Nita Riley will be having surgery at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) hospital in Augusta this week. Let's keep her in our prayers. Dave Derrick is doing better since his surgery last week, but still hospitalized at Athens Regional. Betty Dobson visited Amy and Robert Winecoff and grandchildren, Kierstyn and Zach Winecoff, from Grier, S.C., last week. The Winecoffs joined Betty in attending the First Baptist Church of Elberton Sunday as they honored the graduates of Elbert County High School. Betty Dobson's grandson, Teddy Brown, was one of the graduates honored. A baby picture and recent picture of each graduate was shown on a screen. Each graduate was also presented a Bible. After the service the graduates and their families were served a barbecue meal. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gammon and Mrs. Alex Tyler attended the dance recital at the Washington Little Theater Playhouse Friday night to see granddaughters, Kara and Kaci Gammon, perform. They are the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Gammon. It is amazing what two-year-olds can learn. There were six two-year-olds performing and they were all perfect at entertaining on stage. Carolyn Gammon attended an Alpha Theta (teachers sorority) meeting in Thomson at the Queen of Angels Catholic Church Saturday. She presented the memorial ceremony for Frances Duke. Ann Haughey quoted one of Mrs. Duke's favorite poems, If. Two years ago when Ed Rhodes was out cutting grass he found a baby deer whose mother had been shot. He brought the deer home and fed it with a bottle. As the deer grew, it hung around the Rhodes home and of course someone was always feeding it. They named him Man. Man even went to church down at Beulah Baptist Church which is across the road from the Rhodes home. The children at the church loved Man. As Man got older they found out Man was actually a Woman. Man went missing about a week ago and Ed found her in the pond where she had been shot. Of course, the neighborhood is saddened over the death of the community deer. The Kids Alive Group from Tignall Baptist Church had a blast at the Masters Lane Bowling trip to Augusta last Saturday. Those going were Austin Strickland, Destiny and Ryan Long, Erin Thornton, Hadley Beggs, Shelbi Edmunds, Jack Rogers, Hunter Futch, Raina and Morgan Dodson, Jack, David, and D.J. Martin, Paden McTier, and Curt Gammon. Adults who went along with this group were Sandra Gammon, Susie and Ronnie Futch, Deidra Strickland, Stacy and Alan Long, Kat Dodson, John and Marge Crouch, and Faye Lamar. They ate lunch at McDonalds in Augusta and of course enjoyed popcorn and Coke at the lanes. On Saturday, Layton and Gloria Harris joined Frank and Phyllis Eades and Gary and Sherrie Eldir (all of the Broad area) and visited Jim and Sylvia Powell of Simpsonville, S.C. They were hosted by the Powells with lunch at the City Range Restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Ben Long's birthday was celebrated with a cookout on Ben's property on Long Road. Those enjoying this celebration with Ben and Jackie were Hunter Futch, Ethan Fain, Margie Rogers, Allison, Joe, Jack, and Jennifer Rogers, and James Davis. Senior Adult Day at Tignall Baptist Church found the choir filled with senior adults. They should be in the choir every Sunday. Trudie Ingram presented special music with her beautiful voice. She sang the "Medley in the Garden" and "He Is Here." The Kids Alive choir also sang a special. After the service the senior adults enjoyed a delicious meal in the Family Life Center. Chris Lane, husband of Bridgette (Price) Lane, graduated from Ranger Training in Florida. Bridgette and Colbey Lane and Danny and Tammy Price attended the graduation. Danny was privileged to be the one to pin the medal on Chris at the ceremony. Chris, Bridgette, and Colbey will be going back home to Kansas. I know Danny and Tammy are going to miss having Colbey around the house. Peggy and Donald Ware enjoyed grandson Stacy's third birthday party at the Tignall Lunchroom over the weekend. We welcome Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Summerlin to the neighborhood. They have moved into the old Henry Carlton home on Pecan Grove Road. They are the parents of Beth Hodges. Mr. Summerlin is a plumber and Mrs. Summerlin is a sitter with Hospice patients or the elderly. How nice to have these two resourceful people join our community. Linda and Charles Daniel spent last weekend with their grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew, and Travis, of Temple, and also visited with Linda's sister, Geraldine Wynn of Villa Rica. They attended the senior recital presented by grandson, Christopher. He is a trombonist who studies with the University of West Georgia instructor, Eric Slay. Christopher is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi and the College Music Educators Society and performs in both the Wind Symphony and the Jazz Ensemble at the University of West Georgia. Christopher will graduate in December 2006. Also in attendance were grandparents, Roy Starnes and Carolyn Brooks. Henry Brown seems to have had a good crowd of motorcyclists to show up for the Poker Run Saturday at the Gin House. I heard he was expecting about 200 motorcycles. I did see a tent with boiled peanuts for sale and I understand there was lots of other food. Let's hope they made lots of money as this was a benefit for Thomas Bunch. This little town was full of festivities with the Poker Run and a wedding all in one day. If you have not visited the Tignall Market, you need to do so. Careful with the strawberries. You may just eat so many while washing them that you'll have to go back for another carton so you'll have enough to serve.

Mr. and Mrs. Marc Hammond and family recently visited her family in Blairsville for the weekend. Please keep Beth Keener in your thoughts and prayers. The Mallorysville Baptist Church will hold its Bible school each evening from 7 until 9 p.m., beginning Monday, May 22, and continuing through Friday, May 26. The theme for this year is "Space Quest." It will be an "out of this world" experience each night.