Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

9A. Conference to Tackle Moral Issues R . ■* ^ ^ I. Calandra Robinson Today is a new day for fami¬ lies, leaders and the church to take an initiative. Sometimes, we take initiatives as a result of a powerful experience, from a great need and because we truly want to be better. We can no longer sit in our comfort¬ able homes, ride in our nice cars, see another life ruined and then go to church each Sunday, still going around the same mountain. Nothing comes to a dreamer but a dream. But, that's a different story for a trail blazer. they have to cut down trees, remove the shrubbery, till the land and purge the fields. Calandra Robinson, a very bold trailblazer with an awesome vision, is coming to your city to change the lives of many local, statewide and nationally. It’s entitled, “Harlot in a Red Dress on the 3rd Pew: A Sexual Immorality Conference." The most comfortable place we can be is in the sight and presence of God. The most chal¬ lenging place we can be is a courageous place, even if we are scared at the same time. This conference was birthed to bring forth deliverance from sexual sins. This epidemic is taking the lives of many and slowly killing those that are not aware of whether they have Cool your use... Sounds crazy? Flint Energies is looking for a few .otuntCv.i who would like to be paid a Hot Summer Rebate of 87 cenls per kilowatt-hour of reduction AND have a chance at winning $10,000 in GE appliances. That’s right! Have you ever heard of an electric company that wants to pay you NOT to use electricity? It’s crazy, but true. With the demand for electricity at its highest on the hottest summer afternoons, Flint Energies is looking for ways to reduce high power generation costs. Rebates will be offered to a select group of volunteer members who reduce their energy use during the summer. Regular usage rales apply, but volunteers will receive 87 cents per kilowatt-hour of reduction. Rebates will be received as a bill credit on your monthly Flint biH. And that's not all! Residential members selected to participate In this will be eligible for a drawing to win a GE appliance package worth $10,000. Imagine getting paid to reduce your electric use and a chance to win all new appliances? It’s absolutely unheard of! »* ‘ <** »**-■*■ Sign up today at our website, * www.flintenergies.com, and if you win, you will be able 'JM to cool your use with $10,000 I, ■ in GE appliances! . How cool is that? 1 gsgp •MB ■ 1 : ■■ 0K-. .. IS&M mfi * m v ' ~~ E’ Wt i&fc ' s'4:' X S3 m § TITt I MARCH 7, 2012 Mum Hi the 3rd on pew sexually transmitted infections. HIV/AIDS, herpes, syphilis and other sexually transmitted dis¬ eases. Another situation that pierces society is when people suffer the intense secrets of sexual assault sins. The experience of when momma “sings the blues” about her abusive boyfriend whom she barely knows, while he plants his eyes towards her adolescent or teenage daughter's body. Must we mention the uncle that was sexually molested and never got the right form of counseling or healing - now- he's become the offender, on the other side of the law. Lest we forget, there’s the man with bulging biceps and triceps with a secret life his girlfriend or wife knows nothing about, you know -» “the under¬ cover brother." Did you know that in Georgia, fiances do not have to take HIV/AIDS test? It is actually up to their partners to request. Understandably, society, our schools and churches do not wish to ponder on these things, but. as a society, we must. See there is an imperative need for change. Our children are crying out we are wiping their tears. But, are we truly listening to what those tears are saying? Well. Calandra hastens to the stand to heed to these tears, and not only dry them and throw away their tissues, kiss the kids on the cheeks and say it will be all right. That’s not enough - they need to talk about it; they need to be held: some even need counseling; but most won't even tell their true feelings. The execution of this vision is not to judge this movement, but, come out and see what we have been led to do regard¬ ing these issues. Sex trafficking is growing. Our national data for HIV/AIDS for 13-18 year olds will refrain us to go into a world of shame. There is a problem, there is a need and through Jesus there is a solution. Calandra says, “We may not reach everyone, however, if we can touch one, heaven rejoices”. I am not sure how you feel, but, I, as Calandra. who knows Jesus went to the cross and con¬ quered the directives, vices and forces of the enemy, will not and cannot remain silent. I challenge society to wake up and heed to the call-of “change.” Will you come? We invite you! This event will be two nights ONLY starting on March 16, 2012 at 7.30 p.m. and March 17, 2012 at 9 a m. (Day event). The event is free with Limited Seating at the Feed Center at 313 Carver Drive in Fort Valley, Georgia. Awesome forums, educational info and speakers will be present. The only thing we need is “YOU”. Contact Info: Catch us on Facebook under Calandra Robinson. Email us at Calandraac<§>yahoo.com. Contributed by Calandra Robinson 'Wte' Nish Out Ml? in Middle Georgia <V:,I Covenant Care Services* will be hosting its seventh annual ‘ Ladies' Night Out" in Middle Georgia on Thursday, March 29, beginning at 7 p.m. at Shirley Hills Baptist Church in Warner Robins. We encourage all ladies in Middle Georgia to gather your girlfriends for another year of laughter, fellow¬ ship. and dessert. This annual event is a fun¬ draiser for Covenant Care Services. Tickets are $20 each and include a great evening Obituaries Mark Clifford Ford Fort Valley - Mark Clifford Ford Jr., 84, died Friday, March 2, 2012. Services were held at II a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2012, at First Baptist Church, 209 S. Miller Street, with Rev. Daniel Stubbs officiating. Burial with military honors fol¬ lowed in Oaklawn Cemetery, 720 S. Camellia Blvd. in Fort Valley. Family greeted friends on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Rooks Funeral Home, 213 West Church Street in Fort Valley. Family may also be contact¬ ed at the residence. Born in Laurens County to the late Mark Clifford Ford Sr. and Nancy Ola Maddox Ford. Mr. Ford was the former owner and operator of Bateman and Wade Grocery, a Martha C. Rhodes V Martha C. Rhodes, a long¬ time resident of Smyrna. Ga. passed away February 29. 2012 at Magnolia Manor, Saint Simons Island, Ga. A viewing was held at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home. Brunswick, Ga. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday March 2 and graveside ser¬ vices were held at Oaklawn Cemetery, Fort Valley, Georgia on Saturday March 3, 2012 at 2 p.m.. Martha Gray Carithers Rhodes was bom in Fort Valley on March 21, 1915, the daugh¬ ter of Etta Wylie and William Henry Carithers. Upon gradu¬ ating high school she attend¬ ed Georgia State College for LIGHT TURNOUT egates at stake, including 437 on Super Tuesday alone. Mitt Romney. Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are still in the GOP race. Coming into Super Tuesday. Romney held a substantial, but not over¬ whelming lead, with 203 del¬ egates. followed by Santorum with 92. Gingrich with 33 and Paul with 25. Georgia is the biggest prize at 76 delegates, awarded pro¬ portionately. According to news reports, Gingrich has said he is staking his campaign on winning the primary in his home state of Georgia, where he leads most polls. Former Speaker of the House Gingrich represented his Georgia dis¬ trict for 12 years and is widely credited with leading the Republican Revolution of 1994, which saw the GOP win both houses of Congress during the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton. Gingrich's campaign has seen ups and downs. He announced his candidacy in 2011, only to see most of his staff resign within weeks But Gingrich THE LEADER-TRIBUNE with the amazing Julie Hadden (Season 4, "The Biggest Loser”) followed by fantastic healthy and “sinful” desserts! Julie is one of the most memo¬ rable and successful contestants ever on the hit NBC reality TV show, “The Biggest Loser.” She struggled with her weight her whole life and her private battle became very public when it was broadcast before millions of viewers each week on national television. Through the experi¬ ence, Julie lost nearly half her body weight and has gone on to inspire others to woik hard to achieve their goals and dreams. She has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King live. The 700 Club, The Hour of Power, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and numerous other national televi¬ sion shows in addition to gracing the pages of various magazines throughout the U.S. and abroad. Julie is the author of the book. Fat Chance - Losing the Weight and Gaining My Worth. She is a motivational speaker who travels extensively sharing her experience and encouraging Baptist Church of Fort Valley and Frank Withoft Sunday School Class. An avid vegetable farmer, he was superintendent of the Horticulture Department at the Georgia National Fair for 20 years. He was a member of the Fort Valley VFW and Fort Valley Masonic Lodge and the Mid Georgia Dulcimer Club. Survivors include his wife of sixty years. Sylvia Smith Ford, their children. Sandra Shiver of East Dublin, Cliff and Ann Ford of Macon, and Debra Ford of Liberty. New York, sister, Ellen Ford Brantley, grandchildren, Wes Shiver, Cami Shiver, Lee Shiver, Jason Ford, Jennifer and J.J. Cullens, Jessi and Jeremy Timmerman, Amy Montgomery, Kyle Montgomery, Nancy Mont- Women in Milledgeville. As a young school teacher in Meigs, Ga.. Martha Gray (Gagie) met and later married James Beauregard (Dusty) Rhodes of Alpharetta, Ga. They were married 47 years and had four children. Mr. Rhodes passed away November 30. 1988. The Rhodes moved to Smyrna in 1950, where Mrs. Rhodes was an active member of the First United Methodist Church serving as President of the Susannah Wesley Sunday School Class for several years. In 1951, she joined Lockheed Georgia as a Secretary retiring in 1979 after 28 years service. During those years she was involved in civic affairs, and in 1964 was named Citizen of the Year by the Smyrna Civitan Club. She also received WSB Radio's Busy Beaver Award that same year. Mrs. Rhodes was active in the Smyrna Business and Professional Women’s Club serving as President, and was a Director of the Smyrna Chamber of Commerce. She enjoyed modeling women’s race, saw his standing in the polls revive. Good finishes in several early primaries and a win in South Carolina gave him some momentum, but his campaign has lost steam since then. Santorum's campaign has also gone through peaks and valleys. After winning the Iowa Caucuses in January, he won little support in several races. Media reports credited disappointing performances in several televised debates with derailing Santorum's campaign. But Santorum. too, came back, with wins in Missouri. Colorado and Minnesota and a close second in Romney's home state of Michigan. Romney has been the front¬ runner through most of the campaign, but polls show a lack of enthusiasm for his candidacy, especially among more conservative voters. The former Massachusetts governor endorsed a state health care bill that closely resembles the federal bill which is unpopu¬ lar with conservative voters. Romney won a narrow primary victory in Michigan despite others to understand their value and worth in the eyes of God. As an adoptive mother. Julie knows firsthand the impact that adoption makes on the life of a family. Because of this, she is passionate about the work that Covenant Care Services does in the placement of children through adoption and considers it a privilege to be a part of this event. Advance tickets must be pur¬ chased by March 24 at the fol¬ lowing locations: The Lamb's Well in Centerville. My Father’s Place in Warner Robins, Perry Presbyterian Church in Perry, all Gortwals Bookstores, and Covenant Care Offices in Macon. •Covenant Care Services is a nonprofit, nondenominafion al Christian Adoption Agency based in Macon since 1989 and now has statewide caseworker coverage in Athens, Atlanta. Augusta, Savannah, and north¬ east Georgia. Call 478-475-4990 for addi¬ tional information. gomery, Rapraeger, and Ben and Ashley Ford, greatgrandchildren. Kade Shiver, Anaye Shiver, Dayton Shiver. Riley Cullens, Ryan Cullens, DeLana Rapraeger, Gabe Ford, and Melody Ford, greatgreatgrandchild.Britlyn Shiver, and special nieces, Sharon Sayler and Patty Corder. He is preceded in death by a grandson. Jacob Ford, son, Luke Ford, and daughter-in law, Nellie Connor Ford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “Together We Grow”, First Baptist Church, 209 S. Miller St„ Fort Valley, GA 31030. Please express online condolences at www.rooksfu neralhome.com. Rooks Funeral Home in Fort Valley is in charge of arrangements. fashions for Rich's, Davison’s, and Lois Ashworth Department stores during the I960’s and I970’s. Mr. Rhodes was also active in Smyrna politics, serving on the Smyrna City Council. In 2007, Mrs. Rhodes moved to Magnolia Manor,(SSI) where she resided until her death. Mimi. as she was affec¬ tionately known, is survived by her four children: Marna Carol Melcher of St. Simons Island, Ga.. James C. Rhodes' (Elizabeth) of Marietta, Ga., Martha Gay Decker of Lake Sinclair, Ga., Etta Wylie Raines (Joe) of Jacksonville, Fla. and her very special niece Havilland Houston. Tampa, Fla. Mimi is survived by 10 grandchildren. 14 great grand¬ children and two great-great grandchildren. Mrs. Rhodes spoke often and with great affection about her many friends and acquain¬ tances in Fort Valley, Smyrna. Marietta and St. Simon’s Island. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in charge of arrange¬ ments. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 strong ties to the state, where his father was a popular gov¬ ernor. The Super Tuesday states are diverse and will likely test candidates' ability to appeal to a variety of constituencies. They include three Southern states - Georgia. Tennessee and Virginia, with high per¬ centages of conservative evan¬ gelical voters; Santomm has been doing well with those voters. But Super Tuesday also features contests in liberal Massachusetts and Vermont, the swing state of Ohio, and the Western states of Alaska. Idaho and Oklahoma, all Republican¬ leaning states but with very dif¬ ferent populations and issues. Also on the ballot for early voting and Super Tuesday is a Special Electron on whether to renew Peach County's SPLOST suiting in 2015. County offi¬ cials have said they scheduled the SPLOST vote ahead of time to avoid potential backlash from the Transportation SPLOST scheduled for July 2012. The leader-Tribune will post local results online and have a full story in next week's issue.