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The - theadvance_20260204_a_01-04-2026_vid_6_w-or9_w-opt_art_5.xml

theadvance_20260204_a_01-04-2026_vid_6_w-or9_w-opt_art_5.xml
The Advance (The Advance Publishing Co., Inc) 205 E. First Street, Vidalia, GA 30474 Telephone:(912)537-3131 FAX:(912)537-4899 E-mail: theadvancenews@gmail.com The Advance, U. S. P. S. #659-000, successor to The Advance and The Lyons Progress, entered weekly atVidalia, GA Post Office. Periodical Postage paid at Vidalia, GA 30474 under Act of Congress, March 4, 1886. 205 East First Street, Wm. F. Ledford, Sr. Publisher. Subscription Rates per year: $40.00 in county, $55.00 out of 304 zip code. Copyright © 2026, Advance Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. The design, concept and contents of The Advance are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in part or whole without written permission from the publisher. R.E. 'LID' LEDFORD, PUBLISHER 1924 - 1976 WILLIAM F. “BILL” LEDFORD SR., PUBLISHER 1976 - 2013 Publisher & Managing Editor: WILLIAM F. LEDFORD JR. Member of the Georgia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association Graphic Design: Vice President: MATTHEW WATERS THE LATE ROSE M. LEDFORD Sports Editor/Graphic Design: Pagination/Typography: MIKE BRANCH LEANNE RICHARDSON Director of Advertising/Sales: Quality Control: DANIEL FORD MILLIE PERRY Financial Manager: News Editor: MAKAYLEE RANDOLPH CINDY LAWRENCE Contributing Writers: JOE PHILLIPS, LORAN SMITH, DICK YARBROUGH & AMBER NAGLE Member of the Georgia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association
theadvance_20260204_a_01-04-2026_vid_6_w-or9_w-opt_art_5.xml
The Advance (The Advance Publishing Co., Inc) 205 E. First Street, Vidalia, GA 30474 Telephone:(912)537-3131 FAX:(912)537-4899 E-mail: theadvancenews@gmail.com The Advance, U. S. P. S. #659-000, successor to The Advance and The Lyons Progress, entered weekly atVidalia, GA Post Office. Periodical Postage paid at Vidalia, GA 30474 under Act of Congress, March 4, 1886. 205 East First Street, Wm. F. Ledford, Sr. Publisher. Subscription Rates per year: $40.00 in county, $55.00 out of 304 zip code. Copyright © 2026, Advance Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. The design, concept and contents of The Advance are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in part or whole without written permission from the publisher. R.E. 'LID' LEDFORD, PUBLISHER 1924 - 1976 WILLIAM F. “BILL” LEDFORD SR., PUBLISHER 1976 - 2013 Publisher & Managing Editor: WILLIAM F. LEDFORD JR. Member of the Georgia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association Graphic Design: Vice President: MATTHEW WATERS THE LATE ROSE M. LEDFORD Sports Editor/Graphic Design: Pagination/Typography: MIKE BRANCH LEANNE RICHARDSON Director of Advertising/Sales: Quality Control: DANIEL FORD MILLIE PERRY Financial Manager: News Editor: MAKAYLEE RANDOLPH CINDY LAWRENCE Contributing Writers: JOE PHILLIPS, LORAN SMITH, DICK YARBROUGH & AMBER NAGLE Member of the Georgia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association
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Recent Death Notices
Area STARS Celebrated
TOOMBS AND MONTGOMERY STARS – STAR Students and Teachers from schools within Toombs and Montgomery Counties were honored with a banquet at Montgomery County High School on Thursday, January 29. L to R: Todd Allen, Clark Brannen, Justus Gabbard, Elissa Blount, Autumn Moore, Linda Scott, Evan Hardeman, Brittany Braddy, Daniel King, Brannen Brantley.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
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Area STARS Celebrated

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com Some of the area’s brightest students and teachers were honored ...

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BYTES

News African American Author Fest The Dr. Mark and Tonya Spivey Public Library, located at 610 Jackson Street in Vidalia, will celebrate the beginning of Black History Month this weekend, as they host an African American Author Fest, featuring appearances by several authors, story time, and prizes. This event is free to the public, and will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturda...

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GBI Arrests Vidalia Man for Brother’s Murder
ICE INVADES VIDALIA - The Onion Fountain in Dixon Park in downtown Vidalia fell victim to the weird wintry weather that we have been experiencing in the last week.
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GBI Arrests Vidalia Man for Brother’s Murder

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com Last week, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested a Vidalia ...

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Toombs County Development Authority Receives $2M Grant

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com The Toombs County Development Authority was one of two agencies that were awarded federal funding for site improvement efforts in a grant announcement by Governor Brian Kemp on Monday, February 2. Kemp announced the third series of grants being distributed through the Rural Site Development Initiative within the OneGeorgia Authority, as around $4.3 million was ...

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STC Announces Top Student and Instructor
BEST AT THE COLLEGE – Southeastern Technical College Cosmetology Instructor Linda Hairr and Associate of Science in Nursing Bridge Pathway Student Jessica Martinez-Ramos were celebrated as being among the best instructors and students at the college, as they were named the institution’s Rick Perkins Award and GOAL Student Winners. L to R: Jessica Martinez- Ramos, Southeastern Technical College President Larry Calhoun, Linda Hairr.
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STC Announces Top Student and Instructor

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com Cosmetology Instructor Linda Hairr and Associate of Science in Nu...

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Support Grows for Cellph one Ban in Georgia High Schools

Georgia high school sophomores are looking ever more likely to lose their phones during the school day in their senior year, as lawmakers consider expanding a ban on personal devices. New surveys suggest overwhelming support for the idea from parents and teachers. A ban from kindergarten through middle school takes continued from page effect next fall after state lawmakers passed i...

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