South Georgia city celebrates its birthday

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The city of Valdosta celebrated its birthday this week. When Valdosta was chartered in 1860, Abraham Lincoln had just been elected president. That same year, the first organized game of baseball was played in San Francisco, and the Pony Express started delivering mail throughout the country faster than ever before. Women still wore big, poofy dresses, and trains and carriages were still the best way to get around. Now, 156 years later, Valdosta is the 14th largest city in Georgia. The city’s official birthday was Dec. 7, and Mayor John Gayle said from the very beginning, Valdosta’s leaders had a strong vision that caused the city to succeed. “At 156 years of age, I would say she looks pretty good,” Gayle said.

 

Heritage Park hosting Christmas celebration Dec. 17

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Heritage Park & Gardens invites the public to come and enjoy a day of Christmas fun Dec. 17. Admission is free with games, music, horse rides, photo opportunities, Santa and Mrs. Claus, train rides and arts and crafts. Face painting, hot dogs, cookies and house tours are available for a small cost. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the grounds of the beautiful and historic home located at 1004 Helvenston St. SE. Take Helvenston from US Highway 90 west or Helvenston east at US Highway 129 in front of Hardees to the property, watch for the signs. Turn at Heritage Park playground, follow the signs to the large field behind the house for parking.

 

Customer and waitress have spat

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — An officer was dispatched to the Roberson Mill Road Huddle House shortly after 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 in reference to an altercation. There, the officer made contact with a customer who stated that his waitress had thrown a pen at him. The officer met with the waitress, who said that she had only asked the man if he was ready to order his food. She said that when she returned to the counter after the man told her he wasn’t ready, the man became agitated and started throwing insults at her. The officer then met with the restaurant’s cook, who stated that the waitress had not thrown anything at the man. The man refused to sign a notice of prohibited entry to the location, and the officer informed him not to return to the location under threat of arrest. 

 

Men’s Choir plans two Christmas concerts

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Colquitt County Men’s Choir will hold two Christmas concerts this year in Moultrie. The first will be 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at First United Methodist Church, 409 First St. S.E., and the second will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at First Baptist Church, East Fifth Street. Admission will be canned goods for the Colquitt County Food Bank. The choir also started a Facebook page this week. Visit them at https://www.facebook.com/CCMChoir/.

 

Hometown Holidays celebration draws largest crowd yet

TIFTON, Ga. — The 18th annual Hometown Holidays Christmas Celebration was held Dec. 3 throughout downtown Tifton. Tifton Downtown Development Authority Economic Development Director Lequrica Gaskins said that this year’s crowd was the biggest yet. The 2016 Christmas parade began at 5 p.m. at the corner of 2nd Street and Magnolia Drive. The parade lasted from 5 p.m. until approximately 6:50 p.m. After the parade, the downtown opened up for the celebration. All of the entertainment and activities were free to the public. There were four stages scattered throughout the celebration area. The main stage, located between Ameris Bank and City Hall, hosted the opening ceremonies beginning with the lighting of the tree by parade Grand Marshall Eunice Mixon and Gizzie along with the Tift County High School Special Hearts. Following the lighting of the tree, the 110th CSSB Georgia National Guard gave away free toys to children while supplies lasted. 

 

Students’ project finalist for grand prize

VARNELL, Ga. — Five Coahulla Creek High School DECA students who attended a Social Innovation Series workshop in Atlanta last month came home with a $1,000 grant. Now, the students have a chance to win much more — $10,000 for a school project and two Super Bowl tickets. The students’ project, “Colt’s Closet,” was selected as one of 12 finalists for the grand prize. “Colt’s Closet will provide an anonymous place for our fellow classmates to receive necessities such as food, clothes, hygiene products and facilitate activities to help them and their families be more healthy and active both physically and mentally,” according to the students. The winner will be determined by online votes. To vote, go to http://wshe.es/mJ6RCwsD. Voting ends Friday, Dec. 16.