be held May 16- 17, in Garfield.

The schedule of events include beauty pageants (May 7-8), softball tournament (May 10), wrestling, arts and crafts, parade, live auction, lawn mower pull and a street dance. Admission is $2.00.

For more information contact Pam Riner at 478-763- 2211 or Mack Baker at 478-763-3811.

You are Invited!

No. 1 Pawn Shop, the Chamber's newest member, will have a "grand opening" on Saturday, May 10th from 12 PM to 2 PM. Hotdogs and cokes will be served.

The new store buys, sells, trades, and swaps most items including tools, televisions, and computers. The company, which specializes in guns, rifles and shotguns, is a registered seller on Ebay. Members of the Chamber are invited to attend the grand opening at 301 South Main Street, Swainsboro. For more information call 478-237-3276.

Pine Tree Festival 150 is slated for May 2 & 3

Swainsboro Raceway will hold the annual Pine Tree Festival race on Friday and Saturday, May 2nd and 3rd.

"We look forward to being a part of the festival," said track owner Paul Purvis. "Our commitment to be involved with the community and our youth is what we strive for" added Purvis.

Racing action will include our annual Super Street Challenge #1, paying $5000 to win. Crate Late Models will pay $2000 to win. There will be racing in all divisions Pure Stock, Mini Stock and Road Warriors. Also included on Saturday night, May 3rd will be Bike Races and Power Wheel races for the young racers. Gates open at 4:00 PM with Hot Laps at 6:00 PM and racing at 7:00 PM.

Emanuel County has new chiropractor

Dr. Daniel Massa, a nationally board-certified chiropractor, has announced he will open a new practice in Swainsboro. The name of the new business is Emanuel County Clinic and it will be located in the Professional Building at 120 Jackson Street.

Dr. Massa is a native of New Jersey but has lived in Kennesaw, GA for the past 20 years. Having attended Life University in Marietta, GA, he received a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, completing with honors a four- year intensive postgraduate program of study in chiropractic. He is licensed in 5 states and has an additional certification with the International Pediatric Chiropractic Association in pediatric training.

"I am excited about opening my new practice here in Swainsboro and Emanuel County. We are looking forward to serving the people of this area and becoming deeply involved with local activities."

Dr. Massa is a member of First Baptist Church Woodstock. He will open his practice on June 2nd.

VIP Tour a great success!!!

The Georgia Department of Economic Development's International VIP Tour to Swainsboro & Emanuel County on April 24th, was an unqualified success. Twenty six countries were represented at the event which was held at Flat Creek Lodge.

The event was designed to provide Atlanta's international diplomatic and business communities with the opportunity to see, experience and meet Georgians in areas of the state outside metropolitan Atlanta.

"Hosting such an event as this always pays dividends," stated Bill Rogers, Jr., president of the Chamber. "We already have interest in our Nanotechnology Center from several of those countries attending our event."

This year's group of attendees represented Liechtenstein, France, Albania, Costa Rica, Philippines, Guatemala, Canada, Australia, Botswana, Greece, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Argentina, Israel, Czech Republic, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil, Denmark, Spain Taiwan, Slovenia, Honduras, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

Hosting the dinner were the Joint Development Authorities of Emanuel County, City of Swainsboro, Emanuel County Commission, and the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce.

Small Business Seminar on Postage Pays Dividends

On Friday, April 25th, the Chamber hosted another seminar in its series to help local businesses. The seminar was conducted by Postmaster Jerry Lawson and Karen Bridger, Small Business Specialist, United States Postal Service.

Twelve businesses were on hand to learn of new ways and new products offered by the U.S. Post Office to help small businesses save money.

"If your business does mailing, Karen Bridger and the Post Office genuinely would like to help any business with their postal needs. It many cases they can save a business a good deal of money," added Bill Rogers Jr, chamber president.

To contact the U.S. Postal Service for a business review at no cost, call 478-752-8715 or 478-747-5290.

No winner in Chamber's Cash Jackpot

Hosted by the Emanuel Arts Center, the Chamber's "Business after Hours" was a great success. Over 85 people attended the April 17th event to enjoy the 25th anniversary celebration of the Center. Harvey Stevens was selected in the Chamber's cash jackpot drawing of $300, but was not present to claim the prize. The amount grows to $325. The next "Business after Hours" event will be hosted by Swainsboro Raceway on Thursday, June 19th.

Gigantic Sidewalk Sale is planned.

Tentative plans are now underway to host Emanuel County's largest yard sale event ever in downtown Swainsboro.

According to Anthony Faris, Director of Swainsboro Downtown Development, the event is now being planned for Saturday, June 7 at 7 AM. The Boneyard area, Roger Shaw Street and the Downtown Park will be used for set up.

"There is no fee or charge for this event. Space is available on a first come, first serve basis," stated Faris. For more information on reserving space call Anthony Faris, Swainsboro City Hall at 237-7025, or the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce at 237-6426.

Good News for region!

According to Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Power Company has signed an agreement with a consortium of Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC and The Shaw Group's Power Group for the engineering, procurement and construction of two nuclear power plants at the Alvin W. Vogtle site near Waynesboro.

Georgia Power and Oglethorpe Power Corp., Municipal Electric Authority and Dalton Utilities co-own two existing nuclear units at the site.

"Although Southern Nuclear Operating Company, which runs Plant Vogtle, still awaits approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), this marks the first definitive statement regarding plans to build if given the go ahead," stated the Waynesboro True Citizen in its April 9, 2008 edition.

Construction would begin in 2012 and bring the first unit on line in 2016 and the second in 2017.

Gov. Sonny Perdue to sign conservation bill during Pine Tree Festival

Governor Sonny Perdue has selected the Pine Tree Festival and GFA Regional Meeting in Swainsboro on May 8 to sign HB 1211, the legislation that will implement a new conservation use program for large forests should voters pass a constitutional amendment in November to create the program. The governor's support was critical to the successful passage of this legislation. Potential savings to Georgia timberland owners exceeds $30 million. The signing is set for 5 PM at the Southeast Timber Expo on McLeod Bridge Road. Public is invited.

April 2008 New Chamber Members

Dr. Daniel Massa
Twin City Precision Metals

April 2008 Chamber Members Renewals

Sam & Margaret Smith
Sasser Aviation
Dream Home Builders
Harry G. Poole, IV
Mable Y. Poole
Edenfield House Inn
Swainsboro Raceway
The Peddler
Emanuel Tractor Sales, Inc.
Spivey Bank
Southern Bandsaw
Sunshine House
Chemetron
Kiddie Campus Daycare
Southeast Fire & Burglar
Holiday House
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio

Upcoming Events

May 2nd & 3rd- Pine Tree 150, Swainsboro Raceway

Saturday, May 3rd - Writer's Tour

May 7 - 10, Pintree Festival & Southeast Timber Expo

Tuesday, May 13th- Executive Board Meeting, 9:30 AM

Thursday, May 15th- Chamber Board Meeting, 12 Noon