Former Vidalia Chief of Police Frank Waits passed away on Tuesday of this week. He and his wife Pam had been residing in Kingsland at the time of his death.
Chief Waits led the Vidalia Police Department from October 2005 – April 2019, and was instrumental in beginning several new initiatives to form a partnership with the community. Among those programs was R.U.O.K., wherein a designated personnel from the Vidalia Police Department would contact those registered each day by phone to check on their welfare status. If a call went unanswered after a few attempts, a patrol officer would be dispatched to the home to check on the person.
Chief Waits also initiated other programs including the Citizens Academy as a way to educate and inform the community how the department functions. He also organized other classes for civilians including the all-female firearms instructional class.
Aside from his work as the police chief, Chief Waits was active in the community, serving on various boards and with civic organizations including working diligently with animal rescue where he will always be remembered fondly for his role as Santa Paws at Christmas with proceeds going directly to the Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society.
Upon learning of his passing several of his former officers lauded him on social media as being a dedicated leader and said they were saddened by his death.
As of Thursday afternoon funeral arrangements have not been released.
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If you want to vote in the upcoming May 19 General Primary and are not registered to vote, time is quickly running out.
Toombs County Election Supervisor Carey Alligood said that the deadline to register to vote is next Monday. It is also the last date to change your name and address if necessary.
In a General Primary, voters will be voting for county officers as well as federal and statewide offices. The primary is to reduce the number of candidates who will actually face off in the General Election in November.
In order to do this, you will be asked which party you wish to vote in to narrow the field of candidates. Several statewide and federal offices are listed on the ballot including candidates for Georgia’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor. One office drawing a lot of local attention is that for Senator of the 19th District to fill the unexpired term of Senator Blake Tillery who qualified to seek the office on the Republican ticket for Georgia Lieutenant Governor.
Early voting begins on April 27 and will run through May 15 with Saturday voting on May 2 and May 9. Early voting in Toombs County must be done at the Elections Office in the Toombs County Center of Government, also known as the Courthouse.
If a runoff is needed for any office, early voting will be June 16 with early voting June 8 -12 with no Saturday voting.
To check your voter status in Georgia, you can log onto www.mvp.sos.ga.gov which you will also be able to review a sample ballot for the in which you are registered and other pertinent information.
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It’s time once again to sit back, relax and enjoy the peacefulness of along the Altamaha River.
Ok, so maybe your schedule won’t allow you to actually to go the riverbanks and do that, but you can enjoy the experience again this year at the folklife play “Tales from the Altamaha” at the Blue Marquee in Lyons.
Again this year Laurie Jo Upchurch has taken the writings of the late Col. T. Ross Sharpe and worked her magic into creating the “Tales” and offers a synopsis of what yarns will be hitting the stage this year.
“This year’s “Tales from The Altamaha” is called ‘Rafting the Waters and Wandering the Banks’ and it’s got a two-fold story,” Upchurch said. “To begin with, we have a character that is rafting the water, taking timber and floating it down to Darien to sell it and then after he sells the timber, he comes back and he’s walking the banks home. And that’s indicative of a lifestyle that actually happened a hundred years ago.”
Upchurch and the entire cast and crew invite you to this year’s production.
“It’s entertaining; it’s fun; it’s historical; it’s musical; it’s clean,” Upchurch said. “This is a show that you can be more than happy to take your entire family to and know that it’s wholesome entertainment. You’re not going to be embarrassed, and you’re not going to have to wait for a minute and stick your hands over a child’s ears. They can enjoy it as much as you do and learn a little bit along and along.”
“Tales from the Altamaha” begins April 16 and runs through April 25. Reserved tickets are recommended and can be purchased online at www.lyonsmainstreet.com or by calling the Lyons Main Street Office at 526-6445.
Upchurch concluded, “Grab somebody that you just want to share a good time with and head to The Blue Marquee. You’ll laugh, maybe even shed a few tears, but for sure, you’ll definitely want to come back.”
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Toombs County High School student Mareli Luna-Munoz is a 2026 recipient of the Walter Harrison Scholarship awarded by electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in Georgia, including Altamaha EMC/Fiber.
Munoz competed against 85 other students from across Georgia for the scholarship, which provides $1,000 to help offset the rising costs associated with obtaining a college degree. 19 scholarships were awarded to students statewide and were chosen based on the students’ academic achievements, extracurricular activities and their service to the community.
"The caliber of scholarship applicants keeps rising every year," said Will NeSmith, Communications Specialist at Altamaha EMC/Fiber. "Altamaha EMC/Fiber takes great pride in supporting the education of such a talented young individual, who has already shown remarkable academic success and a strong commitment to our community."
Mareli Luna-Munoz, daughter of Juan Luna and Maria Munoz, is graduating as Valedictorian from Toombs County High School. Throughout high school, Mareli balanced a strong academic schedule while participating in cross country and soccer. She plans to pursue a degree in nursing in the fall at either Georgia Southern University or University of Georgia. Her dedication, work ethic, and commitment to excellence have set her apart, and we are confident she has a bright future ahead in the healthcare field.
Applicants were asked to submit a short essay detailing why they would be strong candidates for the scholarship, while also sharing their educational and career aspirations, along with any unique circumstances. This was an opportunity for students to emphasize their community involvement or passion for serving others. The selection committee considered school performance, GPA, academic honors, extracurricular activities, and financial need in their decision-making process.
The Walter Harrison Scholarship Executive Committee is composed of the Georgia EMC board chairman and vice chairman, the Georgia EMC Services Committee chairman, and the managers of Excelsior EMC and Planters EMC. Each committee member individually reviewed blind copies of all applications and scored each scholarship to determine a final ranking. Georgia EMC compiled the judges’ choices to determine the winners, with the 19highest scorers receiving scholarships. Scholarships may be used at any two-year or four-year college in Georgia, as well as technical colleges.
The scholarship is named in honor of Walter Harrison, a pioneer in the rural electricity movement and a leader at the local, state and national levels in among EMCs. It is funded by Georgia’s 41 electric cooperatives, including Altamaha EMC/Fiber, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Georgia Rural Electric Supply Corp. Since 1987, more than $290,000 has been awarded to approximately 309 students through the Walter Harrison Scholarship, created in 1985 by the board of directors of Georgia EMC.
About Georgia EMC:
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned co-ops provide electricity and related services to approximately 5 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and X.
About Altamaha EMC/Fiber:
Altamaha EMC/Fiber, based in Lyons, Ga, is a member-owned cooperative providing electricity and related services to 14,678 members in Emanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Toombs, and Treutlen.
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Brewton-Parker Christian University (BPCU) is pleased to announce that its Prison Education Program (PEP), led by Dr. Roger Byrd, has been awarded two grants through the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (GACHEP), further strengthening the university’s commitment to providing transformative educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals.
The combined funding, totaling $21,250, will support new and expanded initiatives designed to enhance student success both during and after incarceration.
One grant, awarded in the amount of $11,250, will fund the implementation of a Higher Education in Prison Navigator position. This role will provide critical support to program participants as they transition from incarceration, offering guidance in areas such as career development, continued education, and community reintegration.
A second grant of $10,000 will be used to purchase resources that directly support students enrolled in the Prison Education Program.
In addition to these initiatives, funding will also help develop a system of laptop loaners, allowing students who have not yet graduated to remain enrolled and actively participate in coursework through BPCU’s extension campus.
Since launching its Prison Education Program in 2015, BPCU has served approximately 200 students, equipping them with the education and support needed to pursue meaningful, productive lives.
“This funding represents a significant step forward in our ability to support students beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Roger Byrd, Director of Prison Programs at BPCU. “By expanding resources and establishing the Navigator role, we are better positioned to walk alongside our students as they transition back into society and pursue long-term success.”
BPCU president, Dr. Steven Echols, expressed that BPCU is honored to have the opportunity to offer the Prison Education Program and that it aligns with the school’s Christian mission of transformation and service.”
The EnGAge initiative, administered by GACHEP, is designed to strengthen collaboration, expand programming, and enhance support systems for higher education in prison programs across Georgia.
Through these new resources and expanded support systems, BPCU remains committed to reducing barriers, promoting successful reentry, and equipping students for lifelong learning and service.
For more information about BPCU and its Prison Education Program, visit bpc.edu or call 912-583-2241.
Brewton-Parker Christian University is the only accredited four-year Christian university south of Macon and north of Jacksonville, FL. As a comprehensive Georgia Baptist institution, Brewton-Parker Christian University offers liberal arts and professional programs in a learning community grounded in shared Christian values. Through the application of biblical truth in scholarship and a co-curricular focus on character, servant leadership, and cultural engagement, the university strives to provide a transformational experience that equips the whole student for lifelong learning and service in Christ.
Visit Brewton-Parker Christian University online at www.bpc.edu.
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