MLILY Mattresses in Macon, GA

A lot can happen in eight minutes of football. Games can be stolen or squandered, seasons extended or cut short.

Rivals Perry and Houston County proved as much at Herb St. John Stadium in Perry on Friday night in one of the most enthralling games of the season so far. The teams combined to score six touchdowns in the last eight minutes of the game before the Bears came away with a 42-35 win.

The scoring frenzy included one stretch during which the teams scored three touchdowns in three minutes. The game also saw Perry immediately answer a Houston County touchdown with a kickoff return score with less than three minutes to play. All the offense came after Perry trailed 21-0 deep into the second quarter.

Quarterbacks AJ Hill of the Bears and Colter Ginn for the Panthers both fought hard, but Hill came up clutch in the end, scoring the winning touchdown with less than a minute left.

“He (AJ) was down on himself after missing a throw (late in the final drive), I had to get him to collect himself, and he collected himself and we came in and won the football game, so I feel really good about it,” Houston County head coach Jeremy Edwards said.

The game was marred by injury after Houston County played much of the contest without wide receiver Kale Woodburn, who was hit hard at the end of a play in the first quarter and was stretchered off the field. Though he could not play, Woodburn became a motivator for the Bears.

“I challenged the guys at halftime, just, Kale would do anything to be out there with ‘em, whatever we can do, we gotta win this game for him. So that was for him,” Edwards said.

The contest resembled last year’s game, in which Houston County came back from a 28-3 second quarter margin and won, 57-56. Perry goes to 0-1 after the heartbreaking loss to open its season, while the Bears move to 2-0 after a close call.

Perry and Houston County entered the contest as top teams in Middle Georgia. The Panthers had a bye week to start the year, while Houston County dominated their first game against Sumter County 56-12 in Week 1.

While the game felt close early, Houston County got the separation it wanted thanks to explosive plays. The Bears opened the scoring when, backed up to their own 2-yard line, receiver Ricky Johnson caught a pass from Hill and bounced off of two Perry defenders with ease before gliding down the field for a 98-yard touchdown.

After another touchdown drive early in the second quarter gave them a 14-0 lead, the Bears widened the gap with a 40-yard interception return to make it a three-score game in the first half.

While it looked like Perry would enter the season with a bombastic offense thanks to Ginn transferring from Peach County and returning weapons, they were lackluster to start the night. The Panthers couldn’t muster any points until a fumble, one of two turnovers they forced in the first half, put them in great field position near the end of the half.

Even then, it took a 38-yard completion to wideout Dakarai Anderson on a fourth-down play to get into the red zone, where running back Ahmad Gordon punched it in to make it 21-7 at the half.

Perry got the drive it needed to start the second half, using Ginn’s arm less and relying more on runs from Gordon and Corrion Daniels. The Panthers drove roughly 80 yards up the field in small spurts, taking up most of the third quarter before Gordon scored his second touchdown to make it 21-14.

After a strong defensive stand where they sacked quarterback AJ Hill multiple times, Perry engineered another strong drive. Ginn threaded the needle on a throw to Donovan Funsch to tie the game at 21, completing the Panther comeback with about eight minutes to play.

With seven minutes to play, the game started to resemble the two teams’ barnburner matchup in 2022.

The Bears flew up the field on the ensuing possession, a 75-yard drive that came in less than a minute as Hill passed for another touchdown to give Houston County a 28-21 with seven minutes left. Perry had their own speedy drive, tying the game again at 28 with a little over five minutes left.

Another Houston County score gave them the lead, but a missed PAT made the margin just six points. Perry brought the packed Panther Pit crowd to its feet with an answer, though, as return man Khalid Miller took the kickoff 75 yards to the house to give the Panthers their first lead of the night.

With about two and a half minutes left, AJ Hill and the Bears marched downfield. After a missed pass for an incompletion near the red zone, Hill connected with Johnson, his favorite target all night, for a 19-yard touchdown. Their two-point conversion was good after Hill scrambled and threw it to the end zone.

Perry could not answer with the 30 seconds it was afforded, and Ginn was sacked on the final play to end a game for the ages at 42-35.

This story was originally published August 26, 2023, 12:03 AM.

Two Florida sheriff’s deputies are credited with pulling off a rescue in pitch-black conditions, after they discovered a car had vanished beneath the surface of a retention pond at 2:30 a.m.

It happened Saturday, Aug. 19, in Orlando, when a Nissan Altima crashed through a fence, went airborne and landed in a pond, investigators say.

Deputies Yortsan Gandia Ares and Tyler Casto of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrived soon after and heard a man crying for help in the “nasty debris-filled retention pond.”

“Upon entering the 16-foot deep pond, they found a man desperately struggling to stay afloat and an unconscious woman underwater,” officials said.

“The deputies pulled both to shore and administered CPR to the woman, reviving her before paramedics arrived.”

Body camera video shared Aug. 23 on Facebook shows the woman was unresponsive when brought to shore, and the deputies immediately began chest compressions.

“She’s breathing, baby,” one deputy is heard saying. “She’s got a pulse.”

The 42-year-old driver and 33-year-old woman were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver told investigators the crash occurred due to him not realizing soon enough the road came to an end at the retention pond, officials said.

The two deputies are new to the department, having joined in March 2022, officials said.

Video of the rescue has been watched thousands of times on Facebook, where viewers have called the deputies “heroes” for diving into the pond without hesitation.

“This just brought tears to my eyes,” one commenter posted on Facebook.

“Lucky they didn’t encounter a gator or 2,” another wrote.

This story was originally published August 25, 2023, 1:04 PM.

BIBB COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) - Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02) and Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA-08) have jointly communicated their concerns to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service’s Board of Governors regarding proposed alterations to the Macon Processing and Distribution facility (Macon P&DC) located in Macon.

In a bipartisan effort, the congressmen urged the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to maintain the operation of the Macon P&DC without downsizing. This request aims to ensure the facility's capability to process local mail promptly and deliver letters and packages on time to Middle Georgia residents.

Congressman Bishop emphasized, “The U.S. Postal Service should strive to provide the best possible service to every family and business in America, even those whose addresses are located in remote areas and rural communities.” He further noted the significance of considering the distinct challenges faced by rural Americans, especially seniors who heavily rely on USPS for critical deliveries such as bills, checks, and prescription medications.

Congressman Austin Scott echoed the sentiment, saying, “Rural Georgians deserve to get their mail and packages in a timely manner. I’m working with Rep. Bishop to ensure that rural Georgians are not left behind as USPS makes changes to their processing and distribution centers.”

The bipartisan letter to USPS also raises concerns about potential job losses and possible delays in mail delivery. The congressmen believe it is crucial for Georgia's citizens to fully understand the implications of any proposed changes.

In March 2021, USPS unveiled its "Delivering for America" plan, aimed at modernizing the Postal Service and reducing costs. Subsequently, in July 2023, USPS announced a Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) for the Macon P&DC, evaluating the feasibility of shifting certain operations from the Macon facility to the new Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC).

Based on the review, the proposal suggests transforming Macon’s P&DC into a Local Processing Center (LPC) with a focus on processing letters and flat mail, excluding the handling of packages originating from Middle Georgia.

The congressmen's concerns stem from previous experiences, such as the closures of the Columbus, Albany, and Valdosta Customer Service Mail Processing Centers in 2012. The repercussions included job losses and mail delivery delays, as local mail processing moved to more distant facilities.

Congressmen Bishop and Scott worry that downsizing or eliminating the Macon P&DC could exacerbate these challenges and negatively impact rural communities that heavily rely on postal services. Further details and a copy of the letter can be accessed on Congressman Bishop's website.

More information about USPS’s “Delivering for America” plan is available here: https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/

The mental health action and awareness organization A Friend in Me is having a musical gathering Sunday featuring live music, mental health talks and information, arts and crafts displays and food vendors.

It’s on The Quad at Wesleyan College from 4-8 p.m.

It’s a timely – and needed – event for the days and the moment we live in and, since a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, it’s a fun chance to get out and about while being informed on mental health issues, raising money for good causes and hearing great music.

Playing are Shy Company, Cash’s Juke Joint, Brandon Sanders and Rachel Forehand, some of the area’s favorite performers. And I hear it’s the last chance to hear Shy Company in Macon for a while.

Suicide and mental health issues are in our headlines too often and the CDC says suicide rates are only rising, Georgia’s included. The U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra has said most Americans believe the country is in a mental health crisis yet folks still believe asking for help is a sign of weakness.

But Macon-native Zack Houston, who began the all-volunteer A Friend in Me, believes there are answers that start with letting people know that reaching out for help is OK and that there are understanding people willing to listen and point to support. He believes those not in crisis need to better understand the importance of paying attention to friends and family and how to help those going through dark times.

That’s why he called upon area musicians to take part in Sunday’s event. He said he personally knows what it’s like having attempted suicide himself in years past due largely to childhood trauma he experienced.

“People need to learn to be more intentional in their conversations and aware of how friends and family are doing,” Houston said. “Really, it’s a matter of being patient, kind and aware of mental health issues and having a little information on how to help and guide toward help. That’s what the day is about.”

That and a day for those in a dark place to hear the stories of others who’ve been there and made it through to the next day.

“If someone is struggling, they need the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, that’s me, I need help, can I talk to you?’” Houston said. “We’re not professionals but we know what it’s like, how to listen and how to get people who need help some good direction.”

Houston lives in Atlanta now where he and the A Friend in Me team have put on similar events. Though his career is in dental equipment sales, he’s pursuing a master’s degree in mental health and working more and more to get A Friend in Me events going and its message out, hopefully across the nation.

He said in addition to speakers, the bands and performers at the event are sympathetic to the cause. He reached out to singer-songwriter Rachel Forehand, his old Tattnall Square schoolmate, to help contact bands and put the day together.

“Yeah, I went to high school with Zack and told him of course I’d help,” Forehand said. “I helped contact other bands, arranged for the best sound guy in the world and am glad to be part, even though it’s the first time I’ve ever helped put anything like this together. I hope people will come enjoy the music and learn something. I was glad to say yes because both my best friends experienced suicide in their families and I know how devastating it all can be.”

Colby Collins, Shy Company’s drummer, said he spoke for the band, saying, “We’re honored to be trusted with the opportunity to shine a light on mental health. With heavy hearts, we’re aware of how often mental health struggles affect and take the lives of so many people who are loved within the music industry and within our own personal lives. Most of our original music is shared with the intent to address, express and heal our own mental health struggles which is why this event is so special to us. We want to say to others you are not alone, you have friends in Shy Company.”

There’ll be plenty to chow down on Sunday, food trucks and vendors include Scott Boys Smokin’ BBQ, Salsa’s, Nanny’s Hamburgers and Hotdogs, Pinkie’s Shaved Ice, Frios Gourmet Pops, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Everything Gelato and Just Tap’d will offer their beers. No outside food or beverages are allowed but you can bring in water and you might want a blanket or chair. A portion of the Wesleyan Quad will be tent-covered and pets aren’t allowed at the event.

There will also be raffles with donated art and other prizes like restaurant gift cards and concert tickets. Arts and crafts vendors will be there as well as information tables set up by mental health organizations.

Proceeds from the day will be split between the Georgia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the We Stand Together Foundation and A Friend in Me.

And you’ll hear the numbers nine, eight and eight a lot: 988 is the shortened, three-digit number for texting or calling the nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s a quick, memorable number connecting anyone suicidal or facing any other mental health crisis with trained professionals.

That’s 988, remember it.

“We’re a grassroots organization getting the information out in our own way but the rippling effects of a day like Sunday can be enormous,” Houston said. “No one may realize how important it is until they suddenly need the information for their own sake or the sake of a friend or family member. We want to provide information, change attitudes and offer help and guidance.

“The more voices talking about this in as many ways as possible the better off we all are. If young Zack had heard people talking about this, if friends had been more intentional in conversations, if I’d heard going to therapy was OK, I could have gotten help instead of bottling things up for so long. I want others to hear that and know they can get help sooner rather than later.”

Tickets are $23 and are available in advance through www.afriendinme.net. Look under Events. There are no added fees for buying online and all money goes to the event and its cause. Admission is the same at the door and T-shirts and hats will also be on sale for $23 each.

Editor’s note: This article is part of an occasional series — “Middle Georgia Delicacies” — bite-size homages to fine food offerings, from the unsung to the iconic, at eateries across our region.

Fresh salsa may be the perfect dip. The perfect pour-on-top-of-whatever-Mexican-dish-you’re-eating condiment.

And the perfect salsa may well be the house variety at Margaritas Mexican Grill in Macon’s Mercer Village.

If you consider salsa a mere on-table freebie, an appetizer afterthought to dunk your tortilla chips in while you await the sizzling arrival of your fajita platter, well, you probably squirt ketchup on your tacos.

A fine salsa is, dare we say, sippable. A texture-rich soup of herbs. A goulash of garden freshness.

A great salsa cha-chas on the tongue. Cool. Spicy. A raw tang of easy heat.

As most Southerners know and tend to prefer it, salsa, which in Spanish translates to “sauce,” is red-tomato rich. At Margaritas, it is a holy union of whole, peeled, canned tomatoes and tomato fillets, canned jalapenos and their juice all blended with onions, cilantro and seasonings.

The salsa at Margaritas borders on a relish: not quite liquid, not quite mush. Some places “make it too chunky and some people make it too watery,” says Margaritas proprietor Valerie Cork. “Some people grind it up too much.”

She and her husband Brad run the restaurant. They have traveled the country tasting other salsas and, well, they like theirs best.

“It’s not just bias. I always say, hands down, our salsa is the best. ... I am very proud of it,” Cork says. “The spices are always the same, and the reason is I pre-bag my recipes.”

For consistency. That way the people who prepare them in the kitchen get the proper amounts of garlic, salt, pepper and other ingredients in each batch.

Cork is a descendant of local Mexican restaurant royalty. Her father, Rafael Rodriguez, and his business partners established Macon’s popular El Sombrero eateries. Her mother’s family, the Maciases, founded El Toro restaurants that took root in metro Atlanta and by the late 1980s were the largest chain of their kind in that region.

Brad Cork credits his wife’s family for its four-decade mastery of the salsa recipe.

“They created and perfected the recipe, and they’ve maintained it,” he says. “We’ve got (Mercer University) students from all over the world. They and their parents will come in and say, ‘It’s so good. I wish we could get it at our hometown restaurant.’”