As County Judge, I want to thank you for allowing me to fill this important role for our community.

One of my goals as the Judge of Fulton County is to help provide transparency for our office and to continue to build a foundation of trust with the community. I encourage you to call our office to speak with me and my staff about any suggestions you have that you believe will help us enhance our delivery of service to the citizens of Fulton County.

As your Judge, I am committed to the citizens of Fulton County and I plan to work with you to improve the quality of life for the current and future residents of our wonderful County.

Again, thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve you.

Judge Kenneth G. Crow

 

Message from the Judge: Spring Safety Starts on the Road

As the weather warms up and the flowers begin to bloom, we at Fulton County welcome the arrival of spring.

The spring season comes with a sense of renewal and new beginnings, making us eager to get outside and enjoy all the season offers. However, it is important to remember that new challenges and responsibilities come with the change in the weather.

We want to remind everyone that safety should always be a top priority, regardless of your plans this spring. With warmer weather and longer daylight hours, many of us will spend more time outside. Whether taking a walk, jogging, or biking, always be aware of your surroundings and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.

Please slow down and take extra caution when driving through residential neighborhoods. Since many of us will be spending more time outside, it is likely that more children in our community may be playing near roads. When drivers maintain safe speeds and practice other safe driving behaviors, safer environments are created for our community.

The National Highway and Safety Administration has the following tips on driving safely for pedestrians:

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere and at all times.
• Be extra cautious when driving in hard-to-see conditions and backing up your vehicle.
• Be prepared to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop your vehicle well back from the crosswalk.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk.
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones, and in neighborhoods where children are present.
• Never drive under the influence.

For more information on driving safely for pedestrians, please visit the National Highway and Safety Administration.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. Together, we can make this spring a season of growth, renewal, and safety for all.

Wishing you a happy and safe spring season,

Judge Kenneth G. Crow

 

Message from the Judge: Cybersecurity for Kids

Fulton County wants to remind you that just like in real life, crimes occur online.

Children online present additional challenges because of their innocence, curiosity, and desire for independence. Common dangers encountered by children online are cyber predators, bullies, and identity theft.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has the following tips for parents on keeping their child safe online:

• Be involved - supervise your child's online activities while teaching them good computer habits (consider online activities you can work on together).
• Consider implementing parental controls - restrict or allow certain websites to be viewed on your computer using a password (you can set some parental controls within your browser).
• Keep lines of communication open - let your child know they can approach you with any questions or concerns about behaviors or problems they may have encountered online.
• Keep your computer in an open area - easily monitor your child's computer activity in a high-traffic area.
• Monitor computer activity - be aware of what your child is doing on online (which websites they are visiting, who/what they are emailing, etc.).
• Set rules and warn about dangers - ensure your child is aware of the boundaries of what they are allowed to do on the computer (boundaries should be appropriate for the child's age, knowledge, and maturity).

For more information on how to keep your child safe online, please visit the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has the following tips for kids on how to stay safe online:

• Keep your personal information private - avoid sharing your name, address, telephone number, birthday, passwords, and the name of your school when online.
• Keep it locked - always lock your device when you are not using it.
• Choose alternative screen names or email addresses - use a screen name or email address that isn't your real name (instead of "Jack Smith", use "Sk8boardKing75")
• Create strong passwords - include eight characters or more that use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols when creating passwords. Don't use the same password for multiple accounts, and never share your passwords with someone other than your parent or guardian.
• Speak up if you see something inappropriate - don't ignore inappropriate online content, tell an adult you trust.
• Think before you click - don't open emails from strangers and don't click on links for unfamiliar websites.

For more information on staying safe online, please view the Kids Cybersecurity Presentation from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Thank you for making our community a safer place to live and raise a family,

Judge Kenneth G. Crow

 

GRANT APPLICATIONS APPROVED

Several grant applications have recently been approved for Fulton County projects.

Two applications for projects for the Fulton County Hospital have been approved, including funds from the U. S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities Grant Program in the amount of $22,000.00 to be utilized for upgrading the Hospital's phone system and  making improvements to the parking lot, and $76,271.00 under the Community Development Block Grant Program for a negative pressure system for certain areas of the Hospital to assist in controlling the spread of Covid-19.

A Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $122,300.00 has been approved for the Salem Senior Citizens Center and will be utilized to upgrade the Meals on Wheels Program and to make certain improvements to the Center's facilities.

Several other projects are currently under consideration for funding using American Rescue Plan Act funds that have been received by Fulton County.  However, changes are currently being made to the original legislation that will affect how these funds may be spent. Senate Bill 3011, which provides for the changes, was recently passed by the United States Senate and the bill is awaiting action by the United States House of Representatives at this time.