Church Safety and Security Summit set for March 2

DALTON, Ga. —  The second annual Church Safety and Security Summit is Saturday, March 2, at the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Training Facility at 296 Old Praters Mill Road. Lunch will be provided to those who register by Tuesday. Topics include church liability, active shooter training, “Stop the Bleed” training and “Stewards of Children” training. The event is free to residents of Murray and Whitfield counties but space is limited and the inaugural event in 2018 filled up quickly. It is open to church leaders, members and volunteers who did not attend the summit in 2018. The event is sponsored by Family Support Council, United Way of Northwest Georgia, Whitfield County 911 and the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office. To register, go to www.ourunitedway.org/church-safety-and-security-summit or email Margaret Zeisig at margaret.zeisig@ourunitedway.org. 

Man charged with hitting stepdaughter with baseball bat

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Monday dispute between a Colquitt County man and his stepdaughter resulted in a trip to jail for him and to the hospital for the woman. Police said attacked her with an aluminum baseball bat. A Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched at about 4:27 p.m. to the residence of Alicia Ware in the 700 block of Seventh Street Northwest, where the officer learned that Ware was being transported to Colquitt Regional Medical Center.  The confrontation between Ware and Ira Nelson Lewis actually took place at about 1:35 p.m. at his 157 Quail Ridge residence, police said.  “The stepfather and stepdaughter had an argument at his residence,” sheriff’s Sgt. Nathan Cato said. “The stepfather grabbed a bat to try to deter her from arguing further (but) it didn’t work. He then struck her with it four times.” Ware suffered injuries to her left arm, left leg and forearm, he said. She was treated at the hospital and released. Ware was at Lewis’ residence to pick up her child at the time of the incident, Cato said. Lewis was charged with battery (family violence) and cruelty to children.

Albany Symphony Orchestra in ABAC Performing Arts Series March 3

TIFTON, Ga. — The Albany Symphony Orchestra returns to the Tifton stage in an exciting concert featuring Chris Brubeck’s Triple Play on March 3 as part of the ABAC Presents! performing arts series at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Triple Play and the Albany Symphony Orchestra will take the stage at the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. on March 3. This performance is supported in part by Ponder’s. ABAC Arts Connection Director Wayne Jones said Triple Play is the name given to three outstanding and versatile musicians, Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Joel Brown, and Chris Brubeck. Ruth will be featured on harmonica, guitar, jaw harp, percussion and vocals.  Brown will be spotlighted on folk and classical acoustic guitar and vocals.  Brubeck concentrates on electric bass, bass trombone, piano, and vocals. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.purplepass.com/aso or at the door at a cost of $10 for students and $20 for adults. Other events in this series will feature the Turtle Island String Quartet on March 28 and Byron Stripling with the ABAC Jazz Ensemble on April 18. For tickets or for more information, interested persons can contact the ABAC Ticket Line at 229-391-4895.