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Toombs County, GA Archives News Radio Stories |
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Swainsboro Fraud Plea
Nov 30-- A Swainsboro man has entered a guilty plea in federal court in connection with a $13,000,000 fraud. The U.S. Attorney's office in Savannah says Erwin Davis Rabhan pled guilty to conspiracy and bank fraud against banks in Atlanta and Palm Beach, Florida in connection with a loan application. Rabhan duped the government of Swaziland to invest over $6,000,000 to build baby food formula and candy plants, and he obtained a $5,000,000 loan to build a catfish processing plant in Wrightsville. He faces a quarter-million dollar fine and up to five years in prison. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
Alcohol Easy to Get for Minors
Nov 30-- Apparently teenagers have no problem buying alcoholic drinks in Montgomery and Wheeler counties. Local newspapers there are reporting that an undercover agent stopped at every store which sells alcohol in the two
counties. Twelve businesses were checked in Montgomery and only four asked for identification. In Wheeler, six out of eight stores sold alcohol to the minor. Officials said warrants would be issued and fines range from $200 to $1,000.
New Election Ordered
Nov 27-- A superior court judge has ordered a new election be held to name the District 3 school board member in Toombs County. Judge Faye Martin directed the election be held Tuesday, December 17th. Candidate
Darel Corley contested results of the November 5th election when more people than were registered in the Santa Claus precinct were allowed to vote in the District 3 race. Corley's attorney Alan Layne said the disparity "was an honest mistake and there was no misconduct by election officials."
Election supervisor Jackie Driskell said three differenct ballots were used in Santa Claus and she thinks the problems stemmed from human error using an encoder which may have been programmed wrong or mispunched. Only 72 people in Santa Claus were authorized to vote in the district 3 race, however, 269 people were allowed to vote. Judge Martin says that casts doubt on the outcome of the race and a new election is needed.
Corley was glad to hear the judge's decision and said he thought he did the right thing in challenging the general election results. He will face incumbent Harold Milligan and Luther Caraway in the December election. If a runoff is required, it will be held Tuesday, January 7th.
Vidalia Homicide
Nov 26-- A homicide investigation is underway in the death of a woman whose body was found Tuesday morning in her trailer home on Bay Street near Charles Wood Field. The victim is identified as Kattie Ruth, and police say she suffered fatal cuts. Officials say she was found
by her step-father, Reverend H.W. Miller, who stopped by to check on her after she had not been seen since Saturday. The GBI is conducting the investigation.
Burglary Arrests, Goods Retrieved
Nov 26-- A Hispanic couple from Tattnall County is being held in the Toombs County jail in connection with burglaries from at least 27 area churches and numerous homes. Toombs County Sheriff Junior Kight reports 32-year-old Jose Jaquez and his wife, 35-year-old Rafaela Muniz
were arrested after officers spent almost three days rounding up stolen items in the Marvin area of Toombs County, from the couple's home on the Joy Bluff Road near Reidsville, and from the man's girlfriend's home near Hagan in Evans County.
Sheriff Kight says his office has been trying to get a lead on the church burglars for almost six months. He believes Jaquez, who worked as a crew leader on a Toombs County onion farm, enlisted fellow Hispanics to help
him with the burglaries. They allegedly broke into nine churches in rural Toombs County, eight in Tattnall, four each in Montgomery and Candler, and two in Wheeler County.
The sheriff estimates $100,000 worth of stolen items have been recovered including musical instruments and audio equipment from the churches, and riding lawnmowers, trailers, weapons, washing machines, dryers and a freezer
from area homes.
Vidalia Teacher of Year
Nov 24-- One of the newer teachers in the Vidalia City School System garnered top teacher of the year honors in this year's competition. A former Georgia Extension Service employee, Denise Parson was offered a home economics teaching position three years ago and she credits fellow teacher Ginger Morris with helping her make it through what she describes as a "tough year." A 1980 graduate of Vidalia High School, Parson says she gets a kick out of teaching because of the relationships she has with students. Vidalia school superintendent Dr. Tim Smith notes that Parson came to education through a non-traditional path and her skills working with the Extension Service are paying dividends in the classroom.
Denise Parson gets a $500 check as part of her recognition. She was selected from among four teachers nominated by their peers for the honor. Other nominees this year include second grade teacher Brenda McLain at J.D. Dickerson Primary, special needs teacher Nancy Zeigler at Sally Meadows Elementary, and sixth grade teacher Cheryl Williams at J. R. Trippe Middle School.
Development Authority Planning New Building
Nov 23-- A week after leasing the county's last industrial building in the
Toombs Corporate Center, the Toombs County Development Authority
has appointed a committee to begin planning a new building in the new
industrial park on U.S. One north of Lyons. A committee of Charles
Clements, Rusty Moses, Bob Moore and Rick Berry will lead the
planning effort.
The development authority is also planning a pre-legislative meeting with
Toombs County's delegation. Chairman John Ladson says with three senators
and one representative now representing Toombs County in Atlanta, it's important
that everyone agree on the county's economic development priorities.
And the authority has also agreed to reimburse Georgia Tech up to $20,000 for
its services to Savannah Luggage which is attempting to meet government
requirements for federal contracts. Alan Rice of Savannah Luggage told the
authority the company's workforce is back up to 200 people with more jobs
coming due to contracts to build body armor. Savannah Luggage is bidding
on military contracts which could create even more jobs in Toombs and
Emanuel counties.
Lyons Gets Better Hometown Kudos
Nov 23-- The Georgia Downtown Association has given the Lyons Better Hometown Program two of its top awards. Lyons hometown program director Joy Lewis says one is for efforts by the non-profit Better Hometown Board to acquire downtown property for revitalization. The other award recognizes efforts of Toombs County high school students dubbed "Hometown Heroes" for their volunteer efforts on behalf of downtown Lyons. Lewis says Lyon's membership in the state's better hometown program gives its access to resources and expertise which is paying off for the city.
Court Hearing For School Board Election Dispute
Nov 22-- Tuesday's District 3 school board run-off election in Toombs
County will not be held. Instead, election officials will be at a court hearing Wednesday morning at nine in the Toombs County courthouse. Judge Faye Martin will be hearing from school board candidate Darel Corley who is contesting the November 5th school board election. He claims that voters who were not registered to vote in the race were allowed to do so in the Santa Claus precinct. Those votes, according to Corley, skewed the results and knocked him out of the runoff which would have been held Tuesday between candidate Luther Caraway and incumbent Harold Milligan. Thursday, Corley's attorney, Alan Layne of Lyons, and county attorney Howard Kaufold filed a consent order asking Judge Martin to save the county money by delaying the election until the matter is adjudicated. The District 3 school district includes nearly 3,500 registered voters in five Toombs County voting precincts: Morris Street, Blue Ridge, Santa Claus, Normantown and Ohoopee.
United Way Campaign Success
Nov 21-- The annual campaign for the United Way of Toombs-Montgomery and Wheeler counties exceeded its $385,000 goal by nearly $7,000. Campaign chairman Eddie Tyson says the theme "People Helping People" is what really happened, particularly when you consider the economy the last year. The campaign's largest contribution came from the Trane Company's employees and their parent company, American Standard, who matched their donations dollar-for-dollar. Together, they gave $107,000 to the United Way, according to Trane's Sherry Keene. United Way director Patricia Dixon says the funds will be used to help 22 area service agencies and, perhaps, two more which are asking for United Way help this year.
School Boards Moving on Stadium Project
Nov 19-- Remember the $2 million sports stadium project voters agreed
to fund with sales tax dollars a few years back? Three-and-a-half years
into the five years of tax collections, local school officials have funded the
other projects approved on the same ballot and are now starting serious
talks about the stadium off Highway 280 between Lyons and Vidalia.
Representatives of the Vidalia and Toombs County school boards met
Tuesday night and discussed committments to the project. The chairmen
of both school boards agreed they would entertain motions at their December
meetings to earmark $50,000 in sales tax collections to start design work on the
stadium. Both boards are on record to jointly build the stadium on land donated
by the city of Vidalia with road paving assistance from the Toombs County
commission. When completed, the stadium would be shared by the football
teams of Vidalia High School and Toombs County High School.
State Cuts Hitting Local School Budgets
Nov 19-- The state of Georgia is cutting state support to local school boards
by two percent in addition to a three percent cut announced earlier. And the
cuts have got area school superintendents re-looking their budgets to make up
the difference. The state is directing the cuts be made in "direct instruction"
which is bureacratese for "teacher's pay and classroom supplies." But there's
a catch. School districts already have teachers under contract, so they'll have
to transfer money from other accounts to maintain contract pay scales.
Vidalia school superintendent Dr. Tim Smith says the state cuts amount to
$281,000 in Vidalia and they've yet to determine how they will be absorbed.
One option in Vidalia is to take the money from "reserves," according to Smith.
In Toombs County schools, the state hit is for $288,000 and superintendent
Dr. Kendall Brantley says, in addition to reserves, cuts may be made in school
field trips, supplies and utilities wherever possible.
The state cuts in Montgomery County amount to about $180,000, and in
Treutlen County, superintendent Marion Shaw says he's yet to figure the
impact, but he's hopeful increased enrollment will earn more dollars from
the state to help soften the blow. Both Montgomery and Treutlen county
school budgets are operating on the edge with little cash in reserve.
The cuts from the state department of education could be overruled by the
state legislature when it convenes in January, however, one local school
official says he's been told the incoming Perdue administration is "on board"
with the cutback.
Foster Homes Needed
Nov 16-- There are more children who need foster homes in Toombs County
than there are foster parents. Linda Jones of the Department of Family and
Children's Services says the county currently is caring for 38 foster kids, but
only has 23 foster homes. Marsha Harrell of Vidalia has been a foster
parent for ten years. She says the personal satisfaction she gets from helping
the children is why she is involved. People who take part in the program go
through a foster parent training program before children are placed in their
homes.
New Jobs for Trane
Nov 14-- The Trane Company plant in Vidalia plans to start producing
residential heaters early next year and is adding 65 to 80 new jobs to
its local workforce. Vidalia Mayor Ronnie Dixon says, "it's the best news
we've had in a long time." Trane will occupy the 60,000 square foot spec
building in the Toombs Industrial Park and Development Authority chairman
John Ladson observes we're fortunate on two counts: placement of a Fortune
500 company in the spec building and expansion of a local industry to produce
more jobs for the region. Trane's Vidalia manager, Denny McShane, is hopeful
the new production will lead to even more jobs in the future. State and local
grants of some $425,000 are being made to Trane and the spec building is being
provided at no cost as long as Trane creates the jobs it has promised for local
people.
Death Investigated
Nov 13-- The death of an East Dublin woman in Treutlen County
is under investigation. The GBI says 36-year-old Allison Shepherd
fell from a truck on a county road southeast of Soperton about nine
p.m. Monday. The driver of the truck, Benjamin Calhoun of Soperton,
drove her to the sheriff's office where she was transported to Meadows
Regional and pronounced dead. Her body was taken to the state crime
lab in Atlanta for examination.
Vidalia Robbery
Nov 13-- Vidalia police are searching for a man who held up Lee Discount
Company in downtown Vidalia Wednesday morning. Owner Bill Lee says
a young black man entered the loan office about ten a.m., chambered a
round in an automatic weapon, and demanded "all the money." He fled on
foot and was later tracked by police dogs to Morris Street where the scent
was lost.
Voting Complaints
Nov 13-- Federal election overseers in the general election received 17
reports of voting irregularities in south Georgia. U.S. Attorney Rick Thompson
says one of the reports came from Toombs County. The complaints are being
turned over to the FBI for investigation.
School Tax Rate Rollback
Nov 13-- If you're a Montgomery County resident who lives in the city limits
of Vidalia, your school taxes in the coming year should remain about the same.
The Vidalia school board Tuesday night approved a tax millage rollback to 11.3
mils to avoid a tax increase on property owners whose property values were
increased by the county-wide property revaluation in Montgomery County.
Plant Hatch "Drill"
Nov 13-- Georgia Power officials conducted a drill Wednesday regarding a
simulated emergency at Plant Hatch. The company activated the emergency
news center in Vidalia which would be the media focal point in the event of
a real emergency. Company spokesperson John Sell says the threat of terrorism
has heightened awareness of emergency response preparedness at Plant Hatch.
Senator Hill Switches to Republican Party
Nov 12-- Georgia Governor-elect Sonny Perdue gained another
senator in the state senate Tuesday. Fourth district Senator Jack
Hill of Reidsville says he is switching from the Democrat to the
Republican party. That further adds to the Republican majority
in the senate, and Senator Tommie Williams of Lyons says one
of the first bills the new senate will consider is one to change the
redistricting lines imposed on the state by the Democrat-controlled
legislature last year. Senator Williams says he expects to be named
chairman of one of the top four senate legislative committees, either
appropriations, rules, transportation or finance and public utilities.
Hangar Owners Criticize Council
Nov 11-- The Vidalia city council got an earful Monday night from
a trio of hangar owners at the Vidalia airport who object to how the city
is going about removing privately owned hangars from the airport. David
Lovins, Tony Zorn and Donald Brantley say they welcome the $4.6 million
dollar upgrade to airport facilities, but feel they should have been consulted
about a city plan to reimburse owners of seven private hangars a total of
$97,000. Zorn says he spent $25,000 five years ago to build a new hangar,
and Lovins says he has more than $65,000 invested in two hangars. After
hearing from the hangar owners, the council referred the matter back to the
airport committee and the three were invited to attend the next committee
meeting.
The council also referred to the finance committee a request from Tony Wardlaw
to transfer the former Vidalia board of education building on College Street to
his non-profit "Heart-to-Heart Mentoring Program." Wardlaw believes he can
help reverse the area's illiteracy, teenage pregnancy and crimes rates through a
program of mentoring young males.
In other actions, the council proclaimed November 12th as "Vidalia Lady Indians
Day" in the city in observance of the team winning the state softball championship.
It also agreed to advertise for sale an 80 by 210 foot piece of city property behind the
Dairy Queen on "the Strip." Owners of the DQ in Baxley say they want to bid
on the property for a new DQ "grill and chill" restaurant.
New Tourism Director Hired
Nov 9-- A former state employee from Atlanta is the new director of the
Vidalia Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Thirty-two-year old Andrea
Stein first learned about the area while working for the Department of
Community Affairs. A native of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, she
says she's a small town girl at heart and is looking forward to marketing
of the Toombs-Montgomery County area. Her first day on the job will
be Monday, November 18.
Vidalia Construction Contracts
Nov 7-- The city of Vidalia has awarded two contracts to Harry Moses
Construction for city projects. The airport terminal building, which has been
in limbo due to default by the previous contractor, will be completed for
$512,000. And the rear of the old Belks building downtown will be
rennovated for $268,000 to house the Ladson Genealogical Library.
And the city of Vidalia has begun enforcement of its new city law
limiting the use of transportable billboard signs. City manager Bill Torrance
says owners were notified in October and removal should begin this month.
The city of Vidalia is also advertising for sale an 80 by 208 foot plot of
land located behind the Dairy Queen on Highway 280.
Montgomery County Commissioners Meeting
Nov 7-- Montgomery County commissioners have okayed a grant agreement
with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for over $100,000 in
improvements at the J.M. Fountain Park in Mount Vernon. County manager
Keith Hamilton says work will include a walking trail and the addition of a
baseball field.
At its November meeting, the commissioners also got a contract from the
state to resurface the Conaway-McDonald Road for an estimated $90,000.
Commissioners are considering requests from STC for $5,000 to support
operation of the school auditorium, and $4,800 to support operations of the
Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce.
They also re-appointed Geraldine Meade and Hudman Mock to the area
council on aging, and recognized the birthdays of the county's two oldest
residents. Mrs. Clifford McBride of Alston and Mrs. Lawrence Thompson
of Mount Vernon are both celebrating their 107th birthdays.
Store Re-Location in Downtown Vidalia
Nov 7-- The corner of Church and Meadows Streets in downtown Vidalia
has a new resident. "Mary's" relocated from its old home on Jackson Street
and the ribbon-cutting was held Thursday morning. Downtown Vidalia
Association director Paula Toole is glad the business is "staying downtown"
and co-owner Mary Edmonds says they've reworked the building to maintain
its traditional appearance.
Clay Concedes
Nov 6-- In the tightest congressional race in the state, republican Calder
Clay conceded Wednesday morning to democrat Jim Marshall. The two
were locked in a tight race for the newly created 3rd congressional district
seat, a race which Marshall won by one percent, or 1,344 votes, out of
nearly 149,000 votes cast. Clay carried more counties in the district than
did Marshall, but the former mayor of Macon had strong support in Bibb
County which made the difference in the race, according to Clay. Marshall
says he plans to visit in the new district before going to Washington, with
particular emphasis on talking to farmers.
Accident Victim Dies
Nov 6-- A traffic accident which happened October 28th in Montgomery
County has claimed its second victim. Eighteen-year-old Constance Galbreath
of Vidalia died Tuesday in a Savannah hospital from injuries suffered in a
head-on collision on Highway 130 south of Vidalia. Seventy-year-old Gene
Faulkner of Jeff Davis County died at the scene. Constance Nicole Galbreath Obituary - Savannah Morning News - posted Thursday, November 3, 2002, page 3C.
Not Guilty Verdict
Nov 6-- A man accused of robbing and killing his aunt in Vidalia has been
acquitted by a Toombs County jury. George Richard Grinstead had been
indicted on six counts in the death of Janice Scarborough at her home
at 506 Madison Street. The woman died of blows to the head and stab
wounds to the chest. Grinstead was arrested the same day her body
was discovered in March of 2000. Vidalia police chief Daryl Collins
said he thought the GBI had a strong case against Grinstead, including
DNA evidence. The jury though different.
Runoff Election
Nov 6-- Toombs County election supervisor Jackie Driskoll says a runoff
election will be held Tuesday, November 26th, in the disputed Toombs
County school board election for district 3. The runoff will be between
incumbent Harold Milligan and Luther Caraway, the two top vote-getters
in Tuesday's election. The third candidate, Darel Corley, says he plans
to contest the election in the courts. He claims that voters from outside
district three were allowed to vote in the race and that Driskoll took no
action to correct the problem when he notified her of the situation the
morning of the election.
Industry Employee of Year Named
Nov 6-- Six local industry workers were honored Wednesday at the annual
industry appreciation week luncheon sponsored by the Toombs-Montgomery
County Chamber of Commerce. And one of the six, Freddie Lewis of Tumi,
was named the industry employee of the year in a recognition program initiated
by the Vidalia Rotary Club. Tumi chief John Futral says Lewis has a strong
Christian faith which he exhibits in the way he deals with others on the job.
Lewis works in Tumi's receiving department and thanked his fellow employees
for nominating him for the honor.
Tuesday Election
Nov 4-- Federal and state
offices are in the limelight in Tuesday's
The top federal race pits democrat
senator Max Cleland against
In the newly created third congressional
district, two Macon politicians,
Ten statewide offices are up for
election headlined by the race for
Voters in this area will also see
three state senate races on the ballot.
There are three Toombs County school
board races. Veteran chairman
And in Montgomery County, there's
a school board race for the Tarrytown
Tuesday's ballot also contains six
proposed amendments to the state
News Break - Vidalia Communications.
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general election voting, with a
smattering of local offices also up for
election.
republican congressman Saxby Chambliss
in a tight race for one of
Georgia's two senate seats.
former mayor Jim Marshall and Bibb
County commissioner Calder Clay
are running to represent middle
and southeast Georgia in the House of
Representatives.
governor between Roy Barnes and
republican Sonny Perdue. Barnes
lieutenant-governor, Mark Taylor
of Albany, is challenged by Steve
Stancil of Cherokee County.
Other state races are for secretary of
state, attorney general, commissioners
of agriculture, insurance and labor;
state school superintendent, and
two public service commission seats.
Depending on where you live, you
will vote in the 19th district race
between Tommie Williams of Lyons
and Van Streat of Nicholls; the
20th district contest between Hugh
Gillis and Felix Moring, both of
Soperton; or the 4th district race
between Jack Hill of Reidsville and
Larry Ellgass of Statesboro.
Danny Bowen is challenged by Daniel
Caraway; there's a thre-way race
in district 3 between incumbent
Harold Milligan and challengers Luther
Caraway and Darel Corley;
and in district 5, incumbent Eddie Toole is
facing former school board member
Robert Rosier.
seat between recently appointed
member Monty Burns and challengers
William Braddy and Emmit Warnock.
constitution. They range
from prohibiting those who default on taxes
from holding office to setting
up a program of dog and cat sterilization.
Five referendum questions are also
on the ballot, mostly dealing with
various types of tax exemptions.
References
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URL: http://toombs.150m.com/news/radio/2002/November.htm Updated: Wednesday, December 04, 2002. Top
