Macy-Grace Piano Studio holds annual recital
On Sunday, May 15, the Macy-Grace Piano Studio held its fourth  annual piano recital at Ellaville United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Jonathan Beckum opened with prayer and piano teacher, Mary Nan Pilcher welcomed everyone.
Amanda Chase played the “Boogie Woogie” for the prelude.
Students playing in the recital were the following.
Cheryl Harbuck, “Morning Has Broken”; Ashley Taylor, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”; Amanda Chase, “Over the Rainbow”;  Kelly Morrow, “Theme from Love Story”; Audry Morrow, “Part of Your World”; Caitlyn Elliott, “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Brahms Lullaby”; Ryder Dean Garner, “Star Wars Main Theme”; Conner Childs, “Got the Blues” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”; Mary Kate Still, “Do-Re-Me” in honor of her Poppa; Tillary Tyler, “My Favorite Things” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”;  Colton Brown,” Chattanooga Choo Choo”; Cesaleigh Snider, “You Are My Sunshine” and “America the Beautiful”; Maclye Anthony, “Tomorrow”; Liberty Justice, “I Can Only Imagine”; Ashlyn Childs, “Amazing Grace”; Macy Hall, “Hallelujah” and “Old Time Rock and Roll” in memory of her grandfather.
Mary Nan presented all of her students with certificates and awards. She said it’s not an easy task to learn to play the piano  and it’s not easy to perform in front of a lot of people. She praised her students and said that they had done a fantastic job.
After the recital a lovely reception was held in the Social Hall of the church. The serving table was decorated with a miniature baby grand piano was used as the centerpiece. Delicious finger foods and punch were served.

Ellaville-Schley County Historical Society moving into courthouse
The Ellaville-Schley County Historical Society has started moving into the newly renovated courthouse where the office and museum will be held from now on.
We have started hanging pictures, honor and memorial plaques  as well. We will be carrying more things to the courthouse as we get ready to display them and we find shelves that will fit large books and other things.
We’ve hung Dr. L.S. Boyette’s picture which was donated to the Schley County Board of Commissioners by McCall Calhoun Jr. of Americus. McCall Calhoun’s father was the late Dr. Mack Calhoun  and he loved Dr. Boyette so much that when he died Nell Boyette gave the picture to Dr. Calhoun. When Dr. Calhoun died his son gave this picture to the County Commissioners. In return they gave it to the local historical society because Dr. Boyette was so loved here. Now his picture hangs in the historical society office and museum.
We also hung a picture of the late  E.M. Palmer, a principal in Schley County for many years. All the children, teachers and the community loved Mr. Palmer. This picture was donated by his only grandchild, Kim Palmer Lawhorn.
We also placed three lovely pictures that were donated to us by Gaynelle Wall Williams and drawn by Lois Theiss, a local artist. The larger picture is of the courthouse; the others are the old Depot, and the old two-story school, which are no longer standing.
We have also hung the honor and memorial plaques in the hall. If you would like to place a name on either the memorial or the honor plaques, contact me for an application for either one.  You do not have to be a member to put a name on these plaques. Call me Nancy McMath Young at 229-937-2116 for more information. If anyone would like to make a donation to our museum for display,  please contact me as well.
Plan to come by when we are finished to see everything.

Schley County High School Class of 2016 graduates
At 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21, the Schley County High School Class graduated.
Judy McClellan played the piano for the processional as all the graduates marched in.
The opening was given by Victoria Wainwright, followed by Karen Weathersby welcoming everyone.
Schley County Schools Superintendent Adam Hathaway gave some special remarks.
Karissa Campbell gave the Salutatory Address, followed by Michael Leeder making the Valedictory Address.
Todd West, principal, gave a presentation of the graduation candidates.
Conferring of diplomas was done by West, Hathaway, and Deborah Hawver and the Schley County Board of Education.
The school Alma Mater was led by the Schley County High School Trio — Jessica Reese, Laken Waters and Mikaela Ellis.
The benediction was  given by Haley Sellars.
There were 88 Schley County High School graduates in the Class of 2016.
High school administration present, in addition to the principal, were Lisa Hernandez, assistant principal; Tee Reddish, assistant principal  and Cindy Hagerson, director of guidance.
We all congratulate all the graduates on a job well done as well as the administration and faculty of our great school.

Economic development group makes special visit to Ellaville
The Economic Development Team made a special visit to the City of Ellaville on May 10. They were hosted by the Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG) and Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, known as MEAG. This team are representatives from different Georgia organizations for the special two-day economic development tour of Central Georgia communities.
ECG provides services to communities that get their electrical power from MEAG. These special services help the municipal utilities with technical and operational issues and look to enhance economic visibility of communities.
Organizations represented included the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Department of Labor, the Georgia Municipal Association, ECG and MEAG.
There were 15 women and eight men on this tour. They arrived in a nice bus and were escorted in by the Ellaville Chief of Police Robbie Lightner  and Schley County Sheriff Shane Tondee to the front door of the Schley County Courthouse.
Ellaville City Manager Lynne McChargue and Schley County Administrator  Bill Sawyer welcomed the first guests to the newly renovated courthouse. They were all greeted in the rotunda under the lovely crystal chandelier donated by Tommy Barnes.
The group returned to their bus and were given a tour narrated by Schley County Schools Superintendent Adam Hathaway. They drove  by Schley County Elementary School and the Middle and High School. The superintendent brief the group on the excellent achievement of these school. He also said referred to Ellaville as “the best little town in Georgia.”
They continued on their tour to TCI where Jason Holloway acted as guide, telling the group about the powder coating manufactory  business started here in 1987, with only 17 employees and now employing  270. The process of manufacturing the coating material is like baking a cake. Holloway said the ingredients are mixed into liquid form and baked to become a dry mixture. He said that many products as diverse as Walmart shelving and shopping carts are painted using powder coatings. Other manufacturers of powder coating  are businesses such as DuPont and Sherwin Williams.