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National Nutrition Month See Healthlines 11A The Vidalia Advance Established 1901 The Lyons Progress Established 1894 Vol. 123 NO. 10 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia March 10, 2021 It’s always too early to quit. - Norman Vincent Peale News BYTES Prescription Assistance Program The Middle Georgia Community Action Agency is offering assistance with the purchase of prescriptions to residents of Montgomery, Treutlen and Wheeler counties. Call 478-945-2001 for more information. Treutlen Head Start Accepting Applications Treutlen Head Start is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 term. Call 912-529-3774 for more information. By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com Starting next week, resi dents will begin to see sub stantial changes around the Toombs County Courthouse as construction begins on a re placement structure. The new 50,000-square-foot facility will be completed in the next 20 months, said Chris Seabolt, project manager with TQ^ Con struction of Metter, which was awarded the contract for the $34 million undertaking. The work is being funded through a Special Option Local Sales Tax and revenue collected from the cities of Vidalia, Ly ons, and Santa Claus. Additional funds for the project are from money saved for the past decade through the general fund and SPLOST. The new Courthouse will be located slightly to the west of the footprint of the current Courthouse, specifically on the Please see TCC page 4A Photo by Deborah Clark TRAFFIC FLOW CFIANGING - Chris Seabolt, project manager for TQ Construction, left, and Tim Adams, equipment manager for McLendon Enterprises, consult about the changes in the traf fic flow on fhe western side of fhe Toombs County Courthouse. Starting around March 15, the North Victory Drive thoroughfare will be altered as demolition begins on the Ross Bowen building. Left: Artist's rendering of the new Toombs County Courthouse. Traffic Flow Changing as Construction Begins On New Courthouse~ Women's Firearm Safety Course Set The Vidalia Police Department is accepting applications for the Women's Firearm Safety Course scheduled March 13, 20 and 27. Visit the police department or go to the department web site for more information and an application. (Vidaliaga.gov/police/ page/taking-it-streets.) Meadows Offering COVID Vaccinations Meadows Health COVID Vaccine Center is now open dependent on vaccine supply. Vaccines are administered by appointment only. To make an appointment, 912-535-SAFE(7233) or email covid@ meadowsregional.org IN THIS ISSUE Editorials Page 5A Obituaries Page 7A From the Record Page 9A Your Mind On Line Page 9A Sports Page 1 B SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE 30% OFF NEWSSTAND PRICES! Call 537-3131 (or delivery! Seasonal Events Gear Up in Lyons By Rebekah Arnold Contributing Writer A busy spring season is shaping up in Lyons—wel come news for those yearning to get outdoors, greet neighbors and support local competitors. Members of the Lyons City Council, which met March 2, received a report from Daph ne Walker, Lyons Main Street Director, about several events scheduled in the coming weeks. This will be the 29th year Lyons has hosted the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby. The Derby Scholarship Pageant will be held April 3 at Southeastern Tech. Trial runs for the Derby Please see Events page 4A Library Renovation Has Community Commitment Photo by Rebekah Arnold LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS PREPARED FOR PROJECT - Vidalia-Toombs County Library Board members' share the vision for a technology- equipped library to serve all citizens for decades to come. Left to right, Lisa Chesser, Barry Dotson, Jason Davis, Carol Rice, supporter John Ladson, Floward Flolman, Pat Dixon, Mike Walton, Brian Bishop, ad-hoc committee member Gary Campbell. By Rebekah Arnold Contributing Writer “As the one community in stitution that welcomes people at every age and stage of life, meeting their diverse needs and educational aspirations, the library symbol izes a community’s commitment to future generations. Local and state elected officials in Georgia Please see Library page 3A Country Music Singer Rodney Atkins to Headline the 2021 Vidalia Onion Festival Headliner for the Vida lia Onion Festival’s Satur day Night Concert is Coun try music singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins. The Vidalia Onion Committee made the announcement last week. The festival is slated April 22-25. With eight Top 5 sin gles, six No. Is, and a $1 billion career on-demand streams under his belt, At kins is one of Country mu sic’s most prominent artists. His platinum-sell ing No. 1 “Watching You” earned the songwriter a BMI “Million-Air” award and the top spot on Coun try Aircheck’s top-played songs of the decade list. At kins was the second most- played male artist of the de cade overall. He has also sold over 11 million units and earned 10 career FIEADUNER - Country music singer and songwriter Rod ney Atkins will headline the Vidalia Onion Festivals Sat urday night concert on April 25. With eight Top 5 singles, six No. l's, and a $1 billion career on-demand streams under his belt, Atkins is one of Country music's most prominent artists. Gold, Platinum and Multi- Platinum RIAA certifica tions to date, including his Please see VOF page 2A Restore. Repair. 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