Two local history classes for students planned for July

DALTON, Ga. —  Two history camps sponsored by the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society are planned for students in grades 4-8. The Whitfield County Summer History Camp is July 24-26 and the Murray County Summer History Camp is July 31-Aug. 2. The classes will offer travel and visits to local historic places and include hands-on activities appropriate for children. The cost is $45 for the first child and $35 for additional children. More information and registration forms are available at www.whitfield-murrayhistoricalsociety.org.

Country Showdown returning to Music Park

LIVE OAK, Fla. —The famed Country Showdown is returning this year to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for its 37th year of finding the best country singers across America.

The Music Park is partnering with local country radio station WQHL 98.1-FM to sponsor the Country Showdown competition preliminaries in the Music Hall, which are set for June 29, July 6 and July 20.

Four winners will be chosen at each preliminary to return July 27 to the SOSMP for the Regional Final to determine who will move to the Country Showdown semifinals Oct. 6, also at the SOSMP. The one winner at the Music Park’s semifinals Oct. 6 will go to the national finals in Nashville, where winners from all across the U.S. will compete for the national title and one act will be named the Best New Act in Country Music.

Serious, qualified solo country artists, duos or bands may sign up by going to www.musicliveshere.com. There is a $30 one-time fee to sign up. Each of the three Regional Finals preliminaries and the Semi Finals will be judged by a team of qualified judges and their decisions will be final.

The Country Showdown is the longest running country music talent showcase in America. WQHL and the SOSMP have sent three finalists previously to the nationals: Johnny Bulford (Orlando) in 2008, Nate Kenyon (Blakely, Ga.) in 2014, and Highway 238 (Lake Butler) with Austin Harden and Brett Maddox in 2015.

Bulford — who later wrote “A Woman Like You,” taken to No. 1 by Lee Brice, and also “Lonely Eyes,” taken to No. 2 by Chris Young — was the national winner after first qualifying in Orlando and then winning the Florida spot at the Music Park.

Man arrested in seven-car pile up on North Valdosta Road

VALDOSTA — One man was arrested and only minor injuries were reported after a seven car pile-up Thursday near the Smok’n Pig. William B. Wood, 36, is charged with driving under the influence and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, Georgia State Patrol Senior Trooper J.W. Kinsey said. Kinsey said the pile-up happened when a white Ford F-150 pick-up truck failed to stop at a red light at about 11:15 a.m at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Old Highway 41. The truck crashed into multiple vehicles that were stopped at the light. He said the truck bounced from vehicle to vehicle like a bowling ball until it finally came to rest partly on top of another car. The truck was traveling about 50 to 55 miles per hour at the time of impact and showed no signs of using the brakes, Kinsey said. He said seven vehicles in total were involved in the wreck, including a Valdosta State Prison van. Wood suffered the worst injuries with minor cuts and bruises, Kinsey said. He was the only one involved who was taken to a hospital. He was taken to South Georgia Medical Center, according to GSP. Kinsey said Wood will be arrested once he is released from the hospital. Wood refused to have his blood drawn for a blood test. There were also prescription drugs found in the vehicle. 

Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County holding Boston butt fundraiser

TIFTON, Ga. — Beulah Hill Baptist Church is holding its 10th Annual Health and Wellness Expo, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m., June 9. Doctors and nurses will be at the expo and can check and test blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol rates, heart rate and weight. Attendees will be able to get the results back from these tests while they are there. Vision and asthma screenings will also be available. There will also be entertainment for kids at the all ages expo, including a bounce house, face painting and a DJ. The Health and Wellness Expo is be held at Beulah Hill’s Family Life Center, located at 321 Tifton Eldorado Road. For more information, contact church secretary Pat Robinson at 229-339-1956.