GA-FL At a Glance

Published 11:53 am Monday, April 10, 2017

Community passover service planned

VALDOSTA, Ga.  — The 18th Annual Citywide Passover Service will be held at noon Friday, April 14 at Evangel Temple Church, located at 2045 Clay Road, Valdosta.  The guest speaker is Bishop Roger Thomas, a native of Valdosta. Thomas was consecrated to Jurisdictorial Bishop Nov. 13, 2016 in St. Louis, Mo., and is now the Prelate of the California Southern Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. He is the senior pastor of Friendly Temple Church of God in Christ, located in Victorville, Calif., where he has been for more than 30 years. Bishop Thomas is married to the First Lady of Friendly Temple Church, Dr. Joyce Marie Thomas, who is also a licensed evangelist in the Church of God in Christ. They have four children, Lena, Corey, Rashaun and Dwane; and 10 grandchildren. Other guests include Bishop George Henfield, Family Empowerment Center, Waipahu, Hawaii; Pastor Bernard Robinson, Pleasant Temple Baptist Church; Dr. Ken Alford, Crossroad Baptist Church, Pastor Johnny Bradley, Tabernacle Church of God In Christ, Pastor Wayne Hughes, Abundant Life Church. Special music will be provided by: Evangelist Benita, Church At Pine Hill; Bro. Bobby Blanton, Crossroad Baptist Church and Pastor Debra Sermons of Saint Phillips Jones Community Baptist Church. The public is invited to attend. 

Applications available for the Samuel M. Goodrich Healthcare Scholarship

Applications are available The Samuel M. Goodrich Endowed Healthcare Scholarship.

The scholarship was established in 2008 to honor the legacy of Dr. Samuel M. Goodrich, who was an esteemed practitioner of Women’s Health in Milledgeville for nearly 40 years. He delivered thousands of babies and was deeply committed to all of his patients.  He took great pride in bringing the most current advances in his medical specialty to the Milledgeville community. Each year since 2009, recipients of this scholarship have been selected from students enrolled in healthcare or healthcare-related fields of study.  Students making application should have completed a minimum of two years toward their program or have been accepted into their selected graduate program.  Preference is given to current or former residents of Baldwin County but other qualified applicants will also be considered. Interested students may obtain application forms from the Oconee Regional Healthcare Foundation website at http://www.oconeeregional.com/foundation/ and may email completed applications to goodrichfund@ormcinc.org.  The deadline for application submission is May 31.

Murder trial scheduled to begin Monday

DALTON, Ga. — After more than two years since the beating death of Paul Edward Guerrant in Dalton, the man accused of his murder is expected to stand trial Monday. Aaron Jerome Howell, who entered a not guilty plea in February after undergoing psychological testing for six months and being deemed competent for trial, is charged with murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery in connection with Guerrant’s death. At a preliminary motions hearing on Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Cindy Morris, District Attorney Bert Poston said Howell had rejected a plea deal offered by the state to avoid trial. Poston did not elaborate on the nature or terms of the deal, and did not immediately return messages Friday seeking comment on the trial. Police investigators have said that on the night of Dec. 22, 2014, Guerrant was beaten as he walked down Dozier Street on his way home from a meeting at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. After being found by officers, Guerrant was taken to Hamilton Medical Center, then to Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga, where he was pronounced dead. The coroner’s office determined Guerrant was killed by multiple blunt force wounds to the head.

ABAC Concert Band Lights Up Stage for Spring Concert on April 10-11

TIFTON, Ga. — New compositions and classics sure to appeal to music lovers of all ages when the ABAC Concert Band when it appears live on stage for its spring concert at 7 p.m. on April 10 and April 11 in Howard Auditorium at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Under the direction of Johnny Folsom, the Concert Band has gone to a two-night format in recent years because of standing-room only audiences. The same show will be presented with gusto each evening. This concert is free of charge and open to the public. Folsom said the auditorium usually fills in a rapid manner so concert-goers should arrive early to occupy their favorite seat. The concert begins with Jaime Texador’s Spanish pasodoble “Amporito Roca” that is sure to have the audience envisioning matadors, red capes, and maybe a bull. The ABAC band will then perform Steven Reineke’s dramatic composition, “The Witch and the Saint,” based on the story of twin sisters set in sixteenth century Germany. Solo vibraphone and solo guitar will be featured on Ralph Ford’s arrangement of Mason William’s 1968 hit “Classical Gas.” The band will then present Thomas Doss’ wonderful arrangement of the Franz Schubert masterpiece, “Ave Maria.” The program continues with “Sevens,” Samuel Hazo’s contemporary concert-jazz tribute to George Gershwin commissioned by the South Carolina College Band Directors National Association. Following that piece, the audience will be treated to Jay Bocook’s fabulous work showcasing some of the soundtracks of George Spielberg’s blockbuster movies titled “The Young Person’s Guide to John Williams.” “Let Freedom Ring,” the consummate tribute to America by noted composer Kenny Bierschenk, closes out the spring program. For more information, interested persons can contact Folsom at (229) 391-4944.

Holy Week scripture reading began Monday

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A number of Colquitt County churches are again preparing for Easter by participating in a five-day community scripture reading on the Courthouse Square. Now in its ninth year, the event will run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily at the amphitheater on the square. According to John Eubanks, co-pastor at Friendship Alliance Church and one of the leaders of the Colquitt County Pastors Prayer Group, churches throughout the community have agreed to have their members read in three-hour segments. Eubanks said each day will start with a prayer and then reading will begin from the New Testament of a New International Version of the Bible. Once the New Testament has been completed, the readers will return to Matthew and start all over. “It’s our way of getting ready for Easter,” Eubanks said.

50th annual Easter Sunrise Service to be held in White Springs

WHITE SPRINGS, Fla. — A program of springtime song and devotional will be the feature of the 50th Annual Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday. The service will begin at 7 a.m. on the east lawn of historic Stephen Foster Carillon Tower at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. In case of inclement weather the event will be held in the tower auditorium. Gates will open at 6:30 a.m. Carillon Concert begins at 6:45 a.m. The service will commence at 7 a.m. 

The event is free of charge. Folding chairs are available; however audience is encouraged to bring folding chairs. Program participants are from White Springs area churches.  Refreshments are served in the carillon auditorium following the program. A collection is not taken; however a collection basket will be placed on the refreshment table and contributions are accepted. Come join us on Easter Sunday for this Golden Anniversary of this historic Easter Sunrise Service sponsored by the White Springs Planning Committee and supported by Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. For more information, contact program coordinators Johnny Bullard, 386-688-6080, or Carolyn Cannon, 386-397-2630.