http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/ Balls Ferry, GA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/e34de35238552f84bfc7c4b4fad22241.html A lot of the University of Georgia's cuttingedge research depends on a couple of very oldschool guys http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/ce887616187bfadee1b52b134ca0bd36.html Law enforcement officers and residents in and around Oconee County on Friday mourned the loss of a dedicated sheriff's deputy killed this week in the line of duty http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/e9091d1440d47d53a1b7464d976c0b53.html Bobby and Gayle Barnes of Clermont announce the engagement of their daughter Kimberly Lynn Barnes to Anthony Bryan Hall son of Loyce and Peggy Hall of Monroe http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/1d8a5db11d9e20b9c8df8d86e43049c2.html Almost lost amid the more immediate issues of the day the ongoing financial woes of this country and the rest of the world and the upcoming presidential election to name just two was a bit of good news that came out of Washington earlier this week http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/6aaeea6afaffe0176619d5746eb240bb.html Deon Orsborne emerged out of the shadows last week http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/380e6588932bfc9267ccd8f82f2530a5.html WATKINSVILLE An Oconee County sheriff's deputy died late Thursday after a car struck him as he directed morning traffic outside Oconee County Primary School http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/0061b431cbc3c40335f0ae6931e4f640.html The First Annual Guitars and Stars concert series sponsored by US 101 and Northwest Georgia Bank will be a benefit concert The Helene DiStefano Fund will present Jamie Johnson Luke Bryan Colt Ford and members of Zac Brown Band with all proceeds going to mothers with breast cancerldquo;Rather than just handing them a check we physically pay their billsrdquo; said Rachel Houghton executive director of the Helene DiStefano Fund ldquo;All of the money will stay local to help mothers reduce stress and families are able to stay togetherrdquo;The concert will begin at 7 pm at the Northwest Georgia Bank Amphitheatre located at 264 Catoosa Circle Benton Place Campus Ringgold Ga 30736ldquo;This is a family eventrdquo; said Houghton ldquo;We know itrsquo;s a school night but we want people to bring their entire familyrdquo;Tickets for the concert are 25 a person and for groups of five or more itrsquo;s 20 Tickets can be purchased at all Northwest Georgia Bank branchesThe Helene DiStefano Fund was established in July 2001 by Dr Deborah DiStefano an ophthalmologist in Chattanooga Tenn to honor the memory of her mother Helene DiStefano who died in May 2000For more information about the Helene DiStefano Fund check hdfgiveorgUpclose with Colt Ford:A native of Athens Ga Colt Ford combines a bit of country with a bit of hiphop Ford is only among a few that uses the rapcountry combination and as his song ldquo;No Trash in my Trailerrdquo; is on regular rotation on CMT and constantly on the top 10 indie country artists on Myspace he has proved himself to the publicldquo;Irsquo;ve collaborated with Jamey Johnson Montgomery Gentry remix ldquo;Roll With Merdquo; Brantley Gilbert Bone Crusher Jeremy Popoff or the rock band Lit and Adrian Young guitarist of No Doubtrdquo; just to name a few Ford is also going to be working with Tim McGraw for his next album which is due out next summerGrowing up Ford listened to varied pallet of music ldquo;I like a mix of everything when I was a kid it was 80s rock hiphop and countryrdquo; said Ford ldquo;Bands like Run DMC Elvis Kenny Rogers Johnny Cash Stevie Wonder anything thatrsquo;s realrdquo; he said ldquo;I donrsquo;t really like the bands that have been obviously put together but I still appreciate their work If itrsquo;s real I dig itrdquo;Starting off in his entertainment life as a class clown Ford strived simply to make people laugh and have a good time ldquo;I always loved music; I was the entertainer class clown and wanted them to have fun and just make people laugh It led me to where Irsquo;m atrdquo;Ford got started in the music world after a seven year pro golf life ldquo;I play a lot of golf played pro for seven years and became a golf pro teacher I also went All American in baseball and had baseball scholarshipsrdquo; said Ford ldquo;I find stuff to do to keep myself busy; golf keeps me out of troublerdquo; Ford also mentioned playing golf with friend Justin Timberlake ldquo;Hersquo;s a good playerrdquo;While not on the road or playing golf Ford spends his time with his family ldquo;I have a 13yearold daughter and a 9yearold son A wife that supports me takes care of everything at home while I'm on the road Irsquo;m just very blessed to have my wife shersquo;s my best friendrdquo; Fordrsquo;s wife was also the one who helped create the name Colt Ford ldquo;When she said it I just thought it was coolrdquo; he said Ford had expressed how much he appreciates having his parents and inlaws living near home to help out while on the road and how supportive they areldquo;Fans on the street donrsquo;t bother me at all I love hearing all their stories especially those who will come up say how its made their day better made them laugh the fans are just very respectfulrdquo; he said ldquo;I answer every message that is sent to me on Myspace; my management tells me Irsquo;m too accessible but they can deal with itrdquo;Last Friday Ford released a remix ofRoll with merdquo; in collaboration with Montgomery Gentry on his Myspace page and is working towards the release of his newest albumFordrsquo;s current album ldquo;Ride Through the Countryrdquo; can be purchased through his Web site Myspacecomcoltford and should be out at WalMart shortlyOn the Web:Colt Ford's CMT Web siteColt Ford's Myspace pageCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/balls-ferry/content/8d7ffc4760a4bf021810785354dc7c79.html The Johnson High volleyball team ended the regular season on a positive note sweeping Buford 2517 2519 and West Hall 2514 2515 on Thursday in Buford