In last week’s edition, we put a photograph of a tornado that occurred near the Miller/Decatur county line, and stated that no damage was reported on Monday, January 2. We called Miller County 911 on January 2, and on Monday, January 9. They still stated that no damage had been reported. One operator stated that a deputy sheriff had asked if anything had been reported on U.S. Hwy. 27, north of Colquitt. He stated that it looked like a twister might have done some damage. There were still no reports of damage.
According to those in the area, a twister-like wind did damage several areas approximately six to seven miles north of Colquitt, just off of U.S. Hwy. 27.
People with damage stated that several hail storms with rains and high winds came through that area at between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Monday, January 2. The hail storm damaged sidings on homes, and the twister-like high winds rolled back tops on shelters, picked up a trampoline and threw it through the roof of a mobile home and turned over parts of irrigation systems. The high winds also uprooted trees in that same area.
The tornado did not come down completely, for when it does, there is very little left. The high winds did get close enough to damage property at several places in the same general vicinity near the highway.
One of the residents in that area stated it was bad, but it could have been much worse.
The shelter that had the roof rolled back and some of the sheets of metal taken off several hundred yards away, had a nice travel trailer sitting under the shed that had the roof rolled with no damage to it reported by the owner, Don Simpson. The Simpsons’ home was just a few yards north of the damaged shed, and there was no reported damage to the home.
Just up the road, at the home of Stacy and Trent Pickle, a trampoline was blown from their yard and thrown into the roof of their mobile home.
An irrigation system owned by Terry Pickle had several sections overturned just off U.S. Highway 27, across the road from their equipment shelters loaded with equipment, not to mention just a bit further, their home just off of Spring Creek.
Pickle stated, “Other than the irrigation system, that seemed to be the only damage other than some trees that were blown over.”
The high temperatures for this time of the year make it just right for twisters to form. When cold fronts from the north combine with warm fronts from the Gulf region, it makes hail and causes violet thunderstorms to occur as well as tornadoes.

The Colquitt/Miller County Chamber of Commerce will host its 19th annual meeting on Thursday, January 26, at the First Baptist Church's Baptist Center at 6:30 p.m.
Donald Brooks, chairman of the board announced that tickets can be purchased from any chamber board member or tickets can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce.
Betty Ann Wylie of Atlanta will be the featured speaker. She is a story-teller who tells "Stories for all Seasons." After college graduation, Wylie claims she was a housewife who read a lot instead of cleaning the house and going to the grocery store! In the process, she filled her mind and heart with enough stories to share with all the world. Today, audiences range in ages from two to 92, and her material reflects that diversity. She will be remembered as one of the featured story tellers at the 2000 and 2002 Story Telling Festivals. Awards for 2005's program of works will be presented. The officers and board of directors for 2006 will be installed.
The evening will include a wonderful meal, great fellowship and excellent entertainment.

The Colquitt Miller Arts Council is proud to announce that it will have another edition of May-Haw, Colquitt’s own version of the traditional comedy and musical show Hee Haw at Cotton Hall in Colquitt, on Friday, January 27; Saturday, January 28; Friday, February 3; and Saturday, February 4.
This show will serve as a fund-raiser, and the proceeds that are collected from this show will benefit the Colquitt Miller Arts Council’s continuing mural project. Ten murals have been completed in Colquitt and Miller County, each one depicting stories that have been gathered in order to preserve Colquitt’s history. The 11th mural now in progress features stories from the Colquitt Miller County Fire and Rescue team and is located on the volunteer Fire Department building on Main Street. This mural features stories that are portrayed in the current production of Swamp Gravy, “Nuthin’ But A Will,” which opened in October and will start back for the spring season in March.
May-Haw will feature many characters that are similar to those that were featured on the TV show, but each one will have his/her own Colquitt twists. A great mixture of local talent will present the hilarious comical skits, along with entertaining musical acts that will be performed. “We are pleased to say that we will again have local musicians performing your favorite country and gospel songs,” say event organizers.
The southern charm and rustic feeling in Cotton Hall will add to the experience of May-Haw. With performers located on all four stages, the production will be taking place all around you.
The show opens at Cotton Hall on Friday night, January 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, there will be two performances, the first at 2:00 p.m. and the second at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for all of the shows. All tickets will be general admission.
If you see one of the first shows and would like to go again, come on back to Colquitt at Cotton Hall and see it again. No two shows will be alike. There might be some similar scenes, but they will all be different. If laughing makes you live longer, this show should add years to your life.
“We hope that you will join us and show your support for this project that is for the betterment of Colquitt, Miller County and all of this area of Georgia,” say arts council representatives.
For tickets, please call the Colquitt Miller Arts Council box office at 229.758.5450. Show times are January 27, February 3, 7:30 p.m., January 28 and February 4 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

This is the second in a series of mini-articles found in the Liberal in 2005. The last looks at 2005 will be in three month segments.
APRIL
The second annual Mayhaw Century Bike Ride was held Saturday, April 2. The bike ride, hosted by the Colquitt Miller County Chamber of Commerce, began at 7:30 am with a shotgun start. The weather was really cold at 6:30 a.m. when Kim Poff, Ann Stewart and Jewel Maddox opened registration. Nathan Keeter, Howard and Jean Small and Russ Henley were taking snacks, water and Powerade to the rest stops. Justin Poff, Sherry Keeter, Rodney Bryan, Billy Roland, John Cockey, Shea Moore and Levi Phillips greeted the riders at the different rest stops. Donald and Tina Brooks, Glen Sheffield and other chamber of commerce members were on hand to greet the bikers as they returned. “The last couple - 100 mile riders - came in at 3:45 p.m. That is about 8 hours of hard riding. The ride was over at about 2 p.m. last year,” said Veryl Garland, president of Colquitt Miller County Chamber of Commerce.

The Colquitt Lions Club had a full meeting of speakers and guests Wednesday, April 7. Lion President Cory Thomas welcomed all the Lions and their guests and asked Harry Davis to bless the food. All stood and gave the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. After a great lunch, Edward C. Johnson Sr. presented President Cory Thomas with a check from Lions International for $5000.00 to be distributed to help tornado victims with vouchers to purchase food, clothing, shoes, cooking utensils, bedding and similar needed items.

A large crowd gathered Thursday, April 7, at 11:30 a.m. for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of one of Colquitt’s newest businesses, Sugar Hill Trading Company. Sugar Hill Trading Company is owned by Ronald, Eloise, Keith, and Leanne Lovering. It is a barbecue restaurant with an antique mall inside the large building and flea market on the side and rear. The company specializes in some of the finest pit cooked barbecue you’ll find in the south, but also available on the menu are items such as steak and catfish. Sugar Hill is located in Colquitt on Hwy. 27 North at the junction of highways 27, 45, and 91.

Miller County Emergency Medical Service received the EMS Service of the Year Award at the annual Region Eight EMS Appreciation Awards Banquet held in Moultrie at Spence Field on April 7, 2005. The award is given to a service that provides outstanding service to the injured and sick and for special projects provided to the community. There are 27 counties that represent Region Eight. The service is staffed 24 hours a day to provide advanced life support to the citizens of Miller County.

Birth Announcements: Timothy Ryan Long, Jordyn Nicole Williford, Paxtyn Zaine Curles, Jace Anthony Donelli, Caroline Brooke Heard, Delaney (Laney) Ann Smith
Deaths: Michael Justin Calhoun, Raymond Miller, Niza Brookins, Ida Bell Davis Johnson, Helen Dorothy Grant, Mary Alice Suggs Moore, Wessie Bush, Fred L. “Smokey” Gibbons, Betty Jane Joiner Shedd, Alma S. Norris, Chloe Eddie Lou Chambers, Lowell Francis Rogers, Maxwell Carl Mims, Lamar Williams, Mary “Vivian” Bush Heath, Danny Ray Grubbs, Rufus Dukes, Mary Elizabeth Sheffield, Irma Christine (Schuehle) Grimes, James Earl Thornton

MAY
Miller County was well represented at the Georgia FFA Alumni Convention held on April 23, 2005, in Athens. Our local FFA Alumni basket won second place in the basket contest held on Friday, April 22. Items for this basket were collected by Mrs. Suzanne Griffin and then assembled for display by The Posie Patch. We appreciate all who donated to the contents of our basket. Beverly Richardson was chosen from a list of nominees throughout the state for the Outstanding Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni members for their leadership and outstanding service to agricultural education, FFA and the FFA Alumni. She and her husband Bobby are active on the local, state, and national levels of the FFA Alumni organization.

WHEREAS, the American Hospital Association has proclaimed May 8 through May 14, 2005, as National Hospital Week with the theme, “A Calling To Care,” and whereas, The American Health Care Association has the theme “A Calling To Care,” and whereas individuals all across the country will be celebrating these time-honored events; and whereas the hard working people that compose our hospitals and nursing homes deserve universal regard and appreciation for keeping our community healthy; Be it known that on this 4th day of May, I, Jerry Chapman, mayor of Colquitt, GA do hereby declare May 8 through 14, 2005, and May 9 through May 13, 2005, to be Hospital and Nursing Home Week in Colquitt, GA, and urge residents to express their appreciation for the people, facilities and technologies responsible for the outstanding health care services in our community.

The 17th annual Baccalaureate Service for local graduates was held Sunday, May 15, 2005, at the Colquitt United Methodist Church. The Miller County Ministerial Association was the sponsoring organization. Many of the seniors of Miller County High School and Southwest Georgia Academy participated in the service.

Whitney Williams signed with the Darton College Lady Cavaliers of Albany, on Thursday, May 19, with a host of family members and friends watching. Those present for the signing were Whitney’s parents, Ronald and Laura Williams, Mrs. Gloria Roberts, Mrs. Rhonda Leonard, Mrs. Melva Perkins, Darton College Head Coach Laura Blackwell, Assistant Coach Laurence Yankey, Lady Pirates’ Head Coach Robert Melton, Assistant Coach Marianne Melton, Athletic Director Frank Killingsworth, and Channel 10 Sportscaster Robert Hydrick.

Birth Announcements: Anita Lyla Richardson, Ashton Seth Jones, William Malory Miller, Jr., Abigail Grace Varnadoe
Deaths: Kendall Bradley, W.M. “Mac” Davis, Adell Curry, Montine Brown, Charles “Chuck” Elliott Sr., David Lee Haywood, Bill Ayres, Thomas J. Parker, Jr., W.M. (Mac) Davis, William Winfield Meadors, E. Floyd Mitchell, Carolyn Elaine Mott, Ashley Nichole Toliver, Larry Eric Grimsley, Stetha Lee Chambers Radney, Wilma Barber Mullis, Bryant Phillips

JUNE
The annual Miller County Memorial Day Service was held Monday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans’ Monument on the northwest corner of the county square. The American Legion Gerald Grow Post 165 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6046 were in charge of the program.

On June 2, 2005, the doors opened on Colquitt’s newest business, a mayhaw jelly company. Although Cedar Head Farms has been in operation in the wholesale business since 1997, it now has a retail store, Cedar Head Mayhaw Co., on the corner of the Colquitt square located in the old Chamber of Commerce building at First and Main streets. John and Jennifer Trawick of Colquitt cut the ribbon for their new store with the support of local citizens and who they like to call their “Mayhaw Mamas” (original owners of The Mayhaw Tree in Colquitt). A delicious assortment of the products was served to the crowd of well-wishers.

The American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS) in Atlanta has named Dr. David McCann, current Chief of Staff at Miller County Hospital, Family Practice Physician of the Year. Dr. McCann is a board-certified family doctor who has practiced in Colquitt for the last five years in association with Miller County Hospital. He is also clinical assistant professor in the Departments of Family Practice and Emergency Medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon.

On Thursday, June 23, 2005, Little Pirates DayCare & PreSchool held their Ribbon Cutting and Open House ceremonies. There was a great turnout for the event. Colquitt/Miller Co. Chamber president, Veryl Cockey welcomed the new business owners to the chamber. Colquitt’s Mayor Jerry Chapman thanked the owners for investing in this community. County Commissioner India Taylor also thanked the owners for their faith in this community and wished them well.

Birth Announcements: Emoree Aryn Romero, Cal Avery Williams, Jessica Renee Newberry, William Doster Langley, Parker Eugene Broome, McKenzie Jade Gay
Deaths: F. Emory Richardson Jr., Eugene McLendon, Bryant Arthur Phillips, Margaret Ethel Brunner, Gracie M. Henderson, Lois Floyd Cross, Jessie Lavert Anglin Powell, Janice Ammons Cutchen, Bernice Harden Taylor, Juanita Chance Quick, Leslie Ann Rykard Clayton, Ferrell Cook Moultrie Sr., Glo Reda Bruner, Horace Thomas Wade, Charlie Gilbert, Emma Loyless Cumbie, Horace Broughton Newberry, Agnes Pat Johnson, Clara Cross Wiggins, Gerald Sanders, Nettie Johnson Merritt, Mr. John Luther “Johnny” Hilburn, Elijah Oliver, Harold Green

Week of January 8, 2006