Prayers for those affected by Hurricane Matthew
We all need to remember those that were affected by Hurricane Matthew last weekend. We had a family member here that was hit in Jacksonville, Florida.
Our C-Heart, emergency responders, went to Savannah to help evacuate hospital, nursing homes, etc. The C-Heart is from Columbus and all around our area. They transferred some residents from a nursing home near Savannah to Magnolia Manor in Americus.
We had local people that work for the government who went to help out in Savannah, which we appreciate. Keep everyone in your prayers.

Schley County Family Connection meets Thursday
The Schley County Family Connections meets at noon Oct. 27 at the Thomas Edwin Wall Post 191 American Legion in Ellaville.
Please RSVP to John Greene  at 229-591-2323 to let him know if you will be attending the meeting.

Ellaville Methodist sponsors events
Ellaville United Methodist Church sponsors its annual Barbecue and Bake Sale from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 29 in the social hall at the church. The church youth will have a yard sale at the same time.
The barbecue is $7 per pint. You can get tickets from any member of the church as well as at the church that day. The Bake Sale has different prices and will sell out quickly, so come early and get your desserts also. Get ready for the holidays and freeze them.
The public is invited.

Ricky Sawicky visits parents
On Oct. 11, Ricky Sawicky of Apollo Beach, Florida, came to visit his parents, Mary Ellen and Dwight McCorkle of Ellaville, for a few days.
While he was visiting he helped his parents to get the yard cleaned up and he did some things in the house as well.
They went over to Andersonville and had lunch one day at Anderson  Station.

Local man called to Savannah for Hurricane Matthew
Jody Dillard of Ellaville was called to Savannah on Oct. 6, where he met  approximately 75 other law enforcement officers with the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Their goals were to assist with public safety issues as the results of the hurricane damage and the evacuation of Savannah.
They were stationed at the Savannah Civic Center but during the hurricane they stayed in a hotel downtown.
Following the hurricane and storm, they patrolled the neighborhoods, reporting storm damage, and located and assisted with traffic issues.
Jody said that fortunately most of the city had been evacuated, and the citizens that remained were well behaved.
The officers were released to come home on Oct. 9.
We all thank Jody and all of the other officers that went to Savannah to help with hurricane damages.

Ellaville’s first Smoke Barbecue on the Square
On Oct. 15, the first Smoke Barbecue was held downtown around the Square. There was a large crowd most of the day. There were 16 cooking teams and 25 vendors.
There were two different cook-off categories: chicken and ribs. Chicken was turned in at 2: p.m. and the ribs at 2:30 p.m.
The Ellaville-Schley County Chamber of Commerce had a 50/50 Raffle and they also raffled off an electric smoker donated by Masterbuild Grills.
Winners of the Backyard Smoke Barbecue received metal trophies custom-made by Schley County Metal Works as well as a cash prize.
The winners were:
Grand Champion — B&W Bar-B-Que, Brian Barnhill and family
Reserved Champion  — John Wilder, family and friends
The top three winners in the Rib Cook-off are as follows.
1st Place, John Wilder, family and friends; 2nd Place, Brian Barnhill and family; and 3rd Place, Flat Foot Smokin,’ Guy Smith and Rusty Lanier.
The top three winners in the Chicken Cook-Off are 1st Place, Jaskulski 3, Mike Jaskulski , family and friends; 2nd Place, Jeff Schramm and family; and 3rd Place, Second Hand Smoker, Greg Lloyd and friends.
There were 18 judges for this special event.
Sponsors were Ellaville- Schley County Chamber of Commerce, City of Ellaville, Chad’s Paint and Body, Ameris Bank, The Pizza Place, Ellaville Piggly Wiggly, Flir, TCI Powder Coating, The People’s Bank of Ellaville, Ellaville Floral & Gift Shop, Gill Drugs, NYU Hope 4Ville, and Masterbuilt Grills.
The Schley County Fire Department sponsored a Corn Hole Tournament with 15 teams competing.
The day ended with a concert featuring the Groove Merchants, playing from 6-9 p.m.
Thank everyone for supporting our first cook-off.

Chamber of Commerce to sponsor Trick or Treat
On Oct. 27, the Ellaville-Schley County Chamber of Commerce hosts its  annual Trick or Treat for children from 4-6 p.m. in downtown Ellaville.
The ages are Pre-K through 5th grade. Bring your children dressed in their costumes. They will Trick or Treat all businesses downtown.
Be careful crossing the streets and look out for costumes as you drive through town on the afternoon of Oct. 27.