Happy birthday Mr. President …
Happy birthday, Jimmy Carter –—this is an exciting day. Our Man from Plains turns a youthful 92. Oh,  the places he has gone and the people he has met! His countless accomplishments range from humanitarian and spiritual to leading the nation as the 39th president.
Carter is celebrating his birthday today along with two achievements this past year. He is free of the cancer that he was diagnosed with a year ago; and the global eradication of the Guinea worm disease is almost accomplished, a mission and medical milestone he has strived for with the Carter Center and its partners for nearly 30 years.
The former president and Georgia governor continues to follow the same path he has walked since his childhood in Plains. Among the greatest traits we admire are his approachability and friendly attitude. If you meet him by chance on the streets of his hometown or anywhere in the world, he will greet you with a warm welcome and his broad signature smile.
We think President Carter is amazing and extend heartfelt wishes for a wonderful birthday and congratulations on a life well led. Thank you, President Carter for all you have done and continue to do.
But most of all we’re thrilled you and Miss Rosalynn are Sumter County citizens and reside right “down the road a piece.”
Now, let’s all stand and sing “Happy Birthday Mr. President.”
Carter will be serenaded and well entertained this evening by David Osborne, his favorite pianist (and our, too) at a concert at 6 p.m. at Americus First Baptist Church. If you’re planning to attend, arrive early. It’s always packed and over-the-top wonderful.
Others celebrating birthdays this week are our daughter Lori Case Shivers, along with Aaron Shivers, who turned 30, and his wife, Brook Shivers. Preslee Owen turned 14 and celebrated her birthday surrounded by family and friends at a colorful luau hosted by her parents, Meredith and Clay Owen, that included a unique cake Meredith designed, baked and decorated in the shape of a roasted pig, wearing a flower lei and sunglasses. Fr. Jeff Wallace, rector at Calvary Episcopal Church, celebrated his birthday at a surprise party with family and friends last Saturday while Sunday he baptized his infant grandson, John William Misko, son of Jeff and Natalie Wallace Misko of Pauley’s Island, S.C. Here for the occasion were Jeff and Stephanie’s other daughters, son and spouses, Jill and Jamie McMillan of Nurrell’s Inlet, S.C., Derrick Wallace and Crystal Slavens of Columbia, S.C., and Bonnie Wallace Schneider and son, Shepherd, of California. Incidentally, Bonnie and Shepherd are spending several weeks here with her parents while her husband is in military training in California. It was a “guy’s day” for Charles Christmas and twins Mitch and Riley Herron, sons of Nate and Victoria Herron last Saturday. Charles, who turned 60, and the twins 12, celebrated their birthdays at the University of Tennessee, University of Florida football game in Knoxville and were joined by the twin’s dad. Meanwhile, Kim Christmas remained behind to entertain her brother, Doug Singletary, his wife Charlotte and children Logan, Ethan, and Regan of Orange Park, Florida, who enjoyed the Plains Peanut Festival and President Carter’s Sunday school class. Other Vols fans at the University of Tennessee game were Genie and Rick Powell and their family while today they’re all in Athens for the Dawgs vs Volunteers game at Sanford Stadium; congratulations to Tom and Dianne Harrison who celebrated their first wedding anniversary last weekend; elsewhere, former Americus resident Lee Everett and Stephanie Artnak of Indianapolis, Indiana, have begun their life together. They were married on Sept, 24 at St. William’s Catholic Church, St. Simons Island, Those from here at the wedding and festivities, which I  hear were beautiful, at the King and Prince Resort were Lee’s parents Richard and Brooks Nettum, grandparents David and Harriett Peak, Sally Peak Lanier, Virginia Lanier, the flower girl, Will Peak, Emma Fitzgerald, Peter Banse, Pete Sheffield, Barry Stearns, David and Donna Minich, Josh and Katie Minich and children, Conrad and Alice, Jon Minich, Michelle Carty, Wayne and Jody Arrington, Cindy Pryor, Marci Smith Langley and Lee’s Chi Phi fraternity brothers from Americus and Leesburg. By the way, the resort’s wedding staff was so impressed by the beautiful flowers Gatewood Flowers owner Leon Holloway and his staff designed and arranged for the rehearsal dinner the Nettums hosted, they had them photographed for the resort’s website. Lee and Stephanie are honeymooning in the Greek Isles this month. Meanwhile, my grandson Beau Barrett of Bluffton, S.C., was home last weekend, coming especially for a supper party honoring bride- and groom-elect Kristen Perry, daughter of Dave and Lori Perry of Americus and Karrie Wilson Untec of Birmingham, Ala., and Andy Gordon, son of Steve and Vickie Gordon, at the home of Randy and Nancy Jones. Other hosts were Bob and Joanna Arnold, Jim and Jean Buchanan, Paul and Nancy Fitzgerald, Arnold and Mara Durham, Bill and Ellen Hanson, Jim and Nancy Herron, Carey and Susan Harbuck, Darryl and Jan Hobgood, Bill and Beth Nesmith, Keith and Linda Petersen, Sparky and Allene Reeves, Calvin and Ginger Starlin and Rick and Ginny Whaley.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.