Custom Search

Path: Home -> News -> Radio

County, Georgia News Radio

Toombs County, GA History & Genealogy Links

? ? ? ? ? ? Click on the county for ftp files of USGenWeb cemetery information.

Toombs County, Georgia -News Radio

Woman Dies in Fire

July 23--  An elderly woman died early Tuesday in a Wheeler County fire.
Wheeler County Sheriff James Peacock reports 77-year-old Jeanette Burgamy
died when fire consumed her mobile home on the Old Glenwood Road about
2:30 a.m. Tuesday.  Volunteer fire departments from Spring Hill, Stuckey and
Glenwood responded, but Sheriff Peacock said the trailer was engulfed in flames
when they arrived.  The state fire marshall is investigating the cause of the fire.
The woman lived alone in the trailer, according to Sheriff Peacock.

Contractor Defaults, Projects Slowed

July 23--  Two construction projects in Vidalia are behind schedule because the
contractor has defaulted.  Aztec Construction of Marietta had contracts to build
both the new Vidalia Airport Terminal and the medical technology building at
Southeastern Technical College.  The problems with Aztec at STC first came to light when
subcontractors weren't getting paid, according to Dennis Epps at Southeastern
Tech.  The state notified the contractor's bonding company which has now assumed
oversight of the project.  Epps estimates about 20 percent of the $7 million dollar
building project has been completed, and the default means completion will be delayed
from January to at least this Spring.

Meanwhile, Vidalia city manager Bill Torrance says the city has formally notified
Aztec's bonding company that Aztec is in default on the airport project and that
the project will be rebid to find a new prime contractor.  He says work is about
36 percent complete on the airport terminal and that completion will be delayed at
least another six months.  The $550,000 project had been scheduled for completion
this past April.

Deadly Weekend on County Roads

July 22--  Three people were killed in three seperate accidents Saturday
in Toombs County.

A Montgomery County man was killed about three-thirty Saturday morning
in one-truck wreck.  Robert Fortner, Jr., former owner of Rabbit's
Quick Stop in Vidalia, and currently running for judge of the Montgomery
County Magistrate's Court, was killed when his truck left the road and
hit some pine trees.  Toombs County Sheriff Junior Kight says the accident
happened on a curve on Thompson Pond Road near the Lint Stevens Road.
Fortner suffered fatal head injuries.

Saturday night about nine o'clock, a van ran headon into a farm truck about
a half mile south of the intersection of U.S. One and Highway 56 near
Toombs Central School.  The van driver, Julio Velesquez of Lyons, was killed
and the truck driver, James McRae of Lyons, had head injuries and was taken
to Memorial Medical Center in Savannah.

About a hour and a half later Saturday night, a 49-year-old Lyons man was
killed when his pickup truck hit an unoccupied van parked on the side of Highway
292 east of Lyons.  The state patrol says Barry Wayne Johnson died when he
was pinned under his truck.

Names in the News

July 20--  The Vidalia Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has hired it's
first director.  The new regional tourism board has selected Chari Lothridge
of Toombs County to head marketing and promotion of Toombs and
Montgomery counties and their municipalities. Lothridge is a former director
of the Downtown Vidalia Association and most recently has been with
Northland Cable.  Tourism board chairperson Lisa Adams says Lothridge
will start in the new position in early August.

Seventeen people have been selected for the next Leadership Toombs-
Montgomery County class.  The program is sponsored by the Toombs-
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce to develop new leaders for
the area.  The Class of 2002-2003 includes Brian Bishop of Murray,
Bishop and Stevens Insurance;  Susan Braddy of McLain-Calhoun Accounting;
Goodman Craig of Harton Automotive;  Patricia Dixon of the United Way;
Stacy Griner of Pineland Mental Health;  Howard Hill of the Trane Company;
Joseph King of Kingro Grounds Care;  Ginny Anne Lipscomb;  Dennis Madison;
Jana O'Connor of Vidalia High School;  Attorney Tom Peterson, IV;  Janet Stanely
of AAA Office Products;  Terry Thompson of Meadows Regional Medical
Center;  Vidalia city councilman Cecil Thompson;  Homer Waller of the Georgia
Power Company;  Tony Wardlaw of Southeastern Tech;  and Lori Wingate of
J.D. Dickerson Primary School.
 

Local Company Seeking Army Contract

July 18--  Savannah Luggage in Vidalia is reinventing itself after its
number one client, Tumi Luggage, opted for overseas manufacture of its
luggage.  Company president Alan Rice says the company's transition to
production of bulletproof vests saved about 150 jobs at plants in Vidalia
and Swainsboro.  Now Savannah Luggage is bidding on a $150 million
Army contract to supply modular backpacks which could add more than
a hundred jobs to the local economy.

Rice and members of the Toombs County Development Authority had a
two-hour meeting Wednesday in Atlanta with the state's commissioner
of Industry, Trade and Tourism.  Savannah Luggage will need up to $1.5
million in capital if it gets the Army contract, and is exploring state incentives
for job creation in rural Georgia.  The contract award is expected within
the next six weeks.

Eric Wilson is the Industry and Trade representative in this part of
Georgia and he says it's important that state developers see what
communities are doing to create jobs.  And Wilson complimented local
leaders for regional efforts on tourism and for encouraging entreprenuers.

Vintage Dealership Changing Owners

July 17--  One of the oldest Ford dealerships in south Georgia is being sold.
Threlkeld Motor Company in Vidalia is being bought by Ford Motor Company
under a dealer development program which allows new owners to buy the
company from Ford over a period of years.  Larry and Hughes Threlkeld are
the third generation in their family to own and operate the company which
was founded by their grandfather in 1935.  Larry says their successor, Reuben
Hill, currently works at a Ford-Lincoln dealership in Cocoa Beach.  The new
owner will retain the named Threlkeld, and Larry and Hughes plan to assist
with the transition for the next several months.

State Issues Funeral Publications

July 16--  In the wake of the Walker County creamatorium scandal and the federal
indictment of a Blackshear funeral home director for misappropriation of funds, the
state of Georgia is issuing two publications to educate you on what you need to know
about funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries.  Howell Dixon of Murchison's
Funeral Home in Vidalia has been in the funeral business for 46 years and says
your funeral home selection should be based on demonstrated performance and
a history of satisfactory service.  One of the new state booklets talks about things
you should think about in making advance arrangements for your funeral, something
Dixon says more and more people are doing.

To get a free copy of the new publications, contact the Division of Aging Services
at the Department of Human Resources in Atlanta, call 404-657-5319.

DHR Commissioner Upholds Youth Home Decision

July 15--  The state of Georgia is a step closer to closing the Mel Blount
Youth Home in Toombs County.  Department of Human Resources
Commissioner Jim Martin has upheld the decision of an administrative law
judge who ruled in favor of the state's allegations of abuse and inappropriate
discipline by staff at the home.  The charges were first made in the Fall of
1999 and have been progressing through hearings and appeals for over two
years.  The state terminated its contract and removed all state residents from
the home in September, 1999.  The home is represented by attorney Frances
Stubbs of Reidsville, and a staff member says they intend to file an appeal
in Toombs County Superior Court by the July 25th deadline.  Home director
Clint Blount denies the state charges and has consistently stated that the home
will prevail at the end of the long appeals process.

VPD Arrests Two Suspected Burglars

July 15--  Two Vidalia men are being charged with burglary and investigated
in connection with the stabbing of an elderly city resident.  Investigator Mitch
Bellflower says the residence of 72-year-old Johnny McIntosh on Roosevelt
Street was burglarized July 9th with thieves taking a chain saw and other tools.
Bellflower says Keith McKinney of Patrick Street and Michael Smith of North
Circle Drive later pawned the items are being charged with burglary and theft
by deception.  The night of the burglary, Bellflower says two men
entered McIntosh's house and demanded money, cut his throat and stabbed
him multiple times.  The state crime lab is examining evidence in the case and
further charges may be placed against McKinney and Smith, according to
police.

Crib Death Case Under Investigation

July 15--  Toombs County Sheriff Junior Kight and the GBI are investigating
the death of a two-and-a-half-year-old baby in the Petross community.  The
sheriff says the state's Child Fatality Unit routinely investigates all deaths
involving infants, and that no foul play is suspected pending outcome of an
autopsy.

Chase Catches Wanted Felon

July 15--  The Toombs County Sheriff's Department had to call out the
dogs Friday night to catch a man wanted on felony warrants in Tattnall
and Liberty counties.  Sheriff Junior Kight reports 30-year-old Terence
Jones of East 7th Street in Vidalia was apprehended in the Ohoopee area
after fleeing on foot when officers tried to serve arrest warrants.  The
Georgia State Patrol dog unit helped track Jones down.  He's also being
charged with parole violation and is wanted for questioning in connection
with a murder investigation, according to the sheriff.

National Honors For Toombs Students

July 13--  Seven students from Toombs Middle School will have some good
stories to share about what they did this summer.  Representing the school's
Technology Student Association, they travelled by school bus to Denver
to pick up national awards for achievement.  Teacher Ken Mitchell says the
team of Joseph O'Neal and Brandy Williams took fifth place in marine design
while Brandy and her sister, Amber, won ninth in the nation for their manufacturing
project.  Four of the students, Amber and Joseph, plus Jessica Jones and Crystal
King, received the highest national individual "Gold" awards for leadership and
achievement.  Other TSA students who qualified for the trip by winning state
honors included Heidi Williams, state treasurer Steve Burton and state VP
Mary Catherine Farrell.  Mitchell says young people like his award-winning
students are exactly what our community needs for future economic development.
He believes their skills are what companies are looking for when they consider
locating in a community.

The national competition in Colorado included 3,400 students from 45 states
and three foreign countries.

DOJ Approves Toombs BOE Redistricting

July 11--  The Department of Justice has approved the redistricting plan for
new school board districts in Toombs County.  School Superintendent Dr.
Kendall Brantley says the new districts will be in effect for the November 5th
general election.  Four school board seats are up for election, and two people
have already announced their intent to run.  Daniel Caraway of Lyons plans
to seek the at-large seat now held by board chairman Danny Bowen, and
Lyons fire chief Daryl Corley says he's running for the district 3 seat now
held by Harold Milligan.  Voters will also vote on the district 1 seat of Needham
Rogers, and the district 5 seat of Eddie Toole.  Qualifying for the school board
seats opens July 29 and closes August 2.

After an executive session during its July meeting, the Toombs school board
voted to hire Vidalia High school teacher Melanie Campione to teach language
arts at Toombs County High.  Kay Martin will coach Bulldog tennis teams and
Tom Broadnax will coach girls volleyball.

Vidalia Schools Tuition

July 11--  The Vidalia school board is holding the line on tuition again for students
who live outside the city.  Tuition for the coming school year will remain at $200 with
a $100 refund for students who maintain a "B" avcrage and have no disciplinary
problems.

Montgomery County School Board Chairman Defended

July 11--  The newspaper in Montgomery County is asking its readers to
consider the motives of a citizen who has filed a criminal complaint against
Montgomery County school board chairman Randall Morris.  Dale James
of Alston accused Morris of violating a state law prohibiting school board
members from doing business with the school district.  Morris is an onion
farmer and has admitted giving some onion gift baskets to members of a
visiting accreditation team and later taking payment at the insistence of school
officials.  The paper says James is upset with a school board decision on an
undisclosed "personnel issue" and infers he's "mud-slinging" to help defeat
Morris' bid for re-election.  At the same time, the paper reports school board
member Wayne Goff has also come out against Morris.  Morris says it's all
"politics" and that he's more concerned with getting an approved county school
budget.

Montgomery County Tax Resolution

July 10--  Montgomery County commissioners want voters to approve a
new five-year term for the county's local option sales tax.  Wednesday they
approved a resolution calling for a sales tax referendum September 17 which
they estimate will raise $3 million over five years starting January 1st.  The
lions share of the sales tax money, $2.3 million, would be used for roads and
bridges in Montgomery County.  Four hundred thousand dollars would be
used to retire debt related to the county's trash collection program, and $250,000
would finance capital improvements for the county recreation department.

Lyons Awards Industrial Park Contracts

July 10--  Work is expected to start next month on the infrastructure of
the new Toombs Industrial Park on U.S. One north of Lyons.  Mayor
John Moore told his city council Tuesday night contracts have been awarded
for $697,000 to Thrift Construction of Waycross to extend city water and
sewer lines to the park, Caldwell Tanks of Louisville, KY will erect a park
water tank for $384,000 and Sam Martin Wells of Wrens has a $262,000
contract to drop a deep well.  Mayor Moore estimates overall costs will
approach $1.5 million, most of it paid for by state and federal grants.  The
balance will be paid for by the city of Lyons with a loan guarantee from the
People's Bank.

Lyons Employee Seriously Injured

July 10--  Officials and co-workers in the city of Lyons are praying for the
recovery of a longtime city employee who was seriously injured last week
while commuting to work from his home in Darien.  Mayor Moore says
Charley Carter, a public works employee for 22 years, suffered massive
injuries in a head-on collision and is in intensive care at Memorial Medical
Center in Savannah.

Toombs School Tax Remains Same

July 10--  If you pay school tax in Toombs County, your millage rate will
remain the same in the coming year.  The Toombs County school board
Tuesday night approved a 13 mil school tax levy to finance nearly $2.5
million dollars in local support for the school budget.  The overall budget
is almost $16 million with the lions share from state sources.

Vidalia Street Sinking

July 9--  The city of Vidalia is repaving the west end of Meadows Street after
city officials discovered the recently rennovated street had sunk six to eight
inches.  City manager Bill Torrance informed city council members at Monday
night's meeting that the work is being done under warranty by the contractor
who did last year's downtown rennovation.  Torrance blamed compacted soil
under the street for the problem.

In other Vidalia city council news, the mother of a young man arrested in May
after a high speed chase is blaming Vidalia police for injuries to his face.  Pamela
Hudson says officers pulled Timothy Forrest through a broken car glass which
caused serious cuts to his face.  She also claimed officers fired at and hit the
speeding car, and objected to how some members of the Vidalia police department
treat black people.  Police deny firing shots and Mayor Ronnie Dixon said racial
remarks would not be tolerated by city officials.  Forrest is being charged with
aggravated assault by automobile after he allegedly tried to run over officers who
were trying to serve him with a warrant.

The city council also heard complaints from Jeff Luke of Scott Drive who wants
the city to do something about barking dogs owned by his neighbor Richard Hallman.
Luke got no satisfaction in a city court case against Hallman, and he's asking the
city to look at its nuisance ordinance to see if he can get some help.

In other actions, council voted to proceed with annexing a neighborhood bordering
Rocky Creek Golf Course.  Over 70 percent of the residents want the annexation,
only five object, according to a city survey.  And with city sales tax collections
running ahead of last year, the council voted to fund this year's city budget at a
full 100%.

Toombs Commissioners Meet

July 9--  Names in the news.  Toombs county commissioners Tuesday appointed
two new members to the county development authority.  Charles Clements is
succeeding Dan Murray and Wendell Dixon will replace John Ladson whose term
ends this year.  The commission also reappointed Greg Johnson to the Southeast
Coastal Regional Mental Health Board.

Toombs commissioners say they will try to step up law enforcement around the
Green Oak Mobile Home Park.  They received a 35-signature petition from residents
complaining of loud noise, litter and graffitti.  And Toombs County sheriff Junior
Kight says a $64,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources will be used
to hire and equip a deputy to enforce county litter laws.

New Jobs for Area

July 5--  The Correctional Corporation of America is adding hundreds of new
jobs to southeast Georgia.  The company, which already employs nearly 350
people at the Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo, has plans to hire up to
440 employees for the new McRae Correctional Facility in Telfair County.
The new warden has just moved to McRae from Grants, New Mexico where
he was assistant warden at a similar facility.  Mike Bell says he plans to hire
up to 230 workers by early December and will be at full strength by the time
the prison receives its full population of 1,500 federal detainees next year.
Bell believes private prisons are receiving contracts from the Federal Bureau
of Prisons to cut costs and to relieve overcrowding of federal prisons.

Lightning Death

July 5--  A 47-year-old Vidalia man died Wednesday afternoon after being
hit by lightning.  Lyons police chief Jack Caves says Ray McDonald of Taylor
Springs Road was killed while pouring a foundation at the new Toombs Middle
School on the Lyons-Center Road.  He was an employee of Lake McDonald
Construction Company which is building the new school.

Taking Aim on Diabetes

July 4--  Diabetes is one of the top killers in Georgia and the Toombs
County Health Department is out to educate the public about the disease
and treatment.  Susan McLendon is organizing an eight week series of
classes.  Attendees will learn how to spot the disease, how it can be
controlled, and how to survive.  The classes start July 16 and complete
information is available at 526-8108.

Montgomery County Sales Tax Vote

July 2--  Voters in Montgomery County will make at least three trips to the
polls in the next five months.  In addition to the primary and general elections,
a special election is expected September 17th where voters will be asked to
extend the county's special purpose local option sales tax.  Montgomery County
commissioners have scheduled a called meeting July 10th to approve a resolution
detailing how the money will be spent.  Commission chairman Arnie Calhoun
says the money is vital to keeping the county afloat.  Meanwhile, county administrator
Keith Hamilton told commissioners at their July meeting Tuesday that property
tax collections are "slow" this year and need to pick up to cover projected cash
outflow in the last half of the year.

At the same time, Montgomery County tax appraiser Lawrence McCall briefed
commissioners on the just completed county-wide tax revaluation which he said
increased the county's tax digest by about 49 percent.  State law requirees the
commissioners to adjust tax millage to preclude a windfall tax increase, or to hold
public hearings before any increase is authorized.  Those decisions will be made
after citizens are given 45-days to appeal any of the new property values and
the county tax digest is finalized.

East Georgia College Growth Assured

July 2--  The future of East Georgia College in Swainsboro is bright according
to University System of Georgia Chancellor Thomas Meredith.  He was in
Swainsboro last week to farewell departing East Georgia president Dr. Jerry
Ashcroft and to announce the appointment of interiem president Dr. J. Foster
Watkins who comes in from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Chancellor Meredith says shrinking state budgets and increased student
enrollment are a challenge for the university system which this year increased
student tuition six percent at research universities and four percent at its
other institutions.

Positive Economic News for Toombs County

June 28-- The unemployment rate for Toombs county has dropped significantly
in recent months.  State Department of Labor revised reports for the month
of April show the unemployment rate at 6.6%.  Unemployment rates for Toombs
county have reached as high as 10.7% in the past year.  Executive Director of
the Toombs County Development Authority, Bill Mitchell, credits the decline
in unemployment to local industries rebounding after a difficult fall and winter.

Denny McShane, Business Leader for Trane Vidalia, explains his company benefited
from an unexpectedy stable housing market nationwide.   McShane says because of
positive forcasts for residential housing in 2003, he anticipates setting new
employment level records in the coming year.

DOT Foods is also anticipating growth and more hiring for the coming year, and
representatives for STC say the new expansion underway there will also mean
more jobs for Toombs county.

New Elementary School for Montgomery County

June 27-- Plans are underway to build a new elementary school in Montgomery
County.  School Superintendent Dale Clark explains the decision to build a new
facility rather than renovate the old school is a matter of economics.  Renovations
are estimated to cost around $3.7 million dollars while building a new facility would
cost approximately $6 million.  Money from SPLOST will provide only $2 million
dollars to either project.  The difference comes from $4 million dollars that will be
available from the state for new construction projects.  The new school will be built
on the same site as the present elementary school.  Clark hopes groundbreaking will
occur sometime in 2004.

New Interim President for East Georgia College

June 27-- East Georgia College has a new Interim President.  Dr. J. Foster Watkins will begin his
appointment on July 1, and will serve until a new president is named from a nationwide
search.  Foster leaves a professorship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
to fill the position at East Georgia.  Prior to working with UAB, Foster served as
president of Gainesville College in Gainesville, Georgia for 14 years.

Jazzy J's Receives DVA Grant

June 27-- Jazzy J's Restaurant in downtown Vidalia has been awarded one of two annual facade
grants by the Downtown Vidalia Association.  The $500 grant will be used for the new
front awning and other renovations.

Local Fathers Recognized

June 26-- Governor Roy Barnes has declared June "Fatherhood Month" in the state
of Georgia.  Local fathers were recognized Tuesday at STC for completing the 2002
"Fatherhood Program".  The Fatherhood Program is a statewide effort to educate
parents through the state's technical schools.  Tony Wardlaw, program coordinator, says
the program is designed to provide parents with whatever skills they need to find
and keep meaningful employment.  Kay Gimmel, a representative of Georgia Child
Support Enforcement, says the long term benefits of the Fatherhood Program will help
re-establish family connections and help parents better provide for their children
which can reduce the numbers of children on government assistance programs.
Fred Stokes, Program Facillitator, says the scope of the Fatherhood Program goes
well beyond job training into areas such as money management and coping with
emotional issues.

Four Counties Named Federal Disaster Areas

June 25-- Representatives Saxby Chambliss and Jack Kingston announced early Tuesday
that four area counties have been designated Federal Disaster areas by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.  Toombs, Tattnall, Evans and Montgomery counties received
the designation due to extensive onion crop damage from freezing weather late in
February.  Vidalia Onion Committee Chairman and local farmer R. T. Stanley
explains that the combination of a mild winter followed by the severe freeze
kept plants from being able to fight off disease.  Stanley estimated as much
as 50% of the onion crop industry wide has been lost.  Jason Deal, area Marketing
Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Agriculture says this year's onion crop
damage is the most devastating he has seen in a long time.

Disaster Area designation means local farmers are now eligible to apply for low interest
emergency federal loans.  Stanley stated he hopes the loan availability will be able to keep
areas farmers going for next year.

Building Begins on New Health Center

June 24-- Building of the new medical clinic in Soperton has officially begun.
The new Million Pines Family Health Center, an affiliate of Emanuel Medical Center,
is scheduled for completion in early Fall.  Joan Walden, Administrative Coordinator of the
new health center says it has been an uphill climb and a group effort to bring this facility
to the people of Treutlen County.  Robert Via, Administrator of the Emmanuel County
Medical Center explains the new family health center will be housed in temporary
office space in late summer until the new office space is completed in the fall.
Dr. Michael Mulberry of Swainsboro will begin seeing patients August 1 and is excited to
be able to offer such a wide scope of medical services to all people of Treutlen County.

Candidates Qualify

June 21--  Here are the names you'll see on the ballot in the August 20th
primary election.  There are no contested county races in Toombs County.
Both commissioners Roy Lee Williams and Mel Taylor qualified with no
opposition.

In Montgomery County, incumbent magistrate Larry McCall is not seeking
re-election, but his wife, Cathy McCall is running along with Robert Fortner, Jr.
and Mona Bell.  Board of education member Randall Morris is being opposed
by Sharon Strickland for the Uvalda seat.  There's no opposition to newly
appointed Ailey school board member Dorothy Days.

Treutlen County has one contested race.  District two county commissioner
Gerald Hooks is being challenged by Steve Strickland, while district five
commissioner William Baker is unopposed.  Treutlen school board member
Chester Kight is not running for re-election with Alvin Heath running unopposed
to succeed Kight in district three.  District five school board member Freddie Mills
is unopposed.

In state house races, Representative Greg Morris of Vidalia is running unopposed
after Toombs County Republican Party chairman Jim Collins failed to qualify
because of what he called "lack of campaign funds."  The only contested representative
race in the area is in the 121st District where Roger Byrd is not running for
re-election.  Two democrats, Jimmy Durrence of Daisy and Bert Oliver of
Glennville, and republican Steve Tillman of Baxley are running for Byrd's old
seat.

In state senate races, the state's senior lawmaker, Hugh Gillis of Soperton,
is being opposed again in the 20th district by republican Felix Moring of Soperton.
In the new 19th district, two incumbents, republican Tommie Williams of Lyons is
running against democrat Van Streat of Nicholls.  And in district four, incumbent
Jack Hill of Reidsville is challenged by republican Larry Elgass of Statesboro.

And in a non-partisan race, Vidalia attorney Macky Bryant has qualified to
run against Middle Circuit Superior Court Judge Walter McMillan of Sandersville.

In the newly created 3rd congressional district, republican Calder Clay of Macon
is unopposed in the primary, but will face the winner of a four-way democratic
race in the general election.  Seeking the democratic nomination are attorneys
Chuck Byrd and Jim Marshall of Macon, Perry dentist Joe Lester, and Macon
insurance man Sig Dayan.

Voter registration deadlines are July 20th for the primary and October 7th for
the November 5th general election.

Toombs County Opens Insurance Bids

June 21--Toombs County Commissioners opened sealed bids for their annual Property and
Casualty Insurance Friday afternoon.  From eight requests for bids sent out, one bid
was received from Murray, Bishop and Stevens Insurance.  The annual premium
adopted by the County was quoted for $145,830.  This represents an almost 28%
increase over last year's premium of $105,420.  Insurance company representative
Dan Murray blamed the increase on the sluggish economy and the events of September
eleventh.

Stabbing Death in Hazelhurst

June 21--  Jeff Davis County Sheriff's Department is holding a man in the stabbing
death of a Hazelhurst woman.  Sheriff Jimmy Boatwright reports that 38-year-old
Leon Stevens isbeing charged with the murder of 47-year-old Toombs county native
Willie Mae Melvin.  Sheriff Boatwright says Stevens allegedly stabbed Ms. Melvin
19 times in a domestic dispute.  Stevens had just recently been released from prison
on charges of aggravated assault for a previous stabbing of Ms. Melvin.

Montgomery County Property Re-evaluations

June 20-- The Montgomery county tax digest will increase by more than
50%.  Jimmy Kight, owner of Technical Appraisers Services of Georgia explained the
reason why Montgomery county had to re-evaluate was to comply with state mandates
for property assessment values.  Kight told members of the Montgomery County Board
of Tax Assessors Wednesday that the large increase was due to Montgomery county
not assessing property values for the last 10 years.

Montgomery county has been losing revenue for public utilities due to the innacurate
property evaluations in addition to the cost of a penalty imposed by the state.  The
re-evaluation should save taxpayers approximately $48,000 in 2003.  Montgomery
county property owners will begin receiving assessment notices within the next few
months and have 45 days from that time to appeal to the Montgomery County
Board of Tax Assessors.

Sewage Spill in Vidalia

June 20--  A hundred thousand gallons of raw sewage leaked out of a
Vidalia city sewage pumping station last week.  Roland Keating of OMI,
the city's water and sewer contractor, says the spill happened the night
of June 13th when a pump failed at the North Maple Drive pumping
station.  According to Keating, the sewage went into a ditch which feeds
into Rocky Creek to the south of Vidalia.  He says there's no threat to
public health and that the city's water supply, which is supplied by
deep wells, will not be effected.

Driver Charged and Held Under Bond

June 20--  An Oak Park man is being held in the Toombs Detention Center
in Lyons in connection with an auto accident which killed three Lyons
residents on June 7th.  The Toombs County Sheriff's office says 21-year-old
Shaun Heagerty is being held on a $30,000 bond.  The state patrol is charging
Heagerty with three counts of vehicular homicide, driving with a suspended
license, on the wrong side of the road and too fast for conditions.  Earlier,
trooper G.W. Jerriel reported that Heagerty's vehicle hydroplaned into the
path of a car driven by Betty Jo Anthony of Lyons.  She and the two
passengers, Jesse and Vivian Anthony, died as a result of the accident.

Federal Indictments

June 20--  In federal court news, a former vice president of the Spivey State
Bank in Swainsboro has been indicted on bank fraud.  U.S. Attorney Rick
Thompson says Larry Scott is charged with stealing about $211,000 from the
bank between 1996 and 2001.  He could face up to 30 years in prison and a
million dollar fine if convicted.

In another fraud case, the former funeral director of the Dixon-Bowen-Taylor
Funeral Home in Blackshear has been sentenced to 13 months in prison and
ordered to make restitution of nearly 74-thousand dollars to victims of his
scheme.  Federal officials say Califf Dixon admitting taking "pre-need" payments
from customers for his personal use, and for under-reporting collections to
the corporate owner of the funeral home.

City Refuses To Close Road

June 18--  The city of Soperton is trying to negotiate with railroad officials to keep a
rail crossing open.  According to Mayor Greg Higgs, the CSX railroad wants the city
to remove new crepe myrtle bushes in the recently opened downtown park to allow
for better visibility for motorists on Martin Luther King Drive in front of city hall..

Mayor Higgs also reports the city plans to spend an $86,000 grant to build a veterans'
memorial,  and the city has awarded a $25,000 contract to Robbie Hooks Construction
to pave a new fitness trail and to widen the existing walking trail in the Jean Gillis Park.

Body of Toombs Man Found

June 13--  The body of a missing Toombs County man was found late
Wednesday afternoon on the banks of a local creek.  Toombs County Sheriff
Junior Kight reports 61-year-old Cleve Morgan of Five Ash Road was found
near Cobbs Creek off Highway 147.  He had been reported missing by his family
on Monday.  Sheriff Kight says there's no evidence of foul play and he thinks
Morgan died of natural causes.  His body has been sent to the state crime lab
for examination.

Toombs Road Paving Contract

June 13--  Another dirt road in Toombs County is being paved.  Toombs County
commissioners awarded a nearly $136,000 contract Thursday morning to
McLendon Construction to pave just over a mile-and-a-half of the Ben Hill Usher
Road in the New Branch area.  Construction should start in July and be completed
by the end of the year.

Lyons Better Hometown Kudos

June 13--  The Better Hometown Program in Lyons is earning kudos from the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs.  A delegation from Atlanta toured
Lyons this week after hearing about initiatives undertaken by students and other
volunteers to make the town look better.  Cindy Eidson of DCA says rennovation
of the old Lyons theater and plans for an art shop and gallery in Lyons may help
Lyons fill a niche which can be marketed to tourists and townspeople alike.  The
state is working with Lyons Better Hometown manager Joy Lewis with design
and funding issues, according to Eidson.

New Principal at Lyons Elementary

June 12--  A longtime teacher in the Toombs County school system is the new
principal at Lyons Elementary School.  Victor Wolfe, the assistant principal last
year, was recommended by the school council and approved by the Toombs
County school board Tuesday night.  The board also approved Deanna Stoddard
as the new assistant principal at Lyons Elementary, named Benny Dees as assistant
varsity basketball coach at Toombs County High School, and hired the executive
director of the Ohoopee Regional Council for the Arts, Jennifer Beckum, to teach
language arts at the high school.

The Toombs school board and sheriff's office is seeking a federal grant for the
cops in schools program.  If approved, sheriff's deputies would be stationed in the
county high school and middle school during school hours starting this school term.

And good news for property tax payers in Toombs County.  The school board has
approved its tentative budget for the new year including nearly $2.5 million in local
tax dollars.  Superintendent Dr. Kendall Brantley says there will be no increase in
the school tax millage rate, it remains at 13 mils.  The overall budget is more than
$30 million including $11 million in capital projects.

Back on the Bench

June 11--  Judge Don Carpenter is going back on the state court bench in
Toombs County.  Judge Carpenter will hold court temporarily starting June
21st due to the announcement by state court judge Mackie Bryant that he
is running for the superior court seat currently held by Judge Walter McMillan
of Sandersville.  Governor Roy Barnes will appoint a replacement to complete
Bryant's unexpired four-year term.  Judge Carpenter retired from the bench in
2000 and was succeeded by Bryant.

Vidalia to Extend Water Lines

June 11--  The Vidalia city council has okayed extension of city water to
two new homes being built on Forest Lake Drive.  The homes are outside
the city limits, however, city manager Bill Torrance told the council Monday
that the city will shortly have enough signatures to proceed with annexation
of Bob Sharp Road and Forest Lake Drive into the city.

The council also granted a zoning variance to the Harvest Time Church of
God to build a 6,000 square foot activity center at 506 First Avenue, and heard
from chamber exec Bill Mitchell that 36 people have submitted applications to
be in the next Leadership Toombs-Montgomery class.

Voting Space Acquired

June 11--  Toombs County commissioners have okayed the purchase of a
portable classroom from Vidalia City Schools to house new computer voting
machines and to provide training space for election supervisor Jackie Driskoll.
The county is getting 46 touch-screen machines for November's general election.
Commissioner Louie Powell says the county's paying $6,500 and will locate
the building adjacent to the eastern side of the courthouse.

Three Killed in Accident

June 10--  Friday night rains which moved through the area are being
blamed for a two-car wreck which killed three people.  The Georgia
State Patrol says the accident happened on U.S. One four miles north
of Lyons near Aaron's Store.  According to Trooper W.G. Jerriel, a car
travelling south on U.S. One hydroplaned into the path of a northbound
car driven by 51-year-old Betty Jo Anthony of Lyons.  She was killed
and her son, 35-year-old Jesse Anthony, and her sister-in-law, 53-year-old
Vivian Anthony, both of Lyons, died later at Meadows Regional Medical
Center in Vidalia.  A 15-year-old passenger in the other car, Colby Hall
of Lyons, was taken to Memorial Health Center in Savannah in serious
condition.  Less seriously injured were 21-year-old Sean Hagerty and
15-year-old Ron Shaw, both of Oak Park.

A fourth traffic fatality happened Friday afternoon near Glennville. Willy Joe Lane
of Glennville died when his car hit a ditch and overturned.

Murder Indictments in Toombs County

June 10--  The May term of the Toombs County grand jury convened Monday
and returned 14 indictments, including two for murder.  Twenty-four-year old
John Slyka of Toombs County was indicted for killing his father and burning
and dismembering his body in May of last year.  And Charles Adams Gay of
Lyons was indicted for the killing of eight-year-old Shaqita Jones of Lyons
last October.

Aggravated assault indictments were returned against Ralph Hamilton, Henry Louie
Thompson, and Jimmy Lee Knight.  Indicted for burglary are Shane Moxley and
Pete Phelps, Timothy Lamar Scott, Tommy Lee Jackson, and Tyrone Stafford.
Daniel Lee Wood of Toombs County is indicted for theft by receiving stolen
property; Denitra Kena Sanders of Lyons for cruelty to children; Miller Lee
Smith, Deleon Cortez Brownlee and Neil Smith for cocaine-related drug charges;
and Lonnie Lanier Jr. for shoplifting.

The grand jury is also seeking to fill two vacancies on the Toombs County Board
of Tax Equalization.

Judge Hears Montgomery Tax Commissioner Case

June 10--  Attorneys in the Montgomery County Tax Commissioner case made
their oral arguments before Judge H. Frederick Mullis, Jr. Monday morning
at the Wheeler County courthouse in Alamo.  Tax commissioner Lawanna
Sharpe is being sued by the Montgomery County commissioners to return up
to $90,000 in tag fees which they claim she collected illegally from 1990 to
2000.  No idea when Judge Mullis will make a decision in the case.  Sharpe
is represented by Howard Kaufold of Vidalia while county attorney Mackie
Bryant of Vidalia represents the county commissioners.

Poker Machine Deadline

June 7--  Store owners who have video poker machines in their
businesses are being warned to get rid of them by the end of June.
The state legislature has outlawed the machines in Georgia, and
Toombs County Sheriff Junior Kight is alerting vendors to remove
them by the June 30th deadline.  Sheriff Kight says local law enforcement
is cooperating with state authorities to get the machines out of the state.

Sales Tax Collections Down in State, Up in Vidalia

June 7--  The state revenue department reports that, so far this year,
sales tax collections are down statewide by nearly four percent.  However,
in Vidalia, city officials say sales tax collections are up nearly two percent.
City manager Bill Torrance believes Vidalia retail sales have remained steady
because the town is a regional shopping center and most sales are generated
by commodities as opposed to luxury items.

More Indictments for Swainsboro Businessman

June 7--  A federal grand jury in Savannah has added five new indictments
against a Swainsboro businessman.  In March, Erwin David Rabhan was charged
with 22 counts of defrauding the Kingdom of Swaziland of $6,000,000.  This month,
the grand jury further indicted Rabhan for defrauding a Florida bank of $5,000,000
to help build a catfish processing plant in Wrightsville.

Mason Free on Bond

June 6--  The East Georgia College professor accused of killing his wife
is free on bond.  Emanuel County Sheriff Tyson Stephens reports that
Walter Mason was freed on a $100,000 cash bond Thursday after the
bond was reduced from $150,000 by Superior Court Judge Kathy Palmer.
Mason is charged with fatally stabbing his wife in the throat April 29th at
their home near Swainsboro.

Lyons Police Chief Search

June 6--  The search is on for a new police chief in Lyons and, so far,
eight people have applied for the job.  City manager Rick Hartley says
applications will be accepted until August 1st for review by search
committee members Carlton Robbins and Ivey Toole, Jr.  He says they
hope to fill the job by October 1st.  Former chief Jack Caves is holding
down the job on a interim basis following the resignation of James Reid.

The Better Hometown Program in Lyons is being honored as a model
by the state of Georgia.  A delegation from the Department of Community
Affairs will visit Lyons Tuesday for a first-hand look.

In other news from the May Lyons city council meeting, the council
approved a two percent pay raise for city employees effective July 1st.
The council also agreed to budget $5,000 for next year's regional
tourism budget, and was told by Mayor John Moore that a recent
meeting in Atlanta with the Department of Transportation held out little
hope for one-way pairs through Lyons when U.S. One is four-laned.
The mayor says a Lyons bypass seems the way the project will go,
but DOT did agree to consider some Lyons access roads off the bypass.

New Soperton Health Clinic

June 6--  Soperton is getting a second medical clinic.  Treutlen County
commissioners are leasing the old stockyard property at the corner of
Highways 221 and 15 to the Emanuel Medical Center in Swainsboro.
Chief Financial Officer H.D. Cannington says they plan to construct the new
medical clinic building by early Fall and that it will be staffed daily by family
practitioner Dr. Michael Mulberry of Swainsboro.  Cannington reports the
doctor will also be doing preventive medicine work with chronically ill
patients in the Treutlen area.  Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia
also operates a medical clinic in Soperton.

Tourism Officers Elected

June 5--  The newly formed regional tourism council for Toombs and Montgomery
counties gave itself a new name and elected its first slate of officers at its meeting
Tuesday.  The new name is the Vidalia Area Convention and Visitors Bureau headed by
chairperson Lisa Adams of Vidalia, vice-chair Johnny Clifton of Montgomery County,
secretary Joy Lewis of Lyons, and treasurer Bill Torrance of Vidalia.  Toombs
commissioner Roy Lee Williams was named to the board replacing commission
chairman Charles Rustin who's an ex-officio member of the board.  The board will
meet again next week to continue the hiring process for a tourism director.

FBI Reorganization Will Impact Drug War

June 5--  The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Rick Thompson
of Vidalia, says his office's fight against drug dealers may be temporarily impeded
by the FBI's new mission.  Now that the FBI is focusing on anti-terrorism, some
agents formerly assigned to drug cases are being diverted.  Thompson says he hopes
the Drug Enforcement Agency will be given additional agents to make up for the
loss of FBI investigators.  At a meeting of the Vidalia Rotary Club, Thompson also
said he wants more counties in his 43-county district to take part in a federal program
which requires more jail time for criminals who use guns in the commission of
crimes.  Thompson says, so far, 17 of the 43 counties, including Toombs and
Montgomery, have cooperated with federal officials in Project Ceasefire.

Montgomery to Collect More Sales Tax

June 4--  Population growth during the 90's in rural Montgomery County
means the county's share of local option sales tax collections will increase.
At the same time, five of the six towns in the county will see a decrease
in their share of collections.  County administrator Keith Hamilton briefed
commissioners Tuesday that Montgomery County's share will increase
by about seven percent.  Higgston's percentage remains the same, Mount
Vernon will lose about three percent, and Tarrytown, Uvalda, Ailey and
Alston will also see slight decreases.

The county's chief tax appraiser, Lawrence McCall, invited the commissioners
to a meeting June 19th with the Board of Tax Assessors for results of the
county's tax revaluation project.  The county tax digest is expected to increase
in value due to the addition of new property to the tax rolls and higher value
of existing property.

Johnny Clifton of the Montgomery County Development Authority reports
the Department of Natural Resources has a $540,000 project to build a welcome
center and boating facilities at the Uvalda Landing on Towns Bluff in Jeff
Davis County.  He also said the county is seeking a $224,000 state grant to
buy 56 acres of land in Ailey for an industrial site with rail access, and is paying
about $1500 to four landowners on the Old Kibbee Road north of Tarrytown
for right of way for replacement of a bridge over Tiger Creek.

Local Prison Guard Dies of Injuries

June 4--  A 41-year-old prison guard from Vidalia has died of injuries
received at the Georgia State Prison on May 20th.  Scott Stallings of
the Department of Corrections says James Henderson died Monday
at Memorial Health Center of Savannah.  Henderson suffered massive
head injuries when attacked by maximum security prisoner Napoleon
Harris of Cook County who's serving time for armed robbery and has
had three other altercations with prison guards since 1996.  Officials say
he will now be charged with Henderson's murder.  Another local prison
guard, 57-year-old Arnie Oliver of Toombs County, came to Henderson's
aid and was also injured by Harris.  Oliver was treated and released from
Evans Memorial Hospital in Claxton.  Henderson had a ten-year-old daughter
living in North Carolina with his former wife.

Long Test Drive

June 3--  A man and woman from Baxley were stopped at the Canadian
border in a vehicle they were supposedly taking on a test drive from
Vidalia Pontiac-Buick.  Vidalia police investigator Mitch Bellflower says
Adhira Singh Virk, an illegal immigrant from Canada, and Stephanie Sellars
were given a 2001 GMC Yukon for an overnight test drive.  The next day,
the border patrol stopped the pair on the Michigan-Canadian border because
the Yukon had improper tags.  They also found drugs on Sellars.  The INS
is deporting Virk, and Sellars is facing misdemeanor drug charges in Michigan.

2002 STC Foundation Fund Drive

June 3--  Last year, local citizens contributed some $100,000 to the annual
fund drive of the Southeastern Tech Foundation, and overall, the foundation
raised $315,000 for the college through various grants and gifts.  This year,
foundation officials are hoping for even better results.  And they're off to
a good start.  Meadows Regional Medical Center has pledged $50,000 over
a five-year period to help the college's medical technology programs, and
two truck-driving simulators valued at $97,000 are being donated by the
Rural Development Administration of the Department of Agriculture.  STC
is the second fastest growing technical college in Georgia, and campaign
chairman Tom Peterson credits much of the college's success to community
support.

Space Needed in Toombs County Courthouse

June 1--  Toombs County commissioners have started the ball rolling
to add at least 4,000 square feet to the county courthouse in Lyons.
After a discussion with county election supervisor Jackie Driskoll about
space for 46 new computerized voting machines for the county, the
commissioners passed a motion supporting commission chairman Charles
Rustin's initiative to get a design for a new addition to the courthouse.
Meanwhile, they're investigating purchase of a portable classroom to provide
training and storage space for the new voting machines.

Guilty Pleas Entered

June 1--  Seven people were sentenced after entering guilty pleas last week
in Toombs County Superior Court.  Angela Dawn Copeland and Richard
Copeland received 11 years and ten years respectively for multiple counts
of child molestation.  Major Gaffney got a three-year term for a burglary
at Stewart's Quality Meats in Vidalia.  In drug cases, Michael Everette Wooten
got five years, James Bostic's probation was reversed, and Nija Ransom of Lyons
got five years.  And Willie James Sellars got 15 years probation and was ordered
to pay Robert Lee restitution of $37,000.  Sellars was charged with serious injury
with a vehicle and DUI with an all terrain vehicle.

DOT Foods Driver Safety Rodeo

June 1--  Twenty-three tractor-trailer drivcrs at DOT Foods competed Saturday
in the company's first Vidalia driver safety rodeo.  The drivcrs negotiated an
obstacle course and received points for safety and time.  Trophy winners
include Joey Eason of Vidalia for first, Charles Edwards for second and
Stu McDonald for third.  DOT Foods moved its southeast distribution
center to Vidalia in 1998.
 
 

This site is a member of The American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP), an unincorporated not-for-profit network of independent sites devoted to History & Genealogy, and covering North American Countries and Territories. For more information about our group, including how you can join us, please see our About page.

Index          GeoUrl.Info                               Home
URL: http://toombs.150m.com/news/radio.htm ? Updated: Saturday, November 12, 2005. Top