Back in the early 1940s, Judge Arthur G. Powell wrote a book about this area, I Can Go Home Again. On Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11, several thousand people who lived here, had lived here or had some family connections did indeed come home again. In the book, Sam Morton of Colquitt, who had a column in the Early County News wrote, “Colquitt was twenty miles from Blakely, twenty miles from Bainbridge, twenty miles from Newton, twenty miles from Arlington and twenty miles from Cedar Springs, and was estimated by some to be twenty miles from Hell, but he considered that an overestimate.”
Things have changed. We are still about 20 miles from all of our surrounding neighbors. That’s how the towns were incorporated back then, so the farm family could go and come in one day on a mule and wagon. I think that most of the time Hell is a bit further.
The festivities on the courthouse square started Friday evening with some of the finest talent you could enjoy. There were 23 contestants that entertained several thousand folks. From those, the top five were chosen to perform on Saturday.
Some of the square was closed off, and food booths and arts and craft displays were all around the town.
The Veterans’ Day services started everything off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with a very impressive service by members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Just as the service was ending, the antique cars circled the square with some classy wheels from the past.
The attention of the large crowd was directed to the speakers’ stand on the east side of the square. Cory Thomas, Colquitt City manager and chairman of the Sesquicentennial Celebration, welcomed the crowd and introduced Dr. Howard Small, chairman of the Miller County Commission, and Jerry Chapman, Mayor of Colquitt, to tell some of the accomplishments in the past 150 years and the past few years.
State Representative Gerald Greene told the crowd that he had just returned from China. He stated that he was invited to stay another week, but he told them that he had to return to help celebrate with the people of Colquitt, which was his adopted home.
Representative Greene is truly one of us, and he shows it by his attendance and his help.
Chairman Thomas then introduced three groups of our ancestors of this county.
Charlotte Phillips told of the Cherokee Indians who were here and of the Muscogee Creek tribe.
Next were the African Americans how they came here by Mr. Alexander of Blakely.
The early white settlers were told about by direct descendants of the “father” of Miller County, James Bush. J.O. “Spud” Bush and his sister, Edwina Bush Thomley, gave details of our city and county history.
Chairman Cory Thomas then recognized some of our newcomers into this area from India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Hispanics from all over the world.
The Miller County High School Band under the direction of Richard Horne played a medley of music created just for this special celebration.
It was noted for everyone to check the Happy Birthday cards all around the square created by the children of the New Life Learning Center after school program.
Thomas then recognized the oldest living citizen of Miller County present. He declared that although Terry Toole looks like the oldest, Tom Davis, 97, was the oldest one present. He then introduced the oldest living twins in the county, the lovely card-playing duo, Uva and Una Mason. The Mason twins cut the official birthday cake for the occasion and served the crowd.
Holly Thomas then led her Miller County Elementary Chorus in the “Happy Birthday” song.
The final five in the talent contest faced off, and the top three winners were first place, Rachel Bailey $1000; second, Cassey Gale $500; and third, Sunni Gross $250.
The beard contest winners were Walter Daniels, first place; Ronnie Shiver, second; Billy Kimbrel, third; Pat Knight, Most Unique; Terry Toole, Ugliest.
The Swamp Gravy cook-off winners were first, Edwin Atkinson; second, Wayne Womble and Felix Tabb; third, Dave Lane.
Marlin Gibson had an excellent display of his antique tractors and demonstrated an old-fashioned peanut picking.
The Agrirama of Tifton had a great display of how the turpentine was gathered and what is done with the products.
There was entertainment for all with the Singing Echoes from Cleveland, Tennessee, and Commonplace from Jacksonville, Florida.
The young people had a parking lot full of rides, and inflatables.
The County Fair winners were judged in Cotton Hall. Those placing were as follows: Canned goods, best of show, first, Bell Wells, and second, Judy Burch; Jams/Jellies/Preserves, first, Judy Burch, and second, Bell Wells; Pickles, first and second, Bell Wells ; Fruits, first, Jean Tully; Relish, first, Iva Tabb, and second, Bell Wells; Seasoned Vegetables, first and second, Jean Tully; Non-seasoned Vegetables, first, Jean Tully, and second, Bell Wells; Baked Goods, first, Mitzy Tedder, second, Winnie Chandler, and third, Monica Love.
In the Quilt Contests, for Creativity, first, Betty Adams; second, Jennifer Adams; and third, Lee Turner. Winners in the Traditional were first, Virginia Andrews; second, Sue Morris; third, Lee Turner. Contemporary winners were first, Judy Burch; second, Jennifer Adams; third, Lee Turner. Workmanship awards went to first, Virginia Andrews; second, Lee Turner; and third Sue Morris. Best of Show was Virginia Andrews.
There are over 650 photos on our website of this weekend celebration of our birthday at

The Colquitt Police Department is investigating a theft that occurred inside the City of Colquitt. The theft involved a white male pretending to be measuring a residence to help with a citizen’s heating bill when actually the man was stealing money while he was inside the home. This incident occurred on Friday, November 3, 2006, during daylight hours.
If anyone has knowledge of this incident or a similar incident, you are requested to contact Chief Scott Worsley at 229-758-1006 or 229-442-0067.
If someone wanting to measure your house to help reduce your heating bill approaches you or wants to enter your home, please call 911 and request a police officer or deputy sheriff be dispatched to your residence to check the subject or subjects.
With Christmas around the corner, thefts are on the rise. Be aware of area scams to insure that you do not become a victim. If you have any questions regarding the legitimacy of salespersons, get-rich-schemes, or anything suspicious dealing with receiving money or discounts, you may call the Miller County Sheriff’s Department at 758-3421 or the Colquitt Police Department at 758-1006, and someone will be happy to assist you.
The City of Colquitt is offering a $500.00 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime.

Recently the seniors at Miller County High School selected a group of classmates to represent the Class of 2007 as this year’s Senior Favorites.
The young man and young lady receiving the most votes were named Mr. and Miss MCHS respectively.
Jake Hayman and Joy Jones are Mr. and Miss MCHS 2007.
The other Senior Favorites are Jontavius Hopson, Whitney Cleveland, Paige Godfrey, Jessica Henry, Ashley Miller, Meghan Haverty, Fanchon Hollinger, Jonathon Widner, Jim Copp, Josh Posey, Jeryn Collier, Shelby Brown, Willie Butler, and Colby Widner.

Veterans’ Day was observed Saturday, Nov. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the veterans’ corner on the courthouse square. The program to honor the living and the deceased veterans was presented by the local chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
American Legion Commander Amos George welcomed a good crowd. The POW MIA ceremony was held with the empty chair.
Chaplain Glenn Sheffield gave the opening prayer.
VFW Commander Gerald Jenkins gave some thought-provoking words and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
The National Anthem was played, and the themes for the different branches of the armed services were played as those veterans stood.
The Rev. Daniel Dean, pastor of Mt. Olive Holiness Church and a veteran of Vietnam War, was the guest speaker, and gave an inspiring talk on “dufflebag heroes.”
Ben and Juanne Johnson placed the wreath on the monument to the veterans.
“Taps” was played, and the ceremony was finished as Chaplin Glenn Sheffield gave the closing prayer.
Commander George thanked everyone for taking time to honor our heroes.

Colquitt Coupon Days end Sunday, November 18. Merchants, businesses and institutions participate in this popular annual event. These Colquitt Coupon participants will be giving away over $2500 in merchandise, gift certificates, services or gifts.
The coupons were printed in last week’s Liberal.
Some businesses will be closed Friday and will not open on Saturday or Sunday in combination with Hometown Holidays, so get your coupons in the boxes.

This is just a segment of one of the war stories about some of our veterans of a past war that very few might know about.
It's not unusual for Mr. and Mrs. Smiley Jones to have visitors in their Colquitt home. Some of them make for good stories of the past and present as this one has.
A number of months ago, Michele Makros Weitzel came to visit Mr. Smiley to find out what he knew about a ship named The Marine Wolf. That was about all we heard about the lady or the ship. It seemed that she was a bit shy around red-neck Southerners since she was from Ohio.
Back in October, Ms. Weitzel came back to Colquitt to acquire more information from Mr. Smiley about this not so famous ship and about her father, a medic, Michael Makros, who served on the ship with Gunners Mate 2nd Class Smiley Jones.
Michele is now authoring a book about The Marine Wolf and some of her crew.
This troop ship became a transport ship and floating hospital during World War II.
Since Ms. Weitzel started her search, it was discovered that this not too famous ship made history. The Marine Wolf first crossed the Atlantic on her first eastward passage in 1944. Technically she is listed as a War Shipping Administration C-4 with a 71-foot beam and a displacement of 15,000 tons. She operated as a troop ship and cargo carrier and ran the U-boat gauntlet between Hampton Roads and English and French ports for a year, becoming a familiar sight in many American and European harbors. In a 12 month period, as a troop ship the Wolf brought 13,524 GIs to England and France.
The Marine Wolf and her crew came into her own after VE Day. She made 105 crossings of the English Channel and for six months bore the brunt of cross-channel shipping, making a lasting name for herself and those working on her. This ship made the 105 crossings transporting 201,164 passengers to and from the United Kingdom. Her “home” on the French side of the channel was always Le Havre. On the British side it was Southhampton.
The Wolf functioned as a hospital ship with patients headed for evacuation hospitals in the British Isles.
But to her crew, with only one or two exceptions, the most gratifying channel runs of all were those when her rails were lined with liberated American prisoners of war.
Probably the Wolf’s most remarkable achievement was the safety record she established. She did not suffer one single accident or even a mishap during her entire channel career, despite crossing many floating mines. The Wolf carried more troops than any ship in the Allied Fleet.
The book will be written from the prospective of the author’s father and his bride and their exploits. Those still living are keeping in touch with one another even 60 years after the fact. “They are some wonderful people who have made this effort most enjoyable and fulfilling,” Michele stated.
“I have learned more about my dad in ways I would have never known though those who knew him. Nothing could have been a better gift than to find out about my parents and those who knew them and this ship that was a great part of their lives,” Ms. Weitzer said.
The author hopes to finish this book this winter and have it published soon thereafter.

Week of November 12, 2006