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December 30-- Vidalia police have arrested four people on drug charges. Captain Kevin Collins reports the four were caught at a Vidalia motel with $2,600 worth of crack cocaine and a small amount of marijuana. They're identified as Victoria Mead Oliver, Kim Joyner and Tony Gillis, all of Vidalia, and Calvin Gassett of Lyons. All four are facing felony charges of cocaine possession with intent to distribute.
December 30-- Six newly elected officials in Montgomery County are taking office in the new year, and they joined seven incumbents in taking oaths of office Thursday morning at the courthouse in Mount Vernon.
Among those sworn in is the new county tax commissioner Loretta Lane who was a clerk in the office of outgoing tax collector Lawana Sharpe. There's also a new face in the clerk of court's office where longtime clerk Dwight Newsome is retiring to be succeeded by Keith Hamilton. Both Sharpe and Newsome received appreciation plaques from the county commissioners following Thursday's ceremonies.
Three of the five county commissioners are new and include Mark Burns, Dr. Ronnie Smith and Charles Treutt. They join incumbents Brandon Braddy and Clarence Thomas. A new board chairman will be elected when the commission meets Tuesday morning for its first meeting of the new year.
Others taking the oath of office are new board of education member Buddy Thigpen, incumbent school board members Gary Braddy and Monty Burns, sheriff Clarence Sanders, coroner Joe Strickland, and probate judge Ruby Nell Sanders.
December 29-- Fifteen Toombs County officials have taken their oaths to start new terms of office in 2005. Three of the fifteen are first time elected officials including tax commissioner Julie Hart Reaves, state court solicitor Tommy J. Smith, and coroner Ron Hall. Commission chairman Charles Rustin starts his second term and feels his first term has produced improved roads, better employee morale and standardized accounting for tax dollars. He thinks his second term may include construction of an addition to the county courthouse.
Others who've been sworn in include Sheriff Junior Kight, District Attorney Steve Askew, probate judge Jackie Driskoll, commissioners Louie Powell and Durward NeeSmith, clerk of court Chess Fountain, school board members Duane Tomlin, Wayne Kirkley and Daryl Nobles. In addition to elected officials, appointees Kay Stafford and Chip Matheson were sworn in as magistrate and associate magistrate, respectively.
December 28-- Police in Lyons suspect that an elderly Lyons woman may have been killed by her stepson. Police Chief Ricky Newsome says 82-year-old Frankie Hart was beaten and suffered multiple stab wounds at her home at 152 Cobbtown Road. He says a man identified as her stepson, 50-year-old Alfonso Mitchell of Lyons, is in jail charged with murder and robbery. A microwave and television were stolen from the home and police believe Mitchell committed the crime to support a drug habit.
December 28-- The next three years will mean plenty of work for employees of Savannah Luggage Works. Company president Alan Rice reports the Department of Defense has awarded a multimillion dollar contract for protective vests made by Savannah Luggage. The Toombs County company has become a major defense supplier and now employs nearly 600 people at six locations in Toombs, Emanuel and Appling counties. While many U.S. manufacturers have moved offshore for cheaper labor, Rice and his brother, David, are committed to maintaining their plants in the United States.
December 24-- The Governor's Office of Student Achievement issued its annual report card on Georgia schools in early December and most school systems in this area failed to make "adequate yearly progress." Of eight area school systems, only Wheeler County made adequate progress according to the state report.
In Vidalia City Schools, only Sally Meadows Elementary School made satisfactory progress. J.D. Dickerson Primary was penalized for attendance, J.R. Trippe Middle School missed the mark in math and reading among students with disabilities, and Vidalia High School had academic performance problems in English among black and economically disadvantaged students.
The Toombs County schools of Lyons Primary and Toombs Central Elementary were satisfactory across the board. However, Lyons Upper Elementary did not make adequate academic progress, Toombs County Middle School failed in math and English among students with disabilities, and Toombs County High School's graduation rate of 57 percent did not meet the state standard.
Montgomery County schools would have made adequate progress, however, the middle school missed the state standard in writing by one percentage point for the system's only negative. Both Montgomery County High School and Elementary School made adequate progress.
The Treutlen school system had problems at the high school and middle school with academic performance. State graduation test results in math and English were too low, and math and reading were problems for students with disabilities. However, Treutlen Elementary School made adequate progress in all areas.
Tattnall County High School was classified by the state as needing improvement due to academic performance. Also, the school systems in Appling County and Candler County did not make adequate yearly progress due to academic performance shortcomings at their high schools in Baxley and Metter.
Parents and students who'd like full details on their school's performance may do so on the web at www.gaosa.org - Toombs County Enrollment: 2,607 - System met criteria for 15 cells out of 16. Needs Improvement status is ADEQ_DNM. - Link to full Toombs County AYP report - Vidalia City
Enrollment: 2,397 - System met criteria for 11 cells out of 13. Needs Improvement status is ADEQ_DNM. - Link to full Vidalia AYP report.
December 22-- School boards in Toombs County and Vidalia are asking for a new one percent special purpose local option sales tax for education. Voters will be asked to approve the measure in a special election March 15. If approved, school officials estimate the one percent sales tax will raise over $20,000,000 during a five-year period starting July 1st.
Toombs school board chairman Danny Bowen says Toombs County schools would receive $10,000,000 with the bulk of the money used to build a new elementary school in Lyons.
Vidalia school officials have a preliminary list of 27 projects they are considering funding with $9.7 million the sales tax would raise. Board chairman Bill Bedingfield says state law now gives school boards more latitude on how they spend sales tax revenue. For example, $800,000 would be spent on textbooks and nearly $500,000 would be used for bus replacement. Big ticket items on the Vidalia school board priority list include $1.5 million for roof work on nine school buildings and $1.5 million to build a field house and make other improvements at the Vidalia High School athletic complex.
Chairman Danny Bowen says the sales tax is the fairest way to finance education without breaking the backs of local property owners.
December 20-- Toombs County starts the new year with a county budget about $300,000 greater than this year. County commissioners approved the $7.5 million dollar budget at a called meeting last week. A third of the increase will pay for a 3 percent pay raise for county employees according to commission chairman Charles Rustin. This is the first year the county will start the budget year in accordance with state budget regulations, something Rustin says gives better accounting of how tax money and other funds are collected and spent. Commissioner Louis Powell was responsible for developing this year's budget, and the chairman says delegation of authority to other commissioners has enabled the county to avoid hiring a county manager. Powell says this year's budget includes a transfer to the general fund of $113,000 from the county landfill, "the smallest subsidy ever," he says. The recent reorganization of the county magistrate court will save the county an estimated $30,000, according to budget estimates. Increased expenses are projected for the county detention center, the county ambulance service, and the 911 system.
December 17-- They attracted the most visitors ever to a Vidalia Onion Festival Air Show, and the Navy's Blue Angels are coming back to the Sweet Onion City. Marsha Temples of the air show committee says the Blue Angels have committed to be the marquee attraction at the 2005 Sweet Onion Festival Air Show with shows on Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24. An advance team for the Blue Angels will visit Vidalia January 3rd and 4th for pre-show planning.
On a sad note, one of the pilots who accompanied the Canadian Forces' Snowbirds to last year's air show has been killed during a training flight, and a second was injured. Thirty-one-year old Captain Miles Selby of British Columbia died when his aircraft collided with another Snowbird plane piloted by 35-year-old Captain Chuck Mallet. Mallet was also on the Snowbird team which performed last year in Vidalia. He's reported hospitalized with minor injuries. Captain Selby is the sixth Snowbirds pilot killed in the 35-year history of the Snowbirds.
December 17-- The city of Vidalia is wrapping up the year with a reminder to city property owners that the first deadline for payment is December 20th. After that, you have 30 days to pay without a penalty. However, as of January 20th, penalties and interest kick in on overdue bills.
Meanwhile, the city council approved nearly $34,000 in annual performance awards to city employees at its December council meeting. It was also reported that local sales tax collections were up more than ten percent this year, and that hotel and motel tax collections increased by $11,000 this year.
December 17-- The Vidalia school board is considering hiring a private company to run its alternative school. Students with various types of behavioral problems are assigned to alternative schooling for special attention. Vidalia school officials visited a Liberty County alternative school classroom and were impressed with its operation. Board member Lisa Adams says students attend three hours a day in a computer-assisted classroom and told her that were able to focus better in that environment. The company which runs the school in Liberty County has a national network of such schools with an 85 percent pass rate.
The Vidalia school board also reports it is leasing a portion of its newly-acquired Oxford building warehouse on North Street to an Atlanta company which distributes Electrolux products. It has a three-months lease at $6,800 per month with an option to extend the lease.
December 16-- There was traffic galore Thursday morning in the old Piggly Wiggly parking lot in Vidalia as hundreds lined up to receive Christmas food and toys from volunteers working for Toombs United Charities. Billy Morrison has been part of the project for 28 years, and he says there were 1,400 applications for holiday help this year. Two hundred families received food and toys, and another six hundred got large boxes of food. Most of the project is financed by United Way contributions, and BiLo plays a big role in supplying the food.
December 16-- Toombs County threw a farewell reception last week for some elected officials who are winding up their public service careers. Mandel Edenfield has been county coroner for 21 years. Despite the nature of the job, he found helping family members through a rough time was important. Also honored was veteran magistrate Ezra Aaron and tax commissioner Glenda Williams who started the job ten years ago and increased the collection of back taxes owed the county.
December 15-- When Hurricane Frances came through Toombs County this Fall, it washed away a dam under Dees Road near Grays Landing. The 17-acre lake behind the dam washed into the nearby Altamaha River, and people with homes on the lake are facing the possibility the dam may not be rebuilt. A delegation of homeowners appealed to the Toombs County commissioners Tuesday to rebuild the dam, a project which chairman Charles Rustin says will cost at least $250,000. Even though the county may get a federal disaster grant to help repair storm damage, there are problems replacing the dam. First, the state's Environmental Protection Division may not allow rebuilding in order to protect the Altamaha River from future lake flooding. Second, commissioner Durward NeeSmith says the county should not spend public money to replace what he claims is a private dam. However, residents say lake developer Jack Vaughn deeded the dam to the county many years ago. NeeSmith admits the county has spent over $100,000 in the past to repair the road which runs across the dam, and chairman Rustin believes the road needs to be repaired regardless to allow access by fire and emergency response vehicles. No decision was made on the dam.
In other actions, the commission learned a search committee will interview four candidates for the Toombs EMA director's job on January 5th. The group's recommendation will be forwarded to the commission for approval at its January meeting.
Commissioners approved a $50,000 bid by Sikes Brothers Construction to pave Williams Drive and the area around the new Headstart Building in Lyons; okayed the county's new redistricting map for commission seats; granted a 3-year $109,500 audit contract to McLain, Calhoun, McCullough, Clark and Company of Vidalia; and okayed a plan to split five percent of court fine money between The Refuge Domestic Violence Center and the Sunshine House.
Commissioner Louis Powell reported a fire with no major damage and the county landfill, and said bids will be sought to add to the county's construction and demolition landfill which he said is almost maxed out.
December 14-- Toombs County Chief Magistrate Ezra Aaron is retiring this month after 36 years on the job. Aaron's successor, Vidalia attorney Kay Stafford, is making significant changes in how and where the court operates. All cases will be heard in the Toombs County courthouse and clerk of court Chess Fountain will computerize and administer court records and fines, a step recommended by last year's audit of the magistrate court. Additionally, Stafford has hired Vidalia businessman and mayor pro tem Chip Matheson to be his associate magistrate. Matheson will take two short-courses at the University of Georgia next year as part of his training for the job. Both Stafford and Matheson will have offices in the Toombs County Courthouse.
December 14-- A Lyons man was shot six times Friday night, but doctors in Savannah say 37-year-old Patrick Phillips will make a full recovery. Lyons detective Milton Smith says Phillips was shot by Aron Garza Trebino of East Clifton Avenue following a altercation between the two at Phillips' house on Northeast Broad Street. Trebino is facing aggravated assault charges and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime. Smith says Phillips was sitting on a sofa when he was hit twice in the stomach and four times in his legs by hollow-point .22 caliber bullets fired by Trebino. He chased the assailant out of his house and went to a pay phone and called 911, according to police.
December 13-- A federal judge has dismissed a law suit filed against former Vidalian and former U.S. Attorney Rick Thompson. Former state senator Van Streat of Nicholls filed a law suit in October alleging that a news release issued by Thompson had denied him the right to run for office in his 2002 race against Senator Tommie Williams of Lyons. The news release stated that Thompson was planning to investigate dismissal of criminal charges against Streat by a special prosecutor appointed by former Governor Roy Barnes. Streat had been indicted in connection with charges that he accepted money to help a convicted murderer get moved from a maximum to a medium security prison in the state prison system.
Federal judge Dudley Bowen ruled that Thompson's news release did not stop Streat from running for office since he, in fact, did run and was defeated by Senator Williams. The judge's ruling said there is no constitutional guarantee that a candidate can run for office "unfettered."
The U.S. Justice Department also investigated Thompson's actions in the Streat case and found that he had "abused his authority." Thompson later resigned as U.S. Attorney and now is in private practice in Clarkesville, GA.
December 13-- An 18-year-old Treutlen County girl is dead following a Sunday afternoon auto accident. The Georgia State Patrol in Swainsboro reports Sierra Sharpe of Soperton was killed in a head-on collision on county road 109 about five miles west of Soperton. Officers say the girl's car crossed the center line and collided with a vehicle driven by 73-year-old Carolyn Heath. Mrs. Heath was pulled from her burning car by other motorists and taken to a Dublin hospital with no serious injuries. Also see Miss Sierra Danielle Sharpe Obituary.
December 13-- Vidalia police are investigating the theft of a car from a local car dealer. Captain Kevin Collins says a car was stolen from Sweet Onion Auto Sales on Highway 280 over the weekend.
December 10-- The Toombs County school board wants voters to approve a new special purpose local option sales tax so it can build a new elementary school in Lyons. However, the board says it needs the cooperation of the Vidalia board of education to get the question on the ballot next March. Both boards must agree on a joint resolution detailing how the sales tax money will be spent. The Toombs County board asked Vidalia school officials for a joint resolution last April, however, no action has been taken on the request. Vidalia school superintendent Dr. Tim Smith says they were waiting on construction to start on the new Vidalia High School sports complex before going back to the voters for approval of another sales tax for education. Smith says he thinks the issue may be discussed at the January meeting of the Vidalia school board.
In addition to an estimated $6 to $7 million for the elementary school, Toombs school officials would like to use sales tax collections for renovation at the Lyons Primary School, a new roof at Toombs Central Elementary, and to buy new school buses.
December 10-- A Toombs County grand jury has returned indictments for murder and voluntary manslaughter. Twenty-year-old Demetrius McMiller of Decatur was indicted for felony murder in the death of 22-year-old Terence Solomon of Decatur who was visiting family in Vidalia when he was shot and killed on 4th Avenue last July.
In another felony case, sisters Vasillia Daniels and Tamica Spikes were indicted for the knifing death of their stepfather, 47-year-old Donald Gray at his home on Smith Street last June. The charge was reduced from murder to voluntary manslaughter.
Indictments were also returned on a rash of burglaries and car break-ins which plagued Vidalia citizens last Summer. Charley Louis Williams was indicted in 15 car break-in cases, while seven burglary cases may have been solved with the indictment of DeWayne Mills, Tirikie Miller, Lavoris Nails and Anthony Torres.
Three people indicted for selling cocaine are Joseph Durden, Chastia Mann and Christopher Johnson. Other indictments were returned against Emanuel Wilbon for child molestation, Johnny Smith of assault, Angelia Tillman for battery, Antoine McCall for damage to property, Lawson Cherry for impersonating an officer, and Willie Robinson III and Malcolm Mercer, both for shoplifting.
December 9-- Teachers from schools in Vidalia, Treutlen, Tattnall and Wheeler counties are among 450 in Georgia who have earned national board certification. The recognition is granted to teachers who demonstrate high standards of professionalism by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Certified in this area are Scott Heaton of Treutlen County; Nitonia Purdiman of Tattnall County; Phillip Parker, Judith Evans, and Sara Spires, all of Wheeler County; and Ann Curtis of Vidalia City Schools. Curtis is a veteran kindergarten teacher at J.D. Dickerson Primary School. It took her three years to earn the certification, and she says it helped improve her performance in a number of areas including working with her pupils' parents. According to state law, all the teachers who earn the certification get a ten percent pay raise.
December 9-- The Lyons city council approved the city's 2005 budget Tuesday night. The $3,128,793 budget is about five percent greater than last year, however, the city's property tax rate remains the same at 1.89 mils. The new budget includes a new monthly fee of $1.50 for pickup of yard trash, and a five percent motel/hotel tax. The council was informed that Mark Montford has agreed to head the Downtown Beautification Committee. Also, after an executive session, the council approved a recommendation to put the police department on 12-hour daily shifts.
December 9-- One of the challenges facing the Montgomery County commission next year is what to do about the county jail. The old jail was ordered closed in May by the state fire marshal, and county inmates had to be farmed out to adjacent county jails. The county's latest financial statement shows that so far Montgomery County has paid $52,598 dollars to keep prisoners in other jails.
December 8-- The Salvation Army food pantry is empty and Christmas is coming. Sandy Roberts says the need seems to be greater this year. In response, the local United Way is stepping up and has enlisted the help of Chapman Healthcare in Vidalia to mount a food drive. United Way director Patricia Dixon says Chapman has agreed to contribute one can of food for every one which is turned in at their location on Maple Drive. Meanwhile, local volunteers are ringing the bells at Salvation Army kettles, and Roberts says some 300 families will get gifts at Christmas thanks to the kettle drive. Even the smallest donations add up and last year bought about 20 percent of the Salvation Army's Christmas gifts.
December 8-- The principal at Montgomery County High School is moving. Michael Parker has accepted the principal's job at Berrien County High School in Nashville and has been released from his contract with the Montgomery County school system effective December 17. Parker says leading a larger high school is a good career move, and he thanked the Montgomery County school board and Superintendent Dale Clark for their support during his tenure. Assistant principal Luke Smith will be the acting principal until a replacement for Parker is found.
December 8-- Voters in Montgomery County will be asked to approve a new one percent sales tax for education next March. The school board's current SPLOST expires in April, 2006. School superintendent Dale Clark says they need a renewal for various building improvements and to qualify for various state grants as a low wealth school system.
December 7-- A 20-year-old sophomore at Georgia Southern is the 2005 Miss South Central Georgia. Marsha Moore of Swainsboro, a former Miss Emanuel County, won the annual scholarship pageant in Vidalia. Marsha is majoring in sports medicine and hopes to become a physical therapist, and she says the scholarship pageant is giving her the chance to attend college. She will make her second appearance in the Miss Georgia Pageant next June in Columbus. In the Teen Miss competition, Courtney Werkheiser of Glennville was crowned the winner.
December 7-- The Montgomery County Commission presented farewell certificates to three departing commissioners and the county manager at its December meeting Tuesday. Between them, commissioners Wyman Morris, Harold Mobley and Arnie Calhoun and administrator Keith Hamilton have 50 years experience in county government. Three new commissioners will take office in January. Meanwhile, applications to succeed Hamilton will be reviewed at a called meeting December 22 as he prepares to move to the Clerk of Court job next month. The commission took under advisement a request from tax commissioner-elect Loretta Lane for an audit of the tax commissioners office in conjunction with her assumption of office.
December 6-- Toombs County school superintendent Dr. Kendall Brantley says he understands why Governor Sonny Perdue is upset about a lawsuit seeking more state funding for education. However, Dr. Brantley says low wealth school systems have been talking with state officials for years about more equitable funding with no success. Toombs County is one of 51 rural school systems which have filed suit for relief. According to Brantley, some members of the legislature from urban areas refuse to support changes to state funding formulas which would give more assistance to rural systems. Governor Perdue criticized the lawsuit in a talk to state school superintendents and school board members in Smyrna. He said the suit "limits the common sense remedies we can have," and could result in "years of litigation."
December 2-- A faculty committee is recommending the University of Georgia use race in evaluating students for admission. About six percent of the students at Georgia are black compared to 23 percent at other schools in the university system. The Supreme Court has ruled race can be one of many factors considered in admissions.
However, in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, pre-law student Courtney Joiner of Lyons says the real issue is getting students from rural school districts better prepared to compete for admission to Georgia. She believes more state funding is needed for schools like Toombs County High School. Courtney also says she's learned during her nearly four years at Georgia that the school does not recruit from rural areas. Courtney used her HOPE scholarship to enter Georgia in 2001 and she graduates in May, 2004 and is currently applying to law school.
News Break - Vidalia Communications
News Break - Vidalia Communications
Searched for http://www.vidaliacommunications.com/news.shtml Search Results for Jan 01, 1996 - Nov 02, 2004
This site is a member of The American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP), an unincorporated not-for-profit network of independent sites devoted to History & Genealogy, and covering North American Countries and Territories. For more information about our group, including how you can join us, please see our About page. Montgomery County Officials Sworn
December 29
Toombs Officials Take Oaths of Office
December 28
Murder Suspect Arrested
Good Employment News
December 24
School Report Cards
December 22
School Boards Asking for SPLOST
December 20
Toombs County Budget Approved
December 17
Blue Angels Return
Vidalia City Tax Bills
Vidalia BOE Investigates Alternative for Alternative School
December 16
United Charities "Christmas”
December 16
Local Officials Leaving Office
December 15
Should County Rebuild Private Dam?
December 14
Toombs County Magistrate Court Reorganizing
Man Survives Lyons Shooting
December 13
Suit Against Thompson Dismissed
Traffic Death
Car Stolen
December 10
Toombs BOE Waiting on Vidalia for Splost
December 10
Toombs Grand Jury Indictments
December 9
Teachers Earn National Certification
Lyons Adopts Budget
Housing Prisoners Costly
December 8
Christmas Food Appeal
Principal Moving
Another SPLOST Sought in Montgomery County
December 7
Miss South Central Georgia
December 7
Commission Farewell to Trio
December 6
Brantley Empathizes With Governor, But...
December 2
UGA Reconsiders Race
References
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URL: http://toombs.150m.com/news/radio/2004/December.htm Updated: Friday, December 31, 2004. Top