‘Soft opening’ event planned on Saturday for Haig Mill Lake

DALTON, Ga. —  Dalton’s Parks and Recreation Department is opening the doors on the new Haig Mill Lake Park on three Saturdays in September to give the public a first look at the water. The “soft opening” for the park will feature free kayak rentals and instruction for beginners and also free food. “A Day on the Lake” will give members of the public their first chance to get into the new Haig Mill Lake Park on Saturday, plus Sept. 15 and 22. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those days. Rock Creek Outfitters will be at the park renting kayaks to visitors and also offering instructional clinics every 30 minutes for beginners. Participants must sign a liability release waiver. Dalton Parks and Recreation staff will be cooking and serving hot dogs, chips and soft drinks beginning at noon on those days. Members of the public are welcome to bring their own personal kayaks or canoes during the event, but they must have their own personal life vests and paddles. Paddleboards and swimming will not be allowed at Haig Mill Lake Park. Outside of these three Saturdays in September, the Haig Mill Lake Park will remain closed as crews finish construction work. The date for the park’s formal opening has not been set. For more information, contact Dalton Parks and Recreation at 706-278-5404. 

Police: Man tried to hide $99 worth of meat in his pants

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Norman Park man’s pants were looking like $100, but their value dropped considerably when concealed steaks and ground beef were removed from them. When police arrived at Wal-Mart, 641 Veterans Parkway S., about 12:42 p.m. Friday, 38-year-od Larry Adam Conley was in custody. In an office, Conley and a store security officer removed four packs of ribeye steaks and three rolls of ground beef chuck from Conley’s pants, police said. The value of the meat was just short of $99. Conley was charged with theft by shoplifting. The theft was caught on store video, police said.

Moultrie house burns; no one home

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A fire that destroyed a Fifth Avenue Southeast residence early Saturday morning is under investigation as fire officials try to determine what caused the blaze. The fire at the 1718 Fifth Ave. S.E. residence of Nicole Chinchilla was reported at about 4:20 a.m. Saturday. When firefighters arrived flames were coming through the roof, according to Moultrie Fire Department reports. The reports noted that when they arrived the back door of the residence was damaged. The resident was out of town at the time of the fire, the reports said. Chinchilla got in contact with police and the fire department to check on a dog that had been left inside the house. There was no dog inside the house when firefighters got inside, reports said. The residence is owned by Wanda Hamliton of Norman Park. It apparently was a total loss.

Touch-A-Truck returns to First Friday

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Milledgeville Main Street and Allied Arts have partnered for a First Friday Touch-A-Truck event and Party in the Plaza. 

From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, West McIntosh Street will be open to pedestrians. There will be music at the Black Heritage Plaza along with cars, trucks, and vehicles of all shapes and sizes lining the street for everyone to explore.

Heavy equipment horns will sound, first responders’ lights will flash, and everyone will have a chance to satisfy their curiosity by getting up close to explore the vehicles. The event will include everything from fire trucks, a tractor, a helicopter, police cars, and “Milly” the Trolley, the only way to tour the town with the expert guides at the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. 

Allied Arts will host the Magnificent Planets Band. They play a variety of ‘60s, ’70s and funk. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the Black Heritage Plaza, next to the police station on West McIntosh Street. There is no admission for this event. 

First Friday crowd-pleaser The Local Folk will perform a wide range of popular music during the event. They can be found on West Hancock Street along with face painter Lisa Marie Barry. 

New to First Friday and instant First Friday favorite, Greg Brosman, a balloon artist from Greensboro, will be back showing off his balloon creations, telling jokes, and playing tricks. 

Milledgeville Main Street is always interested in featuring new, unique entertainment for the monthly, family-friendly First Friday event in downtown Milledgeville. 

LOFD to host annual 9-11 memorial

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Live Oak Fire Department’s annual 9-11 memorial service is set for Tuesday morning.

The public is invited to attend the memorial, which will begin at 8:15 a.m. at the flag pole outside the firehouse, located at 200 Duval St. NE.

Will Starling, the LOFD’s training and safety officer, said a prayer will be held to open the ceremony and then around 8:30 a.m., either he of Fire Chief Chad Croft will make a short statement on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the effects of the terrorist attacks on the public as well as first responders.

“What we do is we just honor those who lost their lives in 9-11,” Starling said, noting that 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel were among those killed.

The ceremony will last around two hours as the LOFD’s air raid siren will sound four times throughout the morning. The first will sound at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It will sound again at 9:03 a.m. for when the plane hit the South Tower, 9:37 a.m. for when the Pentagon was hit and finally at 10:03 a.m. when the final plane crashed in the field in Pennsylvania.

The ceremony will conclude with the playing of taps by the American Legion.

“It’s a tradition of the Live Oak Fire Department, the City of Live Oak and the surrounding community has taken part of every year since,” Starling said. “It’s a significant event.

“It affected the country as a whole just due to the realization that terrorism can affect us on a large-scale basis.”