JacksonHeraldTODAY

A SKYWARN class taught by meteorologist Barry Gooden will be held on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m., at the Jackson County Fire Training Center, Jefferson.

The National Weather Service, Jackson County EMA, Banks County EMA, NorthEast Georgia Amateur Radio Club and Tri-County Amateur Radio Club are hosting the event.

The SkyWarn program is administered through the National Weather Service, which trains volunteers to serve as storm spotters who pass on vital “ground truth” information to forecasters during severe weather episodes.

The organizations frequently involved in SkyWarn include emergency management, law enforcement, fire departments or rescue squads, amateur radio groups, schools and church groups.

Any person or organization can become SkyWarn spotters, but must first receive training from the National Weather Service. Spotter training classes are offered periodically between the months of October and March when the chance of severe weather is minimal.

Registration is requested, but not required.  To register, e-mail  egilbert@westjacksonfd.com.

Georgia’s new agricultural commissioner will see a lot of familiar faces in the audience when he addresses the membership of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce next Wednesday morning.

Gary Black, from Commerce, will speak at the 7:30 a.m. function at the Jackson EMC auditorium, Jefferson.

Black operates a farm near Commerce and is the former president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, a lobbying organization headquartered in Commerce.

Black, a Republican, succeeds Tommy Irvin, a Democrat from Habersham County who had been the longest-serving constitutionally elected public official in America. Irvin did not seek re-election.

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