Supporting the best

March

30th ~ Sumter Quad #1

The Kiwanis Golf Classic 2023 hosted by the Americus Kiwanis is set for April 28th.  The Gold Classic will be held at Griffin Bell Golf Center.  Registration fee is $100 per team and hole sponsorship is $100.  Registration is at 12noon and shotgun start is at 1pm.  $10 per player for 2 mulligans and entry into prizes with $15,000 being the top prize.  If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please call (229) 886-9428. Deadline to signup is April 15th at 5pm.  We hope to see you all there!

March 29 Sumter Women's Luncheon hosted by Sumter County Chamber of Commerce 11AM-1PM at Rosemary & Thyme Restaurant at the Windsor Hotel

Register today: https://www.sumtercountychamber.com/index.php?id=196&eventuid=7392&chamberpid=224

The Sumter Women's Luncheon is an event designed to bring together women in Sumter County, mothers, retirees, female business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals to network, share their experiences and ideas, and hear from inspiring speakers on topics relevant to women. During the event, attendees have the opportunity to network with other female business owners and professionals, and to hear from other women in business on how they have overcome challenges and achieved success, highlighting the importance of continued support and resources for women.

Program Schedule:

11AM-12PM - Registration, Networking, Marketplace, & Professional Headshots by Blanchard Photography

12-1PM - Lunch, Table Talk, Presentation, & Giveaways

The Sumter Women's Luncheon is a valuable resource and provides a platform for women to connect, engage, and support each other. The luncheon is open to our male counterparts and non/future-Chamber members as well!

The MARKETPLACE: The Sumter Women's Luncheon will feature women entrepreneurs! We will shop and support local vendors of art, jewelry, apparel, cosmetics, gifts, handbags, soaps, and more!

>Come #shopLOCAL before and after the program.

>Entrepreneurs young alike are also invited.

>Shopping is included in the experience.

>Enjoy networking and entertainment while you shop and explore.

In addition to the sponsorship benefits outlined below, supporting the Sumter Women’s Luncheon gives you:

>Networking opportunities with female business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals

>Increased exposure and brand awareness within the local business community

>Support and empowerment of female business owners and entrepreneurs

>Opportunity to engage with and understand the specific needs of female business owners and professionals.

Sponsoring this event can also enhance your reputation as a responsible and supportive corporate citizen, as you demonstrate your commitment to an inclusive workforce. When the pandemic hit, women exited the workforce in record numbers and are having a hard time returning. Let's do something special to celebrate them!

Registration is Required:

All attendees are asked to bring a small gift. This will be gifted to another attendee. Consider a handwritten card of encouragement, chocolates, a bottle of wine, a pin, a candle, mug, book, (no coupons or service discount), think of it as a small memento you would take to visit a new friend.

Source: Sumter County Chamber of Commerce

  3-5-23

The Sumter County Chamber Of Commerce had a great time at their Centennial Cup Golf Tournament recently! They look forward to sharing the winners soon! They would like to thank all the players and sponsors!

The Centennial Cup Golf Tournament is a notable signature networking event that brings members of the business and community-at-large together to promote themselves and their organizations. 

This tournament offers a unique experience of business and pleasure for seasoned executives, emerging leaders, women, and men alike. The event captures the true essence of comradery and support for one another. As a 501c6 nonprofit, this and every event is a fundraiser for the Chamber. 

The chamber would like to thank you for your participation as a sponsor and/or player, your presence is what makes this event possible!

Your participation also positions the Chamber to create and provide opportunities and support for the growth and prosperity of local business and industry in Sumter County.   

Thank you to the Sponsors!

Awards Sponsors

Citizens Bank of Americus 

Phoebe Sumter Medical Center 

Welcome Bag Sponsor

Gammage Print Shop

Lunch Sponsors

Bennett Family of Companies

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit 

Dinner Sponsor

First State Bank 

Snacks and Refreshments Sponsors

Horne Pecan Company 

J. Nicole Signature Sweets 

The Windsor Hotel 

Hole Sponsors

Americus Glass Company 

Americus Living 

Cordele Refurbishment & Manufacturing 

Capital City Home Loans 

Easterlin Pecan Co 

Georgia Power 

Georgia Southwestern State University 

Parker's Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

Russ Childers Agency 

Southern Wholesale Glass 

South Georgia Technical College 

Sumter EMC 

Tooty Tots2 (Jackies Lil Tooty Tots Daycare)

Check the website for future events! 

https://www.sumtercountychamber.com/membership/events-calendar

Source: Sumter County Chamber of Commerce

3-26-23

Downtown Americus Main Street is looking for artists to participate in their First Friday Artsapalooza event coming up Friday, April 7th. It's free to participate! 

Participants will have the opportunity to be setup downtown to display and sell artwork, and create live art during the event. Painters, sketchers, photographers, calligraphers, musicians, dancers, etc. They want you there! All they need is for each interested artist to email Jennifer English at jenglish@americusga.gov or call (229) 924-4411 ext. 235. If you have any questions, just let them know.

Source: Downtown Americus Main Street

3-26-23

Sumter County Middle School students in Ms. Santita Mercer's Social Studies classes have been studying environmental issues across Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern & Eastern Asia. Ms. Mercer used Former President Jimmy Carter's global humanitarian work to help students understand how water pollution and unequal access to water impacts irrigation, trade, industry, and drinking water. During this activity, students linked environmental issues to our hometown, Former President Jimmy Carter, and his work to eradicate the Guinea Worm parasite in Africa. The Guinea Worm parasite contributes to water pollution in Africa by contaminating the water source, leading to illness and possibly death. Through education, President Carter and The Carter Center have been able to help decrease the number of Guinea Worm cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to just 13 in 2022, nearing closer to eradication.

"Usually when we think about illnesses and sicknesses, we think about medicine to help make us better," says SCMS 7th grader Levi Umanzor.  "It is interesting to me that the cure for the Guinea Worm illness is education." 

Ms. Mercer's students were able to watch two videos related to the topic. In one video from The Carter Center, students heard President Carter and First Lady Carter speak about their work in 20 different countries and 26,500 villages in which they visited and helped to educate the citizens on how filtering their water would provide them with clean water free of Guinea Worm parasites. The second video showed the Carters actually in villages and towns helping citizens filter their water.  Finally, students read an article titled "Jimmy Carter and the End of the Guinea Worm." Students then completed an article organizer where they had to state the main idea of the article and use supporting details to support the main ideas They identified the author's point of view, the structure or purpose of the article, the tone of the article, and lastly any recommendations offered by the author and conclusions they were able to reach based on their reading, integrating Social Studies and ELA.

Source: SCSD

3-26-23

Congratulations to the Sumter County High School Class of 2023 

Honor Graduates:

Trinity Brown, Valedictorian

Saige Wakefield, Salutatorian 

Adasia Kitchens

Jasmine Jackson

Corderius Walton

Kyra Volley

Curtissa Evans

Madison Barthell

Jason Wells

Jala Hill

Devon Dowdell

Alesia Holmes

Leah Minter

Gracie Davis

Ja'Niya Thomas

Dion Allen

Bryanna Bateman

Jemirra West

Donovan Bettis

Bryson Ross

Jasmine Bateman

Demtrice Hurley

Dhedeepya Potluri

Shekierra Jones

Za'Riyah Bush

Jasmine Dorsey

Jadyn Collier

Lonnie Battle

Ajarion Foster

Karounga Keita

Crawford Pride

Alaysia Thoomas

Chasiddy Gray

Makayla Jackson

Alanna Rodriguez

Kavon Lewis

India Williams

Melchisedec McCluster

Timia Mitchell

Ka'Wuan Hudson

Ja'Kabruan Smith

Ty'Quavious Hurley

Skyler Love

Hannah Lindsey

Jinyiah Bradley

Source: SCSD

3-26-23

Americus Kiwanis Club President Kevin Kwashnak recently met with several scouts from Troop 21 to help them meet some requirements for the Law Merit Badge.

The Americus Kiwanis Club is the proud charter organization for Troop 21 & Pack 21.

Source: Americus Kiwanis Club

3-26-23

Sumter County Middle School Agriculture (Ag) classes enjoy the support of parent participation in many aspects of the program. Parental involvement is essential in complementing student efforts toward exploring careers and “hands on” learning. Pictured, 8th grade Ag student Candace Pitts shows her dad, Mr. Corey Pitts around the school greenhouse and outdoor garden. The greenhouse and garden were developed to have students learn plant identification, propagation, and marketing. Mr. Pitts also assisted Mr. Brock’s class in lawnmower maintenance and repair. The local Ag program encourages parents and the community to enjoy the many projects of the students skill building.

Source: SCSD

3-26-23

Main Street America and American Express are pleased to announce that applications for the Backing Small Businesses Grant are now open! The grant program will award 350 small business grants of $5,000 to eligible businesses in the U.S. and territories. 

In 2021, American Express and Main Street America created the Backing Small Businesses grant program to help economically vulnerable U.S. small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses.

Now in its second year, the program has increased both grants awarded and total funding to $2.3 million to further support small business owners in building their economic vitality and fostering a thriving community. 

New this year are Enhancement Grants for grantees: If you are awarded a $5,000 grant through this program, your business may also be eligible to be considered for an additional $25,000 Enhancement Grant!

For more information or to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3Z0mHqk

Source: Main Street America 

3-26-23

Local Spring Break Begins April 1 With Fun-Packed Weekend

Valdosta, GA – Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Ga. will be kicking off Spring Break for local students on April 1 with a weekend full of music, special events and the annual opening of Splash Island Waterpark.
“Our 2023 Season began a few weeks ago when we debuted our brand new 3-acre addition, Oasis Outpost,” said Elke Schultz, marketing manager. “Now, to add even more to the Wild Adventures experience, we will roll out the first show of our concert series, host the region’s largest Easter celebration and open Splash Island Waterpark all on the same day.”

Wild Adventures LIVE! presented by Valdosta TKO Nissan features an entire lineup of award-winning and Platinum-selling artists, such as Lee Brice, The Beach Boys, Styx, REO Speedwagon and more. The concert series begins Saturday, April 1 with a performance from Grammy Award-winning country group Diamond Rio for the park’s Passholder Appreciation Concert.

Formed in 1989, Diamond Rio became the first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single. That song, “Meet in the Middle,” began a long string of hits, including “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “One More Day,” “Beautiful Mess,” “Unbelievable,” “In A Week or Two,” and more. The group has released three Platinum-selling albums and five Gold-selling albums and has won multiple awards, including a Grammy Award and a Dove Award.

“Our Season Passholders enjoy free general admission to all of our concerts, but every Season we choose one show as our Passholder Appreciation Concert to express our gratitude with free reserved seats,” said Schultz. “It’s one of the ways we say ‘Thanks’ to our Passholders for joining us this Season.”

Silver, Gold and Diamond Season Passholders can pick up their two complimentary reserved seats each for the Diamond Rio concert beginning at 9 a.m. on April 1. Seats will be given on a first come, first served basis. Diamond Rio will take the stage at the Wild Adventures LIVE! Amphitheater at 8 p.m.

Non-season passholders can also attend the performance with General Concert Admission available at WildAdventures.com/Concerts or at any Wild Adventures ticketing booth.

Before the show, guests can hunt for 100,000 candy-filled eggs in the largest Easter celebration in the region.

“During our second annual Easter Eggstravaganza, guests will have the opportunity to take photos with the Easter Bunny, hunt for candy-filled eggs and even search for a special painted ostrich egg to win two 2023 Gold Season Passes,” said Schultz.

Wild Adventures’ Easter Eggstravaganza, April 1, 2 and 8, features Easter Egg hunts for kids ages five and under near The Butterfly Garden and separate hunts for kids ages 12 and under near Kite Flyer. One painted ostrich egg will be hidden somewhere outside of those hunts each day of the event. Wild Adventures will be closed April 9 in observance of Easter Sunday.

In addition to Easter Eggstravaganza and the Diamond Rio show, Wild Adventures will also open Splash Island Waterpark for the 2023 Season on April 1. Admission to Splash Island is included with park admission or a Season Pass. Season Passes are on sale now at WildAdventures.com.

“Make no mistake, April 1 is a day at Wild Adventures you won’t want to miss,” said Schultz. “You can experience all that is new at Oasis Outpost, hunt for Easter Eggs, take a dive at Splash Island Waterpark and enjoy an amazing concert to end the day. I can’t think of a better way to kick off Spring Break and spend time with family, and that isn’t even all that we are offering our guests that weekend.”

The Jason Byrd Band will perform at the Water’s Edge Stage on Saturday, April 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Rob Evans will perform on the same stage from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 2. The stage features live music every weekend and is located at Water’s Edge Brews & Bites which serves freshly baked hand-rolled pretzels along with select wines, wine slushies and locally brewed beer from Georgia Beer Company.

Wild Adventures’ 2023 Diamond Passholders can attend the exclusive Diamond Passholder Party at the Wanyama Observation Deck on Saturday, April 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event includes complimentary food, special animal encounters and giveaways.

For more information about the Wild Adventures LIVE! concert series, Easter Eggstravaganza, Splash Island Waterpark, Season Passes and more, visit WildAdventures.com.

Wild Adventures Theme Park is located at the halfway point between Atlanta, Ga. and Orlando, Fla. off Interstate 75 and is home to more than 40 family and thrill rides, hundreds of exotic animals, dozens of concerts and special events each year and Splash Island Waterpark, named as one of the “Top 30 Waterparks” in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Wild Adventures is ranked as the Fifth Most Affordable Theme Park in America in the Theme Park Price Index published by HomeToGo and the Top Theme Park Deal in Georgia by Yahoo! Finance.


Source: Wild Adventures
3-26-23

Please print the coloring page off and let your children color it. Please put the name on the back. We need the child’s name, the parents name and phone number. Please mail it to Lynn Meeks-Manley PO Box 5003 Sylvester, GA 31791.  Deadline is May 1st. All pictures will be displayed at the festival. Judging will take place at noon on May 6th at the First Responders Rib & Chicken Cookoff which will be held at Jeffords Park in Sylvester.  There will be a first, second and third place in each category. Categories listed below….

Ages 1-3

Pre-K and Kindergarten 

Grades 1st and 2nd

Grades 3rd through 5th

If you have any questions, please contact Lynn at 229-272-4356.