Update from Lynne Riley for Georgia
State partnerships which save lives and money to continue under Deal
ATLANTA -- Junior members of North Fulton's delegation recently paid a visit to Gov. Nathan Deal to discuss continuing several state programs begun under Gov. Sonny Perdue.
State Rep. Lynne Riley, R-Johns Creek, state Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, and Masonic/Shriner Ambassador Roger Wise Jr. advised Deal of the state's partnerships with the Georgia Masons and Shriners, which have saved the state both lives and money.
Shriners Children's Hospital system teamed up with Georgia's Peachcare healthcare fund to form "The Peachcare Partnership for Kids." Under this program, the Shriners hospital takes some children in need of specialized healthcare and treats them at the Shriners' own expense. This partnership has saved Peachcare over $1 million, allowing the program to offer preventative healthcare to children that would not have been able to receive it any other way.
Also dealing with child wellbeing, the Georgia Masons have their "Georgia Child Identification Program," or GaCHIP. This program records the vital statistics of a child - from height and weight to dental impressions, photos and voice recording - all in a single packet that parents can keep. Should anything happen to the child, police will have all the resources they need to track them.
The University of Phoenix has unveiled plans to join with the Georgia Department of Defense to allow not only serving military personnel access to reduced fee schooling, but also the families and employees of the Ga. DoD. The university will also start presenting scholarships to members of the Junior ROTC who participate the most in community service in their region.
The governor thanked the North Fulton delegation for briefing him on the programs and advised them that his administration would be involved in any programs that will enhance the lives of the citizens and families of Georgia.
Article courtesy of NorthFulton.com, by Jonathon Copsey
North Fulton benefit to help injured Fulton officer
ALPHARETTA --A fundraiser to benefit former Fulton County Police Officer Paul Phillips will take place in Alpharetta Friday, March 4, at the Fuddruckers restaurant at 6360 North Point Parkway.
The event, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., is organized by the NobleHeroes Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization providing financial assistance, social services and recreational activities to certified public safety employees who are severely injured or disabled during the course of their assigned duties.
On Feb.1, 2008, Phillips stopped to help a motorist in Sugar Hill and was shot by an off-duty Duluth officer who was in the midst of an argument with the motorist. Phillips has undergone eight surgeries to his left arm and has been unable to work since the incident. He was recently served a foreclosure notice.
"Paul Phillips is just one example of how a public safety official struggles after being injured or disabled," said Jason Muenzer, founder and president of Noble Heroes. "In Paul's scenario he has been struggling for about three years. He has been forced to support his family on a disability check."
Muenzer added, "It is said to me that a public safety official truly only gets recognition if he or she has taken the ultimate sacrifice, death. Instead these heroes deserve to be recognized and be provided the help needed to move forward."
There is also a police-escorted motorcycle ride benefiting the injured Phillips and other injured officers that will take place in Alpharetta Saturday, April 9, starting at North Point Community Church at 4350 North Point Parkway.
The ride will began at 9 a.m. and last two hours, culminating at the Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub at 12650 Crabapple Road in Milton.
A 2006 Triumph Scrambler will be raffled, and there will be door prizes. The cost for the ride is $25 per bike and $10 for passengers. Registration will include a ride T-shirt and ticket for the raffle door prizes.
The NobleHeroes Foundation, started by two veteran public safety officials, is actively seeking volunteers and donations to further assist the men and women of public safety in their time of need.
For information about NobleHeroes, visit www.nobleheroes.org.
GA-400 and I-85 Southbound Interchange Improvements March 13-14
Work will begin Sunday, March 13, 2011 to restripe one lane of Interstate 85 southbound to produce a dedicated merge lane
-- a "free on" lane -- for traffic on Georgia 400 southbound at its merge with I-85. The rightmost (outside) lane of I-85
southbound will be restriped from just south of Exit 86 (Peachtree Street) to the Georgia 400 on-ramp;
the I-85 traffic will then have three general purpose lanes and the HOV lane on the left.
After the restriping, motorists merging onto I-85 southbound from Georgia 400 southbound will have two dedicated lanes
for a much longer distance. Work will be completed by morning rush hour on Monday, March 14 (weather permitting).
Please contact me at at any time.
Sincerely,
Representative Lynne Riley
House District 50 - Johns Creek, Fulton County