About The Madison County journal. (Hull, Ga.) 1989-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 2025)
THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025 - PAGE 7A Social Ten ways to get the kids outdoors Spring Break in Georgia’s state parks With longer days and warmer breezes on the way, Georgia’s State Parks have put together ten ways for families to enjoy the outdoors without spending a fortune. From hitting the trails and waterways to campfires and sleep ing under the stars, Georgia’s State Parks have unlimited ways to keep little bodies active and learning. Many activities are free, and parking is just S5 for state parks. Historic site admis sion is usually less than S10 and parking is free. Below are ten ideas for a memorable and affordable Spring Break. Ranger Programs - Park rangers have planned a calendar filled with guided hikes, archery classes, kayaking excursions, wildlife encounters, kids’ crafts, campfire sing-a-longs and more. This year’s theme is “Wild Geor gia,” with events highlighting the State Wild life Action Plan and species of concern. You’ll find programs for all age groups and interests on Explore.GaStateParks.org/events. Camping Under the Stars - Build a life time of memories when you toast gooey s’mo- res by the campfire. Camping encourages the entire family to enjoy the simple pleasures of swapping stories while looking up at the stars. Georgia State Park campgrounds have water and electric hookups, picnic tables and firepits, plus hot showers. Many offer sewage hook- ups for RVs, and dogs are always welcome. GaStateParks.org/Camping Glamping Getaways - Skip pitching a tent; go “glamorous camping” in a yurt. These wood and canvas structures are like a cross between a tent and cabin, with fiirniture inside and hot showers nearby. Each one has its own camp- fire ring, picnic table and grill as well. Yurts are available at Cloudland Canyon, High Falls, Fort Yargo, Sweetwater Creek, Tugaloo and Red Top Mountain state parks. GaStateParks. org/UniqueAccommodations Get Cozy - For an affordable and conve nient option, book a cottage surrounded by a week’s worth of outdoor activities. Cottag es feature fully equipped kitchens, screened porches and beautiful scenery right outside the door. Bring your four-legged family members along when you reserve a dog-friendly cabin in advance. Cottage rates already include clean ing fees, making for an even more affordable stay. GaStateParks.org/Cottages Become a Junior Ranger - The kiddos will beam with pride when they earn site-specific Junior Ranger badges at each park they visit. Through activity books or ranger-led camps, kids of all ages will experience nature first- hand and explore Georgia’s fascinating history. GaStateParks.org/JuniorRanger Get on the Water - Grab your rod and reel and head out for a day of fishing at parks like High Falls, Kolomoki Mounds, Indian Springs or Seminole. There is no fee for casting a line, but a license is required for ages 16 and old er. For families that would like to take their adventure up a notch, many state parks rent kayaks, canoes, aquacycles and fishing boats by the hour. GaStateParks.org/ParkFishing and GaStateParks.org/ParkBoating Travel Back in Time - Mix entertainment with education when you step back in time at Georgia’s State Historic Sites. Children can explore colonial times at Wormsloe, Fort Mor ris and Fort King George, or Civil War bun kers at Fort McAllister. To learn about Native American history, visit Kolomoki Mounds, New Echota, Chief Vann House and Etowah Indian Mounds. GaStateParks.org/History Take a Hike - From stroller-friendly nature trails to all-day hikes, our parks make it easy to find the perfect pathway. Stop by park of fices for trail maps and expert advice, as well as essentials like water and snacks. Beginner hikers may want to visit Red Top Mountain’s Iron Hill Trail or Chattahoochee Bend’s River side Trail. For a heart-pumping workout, hike into Tallulah Gorge or Cloudland Canyon. GaStateParks.org/Hiking Join the Club - Love a quest? Hikers, bik ers, paddlers and even dog walkers can check off a list of parks to visit while wearing a mem- bers-only t-shirt. Visit them all and get a cer tificate of completion. Clubs include Canyon Climbers, Muddy Spokes, Park Paddlers and Tails on Trails. GaStateParks.org/ParkClubs Passport to Adventure — The keepsake Georgia State Parks Passport lets you doc ument your journey while traveling across mountains to marshes. Produced by the Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, the passport is available in park gift shops for less than S15. GaStateParks.org Broad River Conservation District now accepting entries for poster contest The Broad River Soil and Water Conser vation District (SWCD), a local agency ded icated to the conservation and stewardship of the area’s natural resources, is now accepting entries for their Poster Contest for students located within the District’s service area. The service area includes Banks, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Wilkes Counties. Education is a critical element of the conservation effort at the local, state and national levels. Educating young people about the benefits of conservation helps to ensure the next generation will be wise stewards of America’s natural resources. The annual Poster Contest provides public, private and homeschooled students in 3rd thru 5tli grades the chance to have their art selected to advance on to the state contest. Prizes will be awarded for the top three winners. Eacli year, the poster topic reflects National As sociation of Conservation Districts’s annual Stewardship theme and highlights the work of Conservation Districts to protect and enliance natural resources. This year’s theme “Home is Wliere the Habitat is” emphasizes the vital role of both natural and managed habitats in conservation efforts, highlighting their im portance in maintaining diverse ecosystems. The deadline to enter the contest is Marell 14, 2025. The Broad River Soil and Water Conser vation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs in Banks, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Elbert, Oglethorpe, and Wilkes Counties. The Conservation District works witli farmers, landowners, and witli other units of govern ment to educate and actively promote pro grams and practices that support the conserva tion, and use and development of soil, water, and related resources. More information can be found at www.gacd.us/broadriver. Church Church News— Week of March 12 Gordon’s Chapel Methodist Church’s Vine and Branches Sunday School Class is sponsoring a chick en BBQ on Saturday, March 15, to bene fit Andrew Bridges. Bridges was involved in an airplane accident and remains hospital ized with severe in juries. All donations and proceeds will fund Bridges’ recovery. Take out plates will be avail able from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sanford Commu nity Center located at 6495 Nowhere Road, Hull. Tickets are $12 each. For tickets, con tact a member of the Sunday School Class or call Lynn Hix at 706-224-3187 or Jon athan Hix at 706-308- 5048. Checks should be made payable to Vine and Branches Sunday School Class. Oak Grove Baptist Church, 9585 Hwy. 172, Comer, will have a memorial service and celebration of life for David Hunsinger on Saturday, March 15, at 1 p.m. Preacher Dale Carson will deliver a service at the church the following morning on March 16. David’s Home Pen tecostal Holiness Church, 1132 Davids Home Church Rd, Comer, will be having a singing featuring David Phillips accompanied by Jacob Keckritz on Sunday, March 16, at 6 p.m. “Everyone is in vited to come and wor ship our Lord and Sav ior with us in song,” church leaders said. Freedom Church of God, 3428 Neese-Com merce Road, Com merce, will host a drive-thru food dis tribution on Tuesday, March 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Food boxes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and recipients must be present to re ceive a box. Partici pants should remain in their vehicles during the distribution. The church gate will remain closed until 3 p.m. At tendees are asked to park on Sam Swindle Road, located just be low the church, until the event begins. Vol unteers should arrive by 1 p.m. For more information, call 706- 789-2102. Comer Baptist Church, 2054 Main Street, Comer, invites families to “Yee-haw” Vacation Bible School. The summer family event, called “Yee- Haw,” will be host ed at Comer Baptist Church from June 8 to June 11. “Kids in pre-k through 5th grade will kick up their heels at Yee-Haw VBS as they stampede through the wild frontier and cele brate the greatest truth of all—God is good,” church leaders said. “They’ll round up a whole herd of friends and discover that Jesus is God’s greatest gift. Each day concludes at Closing Corral—a time of upbeat worship that gets everyone in volved.” “Yee-Haw” VBS will run from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. each day. For more information and registration visit https://www.comerbap tistchurch.com/ ONGOING EVENTS Moons Grove Bap tist Church, 1985 Moon’s Grove Church Road, Colbert, has an nounced the dates for its free food distribu tion. Upcoming distri bution dates include 3/26, 4/23, 5/28, 6/25, 7/23 and 8/27. Hours are from 10 a.m. to noon. The clothes clos et will also be open during the food distri bution. People can call the church to set up an appointment for the clothes closet as well. For more information, call the church at 706- 795-2063. Gordon’s Chapel Methodist Church, Hull, will have its clothes closet open ing every third Friday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. The clothes closet is located next door to the Sanford Community Center (6469 Nowhere Road) in the green building. Its food pantry will also be opening every third Thursday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. The food pantry is lo cated at the Sanford Community Center (6469 Nowhere Road). TOPS Ga. 0421 Ila (Take off pounds sensi bly) meets every Mon day at 6 p.m. at Liberty Church. The church is located at 5725 Hwy. 106 N, Danielsville. For more information, contact Mary Bonds at 706-202- 4751. Every one is welcome. Legacy Baptist Church, 1850 He lican Springs Road, Hull, holds its week ly worship services on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Want more information? Contact the church at legacy- baptisthull@gmail.com or visit the website at www.legacybaptist.net. “We would love to have you join us,” church leaders said. Oak Grove Baptist Church, 9585 Hwy. 172, Comer, invites ev eryone to come out and visit at an old fashion hymnal book church. The church has break- fast on Sunday morn ings at 9:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall, followed by Sunday School at 10 a.m. and a service at 11 a.m. A singer performs at the service on the fifth Sunday of the month. The singing group for March will be the Eter nal Singers on March 30, and a meal will also be served. The church also has a Bible study every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. and a wom en’s Bible study on the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. Broth erhood meets the fourth Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Cedar Grove Bap tist Church, 495 Cedar Grove Church Road, Comer, has a food dis tribution on the sec ond Wednesday eve ning of every month from 6-6:45 p.m. at the church. Contact the church at cgbcl885@ gmail.com or visit the website at www.cedar- grovebaptist.net. _ Call 245-2695 24 Hour Obituary News Compliments of Gruitt Suneral Some, Inc. “Locally Owned and Operated Since 1905” 47 Franklin Springs St. Royston, GA 30662 (706) 245-7234 Worship regularly at the church of your choice! For more information on becoming a church page sponsor, please call 706-367-5233. 12403 Medicine Danielsville, GA For all your printing needs contact Ginger Mitchell at 706-654-8499 ZEB’S Mount Hermon 12650 Presbyterian Church CARSON PLUMBING, INC. PHCC 259 Wynburn Ave. O • Athens, GA 30601 PLUNBING-HEATING-COOLING' CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION JOSH CARSON (Licensed and Insured) 706-548-3397 FAX: 706-548-3881 E-Mail: carsplum@gmail.com 12570 "In the country... but worth the trip!" 5742 Hwy. 29 N. • Danielsville, GA 706-795-2701 12.92 Hwy. 98 • Ila 706-789-3296 "Let There Be Light" Visit i mthermonpreschurch.org//The Acorn. Adult Sunday School at 10:00 A.M. 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