Jackie Shoemaker, center, executive director of The American Red Cross of South Central Georgia, poses with Connie and Mark Fleetwood of Moultrie holding plaques and letters from the president regarding their President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

May

May 3

First National Bank hosted the annual Women in Workforce luncheon April 28 at First Baptist Church for any women in the community who wanted to attend. The luncheon centered around the key speaker, Vera Stewart of VeryVera Cookbooks and the VeryVera Show, and two local speakers. … The Colquitt County Career Achievement Award was presented May 9 to F. Blanton Bessinger, MD, MBA, a respected physician who was born in South Carolina but grew up in Moultrie. … Local law enforcement and crime victim advocates gathered May 2 to fellowship with crime victims for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. … Tommy Thornton, a Moultrie native now living in California, was recently recognized as a Top-5 finalist for the 2023 Technology Marketing Toolkit Better Your Best Competition. Thornton is CEO of Automates, a national leader in IT managed services. … Colquitt County Board of Education member Trudie M. Hill, a retired educator, has been selected to serve on the 2023 Georgia School Boards Association Governmental Operations Committee. … The Moultrie chapters of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge held their third annual Poker Run June 3 with proceeds benefiting the American Legion, other veterans groups, the Moultrie Masonic Lodge and other local charities. … Colquitt Regional Medical Center recently received its 16th “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. … Eyvone’s Porch In-Centive Incorporated (EPIC) is partnering with local leaders and organizations to provide an upcoming clinic to Moultrie residents offering resources to assist with life planning. EPIC is a non-profit, community- based, youth-driven mentoring project designed to advocate, motivate and accentuate children aged 5 to 18 founded by Carol Simpson. The charity values the humanities and anything to help make life better for community members, Simpson said. … Sunset Elementary student Nathan Grady Handfield is a regional winner in the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition. … The Moultrie City Council has voted to remap the city’s voting districts in response to population changes noted by the 2020 Census. … The Moultrie Police Department has issued a BOLO — a Be On the Look Out notice — for three male suspects accused of using counterfeit money. … The City of Moultrie has recently received a high-bond rating from a private banking company. S& P Global, a private banking company headquartered in Manhattan, NewYork, assigned an “AA-” rating to the City of Moultrie based on its existing revenue bonds.

Dr. Frederick Powell of Moultrie was among 30,000 people who ran in the 127th annual Boston Marathon April 17, on the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing. … After 27 consecutive years, head soccer coach Jimbo Jarvis was officially retired as one of the longest running Colquitt County High School varsity coaches in history. … Former Colquitt County High and LSU defensive back Jay Ward was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He was the 134th player selected.

May 10

A Moultrie man died of a self-inflicted gunshot May 4 after he killed his mother, grandmother and an assistant manager at McDonald’s in Moultrie, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said as it continued its investigation into the deaths. The GBI identified the suspected shooter as Kentavious White, a 26-year-old Moultrie, Georgia man. On May 6, community members held a prayer gathering at the Colquitt County Courthouse Square to pray for healing in the community. … Fifty-three students prepared to make history May 25 when they would become the first doctors of osteopathic medicine to graduate from PCOM South Georgia, which opened its doors in Moultrie in the fall of 2019 as the only medical school in Southwest Georgia. … George Wallace, 46, of Moultrie, was one of five people who died in an automobile crash May 6 in Lubbock, Texas. … John Bridwell, 44, of Moultrie, died May 7 following a single-vehicle ATV accident in Thomas County. … A year of career exploration and skills preparation activities culminated in a job fair attended by more than a hundred Colquitt County High School students. … A “mini-roundabout” project the Georgia Department of Transportation planned for South Main Street has been paused, but the Moultrie City Council has decided to move forward on two others. … CCHS hosted its second annual Georgia Future Educators Signing Day May 9 to celebrate students who’ve chosen to pursue teaching as their careers. The cafeteria was full of students, teachers and family members who supported their signee throughout their high school career. … The John Benning Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, presented Ellen Alderman with the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award in recognition of the restoration and preservation of the Chapel at Sundown Farms. The award was presented at the chapter’s Historic Preservation Luncheon with Georgia State Society NSDAR regent Betty Harrah as the guest speaker.

Norm Joyner, acting COO at the Moultrie YMCA, will be inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame July 10 in Atlanta. … The turnout for the first tryouts for Colquitt County’s new flag football program on May 15 is expected to be so large that head coach Kirk Woodall has had to enlist some help from fellow coaches of other sports. Woodall said 105 had signed up as of the preceding Friday and more could show up for the five days of spring practices. … Colquitt County brothers Austin and Logan Paradice have earned All-America honors with fourth-place finishes in USA Wrestling’s U.S. Open Championships. … The 2023 Ms. Health and Fitness contest is currently underway, and Moultrie native Sherry Evans is in the running. … Among the eight teams participating in the Relay for Life on May 5, the event raised almost $37,000 for the American Cancer Society. … There were 112 pickleball players registered for the tournament from all different skill levels and divisions in the YMCA Smash Out CF Tournament May 6 and 7; Moultrie residents won 29 medals in the competition.

May 17

Dr. Robert Lloyd became interim dean of PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie on May 1 following the retirement of Dr. William Craver on April 30. … The Moultrie-Colquitt County Humane Society is slowly decreasing its intake numbers but keeps experiencing hardships. … On May 2, Moultrie Rotary Club President Julian Griner opened the organization’s third annual “Salute to Service” ceremony recognizing Colquitt County High School students who will enter the military following graduation in the upcoming weeks. … On April 26, PCOM South Georgia mentors spent their last day in a celebration with their mentees at C.A. Gray Junior High School. … Medical officials warn local residents that “COVID-19 hasn’t gone away,” as a global organization declares May 11 the end of the public health emergency.

Moss Farms Diving was the first place overall team, boys team and girls team at USA Diving’s Junior Region 3 Championships held May 4-7 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. But more importantly, the team was able to ensure that 25 of its divers will advance to compete in the Zone B Championships to be held June 16-18 at the Rosen Aquatic Center in Orlando. … The Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority, in partnership with the Colquitt County Cycling Club, hosted its inaugural Bike Rodeo at the Goff Complex, and MCCPRA Director Maggie Davidson said the event went “really well.” … Saying he wants to be closer to his home in Moultrie, Kevin Giddens has resigned from his job as an associate director of the Georgia High School Association.

Hope House CEO Katrina Bivins announced her retirement in May. … Sunset Elementary student Nathan Grady Handfield received Honorable Mention in the state competition for Young Georgia Authors. … Jared Lee Collum of Moultrie is the recipient of the 2022-2023 Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Outstanding Student Award at Valdosta State University. Collum was recognized during VSU’s annual Academic Honors Program on April 27.

May 24

GEAR Site Coordinator Kristyn Nelms performed the Heimlich maneuver to save a fifth-grade student who was choking in the school lunchroom. … The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation recently awarded Mark and Connie Fleetwood of Moultrie with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for their tens of thousands of hours of unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others. … Colquitt County residents got a preview of the Georgia Tandem Rally, which hit Thomasville May 18. Twenty-five teams of tandem bicyclists arrived in Moultrie May 15 for a “pre-tour,” Ride Director Roger Strauss said. … Staff of Colquitt County government have been working behind the scenes for months to lay the groundwork for a major renovation at the Colquitt County Jail. Discussions at a county budget meeting May 18 touched upon some of their struggles. … Two major subdivisions will soon expand within city limits following the Moultrie City Council’s approval May 16. … The Moultrie Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority was awarded a $1.8 million grant by Gov. Brian P. Kemp May 18. The money will be used to improve facilities at the William Bryant Park complex. … Jeff Tucker, who is an HVAC contractor in Moultrie, has been nominated for the cover of Muscle and Fitness Magazine, but the only way for him to win is from votes from the public. … An article in the April issue of Vegetable Growers News profiled Chill C Farms in Colquitt County.

May 31

On May 25, 53 osteopathic medicine students and seven master of science degree program in biomedical sciences students walked across the stage to graduate from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s South Georgia campus. … Sedrick Demetrius Moore, 48, has been in prison since his conviction in February 2002 for a rape that was committed in 1993, but in May a judge granted Moore a new trial. … It’s been ten years since Alaina Riley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Now she’s paving a path for others while advocating for Type 1 diabetics. … Colquitt Regional Medical Center recently announced the opening of its new six-bed inpatient pediatric unit. … Colquitt County native Kathryn Maxwell was honored as Georgia’s Most Outstanding AmeriCorps Member for her work with the Cook County 4-H Program. … Colquitt County Board of Education members approved a proposed tentative budget for the upcoming academic year May 29. It includes a significant increase in spending, but most of that increase will be covered by an increase in state funding. … Mental health organizations and representatives made several connections to Moultrie and Colquitt County faith leaders during the We 4-C Healing luncheon May 25. … Jane Cagle Simpson received the Evelyn King Vereen Service Award during the Arts Center of Moultrie’s annual State of the Arts meeting. Simpson served as curator, program director and executive director for a total of more than 30 years, but the award recognized her for teaching classes, serving on the acquisition committee and serving as a historical resource for the staff, all after she retired from the Arts Center.

Carlos Bautista has taken the position of Colquitt County High School Lady Packers varsity soccer head coach for the 2023-24 season. … A new way to achieve a full body strength workout under 30 minutes has recently come to the Moultrie YMCA.