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The Vidalia Advance Established 1901 The Lyons Progress Established 1894 Your Newspaper - Toombs, Montgomery & Wheeler County, Georgia November 22, 2023 v t 111 i H l; H| ■ Porchfest Unites Community By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com Music and food and vendors - oh my! Vidalia Porchfest featured all of this and more, as citizens strolled the streets enjoy ing fellowship and local talent. The event featured a book signing at the Dr. Mark and Tonya Spivey Public Li brary performances by Franklinia Play house, over 20 music artists, artisans, food trucks, and a painting demonstration to ensure everyone had something that inter ested them. The Porchfest committee reflected on the event and shared their gratitude, as they said, “’Thank you’ doesn’t seem enough. We are tired and worn out as volunteers and porch hosts, but it was all worth it, be lieve me. It is the goal of the Altama Muse um of Art & History to heighten awareness Please see Porchfest page 11A High-Speed Chase Ends In MoCo Crash “Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot.” - Hausa Proverb News BYTES Christmas on the Circle The city of Alston will host its annual Christmas on the Circle celebration from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 25. This event will feature food, vendors, and a ceremonial tree lighting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the Caboose. For more information, call Kahla Outler at (423) 453-9020. Christmas Tree Lighting The Downtown Vidalia Association will host their annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, at Ronnie A. Dixon City Park. Local talent will perform and Santa will make an appearance. For more information, contact Tonya Parker at (912) 537-8033. Christmas in Dixie The annual Christmas in Dixie celebration will be held from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, in front of Wholesale Customs in Higgston. The event will feature a car show, arts 8c crafts, live music, Santa's train ride, slides, vendors, and more. For more information, contact Wholesale Customs at (912) 537- 8208. IN THIS ISSUE Editorials Page 6A Obituaries Page 8A From the Record Page 5A Your Mind On Line Page 10A Sports Page 1 B Call 537-3131 (or delivery! NEWSSTAND SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail. com A high speed chase ended along Georgia Highway 56 north of Mount Vernon as the suspect crashed into a citizens yard on Sunday, November 19. According to Montgom ery County Sheriff Doug May- bin, the chase began in Laurens County and traveled through Treutlen County before com ing to Montgomery County. Maybin said he is unsure what started the pursuit, but was told that the suspect fired shots at law enforcement during the in cident. No Montgomery County deputies were involved with the chase, as the car had crashed upon their arrival. The incident is being in vestigated by both the Georgia Bureau of Investigation because of the shots fired and the Geor gia State Patrol because of the wreck. More information will be available after the investigation closes. The Menu By Amber Nagle From The Porch It seems like just yesterday, we were in the throes of a Georgia heatwave, yet here we are — planning the last- minute culinary details of our Thanksgiving day feasts. A few years ago, our family adopted a pot- luck model for the day — all of us bringing one or two covered dishes to contribute to the table. Now we coordinate what everyone is baking and Amber Nagle concocting, so that ten desserts don’t arrive with no sides to eat with them. Please see Amber page 12A Vote Ends MoCo Homestead Debate By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com The possibility of enacting a floating home stead exemption within Montgomery County has been a hot topic among citizens and the Commission, as each party seeks a solution to the increase of property taxes. Commissioners finally made an official vote on the topic at their monthly meeting on Monday, November 13. Commissioners agreed to craft their own suggested county home- Please see MoCo page 12A VHS Students Raise $5,000 For Cancer Patients A STUDENT'S IDEA - The idea to host a Fall Festival to raise money for cancer awareness came to Vidalia High School Senior Emma Vinson after hearing that five teachers within the school system were battling the disease. L to R: Shellie Cleghorn, Anna Helms, Emma Vinson, Courtesy of Vidalia High School Cancer is a cruel disease that shows no discrimination in who it attacks. Over 1.9 mil lion new cases were pro jected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2022 alone. But when one school system with a total of just 345 em ployees has 5 of those employees diagnosed with and fighting cancer to stay alive in the last year, the reality of the dreaded disease struck close to home for the students, teachers, and staff of the Vidalia City School System. It especially struck Please see VHS page 13A