Today’s Happenings

Americus

Flu Vaccine Available: The Sumter County Health Departmentoffers the seasonal flu vaccine for $23. Medicare and Medicaid are accepted. No appointment necessary.



Hydrant Testing: The Americus Fire and Emergency Services is conducting a second round of hydrant testing which will continue until all City hydrants have been tested. If your water is a reddish color, run the water for about 5-10 minutes to clear it. If it doesn’t, call 924-3213.



Sunshine Club: Come join the Sunshine Club from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. today at the Sumter County Agricultural Center, 331 U.S. Highway 19 South. Come bring a friend and a covered dish. For information call Mary Suggs 824-5149 or Sharon Brown 924-9352, ext. 5965.



Board of Equalization: The Sumter County Board of Equalization holds appeal hearings beginning at 8 a.m. today, Thursday and Friday in the County Commissioners’ board room, Sumter County Courthouse. The hearings are open to the public.



This Week

Americus

At Rylander: The Todd Allen Show is at the Rylander Theatre from 7:30-9 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $12 cash directly from the Rylander. Phone the theater at 931-0001 (If you use a credit card, there will be a service fee). Or order online at http://www.rylander.org/; there will be a processing fee (to total $13.93 per ticket)



Free Computer Classes: Lake Blackshear Regional Library offers free computer classes Saturdays. Beginners’ Internet class is 11 a.m. Saturday; personal computer basics is 11 a.m. Jan. 16; personal computer maintenance and security is 11 a.m. Jan. 23. Each 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 the Web site at lbrls.org for more information.



Looking Ahead

Americus

Board of Education: The Sumter County Board of Education holds a work session ar 6 p.m. Jan. 11 in the board room of the Sumter County Schools’ administration building. The meeting is open to the public.



Lions Club: The Americus Lions Club meets Jan. 12 at Ryan's Family Steak House. Lion President Willie Cooper is in charge of the program.



Food Service Training: Servsafe® Training for Food Service Managers presented by UGA Cooperative Extension is Jan. 13-14 at the Sumter County Agricultural Center, 331 U.S. Highway 19 South. Cost $140. Pre-Registration is required. Class space is limited. For information call Joan Mason at 924-4476.



School Board: The Sumter County Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 in the board room of the Sumter County Schools’ administration building. The meeting is open to the public.



Free Training: Child Care Training class is Jan. 16 at the Sumter County Agricultural Center, 331 U.S. Highway 19 South. Call 317-6834 Child Care Resource and Referral to register.



Tourism Council: The Americus-Sumter Tourism Council meets Jan. 20 at the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, Rees Park Economic Decvelopment Center. The executive committee meets at 3:30 p.m., followed by the board at 4 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.



Author’s Visit: Bill Lightle speaks about and sign sopies of his book, “Mill Daddy: The Life & Times of Roy Davis,” at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Lake Blackshear Regional Library. The public is invited. His books are available at www.blightle.com.



Albany

Girl Scouts: Calling ALL Girl Scouts, bring your Best Friend Forever to a night of fun! If you are not a registered Girl Scout, come out and make new friends with Girl Scouts. The event is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Fun Park Bowling, 2608 N. Slappey Blvd., for grades K-12. Cost is $15/person (includes bowling, shoes, craft and lunch). Registration deadline is Jan. 8. Call 229-432-9188. ext. 19.



Ongoing

Americus

4-E Center Registration: 4-E Center Inc. is holding after-school registration for grades K-8th grades from 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Students for Change program for expelled or suspended students, is from 9 a.m.-noon for $40 per student. Partial scholarships are available. Space is limited. Call 928-5605 for information.



Farmers’ Market: Lenny’s Market is now open for business from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.



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: Many people are affected by the drinking of someone else. We welcome you to our anonymous family group meeting from 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at Calvary Episcopal Church, 408 S. Lee St. Contact hope4todayafg@yahoo.com for more information. Visit www.al-anon.alateen.org to learn more. Podcasts are available at above website to get a better idea of what Al-Anon meetings are like.



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.



Safety Signs: The Sumter County Extension Office, 331 U.S. Highway 19 South, offers a safety address sign to residents and property owners. The blue sign is made of 12” by 6” engineering grade sign material with 4” No. 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 $18 and a portion of the proceeds go to the local 4-H Club youth program. Come by the Extension Office and complete a safety sign order dorm today. For more information call 924-4476.



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 Missy Wiggins, 924-9352, ext. 3079 or mwiggins@magnliamanor.com.



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.



Online Services: Nancy C. Smith, clerk of Sumter Superior Court, has announced that people can now apply online to become a notary public or to renew current notary. Visit www.gsccca.org and proceed at the Georgia Notary online application button. Closely follow instructions as directed and present completed application at the Clerk of Court’s Office, Sumter County Courthouse. Call 928-4537 for more information.



First Steps: Babies don’t come with instructions, but in Sumter, Macon and Schley counties, they come with a First Steps volunteer. You can make a difference in a newborn’s life. First Steps provides all parents or newborns with support, education and referrals to community resources. To become a volunteer, call Angela Harris at 928-4308. First Steps is a program of PCA Georgia and is funded in part by the Children’s Trust Fund Commission.



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 p.m. every Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Jackson St. (enter through double-glass doors in fellowship hall; park on street or in public parking lot). There’s a speaker every last Thursday of each month.



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.



Cub Scouts: Cub Scout Pack 27, located at 1011 Harrold Ave., is looking for boys that want to have lots of fun. Pack 27 meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. For information call Scoutmaster Mark Crawford at 931-0515 or 591-8693 or Cubmaster Chris Chappell at 229-273-8427. Pack 27 is sponsored by the Americus Civitans.



Boy Scouts: Are you a young man ages 11-17? Are you looking for outdoor adventure? Join Boy Scout Troop 27 at 7 p.m. Mondays at the Scout Hut on Harrold Avenue, next to the Americus-Sumter County High School South Campus gym. For information contact Scoutmaster Mark Crawford at 931-0515 or e-mail bsatrooppack27@yahoo.com



Chapter Forming: Interested in losing weight? A new chapter of T.O.P.S. (take off pounds sensibly) is forming in Americus. Call Lynn Saigeon at 931-5340. Meets Mondays.



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.



Overeaters Anonymous: Overeaters Anonymous meets 6 p.m. every Tuesday at the Wheatley House, across from the Sumter Regional Hospital emergency room. Everyone is welcome. For information call Janice at 928-2339.



Caregiver Support: The Magnolia Manor/Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group meets at noon every second Tuesday of the month at the Magnolia Manor Clubhouse. A light lunch is served. For information call Cindy Holloway at 931-5943.



Pilot Club: The Americus Pilot Club meets (focuses on brain-related injuries and disorders) meets at 6 p.m. the fourth 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.



Members Needed: Register for Girl Scouts! Contact Velvet S. Riggins (velvetr@gsswga.org) or 229-432-9188 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.



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.



Sisters, Families Needed:The girls of The Methodist Home for Children & Youth seek big sisters and visiting families. Requirements: 21 years of age, pass a criminal background check, three favorable references, agree to a statement of non-abuse, and follow established guidelines. Call Whitney Lamb, Campus Life coordinator at 924-4616 Tuesday-Saturday for information.



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.



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 Wade Medlock at 824-7423 for information.



Free Classes: Free writing and math classes in preparation for GED are offered from 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday and Tuesday at the Boys & Girls Club. Work at your own pace. Call 931-7323 for information.



Ellaville

Recreation Authority: The Ellaville-Schley County Recreation Authority meets the first Thursday of the month. The meetings are open to the public.



Girl Scouts: Girl Scouts and Brownies meet 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays at the new Scout House.. Please send information to tchsclassof89@yahoo.com. Several meetings are planned for the near future. For more information call Deana (Dews) Powell 229-314-9446, George Neal 706-325-9474 or Danielle (Cook) Murphy 229-942-6603.