A Dodge County teen is trying to change lives without having to leave her home.
Taylor Mullis’s twitter account, @WhyToStayStrong, has more than 4,700 followers and is nominated for a Shorty Award.
“I saw how many people needed help. They were alone and I just wanted to help them,” said Mullis.
The national Shorty Awards recognizes advancement in social media and has several categories.
Taylor’s is Teen Activism.
Through her account, she sends tweets that have personal quotes, pictures and notes that are aimed to inspire and encourage others.
Her mother, Alicia, says she was thrilled to find out what her 15 year old was doing online.
[Full Story »]
Entries from March 2014
Willie "Bo" Frank Bryant, Sr.
Age: 65
Died: Thursday, March 27, 2014
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Thursday, March 27, 2014
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Raliegh C. Stonecypher
Age: 92
Died: Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Dodge tennis teams host Jefferson and Thompson
By Frank Erwin
The Dodge County High School (DCHS) Indians tennis teams hosted Jefferson County March 20, 2014. The boys won five to zero and the girls won four to one.
Winners for the boys were number one singles, Jacob Danforth, six to zero in the first set and six to zero in the second set; number two singles, Dallas Hardin, six to zero in the first set and six to two in the second set; number three singles, Dwight Inman, won by forfeit; number one doubles, Vic Mizell and Corvon Parker, six to zero in the first set and six to two in the second set; and number two doubles, CJ Kemp and Brandon Roland, six to three in the first set and six to two in the second set. [Full Story »]
The Dodge County High School (DCHS) Indians tennis teams hosted Jefferson County March 20, 2014. The boys won five to zero and the girls won four to one.
Winners for the boys were number one singles, Jacob Danforth, six to zero in the first set and six to zero in the second set; number two singles, Dallas Hardin, six to zero in the first set and six to two in the second set; number three singles, Dwight Inman, won by forfeit; number one doubles, Vic Mizell and Corvon Parker, six to zero in the first set and six to two in the second set; and number two doubles, CJ Kemp and Brandon Roland, six to three in the first set and six to two in the second set. [Full Story »]

500 seedlings given away during annual Arbor Day Celebration
Dodge County should soon be filled with the delicate blooms of Dogwood trees after 500 seedlings were given away at the county’s annual Arbor Day Celebration.
The Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce hosts the yearly celebration, but it is a community event that involves the chamber, the City of Eastman, the Georgia Forestry Commission as well as many volunteers from around the county, including the 4-H Club and garden club. [Full Story »]
The Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce hosts the yearly celebration, but it is a community event that involves the chamber, the City of Eastman, the Georgia Forestry Commission as well as many volunteers from around the county, including the 4-H Club and garden club. [Full Story »]

Indians face emotional roller coaster of games
By Jessie Pruett
On February 28, the Dodge County High School (DCHS) Indians traveled to Dublin to take on the Irish. Dodge County lost a close one to the Irish in the late innings. Jonathon Perdue was the starting pitcher for the Indians and allowed only three hits and four earned runs striking out nine. Hitting for the Indians were Jonathon Perdue two for two; Andrew Hardy two for four with a double; Cain Peterson two for four with a double; Lance Pruett had a double and two runs batted in (RBI’s); Tad Honeycutt a single and two RBI’s; Dathan Sheffield and Austin Clements both had singles and drove in a run for the Indians.
March 3, the Indians traveled to Bleckley County for one of the oldest rivalries in central Georgia. Like many games the Indians have had this year it was an emotional roller coaster with some successes, some missed opportunities and some strange and questionable calls by the guys in blue. Ultimately it goes down as a loss with a score of five to two. [Full Story »]
On February 28, the Dodge County High School (DCHS) Indians traveled to Dublin to take on the Irish. Dodge County lost a close one to the Irish in the late innings. Jonathon Perdue was the starting pitcher for the Indians and allowed only three hits and four earned runs striking out nine. Hitting for the Indians were Jonathon Perdue two for two; Andrew Hardy two for four with a double; Cain Peterson two for four with a double; Lance Pruett had a double and two runs batted in (RBI’s); Tad Honeycutt a single and two RBI’s; Dathan Sheffield and Austin Clements both had singles and drove in a run for the Indians.
March 3, the Indians traveled to Bleckley County for one of the oldest rivalries in central Georgia. Like many games the Indians have had this year it was an emotional roller coaster with some successes, some missed opportunities and some strange and questionable calls by the guys in blue. Ultimately it goes down as a loss with a score of five to two. [Full Story »]

Indians soccer teams on the right track for region playoffs
By Angie Bland
The Dodge County Indians are on the right track this year for region playoffs. The Lady Indians took a hard loss to Thomson on Friday night, but that doesn’t diminish their hopes of coming out on top. With some extra hustling and the innate desire to outperform the others, they can still rise to the challenge. It will be tough, but definitely not impossible.
The girls had a lot of time spent on defense Friday night. After 20 minutes into the game, Brooke Best came out of goalie to run the middle of the field and stir up some support for the Lady Indians. Sydney McRee went in as goalie and held her own. She is proving to be a valuable asset to the Lady Indians and has a future with them for sure. Caitlyn Smith was doing a great job on the field but with a sore ankle it makes it hard to track down your opponent, so she eventually came out of the game.
Our offense didn’t get much time in the first half of the game. Dodge had 11 shots at goal and Thomson had six. At the end of the game, we had 18 shots to their 18. With two minutes left to go in the game, Thomson had a five to zero lead over the Lady Indians, however, they didn’t just lay down and die, the Indians kept fighting. Aja Murray from out of nowhere, got the ball to drop into the goal, pretty as you please. They turned right around and did it again. Taylor Hall, from 60 yards out, put that famous kicking leg into action and launched a pass that just got touched by Haley Holloway landing it in the goal. Our girls sometimes get down, but they never give up. [Full Story »]
The Dodge County Indians are on the right track this year for region playoffs. The Lady Indians took a hard loss to Thomson on Friday night, but that doesn’t diminish their hopes of coming out on top. With some extra hustling and the innate desire to outperform the others, they can still rise to the challenge. It will be tough, but definitely not impossible.
The girls had a lot of time spent on defense Friday night. After 20 minutes into the game, Brooke Best came out of goalie to run the middle of the field and stir up some support for the Lady Indians. Sydney McRee went in as goalie and held her own. She is proving to be a valuable asset to the Lady Indians and has a future with them for sure. Caitlyn Smith was doing a great job on the field but with a sore ankle it makes it hard to track down your opponent, so she eventually came out of the game.
Our offense didn’t get much time in the first half of the game. Dodge had 11 shots at goal and Thomson had six. At the end of the game, we had 18 shots to their 18. With two minutes left to go in the game, Thomson had a five to zero lead over the Lady Indians, however, they didn’t just lay down and die, the Indians kept fighting. Aja Murray from out of nowhere, got the ball to drop into the goal, pretty as you please. They turned right around and did it again. Taylor Hall, from 60 yards out, put that famous kicking leg into action and launched a pass that just got touched by Haley Holloway landing it in the goal. Our girls sometimes get down, but they never give up. [Full Story »]

Letter to the Editor
Dear editor,
With so much civil paroxysm and tumult going on in this country and around the globe as witnessed with a commercial jetliner with 249 souls aboard that has seemingly vanished, a ruthless despot busy plotting world domination with the spread of communism, our president and his group of thugs who perpetually defile a document that has been the ethos of our country for more than 200 years (The Constitution) and with a goal of subjugating it for good before his term ends in 2016. I rhetorically ask, where is the visceral reaction of the American people as we once again see more buffoonery come out of this administration as reported of “Michelle my Bell Obama,” her two daughters, her mother and 70 close friends go on government air travel to China staying at five-star hotels, eating at luxury restaurants all on your dime, America.
Now of course, you get the typical pabulum mendacity spin by the white house PR, it’s (“pre-visit for the president to get an ear before he arrives”) America! This is pure Georgia cow pie and hog wash in any order you wish to arrange those two in. It’s just another junket in free vacations for that woman, which by the way, the price tag is just over a million dollars now and still counting, I did see Michelle eating a Chinese fortune cookie, sure would be nice to read the fortune paper inside it.
I’m not done and I’m just getting started. As already reiterated, the upheaval and cataclysmic events that is so prevalent in front of our eyes with the Russians barking world annihilation with nuclear weapons over sanctions imposed, perhaps this fantastic president is on the hot phone trying to cool things down do you think? Nope! This character is busying playing golf in Key West, Florida and filming a spot on ESPN as he fills out his NCAA basketball brackets. [Full Story »]
With so much civil paroxysm and tumult going on in this country and around the globe as witnessed with a commercial jetliner with 249 souls aboard that has seemingly vanished, a ruthless despot busy plotting world domination with the spread of communism, our president and his group of thugs who perpetually defile a document that has been the ethos of our country for more than 200 years (The Constitution) and with a goal of subjugating it for good before his term ends in 2016. I rhetorically ask, where is the visceral reaction of the American people as we once again see more buffoonery come out of this administration as reported of “Michelle my Bell Obama,” her two daughters, her mother and 70 close friends go on government air travel to China staying at five-star hotels, eating at luxury restaurants all on your dime, America.
Now of course, you get the typical pabulum mendacity spin by the white house PR, it’s (“pre-visit for the president to get an ear before he arrives”) America! This is pure Georgia cow pie and hog wash in any order you wish to arrange those two in. It’s just another junket in free vacations for that woman, which by the way, the price tag is just over a million dollars now and still counting, I did see Michelle eating a Chinese fortune cookie, sure would be nice to read the fortune paper inside it.
I’m not done and I’m just getting started. As already reiterated, the upheaval and cataclysmic events that is so prevalent in front of our eyes with the Russians barking world annihilation with nuclear weapons over sanctions imposed, perhaps this fantastic president is on the hot phone trying to cool things down do you think? Nope! This character is busying playing golf in Key West, Florida and filming a spot on ESPN as he fills out his NCAA basketball brackets. [Full Story »]

Letter to the Editor
Dear editor,
One night after work I gave someone a lift. During the drive I started a conversation about religion. He told me about a task that God has given him to do. As he was telling me about this task I began hearing and seeing everything he was saying. I was having a vision.
It starts off with me hearing loud music with offensive lyrics. This music is so loud that it hurts my ears. What I first see is a backpack. The backpack is the only thing I can see at this time. Then my field of vision begins to widen up.
As my vision is widening up I can see that the backpack is on a young man in his teens. And that the young man is walking down a sidewalk. As he is moving away from me I notice three things. He is wearing headphones. He has a weird hair do. And he is not paying attention to anything around him.
As the young man is walking up to an intersection I am moving with him. The young man is about to step off a curb on to a street. A bus comes around a curve as he steps off the curb. The bus driver sees him and blows his horn. There is not enough time for the bus driver to put on his brakes. The young man never sees or hears the bus. Everything goes black.
[Full Story »]
One night after work I gave someone a lift. During the drive I started a conversation about religion. He told me about a task that God has given him to do. As he was telling me about this task I began hearing and seeing everything he was saying. I was having a vision.
It starts off with me hearing loud music with offensive lyrics. This music is so loud that it hurts my ears. What I first see is a backpack. The backpack is the only thing I can see at this time. Then my field of vision begins to widen up.
As my vision is widening up I can see that the backpack is on a young man in his teens. And that the young man is walking down a sidewalk. As he is moving away from me I notice three things. He is wearing headphones. He has a weird hair do. And he is not paying attention to anything around him.
As the young man is walking up to an intersection I am moving with him. The young man is about to step off a curb on to a street. A bus comes around a curve as he steps off the curb. The bus driver sees him and blows his horn. There is not enough time for the bus driver to put on his brakes. The young man never sees or hears the bus. Everything goes black.
[Full Story »]

Dennis/Woodard named STAR student/teacher
Calen Reece Dennis has been named 2014 PAGE STAR Student for Dodge County High School. Judy Hemphill Madden, president of the Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce, local sponsor of the Dodge County STAR program, made the announcement March 12, 2014.
Dennis, the son of Ronnie and Melinda Dennis of Eastman, selected Selena Woodard, South Dodge Elementary first grade teacher as his STAR teacher. Dennis stated, “I’ve always had a passion for learning and it wasn’t until later that I realized that Mrs. Woodard was the reason for that. She was the first teacher to make learning fun.”
Though she was surprised and elated to be chosen as STAR teacher, Woodard was not surprised at Dennis’s success. “He was always curious and driven,” Woodard said of the qualities that Dennis possessed as a child. “He always had the drive to learn more and to go the extra mile, but was never arrogant. He was and still is a very cool kid.”
The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, in its 56th year and is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 24,0000 students and teachers they have selected as having had the most influence on their academic achievement. [Full Story »]
Dennis, the son of Ronnie and Melinda Dennis of Eastman, selected Selena Woodard, South Dodge Elementary first grade teacher as his STAR teacher. Dennis stated, “I’ve always had a passion for learning and it wasn’t until later that I realized that Mrs. Woodard was the reason for that. She was the first teacher to make learning fun.”
Though she was surprised and elated to be chosen as STAR teacher, Woodard was not surprised at Dennis’s success. “He was always curious and driven,” Woodard said of the qualities that Dennis possessed as a child. “He always had the drive to learn more and to go the extra mile, but was never arrogant. He was and still is a very cool kid.”
The PAGE Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program, in its 56th year and is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education. Since its inception, the STAR program has honored more than 24,0000 students and teachers they have selected as having had the most influence on their academic achievement. [Full Story »]
Betty Rogers Boutwell
Age: 76
Died: Saturday, March 22, 2014
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Saturday, March 22, 2014
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Floyd does extra during his spring break
It’s spring break at the University of Georgia (UGA). Students are hitting the beaches and returning home to relax and take a break from studying and writing papers. This is a highly anticipated time for time for students, especially student athletes.
Georgia Bulldog football player number 84 and Chauncey native, Leonard Floyd, returned home to Eastman, to do the same, but after visiting with family and friends, he decided to do a little something extra. “I knew coming home that I still needed to stay in shape and work out so I called one of my former coaches who I knew would push me and asked him to help me. Coach Fordham works at the Milan YDC and we had an idea that I could come out and talk to the kids about pursuing their dreams in life,” Leonard stated.
[Full Story »]
Georgia Bulldog football player number 84 and Chauncey native, Leonard Floyd, returned home to Eastman, to do the same, but after visiting with family and friends, he decided to do a little something extra. “I knew coming home that I still needed to stay in shape and work out so I called one of my former coaches who I knew would push me and asked him to help me. Coach Fordham works at the Milan YDC and we had an idea that I could come out and talk to the kids about pursuing their dreams in life,” Leonard stated.
[Full Story »]

Dodge County Indians tennis teams win matches
By Frank Erwin
The Dodge County High School (DCHS) Indians tennis teams hosted Washington County on March 11, 2014. The boys won four to one and the girls won five to zero.
Winners for the boys were number one singles, Jacob Danforth, six to zero in the first set and six to zero in the second set; number two singles, Dallas Hardin, six to one in the first set and six to zero in the second set; number one doubles, Vic Mizell and Corvon Parker, six to zero in the first set and six to one in the second set; and number two doubles, CJ Kemp and Brandon Roland, six to zero in the first set and six to two in the second set. [Full Story »]
The Dodge County High School (DCHS) Indians tennis teams hosted Washington County on March 11, 2014. The boys won four to one and the girls won five to zero.
Winners for the boys were number one singles, Jacob Danforth, six to zero in the first set and six to zero in the second set; number two singles, Dallas Hardin, six to one in the first set and six to zero in the second set; number one doubles, Vic Mizell and Corvon Parker, six to zero in the first set and six to one in the second set; and number two doubles, CJ Kemp and Brandon Roland, six to zero in the first set and six to two in the second set. [Full Story »]
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