The Inbox February 2016

THE

INBOX Delivering the latest news to Henry County employees

February 16 Published by Henry County Communications Department & Henry County Board of Commissioners

An inside look at Facilities Maintenance

By Melissa Robinson

Editors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Graphic Designer Samantha Watson Contributors Meredith Butler Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Kevin Williams Chyah Williams-Thompson

Please contribute to the monthly employee newsletter!

Email Communications Specialist, Samantha Watson at swatson@co.henry.ga.us.

Contributions can include: original artwork, comics, pictures, announcements, classifieds or columns.

Fixer Upper, Flip or Flop, Extreme Home Makeover and a plethora of other do-it-yourself shows might be all the rage for remodeling and renovating, however here in Henry County we have a super talented group of individuals known as the Facilities Maintenance Department who have been doing some incredible rehabs of county buildings and properties over the past year.

Under the guidance of Director Hutch Purvis, the 12-crew team of Facilities Maintenance has made some extraordinary transformations of county owned properties, most recently to the new Elections Office located at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough.

It was just a few short months ago that Purvis and his crew were tapped to rehab the former ADR/ Juvenile Probation building in time for the Presidential Primary. Not only did he have to turn the inside into an attractive and modern voting facility, but he had to make major adjustments to the outside parking lot and entrances.

Designing, painting, carpeting, knocking down walls and then building them up again, all the while performing the daily functions of servicing more than 130 county facilities with heating and air, plumbing and electrical work and the daily upkeep that comes with maintaining county facilities.

Purvis credits his talented team of hammer-wielding professionals

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February 16 Facilities Maintenance from page 1

We wore red to unite against heart disease.

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with getting the job done in the most cost-effective manner. He said from the front office to the worksite, every member of the department helps make it a winning team.

“This is absolutely a team effort. I could not do if I didn’t have the team I have,” said Purvis.

“They are a talented bunch of hard workers, selfstarters and true professionals.”

In addition to the daily maintenance of county buildings, the Facilities Maintenance team has been doing some major renovations at the Henry County Judicial Center with State Court, including building a brand new courtroom, a jury assembly room, a jury deliberation room, a judge’s chamber, two holding cells and expanded the state clerk’s office. The team is also working on upgrades to the Solicitor’s office, to include a children’s room, a conference room and six new offices.

On the other side of town, Purvis is overseeing much-needed repairs to the countyowned DFACS Building, with the replacement of 23 HVAC systems and roof repair and replacement.

From conception to completion, Purvis and his department do it all. They create a plan, configure a design, and then sketch it out to have the blueprints made. Once that is done, the crews roll up their sleeves and make the sawdust fly.

Facilities Maintenance may not have the public persona of many other county departments, but it’s their important work behind the scenes that helps give the county its foundation.

February Health Observances

The Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.

The Zika virus causes mild illness with symptoms appearing a few days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people with the Zika virus disease will get a light fever and rash. Others may also get conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain and feel tired. The symptoms usually last two to seven days. If you have visited any regions where the Zika virus has been reported and start to feel any symptoms, seek medical attention.

It is thought that the Zika virus causes the birth defect microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared with babies of the same sex and age. The CDC recommends that pregnant women should postpone travel to any area where the Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip.

February is Low Vision Awareness Month, American Heart Month, International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month, National Children’s Dental Health Month and Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Types of heart disease: stroke, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, and congenital heart disease just to name a few.

Answers to the fill-in-the-blank are listed on the employee intranet on the communications page.

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February 16

2015 Fire Department Awards

Rookie Firefighter of the Year: Adrian Proby Firefighter of the Year: Joey Earl EMT of the Year: Jacob Pritchett Paramedic of the Year: Billy Petite Support Member of the Year: David Lenning Prevention Officer of the Year: Capt. Ron Regan Training Officer of the Year: Lt. Ritchie LeCroy Officer of the Year: Capt. Michael Black Valor Award: Fire Station 11 Station of the Year: Fire Station 1

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SAFETY FIRST Boxes and Clutter Reduction with Chyah Williams-Thompson

Boxes are common in a work place setting and posession of boxes is common amongst all county employees. Boxes, large and small, are as stationary as our desk, heavy machinery or other day-to-day tools of operation. This week’s safety tip is all about the cardboard co-worker.

They are there when work begins and still there after it ends. Most boxes have their contents emptied and are able to be recycled, but what about the boxes that are on duty all hours of the day, housing equipment, important legal files and office supplies?

Take time to make sure boxes are where they are supposed to be; this can prevent trips, falls and even fires. Boxes on temporary assignments should be emptied, broken down and sent immediately to recycling. Those with more permanent positions should be placed out of the way of foot traffic in a spot that will not block or hinder others from performing their work duties, like an organizational closet or in a corner of an office.

Take time to get to know these cardboard co-workers and where they are at all times, because an encounter with them in a dark space can cause an employee to be placed out of work. The box however, will continue on with their assignment!

For more information on clutter reduction and how to keep yourself and others safe, log on to The Henry Communicator, or employee intranet, at http://www.henrycommunicator.com.

Classifieds WASHER AND DRYER Washer: $150.00 Dryer: $250.00 Contact Audrey RossetThomas for more info at athomas@co.henry.ga.us.

LOSE WEIGHT, FEEL GREAT Lose weight and feel great with 30 minute at-home workouts tailored to your fitness level, personalized nutritional plans, health-first supplements and uplifting support. Explore your options online at www.teambeachbody.com/samwatson or give me a call or text at 770-312-1156. I specialize in bodypositive fitness and am ready to help you be the healthiest you!

DONE BY US Handmade gifts, monogrammed Christmas ornaments, wine & shot glasses, tumblers, car decals, t-shirts and more! Check us out at https:// w w w. et sy. co m /s h o p / d o n e by u s ? ref = s e a rc h _ shop_redirect or https://www.facebook.com/ DoneByUsMcDonough/?fref=ts. We do special requests and can customize to order. Call Terry at 678-763-3395 or email at TerryDavi@aol.com.

SELL YOUR STUFF Have a classified ad you’d like to see in The Inbox?

We’ve got room! Email Communications Specialist, Samantha Watson at swatson@co.henry.ga.us if you have items or services to sell or give away.

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February 16

Office Notes

Black History Trivia Fix Sarah Goode, the first AfricanAmerican woman to receive a patent, invented what?

Retirements • Sgt. Sandra Holliday, Sheriff’s Department • Donald England, Jailor, Sheriff’s Department • Jean Breedlove, Deputy Clerk III, Superior Court

County Vehicles • Car washing services for county vehicles will take place every Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact Arthur Weems, Director of Code Enforcement/Community Services.

Job Openings • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Assistant Public Defender I Basic Firefighter/Paramedic Building Maintenance Tech III Certified Police Officer Enviornmental Outreach Coordinator Equipment Operator II Equipment Operator II Firefighter/EMT Firefighter/Paramedic GIS Storm water Inspector Non-certified Police Officer Probation Officer Substance Abuse Counselor Answers to the triva questions are listed on the employee intranet on the communications page.

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Who was the first American woman to win three gold medals at the Olympic games?

Who was the first published African-American poet?

The Fifteenth Amendment gave African-Americans the right to what?

Where was Malcolm X assasinated?

What music composer and producer is the most Grammynominated artist of all time?

Why was the month of February chosen to host Black History Month?

Where was the first sit-in at a segregated lunch counter?

What African-American singer holds the title of Most Top 10 singles from an album?

Who was the only African-American among the original NAACP executives?

Sometimes you just have to be sappy and let the love flow.

Here are some famous love poems that will satisfy those romantic notions...

For the light hearted The Quiet World

By Jeffrey McDaniel

For the hopeless romantic To My Dear and Loving Husband

By Anne Bradstreet If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.

If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay; The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let’s so persever, That when we live no more, we may live ever.

In an effort to get people to look into each other’s eyes more, and also to appease the mutes, the government has decided to allot each person exactly one hundred and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear without saying hello. In the restaurant I point at chicken noodle soup.

I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover, proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.

I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn’t respond, I know she’s used up all her words, so I slowly whisper I love you thirty-two and a third times.

After that, we just sit on the line and listen to each other breathe.

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