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Bell receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Karen Bell
Dr. Karen Bell
Special to the Courier
Published: Jun 1, 2023, 1:33 PM

Dr. Karen Bell received the President of the United States Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 for her lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service with the American Red Cross. 

Dr. Bell has been a Red Cross volunteer since 1985, starting while she was serving in the Army. In the letter Dr. Bell received with the award, President Biden congratulated her on taking it upon herself to contribute to the public good, and he is proud to present the President’s Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of her 4,282 hours of service to the nation.

“I am honored and grateful to receive such an award for doing something I enjoy doing,” said Dr. Bell. “Everyone should help when possible, and I try my hardest to live by that.”

The president ended the letter with, “On behalf of the American people, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and I encourage you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is counting on you.”

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Polls open Tuesday for ESPLOST voting
Politics
Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 7:17 PM
Published: Mar 17, 2025, 6:30 PM

Voting for the education special local option sales tax renewal will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at precincts around the county.

The extension of the ESPLOST is the only issue on the ballot before voters. Several other counties also are conducting ESPLOST measures Tuesday.

The Liberty County School System has laid out a $112 million plan to be funded by ESPLOST proceeds, if it is passed.

Should ESPLOST VII be approved by Liberty County voters, the school system will use about $44 million of the money it provides from an extra penny on the sales tax for a new school.

Technology upgrades across the system are planned under ESPLOST, as are renovations to existing schools. The school system also intends to refresh its bus fleet with buying new buses.

Proceeds from ESPLOST cannot go toward such day-to-day operations as salaries or other compensation for school system employees.

There were 1,237 ballots cast in early voting, with 504 coming in the final week. The final day of early voting – March 14 – was the busiest, with 206 ballots cast. The current ESPLOST was passed in 2021 with 86% of the votes in favor of it.

ESPLOST ballot
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