Toombs Now past  Fay wets on new one-way The eye of Tropical Storm Fay is a long way away, but the old gal certainly dumped a bunch of water on Toombs County on Friday. Check out how wet the new one-way, three lane 280 is in Vidalia. If you stayed at home during the rain here is what you missed  Video The Octagon is open The Octagon is the newest addition at Partin Park. Designed by Coach Anson Callaway, it is a unique building with a stained floor, ceiling fans and a cool air conditioning system. Take a tour of the Octagon with Coach Callaway Video      Vince Faison Sr. Park is dedicated Less than a year after his passing, Vince Faison Sr. was honored and remembered at the dedication of a park in his name. The park, formerly called Hallmark Park, is located off Collins Road and the sign is visible to those traveling east and west on Collins. Faison, who worked for the Lyons Recreation Department for 31 years, was honored by Lyons Mayor John Moore, and Coach Anson Callaway and he was remembered by Vince Faison Junior and Norma Faison. Video Redcoats eye Friday night debut On Friday night the 2008 Redcoat Marching Band will make its debut when the Toombs County Bulldogs play host to the East Laurens Falcons. This year the band will have a Rock and Roll theme. Y-101 Story Watch the band as it practices Video  Wind roars in Toombs County Watch the wind howl Road work on North Victory Drive in front of Y-101   Video of pilot car action during the Midday Memory Show A real rainy day in Toombs County A big system is dumping heavy rain on Toombs County today. The Toombs County soccer games against Dublin and Brewton-Parker College baseball have been cancelled today. Check out my trip from the Wellness Center to Y-101 Radio Video    Y-101 is hit hard by a storm Y-101 and Toombs County is pelted by a storm During the noon hour of the Midday Memory Show, Y-101 Radio and all of Toombs County was pelted by a quick hitting storm that brought with it heavy rain and wind and some lightening. Watch video of the storm and hear Y-101 listeners phone in reports during the storm. Video     Christmas lights are bright in Toombs County Toombs Now traveled around seeking the best bright lights and displays of Christmas. Check out some of the scenes in this new video    Labor Day visitors Don't know where they came from or where they are going, but on Labor Day there were some out of town guests in Toombs County.  Video Young Andrew knows his sports Young Andrew may be only 14 months old, but he knows his sports. He can signal touchdown and do the Tomahawk Chop. Watch Young Andrew in action in this exclusive Toombs Now video Toombs County band also preparing for the season The Toombs County High School band, just like the football team, has been dealing with the excessive heat. The band, under new director Stephanie Mosley, has been staying indoors and working on its halftime show which will feature a movie theme. Watch the band play two of its songs- Pirates of the Caribbean and James Bond and listen to three members talk  Audio Band Interviews   Rebekah Russell attends far away medical school  For the past two years Toombs County's Rebekah Russell has been studying medicine at the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine in Sint Eustatius located in the Netherlands Antilles. Y-101 Profile  More of Rebekah's pictures   Kailey Dees is working for the Governor  For the past two summers Robert Toombs graduate Kailey Dees has been working in politics. In the summer of 2006 Dees interned in Washington D.C. and worked for the Republican National Committee. This summer Kailey is working in Governor Sonny Perdue's office. Kailey discusses her duties and more in this Y-101 profile.   Major renovation in Lyons Clint Williams, who renovated the Blue Marquee, is close to completing his latest project. He has been working for three years on transforming two old buildings into a restaurant and an art gallery.  Audio   More photos Jeopardy champ Brad Jeffcoat answers questions on Y-101 On July 28, 2006 Vidalia's Brad Jeffcoat appeared on Jeopardy and won $16,400 to become the new Jeopardy champion. Brad spent two hours on Y-101 Radio answering questions from, Barney, the Host of the Midday Memory Show (11-1 p.m.), and listeners. Here is an audio clip from his visit. Also, Brad was featured in a Y-101 Community Profile.  Audio  Brad's Jeopardy page   Large crowd watches large class graduate   The home side of Booster Stadium was filled as 158 members of the Class of 2007 graduated from Toombs County High School on May 19. This class earned over $71,000 in scholarship money. Listen as Neida Soto (pictured right) delivers her Valedictorian speech.  Audio    Scholar/Athlete Neida Soto is Toombs County High School's Valedictorian Neida Soto played soccer and ran cross country and track and at the same time she maintained the highest GPA at Toombs County High School. Neida is the first Hispanic female to achieve the honor of Valedictorian at Toombs County High and she is proud of that distinction. Toombs Now talked to Neida about her past, present and future.  Audio  Prep Sports Plus feature on Neida        Lyons native Nell Stewart-Darden retires form teaching Nell Stewart-Darden, from Lyons, taught first graders for 31 years in the same classroom in Searcey, Arkansas. But in May she retired from her teaching career after 38 total years in the profession. Nell was honored by over 200 fellow teachers, students, friends and family at a ceremony on May 20.  Listen to a story on Nell that will air on Y-101's Community Profiles. Audio  Daily Citizen story on Nell Community Profiles begin running on 100.9 FM on June 1. If you would like to recommend a person to be profiled please e-mail me. When It Finally Rains- It Pours  A day long Saturday rain has ended weeks of drought in Toombs County. According to the Doctor's rain gage we received 6 1/2 inches of rain. See more pictures of a rare wet day in Toombs County. Rain eases drought in Toombs County  Smoke on the horizon This was a typical scene in Toombs County during the morning hours prior to the rain- a hazy smoke. As the fires burned in South Georgia and Florida some of the smoke settled in Toombs County before noon.  Stories on the subject- CBS News  Christian Science Monitor  Is it dangerous to your health? WALB Story  More smokey Toombs County photos       The good and the bad of the Bradford pear trees Good- The leaves look nice when they are in full bloom   (more pictures)  Bad- leaves look better on the tree than on the ground     It wasn’t real money, but Vidalia High Schools Phylicia Petteway turned $100,000 into $149,063 in 10 weeks and finished fourth in the country in the DECA Stock Market Game. Phylicia and DECA Club advisor Ryan Flowers discuss her success.  Audio Story How much does that big white monkey cost?  Every day as I travel on 292 to the gym or grocery store or really anywhere, I look over to the side of the road to see if the big white monkey is still there. I keep waiting for somebody to buy that monkey. Actually, I hope nobody does. I would miss that big white monkey. Today I found out that the monkey really isn't for sale. The monkey is a conversation piece purchased at the Salvation Army for two dollars. Top Kat, the owner of the monkey explains.  Audio