WISK / WDEC

"Local News"

Tuesday May 15th, 2018

*UPDATE*

We need rain and today marks almost one full week of some type of rain whether light or heavy with thunderstorms. The rains started overnight on the light side but is expected to get heavier throughout today and stays with us tonight, Wednesday and through the weekend. While the higher rain chances are during the week at 80-90%, the weekend rain chances are in the 50-60% range. We will not see any 90-degree highs this week due to the cloud cover and rains but the humidity will still make it feel hot and sticky.

In case of rain, today’s Peace Officer Memorial Day Service at noon will be moved inside to Council Chambers of the Public Safety Building downtown. Seven officers have lost their lives in the line of duty in Americus since John Kimmey, the first Sheriff of Sumter County was killed on December 11^th, 1839. Each participating agency—Americus Police, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Southwestern State University police will present a memorial wreath in memory of their fallen officer and family members will place a carnation on the wreath in memory of their fallen hero. The community is encouraged to attend.

The Facebook pages of OneSumter, Americus Times-Recorder, the Sumter County Schools and Chamber of Commerce will be taken over by Americus-Sumter High School Marketing students today to get citizen input on the new College and Career Academy. Student videos and other great things about the College and Career Academy will be shown on these Facebook pages or you can come to the Municipal Building downtown between 11:30-1:30 and see these videos. Come see where the College and Career Academy is taking Americus and Sumter County!

Early voting will end at the Elections Office at the Sumter County Courthouse this Friday May 18^th. You can early vote from 8 to 5. If you do not early vote the rest of this week, you will go to your usual polling place one week from today on May 22^nd and vote.

The monthly meeting of the Sumter County Commissioners is at 6 this evening in the Commissioners Room at the Sumter County Courthouse. The community is encouraged to attend.

The regular monthly meeting of the Alexander H. Stephens Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans is tonight at 7 at the American Legion Hall on MLK Boulevard. A representative from the Columbus Civil War Museum will present the program. All members and friends are urged to attend.

The Americus Fire & Emergency Services will begin annual hydrant testing on Monday May 21^st and should be finished within 6-weeks. These tests are required to maintain Americus’ ISO rating which affects property insurance rates. They also ensure that the hydrant system is kept in top working order, to keep our citizens safe and to protect property.

This is the last week of school for students in the Sumter County School system. Baccalaureate services will be on Thursday evening at 8 at Finklea-Robinson Field and graduation is also planned at 8 Friday night at Finklea-Robinson Field. These are still scheduled for outside for now but rain chances remain high on Thursday and Friday night.

The agenda setting meeting of the Mayor and City Council for the May monthly meeting is this Thursday May 17^th at 6 in Council Chambers of the Public Safety Building. The regular monthly meeting will be on Thursday May 24^th at 6 in Council Chambers.

It was a rather busy Monday for the Americus Police Department. Criminal trespass complaints were made at 312 College Street; 700 E. Church Street; and on Oak Avenue at Glessner.

A burglary, felony theft and interference with government property occurred at 229 Railroad Street at the City Shop. A vehicle was taken but was recovered later yesterday morning. This case remains under further investigation.

A burglary was investigated at 925 N. MLK Boulevard.

An auto was entered at 76 Barbara Battle Way.

An aggravated assault-aggressive driving-and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime is being investigated at 220 Horton Drive. Warrants have been taken on one suspect in this case.

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

There were 3 accidents worked by APD on Monday with no reported injuries.

*UPDATE*

From Monday’s Sumter County Sheriff’s incidents, Deputies worked 4 traffic stops. At a stop on US 19S at Little Bear Branch Road, Vera Sykes was cited for expired tag. After a stop on Thomas Drive at Sullivan Drive, Rodney W. Brown was charged with driving with a suspended license. Following a traffic stop on Highway 30, Timothy Loud was charged with failure to maintain insurance. Threats were reported at 210 Little Bear Branch Road. Deputies responded to 1 domestic call. There was 1 deer-related accident worked by a Deputy yesterday.

In the Sumter County Jail today are Christopher Ryan Ross for Southwestern probation and Christopher Allen Sims for aggravated assault/ robbery/ and theft by taking. 3 were released from jail yesterday after making bond.