Ever so often, someone comes along that gets to the heart and soul of young people as well as teachers and staff.
Daron Norwood, country singer and recording artist was at Miller County High School Thursday, December 1, at Pirate Gym showing the students his talents and sharing how bad choices can mess up a good thing and good choices can “Keep It Straight.”
The sharing Norwood’s message came about when Todd Dobbs, general manager of Coca-Cola Bottling plant in Bainbridge heard Norwood in Greenville, S.C. at a Coca Cola division meeting.. Dobbs stated that he was impressed with Norwood’s show about keeping young people away from drugs and alcohol.
In 1994 and 1995, Daron Norwood had several number one country hit songs and associated with super stars Garth Brooks, Alabama, Merle Haggard and George Jones. Dobbs stated that since that time, Norwood had an experience in his life that led him to this program, which has touched the lives of more than 600,000 youth throughout the country.
Norwood, singing parts of songs here and there, talked about how he came from a West Texas background to play the Grand Old Opry with Jim Ed Brown for awhile before he moved to Marietta.
“A guy said he owned this bar and if I played there every Thursday, there’d be big stars coming there,” said Norwood. He saw photos of headliners on the bar wall and decided to do it. “I opened up for every country star that was in 1992 and 1993, and the next thing you know, I got me a record.”
After singing part of his 1994 No. 1 country hit, Norwood said, “The next thing you know you get this big bus with your name on it. You got 200 dates in ‘94 and 200 dates in ‘95. You’re with Reba McIntyre and all these big stars, and I thought I was in control. Next thing I’m sharing a stage with a guy named Billy Ray Cyrus.”
Then he met his wife-to-be, who attended the concert when he opened for Cyrus with her parents and sisters.
“They kept coming to those shows, and one of those five girls was my future wife,” Norwood said.
“She also saved my life, because after three nights of 75 shots of Jack Daniels in the back of a million-dollar bus, she rang the bell for life and said, “I will not be around to watch you go down. I’m not going to marry you and bury you.”
He talked about his drinking and how badly he abused his body with alcohol.
“Folks, I learned something at least 29 years of age with millions of dollars in the bank and a bus with my name on it, that no matter who you are, sometimes you start things that you can’t whip by yourself, “ Norwood told the crowd. “Thank God for my darling. I said good-bye to the bus, goodbye to the band, but not to music -- I said someday I’ll come back. When I do, I’ll sing a different song.”
“Coca Cola learned about me and that I am not shy when I walk into the schools of America and tell the truth about my life,” he said. “I lay it on the line, saying there’s a way of life that’s called keep it straight. Keep it straight and you can live a wonderful life, have your dreams. If you don’t, you can lose your life. Take it from me, I know. I tell my story gratefully because I’m still alive. I said if I can save one life, Coca-Cola, you’ve got me.”
Norwood said, “Sometimes in schools, these druggies look at me like they’d rather be in English, but I keep them for one hour. I will do my best to save a kid.”
The youth of MCHS were impressed with the talent and honesty of Norwood, and there is no doubt that he could well change the lives of some of the young people that he sings and talks to with his shows, “Keep It Straight.”

It was hot, muggy, rainy and crowded, but the first train ride is always the best.
On Sunday, December 4, there were hundreds of children and their parents and grandparents waiting in Damascus for a train ride with Santa to Colquitt.
For the sixth year, the Georgia Southwestern Railroad made the annual visit from Edison to Arlington to Damascus to Colquitt with a number of very special passengers and one very special passenger, namely Santa Claus.
If anyone ever wondered about advertising paying off, there should be doubt. This special train and passengers with a schedule were on the front page of the Liberal last week. There were hundreds of riders waiting to meet the train in Damascus and not enough seats to accommodate the crowd.
Terry Small, president of Georgia Southwestern Railroad stepped off the train to announce to the crowd that the generator had gone bad and there was no lights or air conditioning. The temperature for this particular December day was nearing the 80s. The bad news did not deter the crowd of children or their guardians. They piled on the train as tight as possible. They all didn’t make the trip.
It was a warm run to Colquitt that didn’t last but a few minutes. Santa was about to melt since he is used to cool or cold weather in the North Pole. The best spot on the train was near an open door or window. I know one particular three year old who was very impressed with his first train ride.
This ride brought back fond memories of my first train ride. I got on the train at Eldorendo and rode to Colquitt. Best I remember, the air conditioning or the lights were not working on the passenger train I rode on for the first time back some sixty odd years ago. The AC had not been invented, and we didn’t need to light the lanterns. My only thoughts, other than the thrill of riding on a train, were not to forget to get off in Colquitt. I was bad about going to sleep while riding anything but a horse. The station was just below my house and I wasn’t sure anyone would be there to greet me. I was wrong. Ma was standing there waiting on me and even came into the train to make sure I got off.
I was reminded of the sleep thing when my grandson, Mason, went to sleep sitting up looking out the window on the train trip Sunday.
When we arrived in Colquitt, there were still hundreds of folks wanting to greet Santa and ride on the train. This was to be the end trip, but since so many were there to ride, President Small agreed to ride them back to Damascus and Arlington, one way.
It was a good ride. Maybe next year it will be a little cooler for a train ride with Santa.

Week of December 4, 2005