AND THEY'RE OFF! -- Students at Sally D. Meadows Elementary School in Vidalia participate in the Annual Red Ribbon Parade to encourage remaining drug-free.
The entire student body and most faculty members of Sally D. Meadows Elementary School put their books and papers aside Wednesday morning and paraded through the neighborhood in a declaration to stay drug-free. In all, nearly 700 students, most dressed in red in honor of the event, paraded through several blocks in the school neighborhood with their escorts.
The annual Red Ribbon Parade, coordinated and led by the Vidalia Police Department, was held Wednesday with a theme of “Drug Free Looks Like Me.” Cpl. Dwayne Carpenter is the School Resource Officer and D.A.R.E. instructor in the Vidalia city School System.
“I think this is very important,” Cpl. Carpenter said. “It shows the students that the community is behind them in an attempt to stay off drugs, prevent bullying, and becoming involved in gang activity.”
In addition to the students and police, participating in the parade were City Officials, the VHS Soundtribe percussionists and auxiliary, and the Vidalia Fire Department. The parade was led by Daren, the D.A.R.E. Lions mascot.
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Lyons Upper Elementary School and Toombs Central Elementary School have been recognized in nine performance categories and have earned the elite top distinction as Lighthouse Schools by the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, a nonprofit organization that independently assesses schools to ensure students are getting the best education possible.
Toombs County Schools Superintendent Barry Waller said that the team spent a day-and-a-half at each of the schools, and observed in real time how the schools, staff, students and parents interact and operate.
“We didn’t put on a dog and pony show,” he said. “We just had ‘school,’ and the word I got from the team was always positive.”
According to Lyons Upper Elementary School Principal Tabatha Nobles, in addition to in person observance in each classroom in the schools, data was considered that reflected a 3 – 5-year period.
“We’re proud of these two schools; not all schools can claim this honor,” Waller said.
LUES Principal Nobles and Toombs Central Principal Destiny Levant will accept all of the documentation and awards in December in Orlando.
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L-R: David Avery, SECCA Director of High School Programs; Shelly Smith, SECCA CEO; and Romanous Dotson, Altamaha EMC General Manager.
Altamaha EMC’s Operation Round Up program provides assistance to charitable organizations and agencies in the seven counties served by Altamaha EMC. All Operation Round Up donations are administered through the Altamaha EMC Foundation, an independent organization governed by a board of directors made up of community leaders. Each quarter, this board evaluates all applications for funding and determines how the funds will be distributed. The Altamaha EMC Foundation Board recently awarded grants to Southeastern Early College and Career Academy, SECCA.
Southeastern Early College and Career Academy (SECCA) is an educational partnership among four local school systems and Southeastern Technical College where high school students participate in courses directly relevant to their career choices. SECCA received a $2500.00 grant for the Energy Industry Pathway to prepare students for careers in the energy industry.
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Vidalia Police Department reports the following arrests.
Peterson, John Micheal - W/M - 37 YOA - 1088 Ezra Taylor Rd Lyons Ga Warrant Served (State Probation)
Gonzalea, Teresa Michelle - W/F - 41 YOA - 215 Holland St Collins Ga Warrant Served (Statesboro Police Department)
Spires, Justin Blake - W/ M - 30 YOA - 354 Coogan Williams Rd Vidalia Ga Warrants Served (Toombs County)
Patrick, Lawrence Chester - W/M - 62 YOA - 205 Peachtree St Vidalia Ga Disorderly Conduct
Lyons Police Department reports the following arrests.
Young, Fletcher Lamont, Jr. – Swainsboro – Driving while license suspended or revoked (first)
Toombs County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests.
Brown, Shaquansa – Brunswick – Failure to appear
Dean, Ryan – Lyons – Theft by receiving stolen property, burglary-1st degree, theft by receiving stolen property, burglary-2nd degree
Flores, Adolfo – Lyons – DUI/Drugs/less safe, safety belts-required usage, driving while unlicensed
Harvey, Anthony – Lyons – Failure to appear
Kinsey, Christopher – Vidalia – Aggravated assault, simple battery FVA, aggravated assault
Mosley, Gabrieo – Vidalia – DUI/alcohol less safe, use of multiple-beam road lighting equipment
Saxon, Christopher – Claxton – Failure to appear
Montgomery County Sheriff ‘s Office reports the following arrests.
10/20-Zackery William Phillips, Uvalda, Felony Probation Violation
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and on this months Health Talk, our Jeff Raiford had a discussion with Memorial Health Meadows Hospital Director of Radiology Tracey Kennedy about the importance of early detection.
Kennedy is a third-generation breast cancer survivor, and was diagnosed with the disease at age 38, which is considered a young age. However, because she had family that had been diagnosed, she began her mammograms early and which possibly saved her life.
According to Kennedy, women should listen to their doctor’s advice as to when to begin getting their own mammograms, but insurance usually starts covering the cost when a woman is around 40 or earlier if there is a diagnostic reason. The procedures can be annually or biannually depending on the patient’s age, preference, and medical recommendations.
In addition to following a woman’s doctor’s guidelines, women themselves bear a responsibility to keep a check on possible signs of breast cancer, and Kennedy says what women should be mindful of.
“Women need to know their own breasts,” she said. “If you find a lump, skin dimpling, nipple retraction or leakage, or if you see a red patchy rash or detect lymph node swelling, you should see your doctor.”
For more information on breast cancer, visit the Memorial Health Meadows Hospital or the American Cancer Society’s websites.
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