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JENKINS COUNTY • MILLEN • PERKINS • SCARBORO
State Playoffs Start
WEDNESDAY
• BUTTS • EMMALANE • THRIFT • BIRDSVILLE
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Fall in love with Sweet Blossom Alpacas
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By Jake Gay, Reporter
for
'I i 11 : Times
Y’all
aren’t
going to
believe
this, but
there’s
an Alpaca
farm in
Millen! I re
cently got the
opportunity to
speak with Mrs.
Debbie Pettis,
and her husband
Narvel. Together
they own Sweet
Blossom Alpacas.
“Our interest in
alpaca began with me
reading a newspaper
article in 2008 which had a
photo of an alpaca. I didn't know
what an alpaca was but had heard
of a llama which they are related
to. In 2008, alpacas (and llamas)
were not well known as they are
today,” explains Debbie. The
article referenced how the alpaca
fiber was used for yam, and
other clothing items. This fiber
is produced every year and then
harvested by shearing them like
sheep. “This intrigued Narvel
and I, so we visited an alpaca
farm. I fell in love with them.
and my husband fell in
love shortly thereafter, he
really had no choice,” she
laughs.
The couple admits to
doing a lot of research
on the animals. Then
they spent 6 months or
so making their property
suitable for them. “And
Sweet Blossom Alpaca
Farm was started when
our first six alpaca arrived
on Mother's Day in 2009.
We haven't looked back
since. There is something
very special about alpacas
& llamas and anyone that
has spent a good amount
of time with them will under
stand that statement. Our fami
name represents watching the
cria (alpaca baby) blossom into a
beautiful adult alpaca.”
The Pettis’ are breeders who
ensure the next generation of
offspring is of greater quality
than the previous. “The breeding
decision is based on scientific
data including tests on their
fiber. The results are entered into
a national database. Expected
Progeny Differences (EPDs). We
also visit alpaca shows as well as
attending various conferences in
Narvel and Debbie Pettis are the proud owners of
Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm. The couple offers
tours and a store featuring products made with
alpaca fiber, (photo contributed)
the northeast.” The couple also compete in
fleece shows.
Sweet Blossom Alpaca Farm works to
educate public and potential breeders in
raising alpaca. “We provide mentoring
to all new alpaca owners and are always
available for questions and guidance in
raising alpaca.”
In addition to farm tours, the couple also
has a store stocked with items made from
alpaca fiber. “People are amazed at the
softness of the clothing. We offer scarves,
socks, hats, blankets, and sweaters.”
The farm is located at 676 Hiltonia Road
and may be reached by dialing 813-335-
7387 or by visiting www.sweetblossomal-
pacas.com
Averitt Center’s Willy Wonka to
Feature Times’ Staff
Happy Birthday to Judge Hubert Reeves! Eighty-one never
looked so good!
From all of us at
The Jenkins County Times!
BIBLE REBINDING
* Bonded Leather
• Genuine Leather
- Cowhide
III Ho'lh Ui r, and, tfra» I. Gi«f > 1MET
Eades and Jackson Gaines rehearse for the upcoming production.
Tickets may be purchased at the Averitt Center, (photo by B. Tankersley)
By Ben Tankersley, Reporter
for
Tin: Times
Statesboro’s Averitt Center for
the Arts will be showing Roald
Dahl’s “Willy Wonka,” from
February 23 to 26 at the Emma
Kelly Theater in downtown
Statesboro. Readers of “The
Jenkins County Times” will
notice a couple of familiar faces:
publisher Sam Eades and reporter
Benjamin Tankersley.
Eades is cast in the role of
Grandpa Joe, and Tankersley is
cast in the role of Mr. Bucket, the
son of Grandpa Joe and father of
the main character, Charlie.
Eades was inspired to audition
for the show after being
persuaded by his grandchildren
to audition for “Shrek the
Musical.”
“My grandchildren told me,
‘Peepaw, you must be Shrek,’ so
I told them I would try out just
for them,” Eades said.
After being cast as Shrek, the
Averitt Center had to shift to
“Willy Wonka” after a traveling
theater company purchased the
rights for “Shrek the Musical.”
Eades was thrilled when he
heard about the change.
“I think the musical itself is
going to be excellent,” he said.
“I think all the actors are good,
especially Jackson Gaines, who
is playing Charlie. We just have a
great time together.”
Eades has a long history of
theater, music, and production.
In addition to owning his own
production company, Eades
used to work for the Miss USA
pageant doing choreography. He
and Sylvania Times editor Joe
Brady used to own their own
pageant circuit as well. Eades’
theatrical experience includes
participation in “South Pacific” and
“Mamma Mia.” But the most
influential part of his experience
is music.
“I’ve been in music all my life
since I was 2 years old,” Eades
said. “I was in the Rome Boys
Choir for 12 years, and we toured
all over the United States, Europe
and Canada.”
Attending college at Augusta
College, now called Augusta
University, Eades took part in
operas, musicals, and a group
called Gershwin Tunes.
This show is based on Roald
Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel
“Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory,” which follows the story
of young Charlie Bucket as he
learns of a contest to tour the
factory of esteemed and eccentric
chocolatier Willy Wonka.
In preparation for the show,
Annika Simpson-the show’s
director-looked to the two film
adaptations: Mel Stuart’s 1971”
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory,” starring Gene Wilder
and Tim Burton’s 2005 “Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory,”
starring Johnny Depp.
“I really like the classic movie,”
Simpson said. “I am going for a
dingy and spooky look. It also
takes some inspiration from the
2005 movie with Johnny Depp
because it’s a bit quirkier and
more ominous.”
The Averitt Center for the
Arts is made up of two historic
landmarks in downtown
Statesboro: the Bank of
Statesboro, chartered in 1891,
and the Georgia Theater, which
opened for business in 1936.
The City of Statesboro bought
and renovated both buildings to
form the Averitt Center for the
Arts, named in honor of David
H. “Hal” Averitt, who served as
the town’s mayor from 1990 until
2001.
The former Georgia Theater
was renovated and renamed the
Emma Kelly theater in honor
of Emma Thompson Kelly, a
Bulloch County native who
was inducted into the Georgia
Musical Hall of Fame in 1998.
The show will have evening
performances starting at 7:00
p.m. on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, and a matinee show
at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets
are $25 with discounts available
for veterans, students and city
employees and can be purchased
at https://www.tix.com/ticket-
sales/averittcenterforthearts/6636.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ben’s
spouse, Macy, also appears in the
production as Mrs. Bucket.
GOLDEN
TICKET
VIP
******
a
M
Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka”
Willy Wonka
Charlie Bucket
Grandpa Joe
Mrs. Bucket
Mr. Bucket
The Candy Man
Augustus Gloop
Mrs. Gloop
Veruca Salt
Mr. Salt
Violet Beauregarde
Mrs. Beauregarde
Mike Teavee
Mrs. Teavee
Ryan Wolffe
Jackson Gaines
Sam Madison Eades
Macy Tankersley
Benjamin Tankersley
John Parcels
Madison Harvey
Liz Harvey
Charlotte Bridges
Jamey Saunders
Remi Major
Victoria Glover
Shelby Croft
Elisabeth O’Quinn
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