Another busy week in Americus, Sumter County that began with making our voice heard at the polls. Bruce and I voted on Monday, the first day of “early voting” at the Sumter County Courthouse. This was not something we planned; it was a last minute decision after completing a morning of errands.
It was a positive experience and the poll workers made it easy. I really like voting on Election Day, which this year is Nov. 8; it’s more exciting. But now, our choices have been made and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Kinda’ like waiting for the end of a suspense novel.
Before going into what I know about who’s done what and where they’ve been, I want to let you know about a unique and cool event coming to the Rylander Theatre downtown. It’s “Mini Moller Monster Movie,” night at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 featuring the 1925 silent horror film, “The Phantom of the Opera,” starring Lon Chaney with the live accompaniment of the theater’s 1928 Moller theater pipe organ played by renowned organist, Ron Carter.
This is a rare opportunity so don’t miss it. Secure your tickets, $10/adults, $5/children, online at www.rylander.org or the theater’s box office on West Lamar Street.
Sumter Historic Trust’s annual costume party last weekend was a huge success, says Nick Owens and Marylynn Joiner, co-chairs of the always fun event. Costume contest winners were: Tami Peavy-Owen, dressed as the character, Daenerys Targaryes from “Game of Thrones” and Matt Owens who portrayed Willie Robertson from “Duck Dynasty; and the couple taking top  honors for their costume garb were Rene Smith who was hilarious disguised as Donald Trump, while his wife Angela was his Secret Service agent.
Elsewhere, Karen and Greg Austin and friends Jule and Bonnie Windham of Montezuma enjoyed a wonderful vacation in Hawaii, where they visited Honolulu and the Island of Maui. Bardin and Hayden Hooks traveled to Maine and Massachusetts, a belated birthday trip for Bardin. They flew into Boston and explored towns along coastal Maine before arriving in Bar Harbor to explore Acadia National Park for a few days, and then ended the trip exploring all the historic sites along the Freedom Trail in Boston. Acadia had been on Bardin’s bucket list for a long time so he was happy they were able to go. And Jean Buchanan enjoyed a trip to Disney World with her daughter Page Lynn and two-year-old grandson Thomas Daniel of Statesboro. Before going to Disney World, Jean was at Page and Daniel’s home the week Hurricane Matthew blew through, going especially for Daniel’s sister’s wedding planned for the actual day the big storm hit. The bridal couple almost postponed their wedding, but didn’t, although they had to overcome many obstacles to be married in a hurricane. Jean said it all came about and the newlyweds are living happily ever after.
Deer season opens this weekend, but Tracy Law and friends are going on a pheasant hunting trip to Mott, North Dakota. Others going along are Mike Ragsdale, Brian McMichael, former residents Ty Turner of Thomasville, Dimitris Saratsiotis of Raleigh, N.C., and Ed Shaw, now of Oklahoma City.
Garden club members from Americus and Sumter County entered exhibits in design and in horticulture at the annual Garden Club of Georgia Magnolia and Camellia Districts’ flower show held in conjunction with the Georgia National Fair last weekend.  The show was entitled “Southern Lady.”
Rebecca McNeill, Dogwood Garden Club, entries chairman for the Magnolia District, made a beautiful arrangement in creative design for the information table. Participants Sylvia Eubanks, Glendale Garden Club; Faye Frazier, Dogwood Garden Club; and Terry Goodrum, Glendale Garden Club, all won National Garden Club Awards of Merit for their horticulture entries. Joyce Carreker, Dogwood Garden Club, won the National Garden Club Growers Choice Award in horticulture. In the Design Division. Willie Maxwell, Dogwood Garden Club, won the Blue Ribbon for her exhibition table in Class 1, “Ladies Club Luncheon.” Shirley Litwhiler, Azalea Garden Club, placed second and Phyllis Argo, Azalea Garden Club, placed third in Class 4, “Fourth of July Celebration,” a class of creative designs. Maxine Stribling, Azalea Garden Club, placed fourth in Class 5, “Pool Party,” a class of creative hanging designs. Elaine Henderson, Dogwood Garden Club placed second in Class 6, “Bridge, Anyone,” a class of creative designs. Faye Frazier, Dogwood Garden Club, placed second in Class 8, “Flowers for the Church Sanctuary,” a class of traditional mass designs; and Janice Cliett, Dogwood Garden Club, placed third in Class 9, “From My Garden,” a class of traditional designs in the Oriental manner.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.