Wonderland comes to Tifton

TIFTON, Ga. — Get ready for a trip through Wonderland. The cast of “Alice in Wonderland” is coming to the Tift Theatre for Performing Arts this weekend. The production runs Thursday, March 30 through Saturday, April 1 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available online at FreshTix.com, or at the door starting 45 minutes before performance time. The play adapts Charles Dodgson’s (writing under the pen name Lewis Carrol) famous children’s book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Originally published in 1865, the book and its sequel, “Through the Looking Glass” have remained popular with children and adults throughout the years.

 

‘Gee Haw Whoa Back’ Rodeo at ABAC on April 7-8

TIFTON, Ga. — Rodeo fans will fill the stands April 7-8 when Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College presents its annual “Gee Haw Whoa Back” rodeo as a part of Homecoming Week 2017. Spectators will be entertained with riveting competition during the Professional Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo at the ABAC Arena which begins at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Gates open at 7 p.m. Rodeo tickets will be sold in advance and at the gate on the two days of the event. Separate tickets must be purchased for each night. Besides the crowd favorite of bull riding, cowboys will participate in events including saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, team roping, calf roping, and steer wrestling. Cowgirls will compete in break-away roping and barrel racing. The rodeo will also feature some audience participation events and family-friendly activities. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for children 6 – 12 years old and free to ABAC students and children five years old and under. ABAC Alumni Director Lynda Fisher said the rodeo is a part of a week-long series of events on April 3- 8 designed for students, alumni and the public. For more information on rodeo tickets or the Homecoming Week, interested persons can contact the ABAC Office of College Advancement at (229) 391-4900 or go to www.abac.edu/homecoming.

 

Torch Run to be held April 20

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and Suwannee County School District would like to invite everyone to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida on April 20.  

The torch is carried every year across Florida by local and state law enforcement officers all the way to the Opening Ceremonies of Florida’s annual State Summer Games.

The event will be held at Suwannee High School beginning at 9 a.m.

People can show support by cheering on the students and law enforcement officers, as they carry the Torch down Pinewood Way and Walker Street.  

For more information, contact Lee Willis at 386-361-3225.

 

Metro Dalton’s jobless rate drops to 6.1 percent

DALTON, Ga. — Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate in February was 6.1 percent, down from 7.1 percent in January, according to the state Department of Labor. In February 2016, the jobless rate was also 6.1 percent. Metro Dalton is Murray and Whitfield counties. The rate declined as more people went to work and employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers, according to the labor department. Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.1 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.8 percent. The River Valley region includes 16 counties in the southwestern part of the state. Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in January. It was also 5.5 percent in February 2016.

 

‘Egg-Ceptional Egg Hunt’ planned

VALDOSTA — The Easter Bunny will visit some extra special children at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority. The VLPRA Therapeutic Division hosts the Fourth Annual “Egg-ceptional Egg Hunt” for children with disabilities on Saturday, April 1. The egg hunt is free and is open to children with special needs and their families. The event provides a fun, safe, family-friendly environment that allows children who may have difficulty participating in a traditional egg hunt the opportunity to hunt for Easter eggs, according to a parks & rec press release. Children will hunt 1,000 toy and candy-filled Easter Eggs in a fully accessible environment, take pictures with the Easter Bunny, enjoy face painting, create arts and crafts, and more at the VLPRA Craig Center, according to organizers. The center is located at 1104 W. Gordon St. The 2.5-acre lot is enclosed by chain-link fence and is wheelchair accessible. The “Egg-ceptional Egg Hunt” is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. The Craig Center property will be roped off for two separate hunts at the same time. One area will cater to children ages 2 to 6 years old and the other will be for children ages 7 to 12 years old.VLPRA will provide “Beep Eggs” for visually impaired participants and there will be tennis ball hopper baskets for wheelchair participants, according to organizers. Children who capture golden eggs will win Easter baskets and there will be other prizes awarded randomly, according to the press release.