WISK / WDEC

“Local News’

Friday December 2^nd, 2022

*UPDATE#1 and #2*

It was one of the best if not the longest Christmas parades in a long, long time in downtown Americus last night. The parade started at 7 and it was nearly 15-minutes before it reached the judging area in front of the Windsor Hotel. There may have been more floats in this years’ parade than in recent years and the judges had a hard time deciding on the overall winner. The parade also had quite a few vehicles as well as marching units. The streets were lines with people waiting on the grand finale of Santa Claus waving to one and all atop a firetruck. The annual Americus Christmas Parade is always held on the first Thursday in December so mark your calendar now for Thursday December 7^th 2023. *UPDATE#1* The Americus Main Street announced the winners in several categories from last night’s parade this morning:

Float winners: 1^st place-Perry Wellness Center; 2^nd place-Air Evac Life Team; 3^rd place-New Life Addiction Recovery Center

Best choreographed marching unit-Sumter County HS Marching Band

Best Community Spirit-Sumter County Middle School cheerleaders

Best Overall Christmas Theme-Perry Wellness Center.

Downtown Americus will be a busy place again tonight for First Friday. First Friday, a downtown-wide open house, will have a theme tonight of “Home for the Holidays” from 5 to 8pm. Many activities will be available for everyone in the family tonight downtown. Many merchants will be open late until 8 for some First Friday Christmas shopping. There is also a strong possibility of another Santa sighting tonight in downtown Americus during First Friday.

Today marks the end of early voting in the Senatorial runoff. In Sumter County the Sumter County Fairgrounds is expected to be another busy place today if the last 3 days are any indication. 871 voted on Tuesday, 812 voted Wednesday and 843 cast ballots yesterday. The total to early vote through Thursday is now at 3108. Early voting ends at 5 this afternoon. If you plan on voting and do not do so by 5 this afternoon, plan on going to your usual polling precinct this Tuesday December 6^th and vote from 7 until 7. The only change to the Tuesday voting is that renovation work at the Griffin Bell Golf & Conference Center is still underway and that voting precinct is held once again at the old JROTC building on the old Americus-Sumter South Campus off Harrold Avenue.

Post 10 of the Georgia State Patrol in Americus is having a Toys for Tots campaign this weekend. Saturday and Sunday, December 3^rd and 4^th from 10 until 2, Drop by the Americus Wal-Mart and make a donation of a toy or monetary donation. Your donations will be used to make a better Christmas for a boy or girl this year. All donations this weekend will be greatly appreciated. Senior Trooper D. Greene is spearheading this weekend’s Toys for Tots campaign.

Maybe it was the cool day and cold night or the fact that many were at the Christmas Parade last night but Americus Police report a rather quiet Thursday overall. A financial transaction card fraud was reported for investigation.

A criminal trespass complaint was made at 121 Cherokee Street.

Another burglary was investigated by APD yesterday. This one was at 914 Elizabeth Street and was a 1^st degree felony burglary. This is now the fourth 1^st degree felony burglary investigated by Americus Police this week.

An entered auto occurred in the parking lot at 119 N. Lee Street.

Damage to property in the area of 603 N. Lee Street was discovered around 2:21 this morning.

A hit-n-run accident was investigated on Cotton Avenue at W. Lamar Street.

Officers responded to 1 miscellaneous call and 3 domestic-related calls yesterday.

Tuesday December 6^th is Shop with a Cop. Donations are already being accepted for next year’s Shop with a Cop event to make it bigger and better for more deserving kids. You can make your donation to the Americus Police Benevolence Fund and can drop it off at the Public Safety Building. Due to the generosity this year from the community, all gift cards have been purchased for this Tuesday night to go Shop with a Cop!

*UPDATE#2*

Sumter County Sheriff’s Deputies were busy working 5 accidents on Thursday with 4 of the 5 being deer-related traffic crashes. A child molestation case is under further investigation. 4 activated alarms were checked out. Deputies did respond to a domestic-related call yesterday.

In the Sumter County Jail today is Wayne Anthony Hart—housing for Schley County.

The Sumter County BOE will have committee meetings for Finance/ Personnel/ and Property this Monday afternoon December 5^th at 4pm. A work session will follow at 6. The regular monthly meeting of the Sumter County BOE is Thursday December 8^th at 7pm. All Meetings will be held in the SCS Administration Building boardroom. These meetings are open to the public.