Colquitt, GA

Week of August 27, 2006 This is the north side of SR310. The water crossed the road in several places on this highway and on SR 1/ US Hwy. 27. More water over Colquitt highways than in Spring Creek by Staff writer We really needed the rain and could use more, but last Thursday, August 24, we got almost too much. Colquitt is one of the highest points in Miller County, but when a two inch rain comes down in less than an hour, the state highways around town go under water. Almost without fail, State Route 310, just off of U.S. Highway 27 goes under water and nearly floods out Colquitt Funeral Home and Colquitt Freewill Baptist Church. The state highway department put out caution signs of high water over the road at First Street and Grow Street, which is SR 310. The road signs were also placed on U.S. Highway 27/ Crawford Street at Cuthbert Street on that same day. This is a sure occurrence when we have a good rain. At the same time that this much needed rain came, just a few hundred yards away was Spring Creek, which is almost dry. It is not known who is responsible for the drainage of the water on the state highways, but it is a sure bet that those areas that go under water has proven time and again that the engineering was lacking when the highway was built. There have already been accidents at these sites, but no deaths, yet. posted on Tuesday, August 29 2006 at 3:38 PM by Lori Film Festival opens in Colquitt Friday by Staff writer If you are looking for a fun, different, full weekend of historic proportions, go no further than right here in Colquitt. This will be a weekend that you will never forget. This is when JOKARA Family Film/Video Festival is coming to Colquitt. You read right! You don’t have to go to Hollywood, CA, or New York City to see celebrities, show business professionals and even a number of politicians in attendance. If you go to the movies, watch television or just enjoy seeing people and hearing great entertainment, this will be the place to be starting Friday, September 1. Everything, other than the opening of the new sound stage in the industrial park, will be within walking distance of the city square just off of Main Street. The Southwest Georgia Film Commission Office and HennyPenny Video/Television Production Company of Colquitt, Georgia, will host the first annual JOKARA Family Film/Video Festival this Labor Day weekend, September 1-3. This film festival is the first of its kind to be staged in Southwest Georgia. Colquitt, home of the new 22,000 square-foot movie-sound studio, will be the epicenter. Many celebrities, show business industry professionals, and hopefully each one of you will be in attendance during these festivities. This festival has something for everyone. Thursday, August 31, 2006 Pre-festival activities Cotton Hall – Storytelling, poetry recitals, other entertainment in Colquitt, from 12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M., Main Street. Cotton Hall - Early festival Video Film Screenings 2:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. *Admission-under age 15 free *Ages 16 and over - $4 to attend all of the screenings. Screenings provide participants with an opportunity to get a first or second look at new films to be put on the market and at films that have already been released. Friday, September 1, 2006 Festival Begins First Baptist Church- Breakfast and Opening Ceremony, Colquitt, Georgia 9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. Breakfast Cost: $4 *Tour Southwest Georgia (includes Donalsonville, Blakely, Bainbridge, Albany, Ft. Gaines, Cuthbert, etc) 9:45 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., cost $20 – Lunch included Any one interested in going on the tour should contact the SWGA Film Commission office immediately since limited seats are available. First Baptist Church – Gospel Music, Colquitt, Georgia 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. (No Charge – Donations Accepted) Groups: Reverend Earl Hallmon, Willing Servants, Karen Washington, numerous quartets and soloists from as nearby as Bainbridge and as far away as Phoenix, AZ Cotton Hall- Premiere and Featured Screenings 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. *Admission under age 15 free *Ages 16 and over $4 to attend all of the screenings Olive Theater – Donalsonville, Georgia 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Camilla Java – Camilla, Georgia 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Additional special events are scheduled for sponsors and celebrity guests. Sponsorship list is posted on line at www.swgafilms.com/festival, as well as the full itinerary of events and the celebrity guest page. To inquire about sponsorships, call the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Office. Saturday, September 2, 2006 Symposiums (Workshops) – All symposiums will be held in Colquitt along Main Street. 9:30 A.M. – 11:45 A.M. 12:45 P.M. – 2:45 P.M No Charge United Methodist Church – “Is There a Market for Faith-Based Films?” Dr. Ted Baehr – CEO/Founder of MOVIEGUIDE and president of The Christian Film and Television Commission will chair this panel. Family Connections Center (Miller County Collaborative) – Filmmakers “Getting a TV Project Completed: No Budget, Low Budget, Your Budget.” Georgia’s new tax incentives will also be discussed. New Life Learning Center – “Getting into Show Business” Arts and Education Building –“Writing, and Pitching your Project” Henny Penny Studio – Training for Actors, Producers, Directors Arts and Education Building- Distribution-Video/Television Feature “Selling Your Project- Regionally and Nationally” First Baptist Church – More Gospel Music including The Boys ’ Choir of Tallahassee and the Gospel Incredibles 11:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. (No Charge – Donations Accepted) Cotton Hall- Premiere and Featured Screenings 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. *Admission under age 15 free *Ages 16 and over $4 to attend all of the screenings Olive Theater – Donalsonville, Georgia 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Camilla Java – Camilla, Georgia 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Contact the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Office or HennyPenny Video/Television Production Company to purchase tickets or a table to the Saturday, September 2 celebrity-attended Dinner Event. (6:45 P.M.) Each table seats one to eight people. For an evening of great celebrity and regional interaction, live entertainment, notable speakers, and a full course meal, don’t delay. Call today. The festival is upon us. Films for Thursday (Colquitt) 2:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. + 1. The Return of the Cheyenne Kid 2. Black Oasis 3. The Sky is Falling Films for Friday (Donalsonville) 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. + 1. In Search of His Body 2. Goatman 2 3. The Light Films for Friday (Camilla) 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. + 1. The Sky is Falling 2. The Touch Films for Friday (Colquitt) 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. + 1. The Voyage of the Kitty Ku Ku - 2. Princess Pie 3. Missed Me 4. The Boarder 5. Ethan’s Tuesday 6. The Clearing 7. Adopted by Aliens 8. Invictus 9. Oliver’s Music 10. Breaths 11. The Altar 12. Most 13. Paper Roses 14. The Tribe 15. Before Jackie 16. On the Other Side Films for Saturday (Donalsonville) 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. + 1. Invictus 2. Flywheel 3. The Altar Films for Saturday (Camilla) 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. + 1. Black Oasis 2. Lithium Springs Films for Saturday (Colquitt) 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. + 1. Ants 2. Perfect Little Pots 3. The Cake 4. Beyond Therapy 5. Kosher 6. The Touch 7. To Say I Love You 8. We Need to Talk 9. Faith – 16:00 10. Jacob – The Movie 11. Paul McCall 12. Sirah 13. The Chase 14. A Work in Progress 15. Bellau Wood 16. A Grocery Story Cotton Hall-Colquitt Olive Theater- Donalsonville, Georgia Camilla Java – Camilla- Contact Information: Southwest Georgia Film Commission Office 104 N. First Street P.O. Box 563 Colquitt, GA 39837 (229) 758-8188 or (229) 758-8833 www.swgafilms.com/festival festival@swgafilms.com Fax: (1-866-210-8166) posted on Tuesday, August 29 2006 at 3:37 PM by Lori (L-R) Keith Fitzgerald, Scott Moore and Kenny Brewer help “Fill the Boot.” Firemen ‘Fill the Boot’ for MDA by Staff writer Several members of the Colquitt-Miller County Fire/Rescue Department worked several days last week in the sweltering heat to “Fill the Boot” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The volunteer firemen were perched on the corner of Main and First Street several evenings last week to stop motorists. The donations they collected will go to help find a cure and to help with research for muscular dystrophy. Since its founding in 1950, the Muscular Dystrophy Association has become one of the nation’s largest and best-known voluntary health agencies. MDA provides comprehensive medical services to tens of thousands of people with neuromuscular diseases at some 235 hospital-affiliated clinics across the country. The Association’s worldwide research program, which funds some 400 individual scientific investigations annually, represents the largest single effort to advance knowledge of neuromuscular diseases and to find cures and treatments for them. The monetary goal for the event was set at $7,000. Last year, Colquitt-Miller County Fire/Rescue members were able to collect more than $6,000 to help fight the disease. posted on Tuesday, August 29 2006 at 3:37 PM by Lori This was taken from a station in town Monday. Gas prices coming down, this week by Terry Toole The gas barons somewhere, whoever they are, gave the drivers a break this week as gas prices across the nation dropped between 15 and 20 cents per gallon on unleaded gas. According to the gas report Monday, August 28, the following prices on regular gasoline, the lowest - highest, in surrounding towns and states were as follows: Albany $2.569-$2.819 Arlington $2.709-$2.729 Bainbridge$2.599-$2.689 Blakely $2.739-$2.819 Colquitt $2.599-$3.739 Donalsonville $2.479-$2.609 Dothan $2.719-$2.899 Tallahassee $2.739-$2.919 The lowest price in the nation on Monday according to the web site http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx, was Burkville, KY at $2.209. The average nationwide was $2.859, and the highest price was $4.049 in HI. It seems that the price of gasoline is determined by whatever the traffic will pay since the same station, supplied by the same distributor, sets the price by the competition. The lowest price in this area had stations with the same brand just a few miles apart selling unleaded gas from $2.479 to $2.659 per gallon, or an 18¢ per gallon difference for the same gas. posted on Tuesday, August 29 2006 at 3:36 PM by Lori The motorcyle came to rest in the ditch after 200 feet. Motorcycle crashes; one injured by Staff writer An accident occurred Saturday, August 26, 2006 on Cuthbert and First Street. Earnest Nelson Jones, 40, of Albany, was traveling south on North First Street on a 2002 Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Jones decided to turn south onto Cuthbert Street. The front tire of the motorcycle struck the street marker in the roadway. When the vehicle collided with the marker, it bent the rim, causing Jones to lose control of it for about 200 feet before coming to rest in the ditch. Jones suffered visible injuries to his right leg and EMS was dispatched to the scene. At the time of the accident, Jones was wearing his safety helmet. He was transported to the Miller County Hospital for treatment. Contributing factors to the accident were improper lane changing and losing control of the vehicle. No citations were issued. Officer Kenny Knowles was the reporting officer. posted on Tuesday, August 29 2006 at 3:35 PM by Lori Swamp Gravy Celebrates 15th Season with Visiting Hours by Staff writer A lonely visitor brings more than his company as he travels through turn-of-the-last century Colquitt, Georgia. The gift this mysterious stranger leaves behind will hide a small secret and reveal a great truth. The gift will pull a family together in its abundance, and will pull a town together after the gift is lost. This year’s production of Swamp Gravy: Visiting Hours is a blend of mystery, music, and mischief with tales of visitors- family and strangers alike- who sometimes bring more than we expected. These characters may test Colquitt’s never-ending hospitality, but they make for some unforgettable “visiting hours.” Swamp Gravy’s plays, steeped in the southern art of storytelling, are based on true stories told by the community, and dished up with a healthy serving of original music and traditional hymns. Swamp Gravy’s world renowned cast of 100 volunteers brings these stories to life in what has become Georgia’s celebrated Official Folk Life Play. Swamp Gravy: Visiting Hours is written by playwright Jules Corriere and directed by Swamp Gravy’s original artistic director, Richard Geer. The performances run Thursdays through Saturdays, including a Saturday matinee, throughout October. To experience the play that “…united a town and moved a nation,” please call 1-229-758-5450 or visit www.swampgravy.com. For more information, contact Kacee Holt, marketing director, at 1-229-758-5450 or write to kacee@swampgravy.com. posted on Tuesday, August 29 2006 at 3:35 PM by Lori