WISK / WDEC

“Local News’

Friday March 22^nd, 2019

*UPDATE*

A public hearing was held last evening during the monthly meeting of the Mayor and City Council. The public hearing was for an annexation request for a dialysis facility at 1219 S. MLK Boulevard. After the public hearing, the meeting moved to agenda items. For the 29^th consecutive year, the City’s Finance Department was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting. A proclamation was issued for Natural Gas Utility Worker’s Day. A proclamation for recognition of March as Women’s History Month was made and all women in attendance received a rose. A first reading was heard on the annexation request for 1219 S. MLK Boulevard and final action will take place next month. Council suspended the rules and approved a 2018 budget ordinance amendment. Herschel Smith was named as a joint appointment to the Land Bank Authority replacing Scott Ivey. Tracy Law was reappointed to the Theater Authority. Patricia Harris was appointed to the Theater Authority. General Reid and Wade Bartlett were reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Eloise Paschal was appointed to the Lake Blackshear Regional Library Board. After a few comments and announcements, the meeting was adjourned.

The Miss SAR Pageant will be held tonight at 8 in the Melvin T. Kinslow Gym on the Southland Academy campus. Tickets are on sale in the Southland Academy front office or at Clinic Drugs. Tickets will be on sale at the door tonight.

The Sumter County Schools will host a Spring 2019 Teacher Job Fair on Thursday March 28^th from 4 to 6pm in the boardroom of the SCS Administration Building. This recruitment fair is to hire educators who are certified or are eligible for certification in several elementary and secondary areas. The job fair is the chance to visit with administrators for all schools and programs and receive information about the schools. For more information on the Teacher Job Fair, visit www.sumterschools.org.

An Evening of Jazz featuring the Americus-Sumter Jazz Band will be held on Friday March 29^th at 7pm at The Carnegie at 111 S. Jackson Street in downtown Americus. Dinner tickets are $20. Tickets are available at the ASHS band room or call 229-931-8598. All proceeds will be used to help the ASHS band program.

3 weeks from today, the 24^th annual Americus Fire and Emergency Services Benefit Golf Tournament will be played at the Griffin Bell Golf Links. This will be a 3-man scramble format divided into 2 flights. Players’ names and handicaps should be turned in by April 8^th if at all possible. All proceeds from the tournament will be used to support AFES Community Safety and Fire Prevention programs right here in Americus. For more information or to sign up your team or teams, call Harriett Williams at 229-924-3213.

It’s been well over a week since any significant rain has fallen and knocked out some of the pollen in the air. For the last few days we all have been under a HIGH pollen alert and the breezy conditions hasn’t helped those of us who suffer from spring allergies. A chance of rain is in the extended forecast and starts on Monday. Sneezing, coughing, sore throats and sinus problems have been running rampant the last week or so. The yellow tint of pollen-covered things may finally come clean with the rains next week.

From the Thursday Americus Police incidents, following a traffic stop on Ashby at N. Lee, Cameron S. Wilson was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

A financial transaction card fraud was reported for investigation.

Responding to a hit-n-run on Elm at Glessner, Alexander Marquez-Reyes was arrested for driving without a valid license; open container; DUI-less safe alcohol; failure to maintain lane; failure to stop at a stop sign; reckless driving; and hit-n-run.

Officers went to a suspicious incident at 808 N. Jackson Street.

An unruly juvenile complaint was made at 1550 E. Forsyth Street.

A simple battery occurred on Cherokee Street.

A suspicious vehicle was spotted on Railroad Street at Mayo and Tykeisha Ousley was arrested for possession of marijuana-less than an ounce.

A shoplifting incident occurred just after midnight at 1711 E. Lamar Street.

Officers answered 1 domestic-related and 1 miscellaneous call yesterday.

There was 1 accident around town on Thursday that had no reported injuries.

There are literally a handful of individual tickets remaining for tomorrow night’s 3^rd annual Paint the Town Blue Gala sponsored by the Smarr-Smith Foundation. To purchase tickets, go to www.smarrsmithfoundation.com. The event starts at 6 tomorrow evening in the GSW Storm Dome.

*UPDATE*

Sumter County Sheriff’s Deputies went to suspicious vehicle complaints yesterday to 264 W. Rockhill Drive and to Lot 101 165 Culpepper Drive. Deputies conducted 5 traffic stops. After a stop on Highway 49N, Bertha Holt was charged with speeding. A suspicious person was spotted on the SGT Parkway near Lacross Road. Damage to property was reported at 140 Tulip Drive and 1758 Highway 30W. Deputies went on 1 domestic-related call. A civil complaint was made on US 280 at Rockhill Drive. Several prisoner transports were made yesterday. There were 2 accidents yesterday—1 was turned over to Troopers from Post 10 while the other was deer-related involving a Deputy’s cruiser.

In the Sumter County Jail today are Paula Ranee Johnson for criminal trespass and Erick Sherrod Wright for felony probation violation. 1 was released from jail after posting bond.