Thumbs Up! July 25, 2016

Lorenzo Thomas of Dawson is competitive and optimistic. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1980-1986, his life was quite normal until the year 2011 rolled around. In the blink of an eye, all that changed. Thomas was riding a motorcycle through Sasser one day when he was involved in a serious accident landed him on his head and eventually into a wheelchair.While attending therapy at the Carl Vinson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Dublin, he found out about the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The idea of being able to participate stirred the veteran’s competitive nature, something he had placed on the back burner for the last five years. Thomas, and around 600 other athletes, took a trip to Salt Lake City this summer where 18 different events were open for wheelchair-bound veterans from all 50 states as well as Guam and Puerto Rico. As a rookie at the games, Thomas participated in four events and came home with one silver and one gold medal. As important as the competition was, Thomas was more intrigued by the camaraderie than anything else. Rather than looking at what he can’t do, Thomas prefers to work on his strengths and become as independent as possible. He is already making plans to attend next year’s games (and bring back more medals, gold preferably).

It could really happen…the long-dreamt-for sports complex is one commission meeting away from becoming reality for Albany. Centered around the already-established Paul Eames Sports Complex are plans for revamped baseball fields, a tennis complex and multipurpose fields for soccer and football. Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Rashelle Beasely says baseball tournaments alone can bring in over $1.8 million to the local economy. Elite Sports would manage the baseball fields. The tennis complex would be funded by the county. All the facilities would be available for local team use as well as for others. All that remains is for the Albany City Commission to take a final vote at its business meeting tomorrow. All the aforementioned “woulds” can become “wills” if the people citizens chose to represent them can agree that sports and money are good for the City of Albany.

When the Boys and Girls Club of Americus-Sumter County plans its annual Steak and Stake Banquet fundraiser, those involved go all out. This year’s banquet was held last Wednesday night at Georgia Southwestern State University and the guest list was very impressive. Wintley Phipps, founder of the U.S. Dream Academy was the keynote speaker. In attendance was a mayor, a city council member, a minister, a U.S representative, the club founder, an American Idol winner and others. Former United States President Jimmy Carter, gave the club’s first banquet speech back in 1999 and has introduced the banquet’s speaker every year since. When the evening was over, $30,000 had been raised for the work of the four units in the county. Not many children, or adults for that matter, can say they have seen a president in person and even fewer can say they’ve eaten a meal with him. The boys and girls that are a part of this program in Sumter County are very fortunate indeed. Thank you, one and all.

The first day of school is just around the corner. All school supply lists are available for every Dougherty County school at the website http://www.dougherty.k12.ga.us. Look at the lists before you buy because many of the items requested are not paper, scissors, glue, pencils and crayons. Some of the items like brand name cleaners, candy, copy paper, hand sanitizer and stickers are not a part of the typical giveaways. If you would like to help, buy some of these items in bulk and deliver them to the school of your choice. They will be put to good use!