Page 10A THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD July 29, 2015

EMC...from Page 1A ...from Page 1A at the EMC’s annual meeting in mitting his petition to be on membership to send a mandate Pageant September. the ballot in Union County. He to the Board of Directors in gifted English. Fair. The Miss Georgia Moun- There is no incumbent in threw his support behind Cum- September. If you’re a member, She was a class of 2015 “I came into this just tain Fair Pageant on Monday, the Union County race, so Cum- mings and asked his supporters exercise your right to vote. executive board member; the hoping to have fun and being July 20, was one of the first mings, Malone or Rich will join to vote for Cummings. “I’d also like to encour- junior class float coordinator; able to represent myself well. attractions for the 65th annual the board of directors depend- Phillips said there are age the membership to turn out and was on the Whitewater High I honestly didn’t know if I fair. ing on election results. three different ways to vote in force at the annual meeting,” School student council. would even place. But I was The master of ceremonies In Towns County, Perren this year. Phillips said. “Historically, the Her athletic achievements just excited to be up here and was Hiawassee native Jennifer will face incumbent Director First, the EMC will mail EMC Annual Meeting is held at are possibly even more impres- be able to do swimsuit and Holloway, former Miss Georgia Jerry Nichols on the ballot. out paper ballots with the Au- Anderson Music Hall.” sive. Mueller was a member of evening gown and the whole Mountain Fair winner, Miss “All the petition candi- gust electric bills. Second, The EMC Annual Meet- the varsity football and compe- thing,” she said. Georgia World winner, and host dates that submitted petitions members can vote online, and ing is booked for Sept. 12 at tition cheerleading teams and a She said that being able of the nationally syndicated TV are on the ballot,” Phillips said. third, members can vote at the Anderson Music Hall. The member of the Lady Wildcats to involve herself so deeply show Daytime. “You do know that Danny Hen- annual meeting in September. membership is invited to at- varsity basketball and varsity in athletics helps her mindset Last year’s Miss Geor- son did not submit a petition for “The EMC has 43,000 tend, Phillips said. track teams. She was cheer cap- during pageants. gia Mountain Fair winner Mia verification.” members,” Phillips said. “It “And we urge them to tain and track captain. “The biggest thing that Manto spoke fondly of her year Henson opted out of sub- sure would be nice for the attend,” he said. She received a senior translates from sports to pag- spent as Miss Georgia Mountain superlative as most athletic. In eants is just confidence,” she Fair. cheerleading and basketball, she said. “To go out and do a sport, “It’s been a wonderful ...from Page 1A won the Strength of a Wildcat no matter what it is, you have to year for me,” said Manto, who Cruiz-In Award from her school. She have confidence in your skills will leave in less than a month year before last and prior to very own Pioneer Village. Attendance was down won the Coaches Award in and be able to go out there and for Mercer University to study that, at The Ridges,” said Par- And Saturday, cruisers last year due to rain and sched- Varsity track. get judged or be able to get marketing. “I have loved the rish. “We’ve actually come up will put on a parade that is sure uling, said Parrish, but he Although Mueller has the best time or score you can. Fair every minute of it growing with something different this to turns heads, as hundreds of expects more than a thousand been in several other pageants, So just being able to come out up here and so it was really an year – it’s going to be a ‘70s- hotrods, street rods and clas- registered vehicles this year including Miss Georgia, she here and show your confidence honor to be able to represent themed party, like disco. sic cars take to the streets of – the Cruiz-In’s biggest year said that she didn’t expect to and show the judges who you this Fair. You won’t lose me, “There’s so much of this Hiawassee. yet. win at the Georgia Mountain truly are.” I’m sure I’ll be back.” that’s going to ‘50s, ‘60s on “We’re going to get a “We’ve been putting the display at the show all the time, lineup and pull out at 5:30 p.m. show on the week that school but we fail to get the ‘70s, so we sharp heading to Downtown started back, so we’d just seem ...from Page 1A thought we would try to do a Hiawassee, where they’ll set to have a big Saturday, and Tanker the passenger side,” said Chief table runoff into the watershed, rounding the tanker melted ‘70s theme party, where people up a street dance,” said Par- the other days were decent, Copeland. “When it came to a he and his crew would stand by – a stretch of about 65 feet by dress up – we put up a disco rish. “There will be a band, but not at their full capacity,” stop, he could see that it had at the ready, letting the gasoline 20 feet – as did most of the ball, and for the best dressed, and people will sit around the said Parrish. “I think we’ll see ignited, and he could see the burn itself out. tanker itself and some of the we’re going to give some prizes cars, and anyone who wants Thursday, Friday and Saturday flames back behind him. His Other responders to the guardrail. and gifts away.” to can get out and dance to the all with quite a bit of people seatbelt had him caught. He scene were the Towns County The swath of road has Friday opens the Cruiz- music. in town because school’s still couldn’t exit the vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia since been resurfaced by GDOT, In once again at 8 a.m., and “It’s just going to be a out. Other than that, I think injuries that he sustained, other State Patrol, the Georgia De- and repairs have been made to through Saturday, patrons will ‘50s, ‘60s type thing in town the show looks great. We’ve than being kind of sore, were partment of Transportation and the guardrail. be able to attend folk show with all the cars. The people got new people coming, and from when he kicked the front the Environmental Protection “We expect the cleanup exhibits, swap meets, buy parts who don’t want to go to that and I think we’re going to hit our windshield out.” Division under the Georgia work to be completed (Sat- from automotive vendors, listen want to go to the Ray Stevens big number this year. We just Shortly after knocking Department of Natural Re- urday, July 25),” said Kevin to mountain music and witness concert, Ray Stevens will be at can’t have rain and we’ll be out the windshield and running sources. Chambers, who is communica- authentic mountain crafting the Anderson Music Hall start- good.” clear of the accident, the fuel Turpin’s Wrecker Ser- tions director for Georgia EPD. firsthand in the fairgrounds’ ing at 7 p.m. for his concert.” tanker exploded behind Hamby, vices removed tractor trailer “Soil is being removed, im- erupting in a giant fireball and debris from the roadway that pacted area is being backfilled ...from Page 1A sending smoke high enough to day, and GDOT cleared road and it will be re-graded. The Stevens be seen for miles. ash from U.S. 76. trucking company’s insurance “You just sort of hear a phrase Georgia Tech and study archi- if you want it to look a cer- Towns County Fire and “It was just a miracle all company called in a geologist or something, or see something tecture. But as it turned out, tain way, you’ve got a lot of Rescue received the first call the way around,” said Chief to determine the extent of the on a billboard, and it gives you my music publisher in Atlanta, problems to deal with, because alerting them to the blaze at 7:19 Copeland. “Nobody died, no soil contamination.” an idea for a song. And so, Bill Lowery, encouraged me to gravity is always working. that morning. Engine 4, Tanker firemen got hurt. The gentle- Hamby reportedly works the process is part craft and stay in the music business, and There’s a lot of math in music, 1 and Rescue 1 responded, and man was able to exit before for Anderson Trucking out of part inspiration. The craft part so I studied music at Georgia too, so I think the two are kind were able to leave the scene a the explosion. No gas went Belton, SC. kicks in a lot when you get the State, and it worked out pretty of kin to each other, architec- mere five hours later, at 12:22 into the watershed. It was an Chambers added that, inspiration to start with.” good.” ture and music.” p.m. 8,500 gallon tanker truck, but it as far as he understood it, no Stevens was 17 when he Fortunately, he pursued Tickets for the 7 p.m., Chief Copeland decided had 6,000 gallons of unleaded waterways or storm drains were got into the recording industry, his musical talents, giving mul- Saturday, Aug. 1, concert at that instead of fighting the fire fuel in it.” impacted as a result of the ac- and looking back on his career, tiple generations of listeners the Anderson Music Hall are on with water and causing inevi- Much of the road sur- cident. the now 76-year-old entertainer opportunity to have their own sale now, for $48 and $38 for could have taken a different favorite Ray Stevens song. the two levels of the music hall path entirely. “I still get a kick out of respectively, and tickets will be Pressman takes photo contest at GMF “At that time, I didn’t architecture, on a limited scale, available at the gate. By Mason Mitcham even know for sure that I was of course, because I didn’t re- Stevens invites all com- Towns County Herald going to stay in the music busi- ally get the training to design ers to his humor-filled perfor- Staff Writer ness – it worked out that way,” big buildings or bridges or mance. said Stevens. “I was a typical anything like that,” said Ste- “I know they’ll enjoy the Of all the attractions at 17-year-old guy, I guess, and vens. “But I love residential and show,” said Stevens. “Come the Georgia Mountain Fair, the didn’t know what I was going small buildings. to the show and have a good Photography Exhibit is one of to do. “I love the challenge time. The show’s about fun, the most fascinating. People “I liked architecture a mathematically. You’ve got to and I think you’ll have fun if come from all over the world to lot, and I was in Atlanta, and support whatever you want to you come to the show.” showcase their photography skills I was going to maybe go to put up there, and sometimes, and to win Top Honors. Clara Franklin, photog- raphy exhibit director for the ...from Page 1A past 15 years, said that the ex- Cooking hibit offered a chance to display Isabelle Berezoski, 12, ed to each of the winning par- the North Carolina Coopera- photographs and photography of Habersham County visited ticipants, and Mauldin plans to tive Extension, Billie Harvey techniques. the Fair with her grandmother, spend hers on softball equip- from the Cooperative Exten- “I take my vacation every Susan Holloway, who lives in ment, as the middle school team sion at Towns County 4-H, year to do this,” she said. “I Hiawassee. should be gearing up soon for Debbie Phillips of the Towns love it. I like the people and the Berezoski decided to the start of the season. County Public Library, Broker different pictures, the different the results no less spectacular. birds in portraits rather than ac- enter in both the savory and One of the contest’s Carmolita Haney of Mountain photography.” He won with his portrait titled tion shots, added Pressman. sweet categories, a decision judges, Madison Mueller, took Reality, Dwayne Long of Blue Franklin is no stranger to “Blue Heron,” which depicts a “They’re always moving,” that paid off twice when she on judging duty a little last min- Ridge Mountain EMC, local the world of professional camera- Blue Heron standing poised to he explained. “People use very won Third Place for her Loaded ute – after having been crowned pastry chef Nicole Davis with work herself, who in her younger take flight. long lenses and they take them Mashed Potatoes and Second the previous night as the 2015 helper and daughter Kaitlynn days “was on every mountaintop “I took the picture about from far away when they’re Place for her Vanilla Raspberry Miss Georgia Mountain Fair. Davis, Mueller, Shawn Jarrard and waterfall known.” an hour away from where I live flying – you really can’t get a Cupcakes. “I was really impressed, (who wrote this story) and spe- “I did just a lot of outdoor during the winter,” said Press- portrait that way. You can get “I enjoy baking more since I can’t cook at all,” said cial volunteer Gail Hagen. stuff,” said Franklin. “And I just man. “I’ve gone down there a interesting shots of them in flight, than cooking savory food,” Mueller. “They obviously can “We ultimately want- like the conversations and the dif- dozen times. It’s such a beautiful but birds, especially the Blue said Berezoski, who has been cook, so I liked eating of their ed to provide regional home ferent people and their ideas and area, and you might find some- Heron, have so many intricate cooking since she was 6 and fruits. All of them were really cooks the opportunity to show- how they take a certain shot. A lot thing really good. That particular shades and tones and you can’t plans to be a baker when she good, so it just came down to case their family favorite reci- of it sounds strange sometimes of day, the light was amazing.” get them.” grows up. “I just wanted to deciding which one was the pes,” said Pam Staton, who how they get a picture.” Using a 200 mm lens Pressman got into photog- enter both to have a double shot best out of all of the really great founded the GMF competition The strangest way Frank- and a very high light sensitivity, raphy at an early age, following at winning.” recipes.” with General Manager Hilda lin ever got a shot involved her Pressman was able to capture in his father’s footsteps. The Grand Prize Ribbon Mueller adapted well to Thomason, along with Marilyn climbing halfway up a waterfall. the bird at exactly the right “My father, when I was a for Best in Show – on top of her new responsibilities as Miss Cole of the NC Extension. “Slick, mossy – danger- moment. kid, we had a darkroom and we winning First Place in the Youth Georgia Mountain Fair, as she “Some of us had worked ous,” she recalled. “Holding onto “I was able to catch the always had cameras, so I learned Sweets category – went to would remain busy throughout with other fairs, especially the a branch. My crazy husband and bird at a moment when it just how to process film,” he said. soon-to-be-12-year-old Abby the week showcasing her new North Carolina Mountain State daughter had already climbed paused enough to get a shutter “Then I used to take slides as an Mauldin for her scrumptious title and representing the Fair Fair, and brought our ideas to up the side, and she had hooked shot. So, it’s beautifully shot and adult but then when digital cam- desert entitled “Rosa’s Banana in fine style. Hilda to do similar competi- a big brown trout about that it’s technically excellent, and eras came out, you had free film, Cake.” “You hit the ground run- tions at the GMF. After a lot long. That’s what I was taking a I think the judges recognized essentially, and you could really “I didn’t anticipate win- ning, kind of sort of baptism by of planning, the GMF cooking picture of.” it. They must have been really do a lot of experimenting and the ning much of anything – I’m fire, and you just listen to what contests were born. We have For First Place ribbon- professional judges,” Pressman cost was down to zero. That’s not that great of a cook,” said you’re supposed to do, smile and will continue to evolve winner Barry Pressman, the said. when I started learning composi- Mauldin, a statement with and do the best you can,” said over the years to provide the method was a little tamer, but It’s much harder to catch tion and stuff like that.” which the judges heartily dis- Mueller. competitors with a fun, low- agreed. “My grandma actually Entrants were many, and pressure way to share their made that recipe a lot of years judges for the competition culinary skills and possibly be ago, and I just kind of remade were Chef Holly Chute from rewarded for their extra special Vincent’s fans follow her to The Hall it.” the Georgia Department of dishes.” By Mason Mitcham pa. I have a lot of grandparents Prize money was award- Agriculture, Teresa Goley from Towns County Herald that will come to the show, and Staff Writer they’ll bring their granddaugh- ters. And I had a guy tell me once Bluegrass star Rhonda that he couldn’t wait to hear me Confederate Railroad delights fans Vincent came to the Georgia play, whereas his granddaughter By Mason Mitcham They’re serious. So their music Mountain Fairgrounds on Thurs- couldn’t wait to see what I was Towns County Herald within itself is real unique.” day, July 23, to perform at An- going to wear.” Staff Writer Randall met Confederate derson Music Hall. Before her Vincent also gives credit Railroad while working in the performance, a line of fans to her band, which she says is Confederate Railroad music industry in Tennessee. formed to meet her, so Vincent “world-class.” came to the Georgia Mountain “Although I wasn’t in and her band spent some time “These guys are amaz- Fair on Wednesday, July 22. It the band at that time, I was signing autographs. ing musicians, all at the top of was a treat for both longtime playing in another band, I was “Everywhere we go, I Rhonda Vincent their game, so even if you’re fans and newcomers to the real familiar with their music think coming to our show is not enough that we’re not rushing not a fan, or even familiar with Southern music scene. and I became kind of a fan,” like just going to a concert, we people through and we get a the style of music, if you watch Two fans, Jayron Weaver he said. “I’ve been in the mu- sign after every show, and it’s picture and we sign, so it’s like them play, anyone can recognize and Hailey Fletcher, waiting sic business for a long, long become this experience,” Vin- a family reunion each and every what stellar musicians they are,” outside Anderson Music Hall, time, so I guess you become cent said. “Everywhere we go, time.” she said. professed themselves to be fans friends.” there’s a long line, and we sign Vincent combines the Vincent grew up in a mu- of Confederate Railroad. The band is still work- till the last person’s done.” roots and traditions of Bluegrass sical family. She can trace her Weaver recalled that a ing, touring, and writing. The Rhonda Vincent Band music with a contemporary musician roots back for five long time ago, the pastor in his “We have a new record inspires a familial kind of loyalty flair. generations. church was preaching against erate Railroad. From Michigan coming out pretty soon,” Ran- in its fans. For example, a lady “So you’re not coming to “When I was 5, we had a Confederate Railroad’s biggest originally, he has since lived in dall said. “There are some she met has followed her from hear Bill Monroe in that style, television show, a radio show, hit Trashy Women. Tennessee for 30 years. songs on here that are new. location to location and has got- but we do have a deep respect and we made our first record- “I shout out over the “Confederate Railroad They have re-recorded Trashy ten to know the band. On Face- for the roots of the music,” she ing,” she said. “So it’s just entire congregation, ‘I like my came on the scene in the ‘90s Women, and they have John book, a gentleman who comes to said. “It mixes a bit from re- something that’s very natural women a little on the trashy with a real different kind of Anderson singing on it, Wil- a lot of their shows writes every ally hard-driving Bluegrass to for me.” side,” he remembered. “And sound and a real different kind lie Nelson is singing on it, morning on Vincent’s wall to tell a ballad.” She loves her career be- the pastor was like, ‘I know of thing going on,” he ex- this Country Rapper named her to drink lots of water. The mixture of musical cause of the people she meets, what you’ve been listening plained. “They’re from Ten- Colt Ford is rapping on it. So “From what I’m told, styles might be one of the rea- but mostly because of the music to.’” nessee, a pretty Southern kind they’re doing a new version of people are surprised that we sons Vincent appeals to a wide itself. “I like a lot of different Bobby Randall, formerly of band, and a lot of their music Trashy Women that will be out sign autographs,” Vincent said. demographic. styles, but I love performing this of the band Sawyer Brown, is is a little bit tongue-in-cheek. which I know they’re all really “And we get to know them, we “It’s not just something style of music,” she said. “That’s the newest member of Confed- Then their ballads are real. excited about.” get to have a brief conversation, that’s going to appeal to Grand- where my heart is.”