Several apartments damaged by fire, smoke

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Sunday morning fire sparked by an unattended stove damaged two apartment units and caused smoke damage to several other Moultrie residents’ apartments. Moultrie Fire Department personnel were dispatched at 9:54 a.m. to the Centertown apartment complex, where the residence of Lorenzo Thornton was on fire. The flames from Thornton’s apartment spread to a neighboring apartment at the 404 Seventh Ave. S.W. complex, said Assistant Fire Chief Lamar Plymel. Thornton told firefighters that he had turned on his stove before going outside to light his grill. When he prepared to head back inside “all he could see was flames,” fire reports said. Thornton’s apartment had heavy fire damage in the kitchen and smoke damage throughout. The residence of the upstairs neighbor, who was not at home at the time of the blaze, also suffered fire and smoke damage, according to fire reports. There was heavy smoke damage in three other nearby apartments and light smoke damage in another three of the units.

Motorcyclist hurt when truck pulls in front of him

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Moultrie motorcyclist who was thrown from his bike on Saturday when he was forced off the roadway to avoid a driver who pulled into his path apparently escaped serious injury. Santiago Solario told police that he was driving his 2011 Kawasaki south on Highway 33 when a pickup pulled in front of him at the intersection of Lanier Road. Solario, 56, lost control when he swerved to avoid colliding with the truck and the motorcycle went into the ditch on the west side of Highway 33, according to the Georgia State Patrol, which investigated the accident. After leaving the roadway Solario was ejected from the motorcycle, which overturned once in the ditch, the GSP said.  Solario described the truck as a white Ford pickup with an extended cab. The driver did not stop. Although he told police that he had pain to his abdomen and pelvis he was not transported by ambulance to the hospital, the GSP said. Colquitt Regional Medical Center had no record of Solario showing up  at its emergency room by another means of transportation, a hospital spokeswoman said on Monday.

13th annual Elvis competition set for music park

LIVE OAK, Fla. — This weekend is the time for Elvis fans to pay tribute to “the King of Rock ’n’ Roll” at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.  The 13th annual Elvis Tribute Artist Competition takes place at the park Saturday with the pre-party Friday night. Elvis Tribute Artists from all over are expected to compete at the park this weekend. If one has an Elvis favorite song, and who doesn’t, they likely will get to hear it during the competition. 

The prize package for winners of this Elvis Tribute Artist competition is $1,500 for first place, $700 for second place, $300 for third place, $200 for fourth place and $100 for fifth place. In addition, the winner will go to Memphis in August to participate in the world Elvis Tribute Artist Competition. One of the Elvis Tribute Artists who competed here many times and won several years ago, Cote Deonath of Central Florida, went on to become the sixth-best Elvis Tribute Artist in the world. Friday night, it is party karaoke time for contestants to get to know the audience by performing on the large Music Hall stage. The music will last from 7–10 p.m. with $11 admission at the door for adults and children. All food and drinks extra. On Saturday, the competition begins at 1 p.m. in the Music Hall. A break will be called in the late afternoon for dinner with competition resuming at 6 p.m. before a packed house. Admission Saturday is $26 at the door for adults or children and $42 per person for reserved tables. All food and drinks extra. Finalists will be named and the countdown to the winner is on as fans get to witness some of the best Elvis Tribute Artists anywhere perform.

Last year’s competition winner, Michael Chambliss, will be a special guest Saturday night. Reserve seat reservations are available in advance until noon Friday at the SOSMP main office by calling 386-364-1683 or stopping by the park at 3076 95th Drive. 

Navicent Health Hospitals win statewide safety awards

 ATLANTA – The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) has presented its prestigious Quality and Patient Safety Awards to Navicent Health Baldwin (NHB) in Milledgeville and The Medical Center, Navicent Health (MCNH) in Macon for projects that improved patient safety and care. NHB was honored for its project that helped reduce medication errors. The project, titled, “Simple as That: How Transparency Reduced Patient Harm in our Community Hospital,” won second place in the Hospitals with 100 to 299 Beds category. MCNH was recognized for its project that improved the care of patients who require ventilators. The project, titled, “Decreasing Ventilator Associated Events and Saving Lives” won first place in the Hospitals with More than 300 Beds category. These annual awards recognize Georgia healthcare organizations for achievement in reducing the risk of medical errors and improving patient safety and medical outcomes. 

Performer to sing at senior center

DALTON, Ga. — Elvis Presley impersonator Nick Dadonna performs at the Dalton-Whitfield Senior Center at 7 p.m. on Thursday. He will open with songs from Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Willie Nelson. His tribute to Presley will follow. The cost is $5 per person. Light refreshments will be served. Call the senior center at (706) 278-3700 to sign up to attend. 

Education Week grades Georgia C-

WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to an Education Week report released this month, Georgia education received a C-, ranking 33rd in the nation.  Twelve other states received a C- score. The “Quality Counts 2017: Under Construction — Building on ESSA’s K-12 Foundation” report looked at the steps taken by each state for the Every Student Succeeds Act as well as provided a report card grading the states, according to an Education Week press release.  According to the release, Quality Counts 2017 gave each state an overall grade and an individual grade in three categories: chance for success, which examined education’s role “from cradle to career”; school finance, which examined educational expenditure patterns and fund distribution using data from 2014; and K-12 achievement, which  looked at the performance of each state’s public schools.  Out of 100 possible points, the report showed Georgia received an overall score of 71.6, a chance for success score of 75.1, a school finance score of 68.5 and a K-12 achievement score of 71.2.  The nation received an average score of 74.2. By a 0.2 point difference, Georgia slightly outperformed the nation’s average score in K-12 Achievement, according to the report.  The release stated this is the third year the nation received a C. Receiving an average grade of 86.5, Massachusetts ranked first, as it has for the past decade, according to the release.  In average scores, nine states were in the B range, 34 states were in the C range and eight states were in the D range, according to the score summary. The report included Washington, D.C.  Visit www.edweek.org/go/qc17 for more information on the Education Week report.

Food and Wine Classic coming to Valdosta 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Relish in the flavors of the upcoming Valdosta Food and Wine Classic.  Hosted by the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, the classic will be held 6-9 p.m., Feb. 22, at Turner Center, 527 N. Patterson St.

The elaborate event will bring together the tastes of local eateries Salty Snapper, Friends Grille and Bar, Covington’s, Woodstack BBQ Tavern, Birdie’s Market and more. With 200 bites of food from 12 chefs and 40 various wines alongside micro-brews, cocktails and desserts, each of the expected 150 guests will be able to sample cuisine from each vendor, said Bill Shenton, center artistic director. Cheryl Oliver, center executive director, said she believes what makes the Food and Wine Classic so unique is it not only highlights local restaurants, but it offers the experience of cuisine from caterers and chefs who don’t own restaurants. “It also pairs cuisine with a chance to taste wonderful beverages, and witness a mixology demonstration,” she said. “All of the restaurants, caterers (and) chefs who participate will get to show off their culinary talents to an audience who appreciates fine cuisine.” Located at every table will be a donation bowl for people to vote for their preferred “bite and sip,” according to organizers. More specifically, guests will be able to vote in cash for best wine, best food and best beer. All awards will be presented at the end of the gathering, said Darby Boruff, administrative assistant. Though Boruff said helping to coordinate events is not part of her usual responsibilities at the Turner Center, she agreed to help due to her ties with many of the restaurant owners.

“We’re trying to kind of focus on all of these vendors who’ve decided to help, so you can come to one place and kind of get an idea of all of them at once and just kind of centralize and promote each business,” she said. “We’re hoping that people walk out satisfied and with a better understanding of local, original restaurants.” General admission tickets are $50, and proceeds will benefit the Center for the Arts Guild. With an executive board of 20 women, CAG has hosted hundreds of events to raise thousands of dollars for Turner, Oliver said. Bridge luncheons, Gogh Green Upscale Art Resales and the Chair-ity Auction are some of the events that CAG has hosted in fundraising efforts, Oliver said. The efforts have raised scholarship monies for adults and children, purchased equipment for the Turner Center’s Chef’s Kitchen and refurbished the art center’s facilities, Oliver said. Sponsorship tables can still be purchased for $250 until the end of January, which include two tickets to the Food and Wine Classic, Boruff said. Sponsors will have their logos promoted at the event, on social media and on the Turner Center website, she said. To purchase tickets, to become a sponsor or to inquire about more information, call the Turner Center, (229) 247-2787.

Sixth annual Choc-It-Up for Literacy slated for Feb. 6,

TIFTON, Ga. — To set the mood for Valentine’s Day, Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County is sponsoring Choc-It-Up for Literacy an Evening of Chocolate Indulgence, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Spring Hill Country Club. Not only will attendees sample and judge Tifton’s best chocolate desserts from among local restaurants, caterers and bakeries, but they also will bid in an auction conducted by Rick Phillips on items such as beautiful jewelry, a pheasant hunt, vacations and artwork. Also, restaurant tickets, massages and other potential gifts for Valentine’s Day will be offered for bidding in a silent auction. The sixth annual event will showcase local vendors and their chocolate creations. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For advance ticket locations, check the Facebook page or call 229-391-3537 or email tiftlv@gmail.com. Choc-It-Up for Literacy will benefit programs that Literacy Volunteers sponsors. The agency helps adults improve their reading and math skills, prepare for the GED test, learn English as a second language. Literacy Volunteers is located at Southern Regional Technical College – Tifton Campus and collaborates with the Adult Education Department to provide tutors.