Annual MLK celebration to be held

DALTON, Ga. — The annual Dalton Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is Jan. 13-15 with various events planned to commemorate King’s legacy. The theme is “Linked together: With visions of a progressive future.” The celebration banquet is on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center. The speaker is Tyree Goodlett, a Dalton native and member of the Dalton City Council. Tickets are $25. Contact chairpersons Jasmine Madden and Vonta Macon for tickets or buy them at the community center or at Willis Funeral Home, (706) 278-3808. The ecunmeical service is on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 4 p.m. at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 2014 MLK Jr. Blvd. Bishop Bryan Macon of Promise Land Church in Stone Mountain is the speaker. On Monday, Jan. 15, there are several events. The annual wreath laying at the King memorial is at 9 a.m. at the intersection of MLK Jr. Boulevard and East Walnut Avenue. Pastor Raphael Allen is the speaker. The annual prayer breakfast follows at 10 a.m. at the community center. Pastor Edward Hoggs is the speaker. Events continue at the community center with MLK youth activities from noon until 3 p.m. followed by the MLK Closeout Talent Show at 5:30 p.m.

 

Ring in the New Year with SOSMP celebration

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Come ring in 2018 this Friday through Sunday and celebrate New Year’s Eve at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak with a huge party in the Music Hall. 

The Dec. 31 event will feature the best tribute show in the Southeast with Cowboy, The Ultimate Kid Rock Tribute Show. There will also be a costume contest for Kid Rock Look-A-Look, dancing, great food at regular prices and a fun evening.  Admission to the Music Hall New Year’s Eve is $25 per person and includes the live entertainment, party favors, champagne toast and the spectacular fireworks show at midnight sponsored by Busy Bee. Music Hall reservations are highly recommended. Call 386-364-1683 to make reservations. The public is invited to attend the fireworks show, which costs $10 per carload at the gate. SOSMP campers attend free. The fun begins when the amazing Snow Nights takes place from 6-8 p.m Friday. A free event, Snow Nights is sponsored by Busy Bee. Snow Nights’ guests may see snow sleds, snow fights, build snowmen, play in the snow, make snow angels, enjoy bounce houses, drink hot cocoa and roast marshmallows by the campfire.  Enjoy one of the most spectacular events in Suwannee County in 2017. Suwannee Lights, extended by a full week this year, ends Saturday. The event features more than 6.5 million lights on more than 500 displays. Enjoy Snow Nights from 6 – 8 p.m. and then round the night out with a tour through the intriguing Suwannee Lights. On Saturday, Southern Burn Band of Gainesville, a high energy, extremely fun Southern rock and country cover band playing country and rock from current chart toppers to classic hits, will be in the Music Hall to bring great music for the dancing and listening pleasure of our guests from 8 p.m. until. Free admission to the Music Hall on Saturday night. Ted “TeddyMac Elvis” McMullen is hosting karaoke Thursday from 7 – 10 p.m. in the Music Hall, leading up to the New Year’s celebration weekend.

 

Moultrie’s Christmas tree recycling program begins

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Christmas is over, and the clean-up will soon begin. The City of Moultrie opened its Christmas tree recycling effort Tuesday as celebrants prepare to let go of formerly live trees with which they’ve decorated their homes and businesses. Trees can be dropped off at two locations:

• The City Service Center, 1108 First St. N.E., has a trailer outside the fence, so people can drop off trees any time. There’s also a bin for construction materials, but the one for the trees is well-marked, according to city Public Relations Director Amy Johnson.

• The city has also placed a bin at the State Farmers Market, the same spot where it once had bins for aluminum, plastic and newspaper recycling.

The trees are typically chipped up for use as mulch by city landscaping crews.

 

Banks Lake drawdown underway

LAKELAND, Ga.  — Personnel at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge are drawing down water levels in Banks Lake this winter as a means to control aquatic vegetation.  The drawdown began in November, with staff gradually reducing the water levels with the goal of lowering the water level by seven to eight feet to maximize the amount of vegetation exposed to cold temperatures, according to an organizational press release.  At its lowest level, one-third of the 900-acre lake will remain underwater, allowing fish to survive and re-populate the lake once water levels are raised.  While water levels may still be suitable for fishing, the refuge requires all largemouth bass to be catch and release only until May 1, according to the press release.  All other fish species will continue to follow state limits. No fishing tournaments permits will be issued until after May 2018. Banks Lake Outdoors concession operation is currently open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. To contact Banks Lake Outdoors, call (229) 569-0147. Conducting drawdowns of Banks Lake was determined to be the most effective way to control aquatic vegetation after consultation with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, according to the press release.  Full pool in Banks Lake is 191 feet above mean sea level. Earlier this month, water levels were five feet below full pool and a half a foot above the lowest level during the 2015 drawdown. Once levels reach seven feet below full pool, the release of water will be monitored closely, lowering the water levels gradually toward the target of 183. Levels between 184 and 183 feet will be maintained through mid-February in hopes of having several cold spells to kill the exposed plants, according to the press release. For questions, contact Susan Heisey, supervisory refuge ranger, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, (912) 496-7366, ext. 233; or via email at susan_heisey@fws.gov.