Newspaper Page Text
Official Unveiling of Butler’s Wall Murals
u Thursday, Aug. 5th, 5 p.m. • Courthouse Square
/gTcHTiOvvgx Taylor County’s National Night Out
POUCt-COMMVNITT PMTNEMK1N
5-8 p.m. • Free Food & Fun for the whole family
Sponsored by Taylor County Sheriff's Office, Buffer Police Department, Reynolds Police Department.
Taylor County Development Authority, Taylor County Chamber of Commerce
She Sutler 3Heralh
“Your Newspaper Since 1876”
(Publication Number USPS 534-720)
144th YEAR, NO. 31 THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2021 1 SECTION, 8 PAGES 50 CENTS PER COPY
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COVID-19 Cases
Increasing In West
Central Health District
—Community Transmission
Currently Low In Taylor County
New Office To
The Taylor County School District began its 2021-
2022 school year on Monday, Aug. % 2021. There
fore, the school buses are out oil the roads. Please
help us protect our students’ well-being and use cau
tion when approaching a school bus. Watch for the
yellow flashing lights, which means the bus is pre
paring to stop. Never pass a bus that has red flash
ing lights, stop signs, and stop arm out. Always watch
for kids crossing streets while preparing to load onto
the bus. We are excited about this school year!
TCHS Lady Vikings To Open
2021 Season Thursday Against Shaw
The Taylor County High School Lady Viking Softball Team will open the 2021 season this
Thursday, Aug. 5th, against the ladies from Sha w High School. The game will be played
at Shaw High School in Columbus, at 5 p.m. The Lady Vikings are: Senior Hannah
Harris and Grace Lay field; Juniors, Caroline Albritton, Grade James, Amberlynn
Hernandez, and Quanishia Dixon; Sophomores, THsta Bennett; Kilie Barrow, and Madi
son Pierce; and Freshmen, Cierra Brown, Grade Cox, Kelsie Driggers, and Nashaila
Sherman. They are coached by Head Coach Ronnie Wiggins and Assistant Coaches London
Wiggins and Michelle Carter.
Focus On Rural
Education
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
Rural education in Georgia is
getting special attention in the
form of a new office within the
state Department of Education
that will focus on the needs of
rural schools.
The Office of Rural Education
and Innovation will be headed
by Bronwyn Ragan-Martin, a
veteran education leader who
served most recently as super
intendent of the Early County
School System and president of
the Georgia School Superinten
dents Association.
RagamMartin w ill take on the
title of deputy superintendent
for rural education and innova
tion starting in October.
>See Rural Schools on p. 5
At this time, the Health De
partment is seeing a rise in
COVID 19 cases across the
West Central Health District.
The following counties are
now considered to have a high
community transmission ofthe
virus: Columbus (Muscogee),
Chattahoochee, Crisp, Dooly,
Harris, Marion, Stewart, and
Talbot.
Other counties in our health
district have moderate trans
mission but are still seeing a
rise in cases. These include:
Clay, Macon, Randolph, Schley,
Sumter, and Webster.
Community Transmission is
currently low in Taylor County,
but with the other counties see
ing a rise in cases, we may soon
see a rise in cases in Taylor, as
well.
We have the tools to fight this
virus. Here’s what you can do.
If you have not been vaccinated
against the COVID Virus,
please consider doing so now.
Get Vaccinated- Vaccinations
are free and available at many
locations. You can find a loca
tion near you using the vaccine
locator website, https://
www.vaccines.gov/
Get Tested - COVID 19 Tests
are free to the public.
Visithttps://westcentral
hcaltbdistrict.com/ (Note: The
COVID 19 Testing site in Co
lumbus has moved to 5601 Vet
erans Parkway)
Other ways to protect yourself
include:
Wear a mask, Universal
masking should be worn in
public indoor settings, regard
less of vaccinat ion status,
Stay 6 feet away from others
outside your home: The CDC
advises putting 6 feet of dis
tance between yourself and
people who don’t live in your
household. Remember that
some people without symptoms
may be able to spread the vi
rus.
Avoid crowds and poorly ven
tilated spaces - Being in crowds
like in restaurants, bars, fit
ness centers, or movie theaters
puts you at higher risk for
COVID-19.
Wash your hands often: Wash
your hands often wit h soap and
water lor at least 20 seconds,
especially after you have been
in a public place, or after blow
ing your nose, coughing, or
sneezing.
Cover coughs and sneezes: If
you are wearing a mask, you
can cough or sneeze into your
mask. Put on a new, clean mask
as soon as possible and wash
your hands.
Ifyou are not wearing a mask,
always cover your mouth and
nose with a tissue w r hen you
cough or sneeze, or use the in
side of your elbow and do not
spit. Throw used tissues in the
trash.
Clean and disinfect - Clean
high touch surfaces daily. This
includes tables, doorknobs,
light switches, countertops,
handles, desks, phones, key
boards, toilets, faucets, and
sinks.
Please call the COVID 19 call
center at (706) 653-6613, ifyou
have questions related to
COVID 19 or need assistance
signing up to be tested or get a
COVID 19 vaccination.
Full CDC COVID 19 Guid
ance can be found at https://
www. c dc. gov/coro n a vim s/2019-
ncov/i ndex.html
For the latest updates on
COVID 19 Cases in Georgia
and the health district, please
visit https://dph.georgia.gov/
co vid-19 - da ily-sta tu s - re po rt.
Two-Time Georgia Country Music Artist Of The
Year, Megan Fowler, Performs In Buena Vista
From The Journal,
Buena Vista, GA
By Richard Harris
The featured performer at the
latest Coffee Club Nights con
cert at the Moon Family The
atre in Buena Vista was two-
time Georgia Female Country
Artist of the Year Megan
Fowler, a native of nearby Tay
lor County who has been
emerging as a successful pro
fessional musician over the last
several years,
Fowler grew up in the Rupert
Community and is a 2012
graduate of Taylor County
High School.
“I’ve been involved in music
my whole life, hut didn’t take
it on professionally until I
graduated from high school and
went out on my own, she said.
Now, she's been a pro for
around nine years and her ca
reer has continued to pick up
steam. In addition to her
awards, some of her career
highlights so far have been
'‘working with superb artists
such as Bryan White, Pam
Tillis, and Linda Davis’’ and
“being able to share the stage
with incredible artists like
Luke Combs, Phil Vasser, and
Edwin McCain.”
Now, after performing in
Buena Vista for the first time
ever, she’s happy to add play
ing the new r theatre in Buena
Vista to her highlight list.
“The Moon Family Theatre is
such a cool venue,” said Fowler.
“It’s something that I never
thought would be in Buena
Vista, but I am so glad that it
is. The owners, stalf, and every
one involved in the theatre and
cafe (Coffee Club) are super
great people, and they helped
make my first experience there
one that I w'on’t forget."
She was joined on stage by
guitarist Josh Walton and
drummer/cajon player Scott
Park, who she describes as “two
of the best guys that I’m so
blessed to have play with me."
Fowler has been described by
critics as a “beguiling mix of
class and country, sweetness
and determination.” She said
that is flattering, but also sort
of fits her personality, as she’s
just as happy tending to cows
as getting “dolled up”.
While she’s already had
plenty of accomplishments on
the stage, she’s nowhere near
ready to stop following her
dream.
“My career goal as an artist is
to make people happy through
music,” she said. “Whether
that’s from playing my own
original music, cover songs, or
leading worship, 1 love to per
form and put a smile on
people’s faces and make them
fee) the music, I’m going to con
tinue to do that for as long as
God blesses me to do so.”
Fowler said the two things
she’s enjoyed the most along
the way are making music and
meeting people.
“f’ve met some incredible
people - some who have become
friends - along my journey and
I never would have met them
if it hadn't been for music.’’
Like all artists, 2020 was dif
ficult due to the pandemic and
limited opportunities to per
form. but she said it’s re
bounded nicely, and she has
been extremely busy so far this
year. Her upcoming shows in
clude playing at the Society
Garden in Macon on Saturday,
August 28.
“Honestly, 1 am just so grate
ful and blessed to be able to
play music as my full-time job.”
said Fowler. H If it weren’t for
people like those at the Moon
Family Theatre, who have sup
ported me along the way, 1
wouldn't be where I am today."
For more information on
Megan Fowler, visit
mcganfowlcrmusic.com.
For a schedule of upcoming
show s at Moon Family Theatre
in Buena Vista, visit
moonfamilytheatre.com.
(For photo$ and videos of
Megan Fowler’s show, visit
tjourn a l, sn i ugm itg. com,)