GA-FL At a Glance

Published 11:10 am Friday, November 18, 2016

Group hosts Thanksgiving Day meal

DALTON, Ga. — The Concerned Citizens of Dalton will serve Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center. The public is invited to dine in and have fellowship with one another. The dinner is in memory of Lanny Cooper

Police: Fleeing suspect had unrestrained child in back seat

MOULTRIE, Ga. — When police caught up with a shoplifting suspect on Wednesday she reportedly had a 5-year-old unsecured in the back seat as she drove recklessly to try to shake pursuit. Police were called at about 2:47 p.m. to investigate a theft at Dollar General, 1908 First Ave. S.E. As an officer approached the location an employee pointed to a black Toyota Corolla that had just passed the patrol car on the street. The driver, later identified as Janet Yvette Lamons, pulled out into traffic and then drove away at a rapid speed, police said. The driver of the Corolla then made a right turn at First Avenue and Rowland Drive without yielding before pulling into a business parking lot. Lamons told the officer that she had stolen some merchandise because her daughter was sick and she was short on money, but did not want to go to jail. Her daughter was standing up in the back seat and was not restrained, police said. Lamons handed the officer two bottles of cold and flu medications and apologized for taking them. When they returned to Dollar General an employee told police that she wanted to prosecute. Lamons, 32, 3125 Hwy. 33 N., was charged with theft by shoplifting and child restraint violation. A relative took custody of the child.

Harvey’s unveils updates to Tifton stores 

TIFTON, Ga. — Wednesday, Southeastern Grocers, parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie stores, unveiled its new Harveys Supermarket store concept at two locations in Tifton during ribbon cutting ceremonies at 10 a.m. at 101 West Third Street and 2201 North 12th Street.  The remodels are part of a 73-store conversion throughout the Southeast, spanning Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.

North Pole Express stops in at GMA Dec. 14-16

TIFTON, Ga. — Children of all ages can ride the North Pole Express to see Santa Claus from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 14-16 at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Tickets for the North Pole Express are now available for $7 per person and must be purchased in advance at the Country Store. Tickets will not be sold at the event. The North Pole Express will run in all kinds of weather. Children one year of age and under are free. For more information, interested persons can contact the Museum at (229) 391-5205 or visit the web site at www.abac.edu/museum. 

The Meeting Place open for business in South Georgia 

VALDOSTA, Ga.  – The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Meeting Place. Located off of North Ashley Street, The Meeting Place is a conference room designed to provide a space for people to meet. The venue is open to meet the needs Valdosta-Lowndes County residents and “bring not just families but people as a whole together,” said Lisa Straughter and Kimberly Harris of The Meeting Place. Straughter said the chamber “gave her pointers on how to become a successful business owner with lots of growth.” For more information about The Meeting Place, visit the location at 411 Cowart Ave., Suite C, or call (229) 469-4219.

Candy Christmas coming to Mayo 

MAYO, Fla. — The Lafayette Activities Group invites everyone to the inaugural Candy Christmas at Mayo Town Park on Dec. 2. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. Following the parade there will be music, food, vendors, the lighting of the Christmas tree and pictures with Santa. Contact Jessica Lawson  at 386-688-3589 to enter a float in the parade. For more information, contact the Lafayette Activities Group at LaAcGr2016@gmail.com.

A Feast of Funk & Soul Food set for this weekend

LIVE OAK, Fla – A Feast of Funk & Soul Food is set for Nov. 18-19 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP). The event will feature a wide variety of music, delicious soul food prepared by five well-known and awesome chefs along with local Florida breweries’ products. This event will benefit local charities Love INC, Hope Notes and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp. A Feast of Funk & Soul Food will feature some of the best funk and soul music in the country. Headlining the first annual event will be Earth Wind & Power, a tribute to the music of Earth Wind & Fire performed by The Nth Power featuring Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Skerik (DRKWAY, Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade), Farnell Newton, James Casey (Trey Anastasio Band), Daniel Sadownick and Brian Thomas. The weekend will also feature an original set of music from The Nth Power as well as performances by Jennifer Hartswick Band, Roosevelt Collier Band, Groove Orient, Leisure Chief and Scott Campbell Band. Albert Simpson will play tunes on the guitar both nights with Isaac Corbitt (awesome harmonica player with the Corbitt Brothers) as an artist-at-large. For more information, contact SOSMP at 386-364-1683, email spirit@musicliveshere.com, go to www.musicliveshere.com or to www.feastoffunk.com/.