The Dodge County News

Age: 94

Deceased: September 3, 2017
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home

By Russ Ragan
It was a week similar to the week before for the Dodge High School Lady Indians softball team. They split a pair of games, but yet again, they won the most important one.
On Monday, Dodge hosted a good Veterans team. The game went back and forth, but in the end, Dodge dropped a 6-5 decision.
On Tuesday, the Lady Indians returned to region play to host East Laurens. The Lady Indians scored four runs in the first to take an 11-2 win. The big showdown game scheduled for Thursday at Bleckley County was rained out and will be made up September 18, 2017 in Cochran.
The Lady Indians return to play on Thursday, as they play Southwest Macon on the road. Dodge will host Telfair County on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
There was a strong wind blowing straight out as Dodge hosted Veterans. The Lady Indians trailed 1-0 as they came to bat in the bottom of the first. Julianna Bellflower walked to lead off the inning. With two out, Sara Lann would single and Bellflower would score on a single by Aniyah Black to tie the game at 1-1.
Veterans would reclaim the lead in the top of the third on a pair of unearned runs off of Jade Dowdy. The lead would be 4-1 before Dodge started a comeback in the home half of the fifth. Senior left-fielder Hailey Hickman lead off the inning with a solo homer to left field for a 4-2 game. With one out, Bellflower singled and Jenna Hickman walked to put the tying runs on base. A double from Abby Manning scored Bellflower for a 4-3 game. Two batters later, Black singled that scored Jenna Hickman and Manning to give Dodge a 5-4 lead.
Veterans reclaimed the lead in the sixth for a 6-5 lead. Dodge tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth. Jade Dowdy got her second hit of the game to start the Dodge half on the sixth. Hailey Hickman followed with a walk. The Dodge rally would die out from there. The Lady Indians would get another pair of hits in the seventh but come up short in a 6-5 loss.
Dodge had to quickly come back on Tuesday to host an improving East Laurens team in a region match-up. Dodge came to bat in the bottom of the first, trailing 1-0 on a run that scored on a communication issue with the Dodge outfielders.
Dodge tied the game in the first, as Europe Brown, running for Jade Dowdy, the pitcher, stole second and came all the way around to score on an error for a 1-1 game. Dodge grabbed the lead, as Jacey Dowdy singled home Manning for a 2-1 game. The big hit of the inning came with two outs, as Amber Maxwell got a two-out hit, scoring Black and Sydney Powell, who was running for catcher Jacey Dowdy. The Dodge lead was 4-1 after the first.
Jade Dowdy got the start on the mound for the Lady Indians. She had a clean second. The Lady Indians added to the lead in their half of the second.
Bellflower lead off with a walk and she would score on a two-out hit by Jacey Dowdy for a 5-1 game.
The Lady Falcons scratched in a run in the third for a 5-2 game. The Lady Indians had a big bottom of the third.
Singles from Hailey Hickman, Maxwell and Jenna Hickman loaded the bases with nobody out. Bellflower would single home Hailey Hickman and Maxwell for a 7-2 game. Manning got her second hit of the game, scoring Bellflower for an 8-2 game. Singles from Black and Jacey Dowdy scored Europe Brown and Manning for a 10-2 game after the third.
Jade Dowdy remained solid on the mound for Dodge. She recorded her third strikeout in the fourth as the lead remained 10-2. Dodge scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Jenna Hickman doubled, and she advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jade Dowdy would help herself with a run batted in to make the score 11-2. Jade Dowdy wrapped up things in the fifth with a pair of strikeouts, giving her five on the day, and she had no walks for the 11-2 win.
Dodge is now 4-0 in region play, and they are ranked third in the first state AA poll.

By David Bush
The Dodge County Indian football team played their first home game Friday night at Memorial Stadium (John Peacock Field) against class (AAAA) power West Laurens High School. This game would be played with the uncertainty of what part, if any, former hurricane Harvey would have on the game. Flashback to last season…Hurricane Hermine, Dodge County vs. West Laurens, at West Laurens in a sloppy, wet defensive battle. That game came down to a last-minute Cam Coleman interception that got the Indians in position for a short game-winning field goal with under a minute to go. Dodge would win 3-0.
Now it’s 2017, and with “Harvey” looming close by, what would this year’s version of the Hurricane Bowl bring?
At the start of the game, there would be a moment for the large crowd to remember and reflect on the people of South Texas during this difficult time, following the devastation dealt to them from Hurricane Harvey.
Dodge County would win the toss, and, as usual, would defer to the second half. Peyton Bush would kick the ball off into the end zone for a touchback, as the Raiders of West Laurens would start things off at their own 20-yard line. The Raiders began moving the ball until, on a crucial third down and 12 play, Raider quarterback A.J. Mathis would roll out to his right, looking down field for an open receiver, when Tyler Ruffin (#45) delivered a bone-jarring hit to the young QB that left him a little dazed and confused. West Laurens would have to punt to Dodge.
Dodge would waste little time, and after a short drive, R.J. Carr (#2) would race 45 yards for the game’s first score. Bush would come in and add the extra point, and Dodge was in business 7-0.
After another kickoff into the end zone by Bush, West Laurens would try again from their own 20-yard line. The Dodge defense would again prove tough, as Jadin Johnson (#35), Tyler Montford (#5) and Vincent “Big Country” Mann (#65) were too much for the Raiders, and again they would have to punt the ball back to Indians.
Dodge would take over at its own 40-yard line, and only manage to move the ball to mid-field before the offense began to sputter and lose yardage. Bush would be called on to punt the ball back to the Raiders. Bush took a low snap and dropped the ball, picked it up and kicked it; however, the Raider defense was all over the punter, and the kick was blocked and scooped up by Alex Demmons (#20). Demmons ran the ball in for a West Laurens touchdown. Raider kicker, Andrew Dukes (#32) would come in to kick the extra point, but it would sail wide-right and Dodge would hang on to a 7-6 lead.
The Indians would get the ball back with less than a minute to go in the first quarter. The Indians would move the ball out to their own 45-yard line, which included a fake punt on a third and 19 play, before having to punt the ball back to the Raiders. Four plays later, West Laurens found Tyrus Reed (#8) open. Reed made a Dodge defender miss on the moist field, and Reed took off down the field for another Raider touchdown. This time the extra point was good and West Laurens grabbed the lead 13-7 with about eight minutes left in the half.
Both teams would struggle offensively and trade punts until, with just over four minutes left, Erin Pitts (#27) would break free and streak down the field before being caught from behind at the West Laurens 21-yard line. It was at this point in the game, three minutes, 57 seconds left in the half, that the game was stopped due to lightning in the area.
Tropical Storm Harvey was making his presence felt and the delay would last two hours before play resumed. Due to the new rule by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), all games much be completed, if at all possible, or the schools will be fined. Games can be finished the same day or finished on the next feasible day. After a brief inspection of the field, it was decided to finish the game that night.
Dodge would have the ball first and ten at the West Laurens 21-yard line with three minutes 57 seconds to go in the half. Dodge would only be able to move the ball to the 10-yard line before deciding to kick a field goal. Bush would come in, and with wet field conditions, long snapper Alex Horne (#52) and holder Noah Cummings (#16) did a great job of handling the snap and hold. The kick was good and the score was now 13-10, with West Laurens still leading. The half would end with no other scoring and the Indians and Raiders would head back to the locker room.
The seconds half would start with the Raiders kicking off to Dodge. After a good return to the Indians 40-yard line, the offense would set up shop and move the all into Raider territory before stalling at the West Laurens 25-yard line. Again, Bush (#19) was called on to try a 42-yard field goal and once again, the field goal unit would execute and the kick was good, tying the game.
The score was 13-13 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Bush would kick the ball off for the third time in the end zone, pinning the Raiders back at their own 20-yard line.
Both defenses would play tough for most of the third quarter until, with about two minutes left in the third, Carr (#2) would break free for a 30-yard touchdown run. Bush’s extra point was good, and the Indians were back on top 20-13. The third quarter would end with no further scoring.
West Laurens would punt the ball to Dodge to start the fourth quarter, and with about 11 minutes left in the game, Nick Cummings (#11)would make a spectacular 65-yard run for another Dodge County touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good and Dodge now led 26-13.
After another Dodge kickoff, West Laurens would again turn to the pass and moved the ball quickly out to around mid-field. The Raiders continued to move the ball and found themselves inside the Dodge 20-yard line. With about six minutes left in the contest, West Laurens running back Doryan Gorham (#6) thrust himself through the middle and trotted in from nine yards out. The point after was good and the score was now 26-20 in favor of the Indians. Again, both defenses would stiffen and trade possessions, until the Dodge defense came up with a big fumble recovery on the Raiders’ 31-yard line. With less than a minute to go in the game, the Indians could now run out the clock for win number two.
Dodge finished the night with 313 yards rushing to West Laurens’ 38 total rushing yards. Dodge had only eight total passing yards, compared to the Raiders’ 229 yards. Dodge had the edge in total offense with 321 total yards to West Laurens’ 267 total yards.
Our Indians will again be at home this Friday, September 8, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. against Appling County. Our boys will need every seat filled for this game against our former region foe. Please come out and support our Indians.

Dear editor,
On August 18, 2017, I had to call 911, but I was told that they weren’t sure if someone would be dispatched for that reason. But, thanks be to God, within less than ten minutes, they were present. The first two did not get the job done, but with the backup, the job was completed. Job well done. Thank you so very much. I didn’t get all of the names, but you know who you are! I truly thank God for you. I pray that the entire force will be blessed.
I am also calling for prayers for the people of Texas, to the responders and all those who are helping out.
Carolyn Mincey

Dear editor,
With the Charlottesville, Virginia riots that took place a few weeks ago, this whole race issue has gotten way out of hand.
The new paradigm now, is that white Americans have become the minority in this country and are supposed to sit back and watch our tax dollars go to freebies for everyone else. We are supposed to tear history down because it hurts the feelings of people who don’t even understand history.
One statue of Confederate Colonel Beauregard from Louisiana was taken down by the mayor of New Orleans to appease black Americans, when these morons wouldn’t know Colonel Beauregard from Colonel Sanders fried chicken. We can’t speak or march or have any part of America because we are labeled racist.
The most racist people are those killing their own and creating the problems. Look in the mirror before you cast the first stone. Since we’re going to tear down statues and monuments of American men and women of who stood in honor of great importance to our country, let’s take a hard look at Martin Luther King, whom black Americans lionized and some called a “Saint,” for whom streets, schools and a federal holiday is named.
Martin Luther King was a Christian pastor, who the FBI in the 1960’s, kept under surveillance as a subversive agitator who belonged to the communist party. Additionally, Dr. King’s own personal friend, Mr. Ralph Abernathy, detailed in his autobiography that Martin Luther King engaged in sexual orgies and was a serial philanderer who cheated on his wife with women of all races.
Or how about another black American, Malcolm X, who was a prominent figure for the nation of Islam? Dallas, Texas has named a freeway after him. This character wanted to overthrow America by any means necessary and labeled white Americans as devils. His actions are another stupid show of ignorance by “PC” city government in placating another race of people.
But NO, let’s go after Robert E Lee, Jefferson Davis and other prominent southerners, who owned slaves 150 years ago. Well, why stop there, cupcakes, snow flakes; take your cause to Egypt and sand blast the Pyramids. They owned slaves too, didn’t they? At least that country will stand up to you and rightfully show you the door, (THE JAILHOUSE DOOR!!) 
TSGT. Joseph Bryan,
United States Air Force, Retired

The great writer James Kirkpatrick on VDare.com and UNZ.com has a good name for the enemy. He calls them “multicultural leftoids.”
When the Southern Poverty Law Center calls you a hate group, consider it a compliment. They capitalize on big money from gullible white liberals and they rake it in. It’s the $PLC.
The Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation in Vienna, Virginia has been labeled a “hate group” by the $PLC. Good for them. Anyone on the right is so labeled. They even put Dr. Ben Carson on their Hate list, but I’ve read they have since removed his name. Who could ever consider Dr. Ben a hateful person? VDare.com has good information on the group’s offshore bank accounts. As the old saying goes, poverty is where the money is.
Another clueless leftist is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who just donated $1 million to the $outhern Poverty Law Center, which is loaded with money and pays its top executives huge bucks. They have a money machine and use events such as Charlottesville and Berkeley to advantage in its fundraising. They have little to do with civil rights.
Have you noticed, each September 1 the Soviet murders of 269 innocent air travelers on September 1, 1983 on their way to Seoul, Korea, draws little or no attention from the media. This ghastly act included 22 children under twelve years of age. Many anniversaries are highlighted by the medialeft, but only if they fit the desired narrative. This one does not so they ignore it. The killers got away with it and they still get foreign aid from us.
Good websites – no need to capitalize: CanadaFreePress.com, Narrative-Collapse.com, TimTebowFoundation.com, WorstWestern.com, TheNewAmerican.com, HistoryAndHeadlines.com, BlazingCatFur.ca, CaliforniaJimmy.com, FromTheRight.com, MichaelPRamirez.com, JimGossettComedy.com, PJMedia.com, CNSNews.com, Breitbart.com, TheoSpark.net, TheBlackSphere.net, GunOwners.org, KelliWard.com, LifeZette.com, MinutemenNews.com, iPatriot.com, LauraIngraham.com, MRC.org, ConservativeByte.com, OffbeatTopix.com, PilotsEye.tv, HermanCain.com, Twitchy.com, AnnCoulter.com, WashTimes.com, WashingtonExaminer.com, BizPacReview.com, OANN.com, Fool.com, DailyKenn.com, DrudgeReport.com, UNZ.com, FreeBeacon.com, TheOtherMcCain.com.
Check out GunOwners.com. Dr. Ron Paul calls it “The only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington.” The other guys, the NRA, sometimes endorse and donate money to liberal politicians. GOA does not.
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