WISK / WDEC

"Local News"

Tuesday July 22nd, 2014

*UPDATE*

It’s finally Election Day! Voters have been early voting since June 30^th and if you didn’t vote during that early voting period, then you go to the polls today and cast your ballot. You will go to your usual voting precinct today to cast your ballot—not the Courthouse as that was for the early voting period only. The polls are open until 7 this evening. On the local level, there are 2 seats on the BOE that voters will be filling. All voters in all 5 county districts are voting for Michael Coley Sr. or Sylvia Roland as the BOE 2-year at-large candidate. These were the top 2 in the May primary. Another race is the District 2 BOE representative. Everett Byrd and Meda Krenson are seeking to fill the BOE District 2 seat. District 2 voters will decide this race AND vote for the at-large candidate today. It’s Election Day and go out and exercise your right to vote if you haven’t already done so. There are some statewide races on many of today’s ballots so that is another reason to get out and vote!

Today and tomorrow are big days for the local Boys and Girls Club. Tonight at the GSW Student Success Center, it’s the 16^th annual Steak & Stake fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club. Americus native and former NFL Head Coach Dan Reeves will deliver tonight’s keynote address. The evening begins with a silent auction at 5 to be followed by the dinner and program at 6.

Tomorrow, the community is invited to attend a special dedication as the Boys and Girls Club of Americus/Sumter County becomes the Bill Harris Sr. Boys and Girls Club. The ceremony begins at noon tomorrow at 551 Hosanna Circle. Special dignitaries will be on hand for this special day and the entire community is encouraged to attend.

Georgia’s Sales Tax Holiday is next weekend, August 1^st and 2^nd. This year it’s only for 2 days to shop and save for back-to-school clothing and school supplies. There is a huge list of items that will be tax-exempt during the 2-day shopping period. This year the Sales tax Holiday is AFTER the Sumter County Schools Open House. At the Open House, parents can get a list of needed school supplies and then go shop and save during the Sales Tax Holiday. Open House is Thursday July 31^st and again the Sales Tax Holiday is August 1^st and 2^nd. Open House will be from 5 to 7pm for primary and elementary schools and 6 to 8pm for middle and high schools.

New teacher orientation is July 23^rd and 24^th this week. Pre-planning in the Sumter County Schools is July 29^th through August 1^st. Students in the Sumter County Schools return to class on Monday August 4^th.

Americus Police reports show that a newspaper box was stolen yesterday at 602 E. Forsyth Street. Not just the coin portion but the entire newspaper box was physically removed from the location. Another theft occurred at 104-A Bozeman Circle.

Criminal trespass complaints were made yesterday 516 Hancock Drive, 805 Harrold Avenue and Oak Avenue areas and at 915 Davenport Street.

A case of identity fraud is under further investigation.

An animal complaint was made at 119 Ashby Street.

Officers were busy yesterday answering 5 domestic-related calls. One of the calls was to a simple battery from a physical domestic situation at 112-B Bozeman Circle last night.

Hit-n-run accidents were reported at 207 Ashby Street, at 602 E. Forsyth and at 1206 Crawford Street although that was technically a colliding with a fixed object case.

Officers reported no accidents in the City yesterday.

*UPDATE*

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office reports the following are currently housed in the Sumter County Jail: Jonathan Keith Barnes-aggravated stalking and probation; Dominique Lorenzo Clark-City Contempt and City probation; Matthew Charles Drake-City contempt; Bobby Lee Fletcher-City contempt; Darian Floyd-probation; Antonio Leon Golphin-City contempt; Tamika Hartage-City contempt; Rodney Dean Hunter-failure to appear; Ebony Lawson-City contempt; Londell Katrell Marshall-probation violation; Alexander M. Moore-City contempt; Jessica Renee Reynolds-City contempt and City probation; Terrance Renard Roberts-driving on a suspended license/ expired tag/ giving a false name to law enforcement officer; and Michael Daniel Styles-simple battery and probation.

Deputies worked 32 total incidents on Monday. A traffic stop on Crawford Street resulted in the arrest of Gina D. Wade for failure to obey traffic control devices. There were 6 traffic stops conducted by deputies yesterday. A criminal trespass complaint was made at 207 Ashby Street and at 203 Ashby Street. Deputies responded to several alarm activations around the County yesterday. There were several civil matters responded to by deputies. Another illegal dumping case was reported on W. Rockhill Drive.