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norns. horses a/td heroes
Driver killed in
Rodeo coming to Waynesboro this weekend Monday night crash
By Elizabeth Billips
lizbillips@yahoo.com
It’s high time for a rodeo in Burke County.
That’s one thing cowboy Leroy Lane is sure about as the be
ginnings of a 2,000 seat arena are pieced together on Highway
25 South next to the big red Mobley Barn.
Come Friday, the broncs will be bucking and bulls will be
barreling out of the chutes at the inaugural Saddle Creek Rodeo.
“We wanted to do the whole enchilada,” the lean-limbed
granddaddy says, still sporting the scars from his bull riding days.
“When people leave, we want them to say they’ve been to a real
rodeo."
And they will.
When Leroy and his partner Phil Walden lined up their first
annual hometown event with the Professional Cowboy Associa
tion, they timed it right.
It’s crunch time in the world of rodeo.
That means as many as 200 competitors will be coming
to Waynesboro for one of the tail-end qualifiers for
the PCA Finals in Biloxi this January.
“The boys are chasing points and money for
the world championship.” Leroy says.
Among them is Justin Thigpen, a six
time world champion who aims to
hold onto his titles in calf roping
and steer wrestling.
“It will be intense,” Justin
says. “Top notch cowboys are
coming from all over the states
and are battling for position.”
Most days you can find 30-
year-old Justin breaking and
training horses on his T-Bar-T
Ranch in Waycross where he
keeps 40-head of horses, includ
ing four specifically for compe
tition.
“I took my first steps in cow
boy boots,” he laughs, describing
his formative years with a bull
riding daddy and barrel racing mama.
“It’s my way of life. I’m a cowboy
every day of the week.”
As a PCA contractor and com
petitor, Justin knows the value of
a fine, steady horse.
-Continued, see Rodeo,
page 8
Check out page 1 7
to read about a
local competitor
and see a schedule
of the weekend's
events.
By Elizabeth Billips
lizbillips@yahoo.com
A Keysville driver was killed Monday night when he crashed
into a ditch on Hephzibah-McBean Road.
Earl Michael Neely, 55, wrecked just before 11 p.m. when
he lost control of his 2002 Mercury Mountaineer on a curve
and flipped, said Georgia State Patrol Commander Chris
Lacienki.
According to a report filed at the sheriff’s office, Neely
apparently died when he was thrown into a tree approximately
30 feet away.
The accident happened just over a mile from Neely’s
Keysville home and no other vehicles were involved.
SHOW STOPPERS
• Approximately 200 professional cowboys and cowgirls from all over the na
tion are coming to Waynesboro.
•Two cowboys and one cowgirl will be competing for points to win PCA’s All-
around Championship. Among them is 10-time champ Lance Ethridge, a
Franklin, Ga. farrier who is famous for his bareback rides.
• History could be made with “High Roller,” a temperamental 1,200-lb bucking
bull. To date, he’s never let a single cowboy complete an eight-second ride.
•Three-time world champion bullfighter Ross Hill will keep the cowboys safe
after the bulls throw them. Hill, who describes his technique as “tangoing with
the bull,” has broken his back twice in the line of duty.
•Two-time rodeo Clown of the Year, Donnie Landis, will keep the crowd rolling
between events. The fourth-generation rodeo clown has been at it since he
was just four years old. He says being in the ring with a bull is“kinda like you’re
driving down the highway in a Volkswagen and you got an 80,000-pound semi
following you.”
“Come Back to
Keysville” set for
this Saturday
From Staff Reports
Keysville residents are making final preparations for the
town’s big celebration.
The 25th annual Come Back to Keysville Day is set for this
Saturday, Oct. 12.
It will kick off with an 11 a.m. parade followed by lots of
food, activities and entertainment.
Organizers are still signing up parade participants and ven
dors for the festival, which is themed “Remembering the Past,
Building the Future.”
Grand marshal will be Bishop Preston Warren Williams II,
presiding prelate of the 6 th Episcopal District of the A.M.E.
Church.
Keynote speaker is Waynesboro Police Chief Augustus
Palmer III.
A number of elected officials will be in attendance includ
ing State Representatives Gloria Frazier and Tyrone Brooks,
and community choirs and dancers are among the perform
ers.
For more information call City Hall at 706-547-3008.
I
J
Keysviue,
Burke
County
CERTIFIED SEPT E 100Z
a FAIR to rammUr
Burke County had a big time at the
Exchange Club Fair last week. Pro
ceeds from the annual event will help
fund a number of community
projects, including a hefty scholar
ship program for graduating seniors.
For more photos submitted by our
readers, see page 22.
f
October ii jjremt (oncer Amneii Monti) *
'Support the fighters, cheer on the survivors
5 H W Y_ 25 NORTH, WAY NESBOflO - 706-5
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