Thursday, April 30, 2009
Letter-writer 'hijacked' words in Bible to 'fuel hatred' for Obama
It's one thing to display hatred for President Obama. It's quite another to hijack five words from the Holy Bible to fuel that hatred, raise a nation to the level of idol and promote a narrow political agenda.
Weekend events
Misty Corley holds her 22-month-old son, Justyce Corley, as he pets a bunny held by Stephanie Harville, the owner of Barnyard Mobile Petting Farm during Augusta Preparatory Day School's sixth annual Arts Fest at the school's campus in Martinez.
Prosthetic eye 'feels much better'
At 5 years old, Zach Hamilton lost an eye to a BB gun. No, he didn't shoot his eye out. Details aside, the incident earned Zach an ocular implant and prosthetic eye.
Ban on outdoor burning begins May 1, runs through September
Columbia County residents have just two more days to burn yard debris. Friday is the first day of the five-month ban on residential and commercial burning.
Contest is added to activities
Using concrete as a canvas and chalk as the medium, artists will transform the walkways surrounding the Columbia County Amphitheater and Memorial Gardens on Saturday during the inaugural Art in the Park Sidewalk Chalk Contest.
Newsmakers
Zach Searle, a seventh-grader at Greenbrier Middle School, won third place in the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest in March.
Current events
The final installment of Columbia County's Blues, Barbecues and Brews series will feature Electric Voodoo at 7 p.m. Friday at the Columbia County Amphitheater behind the library in Evans, with barbecue by Goolsby's. Admission is free; barbecue, beer and wine will be sold.
Get Up and Go
Westmont Elementary School will hold a spring fling carnival from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday at the school.
School Councils
- The Evans Elementary council will meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the media center.
Newsmakers
Matthew W. Freck, of Grovetown, graduated from Kettering University in Flint, Mich., in December 2008 with a masters in business administration.
Adoption spotlight
These pets are available for adoption from Columbia County Animal Care and Control. For more information, call (706) 541-4077 or visit www.columbiacountyga.gov and follow the links to Animal Care and Control.
Police blotter
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty against a Columbia County woman and her son accused of fatally beating a Grovetown woman.
Training down below
A rescue worker climbs down into a pit during a rescue simulation at a water treatment plant. Emergency Response Technologies conducted training in confined-space rescue for Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue and Columbia County Water Utility employees.
On Vacation
Carlyann (from left), Courtney and Corrine Dickson took a seven-day cruise during March with their parents, Todd and Gina Dickson, of Evans, on the Carnival Triumph. They visited Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.
Camp calendar
The 18th Evans High School Basketball Youth Camp will be held June 8-12 and June 22-26. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Cost is $100 per session with lunch or $85 if campers bring lunch. For information, call Kevin Kenny at (706) 951-3686 or (706) 863-1198.
Military newsmakers
Army Reserve Pvt. Raven K. Harper has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia. She is the daughter of Jenies Griffin, of Thomson, and is a 2008 graduate of Thomson High School.
Drill team performs
The Evans High School boys and girls precision drill teams performed at Bel Air Elementary for members of the Bel Air Gentlemen's Club on April 21.
School Lunches
Lunch menus for students attending Columbia County schools.
Ready for the rodeo
Dennis Morris, of Springfield, Tenn., and M.C. Merritt, of New Albany, Miss., wash off one of Morris' horses before the start of the rodeo held Friday and Saturday.
Time Capsule
As reported 30 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times , Wednesday, May 2, 1979:
Maybe flu planning makes sense now
A Hephzibah resident said "there was no warning" when her home was struck by a tornado. Fortunately no one in her home was injured. But the fact is that there were ample warnings before the tornadoes ever touched down.
Editorial cartoon
Editorial cartoon for the Wednesday, April 29 Columbia County News-Times.
Next up: Jail for a wedgie
Ever heard of "pantsing"? It's the kind of thing you'd expect an 11-year-old to do in a middle-school PE class. As a matter of fact, an 11-year-old boy at Grovetown Middle School did just that on the morning of April 17, yanking down the pants of a classmate in the locker room.
Marshall remembered as 'the total package'
Patrick Marshall knows his son will be remembered by many people for his basketball. But he wants them to know what Eric Marshall planned to do with his gift.
Athlete Spotlight: William Banks & Stephanie Cippalone
Augusta Christian track coaches Charles Cooper and Keith Walton know they might not have the numbers to compete with some of the top teams. But, as in past years, the Lions have some individuals who could be in the running for best in the state.
Sports Stars
Siblings Julie and Jamie Testi Calhoun placed first in their division of 3.0 mixed doubles in the Banana Open at Petersburg Racquet Club on April 18, and now advance to the Banana Open in Hilton Head.
Late goal just enough to advance Evans
Evans High School had its focus tested for all 80 minutes against Mount Zion-Jonesboro on April 22, a game they controlled throughout even though they didn't score until the final minute.
Sports calendar
The inaugural CSRA RV and Boat Show will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Wildwood Park in Appling.
Show to feature merchandise, kids' activities
The CSRA RV and Boat Show will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Wildwood Park in Appling.
Another stellar season has 'Pack back in playoffs
As I write this column, Greenbrier High School's girls soccer team is getting ready to battle East Coweta in Round 2 of the state playoffs.
Stampede takes all in Shootout
The Stampede Baseball 9U Travel Team won the Carolina Spring Shootout in Aiken. The team won with the help of a no-hitter by Hunner Jones and an out-of-the-park home run by Dantavian Stephens.