(May 23)-- Last November, voters in Toombs County approved a sales tax for several education projects including construction of a stadium complex to be used jointly by schools in Vidalia and Toombs County. Tuesday, representatives of the two school boards, the cities of Vidalia and Lyons, and the Toombs County Commission met and took the first steps in creating a Toombs County Stadium Authority to oversee the project and ultimately, operation of the stadium. The group directed school board attorneys to draw up authority by-laws and an intergovernmental contract for approval by all concerned. Drafts of the documents are expected to be reviewed at the group's next meeting which is Tuesday, July 11th at 4:30 p.m. in the offices of the Toombs County Board of Education in Lyons. Both school boards are already proceeding with other projects approved by the voters in November, and Vidalia school board chairman Buddy West estimates it could take up to three years to complete the stadium complex.

(May 1)-- Candidates seeking county offices in Toombs, Montgomery and Treutlen counties have qualified to run in the July 18 primary elections. In Toombs County there are four contested races. Sheriff Junior Kight is being challenged by former state trooper Wayne Brantley; Toombs County Commission Chairman James Thompson has opposition from Vidalia businessman Charles Rustin; three lawyers, Mackey Bryant, David Pittman and Susan Shook, are running for the state judge seat being vacated by Don Carpenter; and two candidates, Daniel Caraway and Wayne Kirkley, are running for the 6th District Board of Education seat held by the retiring Nina Clifton. Unopposed are Louie Powell running for the commision seat held by Smitty Snell of Vidalia, and Dustin Tapley running for state court solicitor succeeding David Pittman.

In Montgomery County, veteran probate judge Gary Braddy is retiring and his seat is being sought by county manager Keith Hamilton and Ruby Nell Sanders. County Commission Chairman Arnie Calhoun is being challenged by Lendle Hamilton; commissioner Wyman Morris is opposed by J.T. Helms and Kevin Parker; commissioner Harold Mobley faces opponents John Carpenter and Jeff Johnson.

In Treutlen County, five races are contested. Commission Chairman Jim L. Gillis is not seeking reelection and running for his seat are his nephew, Hugh Gillis Jr., Mitchell Edge and Troy Phillips. District 4 commissioner George McLendon is opposed by Gary Dickens, Wayne Cauley, Lemuel Padgett, and Larry Walden. Incumbent probate judge Grace Braddy is challenged by Danny Shepherd; and two school board seats are contested with Leo Gillis, Margaret Carter and Robert Cone running for the seat being vacated by Ricky Simmons, and incumbent June Mason faces Charlene Peterson and Janene Phillips.