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April 18, 2018
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Pageant contestants and their escorts await announcement of the winners at the Hubbard Alumni Association King & Queen Pageant. Pictured, left to right, are 2017 Queen Cassidy Scan-
drett, Eliza Bowden, Aden Johnson, Jacob White, TaRiyah Hardy, Makayla Johnson, Aniya Smith, Ramiyah Bradley, Mistress of Ceremonies Aretha Neal. (Photos/Diane Glidewell)
Shining Stars of Tomorrow
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
As one of the annual
events leading up to the
Hubbard Alumni Associa
tion Celebration this week
end, the HAA crowned the
2018 King and Queen at a
Shining Stars of Tomorrow
Pageant on Saturday, April
14. Aniya Smith, 8, was
crowned queen and Jacob
White, 4, was awarded the
scepter as the king for the
coming year at the culmi
nation of the pageant.
Mistress of Ceremonies
Aretha Neal characterized
the event well as she spoke
of the opportunities it pro
vides youth to stand before
an audience and share their
talents and personalities
with others. Neal urged
everyone to encourage
those participating as either
contestants or in other
parts of the program. She
said that speaking and per
forming in front of people
will develop skills that will
serve the young people in
the future.
“Encourage them when
they’re young to do these
things,” said Neal. “You
know, sometimes when
we stand up, our words sit
down.”
Neal was a good example
of someone comfortable
on a stage as she graciously
2018 HAA King Jacob
White shows his pleasure
by being named royalty.
guided the program with
clarity and humor. The
pageant left no question
that the Monroe County
community has a deep pool
of talent in its youth.
Those attending were
treated to performances
by the Mt. Airy Baptist
Church Praise Dancers and
the St. Peter Rock Baptist
Church Youth Choir. They
were also able to enjoy
the instrumental music of
Minister James Slaughter in
interludes and as accompa
niment to his vocal rendi
tion of “Trust in You.”
The Praise Dancers
performed to “If They’re
Looking for You, Jesus, Let
Them Lind You in Me,”
and the Youth Choir sang
Jacob’s Song, “I Won’t Let
Go Until You Change Me.”
Both groups showed the
results of their practice and
passion for what they were
doing.
Jakayla Mosley, now a
senior at Mary Persons
anticipating graduation,
reflected on her reign as
HAA queen in 2011 as
a 5th grader. She said it
taught her a lot about how
to succeed in high school;
she plans to begin work
ing toward her degree as a
registered nurse at Albany
State this fall.
“Never give up; believe
in yourself and you can
achieve your goals,” said
Mosley. “Remember God is
always by your side.”
Neal noted that Mosley’s
challenge is not just for the
youth but for everyone.
After being introduced in
an opening walk, the 2018
contestants showcased
their talents and stage pres
ence. They ranged in age
from three to 14.
Ta’Riyah Hardy, daughter
of Tanisha Hardy and Don
nie Epps; Aden Johnson,
son of Kenneka Lashonta
Johnson and Tyrone Buck
ner; and Eliza Bowden,
daughter of Tawana C.
Banks and the late Milton
T. Bowden Jr., each mod
eled fashionable outfits on
stage, with Neal providing
commentary. Stage fright
was nowhere to be found
as they twirled, posed and
bowed.
Jacob White, son of An
thony and Angela White,
had everyone joining in
as he sang “How Great is
Our God,” backed by two
cousins. Following White,
Makayla Johnson took the
microphone and sang lead
as she brought her St. Peter
Rock Youth Choir back on
the stage with her. Johnson
is the daughter of Minis
ter Tremaine and Jacinta
Johnson.
After Aniyah Smith, the
2018 HAA Queen Aniya
Smith is escorted by her
father, Alvin Smith.
daughter of Pakisha Walker
and Alvin O. Smith, re
cited the poem, “Hey Black
Child,” Ramiyah Bradley
took the stage for a solo
praise dance to “Change
Me, O God. Make Me
More Like You.” Bradley,
the daughter of Della Brad
ley and Ray Bradley Jr.,
performed with captivating
intensity.
With 2017 King Jay
Smith, unable to be present,
Monroe County Commis
sioner Larry Evans filled in,
escorting 2017 Queen Cas
sidy Scandrett on the final
walk of her reign before
crowning Aniya Smith the
new queen.
Evans presented the
crown and scepter to Jacob
White to begin his duties as
2018 king.
It was definitely a night
to remember for Aniya
Smith. As well as being
crowned queen, she won
the raffle drawing for a
$100 Walmart gift card.
Annie Evans, chairperson
of the Pageant Committee,
thanked parents, contes
tants, other participants,
her committee members
and all those who helped
with the pageant. She said
that the efforts of the Hub
bard Alumni Association,
including the King and
Queen Pageant each year,
have made it possible to
award college scholarships
to more than 80 students
over the 32 years since the
HAA was organized. The
other members of the pag
eant committee are Mary
Chambliss, Winifred Berry,
Mable Smith and Juanita
Pitts.
HAA President Herbert
Gantt invited everyone to
the HAA Celebration on
Saturday, April 21, which
will begin with a parade at
10 a.m. The King & Queen
contestants will be featured
in a float in the parade as
well as marching bands,
local officials and more.
The route will begin across
from Robins Financial
Credit Union and end at
the Hubbard campus of
Monroe County Middle
School, near the restored
Teachers Dormitory, which
is slated to open as home
offices for several local
groups this summer.
The highlight of the Cele
bration will be the banquet
at 6 p.m. on Saturday with
keynote speaker Georgia
Supreme Court Justice
Robert Benham. Contact
Winifred Berry at 478-747-
3627 for tickets ($40).
Monroe County Calendar of Events
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April 18, 24, 25
Spring Title I Parent Input
meetings
Spring Title I Parent Input meet
ings will be held in April. There
will be meetings in the Hub
bard Elementary School Data
Room on Tuesday, April 24
from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and at the
T.G. Scott Elementary School
Data Room on Wednesday,
April 18 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and
Wednesday, April 25 from 9
a.m.-7 p.m. For more informa
tion, contact Parent & Family
Engagement Specialist Ginger
Maddox at ginger.maddox@
mcschools.org.
April 19
House District 141
candidates meet in
Forum/Debate
The Macon-Bibb Republican
Party is sponsoring a Can
didate Forum/Debate with
the four candidates seeking
election to the Georgia House
District 141 on Thursday, April
19 at 7 p.m. at Mabel White
Baptist Church, 1415 Bass Road,
Macon. Doors will open at
6:30 p.m. District 141 includes
Northwest Macon- Bibb and
the southern portion of Monroe
County. Candidates are Gary
Bechtel, Shane Mobley, Todd
Tolbert and Dale Washburn.
Incumbent Allen Peake is not
seeking reelection. Please use
the main entrance facing Bass
Road.
Sheep & Goat Short
Course
Monroe County Extension will
host a Sheep and Goat Short
Course on Thursday, April
19 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the
Monroe County Recreation
Department livestock areas.
Registration fee is $20, which
includes lunch and program
materials. Participants will learn
best management practices
for sheep and goats, pasture
management, predator control,
and parasite management,
including FAMACHA training
and certification. Call 478-
994-7014 to register.
High Falls Lake Assoc,
holds open meeting
The High Falls Lake Association
will meet Thursday, April 19 at
7 p.m. in the High Falls Park
Group Shelter. Guest speakers
will share items of interest and
concern to the High Falls area.
This is an open meeting and all
are welcome to attend. There
will be a meet & greet session
after the meeting: feel free to
bring and share snacks for the
fellowship. (robertchappell40@
yahoo.com)
April 19, May 3
Mary Persons Honors
Nights
Mary Persons Underclassmen
Honors Night will be Thursday,
April 19 at 7 p.m. and Senior
Honors Night will be Thursday,
May 3 at 6:30 p.m., both at
the Fine Arts Center.
April 20
Exchange Club to have
Annual BBQ fundraiser
The Exchange Club of Forsyth
will hold a Barbecue on
Friday, April 20 from 11 a.m.-l
p.m. and from 4-6 p.m. at the
Monroe County Clubhouse on
Chambers Street (behind the
Library). Plates are $8 and will
include BBQ, chips, Cole slaw,
pickles and dessert. They may
be eaten at the Clubhouse
or taken home. Buy tickets
from Exchange Club members
or at the door. Proceeds will
benefit the Foster Children
Christmas Fund, scholarships for
Mary Persons seniors, Monroe
County Boy Scouts and Girl
Scouts, Meals on Wheels,
Monroe County Care Cottage
and other community projects.
April 20, 27, May 4
Diabetes Education
Empowerment Program
University of Georgia Extension
and FitCo Health Club will
present DEEP (Diabetes Em
powerment Education Program
on several Fridays - April 20
and 27 and May 4 from 10
a.m.-12 noon at FitCo Health
Club, 833 Patrol Rd., Forsyth.
Pre-Registration is reguired for
this FREE, FUN, HANDS-ON,
session program for diabetics
and those who would like to
earn more about diabetes. This
interactive program teaches
self-management of diabetes,
risk factors, complications and
much more. DEEP can help get
the support you need to take
charge. To pre-register, cal
UGA Extension at 478-994-
7014 or FitCo at 478-993-
2202.
April 21
2018 Hubbard Alumni
Celebration
The 2018 Hubbard Alumni
Celebration will be on Sat
urday, April 21. The day will
begin with a parade at 10 a.m.
The Celebration Banguet will
begin at 6 p.m. at the Monroe
County Conference Center,
475 Holiday Circle, Forsyth The
keynote speaker will be Robert
Benham, Georgia Supreme
Court Justice since 1995.
Benham was named one of the
100 most influential Georgians
for six years by Georgia Trend
Magazine and one of the
100 most influential blacks in
America for three years by
Ebony magazine. Tickets for the
banquet are $40 per person.
For more information, call Win
ifred Berry at 478-747-3627
Blue Birds and Bluegrass
Festival
Dauset Trails Nature Center’s
Annual Blue Birds & Bluegrass
Festival will be on Saturday,
April 22 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
with live bluegrass bands at
the Pavilion from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The dulcimer jam session will
be from 1-3 p.m. There will be
food vendors and educational
displays, activities and demon
strations at the family friendly
event. There is no charge for
either admission or parking.
Photo Day at
Lee Street Park
Professional photographer John
Belknap will be at Lee Street
Park (next to the Welcome
Center) on Saturday, April 21
at 10:30 a.m. for Photo Day
hosted by Forsyth Main Street.
The first 20 people registered
will get a free 8 x 10 photo.
Register at mainstreet.cityoffor-
syth.net. For more information,
call Main Street Coordinator
Tammie Pierson at 478-994-
7747
April 22
The Mozart Requiem’
On Sunday, April 22 at 4 p.m.
the Choral Society of Middle
Georgia, the Mercer University
Choir, the Mercer Singers,
and the McDuffie Center of
Strings under the direction of
Dr. Stanley Roberts, Associate
Dean of the Townsend Schoo
of Music at Mercer University,
and accompanist Jonathan Poe,
will present Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart’s final masterpiece,
“Requiem" at Mulberry Street
United Methodist Church in
Macon. Tickets are $10 to the
general public. Mercer stu
dents and faculty are free with
Mercer ID. For more informa
tion, please contact The Choral
Society of Middle Georgia at
478-216-7841 or www.csmga.
org/ticket-info.
April 23, 30, May 7, 15
Diabetes Empowerment
Education Program
University of Georgia Extension
and Monroe County Library
will present DEEP (Diabetes
Empowerment Education
Program) at Monroe County
Library, 72 West Main St.,
Forsyth from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
on Mondays, April 23, 30,
May 7 and Tuesday, May 15.
This fun, interactive program
teaches self-management of
diabetes. Learn about risk fac
tors, complications and support.
Pre-registration is required:
478-994-7014
April 26, 28, 29
Mary Persons presents
Disney High School
Musical on Stage’
Mary Persons Theater Depart
ment will present “Disney High
School Musical On Stage" on
Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m.;
Saturday, April 28 at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. and Sunday, April
29 at 2 p.m. at the Monroe
County Fine Arts Center. Tickets
are $10 for adults and $5 for
students.
April 28
Ride for a Cause for
Reconciliation House camp
Ride for a Cause will be Sat
urday, April 28 to raise funds
for Fun in the Son Camp at
Reconciliation House, Inc. The
67 mile police escorted route
will begin from the Thurston
Fire Department, 4178 Crest
Highway, Thomaston at 12
noon. The ride will run through
Woodbury, Manchester, back
into Thomaston and end in
Yatesville. Registration begins
at 10 a.m. $20 to ride, $10 for
a passenger. Free food. Raffle
tickets are $10. Please pre
register to have enough food
for all; contact Danielle Goetz
at 404-661-8213.
Autism Awareness
Festival
The Autism Awareness Festival
will be Saturday, April 28 from
8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Dayspring
Church Campus, 1045 Hwy. 41
S, Forsyth. There will be a 5K
Trail Race and Family Fun Run,
resource and craft vendors,
kids' games & crafts, inflatables,
ive entertainment and food
vendors. Register for the 5K
($25) or the fun run ($15) at
racerpal.com or on race day
at 7 a.m. For more information,
call Anchor of Hope Founda
tion at 478-994-0438 or visit
anchorofhopefoundation.org or
41 West Johnston St., Forsyth.
Civil Air Patrol
has Open House
The Civil Air Patrol Griffin
Composite Squadron of the
U.S. Air Force Auxiliary invites
the public to an Open House
at 101 Airport Blvd., Griffin
(next to the Griffin Airport)
on Saturday, April 28 from 9
a.m.-3 p.m. With four military
branches represented, there
will be Leadership Cadet
Competition, CAP Aircraft
Display/Aerospace Education,
Emergency Services Search
& Rescue and free food. The
Griffin Composite Squadron
serves Butts, Henry, Lamar,
Monroe, Pike, Spalding and
Upson counties and has open
ings for new senior and cadet
members.