The Darton College Nursing Division received a $2.48 million grant to fund the expansion of their program, support their satellite nursing programs, and to develop an on-line nursing program. Ms. Mitchell Robinson was visiting the Miller County Hospital on June 8, to see how some of the grant funds were being used. During her visit, she observed a psychiatric nursing course being audio and video-streamed to the Colquitt campus. Ms. Mildred Lapeza, the nursing instructor, was teaching her students in Albany and streaming the class to Colquitt.
Students taking these classes can see and hear the instructor. Likewise, the instructor can see and hear the students on the satellite campus.
The Darton College nursing program is offered on the grounds of the Miller County Hospital. Students participating in this program complete their first three semesters in Colquitt while performing their clinical assignments in the hospital and nursing home. During the fourth and fifth semesters, students are required to travel to Albany to complete some of their high risk OB, pediatrics, and critical care experiences.
The next nursing class to be offered on the Colquitt campus will begin in August of this year. Persons wanting to apply need to have completed five of the required college classes and have a college GPA of 2.5 or above. Information can be found on the Darton college website at www.darton.edu . There is a printable brochure listing the application steps and required classes. The deadline to have a completed application package is Friday, June 16, 2006 at 11:00a.m.
For more information, please contact the Darton College Nursing Division at 229-317-6557.
Apply Now for Colquitt RN Nursing Program- begins in August 2006.

Seaman Zachary M. Alday, 22, of Donalsonville, died June 9, from injuries that he sustained earlier in the day.
The incident occurred when the vehicle in which he was riding struck a land mine. His unit was conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
Zachary Alday was a US Navy Medical Corpsman. He attended Seminole County High School.
Alday was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 7th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), Camp Pendleton, Calif.
“Zack was a good boy, a good boy, and I’m glad he got to serve his country and I wish he was here with us today,” said Alday’s cousin Donnie Ray Miller.
“It takes a lot of courage and bravery to fight in a war like that, when he entered the Navy the war was already going on, and he knew he’d probably be placed in this situation, and that took a lot of courage,” said Joel.
Now that Zack’s courageous mission on Earth is complete, the family has faith they will see him again one day.
“I know he’s in heaven right now, with my grandmother and my grandfather, they’re looking down on us today I can’t wait for the opportunity,” said Joel Alday.
Zachary Alday was scheduled to be back in the states in September. His family was notified of his death on Friday.
Zachary is the son of Tommy and Donna Alday of Donalsonville.
Funeral arrangements are not finalized. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville is handling the service.

Several occupants received injuries when two vehicles collided at the intersection of SR 45 and SR 91 north of Colquitt. The accident took place at approximately 6:50 p.m., Thursday, June 8, just inside the Colquitt city limits.
The accident was called into the 911 operator, and the Colquitt Police, Colquitt Fire and Rescue Service and Miller County Ambulance Service were dispatched to the scene.
The collision took place at the intersection of State Route 91 and State Route 45 north of Spring Creek Bridge, just off U.S. Highway 27 north.
The crash occurred as Charlie Daniel McMillian, of 1772 Highway 27 South was travelling north on SR 45 south in his 1985 Mercury Marquis.
Tina Parker Moody of 7405 Georgia Highway 354, Donalsonville, was driving her 2001 Mazda Protege north on Georgia Highway 91 south.
According to the accident report, the driver of the McMillian vehicle stated that he was unable to stop his vehicle at the stop sign on SR 45 as he was approaching State Highway 91.
The Moody driver stated that the other vehicle pulled into her path of travel causing her to hit the McMillian vehicle in the side.
The EMTs check the drivers and occupants for injuries at the scene before transporting those who were injured.
The Moody driver in the Mazda, and a passenger in McMillian’s Mercury, Rachael Rackely, of 1772 Highway 27, were taken by ambulance to the Miller County Hospital to be treated for visible injuries. Daniel McMillian and a passenger in his vehicle, Alan Sherburn of 1486 Highway 91, were not injured.
Daniel McMillian was cited for faulty equipment.
Colquitt Police officer, Hollis Smith was the investigating officer. The contributing factors that caused the accident were mechanical or vehicle failure and disregarded stop sign.
It was undetermined if any of the drivers or occupants in the crashed vehicle were wearing safety equipment. Two air bags were deployed in Moody’s vehicle. Both vehicles were moved by wreckers.

Jessica King recently had 10 inches of hair cut in order to make a donation to "Locks of Love." "Locks of Love" is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children, 18 years and younger, who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. This organization meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create high quality prosthetics. This helps to restore the self esteem and confidence of these children by enabling them to face the world and their peers.
An upcoming senior at Miller County High School, Jessica is the 17-year-old daughter of Larry and Angela King of Colquitt. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Heard of Colquitt and Mr. and Mrs. Larry King Sr. of Donalsonville.
Jessica is an active member of Colquitt United Methodist Church where she serves as president of MYF, a member of the church council, a member of the youth choir, chancel choir, and handbell choir. She is a member of the Colquit/Miller County Arts Council and has been a cast member of Swamp Gravy for seven years. She is a volunteer for Relay for Life, PAWS, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Jessica has held various class offices and has participated in one act play and literary events. She is a member of Beta Club and FFA. She is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and a member of Who's Who Among American High School Students. She recently served as a junior marshal at graduation. She is currently employed with Crooked Oak Golf Course, and her future plans are to attend law school.
Anyone interested in more information about "Locks of Love" may call 1-888-896-1588 or go to its website info@locksoflove.org.

Madison Avenue, Colquitt’s newest business, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting Friday, June 9, 2006, at 11:00 a.m.
Madison Avenue, owned by Ronnie and Monica Posey, is located on the square in Colquitt in the old Badcock building.
Veryl Garland Cockey, chamber president, welcomed everyone to the grand opening and ribbon cutting and thanked the owners for opening such a wonderful business in Colquitt.
Mayor Jerry Chapman, speaking on behalf of the City of Colquitt, also gave thanks for the Poseys deciding to open a business of this caliber in Colquitt. Mayor Chapman stated that his only regret was “that it was for women only.”
Howard Small, chairman of the Miller County Board of Commissioners, expressed his thanks and said “he expected to see some fine looking women walking around after getting in shape by using the new gym.”
The new business consists of two unique businesses - one is a women’s fitness center and the other is a gift shop and tanning salon.
The Poseys have three children, Joshua, Benjamin, and Madison, the business’s namesake.
Madison Avenue Women’s Fitness Center offers a variety of exercise equipment by Body Solid & Spirit. The equipment includes treadmills, ellipticals, bicycles and a number of strength training pieces. There is also an aerobics room in the back for classes. The workout tapes are available to be used at any time and include taebo, abs, turbo jam, pilates, yoga, etc.
The new gym has a key code system for entrance. This allows a member to be able to exercise anytime during the day or night. Gym membership sign-up is available in the gift shop.
Madison Avenue Gift Shop & Tanning Salon has tanning beds for men and women. The gift shop carries products, jewelry, pocketbooks, shoes, Fitz & Floyd, and a variety of other gifts.
Monica Posey is also a Mary Kay consultant and would be glad to help you with your beauty needs.
Madison Avenue Gift Shop is open Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The telephone number is 758-3360.
The Poseys would like to thank everyone for coming to the ribbon cutting and extend a special thanks to Johnna Cannon for suggesting the name, Madison Avenue.

The following article was published in The Albany Herald Friday, June 9, edition:
“Dawson natives and identical twins, Annie Ree Simmons and Marie Bridges, born under the last name of Lumpkin, will celebrate their 87th birthday today in the dining room at Palmyra Hospital.
“Family members said the pair are believed to be the oldest living twins in Southwest Georgia.
Annie Ree is the oldest twin and has 11 children: Willie, Bettye, Booker T., Maxx, Mary Ann, Johnny, Virginia, Shirley, Susan, Helen, and Joyce.
Marie had 10 children: Martha, Roy, Queen, Usher, Arthur, Tommy, Clarence, and Van. The other two, David and Mary are deceased.
“‘It’s a blessing from God to have two sisters celebrate 87 years together. And we are wishing and praying for many more,’ said Susan Simmons, one of Annie Ree’s daughters.”
***-
Normally, one newspaper does not correct an error made in another newspaper, since we all make enough on our own.
This is really not a correction, since it was the family of the twins Annie Ree and Marie, who assumed that their twins were the oldest living twins in Southwest Georgia.
The Miller County Liberal was deluged with phone calls with people stating that they know of twins that are older than the ones mentioned in the Albany article.
I am not sure about who the oldest twins are, but I am sure that there are twins in Miller County who were 92 years young on their last birthday December 28, 2005. One of the Mason twins lives with her daughter, Betty Jo Toole, and “ye scribe.” Uva Sanders Mason states that she is the older of the two identical twins. The other 92-year-old twin, Una Sanders Mason, still lives alone in her own home and does her own cooking, cleaning and laundry. Uva said she does all that because she is the younger one.
The Mason twins did stop driving at age 90, after totaling out a couple of vehicles.
The Mason twins were born in Baker County. These twins also married brothers, the late Jordan and Bill Mason. Jordan and Uva had three children, Mealie Earl, Betty Jo and the late Talmadge Mason.
Una and Bill had one daughter, Sara, of Bainbridge.
The Mason girls are in relatively good health and still enjoy the exercise program and bingo at the Miller County Senior Center each week, along with the good food and great companionship of their many friends. They both attend their church regularly at Bellview Free Will Baptist Church, and they are the two oldest active members of that congregation.
The Mason girls are known to play game day or night with anyone who will play with them. They will win if at all possible, no matter who they are playing. They also keep up with the news from the Miller County Liberal, The Albany Herald and TV news programs. They both enjoy game shows.
No matter if you are 87 or 92, it is quite an accomplishment to still enjoy a twin sibling and other friends and relatives.
Congratulations go to the Lumpkin twins, native to Dawson, and the Sanders’ twins of Colquitt.
May all of you ladies all have many more birthdays and bless your families and friends for more years.

Week of June 11, 2006