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Local News

Thursday May 16^th, 2019

*UPDATE*

The annual Women’s Health Fair is this Saturday May 18^th and will be held in the Student Success Center (the Storm Dome) on the GSW campus from 8 to noon. The event, which is free to the public, will feature health screenings, informational booths and physician-led discussions on women’s health. The free screenings, including blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, will be held from 8 to 9. The keynote speaker this year is Dominique Dawes, Gold Medal winning Olympic gymnast. The annual Women’s Health Fair is sponsored by PSMC and for more information, you can call 229-931-6812.

The agenda-setting meeting of the Mayor and City Council is at 6 this evening in Council Chambers of the Public Safety Building downtown. This meeting is open for the community to attend. The regular City Council monthly meeting will be held on Thursday May 23^rd at 6pm.

The Public Safety Building was the backdrop for the Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony on Wednesday. 7 officers—5 from the Americus Police Department; 1 from GSW State University Police; and 1 from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were recognized after being killed in the line of duty. State Representative Marc Morris from Cumming Georgia, a direct descendant of Officer William R. Morris who was killed in 1907, delivered the keynote address. A great crowd attended the ceremony yesterday.

One week from tonight, Baccalaureate services will be held for Americus-Sumter HS and Southland Academy. Central Baptist Church is the location for Southland’s Baccalaureate next Thursday and will start at 7pm. Americus-Sumter’s Baccalaureate service will be held at 8 at Finklea-Robinson Field. Graduation for both schools will follow on Friday May 24^th. Southland Academy will graduate at 7 in the Melvin T. Kinslow gym. Graduation at Americus-Sumter will be at Finklea-Robinson Field and will start at 8. The school year ends next week.

Schley County is playing for state next week in Savannah. The Wildcats beat Irwin County in the deciding third game last evening and now plays Gordon Lee for the state crown on Monday May 20^th.

The spring football game for the Americus-Sumter Panthers will be tomorrow night in Macon against SW Macon. Kick-off is at 7 tomorrow night at the Ed Defore Sports Complex. New Head Football Coach Ross Couch will get a chance to see how the spring practice pays off when they line up and play another team tomorrow night in Macon.

The community’s help is still needed to bring a shooter to justice. The shooting occurred last Sunday night in the Bessie Mays Circle-Norman Cole area. K’darious Bartlett of a Columbus address was shot in the left arm and had to be taken to the Emergency Room for treatment. Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the shooter can call the APD Criminal Investigation Division at 229-924-4550 or the Anonymous Tip Line at 229-924-4102.

Americus Police officers had a fairly active Wednesday around town. First, 5 Contempt of Court warrants were issued.

Joseph Myers was arrested at 206 Manhattan Street for an outstanding warrant.

A theft took place from 113 Linnie Street.

An aggravated assault in the Poplar-McCoy Hill area is being investigated.

Markeith C. Muff was arrested at 406-B Academy Street for battery; criminal trespass; and aggravated assault.

Keyamber Harris and Shaquita Daniels were arrested for battery after fighting at 1536 E. Forsyth Street.

2nd degree cruelty to children is under further investigation.

A shoplifting incident occurred at 1700 E. Lamar Street (Lowe’s).

A suspicious incident was reported in the Ridge-Douglas Circle area of a van approaching children.

There was 1 accident worked by APD yesterday that had no reported injuries.

*UPDATE*

From Wednesday’s Sumter County Sheriff’s reports, Deputies conducted 8 traffic stops. Following a traffic stop on US 280E, Brandy C. Smith was charged with speeding. At a stop on US 280W, Khaitlan J. Williams was charged with speeding. Deputies issued warnings in the other traffic cases. A case of identity theft was reported for further investigation. Deputies responded to 2 welfare checks yesterday. 1 was to 110 US 19N in reference to “a female possibly locked in a storage building”. Upon arrival, it was learned from investigation that the owner of the unit actually lived in it. He had a female companion stay with him and told her he leaves early in the morning and did she want him to wake her but got no response. He did leave and locked the unit as usual and once she finally was coherent, she couldn’t get out and called for help. The unit owner was charged with false imprisonment but the charge could be reduced to reckless conduct according to Col. Eric Bryant. This remains under further investigation. The other welfare check was in the Upper River-Neil Hodges Road area to someone possibly parachuting. Deputies responded to 1 accident and turned the investigation over to Trooper Willingham.

In the Sumter County Jail today: Shaquita Tiashay Daniels for battery; Javante Dequawn Dixon for criminal interference with government property; Keyamber Victoria Harris for battery; Markeith Corneal Muff for criminal trespass/ battery/ and aggravated assault; Joseph Myers for felony probation violation; and Edwin Darnell Stephens for false imprisonment.