Brandon Wheeler: Georgia’s Country Music Male of the Year
Schley County musician Brandon Wheeler received a prestigious honor at the Georgia Country Awards Nov. 10 at the Crazy Bull in Macon. He was named Georgia’s Male Artist of the Year.
Awards are conducted by the Georgia Country Music Commission which considers all musical artists currently living in Georgia without major record deals. The winners are chosen by a panel of industry professional, along with points from votes by fans.
“It was a real honor to receive this award,” said Wheeler.
The judges listen to the artist music and they looked at how well they promoted themselves, how active they are on social media and how involved they are with their fans. Brandon scored very high in all rounds.
He has been playing music full time as a professional over three years. He said that he would finish this year with 130 shows, playing two or three a week. He has been playing a lot lately in Brunswick and the St. Marys area as well as J’s Tavern and is being booked for private parties. He also writes songs. His goal is to start recording another CD in 2018.
This is not the only thing our musical artist does; his other career is he is a pro-staff member of Trevacy Outdoors, a natural fit for him, being an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He said if he’s not playing music, he is hunting.
Brandon Wheeler is a 2003 graduate of Schley County High School and is married to his high school sweetheart, Sharon, who lived across the pasture from him while growing up.
To contact him visit  wwwbrandonwheelermusic@.com .

Celebrating 60 years with open house
The Ellaville Floral & Gift Shop in downtown Ellaville celebrated 60 years of business recently with a lovely open house.
In 1957, Hughes and Hazel Palmer (Kim’s parents) opened a business selling appliances and gifts in the store on the corner downtown. The business was first a gas station. Down the street heading to the doctor’s office were the old stores like the post office, drug store, Miller’s 5 & 10 store and a car dealership. They were all on one side of the street.
In 1962, the Palmers quit selling appliances. Hazel’s cousin suggested that she go into the floral business, which she did. It’s been the Ellaville Floral & Gift since the beginning.
This business was really needed in Ellaville. Today the business is owned by their daughter Kim Lawhorn, and her daughter Kay McCarty works with her mother. Kay started working in the shop at an early age.
Mack Poole played the keyboard during the open house and they served delicious refreshments. The shop was decorated so pretty with many things for Christmas and it truly gave the spirit of Christmas.

Dillard family holds reunion
On Nov. 25, the Joseph Emmett and Eunice Bryan Dillard children and grandchildren held the annual family reunion which is always held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
This special event began at 11 a.m. at the American Legion in Ellaville. This year’s host and hostesses were grandchildren of Joseph and Eunice Dillard — JoLynn Dillard Morris, Patti Dillard Wurtz and Jody and Donna Dillard.
The family that traveled the longest distance were Mammie Dillard Grant’s children, who came from Pensacola, Florida.
The tables were covered with yellow tablecloths. The serving table’s center piece was a metal turkey filled with fall vegetables. The guest tables were covered with yellow table cloths and the center pieces were gourds, squash, and other fall vegetables. Jolynn Dillard Morris decorated all the tables for this special occasion.
A covered dish dinner as everyone brought their favorite dishes. There were around 50 in attendance for the reunion this year.

Schley County Health board meets
On Nov. 29, the Schley County Health Board held its quarterly meeting in the Conference Room of the DFCS Office. David Theiss, chairman, called the meeting to order.
Dr. Beverly Townsend, District director, reported that the Public Health Department won the American Award for this District. She presented the chairman with a Certificate of Appreciation for his serving on the Health Board for 10 years and as chairman for about four years.
Kristy Smith, Schley County Health nurse, reported that from July 1 to Oct. 31, there were 510 new patients, 97 return visits and a total of 607 visits. She reported on working with community awareness, activities and health fairs and events such as Hurricane Irma, adult immunizations, annual scoliosis screening for sixth- and eighth-grader and flu clinics Kristy has attended three training classes.
Lincoln Mitchell gave the Environmental Health Report for Schley County, reporting that there were four new systems permitted and five residential installation inspections. He also investigated a pet dog that had been exposed to a rabid fox. The dog and its puppies had six months of isolation until Dec. 4.
Karen Bush gave the Schley County Public Health financial overview and the budget for 2018 was discussed.
After the business session Theiss announced that he would resign after not being reelected as mayor. Dennis Jones nominated Nancy McMath Young as chairman and she will take her position in January.
Members of the Health Board present, in addition to those already mentioned, were Larry Wall and Sharon Watson. Adam Hathaway and Karen Montgomery were absent.
The next board meeting is in March.

Braswell family holds reunion
Vicki Justice of Ellaville was in charge of the Braswell family reunion held recently at the old home place. Some family meet at Monroe’s HoDogs in Americus on Saturday night before the reunion to get a head start and to remember Terry Sr. Afterward the family went to the Windsor Hotel to visit. Cousins got together on Saturday at Andersonville’s Meeting Hall where they had family albums and more.
After the meal, they went to cemetery to pay respects to their family. They also remembered two relatives who died this year, Janie Braswell Kidd and John C. McCall.
On Sunday, the Rev. Terry Braswell Jr. led a worship service at St. James Pennington Church in Andersonville. Vicki said they all enjoyed the worship service and the music by the grandchildren of Terry Braswell Sr., Andy and Mary Kate King accompanying by Jerry Braswell.
Those attending were Jerry and Gloria Braswell and Clovies Ray of Douglasville, James and Jodi Featherston of Warner Robins, Terry and Stephanie  Braswell of Villa Rica, Wilbur and Vicki Justice, Chad and Jessica Brown and Piper Grace, Brian Justice, Jo Patterson, Todd and Virginia Newcomb, Jason Justice, Liberty and Dixie Justice, Robbie and Kay Brown, Lindsey and Kurtis Newcomb, all of Ellaville, April Hillard and Hadley of Andersonville, Abigail and Larry Paine of Memphis, Tenn., Douglas and Melinda  Davis of Douglas, Barry Hall of Richmond Hill, Mike and Julie King and Mary Kate and Andy King, Kathy Braswell of Lithia Springs, Mary Katherine Justice and Anna Justice Sims of Columbus.

Local hunters  visit  Arkansas to hunt ducks
On Nov. 17, several local hunters went to Arkansas to hunt ducks: Caleb Justice, Brian Justice, Jo Patterson, Wilbur Justice and Jason Justice.
Caleb goes on these trips about twice a year and takes his black Lab, Jess to retrieve ducks.
They stayed near Holly Grove, Arkansas, and hunted on the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge in the North Unit at Round Pond, Eagle Best Lake and Adam’s Bayou.
They said the weather conditions were really cold and the wind blew at about 35 miles an hour. They all returned on Nov. 20.
While the men were away Vicki Justice took Dawn, Liberty and Dixie Justice to the see “The Nut Cracker” ballet Friday evening at the Rylander Theatre in Americus.

Rainbow Garden Club honors Millers
The Ellaville Rainbow Garden Club honored Alan and Sharon Miller with the Yard of the Month for November 2017 by placing a sign in their yard. Congratulations Alan and Sharon.

Youngs celebrate 56th anniversary
On Dec. 1, Bobby and Nancy McMath Young celebrated their 56th year of marriage. They visited with friends and loved ones reminiscing.