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Former South Carolina Gamecocks and Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst is officially retiring after seven seasons in the NFL. Hurst was a reliable pass catcher throughout his career, during which he played for five teams, starting with the Baltimore Ravens. He finished his career with 1,975 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. What’s your favorite Hayden Hurst moment from his NFL or college career?
Wild Adventures Announces Return of South Georgia’s Largest Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Eggstravaganza features age-specific hunts, Easter Bunny meet-and-greets, and a park-wide Ostrich Egg challenge
VALDOSTA, Ga. — Wild Adventures Theme Park will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on March 28, March 29, and April 4, offering three full days of family activities built around the largest Easter Egg hunt in South Georgia.
The event will feature thousands of candy-filled eggs and age-specific hunt areas designed for children 12 and under. Guests ages 5 and under will participate in a dedicated hunt inside the Wanyama garden walkway, while children up to age 12 will hunt in Oasis Outpost. Egg hunts will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, with the final hunt beginning at 2 p.m.
Each event day, the first 500 guests through the gates will receive a complimentary Easter basket.
In addition to the scheduled hunts, guests can search the park for a hidden painted Ostrich Egg. One egg will be placed each day of the event outside of the designated hunt areas. The guest who finds it and returns it to Guest Relations will receive two Gold Season Passes.
“Easter Eggstravaganza is designed to give families a full day of experiences, from the excitement of the hunt to the memories made throughout the park,” said Adam Floyd, director of sales and marketing. “It’s another way we continue to build moments families look forward to each year.”
Guests can also meet the Easter Bunny during scheduled appearances at the Wanyama Observation Deck and enjoy themed photo opportunities throughout the park. Additional experiences include rides, animal exhibits, and live entertainment.
All Easter Eggstravaganza activities are included with regular park admission or a Season Pass. Guests are encouraged to arrive at park opening to maximize their visit. There will be no early entry for the event, and all hunt areas will be staffed and monitored to support a safe experience.
Wild Adventures will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 5.
For more information and to plan your visit, go to WildAdventures.com.
About Wild Adventures Theme Park
Wild Adventures Theme Park, located in Valdosta, Ga., halfway between Atlanta and Orlando off I-75, is a 170-acre destination where families can ride, slide, and explore all in one place. A Herschend Family Entertainment property, the park is home to more than 35 rides, hundreds of exotic animals, a full calendar of concerts and special events, and Splash Island Waterpark, ranked among the “Top 30 Waterparks” by U.S. News & World Report. Wild Adventures has been recognized as one of the Most Affordable Theme Parks in America by Travel + Leisure and named the Most Thrilling Theme Park in Georgia by FinanceBuzz. It is also home to the Good Sam-rated 10/10★/10 Wild Adventures Safari Campground, one of the highest-rated campgrounds in the nation.
About Herschend
Wild Adventures Theme Park is part of Herschend’s family of brands. Herschend is the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, with a portfolio of over 40 family entertainment brands across North America, including destinations, resorts, theme parks, water parks, immersive experiences, and content enjoyed by audiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.Herschend.com.
Wild turn of events in the NFL — the Baltimore Ravens have reportedly backed out of the potential trade for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. The deal is now off, meaning Crosby won’t be heading to Baltimore after all.
Now the big question becomes: where does Crosby land next? Could teams like the Dallas Cowboys jump back into the conversation, or will another contender make a move? Where do you think Maxx Crosby ends up now that the trade is off?
Who Knew There Was a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
Wild Adventures’ Paradise River Nominated for USA Today 10Best “Best Lazy River”
Now this day makes me smile big time! I love grilled cheese sandwiches. I like plain grilled cheese sandwiches. I like grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches. I like a grilled BLT with cheese. All my sandwiches have to be plain though. Absolutely NO mayonnaise. My daddy could not stand mayonnaise and neither can I. That could come from the fact that when my mother was pregnant with me, all she ate was mayonnaise sandwiches so I had enough of that for nine months. So now I just stick with grilled cheese sandwiches. Where do you like grilled cheese sandwiches from? My favorite plain grilled cheese sandwich is from Ed’s Truck Stop. They grill it to perfection. My favorite grilled tomato and cheese sandwich is from 3 Squares. It is always so good. My most favorite place for a Grilled BLT with cheese comes from Fat Boys. It is the smallest cut up bacon and is very crispy. It is the best! Daddy and mother use to make the best of the best grilled cheese sandwiches when we were little. They would cook them on the stove. I now cook ours on the George Foreman. Who makes your favorite? And if you cook them at home, how do you fix the best grilled cheese sandwich?
Wild Adventures’ Paradise River Nominated for USA Today 10Best “Best Lazy River”
Wild Adventures’ Paradise River Nominated for USA Today 10Best “Best Lazy River”
Wild Adventures’ Paradise River Nominated for USA Today 10Best “Best Lazy River”
Public voting open through April 20 in national readers’ choice poll
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Paradise River at Wild Adventures & Splash Island Waterpark has been nominated for USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Lazy River, placing the South Georgia attraction among the top contenders nationwide.
Public voting begins today and runs through April 20 at 12 p.m. EDT. Supporters can vote once per day, per device at WildAdventures.com/vote.
The USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight top attractions across the country, with winners determined by public vote.
“This recognition reflects the experiences our team works to create for every guest who visits,” said Donald Spiller, vice president and general manager of Wild Adventures. “Being nominated during our 30th Anniversary Season makes it even more meaningful as we continue to focus on creating lasting memories for families.”
Splash Island Waterpark opens for the 2026 season on April 4, offering guests a range of water attractions, including Paradise River.
Alongside Splash Island Waterpark are new experiences for the 2026 season. Guests can walk an expanded Alapaha Trail with 6,000 feet of new wood replaced, visit a new, larger Spider Monkey habitat and purchase new animal encounters with Two-Toed Sloths, Tamanduas and Giraffes. Several ride enhancement projects have been completed on Boomerang, Safari Train and Island Falls. The park is also rolling out new food & beverage items, with Shrimp Po Boys at Typhoon Grill and new Lemon Pepper Wings at the reimagined Walkabout Wings.
Guests looking to visit throughout the season can purchase a 2026 Season Pass. Gold Season Passes are available for as low as $14.80 per month for 10 months and include access to rides, slides, animals, Wild Adventures LIVE! concerts and additional benefits like Bring-A-Friend Tickets.
More information about voting, park hours and admission options is available at WildAdventures.com or through the Wild Adventures app.
About Wild Adventures Theme Park
Wild Adventures Theme Park, located in Valdosta, Ga., halfway between Atlanta and Orlando off I-75, is a 170-acre destination where families can ride, slide, and explore all in one place. A Herschend Family Entertainment property, the park is home to more than 35 rides, hundreds of exotic animals, a full calendar of concerts and special events, and Splash Island Waterpark, ranked among the “Top 30 Waterparks” by U.S. News & World Report. Wild Adventures has been recognized as one of the Most Affordable Theme Parks in America by Travel + Leisure and named the Most Thrilling Theme Park in Georgia by FinanceBuzz. It is also home to the Good Sam-rated 10/10★/10 Wild Adventures Safari Campground, one of the highest-rated campgrounds in the nation.
About Herschend
Wild Adventures Theme Park is part of Herschend’s family of brands. Herschend is the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, with a portfolio of over 40 family entertainment brands across North America, including destinations, resorts, theme parks, water parks, immersive experiences, and content enjoyed by audiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.Herschend.com.
Antique Items of Yesterday Supply Memories for Today
Wild Adventures’ Paradise River Nominated for USA Today 10Best “Best Lazy River”
Wild Adventures’ Paradise River Nominated for USA Today 10Best “Best Lazy River”
Cherish an antique today is celebrated on April 9th. There are so many fun days to celebrate that I find on brownielocks.com and I love to write about them. Many of them bring back such great memories of my childhood that I love to remember and share with others. With antique day, I had to put much thought into it simply because I have many things that are antique and bring back so many wonderful memories. My most favorite item that is antique is my grandmother’s straight back chair. It is a wooden old chair from 1940 that has a straw bottom. She use to sit in for many years while she quilted quilts. She loved that chair and I did too. I love it even more now that it is in my house. I have it sitting in an area of my living room with other antique items. In the chair I have my daddy’s picture of him in the United States Army and his old straw hat. He wore that hat everyday that he walked outside in the sunshine. I love to look at that chair and those items. Such great memories flow and maybe even a few happy tears from time to time. I know you are probably wandering why I put things of my daddy in it. I did that because he use to build my grandmother stuff and do anything she wanted. He loved her so much so since they are both gone on to Heaven now, I bring both of them back together. My son, Larry, loves to hear stories of her. He loved her and use to call her Granny Lou. That was his great grandmother and he can remember standing at her bed and just carry on a conversation of who knows what with her. Memories are wonderful to have and hold on to. It is what get’s us through most days when we think we can’t go on. One thing I added in the most recent months is my daddy’s old ladder. I kept it just the way it was. It has paint splattered on it from his days. I love it leaning up against the wall in the corner. I love what it represents. Antiques are so important to have because of the memories too. I hear many people say they don’t keep their items because they have no where to keep them where they will be safe from the weather. Start thinking of ways that you can use your items in your house. My sister has an area in her house too with antique items displayed. And remember it doesn’t matter what others think about how you have things displayed, only matters what you think.
A Day at the Playground
May I Borrow Your Straw Hat?
A Day at the Playground
Did you know that with active supervision and some basic safety tips, every day at the playground can be a walk in the park. Playgrounds are so much fun and children love to play on them but as parents we don’t think about the dangers until something happens. Falls are the most common type of playground injury, accounting for more than 75 percent of all playground-related injuries. Lack of or improper supervision is associated with approximately 45 percent of playground-related injuries. Simple tips can prevent these injuries or less of them. Be sure to actively supervise your children on playgrounds. It won’t be hard – they’ll probably be calling for you to watch them climb, jump and swing. That is for sure. When I use to take Larry and his friends to the park in Sylvester I would hear many times “Watch me do this”. I loved those days! Another simple tip is take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber, synthetic turf, sand, pea gravel, wood chips or mulch. If your child falls, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, concrete, grass or dirt. Always dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes. And one of the most important tips is to teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous. These are simple tips and some that we mostly go by already but if we don’t we need to definitely start. Have fun at any playground but stay safe while playing. You can find more information like this at playgrundsafety.org. Stay safe and enjoy these Spring and Summer days at the park… A place where everyone has fun, children and adults!
Thank A Volunteer
May I Borrow Your Straw Hat?
A Day at the Playground
There is not a day that goes by that a volunteer is not needed and there is not a day that goes by that we say thank you enough to our volunteers. Sylvester and Worth County have many great activities and events that occur in this great town but it could not happen without many volunteers and endless hours. If you ever wander how you can give back by giving your time, always contact your local Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce. They will always have list of events and contact names and numbers of places that you can help. Contact your local schools and see what way they may need help as well. It is not always giving your money that is needed. Your time is a great thing needed. I personally volunteer for several organizations and we could always use your help. If you are interested in volunteering but do not know where to start, please email me at themartinnews@gmail.com and I can help you get started. For everyone in Sylvester, Worth County and surrounding counties that volunteer...THANK YOU from The Martin News. We truly could not make it with out you!
May I Borrow Your Straw Hat?
May I Borrow Your Straw Hat?
Isn’t it funny how a word or phrase, a holiday or a day to celebrate can remind you of a simple memory? I was reading just the other day about April being the month to celebrate different hats and I saw where they mentioned a straw hat. It took me back to Gordy. My daddy loved to do yard work and always wore a ball cap but as he got a little older, he bought him a straw hat. He was the cutest thing ever with his straw hat on. He would wear it when he was picking up pecans out at our home in Gordy. He loved picking up pecans but wanted to make sure he kept the sun off his head and neck. When Larry was about three months old, he loved to hold that straw hat and my daddy thought he was so sweet wanting to hold the hat that was about the size of him. After daddy passed away, we now have the straw hat that hangs on an old straight back chair of my grandmother’s. Both hold such great memories. We love to look at that hat everyday. Who knew a simple hat would bring so much joy.
Are You Smart With Your Money?
Being smart with your money is more than just opening a savings account. Money smarts include smaller things you wouldn’t think are important, but in the long run these tips can end up saving you hundreds of dollars! You need to know every way to be smart with your money in this day and age. With prices increasing, debts rising, and demanding needs, this article with 7 ways to be smart with money is just for you! You would probably be very surprised if you realized the amount of money you spend per week just by going out. A movie here, bowling there, coffee every now and then, or an occasional shopping spree can really add up. Remedy this problem by limiting yourself to going out once a week. The rest of the time, get creative with your friends and think of free entertainment options. This is one great way to be smart with your money! Try and cut out unnecessary bills. Take a look at the bills you have. Are there any unnecessary bills you are paying? Do you really need the expensive phone plan you have, or a landline in addition to your cell phone? Cable and Netflix are awesome, but if you are never home to watch them, it’s pointless. And with so many places now offering free Wi-Fi, there’s another bill you can drop. This technique can really help you to be smart with your money. Another great idea is to open a Savings Account. One of the best ways to be smart with your money is to open a savings account. Then, make it a priority to put a little money in it with each paycheck. You may only be able to afford to put $20 or less in there, but in time that small amount of money will add up. You never know when you will need emergency funds or when something may come up, so it’s always nice to have a little money put back. Have you ever thought to avoid small purchases? Avoiding small purchases on a whim is one way to be smart with your money. Do you really need a snack or drink every time you stop for gas? Do you have to buy a coffee every morning? Is the latest issue of Cosmo that important? Try cutting out small purchases like these and see where your account stands. It may be hard at first, but just be patient, and give some time for this new habit to kick in. You’ll find yourself saying no to bigger items after you kick the smaller ones! It is always good to think before you buy! One thing to really watch out for when you shop is telling yourself you HAVE to have it. Ask yourself these two questions: "Do I really need it?" "Can I afford it right now?" If you can answer both of these questions with a yes, then go for it. Be proud of yourself, knowing you are being smart with your money! A great way to save money is leave the credit cards at home. If you have a credit card, it’s a wise choice to leave it at home in a safe place. Only carry it when you know you will absolutely need it. Credit cards encourage splurging, so it’s better to limit yourself to cash and what you can afford. This makes a great way to be smart with your money! One way that everyone can save whether it is for personal use or business is watch for sales. Why pay full price for something when you can get it for a better rate? A final tip for being smart with your money is to always look for bargains. If you know there is something you are going to need soon, be on the lookout for sales, or a used, less expensive version. When you are grocery shopping, keep your eyes peeled for markdowns, and print out coupons online. And this same tip applies to shopping for clothing and accessories! These ways to save money will add up and really help you save a buck! If you put these tips into practice, you won’t be disappointed. Being smart with your money is rewarding because when you stop buying unnecessary items, you have enough money left over to buy things you really want or need. Who knew that cutting out your morning coffee could pay for a new digital camera? These great tips came from online money matters site. However these tips are so true. I have stopped and thought about ways to save and even used some of these tips before reading them on here which makes me feel great! Now let’s start saving them pennies!
The New York Jets are strengthening their secondary by signing former Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright to a one-year contract. Wright will compete for playing time and provide support in the Jets' defensive backfield as they approach the new season. Considering the team didn’t record an interception last year, this signing is a strong move that could significantly enhance their defense. Do you think Wright will make an impact in the Jets' secondary?
Spring savings are arriving early at Target! As March begins, Target is reducing prices on more than 3,000 items. Shoppers can look forward to discounts on clothing, home goods, and baby essentials as the retailer rolls out its seasonal price cuts. What are your thoughts on Target's decision to reduce prices on over 3,000 items?
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