When you think you’re having a bad day, stop and read this, and you’ll know it could be so much worse.
Chloe Shiver, three-year-old daughter of Kevin and Amy Shiver of Columbus and the granddaughter of Wallace and Nina Shiver of Miller County, was recently diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that is only found in children.
Chloe’s first symptom was pain in her leg on April 28, 2006, at Jerry and Elaine Thornton’s lake home at Lake Seminole. All of Chloe’s family were there to celebrate her Pop Pop’s (Wallace Shiver’s) 60th birthday.
It was that night that Chloe woke up everyone in the house, screaming at the top of her lungs with pain in her left leg. That night was the beginning of the most traumatic time the Shiver family has ever had to face. “Needless to say, our hearts sunk to our feet when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma,” stated grandmother, Nina Shiver.
Chloe was taken to her pediatrician the following Monday in Columbus by her parents, Kevin and Amy. From there she was referred to a bone specialist. All sorts of scans were done to determine where the pain was coming from. Chloe was hospitalized after visiting the bone specialist and was treated for a bone infection, and the prognosis at that time was looking good for Chloe. However, the radiologist noted a shadow behind her left kidney at which time nothing was being flagged because of the formation of her intestines.
The doctors at this time were not able to come to a complete diagnosis, so they decided that she needed more extensive care and tests to conclude her diagnosis. From Columbus, she was referred to Egleston’s Children’s Hospital in Atlanta for more tests.
Upon Chloe’s arrival at Egleston, she was admitted, and tests were run. At that time, the family was given the best case scenario being the reflection behind her kidney was the intestine’s shadow. The worst case scenario was the dreaded word, cancer, that no family ever wants to hear and especially not about a three-year-old.
After the family’s decisions were made, the entire family traveled to Atlanta to be with Kevin, Amy and Chloe to give support before the conclusion of the diagnosis. However, before the family made it to the hospital, the daddy, Kevin, had called with the news of Chloe’s cancer. “At that time we were in the shock of our lives and wanting to get with them as quick as possible. The tone of our son’s voice told us that it was really bad,” commented Nina Shiver. The shadow was determined to be a tumor behind Chloe’s kidney.
Chloe began her chemo treatment within a week or two after this. At that time, the doctors had scheduled her for six chemo treatments, three weeks apart. It wasn’t long after this, that they noticed her hair beginning to fall out. And after a few days of this, the nurses advised Amy and Kevin they may want to go ahead and “buzz” her head, and after much thought, they did.
Chloe’s attitude and her high energy level would never let a stranger know that she has cancer and is going through chemo treatment. Her family states that she has so much energy and is smiling and ready to play most of the time. She begins her fifth round of chemo on Wednesday, August 23, and when her blood count is at the level needed to harvest her stem cells, a transplant team will be on standby to do the harvesting. She will have enough stem cells harvested at this time for two different transplants at the end of her chemo treatments.
After Chloe has completed her chemo treatments, doctors will attempt to remove the tumor that is above her left kidney wrapped around the aorta. The size of the mass at the time of her diagnosis was six centimeters. It is now four centimeters in size, meaning the chemo has shrunk the tumor somewhat. The neuroblastoma cells have gone down from 30% in her bone to 0 percent.
It is possible that Chloe may have to still face radiation treatment after the removal of her mass. The family of Chloe is asking for everyone to continue to pray for her and hope that God will perform a miracle and cure this precious little girl.
A benefit sing for Chloe was held last Saturday night at Flat Creek Baptist Church. Over $5500.00 was raised to help with expenses. The family is most grateful to those who have helped them and who continue to do so through their prayers, cards, calls, and donations. They know that all things are possible through Jesus Christ.
Chloe has one sister, Carly; and two brothers, Seth and Ayden. Her grandparents are Wallace and Nina Shiver of Donalsonville and Donnie and Becky Paul of Columbus. Chloe is also the niece of Clarke and Stephanie Shiver of Columbus and Ty and Pennie Thornton of Colquitt.
Everyone wishes and prays for Chloe a complete recovery as she goes through her battle with neuroblastoma.

Some people say the Holocaust never happened even if history proves it did.
We have something in this edition that I just as soon not shown, but since this happened in many of our lifetimes, it may be timely to show what has already happened and what can happen again when we fail to fight dictatorships and terrorism, using with words instead of weapons. According to history, we almost waited too late last time.
As General George S. Patton Jr. started his famous speech to his men fighting under him, "Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
WARNING: The photos in this edition are graphic. If you have any heart in you, they will make you sick that human beings can do this to other human beings, but they did.
If you are over 50, you remember hearing about how the Nazi Party took over Germany, and its members started World War II. You heard about the concentration camps that killed, murdered and mutilated millions of people.
These original photos were brought in by Mrs. Bernice Bush Miller of Miller County. They were sent to her late parents, Earnest and Florence Bush, by her late brother, Vernon Bush, who was in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 during World War II.
Each of the photos shown here were written on the back by Staff Sergeant Bush telling what had happened as he saw it.
Sixty years later, the same thing is happening in the U.S.A.
On July 28, 2006, six people were shot at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, WA when a Muslim went into the offices and started shooting workers.
After killing one and wounding five others, he told them that Jews and the Bush administration needed to stop supporting Israel.
Naveed Afzal Haq, 30, was arrested and charged with murder. He also faces charges of five counts of attempted murder, kidnapping involving a teenage girl, burglary and malicious harassment.
One of the victims shot was the grand-niece of the late Sgt. Bush, Layla Bush, who was working in that office. She is still in ICU in a Seattle hospital with the 45 cal. bullet still in her shoulder. She is the daughter of Brad and Katie Bush of Panama City, FL.

Colquitt has gone international.
A letter of intent was sent to the Global Mural Arts and Cultural Tourism Association earlier in the year that informed the organization that Colquitt, Georgia, intended on bidding to host their conference. On August 14, 2006, southwest Georgia made a splash in the Prestoungrange Gothenburg in Scotland when members of the mural committee Joy Jinks, Karen Kimbrel, Betty Miller, Marcia Miller, and others presented a bid to host the 2010 Global Mural Conference in Colquitt, Georgia. The deciding committee in Scotland at this year’s conference announced on Wednesday, August 16, 2006, that Colquitt, Georgia will be the host to the Global Mural Conference in 2010.
The Global Mural Arts and Cultural Tourism Association was founded by Karl Schutz in an effort to internationally promote public art and cultural events. The organization was founded in Chemainus, BC, Canada, which has become a major tourist attraction because of their mural program. It was started to improve the appearance of their city and also to save their local economy.
With the completion of the 10th mural of Colquitt, “Summer in the Swamp,” located at the New Life Learning Center in Colquitt, the original goal of completing 10 murals was accomplished. The Colquitt Miller Arts Council has now exceeded its original goal by sponsoring the 11th mural this past March and continuing with plans to complete even more in the coming years. Many cities have murals that show the history of the town, but Colquitt’s are unique in that most are based on stories that have been collected over the years in the story-gathering part of Swamp Gravy, Georgia’s Official Folk Life Play.
The international conference is held every two years. It has been held at Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada (1998); 29 Palms, California, USA (2000); Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada (2002); Ely, Nevada, USA (2004); and currently at Prestonpans, Scotland, UK (2006). The next Global Mural Conference will be held in 2008 in Sheffield, Tasmania, Australia, with plans now underway for 2010 in Colquitt, Georgia, USA.

‘Man’s best friend’ takes a new meaning for one Yorkshire terrier in Sumter County these days.
Winn Dixie is the pet of the Rev. Matt Stewart and wife Julia and their daughter, Atalie, 11.
On Aug. 9, the Stewarts were just about 20 minutes before leaving for work and school. It was around 6:30 a.m., and Julia was in the shower, Atalie was combing her hair and Matt was in his study. He is the pastor of Lee Street United Methodist Church.
“Winn Dixie never barks,” Matt said. “In fact, Dr. Reeves commented on that at his last vet visit.”
He was speaking of Dr. William Reeves, a local veterinarian.
“But, he came into the study barking up a storm,” Matt said.
“He will alert you when something’s out of the ordinary,” Julia added. For instance, she said if someone rings the doorbell or comes to the door of the parsonage, Winn Dixie will alert the family.
Matt said he went to see what was going on and followed Winn Dixie into the kitchen.
“I smelled smoke,” Matt said. He then realized there was a fire underneath and behind the water heater in the laundry room.
“I yelled, ‘Fire ! Fire!’” Matt said.
He said he caught up with Atalie and Winn Dixie in the kitchen, and he went to get Julia out of the shower. “We went outside,” Matt said. He was able to call 9-1-1 from the kitchen phone.
Matt said they got out just before flames had engulfed the hallway in front of where the water heater was.
“Flames would have consumed the hallway, blocking back door exit,” Matt said.
“We feel ... overwhelmed with family and friends and with churches and schools (helping us),” Julia said through tears. She said she told her husband the other night that she could not imagine “going through this without their support.” In fact, volunteers were helping the Stewarts clean the parsonage, while the Times-Recorder was interviewing the family.
Not having long relocated to Americus from Chatham County, the Rev. Matt Stewart and his family are now temporarily living at Magnolia Manor, following the loss of their parsonage home to fire. Matt said no official cause of the fire has been determined, but they have the family dog to thank for their safety. Its barking alerted them to the danger.
“It’s just incredible that he did that,” Matt said. The family lovingly calls Winn Dixie “a hero.”
The Stewarts said they debated getting a dog to live with them at the parsonage, but are now very grateful they did. Winn Dixie was only six weeks old when they got him around Valentine’s Day. “Atalie begged for a dog,” Julia said, when asked how they came to adopt Winn Dixie.“She wanted one so bad.”
“He’s been good for her,” Julia said, Atalie and Winn Dixie running and playing around the church office.Atalie said she named the dog Winn Dixie “just like in the movie and the book and the grocery store.”
Julia teaches first grade at Kinchafoonee Primary School. Atalie goes to school at Lee County Middle School. The Stewarts moved to Americus June 15.
Editors note: The Rev. Stewart is a former pastor of Colquitt United Methodist Church, where love fund has been established for the family in their loss.

It is that time of the year when fall sports kick off, and the smell of grass, dirt, and sweat are combined into one.
The Miller County Pirates’ Football Team will travel over to Ocilla, Thursday, August 24, for their first pre-season game.
Updates on the Pirates’ football team and coaches will be in next week’s edition. The Pirates and coaching staff hope to see a fleet of fans over in Ocilla as they take on the Irwin County Indians.
A big congratulations goes out to the Miller County Lady Pirates’ Fast Pitch Team for all their hard work, hard playing and winning.
Coach Richard Prescott and Coach Renza Israel are working diligently with our Lady Pirates as their fall season has already begun. They have one win and one loss.
The Junior Lady Pirates traveled to Baconton, Monday, August 21, for a double-header, and the Lady Pirates varsity will head to Baconton Thursday, August 24. tournament.

On August 4, 2006, the Miller County Sheriff's office served a search warrant on the David Phillips’ residence in Colquitt.
The warrant was obtained by Chief Investigator Ben Nix after he received information that Phillips was selling his medications to the public.
Sheriff "Buddy" Glass did surveillance on the house until the warrant was obtained by Investigator Nix.
Sheriff Glass, along with Captain Scott Lawson, S.R. Deputy Shane Rathel, K-9 Officer Kenny Kirkland and Investigator Nix searched the residence.
They found several pill bottles that were prescribed to other people. There were also several pills and patches that were found, the same as Phillips was selling.
All evidence was photographed and collected by the sheriff's office.
David Phillips and Curtis Phillips were taken to the Sheriff's Office for questioning.
David Phillips later admitted to Investigator Nix and Investigator Richard Morgan, of the Colquitt Police Department, that he was selling his medications to a lot of people in Miller County. He couldn't name all he had sold to. Curtis Phillips confirmed David's confession.
David Phillips was booked and charged with two counts of selling controlled substances.
Rusty Darley was also charged with the sale of controlled substances.

A special election has been called for September 19 for the registered voters of Miller County for the purpose of voting for or against a 1 percent sales tax.
A resolution to call an election was adopted by the Miller County Commissioners on July 18, 2006.
The purpose of the special election is to vote “Yes” or “No” for a one percent sales and use tax to be imposed in Miller County for a period of not more than 6 (six) years for the raising of $3,600,000.00 for the purpose of funding road, street and bridge projects, emergency medical service (ambulance), sheriff’s department and county buildings in Miller County, and public works department, fire department and police department in Colquitt.
This sales tax is to replace the one that has been in effect for the past five years to fund the sheriff’s department, the ambulance service and the fire department. That one percent local tax will have brought in $2,500,000.00 or more by December 2006, and will be stopped because of the cap. The funds were divided 50% for the city and 50% for the county on the current one percent.
The one percent local sales tax to be voted on in September will last for six (6) years and is to be divided 35 percent for the city and 65 percent for the county and will have no cap. If the anticipated $3,600,000.00 plus is collected in one year or four years, the tax will continue to be collected until the time runs out in 2013.
The question was asked why the county did not wait until the general election in November to call the question? The answer was that the county and city would lose three months of collections, since the old one percent tax would go out in December, and collection of the new tax would begin in 2007. Any registered voter can vote in this special election to vote on extending this one percent sales tax.
If you are for or against the local sales tax, please exercise your privilege to vote on this most important issue. The last election was pitiful with less that three (3) percent of the voters going to the polls. Please do not let a few percent of the voters of this county determine what will affect everyone for years to come.

Week of August 20, 2006