The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current, February 17, 2021, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextVol. 123 No. 7 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia February 17, 2021 The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. -Walt Disney News BYTES Red Cross Blood Drive in Lyons The American Red Cross has scheduled a blood drive in Lyons on Wednesday, February 24, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Lyons Upper Elementary School, 830 S. State Street. Appointment required. Visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Montgomery Slates Pre-K Registration Onion Festival Going Forward Vlt)^ With the support of the City of Vidalia, the 2021 Vidalia Onion Festival Committee met last week and voted to move ahead with plans for the festival to be held April 22-25. The decision to hold the festival is based on the latest national, state, and local CO- VID-19 infection rates decreasing over the last 30 days and the increase of available vaccines, a release from the VOF Committee said. The larg est events, the Friday evening Street Dance and the Saturday Concert, will be held at the Vidalia Regional Airport to provide space for social distancing. “We’re excited to be able to have the festival for our community and the surrounding area. We’re looking forward to having an event that’s fun and positive,” said Andy Woodruff 2021 Vidalia Onion Festival Chairman. “Many of our festival events traditionally take place outdoors so we’re planning to just spread out and put nec essary safety measures in place. Thankfully, the airport property is large enough to ac commodate the two largest events.” Woodruff said. Making the decision to move ahead with the festival and its location enables the committee, vendors and perform ers to make plans based on this venue, he noted. Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper stated, “Our commu nity needs to know this was a decision that was not taken lightly. The choice to move forward Please see VOF page 9A Montgomery County Pre-K will begin accepting applications for the upcoming school year on Monday, February 22, at the Montgomery County Board of Education office. Enrolling students must be four years old by September 1. For a list of required documents call City of Vidalia, EGHC Team Up to Provide COVID-19 Vaccinations Faith Could Make A Difference 9l 2-583-4132. Artists Call The city of Vidalia and the Downtown Vidalia Association are seeking artists and/ or artist-led teams to submit proposals for a mural to be installed on an exterior wall on West Meadows Street in downtown Vidalia. Renderings are due February 19. For more information contact the DVA at dvamainstreet@ vidaliaga.gov or call 912- 537-8033. " COVID-19 Vaccinations Underway Plealthcare providers, first responders and persons aged 65 plus and their caretakers are currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. For more information, call the Georgia COVID Plotline at 844-442-2681. IN THIS ISSUE Editorials Page 5A Obituaries Page 7 A From the Record Page10A Your Mind On Line Page 2A Sports Page 1 B Photo by Rebekah Arnold EGHC AND CITY PROVIDE SERVICE TO SENIOR CITIZENS - Jean Ma rie Hunter, Office Coordinator of East Georgia Healthcare Center (EGHC), discusses the vaccination process with Vidalia City Man ager Nick Overstreet and Mayor Doug Roper as EGHC LPN Sable Fleming prepares a Covid-19 vaccine shot to administer to a pa tient, By Rebekah Arnold Contributing Writer Although COVID-19 vac cinations are being distributed around the country for citizens who are 65 years and older, the availability and accessibil ity continues to be inconsistent. This has been the case in Vidalia and Toombs County. But when opportunity-in Please see Vaccines page 4A COVID-19 Update Monday, February 15 ^ A Number of Confirmed Cases/Hospitalizations/ Deaths (Cumulative from March 2020) Toombs County. 2729/156/80 Montgomery County. 685/39/19 Treutlen County. 597/48/19 Wheeler County. 452/35/20 Meadows Regional Medical Center COVID-19 Patient Census Monday. February 15:11 COVID patients in-house COVID admissions over the last seven days, 2-8-21 to 2-14-21): 8 DA Asks Churches to Join Initiative By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com An initiative launched by the Mid dle Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office is designed to offer positive alterna tives for young peo ple headed toward careers in crime and prison; but the suc cess of the effort is de pendent on support from communities whose residents are wi Middle Georgia District Attorney Tripp Fitzner invest faith that they can make a difference. “We all want the same thing—to live and raise our families in a safe community,” said District Attorney Tripp Fitzner. He believes the Com munity, Faith and Leadership Commit tees being started in the five counties his district serves, in cluding Toombs, will be springboards for filing to Please see Faith page 2A Plans Underway in Montgomery County to Set Speed Limits for 753 Miles of Paved Roads By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com Montgomery County Commissioners have approved an agreement with a States boro firm to initiate work on establishing speed limits for 153 miles of paved, off-system roadways in the county. At its February 8 session, the Commission approved a proposal for EMC Engineering Services, Inc., of Statesboro to provide engineering services for a lump sum fee of $26,000. “The county has never es tablished speed limits for off- system, paved roads except those that were previously state routes,” County Administra tor Brandon Braddy said. The project will be paid for with T- SPLOST funds. The work to be completed Please see M0C0 page 2A SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE 30% OFF NEWSSTAND PRICES! Call 537-3131 lor delivery! # Appling Healthcare Weight Loss & Wellness Weight loss visits starting at $45, every other month! 1702A Meadows Lane | Vidalia, GA | 30474 | (912)705-4905

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The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current, February 17, 2021, Image 1