April 4, 2018 Page 7C
porter
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Annual Special Olympics games
hdd at Mary Persons track
By Diane'Glidewell
news@myrncr.mnet
Monroe County cheered
on its athletes at the An-
nual Special Olympics at
i the Macon Persons Track
: on Ffida March 30.
i Blessed with near-perfect
i weather for running, jump-
! ing, throwing and enjoying
I an early Spring day outside
with friends, about 135
; athletes from ages 5 to 35
'. came out to do their best
: and make some memories.
Monroe County special
needs students from T.G.
Scott Elementary, K.B.
Sutton Elementar Hub-
bard Elementary, Monroe
County Middle School
and Mary Persons High
School plus some alumni
Special Olympics athletes
arrived at the event and
were greeted by Mary
Persons Best Buddies Club
members, students from
D.J. Hurm's construction
class and other volunteers
as they entered the field
and proceeded to the desig-
nated tent bases for each
school.
Amber Ridley, special
education teacher and
coordinator of Monroe
County Special Olympics,
soon called for the schools
to line up for the tradi-
tional parade around the
track before the start of
the games. As the athletes
marched, proudly rep-
resenting their schools,
volunteers cheered them
on. Some of the youth were
so ready to compete that,
they finished the parade at
a fuU rurL
Entering the field around
the Olympic torch, the
athletes listened as Rid-
leT led a prayer for their
success and safety in the
games and then joined her
in the pledge of allegiance
to the U.S. flag. Two gradu-
ate athletes, Holden and
Jackie, lit the Olympic
torch and led the athletes in
the Special Olympics oath,
"-Let me win: But ifI cannot
win, let me be brave int the
attempt"
The athletes and many
of the volunteers proudly
wore the 2018 Monroe
County Special Olympics
T-shirts. On the front, the
shirts had artwork pro-
duced by representat|ves of
each of the Monroe County
Schools, and on the back
were the names of busi-
nesses and individuals who
helped sponsor the event.
"Let the games begin,'
said Ridley, and volunteers,
many of them, like Terry
Proffitt, veterans of nu-
merous Special Olympic
competitions, hustled off
to their stations to con-
duct the heats and finals
for tennis ball and softball
throw, running long jump
and standing long jump,
wheelchair races, and 25
meter, 50 meter and 100
meter sprints.as well as the
race walk.
Over at the tri-level
podium, volunteers got
ready to award ribbons and
appropriately recognize the
1st place, 2nd place and
3rd place winners of each
event. Butts County Exten-
sion coordinator Jenny
Brown, Monroe County
resident Karen Johnson
who recently retired from
Butts County Extension
and Abby Bunn who
recently transferred from
Monroe County to Butts
County Extension made
sure everyone got the right
ribbons as they have for
several years, with the as-
sistance of some 4-Her .
An equally important
part of the awards, and of
the games, were Walter
Dean and Jessie Griggers,
volunteers with Georgia
Special Olympics Area 7,
which includes Monroe
and nine more counties.
These two gentleman were
the announcers for the
awards and provided the
inspiring 'champion' music
for the parade and the
podium moments. They
are part of the 12-person
management team that
works to make sure Special
Olympics events through-
out Area 7 work smoothly.
"We're not very good, but
we're cheap,' said Dean jok-
ingly (and inaccurately!).
"We just try to do good
stu~.'
They have been an in-
Gary and Stephanie Bohannon with their son, Jackson.
See SPECIAL Page 8C athletes at Monroe County Special Olympics.
It's easy to see
the support
for the
20 people registered will get
a free 8 x 10 photo. Register
at mainstreet.cityofforsyth.
net.
Main Street will host
a Downtown Business
Breakfast at 8 a.m. on
Wedoesday, April 25 to
,recognize the vitalpart
these businesses play in the
city. For more information
By Diane Glidewell syth to mark Georgia Cities Street Park at 10:30 a.m. on all of the Georgia Cities
news@mymcr.mnet Week. On Monday, AprilProfessional photographer Week Events, call Main
15 there will be a Com- John Belknap will be taking Street Coordinator Tammie
The Georgia Municipal munity Garden activity at photographs, and the first Pierson at 478-994-7747.
Association encourages Lee Street Park (next to the
Georgia cities of all sizes Welcome Center at 68 Lee [ State
to celebrate Georgia Cities Street) at5 p.m. followed by I
Week Apri122-28, sharing aTown Hall Meeting next Charlie Pelt, Agent
information about services door at 6 p.m. at Alderman I 12 E. Johnston Street
cities provide and how cit- Hall as part of the regular Forsyth, GA 31029
ies positively impact qual- city council meeting. ]I 478 994-9600
ity of life and showcasing There is a Community Charlie@ForsythGAInsurance.com
community achievements Clean-up planned for Fri'
and those who make them day, April 13 beginningon " Auto ' Home Life
happen. Jackson Street, led by Beau- Long Term Care Medicare Supplement
Main Street Forsythis tify Forsyth. Saturda$ April Vehicle Loans. Mortgages
planning activities in For- 21 will be Photo Day at Lee Call for a quote today! Save up to 40%!
Classic
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