Approximately $125,000 worth of stolen items recovered in north Georgia

VARNELL, Ga. — Three days after a Varnell Police Department officer’s early morning traffic stop led to the recovery of multiple stolen items worth approximately $125,000, including three trailers, two motorcycles and a Ford pickup truck, Chief Lyle Grant said the investigation is probably going to “go further.” In an interview on Tuesday, Grant said there wasn’t “a whole lot more” information to give than what was on the Cohutta Police Department’s Facebook page on Sunday. That post said the traffic stop led to a multi-agency operation that included the Varnell and Cohutta police departments and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. The items had been taken from the Dalton, Cohutta, Whitfield County and Lyerly areas in Georgia and Chattanooga and Cleveland in Tennessee. “All owners that have been identified so far have been notified or contact was attempted,” the post said. Grant said Tuesday that items were still being inventoried and information about the items was still coming in.

Festival of Lights begins Friday

WHITE SPRINGS, Fla. — The 2018 Festival of Lights will flip the switch Friday, following the White Springs Christmas Parade at 6 p.m.

Admission is a new, unwrapped toy (ages 5-15).

The lights will be ablaze this holiday season at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park until Dec. 24. The Festival of Lights has grown over the years and has been named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast United States for almost a decade.

The well-loved family tradition of the classic Festival of Lights on our Holiday Magic Nights will continue on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays plus the last full week of the festival. The event features free hot cocoa, popcorn, marshmallow roasting, bonfire, craft activities, snow flurries, train display, a gift shop, music in the Tower and of course Santa. The events will be Dec. 1-2, 7-9 and 14-23. Admission is $3 per person, although children 3 and under are free.

Silent Nights will be week nights, Monday through Thursday, and is part of the park’s effort to lessen lines and create a more intimate experience for visitors. Load up the family and come enjoy the beautiful light displays at your leisure. Guests are encouraged to park and walk through the lights, spend time with their family, take photos and make memories without the hustle and bustle of Holiday Magic Nights. Admission is $2 per person with children 3 and under still free.

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is located at 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs. For more information, call 386-397-2733.

Lonestar singer to play Tift Theatre

TIFTON, Ga. — Richie McDonald, perhaps best known as the voice and face of country music group Lonestar, is set for the Tift Theatre Jan. 10, according to a press release. South Georgia native Ryn Crider, who recently made the move to Nashville, Tenn., will be opening the show. McDonald is “one of country’s best singers and a polished and engaging entertainer,” according to the release, as well as a successful songwriter. He’s known for a number of songs, including “Amazed,” “I’m Already There,” “Smile,” “Everything’s Changed,” “No News,” “From My Front Porch Looking In,” and “What About Now,” among others. He has earned six gold and platinum albums, several CMA and ACM awards as well as BMI awards for songwriting, the release states. McDonald’s last solo album was 2010’s “Slow Down.” The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Freshtix.com. The show is being produced by McAlpin Entertainment.