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The Vidalia Advance Established 1901
The Lyons Progress Established 1894
Well, what if
there is no
tomorrow? There
wasn ’t one today!
-Phil Connors
News
BYTES
The Spirit of
Harriet Tubman
Leslie McCurdy will
perform a one-
woman show at The
Pal Theatre on
Thursday, February 2,
in commemoration
of the life of Harriet
Tubman. Doors open
at 6:15 p.m., and the
show begins at 7
p.m. For ticket
information, visit the
Pal's website or call
(912) 535-0290.
Greater Vidalia
Chamber
Annual Meeting
The Geek Squad will
entertain at the
Greater Vidalia
Chamber's annual
meeting on Friday,
February 3, at the
Vidalia Community
Center. Doors open
at 5:30 p.m. Tickets
are $75. For
information, call the
Chamber at 912-537-
4466.
Robotic
Surgery First
Anniversary
Memorial Health
Meadows Hospital
invites the public to
attend the first
anniversary of its
Robotic Surgery
Program on Thursday,
February 9, from 4:30-
6:30 p.m., in the
hospital lobby, One
Meadows Parkway,
Vidalia. The public is
invited to meet the
robotic surgery
medical team, see
the surgical robot,
and learn more
about the benefits of
robotic surgery.
Refreshments will be
served.
IN THIS ISSUE
Editorials Page 6A
Obituaries Page 8A
From the Record Page 5A
Your Mind On Line Page 13A
Sports Page 1 B
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Blue Lightning Lights
Up the Screen in Lyons
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
STORY OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSFIIP - Blue Lightning explores the power of family, friend
ship, and love through a heartwarming story of an orphan's reunion with her grand
father, Throughout several comedic moments and meaningful life lessons, the pair
learn to navigate a new life with friends by their side, L to R: Scott Gaver, Brisco De
Poalo, Gordon Daniels, Reverend Carl Wardlaw III, Luther Wardlaw, Quinton Aaron,
Ava Metallo, Pamela Rose Rodriguez,
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail. com
The first movie ever to be fully filmed in
Toombs County hit the big screen Saturday
January 28, as Blue Lightning premiered at the
Blue Marquee in Lyons. It was a star-studded
evening as the cast walked the red carpet,
gave interviews, and greeted the community
they have come to love.
Starring Quinton Aaron, Ava Metallo,
Gordon Daniels, Brisco De Poalo, and oth
ers, the film explores the power of family,
friendship, and love, as a young orphan re-
Please see Movie page 2A
STAR Students Recognized in Ceremony
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
STAR STUDENTS - (L to R): Front: Tommy Barfield, Kerri Ander
son, Dana Manning, Greg Meredith, Back: Kate Kennedy,
Braden Flardeman, Alii Waller, Seth MacGregor.
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
The Kiwanis Club of Vidalia
invited the area’s STAR Student
and Teacher award recipients
to a formal ceremony on Tues
day, January 24, to receive their
awards.
Each school’s STAR Student
is recognized based on the stu
dent’s SAT score, as the honor
commemorates the highest SAT
score within the Top 10 Students
of each class. These awardees
then select a STAR Teacher to
recognize those who invested
most in their academic careers.
Montgomery County
High School
STAR Student
Montgomery County High
School (MCHS) STAR Student
Braden Hardeman, son of Bo
and Terra Hardeman, has grown
throughout his four years at the
school, and even currently serves
as the Vice President of the
BETA Club. He plans to pursue
Please see STAR page 3A
Solo Named WCHS
STAR Student
A STAR ACHIEVEMENT - Wheeler County High School
Senior Jasmine Holland Soto with retired band teach
er Timothy Quigley and employees of the Wheeler
County State Bank, who sponsor the award. L to R:
Janet Henry, Karen Branch, Katina Nobles, Jasmine
Holland Soto, Timothy Quigley, Janice Cox, and
Shelly Cason.
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail. com
Wheeler County
High School senior Jas
mine Holland Soto has
been named the school’s
2023 Professional Asso
ciation of Georgia Edu
cators (PAGE) STAR
Student. Katina Nobles,
Branch Manager of
Wheeler County State
Please see WCHS page
3A
Paradice, Crumpler Named STC
Student, Faculty Member of Year
REPRESENTING STC - Southeastern Technical College (STC)'s GOAL Student
Elizabeth Paradice, left, STC President Larry Calhoun, center, and Rick Per
kins Award Winner Michael Crumpler, right.
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail. com
Several citizens gathered in the
Tattnall Auditorium of Southeastern
Technical College (STC) on Tuesday,
January 24, as the college announced
its annual Student and Faculty Mem
ber of the Year Awards.
Each nominee for these awards
was nominated by a student or fellow
Please see STC page 11A