Sunday, November 25, 2007
Lions Club extends outreach to kids with holiday toy drive
One Columbia County civic club is hoping its toy drive will make Christmas special for some children.
Art After Dark reception will kick off a month of exhibits
The Columbia County Artist Guild's second annual "Art After Dark" exhibition will begin with a reception Friday at the Columbia County Library and continue with art exhibits through the end of December.
Young Harlem actor setting his sights on lifelong career
Danny Zuko might have been Michael Lay's more prominent role on stage, but this Harlem High School senior's sights are set on a much larger, lifelong role.
Groups give back for military service
Army Pvt. Randall Enders made the grateful sounds that come from eating homemade desserts for the first time in a long time at Harlem's annual Military Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday.
Ballerina triumphs after back surgery
As the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Columbia County Ballet's The New Nutcracker this past weekend, Carlee Snyder performed several series of graceful spins and jumps with seeming ease.
Protect your plants from cold weather
Even though the temperature outside is close to 75 degrees as I write this, I am going to talk about protecting your plants from cold weather. We have had some colder weather in the past two weeks, but nothing that is cold enough to damage plants.
Planning commission ordinance passes first reading
The Columbia County Commission voted Tuesday to accept a first reading of an ordinance that overhauls rules governing the county's planning commission but leaves residency requirements the same.
Building is now county's focal point
Columbia County christened its "magnificent" new courthouse five years ago this week, and that's when officials say Evans started to develop its identity.
Soldier speaks at Westmont
As the assembly opened with the pledge to the American flag, a strong sense of pride echoed through the Westmont Elementary School cafeteria as guests and pupils honored the country's veterans during their annual Veterans Day ceremony.
Quota hunts to shut park briefly
Mistletoe State Park on Thurmond Lake will close for three days while quota hunts are conducted for wildlife management purposes.
New trailer will help Citizen's Auxiliary service
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office fleet recently premiered its new Emergency Response Unit.
Consultant's work could pave way for new noise ordinance
What started as a noise complaint lodged last year against a Martinez car wash might lead to an entirely new county nuisance ordinance, officials say.
Poinsettias can last into 2008
For many, the Christmas holidays just aren't the same without a bright, red poinsettia sitting on the hearth. But the poinsettia, long seen as the plant of choice during the holidays, can last well past December.
Proceeds support endowment fund
Columbia County will welcome the holiday season with a special Christmas concert Thursday at the Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center.
After construction, Furys Ferry Road area is back in business
The Furys Ferry Road corridor in Martinez is beginning to see a business resurgence, officials say, more than a year after the completion of a long-awaited road-widening project.
Photo: Monkey Joe's opens
Monkey Joe's, a party and play location for children, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 2 for its new Columbia County location, on Furys Ferry Road, in Martinez. The store donated $1,000 to Special Olympics of Georgia.
Westmont Elementary honor roll
First nine weeks honor roll for Westmont Elementary.
Things to do
Vendor spaces are available for the Martinez United Methodist Church holiday bazaar, to be held in the church gym from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For information, call Ada Brownson at (706) 721-3621, or Carol Scoggins at (706) 863-1970.
Photo: Students watch New Nutcracker
Evans Elementary first-graders went to see the Columbia County Ballet's The New Nutcracker at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center. Posing with them is the Sugar Plum Fairy, Carlee Snyder.
Photo: Bears have perfect season
The CCRD Bears had a perfect season, finishing with a 12-0 record.
Harlem Middle School Honor Roll
First nine weeks honor roll for Harlem Middle School.
Adoption spotlight
Edward is an active kitten looking for a home. He is neutered, current on vaccines, litter trained and ready to be your new family member.
Photos: Italian Thanksgiving benefit
Christine samples his wife, Sheri's, Thanksgiving dinner. Monday's benefit raised more than $6,100 for the Columbia County Cares food pantry and Golden Harvest Food Bank.
Photo: Locks of Love donor
Donna Bazen (left), of Hartsville, S.C., made a surprise visit to Evans to donate her hair to Locks of Love. She did so in memory of Karen Baynham, the sister of Debbie Maybee, of Evans. Baynham died in June 2005.
Cedar Ridge Elementary Honor Roll Correction
First Nine Weeks honor roll correction for Cedar Ridge Elementary.
Police blotter
Columbia County and Grovetown authorities are looking for at least three men accused of trying to steal from a Grovetown car wash.
Greenbrier Elementary honor roll
First nine weeks honor roll for Greenbrier Elementary.
Reunions
The Harlem High School class of 1988 is seeking classmates for a 20-year reunion. Send contact information to 88hhs@comcast.net, or call Sharon Banks Davis at (706) 284-5775.
Time capsule
As reported 31 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1976:
Divorces
Norman D. Cooper and Laura Cooper, Aug. 6, 2007.
Property Transfers
RMP Holding Group LLC to Robert A. Reimer and Susan M. Reimer, 3964 Almon Drive, $138,500.
Columbia Middle School Honor Roll
First nine weeks honor roll for Columbia Middle School.
Get Up and Go
Tom Holley, author of books on Confederate soldiers, will be the guest speaker for the November meeting of the Maj. Gen. Ambrose Ransom Wright Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the private dining room of the Side Track Bar and Grill.
School lunches
Lunch menus for students attending Columbia County schools.
Photo: EarthFare opens
EarthFare store manager Mark Osborne prepares to cut the ribbon during its benefit party for the Greater Augusta Arts Council on Nov. 13 as officials from the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce look on. The event raised $13,000 for the arts council.
Current events
The Christmas season gets its official start with parades in Grovetown and Evans, and with the lighting of the county's Christmas tree.
Riverside Middle School Honor Roll
First nine weeks honor roll for Riverside Middle School.
Community Events
Vendor spaces are available for the Martinez United Methodist Church holiday bazaar, to be held in the church gym from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For information, call Ada Brownson at (706) 721-3621, or Carol Scoggins at (706) 863-1970.
School councils
The Riverside Middle School council will meet at 3 p.m. in the media center on Monday, and on Jan. 28, Feb. 25 and April 28.
U.S. needs energy independence
Filling up the mini-van for last week's drive to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving might have cost consumers more this year than any time in history, thanks to the rising price of gasoline.
Donors boost local charities
If there is any topic that any of us probably doesn't want to talk about right now, it's food.
Taxing plan isn't so GREAT
Columbia County's Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday will have a front-row seat to hear about a plan for changing the way taxes are collected in Georgia.
Tournament final another classic battle
Evans and Greenbrier picked up right where the schools left off when it comes to the boys basketball season.
Swim results
The Aiken-Augusta Swim League played host to the annual ASL Fall Invitational Swim Meet on Nov. 16-18 at the Augusta Aquatics Center. About 700 swimmers from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina participated.
Local athletes earn postseason accolades
The Georgia Independent Schools Association has announced its soccer postseason awards for the 2007 season.
Two county athletes take games to the next level
Two more Columbia County athletes will compete at the collegiate level next year after a pair of signing ceremonies last week.
Sports Calendar
The Georgia Rockers 10U travel team is looking for girls interested in playing fastpitch softball for the 2008 season. Players age 9 or 10 on Jan. 1, 2008 may contact Ike Branch at (706) 373-9581 or (706) 860-3886.
Tip Off showcases county's athletes
Another basketball season began last week with the Columbia County Tip Off Tournament. The biggest news was that Evans' boys and Greenbrier's girls won the tournament championships, but that wasn't all fans took away from the two-day event.
Lady Pack still top team
The Greenbrier girls started 2007 with another win at the Columbia County Tip Off Tournament. Many of the players filling the Lady Wolfpack jerseys were different, but the wins came just as they have in year's past.
Prep Calendar
The week ahead in high school sports.
County is again rich in boys talent
Last season, Columbia County had one of its finest years in boys basketball. Both Evans and Greenbrier were among the area's top teams, and a few individuals had breakthrough campaigns.