(Nov 29)-- Toombs County Commissioners are still looking for ways to balance the county's 2001 budget. After a three-hour meeting Wednesday, commissioners were still over a $100,000 dollars in the hole, but that's better than the nearly $600,000 hole they were in when the meeting started. They plan to use at least $350,000 in landfill profits, plus about $130,000 in reductions to the Sheriff's Department budget to make up most of the shortage. More discussions on the budget are expected after the commission's regular meeting the first Tuesday in December.

(Nov 28)-- The Lyons City Council held a two-hour budget session Tuesday night. Projected spending exceeds revenues by about $90,000, and the council may consider increases in trash pickup fees and water and sewer rates. Both the sanitation and water and sewer departments operate at a deficit, according to city manager Rick Hartley. The council discussed a possible water/sewer rate increase of $2 a month and $3 per month for trash pickup. Mayor John Moore says increases in city employee health insurance costs plus high fuel costs are primary reasons for the budget increase.

(Nov 25)-- The office manager for the Toombs County Commission, Roy Stewart, has submitted his letter of resignation. Stewart was suspended without pay earlier this month for using county money to make an unauthorized loan to a county employee. Stewart had the right to appeal his suspension to the full board of commissioners. He has repaid the county $2,850 dollars plus interest, according to Commission Chairman James Thompson who also promised an outside audit to see if other "irregularities" had occurred in his office.

(Nov 25)-- Two people were killed and one was seriously injured in a wreck early Friday morning in Lyons. Police identify the two dead as 23-year-old Avery Toole and 20-year-old Jamie Toler, both of Lyons. Toler's older brother, 23-year-old Corey Toler, suffered serious head injuries and was reported in serious condition at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah. Lyons police chief James Reid says the three were in a 1999 Ford Mustang which left North Victory Drive in Lyons and hit a tree. The two dead men were thrown from the car. The accident happened about 2:30 a.m. Friday.

(Nov 21)-- A former mayor of Tarrytown is the 2000 Citizen of the Year in Montgomery County. JMon Warnock was selected for the honor by the Montgomery County High School Alumni Association which sponsors the annual recognition program. Mr. Warnock was mayor of Tarrytown for over 30 years and has been an active supporter of his community in many volunteer and official capacities. He joins seven other citizens of the year to include Dr. Y. Lynn Holmes, Anice McArthur, Bartow Snooks, Jack LeRoy, Hurtis Ricks, Gary Braddy and J.M. Fountain.

(Nov 20)-- Meadows Regional Medical Center has received approval from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to open a cardiac catherization laboratory. MRMC CEO Alan Kent made the announcement at a ceremony attended by Georgia Lieutenant Governnor Mark Taylor who had formally supported the medical center's request with a letter to DCA. Kent says the heart lab will enable local citizens to obtain many diagnostic and cardiac care services without having to travel out of town. Once a cardiologist is added to the MRMC staff, the hospital will be able to do everything short of open heart surgery. Lieutenant Governor Taylor encouraged area residents to support MRMC with their healthcare dollars. He said MRMC is a bright spot in rural health care in an environment which has seen many small hospitals close and over a hundred lose money in the last couple of years.

(Nov 17)-- The top teacher in the Vidalia City Schools is Rose Wilhite, a third grade reading teacher at Sally Meadows Elementary School. She was chosen in the annual competition and honored Thursday in ceremonies at J.R. Trippe Middle School. Mrs. Wilhite has been at Sally Meadows for four years and said she was accepting the honor on behalf of all teachers. Top teachers at other individual schools for the year are Skye Jordan from J.D. Dickerson Primary School, Charlotte Sissan from J.R. Trippe Middle School, and Diane Kemp from Vidalia High School. All the teachers were presented gifts and Mrs. Wilhite also received a check from the Vidalia Board of Education.

(Nov 16)-- The Lyons City Council met Tuesday night and accepted the resignation of Daryl Corley as the town's public works superintendent. Corley will remain with the city as fire chief. The council also awarded three contracts totaling over $1.3 million to three companies to construct water and sewage facilities for the new Toombs Industrial Center north of Lyons on U.S. One. Elmer Thrift Construction of Waycross will install water and sewage lines to the park for $697,000; Cadwell Tank Company will construct a new water tank for the park for $384,000; and Sam Martin Drilling will drill the well to supply the tank for nearly $262,000. A contract for a lift station for the new sewage line came in higher than expected and will be refined/reduced before new bids are sought. The city has yet to develoop its budget for next year and the council plans to meet November 28 to work on the budget.

And two retirements announced at Tuesday night's meeting of the Vidalia board of education. Assistant Superintendent Charles Cook is retiring January 31, but will still do some "part-time" work for the school system. And J.D. Dickerson Primary School assistant principal Barbara Reid is retiring effective December 31.

(Nov 15)-- The Toombs County Animal Protection Society is closing its adoption shelter in eastern Toombs County. Chris Swick of the APS says funding is the major problem and plans are to close the shelter by the end of the year. According to Swick, 31 dogs are currently at the shelter and are up for adoption free of charge including spaying and neutering paid for by the APS. He says all the dogs are healthy and friendly and would make excellent pets for a family.

(Nov 14)-- Four people were arrested and a fifth was charged Tuesday morning in what the Toombs County Sheriff's office called a bust of "major cocaine distributors." Chief Deputy Barry Brown says the five Lyons residents are "believed to be major suppliers of illegal drugs for southeast Georgia."

Arrested were Lawrence Hugh McCullough, Sr., 43, and his brother, Joel Franklin McCullough, 47, both of Highway 292 in Lyons. Also 63-year-old William David Harden and his 39-year-old wife, Jenny Ellen Harden of John Trull Circle in Lyons. All were charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. And Hugh McCullough's son, 20-year-old Lawrence Hugh McCullough, Jr., was also charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He is currently in state prison for unrelated crimes.

Deputy Brown said five law enforcement agencies conducted a two-year undercover investigation which led to Tuesday's arrests. He said this should make a "big dent" in current drug operations in Toombs County, but he also predicts another dealer will come along to fill the void if the McCulloughs and Hardens are convicted and sent to prison.

How We Voted

(Nov 7)--  Here are local results of Tuesday's general election voting.

                    President             U.S. Senate                GA Senate               U.S. Representative
County        Bush/Gore          Mattingly/Miller         Wilson/Williams       Griggs/Kingson
Toombs           4,487/ 2,643               2,753 /  2,654                     1,286 / 5,063                    1,425 / 4,754

Montgomery    1,465/ 1,013                  947 /  1,221                        795 /  1,282               CHAMBLISS/MARSHALL
                                                                                                                                                  951 /  776

Treutlen            1,062 /  879                  663 /  1,147                       GILLIS / MORING          1,OO8  /  874
                                                                                                         1,364 /  610 Overall winners in the state and their respective districts are Bush for President, Miller for U.S. Senate, Williams for 6th District, State Senate; Gillis for 20th District, State Senate; Kingston for 1st District, U.S. House and Chambliss for 8th District, U.S. House. Over 60 percent of voters statewide turned out for the election.