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PXAYOEFI PCHS baseball and both soccer teams advance in the state playoffs See pages 8A-9A PIKE COUNTY www.pikecountygeorgia.co COVID-19 cases down in county Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have dropped to only 8 in Pike County over the past two weeks, ac cording to the Georgia Department of Public Health as of May 3. In the Pike County school system, there were zero confirmed cases in adults and students for the second week in a row, according to data updated April 30. See COVID-19 page 2A Intervention training set for May 15 Take the Intervene Challenge and Save Someone’s World is a community-wide suicide intervention training opportunity. Nearly 19,000 people have taken the train ing since it was first offered in 2012. “Thousands of car ing individuals have gained skills to coura geously intervene for those at risk. 1 invite you to take the Inter vene Challenge,” said Kevin Sorbo. The class will be held locally from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Satur day, May 15 at Church of Joy, 3080 Highway 362 west in William son. To register online, go to eventbrite. com/e/i-will-inter- vene-challenge-save- someones-world-tick- ets-152512421759. For information con tact Michael Powell at michael@connectup. info or 770-295-9208. State champ earns perfect 10 BY RACHEL McDANIEL news@pikecountygeorgia.com Madelynn Crow and the Pike County High School gymnastics team made school history re cently as she became the first athlete to earn three state championship wins. She earned First Place All Around, First Place on Un even Bars and First Place on Floor competition. “1 knew after having a fall on beam that 1 had to pull it together. 1 knew 1 needed a high score on floor to keep myself in for the All-Around competi tion,” she said. And she did just that, earning an incredible 10.0 score for her floor rou tine and setting another record for the PCHS team. Her mom said she started in gymnastics at age 7 and she has worked hard over the years. Getting a 10.0 is unusual but Madelynn has done it several times, once in 2019 on floor and two times this year, one dur ing a high school gym nastics meet and once in the state championship. “Some of her goals were to win a State Champion ship in high school and to compete at the college SUBMITTED PHOTO Madelynn Crow earned a per fect 10 and earned the state championship title recently. level. She currently trains at GA Elite in Athens for 20 hours per week,” she said. “She’s an extremely determined and persistent athlete. Over the last two years she has had to overcome a fractured el bow and foot as well as a knee injury to be ready for recent state and re gional meets for her club team and the GHSA State Championship. She’s done well to maintain a 4.3 GPA while being dual enrolled in high school and at Gor don College and working part time on the weekends when not competing.” Gymnastics coach Shannon Turner started the PCHS Gymnastics Team in 2009 and has been the coach ever since. The team includes Madelynn, Claire Osbolt, Madisyn Oskey and Sid ney Trawick. “For our division (1A- 5A), we ended up ranking 11th out of 29 teams. 1 feel like this is excellent since we have such a small team. We out-ranked teams who are much larger than us and have more depth in their line ups. Everyone on the team gave their personal best at each meet by adding to our team scores,” she said. See PERFECT 10 page 2A SPECIAL PHOTOS Pike County’s Callista Clark (center) performed on Live with Kelly Ripa (left) and Ryan Seacrest (right) as the co-stars said she is the “next big thing in country music” on the April 30 broad cast of the show. She recently released her debut album titled Real to Me. Callista Clark performs on live TV Local teen Callista Clark is continuing to make a splash in the country music scene as she recently performed her original songs on Live with Kelly and Ryan on April 30. “Thank you Live with Kelly and Ryan and to everyone that tuned in,” said Callista. “This was my first national TV per formance. I’ll never forget this day! It was super amazing to be able to do something in person again after a whole year of being home. I’ve never been to New York before, so it was also really cool to be able to travel some where I’ve never been. Stay tuned for news about upcoming shows!” The two co-hosts of the popular show were impressed with Callista’s talent and called her “the next big thing in country music.” Callista recently re leased her debut album titled Real to Me. She co wrote each song on the album including her first single It’s Cause I Am, Heartbreak Song, Change My Mind, Don’t Need it Anymore and the title track Real To Me. Find out more about the local musician at Callista Clark.com. Callista Clark, 17, is making a name for herself with her CD release and live performances. National Day of Prayer set for this Thursday A local National Day of Prayer program will be held at noon Thursday, May 6 on the courthouse square. The theme for the annual day of prayer is “Lord pour out your love, life and liberty’ and it will be hosted by Prayer Power of Georgia. “The National Day of Prayer is a patriotic and spiritual celebra tion of our great na tion, a time to join to honor those who have served in many differ ent capacities and to ask blessings for those serving our community and country as they are called,” said chaplain Ben Maxedon. “Com munity leaders from Pike County will offer words and prayers for seven different prayer points, plus our com munity, state, nation, world, and all those who need salvation.” Locals will offer invocations with seven different prayer points, including schools, government, military, media, business, church and family. Pike County school board member Floyd Miller, District 131 Rep. Beth Camp, Prayer Power of Georgia chaplain Ben Maxedon, Journal Reporter writer Rachel McDaniel, John son Battery Co. founder Howard Johnson, the Associational Mission ary Centennial Baptist Association’s Rev. Steve Laughman and Mt. Gil ead Baptist Church pas tor Rev. Fred Thompson will be speakers. For more, contact Ben Maxedon at Prayer Power of Georgia at prayer power4u@ bellsouth.net or online at prayerpower4u.net/ event-single/events/. PHOTO BY RACHEL McDANIEL / PIKE COUNTY JOURNAL REPORTER A National Day of Prayer ceremony will be held this Thurs day, May 6 on the south side of the courthouse square. Saints in Light award presented to Sonja Morton Prayer Power of Geor gia Inc. recently honored the 2021 Saints in Light Award winner at the April 27 Pike County commis sion meeting. Prayer Power of Georgia chap lain Ben Maxedon and his wife Patti presented the award to Sonja Morton before the commission ers and those in atten dance at the meeting. Chaplain Maxedon said the Saints in Light honor is a true communi ty award because Prayer Power asks the commu nity for nominations each year. The award is based on Colossians 1:12-13 which says, “... giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the Saints in Light. Lor He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” The Saints in Light Award is presented each year to an individual who has been a “spiritually inspiring, motivating and encouraging influence in the community.” The in dividual works to better the community and the people that they help. Prayer Power’s website says the Saints in Light Award goes to someone who, “By reflecting the true meaning of love and service in the commu nity, they inspire and empower others to do the same.” “Unselfish service in the community and a deep spiritual life are two of the requirements for this annual award. It is the hope of Prayer Power of Georgia that the efforts to reach out to others in the community will give renewed faith and spiritual life to those who are blessed by this community service,” said Chaplain Maxedon. Sonja was surprised with the award as she thought someone else would receive it. Her hus band Tom and son Rob were both in attendance as well as many others. Chaplain Maxedon said Sonja is working with and has worked with many organizations in Pike County to help others and the commu nity over the years. She has helped the homeless and people in need and cooked countless meals for those in need. She has helped with her church and helped in the Lion’s Club. She was once Lion of the Year with Lion’s Club International for her service. Chaplain Maxe don described Sonja as the kind of person who works behind the scenes to get things done. Sonja’s husband Tom has also received this award. He was honored in 2017 for his selfless commitment to Pike County. This is the first time that a husband and wife have received the award in separate years. SPECIAL PHOTO Sonja Morton (left) was honored with the Saints in Light award from Prayer Power of Georgia. She was congratulated by many in the community as well as her husband Tom Mor ton (seated) and Rob Morton (standing).