By Paul Barnes
Social Security Regional Commissioner in Atlanta

Social Security has introduced a new home page design — at www.socialsecurity.gov — and it is even easier to use than its highly-acclaimed predecessor.

“Check It for Pets”: Income Tax Checkoff Gives Dogs and Cats a Break

Atlanta, GA – Georgians now have the opportunity to provide spay/neuter assistance to dogs and cats throughout the Peach State simply by filling out their tax forms. The Dog and Cat Sterilization Fund State Income Tax Checkoff is now available on 2006 state income tax forms.

These recalls were issued this week from March 4 to March 8 by various federal and state agencies.

THROAT PLATES FOR ROUTER TABLES MAY EJECT

Trout anglers anxious to hit the waters should prepare for some exciting fishing this season. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) has been hard at work increasing the potential for successful harvest this year. In fact, WRD will have over one million trout available for stocking in Georgia streams, rivers and small lakes by year’s end.

Comments sought on eastern cougar
 
Catamount, puma, painter, panther, mountain lion are just some of the names given to a large but elusive will-o’-the-wisp cat that once haunted . . . or perhaps still haunts . . . the forests of the eastern United States and Canada. 

Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced Feb. 17 that Georgia Department of Agriculture food scientists have found Listeria monocytogenes in a store sample of packaged Oscar Mayer Ready to Eat Chicken Breast Strips With Rib Meat.

These recalls were issued this week from Feb. 11 to Feb. 15 by various federal and state agencies.

SNAPS ON BOYS’ JACKETS CONTAIN LEAD

Blooms have been sighted

ATLANTA – Small in size, but big in beauty — the Narcissus x odorus, more commonly known as Campernelli daffodil, made its first appearance on Interstate 75 at the I-20 interchange.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers to a recall Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter beginning with product code 2111 imprinted on the lid of both brands.

(ATLANTA, Feb. 13) – The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Area Agency on Aging is hosting “Own Your Future,” a town hall meeting to engage human resource managers, aging professionals and consumers in the issue of retirement planning and long-term care.

Below is the March 2007 calendar from Georgia's State Parks & Historic Sites. More information is available at www.gastateparks.org or 1-800-864-7275.

Have a healthy heart all year

What’s the leading cause of death for U.S. women? If you guessed breast cancer, you gave the same answer many Americans would. But more women die each year from heart disease than from breast cancer, even though taking simple steps can prevent it from ever happening.

These recalls were issued this week from Feb. 4 to Feb. 8 by various federal and state agencies.

EASY-BAKE OVENS POSE ENTRAPMENT AND BURN HAZARD

McKee Foods, Collegedale, TN, has recalled Little Debbie Nutty Bars from four states including Georgia due to metal possibly being in an ingredient, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin announced Feb. 6.

Public Meeting Notice
Tuesday, February 13
Peachtree City City Hall
6:30 PM

Lake Peachtree / Lake Kedron Buffer Issues

Governor Perdue to introduce Super Speeder legislation; will increase fines on behaviors that cause accidents

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced Feb. 6 that legislation will be introduced on Thursday to help reduce traumatic automobile accidents and provide additional funds for trauma care in the state. State Senator Ronnie Chance, one of the Governor’s floor leaders in the Senate, will introduce “Super Speeder” legislation when the General Assembly reconvenes on Thursday.

ATLANTA (GA) – After receiving complaints from Medicare beneficiaries about Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, GeorgiaCares SMP is encouraging Georgians to use caution, make informed healthcare decisions, and use the resources of GeorgiaCares SMP during the open enrollment period, January 1 – March 31.

Greetings,

The tenth annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up February 16-19, and Georgia bird watchers have a chance to help make history.

Food going to waste in Georgia has been used for the past several years to feed the hungry throughout the state thanks to the efforts of the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA). Now this national faith-based nonprofit hunger relief organization has opened a regional gleaning office in Tifton thanks to a grant from the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc.

Some Gerber chicken and beef entrees for toddlers recalled for dairy products not listed on the label

The Wornick Company, a Cincinnati, Ohio, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 7,848 pounds of pasta entrees for toddlers due to the presence of an undeclared ingredient.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers that Morgan Foods of Austin, Indiana, is voluntarily recalling 6,317 pounds of chicken noodle soup because it contains milk and soy without listing them on the label. The soup was sold at Kroger stores.

These recalls were issued from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 by various federal and state agencies.

MASON JAR CANDLES MAY SHATTER

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling 6,000 jars of its 365 Everyday Value Kalamata Olive Tapenade because they may contain glass fragments, Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin announced. The glass fragments may cause injury if ingested.

ATLANTA – State Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) has introduced legislation to amend Georgia’s safety belt law to include pickup trucks.

Georgia State Parks offer plenty of dating options

The couples’ scene may be a lot different today than it was decades ago with online and speed dating replacing old-fashioned courting.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers that Water Lilies Food, Inc., of Astoria, New York, is recalling 77,730 pounds of pork dumpling and won-ton products because they do not list egg whites on the label.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers that Vitalabs, Inc., of Jonesboro, Ga., is voluntarily recalling containers of egg protein powder because they may contain dairy products without listing them on the label.

These recalls were issued the week of Jan. 21 to Jan. 25 by various federal and State agencies.

WATER COOLERS POSE FIRE HAZARD

Presidents Day is February 19, a day normally associated with shopping sales and banking holidays. This year, why not use the occasion as an excuse for a quick getaway? Gather your friends and family for a visit to one of the many state parks and historic sites that highlight Georgia’s presidential history.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin alerts consumers that some Lesley Elizabeth sun-dried tomato products are being recalled because they contain sulfites without listing them on the label.