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New music, tour, Christmas album upcoming for Jackson By W. Winston Skinner winston@newnan.com
A performance tour, more songs for his fans to enjoy and the re-release of his Christmas album are all on tap for Newnan native Alan Jackson. The country music superstar continues to receive accolades. Currently serving as artist-in-residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. – he continues to pursue new oppor tun ities as a performer. At an event in conjunction with the CMHOF residency – and an exhibit chronicling Jackson’s first 25 years in country music, Mike Dungan and John Huie both promised fans
some new opportunities to experience Jackson’s music. Mike Dungan, CEO of Un iversa l Music Group Nashville, said fans can look forward to some new music from Jackson. Hughie, who is w it h Creative A r tist Agency, announced plans for a 25-city tour. Dixie Owen of Schmidt Relations said the tour will be in 2015. Jack son w i l l “r i ng i n the holiday season a little early” with the re-release of the album, Owen said. Produced by Jackson’s longtime producer and friend, Keith Stegall, the album will be re-released by Alan’s Country Records and EMI Records Nashville. Upon the original release of Let It Be Christmas, Roll-
ing Stone told readers, “It’s a treat to hear Jackson add some brass to ‘Jingle Bells’ and swing through ‘Winter Wonderland,’” adding, “Jackson warms up eight other chestnuts with his voice, warm hot chocolate with the comfortable touch of twang, and even the one original dances along with life.” Tr a c k s o n L e t It B e Christmas are “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “O Come, A ll Ye Faithful,” “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town,” “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night,” “Let It Be Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “White Christmas,” “Silver Bells” Currently serving as artist-in-residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Alan and “Away In A Manger.” Jackson continues to pursue new opportunities as a performer.
First mountain bike trails open at Chattahoochee Bend State Park By Sarah Fay Campbell sarah@newnan.com
Mountain bikers can now ride at Chattahoochee Bend State Park. The first section of mountain bike trails is now open at the state park, located along the Chattahoochee River in western Coweta. The cyclists won’t get to go very far – at least not yet. As of now, only about 2 miles of the trail is rideable, said Park Manager Tim Banks. The first trail is 3.46 miles, but a missing bridge, as well as some roots and limbs that need to be taken out, keep the full trail from being accessed. Work will soon start on a second loop, with hopes of 5 miles worth of trail being ready by January, Banks said. Work on the mountain bike trails – as well as beautifying the park’s entrance, trail maintenance work, and placing new signage – was part of Your State Parks Day, held recently at Chattahoochee Bend and in parks around the state. Admission was free to parks on that day, with the hopes that visitors would chip in by doing a little work around their parks. It was planned to begin work on a major bridge project, “but we were unable to get it started for this volunteer day,” said Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park Treasurer and Membership Committee Chair Jan Pierce. Twenty volunteers arrived for the work day, including State Rep. Lynn Smith, R-Newnan. Because it was a special event, there was breakfast for volunteers a nd door prizes. Patti Lee won the grand prize, a family membership to the Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park. W h i le t he st r uct u res , roads, and campgrounds at the park were built with state funds, all the park’s trails have been created by volunteers with the friends organization. Many more, including additional hiking trails and mountain bike
Photo By Celia Shortt
Jessica Martindale, left, and Anastas “Anie” Nenov are special education students at Northgate High School. They were elected as Northgate’s 2014 Homecoming king and queen.
Northgate rallies around Homecoming king, queen By Celia Shortt Longtime volunteers Richard Harper and Craig Fowler take a break from trail work during Your State Parks Day at Chattahoochee Bend State Park.
trails, as well as equestrian trails, a re pla nned. T he friends organization holds regular volunteer days, and there are also plenty of individual opportunities for those who can’t make the volunteer days. “Ch at t a hooche e B end continues to be built by volunteers,” Pierce said. “We have many opportunities for you to ‘Be The Legacy’ at Chattahoochee Bend State Park.” T he f r iend s g roup i s rebui ldi ng its “action teams,” she said. Now that the park is established, “we are working on a lot of different projects at the same time. The core group of volunteers can’t cover all that needs to be accomplished,” Pierce said. “We have opportunities to showcase your talent, whatever it may be. If you like to research history, join our historical action team to build the history of the area. If you are a gardener, a landscape artist, or a horticulture enthusiast, Dave Smith could use your help on the botanical action team. He is working on a sensitive native habitat restoration
project that is exciting and is showing promise,” Pierce said. Individuals can “adopt” a section of trail to maintain. Leaves are already beginning to fall, and, during the week, volunteers can use leaf blowers to clear trails. “The volunteer opportunities are endless and rewa rding,” Pierce said. “Being outside in the beauty of nature is the first reward, and seeing people enjoying the fruits of your labor is yet another.” Chattahoochee Bend State Park is located off Bud Davis Road and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Off ice hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per vehicle. Upcoming volunteer days are Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. and Nov. 8 and Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. A membersh ip i n t he Friends of Chattahoochee Bend State Park includes a 12-month parking pass good at all state parks, free individual admission to historic sites, and a free night of camping or round of golf. For more information, v i s i t w w w. b e n d f r i e n d . com or ca ll t he pa rk at 770-254-7271.
celia@newnan.com
Northgate High School’s unprecedented act of choosing two special needs students as the 2014 Homecoming king and queen has not only changed the lives of Jessica Martindale and Anastas “Anie” Nenov, but it also impacted their families and the school. S e n i o r s t ud e n t T h a o Nguyen had the idea to do something special for her senior year and was the driving force in electing Nenov and Martindale as king and queen. “It’s senior year, usually it’s one of the most special years,” she said. “I wanted to make it my best year by doing something nice for someone else.” Nguyen went to Northgate’s specia l education teachers and asked them for the names of two students to sponsor for Homecoming court. She wanted to make sure all the students at the school were represented. They submitted Martindale’s and Nenov’s names. She then spoke to different classes in school about electing Martindale and Nenov. She also had her friends and classmates help, and she utilized social media. The entire senior
class was instrumental in making it happen. Nguyen is also a member of Northgate’s Partners Club. The purpose of this club is for the general student population to build long lasting relationships with special needs students. They become their mentors and their friends. Special education teacher Honour Hill is in charge of the Partners Club, and said when everyone found out Martindale was running for Homecoming queen, many senior students wanted to make sure she had a dress and to do her make-up. So many wanted to help her that she had to turn some away. “It was just unbelievable,” said Hill. “It brought tears to all of our eyes.” When the school a n n o u n c e d M a r t i n d a le was queen, Hill said everyone in her class jumped and screamed and yelled because they were so happy. “I will never forget it,” she said. “They’re (Martindale and Nenov) champs anyway, but this did something for them that it may not have done for anyone else. Their confidence soared.” Their families have also noticed a change in both Martindale and Nenov since being named queen and
king. “It was wonderful, because they were looking at her like everybody else,” said Margaret Yelland, Martindale’s grandmother and guardian. “She deserves that and has worked really hard with that.” “Anie is more confident and willing to participate in activities he was once shy about,” said Nenov’s mom, Cathy Nenov-Degen. Martindale and Nenov have been friends since they were students at Thomas Crossroad s E lement a r y School, and they are planning to go to this year’s prom together. They both said being elected Homecoming king and queen made them “happy … because they were important.” As for the student body at Northgate, Nenov’s mom is thankful. “I felt so good about the students and what they did,” she said. “We’re raising a generation of people who will take care of each other.” For Nguyen, the impact this event has had on Martindale’s and Nenov’s families is the most meaningful part of what happened. “To hear the reaction of Anie’s mom and Jessica’s family was worth it,” she said. “Their families were impacted, too, by this.”