Health advisory lifted for Suwannee, Withlacoochee rivers

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Suwannee and Withlacoochee rivers are safe for recreational use again. The Florida Department of Health in Hamilton, Madison and Suwannee counties announced Monday morning that it has lifted the health advisory issued Thursday. The advisory urged individuals not to come into contact with the Withlacoochee River and a portion of the Suwannee from where the two rivers converge, downstream along the border of Madison and Suwannee counties to the Lafayette County line just north of Dowling Park. The health advisory was the result of high levels of enteric bacteria and came after the City of Valdosta, Georgia, reported a large spill of untreated sewage that overflowed into the Withlacoochee. Water samples taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Friday indicate the river water meets surface water quality standards, meaning water-related activities may be resumed.

 

ABAC Performance Series presents The Grapes of Wrath

TIFTON, Ga. — The Olney Theatre Center’s National Players will perform John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2 in Howard Auditorium on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The play is a part of the 2016-2017 ABAC Presents! Performing Arts Series. In the play, Tom Joad returns home from prison to find his family farm in ruins. The family leaves the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma behind for a better life in sunny California. During their trip, the Joads discover others on the same path, all striving for their own piece of the American dream.  Steinbeck’s Great American Novel is one of perseverance against all odds. One of two state theatres in Maryland, Olney Theatre Center features the National Players who produce and present extraordinary theatre and performances on the Center’s four-theatre campus for a diverse set of audiences in the local community with the purpose of educating the next generation of theatre-makers. Individual tickets for each event are $20 for adults and $10 each for students under 18 years of age. Tickets can be purchased online at www.purplepass.com/abac or by phone at (229) 391-4895.

 

Dealer tracks stolen car to Southwest Moultrie

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Police recovered a stolen car on Thursday after the auto dealership from which it was purchased was able to provide a rough location of the vehicle. Charlotte Sizemore, 42, reported her 2006 Dodge Stratus stolen Wednesday night. She told police it was taken from a park in southwest Moultrie. The next day Sizemore told police that ABC Auto Sales had tracked the car to the 200 block of Sixth Avenue Southeast. An officer found the car parked in a driveway in that area.

 

Bandy Center hosts Electoral College symposium

DALTON, Ga. —  The Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia hosts a symposium on the Electoral College on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in room 205 of the James E. Brown Center at Dalton State College. At the event titled “‘A small number of persons, selected by their fellow citizens’: The Electoral College and Its Challenges,” three prominent scholars will discuss the formation and actions of the Electoral College and the controversies it has produced. Tammy Byron, associate professor of history at Dalton State, will present “If Not Perfect, At Least Excellent: The Origins of the Electoral College.” John Fowler, B.J. and Dicksie Bandy Chair of History and executive director of the Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia, will speak on “The Union Dissolves: The Election Crisis of 1860.” Sarah Mergel, associate professor of history at Dalton State College, will present “The Deadlock Scenario and Electoral College Reform.” The program is free and open to the public.

 

Milledgeville business collecting items for storm relief efforts

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Massive storms roared throughout Georgia last weekend, and while the impact was felt locally, it does not compare to the devastation wreaked in the south and southwest portions of the state. Williams Funeral Home is collecting donations of requested relief materials at its three locations in Milledgeville, Gordon and Eatonton to aid those who have been affected in Albany. Some of those materials include: nonperishable foods; school supplies; toiletry items; diapers, wipes and formula; gallon and quart size resealable bags; reusable shopping bags; and dog and cat food. The local funeral home already sent one load of goods down to Albany Friday and will make additional runs based on the number of donations accepted. The Milledgeville location of Williams Funeral Home is located at 1670 N. Jefferson St. 

 

Guild opens play auditions

VALDOSTA, Ga.  — Seven performers are needed for an upcoming Theatre Guild Valdosta production.Auditions are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday for the four women and three men needed for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” said Andrea Thom, the director of the show. Ages needed range from people in their early 20s to late 50s, she said. “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” is a comedy-drama by playwright Alfred Uhry. Theatre Guild synopsis: “ATLANTA, DECEMBER 1939: ‘Gone with the Wind’ is having its world premiere, and Hitler is invading Poland, but Atlanta’s elitist German Jews are much more concerned with who is going to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. Especially concerned is the Freitag family. … The family gets pulled apart and then mended together with plenty of comedy, romance and revelations along the way. Events take several unexpected turns as the characters face where they come from and are forced to deal with who they really are.” The show is scheduled to run March 30, 31, April 1, 2; April 6-8. Auditions are scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 30, 31, The Dosta Playhouse, 122 N. Ashley St. More information: Visit theatreguildvaldosta.com or contact Thom at andreathom0902@att.net.