AMERICUS — Americus

Today

Class of 1969: The Class of 1969, Sumter High School, meets at 4 p.m. today at the home of Josephone Simpson, 809 Georgia Ave.



Band Concert: Southland Academy hosts the state-wide GISA All-Select Middle School Band Concert at 2 p.m. today in the Melvin T. Kinslow Gymnatorium on the Southland Academy campus.The Symphonic Band will be led by Jed Smart from Tuscaloosa County High School, Tuscaloosa, Ala.,and the Concert Band will be directed by Ben Mallory from Sumter County Middle School. The coordinators for this special event are Robert Mullinax and Pam Klena. Rob Ivey, Southland's band director, hosts the event. The general public is invited.



Walk Georgia: Registration is open for Walk Georgia, an annual 12-week physical fitness program that encourages participants to track their physical activity from Feb.12-May 5. The program goals are to develop regular activity habits, get healthier and more physically fit — all while having fun! Participants and teams of four can log activity onto the online system where they are converted into miles. The miles allow participants to virtually travel through Georgia.The more miles a participant has, the more they can travel, see interesting sights, learn fascinating facts and get healthy! Participants can also choose to receive a weekly email newsletter that includes healthy lifestyle tips, recipes, recognition of leading participants, success stories, and announcements. Walk Georgia is sponsored by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and its partners as an effort to encourage Georgians to develop regular exercise habits in a fun, community oriented program. If interested visit www.walkgeorgia.org to register or call -924-4476 for more information. Registration ends March 17.



This Week

Peanut Meeting: A peanut production meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Sumter County Agricultural Center, 127 William Bowen Pointe. A UGA Specialist will present the program. Earn Private and Commercial Pesticide Credit Call 924-4476 if you plan to attend. There will be a sponsored meal.



Drivers License Facility Moving: The current Drivers License Facility (DDS) in Americus is imoving and opens Tuesday at the new location, 1601 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in the Old Tog Shop building. Hours of operation from from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Phone number is 1-866-754-3687. Website is www.dds.ga.gov

 

Caregiver Support: Caregiver Support meeting is 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday at ADH Center of Americus, 721-A Felder St. Guest speaker Nikki Jones from Mattie H. Marshall Center gives a presentation on Alzheimer’s. For more information call 928-3673.



Joint Authority: The Schley-Sumter-Macon Joint Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Rees Park Economic Development Center, 409 Elm Ave., in the conference room on the second floor. The meeting is open to the public.

 

Head Start Applications: Applications will be accepted for Head Start/Early Head Start from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays through Friday. For information call Krystal Heath 924-7666.



Blood Drive: Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, sponsors a community blood drive in memory of Josh Willis from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, South Lee Street. Call 924-2026 to make an appointment or schedule online at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code psmc.



Free Classes: Lake Blackshear Regional Library offers Internet for Beginners at 11 a.m. Saturday and Personal Computer (PC) Basics at 11 a.m. Feb. 25. Class lasts an hour. All classes are free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis. Stop by the library at 307 E. Lamar St., call 924-8091 or visit lbrls.org for more information.



Looking Ahead

Americus

Parent Workshop: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers, South Georgia Technical College and the Sumter County School System’s afterschool programs host a parent workshop from 5:30-6: 30 p.m. Feb.  23 in the media center at Americus-Sumter County High School South Campus. The topic will be “Customer Service Skills.” For more information call Rhonda Reddick 942-4992.



Servsafe® Training: Anyone interested in food safety can have the opportunity to improve food safety and sanitation skills. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is offering Servsafe® Training for Food Service Managers Feb. 27 and 28. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $140. Call 924-4476 for more information or stop by the Sumter County Extension Office, Sumter County Agricultural Center, 127 William Bowen Pointe.



Yard Sale: The Americus-Sumter High Singers are collecting items for their March 3 Yard Sale. Donate your unwanted items to their biggest fundraiser of the year. Pick-up at your home is available. Contact Director Brad Bunce 400-3777 or bbunce@sumterschools.org



Servsafe® Training: Servsafe® Training for Food Service Employees is offered by the Georgia Cooperative Extension March 19. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $15. Call 924-4476 for more information or stop by the Sumter County Extension Office.



Buena Vista

Notation Service: Marion County is the birthplace of Medal of Honor Recipient, PFC Luther H. Story. Already honored with a stately memorial on the grounds of the Marion County Courthouse, another notation will be erected in his honor. At 2 p.m. Feb. 14 local citizens and government representatives will gather on a bridge crossing the Kinchafoonee Creek in Marion County. The bridge is the first bridge from Buena Vista to Columbus, on Ga. Highway 26. The location is some 4.5 miles from the Marion County Courthouse. Some limited off-road parking is available but carpooling to the site is suggested. For additional information about PFC Story, seek Google information at Medal of Honor of PFC Luther Story.



Ongoing

Americus

Faith Clinic: Sumter Faith Clinic is a non-profit organization directed at meeting the spiritual and health care needs of residents of Sumter County who do not have health insurance or an affordable means to health care. Services include basic, non-emergent medical care of acute conditions as well as treatment of some chronic conditions. Services are delivered by volunteers. The clinic is located at 127 S. Jackson St. next to First Presbyterian Church. Hours of operation are 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.



CPR Classes: Americus Fire and Emergency Services will offer American Heart Association CPR certification classes. Call Harriett Williams at 924-3213 for more information.



Water Restrictions: The City of Americus has implemented the following water restrictions, established by the state Environmental Protection Division as Level II drought restrictions. Outdoor watering is allowed on the following days: North of Lamar Street on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and South of Lamar Street on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. No watering is allowed on Fridays. Outdoor water use is allowed only between midnight and 10 a.m. on scheduled days. Restrictions affect all residential, commercial, government and institutional outdoor irrigation and other nonessential water uses. These include watering lawns and landscapes, gardens, washing cars at residential sites and hosing streets and sidewalks. These restrictions will be strictly enforced. For information call Charlotte Cotton, Chief Administrative Officer at 924-4411.



No Burning: The City of Americus has an ordinance that forbids outside burning within the City limits. The Fire Marshal and police will be issuing tickets, which result in fines, to anyone who violates this ordinance. There will be no warnings issued.



Drug Problems: Narcotics Anonymous meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursday at First Presbyterian Church or call 591-1134.



Volunteers Needed: Phoebe Sumter Hospice is looking for volunteers to help with the needs of the terminally ill and their loved ones. This includes house-sitting, doing light chores or just providing spiritual or emotional support during this difficult time. Call Wendy Joyner 928-4000 if interested in becoming a volunteer.



Needs Volunteers: The Mattie Marshall Center is looking for volunteers to help do activities. Do you play an instrument, sing, dance or have a club or group that would like to come visit? We need volunteers of all ages and types for parties, Bingo, exercise, church services, snacks, etc. For information call Nikki Jones 924-9352, ext. 3089.

 

Safety Address Signs: Sumter County Cooperative Extension Service offers a blue safety address sign to resident property owners. The blue sign is made of 12” by 6” engine grade sign material with 4” #M reflective numbers and or letters. It is attached to a 36” metal post. The sign is highly visible at night and easily spotted during the day time. Signs are $20. A portion of the proceeds go to the local 4-H Club youth program. Stop by the Sumter County Extension Office, 127 William Bowen Pointe, and complete a Safety Sign Form today or print an order form off line at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/sumter/4H/documents/BLUESAFETYADDRESSSIGNORDERFORM.pdf. For more information call 924-4476.



Narcotics Anonymous: “Just For Today,” Narcotics Anonymous meets at 7:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday, 8 p.m. every Wednesday and 7:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at Williams Road Church of Christ, 110 Williams Road. Call George C. 942-3752 or Charlie S. 938-0218 for more information.



Ambassadors Needed: The Ambassadors of the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce are looking for new members. Chamber member businesses are invited to nominate someone to join this elite group of business minded individuals who perform volunteer work on behalf of the Chamber. Call 924-2646 for information.



Free Classes: Free GED classes are 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays in Sumter, Schley, Marion, Macon, Webster and Crisp counties. For information call 931-7323.



Share Group: The Grief Share Group meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of every month at First Baptist Church, South Lee Street. Meetings are open to anyone grieving the death of a loved one. For information, call the church office at 924-9035 or Ann Creel Beaver at 924-7652.



Support Group: The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group meets from noon-1:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the Magnolia Room at Magnolia Manor Retirement Center. A light lunch will be served.



AA Meeting: Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 332 S. Lee St. Friends of Bill W. Club meets at 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 702 Adderton St. (Ga. Highway 30 West). For more meetings, visit www.aageorgia.org



Substance Abuse: Love and Mercy Outreach programs presents Alpha and Omega Substance Abuse and Awareness Program from 6-7 p.m. every Saturday at 511-D W. Forsyth St. All people with alcohol and drug addiction issues and their friends and family are welcome. For more information or for a ride, call James Ross 229-331-4746 or William Wallace 229-322-9621.



American Legion: American Legion Post 2 meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month.



Lodge Meeting: M.B. Council Lodge No. 13, F&AM meets at 7 p.m. first and third Tuesday of very month at the Masonic Temple, 1209 Crawford St.



Pilot Club: The Americus Pilot Club meets (focuses on brain-related injuries and disorders) meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the Magnolia Room, Magnolia Manor Retirement Center, South Lee Street.



Soup Kitchen: The Soup Kitchen, at 437 S. Hampton St., is open at 6 p.m. every Wednesday to all in need.



Volunteers Needed: SOWEGA Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), office serving a six-county area, needs volunteers to work with abused and neglected children who are involved in the court system. A CASA volunteer advocates for the child’s best interest before the court. Training classes are available soon. For more information, call 931-4488.



Family Workshop: Who would make your final health care decisions if you couldn’t make them for yourself? The Critical Conditions Family Workshop can help you and your loved ones talk about these issues before decisions might have to be made. The CRITICAL Conditions Family Workshop is free! If you are aware of a group who would be interested in participating in a workshop presented by United Hospice of Cordele, call contact Jana Dew at 1-800-288-8466.



Adult Reading Skills: Adult Literacy Action Inc. has several openings for adult individuals interested in improving their reading skills. The organization is affiliated with the Lake Blackshear Regional Library. Volunteer tutors are available to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. Generally sessions are held one or two times a week for about an hour. Training materials are furnished at no charge. If interested, call 924-9010.



Recovery Program: Doing things the same never brings change. Got problems? Drugs, divorce, alcohol, porn; it doesn’t matter. Join us at 7 p.m. every Monday at 245 Southland Road for Celebrate Recovery. Contact us at 924-7409 or 937-2966 for more information or visit www.cornerstoneamericus.com and click on Celebrate Recovery.



Georgia REACH: Are you taking care of a loved one with memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s? Do you wonder if there is anyone one out there who understands what you and your loved one are going through? The Georgia REACH team is here to help. Georgia REACH provides information on Alzheimer’s and related dementias, teaches how to manage troubling behaviors and provides tools to manage stress. This free program is offered in eight counties including Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter and Webster. For more information call the Middle Flint Council on Aging at 928-2126 or Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving at 928-1234.



Al-Anon: You do not have to be an alcoholic to suffer from the affects of alcoholism. We offer a safe place to recover from the effects of another person's drinking. Meetings are 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Carswell House, Calvary Episcopal Church, 133 Brannen Aven. All meetings are confidential and open to interested persons.



Girls Rock: 4-E Learning & Prevention Center Inc., 802 Ashby St., sponsors Girls R.O.C.K. (Respecting Ourselves with Charisma & Klass) from 4-6 p.m. every Friday for girls ages 8-16. Learn etiquette skills, music and dance, participate in community projects and enjoy field trips. Membership is $40 per month. E-mail fourecenter@yahoo.com or call 928-8001 for information.



Make A Difference: Become a volunteer at Magnolia Manor Nursing Center where there are several opportunities for you to make a difference in someone’s life. Contact Activity Director Sherry Beck, 924-9352, ext. 3079.



After School Classes: The 4-E Learning and Prevention Center Inc. offers after school and tutoring services in math/reading/language arts/science/social studies/CRCT/EOCT test preparation, and a new program, Girls ROCK (Respecting Ourselves with Charisma and Klass), etiquette skills/music/dance/community projects and field trips. Call 928-5605.



Leslie

Free Tutoring: Free tutoring sessions are offered from 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Leslie Civic Center. Volunteers are needed. Call Loretta Raines 938-1166 for more information.

 

Plains

Lions Club: The Plains Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Call President Doug McKinney  at 924-1433 or information.



Free Classes: GED prep classes are offered from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at the Boys & Girls Club. Classes and books are free. Participants can study independently. Practice GED tests are given. Call 824-5388 or South Georgia Technical College Adult Literacy for more information.



Leesburg

Tea Party: Albany Area Tea Party Patriots meet from 7-8 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month at Century Fire Station, U.S. 19 (just north of Publix). For information call Mike Sabot at 229-869-6802.