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The Rotary Club of Columbus awarded scholarships to two Columbus Technical College students. Brittaney Carter (L) and Brittney Edwards accept their scholarships from CTC President and Columbus Rotary member Bob Jones. Also pictured are Dean of Nursing and Muscogee Rotary President-elect Ken Gordon and Dean of Professional & Technical Studies and Rotary member Meredith Yoe.


ing ever has. Dozens of blue herons flew around the crowd, squawking loudly


with their observance of the occasion. Four trumpeters accompa- nied the rushing sound of the river with a befitting fanfare as Port Columbus’ naval cannon boomed and an authentic multi-rifle salute was fired. Te river was at mid-flow, more than enough to create a good ride for the 110-plus person flotilla of kayakers and raſters. As the raſters sailed through the last rapid on the Georgia side, several of them held aloſt flags proclaiming the names of the rapids. More than 1,700 folks on both sides of the Riverwalk clapped,


ooohed and aaaahhhed including Congressman Sanford Bishop, Neil and Judith Wickham, Chris Blackshear, Gardner and Nora Garrard, James McMullen with son and daughter-in-law Allen and Jill McMullen, John and Sallie Martin, Tammy and Mike Gorum and Keith Milligan. It wasn’t just a local crowd either, Alabama Director of Tourism Lee Sentell, Georgia’s Deputy Commissioner of Tourism Kevin Langston, Rick McLaughlin, Jack Goble, Dave Duclos, John Martin, Rion, Gardiner and Tomson Turner and Elizabeth Martin all traveled many miles to enjoy the festivities of the grand opening. Te flotilla included many families and supporters as well, includ- ing Greg Camp,


daughter Kelsey Harris, Kim and John Lester with daughters Julia and Danielle, Larry Crane, Tom Huckaby Amy Bryan, Colin Mar- tin, Valerie Bowden, Ed and Suzanne Burdeshaw, Christine Pow- ell, Cameron Bean, Ernie and Shannon Smallman, Mychel-Anne Murphy, Danny Young and Spence Sealey and daughter Katie Spencer. At the end of the ceremony, the crowd didn’t simply get in their


cars and go home. Tousands stayed in Uptown, shopping at the Saturday morning market, enjoying the dragon boat races, filling every restaurant and coffee shop and then rocking out with the finale of the day, the Mark Farner concert and fireworks in the Phe- nix City amphitheater. It felt like everyone in the region had some part in the day, and we were all basking in the glow of one mighty fine grand opening. So, I go back to my opening sentence of this column. It was clearly one of the region’s Best. Days. Ever. And that is a fact!


AUGUST 2013 Columbus and the Valley 55


The Rho Rho Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. held its 15th Pink Ice Educational Ball to raise funds for scholarships. Community awards recognizing individu- als who have contributed in the area of social justice and human rights were presented to LaRae Dixon Moore, senior assistant district attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit and the Honorable Eddie Lowe, mayor of Phenix City. Shown here are Chapter Vice President Shiann Williamson, Dixon Moore, Lowe and Chapter President Yolaunda Daniel.


Kenny Gray (top right) and Brenda Stevens (bottom right), both CSU in- structors, were recently honored by the Columbus Artists’ Guild for their work in photography and watercolor, respectively. Gray is pictured with Pat Christian and Stevens with Bucky Bowles.


Janet Davis, Dick Gordon, Mallory Fuller with


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