The third annual Bible reading marathon will be held Friday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 6, 2015, on the steps of the Dodge County Courthouse. Opening ceremonies will start at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1.
The keynote speaker this year is Bishop Woodrow Jarret, lead pastor at Sunset Family Worship Center in Eastman. He is married to Jennifer and they have four children, Alexis, Chelsea, Caleb Joshua and Kayla. The praise team will also perform.
Mattie Ellen Moore, age eight, daughter of Trent and Brooke Moore, will be the first reader. She is a second grade student at South Dodge Elementary and attends Bay Springs Freewill Baptist Church.
Eastman City Manager Bea Edge will be the mistress of ceremonies for the Bible reading and other officials will participate in the program.
If you would like to sign up and read please contact Dr. Lydia Daniels at 478-374-1667 or 305-206-0561; email firstladydaniels@aol.com or go to the website at www.Dodgecountybrm.com.
Top Stories - Topics from April, 2015

One Injured
Thomas Jesse Hilliard, age 26, of Rhine, was injured and taken to Dodge County Hospital after he was involved in a one vehicle accident on Oak Grove Church Road in Rhine on Sunday, April 26 at approximately 6:39 p.m. According to the Georgia State Patrol report, Hilliard was traveling west on Oak Grove Church Road in a 2002 Ford pickup truck. He attempted to negotiate a curve and went off the north shoulder of the roadway and lost control of the truck. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

Mock Council Held
One of the activities that the City of Eastman participated in for Georgia Cities Week was a mock council meeting where the Dodge County High School Student Council took the hot-seats and facilitated a mock city council meeting. The meeting was held on Monday, April 20 at 6:00 p.m. The city will be participating in other activities throughout this week in honor of Georgia Cities Week. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

Enjoy Pondtown
Large crowds of folks attended the Pondtown Festival in Rhine on Saturday, April 18. People enjoyed the arts and crafts, food vendors, the parade, Lizard Lick, the entertainment and much more. (Photo by Cindy Pope)

Conservationist of the Year for Dodge County is James Tripp
The Central Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District held its 53rd annual Conservationist-of-the-Year program on Thursday, April 16, 2015, at the First Baptist Church in Cochran. The local banks of the Central Georgia District, which is comprised of Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Twiggs, Johnson, Washington and Wilkinson counties, sponsor this annual program.
James Tripp was named the Dodge County Conservationist of the Year. Tripp has been involved in agriculture his whole life and has lived in the same house on the farm since he was eight years old. He currently operates a 634-acre farm where he farms pecan trees, small grains, cotton, corn and soybeans.
He utilizes strip till with his cover crops, oats, rye and clover and no-till with soybeans and some small grains, which benefits soil quality and limits runoff. Tripp has low-pressure drop nozzles on all of his pivots to minimize water drift and ensure water is applied only to crop needs.
He has enrolled in 11 different practices in the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program and also was approved for a hoop house in 2013 under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
[Full Story »]
James Tripp was named the Dodge County Conservationist of the Year. Tripp has been involved in agriculture his whole life and has lived in the same house on the farm since he was eight years old. He currently operates a 634-acre farm where he farms pecan trees, small grains, cotton, corn and soybeans.
He utilizes strip till with his cover crops, oats, rye and clover and no-till with soybeans and some small grains, which benefits soil quality and limits runoff. Tripp has low-pressure drop nozzles on all of his pivots to minimize water drift and ensure water is applied only to crop needs.
He has enrolled in 11 different practices in the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program and also was approved for a hoop house in 2013 under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
[Full Story »]

Eastman officials celebrate Georgia Cities Week
City of Eastman officials announced the city will be celebrating “Georgia Cities Week” April 19-25. The city will be holding a variety of events throughout the week, including: A Mock Council Meeting, “Business after Dark”, A Downtown Visioning Session and Downtown Story Telling. The theme of this year’s Georgia Cities Week is “Destination Downtown,” showing the importance of a central gathering place for people and communities.
This is the 16th year Georgia Cities Week has been celebrated in the state and the second year the City of Eastman has participated.
[Full Story »]
This is the 16th year Georgia Cities Week has been celebrated in the state and the second year the City of Eastman has participated.
[Full Story »]

Grand marshals chosen for Pondtown parade
By Jonathan Sheffield
Spring is finally here and with it comes the 2015 Pondtown Festival on Saturday, April 18. As tradition stands, the grand marshals for the Pondtown Festival Parade have been selected from many outstanding citizens of Rhine.
The 2015 Pondtown Festival Parade Grand Marshals are Cleve and Marvalene Jones.
The Jones’s are, “very excited and honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshals.”
They have lived in Rhine since marriage, in 1960. Mr. Jones is retired from fifty years of service at Oxford Construction, where he served as a contractor and supervisor. He was also a member of the Rhine City Council. Mrs. Jones is retired from thirty years of service at Ithaca Sewing; she has also worked as a caregiver.
They enjoy babysitting their grandchildren, maintaining their yard and attending church at Rhine Baptist Church. They are active members of the church with Mr. Jones serving as a member of the choir as well as teaching the adult Sunday school class. Mrs. Jones taught the children’s six to eight year old class for over thirty years.
She currently serves as a member of the Woman’s Missionary Union and as secretary for ladies Sunday school.
The Jones’s have two sons, Duane and Steve, as well as three grandchildren.
Spring is finally here and with it comes the 2015 Pondtown Festival on Saturday, April 18. As tradition stands, the grand marshals for the Pondtown Festival Parade have been selected from many outstanding citizens of Rhine.
The 2015 Pondtown Festival Parade Grand Marshals are Cleve and Marvalene Jones.
The Jones’s are, “very excited and honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshals.”
They have lived in Rhine since marriage, in 1960. Mr. Jones is retired from fifty years of service at Oxford Construction, where he served as a contractor and supervisor. He was also a member of the Rhine City Council. Mrs. Jones is retired from thirty years of service at Ithaca Sewing; she has also worked as a caregiver.
They enjoy babysitting their grandchildren, maintaining their yard and attending church at Rhine Baptist Church. They are active members of the church with Mr. Jones serving as a member of the choir as well as teaching the adult Sunday school class. Mrs. Jones taught the children’s six to eight year old class for over thirty years.
She currently serves as a member of the Woman’s Missionary Union and as secretary for ladies Sunday school.
The Jones’s have two sons, Duane and Steve, as well as three grandchildren.

Teacher of the year is named
The Eastman Rotary Club in conjunction with Dodge County School System announced the 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year (TOTY) at their meeting on Friday, April 10, 2015. The nominees were introduced and their many accomplishments read by the principals of the respective schools. Teacher of the Year for the Dodge County School System was Angela Peacock. Dr. Melinda Dennis named Angela Peacock as Dodge County System Teacher of the Year.
Peacock is a graduate of Georgia College and State University with a degree in Middle Grades Education. She earned her Masters of Education in Reading in 2006 from Georgia Southern University and is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Instructional Technology with an add-on Library Media concentration.
Peacock began her teaching career as a homebound teacher and adult education teacher. She has been teaching at Dodge County Middle School since 1999 and has taught a variety of subjects and grade levels, including Gifted Reading and Social Studies. She said, “Teaching is a gift I never want to take for granted.” [Full Story »]
Peacock is a graduate of Georgia College and State University with a degree in Middle Grades Education. She earned her Masters of Education in Reading in 2006 from Georgia Southern University and is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Instructional Technology with an add-on Library Media concentration.
Peacock began her teaching career as a homebound teacher and adult education teacher. She has been teaching at Dodge County Middle School since 1999 and has taught a variety of subjects and grade levels, including Gifted Reading and Social Studies. She said, “Teaching is a gift I never want to take for granted.” [Full Story »]

Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year named
Dodge County teachers recently nominated several of their peers for the honor of Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year from their respective schools. Nominees included Pam Hogan from South Dodge Elementary, Barbara Darsey from North Dodge Elementary, Larry “Petey” Peterson from Dodge County Middle School and Debra Mitchell from Dodge County High School. These teachers then completed an extensive application including their educational background and philosophy, professional biography, professional and community involvement activities, a statement of why they chose special education as their field of employment, memorable classroom experiences and their greatest contributions, accomplishments and strengths as special educators. Staff members from Heart of Georgia RESA then reviewed the applications and selected the candidate for each system’s top Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year.
On March 5, 2015, the East Central Georgia Learning Resources System recognized the outstanding Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year for each of the ten districts in the RESA/GLRS district with an awards luncheon at Dublin County Club in Dublin. At the luncheon, Tonya Brown, Dodge County Special Education Director, introduced Larry “Petey” Peterson as Dodge County’s Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year for 2015. Terrie Young, East Central GLRS Director, presented these special educators with a certificate honoring their accomplishments. Dr. Steven R. Miletto, Heart of Georgia RESA Executive Director, was also a special guest at the awards luncheon. [Full Story »]
On March 5, 2015, the East Central Georgia Learning Resources System recognized the outstanding Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year for each of the ten districts in the RESA/GLRS district with an awards luncheon at Dublin County Club in Dublin. At the luncheon, Tonya Brown, Dodge County Special Education Director, introduced Larry “Petey” Peterson as Dodge County’s Exceptional Children’s Professional Educator of the Year for 2015. Terrie Young, East Central GLRS Director, presented these special educators with a certificate honoring their accomplishments. Dr. Steven R. Miletto, Heart of Georgia RESA Executive Director, was also a special guest at the awards luncheon. [Full Story »]

Sign Proclamation
The third annual Bible marathon will be held at the Dodge County Courthouse May 1 through May 6. The Dodge County Board of Commissioners signed a proclamation recognizing the Bible marathon on Monday, April 6, 2015. Pictured above with Bible marathon coordinators are (seated, l-r) commissioner Terry Niblett, interim county manager Bobby Peacock, county commission chairman Dan McCranie, commissioner Brian Watkins, commissioner Karen Cheek and county attorney John Harrington. (Back row, l-r) Coordinators of the Bible marathon are Iva Mallory, Lydia Daniels and Leanne McMichen.

McCranie develops his skills through education
Dodge County Probate Court Judge Al McCranie of enhanced his judicial skills and gained knowledge of the law during a professional development conference held recently at the University of Georgia.
Judge McCranie participated in the Georgia Probate Court Judge Certificate Program and helped fulfill annual continuing education requirements by completing the training course on March 24 and March 25 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government coordinates the Probate Court Judge Certificate Program in partnership with UGA’s Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia.
Probate court judges from across Georgia enrolled in the professional development courses. The training covered a variety of topics and skills important for probate court judges, including minor guardianships and conservatorships, ethics and office administration.
“These courses help Georgia’s probate judges better serve the public and their communities by strengthening their knowledge of the law and court administration, while contributing to their professional growth,” said Laura Meadows, director of the Institute of Government.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government is a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia that provides customized assistance, applied research and professional development for government leaders and employees across Georgia and internationally.
Judge McCranie participated in the Georgia Probate Court Judge Certificate Program and helped fulfill annual continuing education requirements by completing the training course on March 24 and March 25 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government coordinates the Probate Court Judge Certificate Program in partnership with UGA’s Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia.
Probate court judges from across Georgia enrolled in the professional development courses. The training covered a variety of topics and skills important for probate court judges, including minor guardianships and conservatorships, ethics and office administration.
“These courses help Georgia’s probate judges better serve the public and their communities by strengthening their knowledge of the law and court administration, while contributing to their professional growth,” said Laura Meadows, director of the Institute of Government.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government is a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia that provides customized assistance, applied research and professional development for government leaders and employees across Georgia and internationally.

Damaged by Fire
Firefighters were called to 117 Sand Ridge Road in Rhine shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30. When firemen arrived they found the living room area of a single wide mobile home to be in flames. The blaze was quickly extinguished. There was heavy fire, smoke and water damage to the living room area and smoke and heat damage to the rest of the trailer. The trailer is owned by Joyce Spires. Fire departments from Rhine, Milan, Wilcox CI and the Dodge County tanker responded. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

No One injured
The Eastman Fire Department responded to a fire at 5616 Bacon Avenue on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. The call was received at 5:05 a.m. to a home owned by Tyler Connell. Renter, Quendolyn Legreair, and her family were at home at the time of the incident, but got out of the home uninjured. The fire began on the stove and there was heavy damage to the kitchen. The rest of the home received smoke and water damage. (Photo by Cindy Eckles)
Page 1 of 1, totaling 13 entries
Comments