BBQ, Boogie & Blues coming to downtown Calhoun April 27-28

Arts Center, the Amazing Race and the barbecue competition.

The schedule of events for the weekend includes: Friday, April 27 6 p.m. - BBQ Buffet at Velo Vineyard

6 p.m. - Vendors open on Court Street and Park Avenue

7 - 10 p.m. - Live music on Court Street

7 p.m. - Georgia String Band Festival at the Harris Arts Center featuring Down Hill Strugglers ($20 admission) Saturday, April 28 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Full day of entertainment and fun, including vendors and Kids Zone

10 a.m. - Live music on Court Street - Joseph Evans with the Georgia String Band Festival 10 a.m. - Amazing Race begins 11 a.m. - People’s Choice opens - try competitors barbecue for $10 11 a.m. - Bike Rodeo for kids 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. - Live music on Court Street - Courtney Dickinson

12 p.m. - Gordon County Fiddlers’ Convention registration opens at Harris Arts Center

1 p.m. - Gordon County Fiddlers’ Convention begins at Harris Arts Center ($10 admission, 12 & under free)

4 p.m. - BBQ Competition Awards presentation

Parking is available on Wall Street and in the following lots:

Gordon County Parking Deck on Piedmont Street

Calhoun City Schools on River Street

Calhoun- Gordon County Library at 100 North Park Avenue.

For more information on vendor registration, Amazing Race registration and events, visit www.bbqboogieblues.com

At the Monday night meeting of the Gordon County Board of Education, members approved participation in USDA Provision 2, which will provide free breakfast for all students from Pre-K through 12th grade, regardless of income, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

“It’s a good opportunity for our kids to prepare to learn (each day),” said Board member Bobby Hall.

The Board was also told that an application for a grant to purchase carts has been submitted, in order to provide breakfast on the carts in hallways for older children, who come to school later, to still be able to pick up the free breakfast.

The Board also heard from teacher Christa Bowen, concerning the County Schools Gifted Program in the Elementary Schools. According to the Board of Education website, the Gifted Program information states “the mission of the gifted program in Gordon County Schools is to provide our students relevant and rigorous opportunities to develop and nurture critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills.”

Bowen is a teacher at Gordon County but told the Board she was speaking as a parent; she has a child who is a student in the Gordon County Schools gifted program.

“My concern is about our Elementary Gifted Program and how little our kids actually get served,” said Bowen.

Bowen gave the Board her background, where she has taught at Elementary, Middle and High School levels, and has also worked in the gifted