Ta’Meria Williams (1) and Maris Hopper (back) have helped lead the inaugural Colquitt County flag football team to an Area championship. Lady Packers excel

December

Dec 6

Following an incident that threatened to take a student’s life, the Colquitt County School System is declaring war on electronic smoking devices. … A 19-year-old woman was shot in rural Colquitt County Dec. 2. She was reported in critical but stable condition two days later. … Craig and Hannah Kirkland share the joy of Christmas with the community through a yard full of Christmas lights, visits from Santa Claus and collections to benefit the needy. … The Ameris Bank Medical Education Center at Colquitt Regional Medical Center opened its doors Nov. 30. … The Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care (MLC) Verification program, offered in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), has named Colquitt Regional Medical Center as a Level II maternal care verified facility. … The Arts Center of Moultrie Board of Directors announced the hiring of Joy Yost as the organization’s next executive director.

The 2023 Area 14 Winter Special Olympics took place in Moultrie the Friday before Thanksgiving, with opening ceremonies held at Colquitt County High School. … Colquitt County wide receiver Ny Carr and tight end Landen Thomas will join Packers head coach Sean Calhoun next month in San Antonio, Texas, for the 2024 All-American Bowl. … Moultrie’s John Glenn had a long career as a professional baseball player, although only 32 games of it came in the major leagues. But Glenn, who died at 93 on June 4, 2023, in Delran, N.J., did not complain.

Dec. 13

The Colquitt County Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance allowing them to file a tax lien if a landowner doesn’t clean up nuisance property. In December, they were forced to consider whether to actually do so; commissioners instead urged County Administrator Chas Cannon to continue working with the homeowner and her neighbors to get the mess cleaned up. … Marla DePolo Golden, DO, MS, FACEP, has been named dean of the osteopathic medicine program at PCOM South Georgia.

The 2023 Colquitt County flag football season came to an emotional end Dec. 5, when the Lady Packers were knocked out of the state playoff tournament in the second round. … Packers coach Sean Calhoun was named the region’s Coach of the Year; quarterback Neko Fann, the Player of the Year; and kicker Brett Fitzgerald, the Special Teams Player of the Year.

Dec. 20

On Dec. 15, 1923, the Moultrie Observer announced the opening of Crystal Pharmacy with the headline “New Drug Store One of the Finest in the State” and, now, 100 years later, the business is still going strong in Moultrie. … Colquitt County Medical Society presented its inaugural awards to five local medical professionals: Destiny Sciuva, the Medical Student of the Year; Ellen Sutton, Colquitt Regional Medical Center’s medical staff coordinator; Jessica Rivenbark, Colquitt Regional’s vice president of medical education; Dr. D.W. Adcock, an orthopedic surgeon for 24 years; and Dr. Anthony Moser, who joined the hospital staff in 1998 and retired in the fall of 2023.

On Dec. 7, Jaina Turner became the second volleyball player in Colquitt County High School history to continue her career at the collegiate level via scholarship. She’ll be attending Middle Georgia State University for the 2024 season.

Dec. 27

Eyvone’s Porch In-Centive plans its first Put the Guns Down Rally Dec. 30 to educate Moultrie’s youth about choosing a non-violent path. … Pearl Collins, a resident at Legacy Village at Park Regency, celebrated her 107th birthday on Dec. 24. … Hugh B. Ward, D.Min., was named the 2023 recipient of the Walter E. Harrison, Jr., MD, Humanitarian Award. … A 74-year-old Colquitt County resident was rushed to the Thomasville trauma center after being shot in the leg during an altercation with his 59-year-old neighbor.

Former Packers Ryan Fitzgerald and Daijun Edwards will face one another Dec. 30 at the Orange Bowl. Edwards is the starting running back at the University of Georgia, and Fitzgerald is the redshirt junior kicker for Florida State. … Six Colquitt County senior football players used National Signing Day to confirm where they plan to continue their educations and football careers. … Eleven-year-old Moultrie golfer David Herndon was named a tour champion for the fifth time on a junior golf tour when he was named 9-11-year-old champion of the Under Armour Middle Georgia League.