Newspaper Page Text
The Taylor County News, May 11* 2023* Page 5.
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4-H Poultry Judging Team Competes
In Area Poultry Judging Contest
The Taylor County 4-H Poultry Judging team competed in the Area Poultry Judging Contest in Tifton, GA on April 20th.
The team consisted of 17 members this year, the biggest to date. The team placed 6th overall and the highest individual
scores were achieved by Caleb Windham, Anna Beth Carpenter^ and Hallie Jo Pandolfi. A few of the mem hers were not
able to compete due to prior engagements. A special thank you to the certified volunteer; Stacey Patera, for her hard work
and dedication during the weeks of practice and also helping with transportation. Poultry Judging consisted of grading
live birds, broken out eggs, parts identification, breaded parts, and egg can dling. Taylor County 4-H Program Assistant
Jody Pandolfi stated, "These kids worked very hard this year, and I couldn't be more proud of them. ”
Local Business Leaders Hold Mock
Interviews With SkillsUSA Students
Pride Of Butler
Holds Annual
Prayer Breakfast
On March 25th, Pride of But
ler #198 Order of Eastern Star
(OESj held theirannual prayer
breakfast. The morning was
hi led with soul stirring food for
the spirit, as well as delicious
food for the body. The guest
speaker for the event was Nicole
Howell. Order of Eastern Star
is an appendant of the Masonic
Fraternity. With over 500,000
members globally, it is the larg
est fraternal organization to
which both men and women
belong. Pride of Butler Order
of Eastern Star supports friend
ship and service in the commu
nity by providing scholarships,
supporting The American Can
cer Society, and supplying book
bags and other school materi
als, Pride of Butler #3980 ES is
dedicated to charity and uplift
ing our communities through
service.
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16H9H OttaLll
Flint Area Consolidated
Housing Authority
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
WE HAVE APARTMENTS LOCATED IN
MarshallvilJe, Montezuma,
Oglethorpe, Butler and Reynolds
Apartments Available
in Marshallville and Butler
Family 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms Now Leasing!
APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE
8 AM to 4 PM MONDAY-THURSDAY
at
THE FLINT AREA
HOUSING AUTHORITY
542 Richardson Street
Montezuma, Ga.
478-472-8209
Reasonable Accommodations
Rental Assistance for Qualified Applicants
Equal Housing Opportunity
‘This institution is an equal opportunity provider"
The TCHS Skills USA chapter would like to thank the local business leaders within the
community who took time out of their busy schedules to perform mock interviews for stu
dents. These interviews were meant to reflect what a real interview would be like for a
potential employee, for students to gain experience and confidence in their interviewing
skills. The professionals debriefed with the students, giving them constructive feedback
on what they did well and how they can improve. Student participants included E manual
Ross, Chelsea McDaniel, Hannah Gained, Karima Ahsan, Danica Zheng, and Kaitlyn
Patera. Business professionals included Mr. Brian Lay field (Robins AFB}, Chelsea Mullins
(Flint Energies), Tracy Caldwell (Taylor County School District), and Heath Holly (Mis
sion Serve). Thank you, again, for making a difference in our studentsf futures!
JOINERS CORNER...
by Neil Joiner, joinerscorner.com
Clete - Part 3
On March 23rd 1 attended a Pathfinders’ reunion at Fort Benning as a guest of Clete Sinyard. I
had no idea the base is borne to a 240 foot replica of the Vietnam Wall, It was a traveling memorial
for 23 years until its 2014 dedication.
Five of us paused to pay respects to James Robert Taylor. The group included Clete and Deborah
Sinyard, plus Kim Thylor Farris and her husband Greg. Kim was only four when her Uncle Bobby
was killed in action, but tender memories remain.
Darwin, Clete's middle name, is how he was known growing up. That's w hat his best friend
Bobby Taylor called him in letters he wrote home. December 31, 1965, was one of the last. “Darwin
is sitting in here writing letters too, I think he just wrote you all one. If you get a chance please
answer it. He would really like to hear from you all *
Clete and Bobby met at the Army’s reception station in Fort Jackson during processing. Both had
quit school to partner with Uncle Sam. Clete was 17 and looking for adventure. Bobby was bored
and wanted a change.
As they stood in line for shots, dog tags, and uniforms, the alphabetized system placed them near
each other. Two kids sporting flattops were amused as long-haired boys lost their locks to enthusi
astic barbers.
They rode a bus to Fort Gordon for basic training where they began hanging out together. One of
Clete's brothers, Jimmy, lived in Augusta with his wife JoAnne, so Clete and Bobby used weekend
passes to visit them.
Bill Taylor, Kim’s father, took his wife and two daughters to Augusta to see Clete. They rented an
extra hotel room for Clete and Bobby. The friendship of two young soldiers kept expanding to other
family members. Cookies in care packages were gladly shared.
Parallel paths took Clete and Bobby through Advanced Infantry Training, Jump School, and
Pathfinders School. Then they boarded a ship bound for Vietnam. Rappel ropes were used to tie
cooking oil cans to the back of the U.S.S. Darby. Bouncing targets were ideal for M16 rifle practice.
A typhoon offered unplanned excitement. The bow and stern were like a giant seesaw in the
storm. Soldiers were instructed to stay put, but Clete couldn't resist opening a door to sneak a look.
The spot where he’d been standing while shooting cans was pointing upward at an angry sky,
Clete slammed the door, locked it, got in his cot, and stayed there.
Clete’s onboard assignment was to guard the food cooler. He was stationed beside it with keys.
Bobby was a runner, fetching whatever the cooks requested, That providential pairing is how they
managed to reallocate two cafeteria-size cherry pies. Sharing sweet bounty with fellow Pathfind
ers made the risk of getting caught acceptable.
Bobby Taylor seemed okay for a while in Vietnam, until he came back from one of the missions
with a somber assessment, “I’m not going to survive this,’’ he S3id to his friend. Clete told him to
stop that crazy talk, then showed him a picture of a Volkswagen Beetle he planned to buy when he
returned home. They stayed up all night talking.
On January 28, 1966, the helicopter Bobby was aboard unknowingly landed on a Viet Cong bun
ker, A bullet grazed his forehead and knocked his helmet off. He was airlifted out by another
chopper, Bobby reached up to touch the wound, saw blood on his hand and died, Clete believes
shock, not the bullet, killed him.
Bill Taylor died November 15, 2020. Kim discovered a stash of letters from Bobby which her
father had quietly kept. Most were to his parents with some to siblings. The mention of his friend
Darw in led to a search. She found Clete and asked if he would tell her more.
Kim and Clete knelt by the Vietnam Wail at Fort Benning, each pointing to a name that’s impor
tant in much different ways. To Kim he was the gregarious uncle she loved as a toddler and wishes
she could have known longer. To Clete he's the best friend who thought he wouldn’t survive and
was tragically proven right. But to most of us, he’s one of 58,000 casualties we only know through
the reflections of others.
James Robert Taylor was 20 years old when he died in Vietnam. To those who knew him best and
loved him the most, I suppose he always will be.
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706-587-8272
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TCMS Youth Cheer Camp
Ages: 4 years old (must be potty trained) - Rising
5th Graders (students entering 5th grade)
Dates: June 5th - 9th,
Time: 8:00 - 12:30
Price: $80
Location: TCHS Gym
Attire: Tennis Shoes, T-Shirt, Comfortable Shorts
‘“Available for the first paid 50 girls***
***Alf girls will receive a Rocking T hair bow***
“‘Transportation will not be provided for camp***
***lncluded: Hair Bow, Snacks, Lunch***
***Applications available at TCPS, TCUES, or TCMS offices***
***Return forms and funds to Mrs. Gordon at TCMS***
***Attire for Friday, blue shorts and white shirt***
‘‘‘Performance will be held Friday, June 9th“*