Southwest Georgia Network

Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise indicated, any and all historical information is courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association at http://www.ghsfha.org/. All games listed are played on Fridays unless otherwise indicated.

Time is short, as is this week’s installment of “Four-Down Territory.” Now, on to this week’s column.

FIRST DOWN: Shaw (3-2, 2-2 GHSA Region 1-4A) at Westover (2-3, 1-2)

The Patriots from Albany return to action this week after taking last week off following a 27-25 loss to Cairo the week before, as they play host to the Raiders from Columbus. To make a long story short, this is a must-win game for Westover if they hope to make their first playoff appearance since 2014.

SECOND DOWN: Berrien (5-1) at Fitzgerald (4-2)

The Purple Hurricanes play host to a Berrien team that’s off to its best start since 1994, when that squad also started the season at 5-1, only to finish at 6-4 overall, and out of the playoffs. It’s one of two games to open the GHSA Region 1-2A schedule in 2018. The winner of this contest will have a huge leg up on advancing to postseason play.

THIRD DOWN: Thomasville (4-2) at Brooks County (4-2)

Coming off of a stunning 42-38 upset loss at Class 3A Crisp County, the now #8 (Georgia Sports Writers Association)/#7 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Class 2A Bulldogs will look to bounce back against the Trojans from Quitman in the other opening game in GHSA Region 1-2A. Thomasville was ranked as high as #3 in the AJC poll prior to their loss to the Cougars, while the Trojans come into this week’s contest ranked #10 in both the AJC and GSWA polls respectively. Just like with the Berrien/Fitzgerald game, the winner of the Thomasville/Brooks County clash will also gain an early advantage in the battle for playoff positioning.

FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK):

Carver (Columbus)-(6-0, 4-0 GHSA Region 1-4A) at Cairo (4-2, 4-0)

The Syrupmakers will look to win their fifth straight game since starting the season with back-to-back losses to U.S. Highway 84 archrivals Thomasville and Bainbridge, as they welcome the Tigers in the battle for sole possession of first place in GHSA Region 1-4A. Last week, the Syrupmakers rolled past Columbus 46-7, while the Tigers trounced fellow Columbus area rival Northside 64-28.

Carver is led by former Dougherty head coach Corey Joyner, who took over the reins during the offseason, replacing Calvin Arnold, who left the Tigers after a disappointing 3-8 finish in 2017. Despite their unbeaten record, the Tigers struggled in their first three games, winning all of them by a combined margin of 17 points. On the other hand, the Syrupmakers have outscored 135-32 in the four games that they’ve won so far in 2018. The winner of the Carver-Cairo clash will almost certainly have the inside track to win the Region 1-4A crown if they win out.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

This is what you’ll hear on this week’s installment of the High School Football Round-Up Podcast:

-Thoughts on some of last week’s games, including Crisp County’s stunning upset win over Thomasville.

-Region play getting underway for most teams in our area.

-A preview of this week’s games.

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.

(File Photo by Walter L. Johnson II)

Albany, Ga. – Georgia taxpayers earned nearly $3.5 million dollars in tax credits by donating to Phoebe Worth Medical Center and Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in 2018 through the Helping Enhance Access to Rural Treatment (HEART) tax credit program.  “The rural hospital tax credit program was amazingly successful this year, with donations easily reaching the statewide cap of $60M,” said Kim Gilman, Phoebe Worth CEO.  “We are thrilled with the amount donors gave to our hospital in Sylvester.”

Phoebe Worth received donations totaling $2,566,453.14.  “That is huge for our bottom line,” Gilman said.  “It will allow us to pay for ongoing renovations to our facility, to buy new equipment and to recruit and retain well-qualified physicians and other clinicians who will provide quality care to patients right here in Worth County.”

Donors gave $901,937.25 to Phoebe Sumter.  “So many rural hospitals in Georgia are struggling,” said Brandi Lunneborg, Phoebe Sumter CEO.  “This program gives those hospitals a vital financial boost while also giving donors a chance to lower their tax bills.  It truly is a win-win, and it will allow us to improve and expand our primary and specialty care services throughout our service area.”

Phoebe Sumter plans to use its donations for projects that include upgrading equipment for key clinical services, expanding clinical service offerings and community health initiatives, hiring new physicians and offsetting the millions of dollars in cost of uncompensated care each year.

“The best thing Georgia could do to help rural hospitals thrive and to provide insurance coverage to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Georgians would be to expand Medicaid,” said Joel Wernick, Phoebe Health System CEO.  “In the absence of that expansion, which would increase reimbursements to Georgia hospitals by hundreds of millions of dollars a year, we appreciate state leaders’ support of the Georgia HEART program.  It is an excellent way to strengthen the financial foundation of hospitals that provide critical services for our rural residents,” Wernick added.

Georgia HEART will begin accepting 2019 tax credit applications at 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2018.  “The program has become so popular that it will certainly reach the statewide cap again next year,” said Lunneborg.  “We encourage those who want to support our rural hospitals to apply early to make sure they don’t miss out on the tax break.”

If you pay Georgia income taxes, you are eligible to receive a 2019 tax credit for contributing to your designated rural hospital as follows:

·         Individual Filer – 100% of the amount contributed, up to $5,000

·         Married Filing Jointly – 100% of the amount contributed, up to $10,000

·         Pass-Through Entity – 100% of the amount contributed, up to $10,000, so long as they would have paid Georgia income tax in that amount on their share of taxable income from the pass-through entity

·         C-Corporation or Trust – 100% of the amount contributed or 75% of the corporation or trust’s Georgia income tax liability, whichever is less

After June 30, 2019, taxpayers may make unlimited contributions as long as the $60M has not been met.  Fifty-four rural hospitals throughout the state qualify for the program.  You can apply to make your donation to Phoebe Worth or Phoebe Sumter at www.georgiaheart.org.

###

Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.