“I’ve seen fireman and fire departments all over Georgia, and I’ll put our Colquitt-Miller County Volunteer Firemen up against any of them, anywhere under any conditions. Ours is the best of the best,” Chief Craig Tully said Tuesday night, December 13.
The Colquitt-Miller County Volunteer Fire Department held its annual Christmas and Awards Banquet at Cotton Hall.
Assistant Fire Chief Ken Roberts welcomed the large crowd of firemen and their guests and asked the Rev. Kent Barwick to give the invocation and bless the food.
Again, those present enjoyed a delicious “whole hog” barbecue with all the trimmings. For those who didn’t eat pork, barbecued chicken was served.
After everyone finished putting away the “whole hog,” Chief Tully introduced two of his long-time personal friends and two real friends of the Colquitt/Miller County Volunteer Fire Department.
Both Mayor Jerry Chapman and City Manager Cory Thomas praised the fire department, the leaders and especially the volunteers for their work and service to this community and area. They both agreed that they would not go back too far in their friendship with Chief Tully since he had been so nice in his introduction.
Chief Tully then went into his presentation of the awards given and voted on by the firemen. He gave the highest praise to the members of the fire department on their faithfulness to train each week, and be there for any and all emergencies in the city and county and to surrounding counties when asked to help.
Chief Tully then went into the presentation of awards. He first stated that it takes everyone working together to make a fire and rescue department work like ours does. He said that the firemen vote on who gets the awards and that makes them extra special to receive.
The Rookie of the Year award had a tie. The plaques were given to Keith Fitzgerald and Rod Bryan.
The Leadership award went to John Edward Wells.
The Firefighter of the Year award went to Rodney Bryan. This very special award is given in memory of a past firefighter, the late “Pa” Zeke Sheffield.
Chief Tully gave a special thanks to Jennifer and John Trawick for getting up donations for the fireman’s toys to be given to needy children and decorating for the banquet.
The Rev. Barwick, firemen’s chaplain, dismissed the group with prayer.
If you see a fireman, thank them for the training and time they give to be the best of the best. They are the best bargain that we have in this town and county. These Colquitt/Miller County Firemen will give their time, their expertise of fighting fires, getting victims from wrecks, burning houses, out of floods or tornadoes. They have been called on for all of these things and much more. They are the best citizens that we have and give the most for the least.
A simple thank you is about all the pay that they receive except the pride of helping others when they need the help the most. Ask who was there first and the longest when you needed help the most.
There is no doubt that these men are the best, and their mates should be thanked for lending them to us, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Ralph Wilcox jumped out of his truck, ran to the middle of the constructions site where building of the movie sound stage is underway, and began shouting, “Thank you, Jesus” several times. Mayor Pro Tem Ken Roberts said, “I was on my cell phone but thought that I was going to have to call 911 to revive Ralph. I just knew that he was going to pass out.” Roberts, in the absence of Mayor Jerry Chapman who had a previous appointment out of town, gathered with many others including the media and many well-wishers, to celebrate the beginning of construction on the 22,000 square-foot movie sound stage that Ralph Wilcox, along with his supporters, knew would become a reality right here in southwest Georgia.
It was a breezy morning, but the sun was shining overhead. Ralph Wilcox took it to mean that the Son was smiling at the Friday, December 16, 2005, press conference. Wilcox, the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Director and Executive Producer of Schuster’s Cash Video/Television Production Company, LLC, along with partners, Joy Jinks and Karen Kimbrel, and staffers, Brenda Cheatem and Judy Jones-Colston, stood in the back of Dina Roland’s truck and announced that construction was underway.
A host of well-wishers from Miller County and surrounding counties were proud of this milestone as WALB (Channel 10- Albany), Darton College and Albany State University communications departments, The Albany Herald, and the Southwest Georgian were all represented. Former anchorwoman for WCTV of Tallahassee, Florida, Carmen Cummings was also in attendance. HennyPenny Video/Television Production Company trainees Samantha Martin, Deanna O’Berry, Katrina Miller, and Michael Rentz also filmed footage of the press conference. These are all Miller County High School students. They were assisting instructors Dina Roland and Coya Miller, who also received their training in the HennyPenny Training program, and Ms. Roland went on to graduate from Bainbridge College.
The announcement of construction was preceded by a prayer from Wilcox.
Karen Kimbrel, Joy Jinks, Brenda Cheatem, and Judy Jones-Colston expressed the excitement of the moment and the tremendous impact that this sound stage can and will have on economic development in, not just Miller County, but the entire southwest Georgia region, not to mention the awesome opportunity for youth to train in the various disciplines of the film and television industry (lights, cameras, sound, hair and make-up, wardrobe, script writing and acting).
Also in attendance were Howard Small of the Miller County Development Authority; India Taylor, chairperson of the county commissioners; Veryl Garland-Cockey, president of Miller County Chamber of Commerce; Donald Brooks, chairman of the Miller County Chamber of Commerce and president of First State Bank; Billy Roland and Jerome Brown, representing RC&D Golden Triangle; Dr. Myrtle Johnson, educator and one of Wilcox’s earliest supporters from Thomas County; and Thomas Daniels, Congressional aide to Congressman Sanford Bishop. They all offered their support and congratulatory remarks as bull dozer equipment and trucks were busy at work in the background.
Then Ralph Wilcox stood and in his own way talked about the great opportunities that this movie sound stage, which will be used as a marketing tool, will bring to this community and neighboring communities. The struggles have been many, but victory is sweet. Wilcox also announced that several projects are in discussion and development. He then talked about the acting classes that will resume the latter part of January 2006.
Wilcox also announced the June 2 – 4, 2006, Faith-Based Family Film Festival that will be staged right here in southwest Georgia, using Colquitt, Georgia, as the epicenter. This festival will draw many visitors to this region, and several celebrities, writers, directors, and producers have already committed to attend.
Following the press conference, the media and those in attendance returned to the existing HennyPenny studios and enjoyed a delicious meal which was prepared by Sugar Hill. The media continued interviewing Wilcox and others who were present, and Mr. Terry Toole, editor of The Miller County Liberal, was also on hand to offer his support. Special thanks goes to City Manager Cory Thomas who was also present in support of this venture. Seminole County Chamber President Ms. Brenda Broome and Mitchell County Development Authority Director Marilyn Royal were on hand to celebrate the occasion.
As a result of the media coverage, calls have already started pouring in regarding the acting classes. Acting classes will resume full speed ahead, and the dates will be announced. The afternoon classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. This class will be open to former Miller County High School students who have trained in the program and also to former students from neighboring counties who have been part of the acting classes. New students from the eighth grade to college level are welcome to participate. An acting class will also be available to interested adults on Thursday evenings from 6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. There will be limited space, so please call the Henny Penny Studios at (229) 758-8188 to reserve your spot today. Being a citizen of Miller County will not guarantee one a job, either in front or behind the camera. What will at least insure the potential for employment will be preparation.
Ralph Wilcox will be attending the Sundance Film Festival in Parks City, Utah, and the NATPE Convention (National Association of Television Programming Executives) in Las Vegas during the middle part of January, and his staffers will also be preparing for the film festival. Wilcox said, “Remember, the goal is economic development. We are building it, so we must go out and market this Southwest Georgia region to the film and television industry so that they will come. I am working diligently to promote our region. Let’s join forces and make great things happen.”
Wilcox says, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you from the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Office.”

Week of December 18, 2005