The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current, April 28, 2021, Image 1

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The Advance., April 28, 2021, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text1*311* NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH See Healthlines 10A The Vidalia Advance Established 1901 2021 Onion Run See Sports 1B The Lyons Progress Established 1894 ncc Vol. 123 No. 17 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia April 28, 2021 Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep. - Carl Sandburg The Hatchet is Buried New Courthouse Groundbreaking News BYTES Montgomery Matters Cleanup Day The Montgomery Matters countywide cleanup day is set for Saturday, May 1. Call 912-659-4109 for more information. Rubber Duck Race A Rubber Duck Race will be held virtually during May. Proceeds benefit action pact. For more information, visit info@actionpact. org. 2nd Annual Trivia Challenge The Alzheimer Association's Annual Trivia challenge is scheduled for May 13. Sponsors are DOT Foods and the Vidalia Rotary Club. For information, call 912- 537-6249. United Way Golf Tournament The 27th Annual United Way Golf Tournament for Toombs, Montgomery and Wheeler Counties will be held May 13 at the Swainsboro Golf Club. For more information, call 912-537-2776. Head Start Accepting Applications Head Start is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 year. Call 912-526-9229 for more information. IN THIS ISSUE Editorials Page 5A Obituaries Page 7A From the Record Page 9A Your Mind On Line Page 14A Sports Page 1 B SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE 30% OFF NEWSSTAND PRICES! Call 537-3131 (or delivery! By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail.com Officials gathered on the site of the new Toombs County Courthouse in Lyons on Tuesday April 21, to make history Although work has already be gun as the ground has been cleared and made ready for construction of a new judicial complex, a ceremonial turning of the dirt brought together county of ficials to symbolically mark the begin ning of a new courthouse era. Chairman David Sikes told those present that this is the fourth court house to be built in Toombs County The current courthouse was built in 1964, but the first courthouse, built in 1906, was destroyed by fire. A time cap sule from this structure still exists, and when Sikes opened it recently, he was inspired by its contents. Among the items inside a box that Please see TCC page 4A TWO CITIES BURY THE HATCHET - Mayor Willis NeSmith, center, of Lyons and Mayor Doug Roper, right, of Vidalia join Toombs County Commission Chairman David Sikes in turning the dirt at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new County Courthouse April 20. The ceremony provided an opportunity to "bury the hatchet" which harked back to the county's founding and con troversy about where the county seat would be located. 2021 Citizens of the Year Photo by Evan Riekhof CITIZENS OF THE YEAR - In the photo at left, Pat Dixon, right, named Vidalia's Wom an of the Year for 2021, accepts her award from Cindy Williams, a good friend and 2020 Woman of the Year. In the photo at right, James Thompson, left, accepts his award as 2021 Man of the Year from Howard Holman, the 2013 recipient. The awards were bestowed at the 73rd Annual Vidalia Citizens of the Year Banquet on April 20. By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail. com Two people who have made tre mendous contributions to the com munity over the years were recognized at the 73rd Annual Citizens of the Year Banquet. The event was held at the Vi dalia Community Center on Tuesday, April 20, and was sponsored by the Ro tary, Lions and Kiwanis organizations of Please see COTY page 2A Two Key "Ace in the Hole" Defendants Sentenced Justin Andre Deltinaud Adams Jackson Toussaint Two Vidalia men who played key roles in an expansive, gang- related drug trafficking ring in middle Georgia each have been sen tenced to more than a decade in federal pris on. The announcement was made in a news re lease issued April 22 by the U.S. District Attor ney’s Office, Southern District of Georgia. Justin Adams, a/k/ a “Ace,” 40, of Vi dalia, and Andre Jack- son, a/k/a “Dre,” 31, of Vidalia, were sentenced Please see Ace page 4A Thousands Flock to the 2021 Vidalia Onion Festival By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail. com The 2021 Vidalia Onion Fes tival got off to a “sweet” start last week, with plenty of music, fireworks - and a visit by Governor Brian Kemp at Friday night’s opening cer emonies. On Satur day, the clouds rolled in and paused the fun—even can celling the much- anticipated eve- ning concert—but you can’t keep a good onion down for long. Sunday dawned bright and clear and the crowds returned to finish celebrat ing in a spectacular way. Downtown Vidalia was trans formed mid-week with a plethora o f activities, from the reveal of a new mural, to sidewalk art by area high school stu dents, to the chil dren’s “Walk About America” parade with Festival Mas cot Yumion, and a free movie under the stars at City Stage. A tantalizing aroma filled the air as the Down- Please see VOF page 11A Photo by Evan Riekhof TAKING A SWEET BITE - Tracy Clark with the Vidalia Lions Club encourages a young participant in the Onion Eating contest Sunday afternoon. The contest, held on the stage behind the Arts and Crafts Festival, was rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday after the rain arrived. # Appling Healthcare Group of Vidalia ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS •Primary Care • Chronic Care Management • Health Maintenance Screenings • Acute Care • Weight Management • Physical Exams • Disease Prevention • Sick Visits • Telehealth Visits • COVID Antibodies Screenings Mandi Wright, FNP-C | Cindy Holton, NP-C Joseph Foust, MD FAAFP 1702A Meadows Lane Vidalia, GA 30474 (912)705-4905 www.ahcs.