Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 126 No. 42 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia 75$ October 18, 2023
“Peace will come to
the Middle East when
the Arabs will love
their children more
than they hate us.”
- Golda Meir
News
BYTES
Pink Out
In observance of Breast
Cancer Awareness
Month, Memorial Health
Meadows Hospital will
host a Pink Out Wom
en's Event on Thursday,
October 19, 5:00-6:30
p.m„ in the hospital
main lobby. There will
be onsite registration for
mammograms, ques
tions and answers with
physicians and commu
nity resources, and
food, fun and games.
MoCo Fall
Festival
The Montgomery
County Future Farmers
of America (FFA) will
host a Fall Festival for
the public from 6 p.m.
until 8 p.m. on Thursday,
October 19, at the
Montgomery County
Middle School Gym.
"Pumpkin Passes" will be
required to play games
and may be purchased
at the event. Attendees
may bring 5 canned
goods to donate to the
food drive to trade for
"pumpkin passes." For
more information, con
tact the Montgomery
County High School at
(912) 583-2296.
“Forth & Blue” Unites
Cops and Community
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
This year’s annual “Faith &
Blue” ceremony united law en
forcement officers, church lead
ers, and citizens from across the
area, as several gathered in the
Toombs County High School
auditorium for a community
worship service on October 9.
Lyons Police Department
began hosting the “Faith &
Blue” celebration four years
ago at Toombs County High
School’s football field, known
as “The Pit,” after hearing the
stories of the positive outcomes
of taking part in the national
event.
“Faith & Blue” is celebrated
nationwide to bring law en
forcement and communities
together through faith. The
idea behind the gathering is
to create safer, stronger, more
just and unified communities
by connecting law enforce
ment professionals, residents,
businesses and organizations
through faith.
The initiative aims to re
calibrate police-community
relations through solutions-
focused, in-person activities
that are organized jointly by
faith-based or other communi
ty groups and law enforcement
agencies. This year, on Octo
ber 6-9, cities across the nation
came together in worship to
promote faith, fellowship reso
lution, and reconciliation.
Please see Faith page 12A
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
A TALENTED OFFICER - Lyons Police Officer Ben Glosson performed
during the event, showcasing both his talent and his faith.
Edwards Named MoCo Teacher of The Year
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
Montgomery County
Middle School Social Studies
Teacher Carlena Edwards was
surprised on Friday, October
13, as she was announced
as the Montgomery County
Schools System Teacher of
the Year during the annual
celebration breakfast.
Edwards found herself
speechless upon receiving
the award, which came with
a $3,500 voucher for a pro
fessional development train
ing event which could be at
tended in or out of the state.
“I had the pleasure of hiring
her - she was one of my first
hires a little over 7 years ago
when I got here, and it has
been really fun watching her
get better and better and bet
ter - we can all learn from
that,” Montgomery County
Middle/High School Princi
pal Scott Barrow remarked.
“No matter if you are 2 or 20,
you just have to keep getting
better, and she is a perfect ex
ample of that.”
He continued, “The kids
love her. She has a sweet per
sonality and it helps with how
the kids respond to her. Mrs.
Please see MoCo page 11A
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
SYSTEM TEACHER OF THE YEAR - Montgomery County Middle School
Social Studies Teacher Carlena Edwards was announced as the Mont
gomery County Schools System Teacher of the Year at the annual cel
ebration breakfast on October 13. L to R: Assistant Superintendent Brian
Barnhill, Superintendent Stan Rentz, Carlena Edwards, Assistant Superin
tendent Beverly Faircloth
T-Shirt Design
Contest
The Vidalia Onion Festi
val committee is ac
cepting potential t-shirt
designs as a part of their
T-Shirt Design Contest.
Winner will receive 1
free t-shirt, a concert
ticket, an air show
ticket, and $100. For
guidelines or submis
sions, email Inew814@
gmail.com
IN THIS ISSUE
Editorials Page 6A
Obituaries Page 8A
From the Record Page 5A
Your Mind On Line Page 2A
Sports Page 1 B
SUBSCRIBE
AND SAVE
30% OFF
NEWSSTAND
IMV
Call 537-3131
(or delivery!
The Advance Gun Raffle
A Shooting Success
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
A NEW SUBSCRIPTION & A FREE GUN - Ashley Griffeth found herself with
a new subscription to The Advance and a free hunting rifle after her
name was drawn in the recent subscription promotion sponsored by The
Advance and Brantley's Marine & Gun. L to R: Brantley's Marine & Gun
Store Manager Blake Mosley, Store Owner Donald Brantley, Ashley Griffeth,
and The Advance
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail. com
Many were excited
to subscribe to The
Advance last month,
as the chance to win a
free gun from Brant
ley’s Marine & Guns
had new and renew
ing subscribers hoping
ler William Ledford,
for their lucky shot. It
was Ashley Griffeth of
Glenwood who ulti
mately hit the bullseye,
winning the gun.
Griffeth, who re
cently began working
as a Certified Nursing
Aide at the Memorial
Health Meadows Hos
pital, said the gun will
come in handy, as she
is an avid sports enthu
siast who enjoys both
huntingwith abowand
a rifle. “I didn’t think
I was going to win,”
she commented with
a laugh. “I couldn’t be
lieve it when I got the
call. I am so excited
and thankful!”
Wheeler High School
Student Loses Life
The Wheeler County
community is mourning
the loss of a ninth grader
who was killed Monday,
October 9, when the Polar
is Ranger he was operating
overturned near his home.
Drevin Hayes, 14,
died when the vehicle he
was driving east on Wheat
Road began to yaw, with
its right rear tire striking
a ditch and causing it to
overturn and roll twice.
Hayes was ejected as the
vehicle overturned and
was pinned beneath it, ac
cording to a report by the
Georgia State Patrol which
investigated the crash. The
victim died at the scene.
The accident occurred
around 7:40 p.m.
The funeral for young
Hayes was held Thurs
day at Alamo Methodist
Church. Interment fol
lowed in Alamo City Cem
etery. He was the son of
Mike and Beverly Hayes
of Alamo and a native of
Dublin. He was very active
in school organizations,
including the FCA, FBLA,
and FFA. He was also on
the high school baseball
team. Baseball was his pas
sion, and he was excited to
be a part of the Wheeler
County High School base
ball team. He also loved to
hunt and fish and was an
active member of Alamo
Methodist Church.
In addition to his par
ents, he is survived by
brothers Dakota and Dan-
yon Hayes; mother, Kayla
James of Athens; uncle
Brian James (Cindy) of Al
amo; and numerous aunts,
uncles, and cousins.
