This is the first part in a series of articles that I wrote as an employee at the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen. The article was published in the Sept. 16, 2010, edition on the front page and continued on page nine with accompanying photos.

Part One of the Freedom Festival Series

Josh Gracin and Colt Ford performed at Freedom Outdoor Adventures’ first Freedom Festival on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Hundreds of local country music fans gathered at Alaga Plantation in Richland, Ga., for the outdoor music festival, benefitting Freedom Outdoor Adventures.

Freedom Outdoor Adventures is a nonprofit organization founded in April 2009 by Brandon Moak, a soldier who created the organization to “assist wounded soldiers, veterans, their families and children get back into the outdoors and enjoy the sport of hunting.”

After suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Moak discovered that his time spent hunting had a calming, therapeutic effect on his symptoms. He was then curious to discover if the outdoors had a similar effect on other wounded soldiers. Tim Sickel, a severely wounded soldier, was the first that Moak took hunting in the winter of 2007. After taking many other soldiers on hunts, the White Tail Institute wrote an article about Moak that eventually led him to create the nonprofit.

According to Moak, the primary purpose of Freedom Festival was to “raise awareness [about Freedom Outdoor Adventures] so that people know that we’re out here, especially in this small county and community.”

“That’s our biggest thing; raising awareness. The idea [for Freedom Festival] came along, obviously, because of September 11th, being in remembrance of [what happened on] 9/11,” Moak said.

The afternoon featured performances by local bands Triple Threat, Aces & Eights, and Soul Junky. Later, Gracin’s energetic performance kicked off the evening of music. Both Gracin and Ford were available between shows to sign autographs and take photos with those who had backstage passes. Ford concluded the day’s activities with a diverse set list, ranging from southern rock to hip-hop.

He also played many of his own crowd favorites, featuring the simple, everyday themes that he is famous for, such as country living and dirt roads. Gracin joined Ford onstage for “All About Y’all,” a song dedicated to every man’s frustration and infatuation with their female counterpart. Sunny Ledfurd, who has collaborated on songs with Ford in the past, also joined Ford onstage later in the show.

Following the performance, Ford signed autographs and took photos with fans, saying, “I’m a big boy and you can bet I get tired up there, but I…visit with people…because I have the best fans in the world. I’m inspired by their energy and I want to give them everything I’ve got.”

Gracin also expressed his appreciation for the fans that have stuck with him and his music over the years. He is excited to have a new album coming out “hopefully early next year.”

To learn more about Freedom Outdoor Adventures, look for part two of the Freedom
Festival series in the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen next week or go to
www.myfreedomoutdoors.org.

This is an article I wrote as an employee at the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen. The article ran in the Sept. 16, 2010, edition on the front page and was continued to page nine.

The Americus Civitan Club provides assistance in community and individual needs with an emphasis on those with developmental disabilities. The club serves not only the Americus area, but also residents of Sumter, Schley, Marion, Webster, Dooly, Macon, Crisp and Taylor counties.

The club provides both financial support and manpower for the Special Olympics athletic contests and annual Christmas parties at the Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare centers. The majority of participants at these events are from Sumter, Schley, Marion and Macon counties, but all eight counties are usually represented. Last year’s Christmas party resulted in a turnout of 214 participants from these areas.

The Civitan Club also provides a more serious form of assistance for residents of these neighboring counties. For instance, the club hosted a yard sale with proceeds benefitting a Schley County burn victim so that his family could accompany him to the Augusta Burn Center for medical treatment.

After learning of an elderly developmentally disadvantaged man living in a trailer shell in Macon County with no heat, electricity nor water in 22-degree weather, the club arranged for and contributed funds for electricity restoration, gas tanks filled for heat and water service repair. They also demonstrated the same compassion in a similar case involving an elderly woman in Webster County the previous year.

The club was also a financial supporter of a Life Center in Taylor County. This halfway house is a residence and treatment center for women released from incarceration, who still require constant rehabilitation for chemical dependency and alcohol addiction.

For more information on the Americus Civitan Club, feel free to call Grant Williams at (229) 924-2702.

This is one of the articles I’ve written as an employee at the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen. It was published on Sept. 9, 2010, on the front page and continued on page two.

The Webster County Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 9, 2010.

The board approved a change in the rate of pay for substitute bus drivers from $50 per day to $48.61 per day, due to state budget cuts. The motion was made by Darrell Holbrook, seconded by Kelly Cobb and approved unanimously.

The board also approved the superintendent’s recommendation to purchase a second school bus once the system receives notification of bond issuance.

In addition, the board approved the Residency Affidavit, the July 2010 financial report and the July 12, 2010, regular meeting minutes.

Janie Downer then presented the board with the superintendent’s report, after which, the board entered into executive session to discuss personnel and student issues.

Following the executive session, the board approved the resignation and retirement of the bus driver discussed in session.

The board also approved the superintendent’s employment recommendation on substitute teachers and termination recommendation on the bus driver discussed in executive session.

Lastly, the board approved the superintendent’s readmission recommendation for the student discussed in executive session.

This is one of the articles I’ve written as an employee at the Stewart Webster Journal Patriot-Citizen. It was published on Sept. 9, 2010, on the front page. I also took the three photos that were included with the article on the front page and also on page four.

Central Bank of Georgia held a celebration in honor of their newly appointed CEO, Johnny Myers, on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010, from 4 to 6 p.m. at their Ellaville branch.

City and county officials, bank employees and local citizens gathered to welcome Myers and his wife Patricia to the community.

According to Myers, this new leadership will cause no immediate changes in bank policy or procedure. He said that he is still in the process of deciding his goals for Central Bank’s future. However, Myers is sure of two things: that the bank will “maintain its independence” and continue to “be the No. 1 bank.”

Myers, originally from Macon, Ga., attended Mercer University. Although he has lived all over Georgia during his 40 years in the banking industry, his previous residence was in Woodbine, Ga.

Myers has two children and four grandchildren. He and his wife now reside on Meadow Wood Dr. in Ellaville.