By Amy Mullis
On Saturday, May 30, 2020, when the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA astronauts and Crew Dragon members Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley took the signatures of five Dodge County High School (DCHS) alumnae along for the flight.
During the 2017-2018 school year, students in Ashley Jones Food Science class, as a part of the school’s NASA HUNCH program, competed in several rounds of culinary competition in their classes before a final team earned the honor of competing at the regional contest in Alabama and then advanced to the national competition at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
In Houston, the team, including Mary Hess, Marissa Hullender, Sarah Lee, Faith McDade and Michaela Mullis, prepared and served their space-ready breakfast meal for a live panel of judges and placed in the Top Ten against teams from all across the nation.
DCHS Principal Pam Melvin, who was assistant principal and CTAE director at the time, says it was an incredible experience.
“It was a sight to see all of the students working together so that they could play a part in feeding our astronauts on a space station,” she said. “You can’t understand the magnitude of it without being there to see it. Our small town was represented well with Mrs. Jones and her students.”
It was during their time in Houston that the girls and their chaperones, Jones, Melvin, then DCHS Principal Dr. Susan Long, CTAE instructor Kathy Lewis and Charles Williams, toured the Space Center and signed flight-ready stowage lockers (SSLs) made by NASA HUNCH students from around the United States.
It was on those transport boxes that the Dodge County team’s names made it into space.
“The most recent SpaceX astronauts were sitting on these very boxes as they made their way to and returned from the International Space Station (ISS),” said Williams, executive director of the Dodge County-Eastman Development Authority.
Hess, who was a senior the year the team went to Houston, reflected fondly on her experience with the HUNCH program and was excited to hear the news of the teams’ signatures taking flight.
[Full Story »]
Top Stories - Topics from August, 2020
Dodge man arrested for arson
On August 10, Laurens County Fire Department investigators charged Andrew Thomas Whittle, age 36, of Dodge County, with arson in the 1st degree, burglary, and terrorist threats. The charges stem from Whittle’s role in a July 23 structure fire at 209 Barrs Road near Dexter in rural Laurens County near the Dodge County border.
The Laurens County Fire Department responded to the fire in question just after 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of July 23. Earlier that afternoon, Whittle had been involved in a domestic dispute, damaging the inside of a residence approximately one mile down the road in Dodge County. He was later detained by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office near the scene of the fire for acting erratic and making threatening statements to several individuals and turned over to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for their pending charges from the earlier incident. During the course of the arrest, Whittle became violent and damaged two Dodge County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.
“Our investigators worked closely with the Laurens County Fire Department on this investigation,” said Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. “After a number of interviews, written statements and other evidence, fire investigators were able to bring these charges forward to ensure that this dangerous individual is held accountable for his actions.”
Mr. Whittle is currently being held at the Dodge County jail without bond for additional charges, including terrorist threats, criminal trespass, two counts of obstruction of law enforcement, two counts of simple battery against law enforcement and two counts of criminal interference with government property.
Commissioner King’s fire investigations unit assisted the Laurens County Fire Department, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and Dodge County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.
The Laurens County Fire Department responded to the fire in question just after 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of July 23. Earlier that afternoon, Whittle had been involved in a domestic dispute, damaging the inside of a residence approximately one mile down the road in Dodge County. He was later detained by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office near the scene of the fire for acting erratic and making threatening statements to several individuals and turned over to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for their pending charges from the earlier incident. During the course of the arrest, Whittle became violent and damaged two Dodge County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.
“Our investigators worked closely with the Laurens County Fire Department on this investigation,” said Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. “After a number of interviews, written statements and other evidence, fire investigators were able to bring these charges forward to ensure that this dangerous individual is held accountable for his actions.”
Mr. Whittle is currently being held at the Dodge County jail without bond for additional charges, including terrorist threats, criminal trespass, two counts of obstruction of law enforcement, two counts of simple battery against law enforcement and two counts of criminal interference with government property.
Commissioner King’s fire investigations unit assisted the Laurens County Fire Department, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and Dodge County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.
Coronavirus cases are over 220 in Dodge
Coronavirus cases in Dodge County have jumped by 32 in the last week, according to the Georgia South Central Health District.
Cases in Dodge County have now reached 221 as of presstime on Tuesday, August 11 with three deaths contributed to the disease.
In surrounding counties, Bleckley County has 242 cases with nine deaths. Laurens County has 951 cases with nine deaths. Telfair County has 281 cases with 10 deaths. Wilcox County has 184 cases with 19 deaths. Wheeler County has 94 cases with one death reported.
It is imperative that citizens wear masks, social distance at least six feet, wash hands as often as possible for at least 20 seconds and stay home if at all possible to help curb the spread of the disease.
If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic or your local federally qualified healthcare center. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
Cases in Dodge County have now reached 221 as of presstime on Tuesday, August 11 with three deaths contributed to the disease.
In surrounding counties, Bleckley County has 242 cases with nine deaths. Laurens County has 951 cases with nine deaths. Telfair County has 281 cases with 10 deaths. Wilcox County has 184 cases with 19 deaths. Wheeler County has 94 cases with one death reported.
It is imperative that citizens wear masks, social distance at least six feet, wash hands as often as possible for at least 20 seconds and stay home if at all possible to help curb the spread of the disease.
If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic or your local federally qualified healthcare center. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
Coronavirus cases near 200 in Dodge
Coronavirus cases in Dodge County are close to the 200 mark, according to the Georgia South Central Health District.
Cases in Dodge County have now reached 189 as of presstime on Tuesday, August 4 with three deaths contributed to the disease.
In surrounding counties, Bleckley County has 133 cases with three deaths. Laurens County has 762 cases with four deaths. Telfair County has 253 cases with seven deaths. Wilcox County has 167 cases with 18 deaths. Wheeler County has 84 cases with one death reported.
Citizens are asked to wear masks, social distance at least six feet, and to wash hands as often as possibly for at least 20 seconds to help curb the spread of the disease.
If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or your local federally qualified healthcare center. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
Cases in Dodge County have now reached 189 as of presstime on Tuesday, August 4 with three deaths contributed to the disease.
In surrounding counties, Bleckley County has 133 cases with three deaths. Laurens County has 762 cases with four deaths. Telfair County has 253 cases with seven deaths. Wilcox County has 167 cases with 18 deaths. Wheeler County has 84 cases with one death reported.
Citizens are asked to wear masks, social distance at least six feet, and to wash hands as often as possibly for at least 20 seconds to help curb the spread of the disease.
If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor, an urgent care clinic, or your local federally qualified healthcare center. Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.
Page 1 of 1, totaling 4 entries
Comments