March

March 1

Courtney Azar, a battalion chief with the Moultrie Fire Department has been chosen as the new director of the Humane Society of Moultrie and Colquitt County. … The Moultrie Housing Authority was recently awarded more than $1 million to fund its property improvement plans, but the authority is facing another challenge to getting the projects done: Getting bids for them. … Colquitt County School District is the latest recipient of a large shipment of Lysol Wipes from Frontline Impact Project. The donation is valued at $142,500 and contains 40,000 packs of wipes. … Byron Mejia, 32, of Colquitt County, entered a guilty plea Thursday in Colquitt County Superior Court and was sentenced to 20 years for a 2020 aggravated assault case.

Some 200 young divers — including about 40 representing Moss Farms Diving — will take to the boards the first week of March in the annual Moose Moss Invitational. … The Colquitt County girls basketball team’s only senior, Carliss Johnson, wraps up her four-year career as the fourth-highest scorer in Lady Packers history with 1,387 points. … The South Georgia Classic pickleball tournament held Feb. 25-26 at the Moultrie YMCA drew 150 players. … The Colquitt County middle school boys golf team won the season-opening Baby Packer Invitational in sudden death Feb. 23 at Sunset Country Club. … Colquitt County’s Stan Luttrell, in his first year in charge of the Packers weight room, has been named the Georgia Coach of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association.

March 8

Colquitt County School District is one of several school systems across the country experiencing long-lasting effects from the national teacher shortage. … A ribbon cutting March 7 marked the opening of a new cemetery in Moultrie. Northwest Memorial Gardens is located at 1212 Northside Drive. … A Colquitt County jury took about an hour Tuesday to find Brian Scott Collins guilty as a party to a crime in an assault case from 2019. … On March 3, a Norman Park police officer saw a truck that had been reported stolen. When the ensuing chase ended, a Norman Park man was facing multiple charges. … The Moultrie Service League launched its much anticipated coffee table book “Moultrie Masterpieces: A Local Art Collection” during a reception held Feb. 26 at the Arts Center of Moultrie. … The Moultrie Observer was recognized with one award in the 2022 Best of CNHI journalism awards. Observer Editor Kevin C. Hall was named Designer of the Year in Division III, which includes the company’s smallest newspapers. In addition, Moultrie Scene magazine, which has won Magazine of the Year honors the previous two years, was a finalist in that category this year. It lost to Cullman Magazine in Cullman, Ala. 

Led by five outstanding veteran girl divers who finished in the top 12 in points, Moss Farms won the women’s team title and led the local team to a second-place overall finish in the Moose Moss Invitational. … The Colquitt County School System has added another opportunity for its female students to participate in a competitive sport. The school board on Feb. 27 approved the addition of flag football to its roster of sports. Kirk Woodall will be the coach of the first team, which will begin play this fall. … Despite missing six games early in the season because of a serious ankle injury, Colquitt County’s Carliss Johnson bounced back to perform at a high level and has been named the Region 1-7A girls Offensive Player of the Year. … The Moultrie YMCA gymnastics team broke 21 team records while competing in the recent Rose City Invitational held at the Butler Mason YMCA in Thomasville, Ga. … Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority recently hired Jason Goldman-Petri as tennis director to grow their program by offering lessons and organizing tournaments throughout the year.

March 15

The Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a multi-agency operation that targeted online child predators in surrounding counties. Four male suspects were arrested over a three-day period beginning March 2. … Two influential Moultrie women have been named to the National Register of Women in American History. The John Benning Chapter National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, based in Moultrie, held a ceremony at the Moultrie Federated Woman’s Clubhouse March 9 recognizing Myrtle NeSmith Lofton and June DeEtta Aderhold Maule’s nominations. … A ministry that has been in the works since late 2020 is about to open its doors. Crossroads for Her, 1614 Second Ave. S.E., held a ribbon cutting March 7 to mark the center’s opening, and it will welcome the community at an open house March 19. … A new scholarship opportunity for Colquitt County High School agricultural students was announced by Mike Gay, a class of 1970 alumnus, who named it in honor of teachers Richard “Dickie” Coleman and William “Bill” Yearta.

Not only was Andy Blanton playing in soggy, rainy conditions in the final round of the 68th Pot o’ Gold Pro-am at Sunset Country Club, he bogeyed the first two holes on his home course. But he rallied, buoyed by an eagle on his second-to-last hole, to shoot a 3-under 69 for a three-day 11-under-par 205 to claim the event’s low amateur honors for the third time. … Former Brunswick News sports editor Murray Poole was presented the J.B. Hawkins Humanitarian Award Feb. 25 at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet at the Macon City Auditorium. Poole, a 1960 Moultrie High School graduate, was recognized for his 54 years of covering sports in the state of Georgia for The Brunswick News and Bulldawg Illustrated.

The Arts Center of Moultrie and Sowega Council on Aging are working to turn a pilot project into a long-term partnership that will help meet the needs of senior citizens in Colquitt County.

March 22

Colquitt County voters cast ballots on a sales tax referendum March 21 and during a three-week early voting period. The Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax passed with 1,055 votes in favor and 164 opposed. … Whether you’re searching for local mental health organizations or resources to work against underage drinking and substance abuse, STEP Up Colquitt has a place for you. … The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced March 17 that remains found near Omega in 2020 had been identified as Crystal Hendrix, who was reported missing April 25, 2013. … PCOM South Georgia celebrated its first-ever Match Day as members of its first graduating class of physicians learned which residency programs they matched with and in which specialty they will spend their next three to five years. … A group of Colquitt County High School students gained and honed skills in the Project Purpose GET2Work Boot Camp, held in partnership with Southern Regional Technical College, the Moultrie Chamber of Commerce, and the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority.

Asher Fountain, from Moultrie’s South Georgia Barbell, swept the boys U13 division in weightlifting with three gold medals at the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival, hosted by the Greater Columbus Convention Center in early March. Also competing in the festival from South Georgia Barbell were Neil Fountain, Gunner Griffin, Emma Meads, Elizah Demott, Deb Woods and Deborah Fountain.

March 29

Ninth grader Kalia Register’s perseverance and growth through life-altering hardships has led her to be named the Boys & Girls Club of Moultrie-Colquitt County’s 2023 Youth of the Year. … Bobby Ruis, Funston city councilman and former water superintendent announced his retirement, although he’ll continue to serve on the city council. The city honored him with a reception in March. … Kim Blackstock, a Tifton woman who works for Southern Care Hospice in Moultrie and volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association, returned March 21 from meeting with staff of Rep. Austin Scott and Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to encourage them to push for a new Alzheimer’s drug to be covered by Medicare. … John Benning Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, began its annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day by presenting the DAR Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award to Sgt. Major Thomas R. Davis, U.S. Army, Retired. … The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District recognized Summerlin & Sons Farms as Colquitt County’s Conservationist of the Year during the group’s Conservationist of the Year Banquet held March 16 at The Fitzgerald Pillars in Fitzgerald.

Colquitt County’s Carson Tyler scored 99 points on his fifth dive and went on to win the platform diving title at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships March 25 in Minneapolis.