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KLB receives national award
KAB 2019 Karen Bell KLB and KAB President and CEO Helen Lowman
Keep Liberty Beautiful Executive Director Karen Bell, left, poses with Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Helen Lowman during a national wards ceremony in Baltimore, Md., last month. - photo by Photo provided.

Keep Liberty Beautiful received a Keep America Beautiful National Community Improvement Award in the Beautify Communities Category at Keep America Beautiful’s National Awards Ceremony, which recently took place during Keep America Beautiful’s National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, Feb. 6-8.

Keep Liberty Beautiful was one of more than 80 individuals or organizations recognized at Keep America Beautiful’s National Awards for their commitment and passion to transform public spaces into beautiful places. 

“These imaginative, inspirational and transformative community leaders help bring to life creative, resourceful and meaningful programs in their communities,” said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Helen Lowman. “It’s my privilege to recognize Keep Liberty Beautiful and executive director, Karen Elaine Bell for such valuable, mission-based work that helps their community be more socially connected, environmentally healthy and economically sound.”

Keep Liberty Beautiful was recognized for: 

• 2018 Keep America Beautiful Affiliate Award of Excellence: Keep Liberty Beautiful Advisory Board represents the business sector as well as all seven municipalities and Commissioners Districts in Liberty County. The board creates a plan that puts the action in the KLB community education.  This past year, more than 5,300 Keep Liberty Beautiful volunteers contributed nearly 22,750 hours (valued at nearly $545,000) in KLB’s initiatives.  

• 2018 Keep America Beautiful Community Improvement Award, Beautify Communities: The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot were honored with this award for their Community Improvement Project for Veterans and Liberty County families. With the partnership of the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce and the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority, Home Depot selected Hinesville’s Bryant Commons Park as a location to impact veterans, military families and Liberty County residents.  The project included planting jasmines and trees, and adding mulch around the Veterans Memorial Walk, the Cisco’s Dog Park was fully built; they created and assembled the Bramble’s Playground, and put together two-dozen benches with shade structures.  

“It is the amazing KLB board members and volunteers that make the programs of Keep Liberty Beautiful successful,” said Karen Bell, executive director of Keep Liberty Beautiful. “We at Keep Liberty Beautiful are so honored and grateful to receive the awards from Keep America Beautiful.”  “When companies like Home Depot invest in doing Beautiful Things in Liberty County Georgia we become a better place to work and live!”

The Keep America Beautiful National Conference, its premier educational and networking event, brought together nearly 350 leaders from Keep America Beautiful’s national network of affiliates, business leaders, policymakers and other experts who shared innovative ideas and proven strategies to help end littering, improve recycling, and beautify America’s communities. 


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Community gets a rare snow day
Snow Day 1

City of Hinesville and Liberty County offices are closed today, and the Liberty County School System is undergoing a day of virtual learning after a winter storm hit southeast Georgia.

Coastal Georgia was inundated with one of the biggest snowfalls in recorded history as forecasters called for 4-6 inches of snow to fall Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Initial reports Wednesday morning indicate at least 2 inches fell on Hinesville.

Sean Hafer and his family took advantage of the quiet roads and still Wednesday morning to enjoy the snow at Bradwell Park. He’s lived in Hinesville for almost 12 years and recalled the snow storm of 2018. But that snow was “not this deep,” he said. “It’s been a while.

“I don’t think many people went to work today,” Hafer said. “You think people would be out in it having fun, but I guess they’re scared to drive in it. It’s fun when you don’t get it around here.”

Hafer said he was curious to see how much snow was going to fall.

“They did well on this,” he said of the meteorologists. “They were accurate. They earned their pay on this one.”

The City of Hinesville declared a state of emergency Tuesday in advance of the storm and residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel due to potential severe weather conditions. Melting snow and ice can refreeze overnight, making roads dangerous.

Liberty County offices will remain closed until Friday. Liberty County School System students are having virtual learning Thursday.

Near-record lows tonight could lead to hazardous road conditions through tonight and Thursday morning, especially on secondary roads due to refreezing of melted snow and sleet and black ice with freezing of water puddle.

While daytime highs will be more temperate, overnight lows for the next few days are expected to remain well below freezing. The City of Hinesville encourages residents to drip their faucets overnight, insulate exposed pipes and to let warm air circulate around pipes by opening cabinet doors under sinks, especially those near exterior walls.

Some travel issues could persist Thursday night, with the potential for any remaining snow or slush to refreeze, especially on secondary roads.

The city also is reporting no power outages and all traffic lights are operational. Since most businesses are closed, traffic is minimal and residents are urged not to travel unless necessary.

 

 

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