Early tufting apparatus on Shaw Industries’ corporate campus in Dalton named a historic mechanical engineering landmark

DALTON, Ga. — Shaw Industries Group recently hosted the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to celebrate the designation of a mechanical engineering and flooring industry landmark on the flooring manufacturer’s corporate campus. The original Moench tufting apparatus, located in a gallery of significant industry artifacts at Shaw’s Dalton headquarters, was designated as a historic mechanical engineering landmark due to the mechanization and speed it brought to the early fabric tufting process; it is credited with spurring the growth of carpet manufacturing in Georgia. The device joins 265 others across the world that ASME recognizes as having social, economic and technological significance. “The Moench tufting apparatus played a role in the growth of the textile industry in Georgia,” said Said Jahanmir, president of ASME. “The device is a significant piece of the industrial heritage of America’s South and worthy to receive landmark status.” According to ASME, descendants of the Moench tufting device today produce more than 75 percent of U.S.-manufactured carpet.

Two break-ins reported

TIFTON, Ga. — Two residential break-ins were recently reported to the Tifton Police Department, according to TPD reports. An Aug. 9 burglary was reported for a home on the 1400 block of Murray Avenue, according to a Tifton Police Department report. The burglary occurred between 8 a.m. and 2:50 p.m., according to the report. When the resident returned home from work, they found a door unlocked and the items missing, the report states. Jewelry and money were taken from the home, totaling $12,178, according to the report. A backyard shed was broken into and more than $2,500 worth of property stolen between Aug. 10 and Aug. 11, according to a separate Tifton Police Department report. The shed in 100 block of Parkway Drive was broken into between 9 p.m., Aug. 10 and 11 a.m., Aug. 11, the report states. One television and two PS4s were taken, as well as $290 in jewelry, according to the report. The total value of the stolen items was $2,690, the report states.

The Happening returning to VSU

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Valdosta State University will host The Happening 2018, 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, on the front lawn. “Blazer Nation looks forward to The Happening every fall, and we expect thousands of students to attend,” said Dr. Vincent Miller, vice president for student affairs. “This is a very special, once-a-year tradition at VSU, one that introduces new and returning students to the wonderful opportunities offered by our community and our university.” Sponsored by VSU’s Office of Student Life, The Happening is an opportunity for students to have fun in the South Georgia outdoors while learning more about what the university and the surrounding community have to offer, according to university officials. The Happening is an opportunity for on-campus organizations, programs, offices and departments and off-campus businesses, religious organizations, nonprofits and civic groups to introduce and market themselves to thousands of students, face to face, at one time, in one location. The 27th annual event promises to be bigger and better than The Happening 2017, which boasted more than 200 exhibitors, according to university officials. The information fair is always a big hit with the thousands of students enrolled at VSU

Live Oak Library to host food demo Thursday

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Live Oak branch of the Suwannee River Regional Library is hosting a food demonstration and tasting program Thursday.

Bonnie Box, with the UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension office, will present the program at noon.

Box will discuss great grain discoveries and demonstrate how to prepare brown rice jambalaya.

The goal of the program is to demonstrate healthy and delicious eating at a low cost.

For more information about the program, call the Library at 386-362-2317.