Dalton Little Theatre presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” on stage

DALTON, Ga. — The Dalton Little Theatre is bringing the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” that starred Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed to the stage starting this weekend. The show runs Friday and Saturday and Dec. 9-10 and 16-17 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. The show, which boasts a large cast, has been in rehearsals since the beginning of October. Organizers say the show is appropriate for all ages. For reservations, call the theater at (706) 226-6618 or visit www.daltonlittletheatre.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

 

Former Thomasville police chief to speak at Colquitt County NAACP banquet

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Rev. Ellis Jackson — who in addition to being pastor of Bethel Christian Episcopal Church in Valdosta is a retired police chief from the City of Thomasville — will be the keynote speaker at the annual Freedom Fund banquet for the Colquitt County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The banquet, the organization’s largest fundraiser, will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at C.A. Gray Junior High School, 812 11th Ave. N.W. in Moultrie. The theme will be “Make A Difference … Leave A Legacy.” The tickets are $30 per person. Program chair Alma Fleming can be reached at (229) 890-3803.

 

Milledgeville Exchange Club announces Grand Marshals for North Pole Fantasy Parade

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Milledgeville Exchange Club has announced third grader Teah Lossifov and third grader Paris Mosley have been granted the honor to be the Co-Grand Marshals for the annual Christmas parade, themed “North Pole Fantasy.”

 

Winter events light up Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s Capital City evolves into one of the southeastern region’s most popular holiday destinations with outdoor merriment, themed concerts and plays, ice-skating, the annual Jingle Bell Run, and thousands of lights illuminating the trees of Tallahassee parks.

The annual Winter Festival – A Celebration of Lights, Dec. 3, features the lighting of the live oaks in the Chain of Parks, a seasonal stroll through McCarty Park known as Candy Cane Lane, live entertainment on five stages, arts, crafts and more in the Downtown Chain of Parks and Kleman Plaza. Thousands of runners wearing bells will sprint through downtown for the Jingle Bell Run before the Holiday Parade starts at 7:15 p.m. on the corner of Monroe and Tennessee Street. Aside from traditional and contemporary holiday touches, explore the site where Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto and crew celebrated the first Christmas mass in the New World while encamped in Tallahassee in the winter of 1539. For information, call (800) 628-2866.

 

Bentley to speak at ABAC commencement

TIFTON, Ga. – Matt Bentley, General Manager at Bendabout Properties in McDonald, Tennessee, will be the featured speaker at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. in Gressette Gym.  A total of 188 graduates are expected to receive their diplomas at the ceremony. ABAC President David Bridges and ABAC Alumni Association President Chuck Scarborough will present the prestigious George P. Donaldson Award and the ABAC Alumni Association Award to the top associate degree graduate and the top bachelor’s degree graduate participating in the ceremony. Bentley, a 1988 ABAC graduate, has served as the general manager at Bendabout Properties since 1994. He said Bendabout Properties is located on 4,600 acres of privately owned property that is utilized to improve and promote outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, birding, biking, equestrian activities and other social events. “I wear many hats for the property that I manage and the family I represent,” said Bentley.  “Our tract is located in the middle of a region that is constantly threatened by urban sprawl. As a natural resources manager and a citizen of a thriving community, I believe our biggest challenges are the compromises between progress and natural resource conservation.”

 

Tiftarea competitor playing for Atlanta honors in Punt, Pass & Kick Sunday

TIFTON — July’s NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition at Tiftarea Academy will be represented at Sunday’s Atlanta Falcons game. Griffin Martin, who has organized Tiftarea’s competition the past two years said he recently received a phone call that Evan Pate will participate in the team showdown. “It felt good to hear that Tuesday,” he said.

Pate, a Leesburg native, will be in the boys’ 14-15-year-old division. Martin said that Pate technically finished third at his sectional competition in Warner Robins in October, but had high enough scores to advance to the team level. 

 

Christmas parade set for Saturday

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Greater Valdosta Community Christmas Parade will begin at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3.  The parade will start at Woodrow Wilson Drive, continue down North Patterson Street and end at the Department of Health. The 2016 theme is “Dreams of Christmas” with floats being judged on use of the theme, special effects, creativity, workmanship and overall appearance, according to organizers. For more information, visit lowndescounty.com or valdostamainstreet.com.