Continuing the story of 'Old Mac' the teacher

Last week, I told you about Old Mac, Samuel McWhir Varnedoe, the strict schoolteacher as remembered by Cornelia Jones Pond, one of his students. Here is more information about the man, his life and family.

Quilt, other raffles help animal shelter

Anna Phillips has been making quilts for a long time. An avid supporter of animal shelters, Phillips had started working on a quilt depicting kittens and puppies she planned to donate to the Liberty Humane Shelter and the project soon took on a personal meaning.

Teacher 'jailed' for fundraiser

Frank Long Elementary students collected box tops to raise money for the school. Every year students choose a goal to work toward. This year Principal Judy Hellgren would spend one second in a makeshift jail for every box top collected. The students collected 11,462 box tops. The funds will go toward such student programs as lunch bunch, honor roll rewards and behavior incentives.

YALL honored by county commission

In honor of County Government Month in Liberty County, Donald Lovette, chairman of the Liberty County Commission, invited members of the 2013 class of Young Adult Leadership Liberty to the commission's April 18 meeting.

More than 500 flock to Cupcake War

The Hinesville Area Arts Council's sweetest event drew about 500 attendees Tuesday to sample 3,300 cupcakes in an assortment of flavors.

'Oblivion' is familiar but solid sci-fi

Tom Cruise is back on the big screen, following up his work in "War of the Worlds" and "Minority Report" by returning to science fiction with "Oblivion," now in theaters.

Public safety display is big draw for kids

No driver wants to see blue lights in the rearview mirror or hear a siren coming from behind the car, but kids appear to be fascinated by emergency vehicles' colorful lights and blaring sirens.

At the movies April 26-May 2

HINESVILLE: Liberty Stadium Cinemas 565 W. Oglethorpe Hwy. 912-408-1000 The Croods (PG) Fri. 5, 7:20, 9:40 Sat.,Sun. 12:15, 2:40, 5, 7:20, 9:40 Mon.-Thurs. 5, 7:20, 9:40 G.I. Joe: Retaliation (PG-13) Fri. 4, 7, 10 Sat.,Sun. 1, 4, 7, 10 Mon.-Thurs. 4, 7, 10 Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (PG-13) Fri. 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 Sat.,Sun. 1:15, 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 Mon.-Thurs. 4:15, 7:10, 9:50 Evil Dead (R) Fri. 4:50, 7:10, 9:30 Sat.,Sun. 12:30, 2:40, ...

Long County teens plan mission trip

A group of local teens will be making a trip overseas to spread the message of Jesus Christ this summer.

Go natural with your sweets

Only a few desserts excite me - my wife's special banana pudding, blackberry cobbler and fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies. If biscuits are served with a meal, I save mine for later then enjoy it with local honey or cane syrup. That's my typical dessert.

Friends, strangers light up park for cancer victim

Friends, family and even strangers turned out at J.F. Gregory Park on Friday evening in honor of Evan Nelms, the 5-year-old Richmond Hill boy who died recently after battling leukemia for the past year.

Long juniors, seniors 'visit' Paris at prom

With an Eiffel Tower skyline painted on the walls of their high school gymnasium, juniors and seniors of Long County High School danced and partied Saturday for one of their last times as classmates.

Horoscopes for week of April 24-30

April 20 to May 20: Patience continues to be a virtue for the divine bovine. So as eager as you might be to get things moving, remember that time is on your side. Make good use of it.

Trapper makes coastal life safer

Living in coastal Georgia can present unique opportunities. Discovering an alligator living in your subdivision might be one of those.

Transplant costs prompts calls for help

Abby Denise Moore, 31, needs a kidney. Moore, who lives in Hinesville, has two autistic children, daughter A'Miya, 7, and son Malachi, 4. "Have you ever faced a serious chronic illness? Have you ever become overwhelmed by the restrictive costs to treat your illness? Have you ever had to rely on your family and friends to make a difference on your behalf? I am facing all of these conditions at once, and I need your ...

92-year-old Riceboro man gardens by hand

In the cool of the morning, Henry Relaford leaned forward on an old push-plow. His strong, rugged hands pushed hard against the wooden handles, making the rusty big wheel turn and allowing the razor-sharp blade to cut through the soil.

Post's outdoor pools opening

Learning the ropes of working

Some accounting students devote their time to learning how to steal money. And law enforcement officials have to experience tazings and pepper sprays before they can carry those items on their belts - but the way crime procedures are presented on TV is a "bunch of horse hockey."

Bill supposed to help parks, communities

The recently signed Rural Tourism Protection Act helps Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites meet budget challenges and aids communities dependent on the tourism provided by the state's parks, historic sites or outdoor recreation areas within their communities, according to state Rep. Debbie Buckner, D-Junction City, who wrote the bill.

'Jack Reacher' gets a lot wrong, and right

"Jack Reacher," which is new to home video, is a film that has much more to offer than I expected.

At the movies May 17-23

HINESVILLE: Liberty Stadium Cinemas

Tri-tip beef is a cut above

I have drooled while watching The Food Network's Bobby Flay and others cook a piece of beef called a tri-tip. Now that I've cooked and eaten one, I know why I was drooling.

Horoscopes for week of May 15-21

April 20 to May 20: Bravo to the determined bovine. While others might give up, you continue to search for answers. Expect your taurean tenacity to begin paying off by week's end.

Area cultures make up Small World

The numerous cultures represented in the Hinesville area were celebrated Saturday at the annual Small World Festival at Bryant Commons.

Teacher's Grumpy Cat featured on website

Two Liberty County School System art teachers participated April 27 in the Savannah College of Art and Design Sidewalk Arts Festival, and their creativity was featured on the Huffington Post.

Lectures on McIntosh County history

McIntosh County historian Buddy Sullivan will give two free lectures on key periods in the county in Darien.

Realtors put some sweat into Gabriel House

Scores of Keller Williams Realty associates from Hinesville, Richmond Hill and Pooler donated their time and energy Thursday to cleaning up the grounds and facilities at Gabriel's House, a foster-care facility off Highway 84, east of the Highway 196 cut-off.

Girl leads family's escape from Civil War

There were many wealthy plantations in Liberty County in 1860. Rice was the main crop, and the plantations were mainly along the coastal regions. Many plantation owners joined the army for the Civil War, and that left the master's wife in charge of managing the plantations.

Ludowici crowns a new queen

The 2013 Miss Ludowici Pageant was held May 4 at Long County High School.

Hinesville 'tree expert' shares landscaping tips

For the 24th year, Hinesville has earned the national designation of Tree City USA, according to a news release from the Arbor Day Foundation.