GA-FL At a Glance

Road work continues in Murray County

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Transportation advises drivers on Highway 52 in Murray County that a maintenance crew has resumed work repairing and deep patching the deteriorating asphalt spots on this highway. Work proceeds through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This maintenance operation and the temporary lane closure it necessitates are weather permitting and subject to change.

 

Local library launches Georgia’s first Ben Franklin Circle 

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Twin Lakes Library System is leading the way for community engagement for Georgia public libraries with the launch of the state’s first Ben Franklin Circle, a club that seeks to initiate positive change at both the personal and community level. The program is being made possible by a $1,000 grant awarded by 92 Street Y.  The first meeting will take place at the Mary Vinson Memorial Library Oct. 25 and refreshments will be provided. Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and is limited to 15 individuals; sign-up forms will be available at the circulation desk.  Originally pioneered by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, the foundation of the club is based on 13 virtues that he characterized as being important for social progression. Those 13 virtues are: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, chastity, tranquility, and humility. Meetings will take place on a monthly basis for 13 months, allowing members to explore the meaning, importance, and usage of one virtue each month. The earliest Circles were responsible for initiating some of today’s most important national community programs like the post office and volunteer firefighting department. 

 

ABAC nursing information session Oct. 26 

TIFTON, Ga. — Prospective students can take their first step toward a nursing career in an information session on Oct. 26 from 4-5 p.m. in the Health Sciences building at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Associate Professor of Nursing Becky Arnold said the session will include information on both the bachelor’s degree in nursing and the associate degree in nursing offered by ABAC. The session is open to prospective new students, transfer students, practicing nurses, respiratory therapists, paramedics, and anyone else who may be interested in pursuing a degree in nursing. For more information, interested persons can visit www.abac.edu/nursing or contact the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at (229) 391-5020.  Spring term classes begin at ABAC on Jan. 8, 2018.

 

Prince Hall Day coming to Valdosta 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — More than 1,000 Prince Hall Masons and Eastern Stars are expected to attend this year’s Prince Hall Day Celebration for the State of Georgia in Valdosta. The celebration will start this Friday, Oct. 20, and end Sunday. Originally scheduled for mid-September, the event was postponed due to Tropical Storm Irma. Ronald Skrine, district deputy grand master of the Valdosta Masonic District No. 9, said the event will have a substantial impact on the local economy. He said that cities all across Georgia compete to host Prince Hall Day every year, and Valdosta was chosen to host for the third time. “When we celebrate Prince Hall Day, we celebrate our founder and Americanism,” Skrine said. The organization dates back to 1784, when a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of England to their first provincial Grand Master Prince Hall. Hall and 14 others were initiated into Lodge No. 441 of the Grand Lodge of Ireland on March 6, 1775. He was attracted to freemasonry because of its ideals of liberty, equality, and peace. Prince Hall Masons and Eastern Stars celebrate this occasion each year to commemorate their founder for the establishment of the first fraternal and legitimate organization for Afro-Americans to hold membership in. Initially, the lodge was called African Lodge No. 1 and was later renamed African Lodge #459. Each state across the U.S. with Prince Hall Affiliated Lodges celebrate Prince Hall Day annually.  With the foundation of diversity and acceptance, it is the tenets of friendship and morality which bonds Masons and Eastern Stars around the globe, said Demarcus Marshal, Lowndes County commissioner and member of the Valdosta Masonic District No. 9. “Prince Hall Day Weekend is a time of fellowshipping, networking and remembering why and how the organization came to be in the United States,” Marshall said. “Prince Hall Masons and Eastern Stars in the state of Georgia are required to be registered voters and strive to be productive members in our society.” Currently, Bruce A. James is the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the Prince Hall Masons in Georgia. Deaidra P. Wilson is the Grand Worthy Matron of the Prince Hall Eastern Stars in the state of Georgia along with Cecil James serving as the Grand Worthy Patron.

 

Military retirees to be honored 

MOODY AFB — Moody AFB plans to honor military retirees Saturday, Oct. 21. The base plans to hold a Military Retiree Appreciation Day that day. Retirees from all service branches may attend.  A retiree golf tournament will be held at Quiet Pines golf course Friday. Retiree Appreciation Day begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Freedom 1 Fitness Center, and will include a base tour, static weapons and vehicle displays, healthcare and information fair, free refreshments and a picnic. Contact the Moody AFB Retiree Activities office at 229-257-3209 for more information.

 

Haunted Trail returns to VSU 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Valdosta State University Campus Recreation presents The Haunted Trail from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 27-29 at the Center for Outdoor Recreational Experiences Challenge Course. Due to the intense nature of this experience, only teenagers and adults 13 years of age and older will be allowed to participate. Admission is $8 per person at The Haunted Trail entrance on event nights. Discounted admission is available as follows: 

• Thursday, Oct. 19, is Greek Night at The Haunted Trail. Any visitors wearing their Greek organization’s letters will receive a $3 discount.

• Friday, Oct. 20, is Blazer Pride Night at The Haunted Trail. Any visitors wearing their favorite VSU Blazer gear will receive a $3 discount. 

• Friday, Oct. 27, is High School Night at The Haunted Trail. High school students with a valid school identification card will receive a $3 discount.

• Saturday, Oct. 28, is Costume Night at The Haunted Trail. Any visitors wearing a Halloween costume will receive a $3 discount.

An annual Blazer Nation tradition, the Haunted Trail helps provide funding for Campus Recreation students interested in representing VSU at regional and national conferences, according to a VSU press release. It also helps support future events offered through the Student Recreation Center. The Haunted Trail is staffed by VSU student volunteers who are committed to making the Halloween season a memorable one for every member of Blazer Nation, the release stated. This includes students, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees and friends of the university. The Haunted Trail experience lasts about 30 to 35 minutes. VSU’s Center for Outdoor Recreational Experiences is located behind the Student Recreation Center at 1300 Sustella Ave. Contact Chelsea Wells Holcombe, coordinator for fitness and wellness promotions with VSU Campus Recreation, at (229) 333-5898 or cwells@valdosta.edu to learn more. On the Web: https://www.valdosta.edu/student/rec-wellness/campus-recreation/welcome.php