Southwest Georgians celebrate Independence Day outdoors

ALBANY — Southwest Georgians, much like their fellow Americans from sea to shining sea, took to the outdoors for the Independence Day holiday, kicking off the three-day celebration Saturday with various activities on area waterways and at sponsored events planned to maximize early summer family fun.

Whether hitting the state’s abundant rivers and lakes or grilling out in backyards — or both — residents of the region vowed to squeeze as much out of the holiday as they could.

“It’s the Fourth of July,” one Albany kayaker said before pushing off into the cooling waters of the Flint River early Saturday morning. “I’m going to be on the water all three days, maybe stop on a sandbar or two to cool off for a bit and hydrate. I’m going to enjoy the next three days.”

Tommy Roberts and his family shared their fellow watercraft enthusiast’s sentiments.

“We’re going to stay on the water until late afternoon, then head over to Chehaw to grill out and just eat some good food,” Roberts said before he, his wife Teresa and their two kids set off. “It’s going to be a hot one today, so what better place to be than on the water?”

Like many would-be chefs in the region, Dwayne Bell fired up his grill Saturday morning before most Southwest Georgians had even gotten out of bed. Bell is the grill master at Q-Time Barbecue at 1421 N. Jefferson St., and by 9 a.m. he was taking a large pile of perfectly cooked golden chicken and slabs of ribs off the restaurant’s grill.

“We’re going to be open today from 11 until, but we’ll be closed on Sunday and on the 4th Monday,” Bell said. “I’m cooking up a lot of meat, and we’ll be open tonight until it’s all gone.”

Peggy and Randy Lee offloaded their boat at Cleve Cox Landing early Saturday, headed for the Kinchafoonee Creek and a day of bream fishing.

“We like to go fishing as often as we can,” Peggy Lee said as she waited for hubby Randy to climb onboard their craft. “We haven’t had this boat long; this is our second fishing trip in it. We enjoy being on the water.”

Added Randy Lee: “I may do a little grilling this afternoon or tomorrow. I’m retired now mostly, do some real estate work, so we’re going to enjoy this weekend.”

With temperatures in the high-90s, heat indexes slightly above 100 and an intense heat wave bearing down on Southwest Georgia promising 100-degree-plus temps, many Independence Day revelers said they’d do their celebrating indoors. Janae Williams and her daughter Kisha said they’d spend Saturday shopping at the Albany Mall and maybe take in a movie later.

“She wants to see ‘Dory,’ so we’ll probably go to the theater for a late-afternoon showing,” Williams said of her 6-year-old daughter. “It’s too hot to be out in the middle of the day, so we’re going to shop at the mall, walk around a while. I want to see Ruben Studdard tonight, so we’ll be going downtown after things cool off.”

Tabitha and Shannon Wise were setting up their produce stand at the corner of Jefferson Street and Philema Road early Saturday morning, displaying their peaches, five kinds of plums, a similar number of watermelon varieties, squash, bell peppers, red and green tomatoes, and cucumbers.

“I’ve been involved with fresh-grown produce all my life,” Shannon Wise said. “I sell time-shares and Tabitha is a teacher, so we get lots of time off together in the summer. Our family grows this produce on our farmland in Mitchell County and Cordele, and we sell it here seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. We’ll be here tomorrow and on the 4th.

“Tabitha’s granddad was born on the Fourth of July, and we have a grandson due on the Fourth this year, so we’re in the mood to celebrate. After we leave here, we’ll head downtown for the events they’ve got going on down there.”

While the overwhelming majority of area citizens were planning or participating in Independence Day-themed activities Saturday, one Lee County political candidate was out campaigning for votes. Probate Court Judge hopeful Melanie Gahring and her friend/campaign coordinator, Leslie Goodner, were waving at passing vehicles along Philema Road by mid-morning. Other supporters were busy putting up Gahring’s yard signs at strategic locations.

Gahring and Miles O’Quinn were the top two vote-getters among four candidates in the May 24 primary/nonpartisan election. The friends now square off July 26 in a runoff to determine who will hold the seat being vacated by long-time Lee Probate Court Judge John Wheaton.

“I’m out here today to show the people in Lee County that I’m willing to work for the opportunity to represent them as Probate judge,” Gahring said. “Early voting starts Tuesday, on the fifth, and I’m not going to stop working because it’s a holiday.

“In my experience working in the Probate office (as associate clerk), I’ve seen what an impact the life events that we deal with in that office have on the citizens of the county. The training I’ve gotten from Judge Wheaton will help me to be an effective judge.”

By the time the sun slowly settled Saturday evening, bringing a bit of relief from the sweltering heat, revelers were already staking out prime spots along Front Street for activities planned by the city of Albany. Food and memento vendors had already settled in, and music provided by “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard and “America’s Got Talent” finalists the Craig Lewis Band had celebrants in a good mood, ready to close out Day 2 of their Independence Day holiday in style.

Most of them said they’d be back Monday for the fireworks extravaganza that city of Albany pyrotechnics expert Dale Henry said would be “the best we’ve ever had.” Fireworks on the Fourth, which will be shot from the newly re-opened Broad Avenue bridge, are set to fill the air starting at around 8:45 p.m.