Secretary of State candidates to speak at luncheon

DALTON, Ga. — The League of Women Voters has a luncheon Friday at the Dalton Golf & Country Club from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Featured speakers are six candidates for Georgia Secretary of State. Confirmations to attend have been received from former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D); Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle (R); State Rep. Buzz Brockway (R); State Sen. Josh McKoon (R); State Rep. Brad Raffensperger (R); and Smythe Duval (I). This meeting is open to the public; buffet lunch is $20, which may be paid at the door, and checks should be made payable to LWV of Dalton. Reservations should be made in advance by calling Sibyl Benson at 706-278-7259 or by email to marythelmanorris@optilink.us.

Hot dog eating contest scheduled

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Wild Adventures Theme Park has a full plate Saturday, April 21, as the park hosts the Georgia State Qualifier for Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest for the second year. “It’s very exciting to be hosting the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier for the State of Georgia again,” said Jon Vigue, director of food and beverage. “We serve Nathan’s hot dogs for our guests everyday and this competition really spotlights our partnership.” Professional eaters from around the state of Georgia will compete for glory Saturday at Wild Adventures’ Lakeside Showplace where one male and one female winner will earn a seat at the ESPN-televised finals at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. The event begins 1 p.m. with a kids’ hot dog stacking contest followed by the state qualifying round at 2 p.m. Admission to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, the 2018 Flash Foods/Circle K Summer Concert Series and other park events are included with park admission or a 2018 season pass. Visit WildAdventures.com, or call 229-219-7080 for more details.

North Florida Library to offer identity theft program

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The executive director for the National Crime Stop Program will be at the Live Oak Public Library next week to discuss identity theft.

Kevin M. Gilpin will present Identity Protection 101 at 6 p.m. Thursday at the library.

The key topics Gilpin will present are financial fraud, IRS and tax fraud, debit and credit card fraud, wireless pick-pocketing and how someone can get a free credit report.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, according to the library’s release. Identity theft crimes occur every three seconds and a person’s credit then affects their ability to get insurance, interest rates and even potential employment.

The program is one of the thousands of free financial education classes offered nationwide next week as part of Money Smart Week, which runs April 21-28. To find other programs in the area, or to sign up, visit www.moneysmartweek.org.

For more information about the local program, please call the library at 386-362-2317.

CCHS to introduce Packer Pride Wall

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The public will have the chance to see the recently completed additions to Colquitt County High School and witness the unveiling of a new Packer Pride Wall during an open house that will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday. Principal Stephanie Terrell said there will be some brief opening remarks at 2 p.m. at the Packer Pride Wall and then visitors will be able to tour the school and see the other new additions. Terrell said she is especially pleased with the Packer Pride Wall, which will include the names of top AP students, valedictorians and salutatorians, STAR Students, Teachers of the Year, BRAVO winners and others who have earned school honors since Colquitt County High School was created in 1978-1979. A second phase will include those who have received fine arts and CTAE honors. In addition, each floor of the high school will have a similar wall honoring students in the subjects taught in that area. For example, she said, that a wall honoring top science students over the years will be on the fourth floor. “It’s a pretty awesome way to celebrate what our students work hard for,” she said.