WISK / WDEC

“Local News’

Friday February 27th, 2015

*UPDATE*

A called meeting of the Mayor and City Council was held yesterday at the request of Police Chief Brian Carney. He started by asking for a 10% salary increase across the board for all Police Department employees. This led to questions from the Council. It was not that they were against the salary increase but how would this get funded? During the question and answer session, it was pointed out that the Police Department was NOT fully staffed—actually they are 11 officers short of it. Chief Carney said overall that modern day crime fighting is lacking for his department. He went on to mention salary increases, hiring qualified officers who actually WANTED to be in law enforcement and vehicles. Again there was much discussion about how this would be funded. CAO Billy Beckett did say that reserves COULD be used to do so but that was just an option. After an hour of discussion, Chief Carney was told to get bids for 3 vehicles for his department which was not the full request but a start to getting back on track. CAO Beckett and staff were given the task of looking into salary increases for all City employees. These results will come back at the March briefings.

Also on the agenda was CAO Beckett talking to Mayor and Council of the differences in the CAO position and the City Manager that the City is seeking to change to. He discussed the differences in the 2 positions and what the Council should be prepared for in this change over. The City Manager applications are due by the close of business on Monday March 16^th.

The City of Americus has announced a road closure starting this Tuesday March 3rd. McGarrah Street will be closed near the train tracks for repairs beginning Tuesday and ending, barring any weather delays, on Thursday March 5^th. All drivers should be on the look out for detour signs and be prepared to adjust your travel time to allow for the road closure starting next Tuesday March 3^rd.

The weather should cooperate for the Memorial Ride for Sambo Singletary tomorrow morning. All bikers, individuals or from groups, should gather tomorrow morning at the intersection of US 19 south and US 280 west starting at 9am. Riders will assemble from 9 to 9:30 to be followed by a safety meeting and prayer from 9:30 to 10. At 10, kick stands go up and the Memorial Ride for Sambo Singletary begins. Sambo’s family is sponsoring this Memorial Ride and once again, all riders are welcome to join in.

Americus Police were busy on Thursday. An assault battery and theft occurred at 206-F 16^th Green resulting from a domestic call.

A shoplifting incident was reported at 804 Adderton Street.

Kevin Robert Peaster was charged with 2-counts of simple battery (DVA) at 214 Columbia Avenue after a domestic call.

A criminal attempt to commit robbery occurred at 926 MLK Boulevard.

Responding to a domestic situation at apartment 216 140 Lonnie Lane, Quinton Rashad Roberts was arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

A theft took place from 1711 E. Lamar Street.

Santo Mario Robinson was arrested at 101-C Country Club Drive and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession and use of drug-related objects and tampering with evidence.

An unruly juvenile complaint was made at 403-B Bessie Mays Circle.

A criminal trespass complaint was filed at 10-A 901 Davenport Street.

An auto was entered at 721-C Felder Street.

A suspicious person was reported last night at 504 Reese Park.

A burglary was investigated at 45-A Reddick Drive.

*UPDATE*

Sumter County Sheriff’s Deputies worked a total of 30 incidents on Thursday. A suspicious vehicle complaint on Georgia Highway 3 at Pine Level Road resulted in Florentine Martinez being charged with driving while unlicensed. Another suspicious vehicle complaint was made on Murphy Mill Road at Tommy Hooks Road. Deputies conducted 11 traffic stops. Vickey E. Grier, Brittany K. Wallace and Aayesha J. Reese were given speeding tickets on Highway 30 west. Caitlin E. Cooper was issued a speeding ticket on Highway 377. Warnings were issued in the other traffic cases. Thefts took place from 182 Buchanan Road and 105 Fifth Street.

Housed in the Sumter County Jail today: Darren Alexander Carter for child support; Takesha Monique Lawson for failure to maintain lane/ open container/ violation of conditions of a limited permit/ DUI/ and failure to appear; Robert Benjamin Ledbetter for probation violation; Kevin Robert Peaster for simple assault (DVA); Santo Mario Robinson for possession and use of drug-related objects/ possession of marijuana/ and tampering with evidence; and John Albert Smiley for aggravated assault (DVA) and discharge of firearms on or near public highway or street.