About The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2023)
The ADVANCE, April 19, 2023/Page 10A SHje Aiiuancg SENIOR TEAM CAPTAINS — Coach Jake takes one last group shot with the senior team captains. (L TO R): Front Row: Carston Tapley, Addie Thompson, Josiah Meek, Dawson Pinckard, Sebastian Holmes, Tucker Heath, Back Row: Abbie Bishop, Kate Kennedy, Adria Cuevas-Ortes, Zach Reaves, Mary-Claire Wolfe, JaShaun Powell, Hanna Nichols, Coach Jake Wilkinson, Britton Botelho, Andrew Tuck, Aly Brown, Emmie Lynn, Amily Mixon, Marli Dryden. RTCA Holds 2023 Field Day Spot a Tegu? Let DNR Know GIANT LIZARD - Jim Gillis, a wildlife technician with the Game Management Section of the Georgia Depart ment of Natural Resources, displays an adult black and white Argentine tegu captured in this area. Gillis, who is assigned to a 17-county region in South Georgia, said the Toombs—Tattnall county line is a hot spot for reports on encounters with these invasive predators, The animals, which are popular in the pet trade, either escaped from captivity or were deliberately dumped in the wood by their owners, Male tegus can grow to four feet in length. Robert Toombs Chris tian Academy held its an nual all-school Field Day on Friday April 14, at McLen don Field. There were a total of 16 teams vying for the 2023 RTCA Field Day trophy. Each team includes students in grades kinder garten through twelfth, with Senior students as the team captains. Some of the events included wa ter over-under, bat spin soccer, basketball shoot, beach ball hockey, water By Deborah Clark Regional Editor dclarkadvance@gmail. com Long-time Wheeler County resident Karen Mercer was named new Elections Supervisor by the Wheeler County Commis sion at its regular monthly session on April 3. Mercer succeeds Sheila Cheek, who was recently appoint ed Elections Supervisor in Montgomery County. Mercer, who lives near Glenwood, retired in 2012 from the Department of Family and Children Ser vices. She worked with DFCS for 34 years as a case worker, supervisor, and field program specialist covering 18 counties. She has served on the Wheeler County Board of Registrars since 2014 and has assisted the local elections supervi sor during elections. Mercer was born in Wash ington, D.C., where her fa ther was stationed during his military service. She moved with her family to Treutlen County, her fa ther’s birthplace, and grad- obstacle course, jigsaw puzzle, water balloon relay, run waiter run, and the stu dents’ favorite Victory Lap. Students take a victory lap around the track with their team and are covered in colored powder as they run their victory lap for com pleting Field Day. “I look forward to Field Day every year be cause we are the only school in the surround ing county who allows the whole school to participate uated from school there. After attending Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon, Mercer earned a degree in business admin istration from Georgia Southern College. She and her husband, in Field Day. I really enjoy getting to see our students come together as one. The Seniors really take control of their team and make sure the younger students are having a good time and help them get through each race. I would also like to thank the faculty for help ing to run each of the rac es,” states Jake Wilkinson, Field Day Coordinator and RTCA Coach. Thomas, a native of Wheel er County, have two chil dren and six grandchildren. She has resided in Wheeler County since 1973 and is a member of Landsburg Methodist Church where she is assistant pianist. When you're outdoors in Toombs, Tattnall and neighboring counties, keep an eye out for tegus and tell Georgia DNR if you see one of these big South American lizards. DNR is working with residents and other part ners to remove a wild pop ulation of Argentine black and white tegus in this part of southeast Georgia. The population, likely started by escaped or released pets, poses a threat to na tive wildlife. Adaptable and hungry, Argentine black and white tegus will eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds — such as quail, turkeys and whip-poor-wills — as well as those of other reptiles, including alligators and gopher tortoises, Georgia's state reptile. Tegus will also eat chicken eggs, fruit, vegetables, plants, pet food and small animals. There are concerns that tegus will spread ex otic parasites to Georgia wildlife and cause bacterial contamination of crops. Like most reptiles, they can carry salmonella, too. As a non-native spe cies, tegus in the wild can be trapped or killed on private property with land- owner permission and in accordance with animal cruelty and local ordi nances. But DNR wants to know about all sightings to better gauge the invasive lizards’ spread. For key sites, DNR can provide loaner traps, advice and even help monitoring, said Daniel Sollenberger, a senior wildlife biologist. "With area residents, hunters and other folks helping us find and control tegus, we are cautiously op timistic we can control this population.” Tegus pose a challenge. Sollenberger said they are generalists in habitat, diet and the temperatures they can survive. “They can live almost anywhere and eat almost anything.” How You Can Help Report tegus seen in the wild, alive or dead. Note the location, take a photo if possible and re port the animal at gain- vasives.org/tegus, (478) 994-1438 or gainvasives(a) dnr.ga.gov. In Toombs and Tattnall counties, keep pet food inside, fill holes that might serve as shelter and clear yards of debris such as brush piles that can pro vide cover for tegus. Wherever you live in Georgia, be a responsible pet owner. Do your re search before buying an exotic pet, and don’t let it loose. Also, as of December 2022, pet Argentine black and white tegus in Geor gia must be registered and tagged — or transferred to someone who has a wild animal license or permit — before Dec. 4, 2023. Learn More See native reptile spe cies sometimes misidenti- fied as tegus. Download fly ers profiling tegus and their tracks. Find out how listing Argentine black and white tegus as wild animals af fects owning one in Geor gia. Visit georgiawildlife. com/tegus. Also watch: “The Dan ger of Tegu Lizards” (Geor gia Public Broadcasting) Connect with Us Questions? Give us a call at 1-800-366-2661 or visit georgiawildlife.com. Wildlife Resources Di vision headquarters: 2067 U.S. Hwy. 278 SE, Social Circle, GA 30025 STARR MUSIC Announcing CLASS OF2023 Graduation May 17,2023 At a time when your graduate needs recognition the most, show your pride with a Grad Ad in The Advance. Each ad will feature a picture of the graduate and a special message from you. Konner Owens We are so proud of you and all of your accom plishments! We love you son! Joshua 1:9 To be a part of this special salute, email your photo and message to: legalsadvance@gmail.com or call 537-3131. Honor Your Grad Ad 2x4 block ad for $35 Deadline May 4 nct Karen Mercer Named Wheeler County Elections Supervisor Photo by Deborah Clark NEW ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR — Karen Mercer assumed the role of Wheeler County Elections Supervisor on April 3 after being appointed by the Wheeler County Commis sion during its regular session. She replaces Sheila Cheek, who is Montgomery County's new Elections Supervisor.
