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See what everyone has to say! Your Mind ONLINE See Page 11A (HIic The Vidalia Advance Established 1901 The Lyons Progress Established 1894 Why the Left Hates Israel and America See Star Parker 7 A 4UX Vol. 126 No. 46 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia 750 November 15, 2023 “It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.” - Rene Descartes News BYTES Porchfest Vidalia Porchfest will celebrate music, art, and community in the Jackson Heights neighborhood in Vidalia on Saturday, November 18, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The event is free and will feature live music and artisan crafts. For more information, contact the Altama Museum of Art & History at (912) 537- 1911. Book Signing Teenage Author Ashton Bland will be signing copies of his book, Silent Night and meeting the public at Dr. Mark and Tonya Spivey Public Library in Vidalia on Saturday, November 18, beginning at 11 a.m. For more information, contact the library at (912) 537-9283. Christmas Parade Applications Due Applications for the Vidalia Christmas Parade are due by Friday, November 17, for all interested in participating in the event. The application is available online at downtownvidalia.org. For more information, contact Tonya Parker at (912) 537-8033. IN THIS ISSUE Editorials Page 6A Obituaries Page 8A From the Record Page 5A Your Mind On Line Page 11A Sports Page 1 B SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE 30% OFF NEWSSTAND IMV Call 537-3131 (or delivery! Saluting Veterans In Honor of Their Service Photo by Evan Riekhof HONORING EVERY BRANCH - The local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post helped to honor veterans of every military service branch as they presented each branch's flag during the Veterans Day Luncheon. By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com The spirit of patriotism and gratitude was in the air on Fri day, November 10, as the Vidalia High School SoundTribe and Downtown Vidalia Association (DVA) held Veterans Day cer emonies to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Vidalia High School held its ceremony first, as the school invited members of the commu nity to celebrate local veterans through patriotic performances by the SoundTribe march ing band and the Vidalia High School Show Choir. Student Gregory Huston also joined the ensemble to lead attendees in singing “God Bless the USA,” and local veterans, such as Vida lia native Fred Godbee, spoke to Please see Veterans page 13A The Results Are In Connie f. williamsl ^5- )MW MUNICIPAL ANNEX ir ci - i Photo by Makaylee Randolph VYING FOR VOTES - Candidates within the Vidalia municipal elections lined Highway 280 West on Election Day, as they competed for votes from the citizens. By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com Voters took to the polls on Tues day, November 7, to cast their ballot for municipal representatives in a variety of races throughout Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Coun ties. Most incumbents seeking re- Please see Election page 5A Vidalia Designated As Rural Zone Income Tax Incentives for Vidalia The Georgia Depart ment of Community Af fairs has designated four cities - Blakely, Sylvania, Vidalia, and Watkinsville centives to spur economic development. These cities join a total of 43 munici palities across the state with this designation. fifl Georgia® Department of/A 11 U L Community Affairs - as the state’s newly es tablished Rural Zones, extending the benefits of three state income tax in- Effective January 1, Please see Vidalia page 10A Kemp Extends Suspension of State Gasoline Tax By Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service Gov. Brian Kemp ex tended the temporary sus pension of the state sales tax on gasoline and other motor fuels Wednesday, citing ongoing high prices and uncertain economic conditions. Kemp signed an exec utive order extending the suspension through Nov. 29, which he said will help Georgians cope with high food and travel costs during the Thanksgiving holiday. The state can easily afford going without the tax revenue the sales tax would have brought after ending the last fiscal year in June with $5 billion in “rainy-day” reserves and Please see Gasoline page 5A One Dead in Wednesday Night Shooting in Vidalia By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com The Vidalia Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are working together to find the cul prit in a fatal shooting on Wednesday, November 8, which took the life of Ladarius Devonte Cobb, 31, of Vida lia. According to Vidalia Police, offi cers responded to reports of a shoot ing in the 700 block of Georgia Street at approximately 7:26 p.m. Upon ar rival, authorities found Cobb unre sponsive with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The GBI was requested to aid in the investigation and has been help ing Vidalia officers gain information from witnesses and family members to try to solve the case. The situation is still under active investigation and Vidalia Police Chief James Jermon seems hopeful for an arrest soon. “We are still working through in formation but are hoping for a break through soon,” he emphasized. The Chief and the GBI ask that anyone who has information about Please see Shooting page 10A