Here are things happening in the region: 

Preparations underway for 100 Black Men banquet

VALDOSTA, Ga. —An Atlanta attorney returns home as the keynote speaker for the annual 100 Black Men Black Tie Banquet later this month. The event will “feature Mr. Samuel Matchett, a partner at King and Spalding, LLP,” said Roy Copeland, a past president of the Valdosta chapter of 100 Black Men. “Mr. Matchett is a local product having graduated from Lowndes High School in 1976.” As a partner in King and Spalding’s Atlanta Labor & Employment Practice Group, Matchett has more than 25 years of experience as an attorney. The 100 Black Men of Valdosta is part of a national organization dedicated to working within the chapter communities. The 100 Black Men of Valdosta sponsors mentoring, tutoring and SAT preparation programs for area youths. It sponsors scholarships. The organization sponsors events such as the annual barbecue competition downtown and feeds hundreds of people for Thanksgiving. The 100 Black Men Black Tie Banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, Valdosta Middle School.

 

Free shredding event on Saturday in Dalton

DALTON, Ga. — Georgia United Credit Union, in partnership with Iron Mountain, hosts a free community Shred Day event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at its Dalton branch at 605 Calhoun St. This event is open to Georgia United members and the local community as an opportunity to safely destroy sensitive, personal documents in an environmentally friendly way. Guests are invited to bring up to three boxes of personal documents such as old checks, forms and statements with personal information. Staples and paper clips do not need to be removed. Iron Mountain will safely dispose of the documents in a mobile destruction truck that will be parked in the branch parking lot. Documents will be immediately shredded on site and recycled.

 

Muralists returs to Tifton

TIFTON, Ga. – Muralist Gale Hinton of Knoxville, Tennessee, recently returned to Tifton as part of the Read Aloud Promise initiative. Mike Brumby, executive director of the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence (TCFEE), said the program is continuing to take off. When Hinton first visited Tifton in February, she painted murals at primary schools Len Lastinger and Annie Belle Clark and the Tift County Pre-K Center. Hinton returned to Tifton last week to also paint murals at Quailwood Animal Hospital, Tifton Housing Authority’s community center on Dixie Avenue and the United Way of South Central Georgia building, where the TCFEE’s reading program is held during the summer. Brumby said he hopes to have her back every three months. Hinton has been painting murals for 50 years. 

 

First-team Central offense sharp in spring game

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Gold team, powered by quarterback Kelias Williams, continued in the spring where it left off in autumn, scoring eight touchdowns in Thomas County Central’s spring game Tuesday afternoon at the Jackets’ Nest. “That helps when you have your senior quarterback,” head coach Bill Shaver said. “This offense is all about how smooth the quarterback reacts and does everything. Obviously, we’ve got a really good one there.” The Gold squad was comprised of the first-unit offense and second-unit defense while going up against the second offense and second defense of the Blue. The teams played a full game, without punts and kickoffs, before going into situational drills toward the end.

  

Moultrie police donate to Boys and Girls Club

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Moultrie Police Department increased its donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Moultrie-Colquitt County by $1,000 this year. All proceeds from the department’s Mother-Son Dance, held just before Mother’s Day, were given to the club on Wednesday, May 18. The total was $2,500, which was $1,000 more than last year’s gift, according to Sgt. Rocky Hancock of the MPD. Club Executive Director Joseph Matchett said, “Organizations like the Moultrie Police Department understand that the more we do on the front end, the easier their jobs on the back end.”

 

Dynamic Sounds of Phunk coming to central Georgia

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Dynamic Sounds of Phunk will perform in Allen’s Market at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 27. Tickets are $10.70 each and can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Marlor House, 201 N. Wayne St., or online at www.milledgevillealliedarts.com.  All of the band members are originally from central Georgia and have been playing together for a long time.  Currently, there are five members — Jerry Hargrove on sax, B.J. Hill on percussion, Victor Tucker on percussion, Troy Barnes on lead guitar, Dexter Mack on bass and Rodney Speights on keyboard.   The performance will be held in the historic Allen’s Market Building, located at 101 W. McIntosh St. in downtown Milledgeville. Seating is limited. Call 478-452-3950 for more information or visit www.milledgevillealliedarts.comto buy tickets.

 

Library hosts art show in Jasper, Fla. 

JASPER, Fla. – The Hamilton County High School art students invite everyone to attend the HCHS Retrospective Art Show on Saturday, May 21. It will be held at the Jasper Public Library from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “Please come out and see our students’ best work of the year and enjoy light refreshments,” said Rachel Budwick, art instructor.  This event is free and open to the public.