City tearing down former Econo Lodge

DALTON, Ga. — The city of Dalton began tearing down the former Econo Lodge off Tampico Way this week. Members of the City Council voted in August to tear down the building but demolition was delayed after asbestos was discovered in the building and had to be removed. Demolition is expected to be completed today. The debris will be taken to the landfill next week. A judge ruled the site a public nuisance in 2017. Court filings indicated the property was unsafe, had high weeds and was the site of criminal activity. Officials say the property was closed completely on Feb. 24, 2014. A lien will be placed on the building, and all costs of tearing it down will be recovered when the property is sold.

GED classes accept students

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Lowndes County Adult Education/GED program at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is accepting new students. Students may enroll in free GED and adult education classes, college officials said. Classes are offered on the Valdosta campus of Wiregrass. The two-day new student orientation is scheduled for 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 25 and 28. New student orientation will be offered Feb. 8 and 11, college officials said. The Lowndes County Adult Education program is located at 4089 Val Tech Road and classes are offered Monday through Thursday, during the morning, afternoon and evening. Students can choose from class times of 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-5 p.m. or 5-8 p.m. Call 229-333-2123 for more information or visit www.wiregrass.edu/adulted.

Elks Lodge presents Hoop Shoot

TIFTON, Ga. — Boys and girls are invited to go to the Tift County Recreation Department Saturday morning for the annual Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest. Competitors will be divided by gender and into groups for ages 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. The age control date is April 1, 2019. The 8-9 division is allowed to shoot four feet in front of the regulation free throw line. Contestants will have a chance to warm up before competing. Registration is set to begin at 9 a.m. at TCRD on Victory Drive and the free throwing shooting contest will be at 1 p.m. The event is free of charge. Winners will move on to the district meet Jan. 19. For more information, contact the Tift County Recreation Department at 229-382-3262 or visit elks.org/hoopshoot.

Apron Strings Exhibit Opens at ABAC’s Museum of Agriculture Gallery January 29

TIFTON, Ga. — Fifty-one contemporary and vintage aprons will occupy the spotlight beginning Jan. 29 in a unique exhibition titled “Apron Strings: Ties to the Past-Classics” on display at the Gallery of the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. Although taken for granted by many social and art historians, the apron is the subject of a fascinating reevaluation in this exhibition which reviews the apron’s role as an emotionally charged vehicle for expression with a rich and varied craft history that is still relevant today. Artists continue using aprons to explore cultural myths and realities as well as their individual experiences with American domesticity. Though not as widespread as they once were, aprons remain functional and protective garments for men and women. For more information about this or future Gallery exhibits, interested persons can contact Huff at phuff@abac.edu. Admission to this exhibit is included in the daily Museum admission cost and free with a valid season pass.