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June 30--Jane Nangle is a woman on a mission. An attorney who married a man with a mentally ill son, she soon discovered a dearth of treatment facilities and set about planning Pine Woods Retreat in Candler County, modeled after Michigan's successful Rose Hill Center. Now affiliated with both Emory and Harvard, Nangle wants to open a residential rehab campus on a 300-acre site north of Metter. Based on her stepson's experience, she says work is the key to rehabilitation and that Pine Woods will provide such an opportunity. The center will also fulfill an education role for those associated with the mentally ill. According to Nangler, the retreat will house up to 48 residents at a time, employ nearly 200 people, and start operations in 2006.
June 29--Four candidates for Toombs County Tax Commissioner met with the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Vidalia Monday night. In the July 20th primary, on the Democratic ballot, county tax assessor Ed Gartman will face Julie Hart Reaves, a clerk in the county tax office. On the Republican ticket, Candler County tax appraiser Marion Grier of Vidalia is running against Summy Pittman, a Toombs County farmer and businessman.
Gartman says his experience as the county's tax assessor qualifies him for the job, while Reaves believes her work in the tax commissioner's office gives her the best understanding of how to be a good tax commissioner. The Concerned Citizens asked all candidates how they will handle collections from low income citizens. Gartman says each case has to be handled individually, while Reaves says partial payments are already being accepted.
Republican Marion Grier has an accounting degree and spent 20 years in an accounting job before working in tax accessor's offices in both Toombs and Candler counties. She wants to educate citizens on the tax process, and says there are various ways to help fixed income taxpayers pay their tax bill. Summy Pittman says his business and farming background give him a lot of empathy with taxpayers, and he feels some Toombs County taxpayers fail to take advantage of exemptions which would cut their tax bills.
June 28--The Georgia Court of Appeals has denied an appeal filed by Vidalia physician Dr. Ronnie Smith to unseat two tax assessors in Montgomery County. The Appeals Court said it found no error nor abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in the case brought by Smith against tax assessor board members John Brewer and Howard Morris. Despite the fact that Brewer and Morris had missed some tax appraiser training during their tenure, the appeals court supported the trial judge's decision against taking "drastic action which would disrupt an essential county function." Smith's legal battle with the Montgomery County tax assessors prompted him to run for public office in the county. He's seeking a seat on the county commission in the July democratic primary and the November general election.
June 28--Vidalia police say they have arrested a second suspect wanted in connection with a series of burglaries in the area. Police lieutenant Clint Kennedy reports 23-year-old Tyreekie Miller of Vidalia was apprehended last week. Earlier, his alleged partner, 26-year-old DeWayne Mills of Lyons, was captured after the two sparked a manhunt when spotted running from a break-in at a residence on C.V. Mosley Boulevard. Kennedy says authorities are still investigating links to area burglaries and right now have connected Miller and Mills to over five cases.
June 28--Thirteen of the 21 indictments returned by a Toombs County grand jury were for burglaries, shoplifting and forgeries. Tammy Lynn Connell faces indictments on eight counts of burglary and four counts of theft by taking. Another multiple count case accuses Milton Smith, Jr. of two burglary counts and eight shoplifting cases. Gloria Crawford was indicted for burglary and seven counts of check forgery. Other burglary indictments were returned against Kirby Morgan, Ashley and Larry Stanfield, Michael Scott and Melvin Spikes, Brian Williams, April Meza, and Wanda Griner.
June 28--A Montgomery County Superior Court Judge has decided a Higgston man can face a second trial on obstruction of justice charges. Reginald Burns filed a motion claiming that District Attorney Tim Vaughn was engaging in selective prosecution. In a trial last year, Burns was acquitted on four counts but a hung jury on an obstruction of justice charge led to a mistrial. Burns was arrested after Montgomery County deputies tried to serve a warrant on his wife who was killed in an exchange of gunfire at their home. Judge Phillip West also ruled that a motion for a change of venue will be decided once the case is ready for trial.
June 25--The long awaited decision about who would take over the county's EMS service was announced Wednesday Morning by the Toombs County Commissioners in a called meeting at the courthouse. Transport One an affiliate of Memorial Medical Center in Savannah was awarded the contract and well assume operation of the service on July 1st. Commissioner Louie Powell who acted as a liaison for the commissioners during talks, stated that through many hours of meetings and negotiations, with both Transport One and the employees of the current service, it was decided that Transport One would best serve the needs of the county. Heartland of Cochran had also submitted a bid.
June 24--The City of Vidalia got some welcomed economic news on Tuesday when the Department of Transportation awarded them over 1.4 million dollars in state money to help fund two projects in the Sweet Onion City. Mayor Ronnie Dixon informed the City Council during a called meeting Tuesday afternoon, that the city will receive over three hundred thirty thousand dollars for the installation of a Glide Slope System at the Vidalia Regional Airport. The Mayor explained that the installation of the new system will allow better access to the airport in inclement weather, which in turn, could encourage more industry to locate here. The Mayor also announced that the city received a financial boost for the One-Way Pair project. The DOT announced that all costs of relocating sewer and water lines (over five hundred thousand dollars) due to the One-Way Pair project would be funded at 100% by the state. Mayor Dixon stated that this alone would save the city over 1.1 million dollars in re-location costs.
June 23--The Hugh Gillis Building at Southeastern Technical College was officially dedicated Tuesday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony before a large crowd at the school. The building which houses the school's Medical Technology programs as well as their Information Technology programs, is named for longtime state Senator Hugh Gillis of Soperton. Gillis who has served longer than any State Legislator in the country, was on hand and during his remarks, spoke of the need for Technical Schools in the state and the continued support of the area. Gillis who is retiring from the legislature at the end of his term, thanked the school for the honor and promised to still lend a helping hand even during retirement. STC President Dr. Cathy Meehan, said that the naming of the facility was an easy decision, as Senator Gillis has long been an avid supporter of the Technical School System in the state of Georgia.
June 23--In a day of ribbon cutting ceremonies for local business's, the Trane Corporation was in the spotlight Tuesday morning, as they held a ribbon cutting to officially open their newest addition. According to Trane General Manager Denny McShane, the 150,000 square foot building will be used as a distribution center for their heating and cooling systems, which will free up space in other parts of the plant. According to McShane the opening and operation of the new facility will allow for even more growth here in Vidalia. Trane President Dave Pannier of Tyler Texas was in town for the big event and attributes customer satisfaction as the reason for Tranes continued growth in the industry. The Trane Corporation employees over seven hundred people in their Vidalia facility.
June 22--The Treutlen County Board of Education wasted little time in finding a new Superintendent to replace outgoing Superintendent Marion Shaw. On Monday night they named Assistant Superintendent Chuck Ellington to fill the vacant slot. Ellington a 1976 graduate of Treutlen High School becomes only the tenth Superintendent in the history of the school system and said he was very honored by the selection. He also stated that the most immediate challenge that faced the system was getting a budget into place for the 2004 - 05 fiscal year. Ellington advised that could be a challenge because of a austerity reduction of $281,000.00.
June 21--Members of the Leadership Toombs Class of 2003-04 are already at work in the community. On Saturday June 19th members of the class donated a building to The South East Georgia Communities Projects that will be used as a drop of point for donations to the project. Class member Todd Besier stated that the class felt that they needed to give back to the community and that this was a worthwhile cause. Corena Flores who is office manager for the SE Georgia Communities Projects was very appreciative of the donation and encouraged anyone who has clothing, small appliances or other small items they would like to donates to the organization to drop them off at the building, which is located in the parking lot of the old Piggly Wiggly store on Jackson Street. All donations will be used to help Hispanic families that might be in need. Besier thanked all class members who participated as well as Choo Choo Build it Mart for donating the materials. For more information on the South East Georgia Communities Projects can be obtained by calling 526-5451.
June 17--Two Vidalia women have been arrested in connection with the death of their stepfather. Vidalia police Captain Kevin Collins reports 47-year-old Donald Gray suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck at his home at 407 Smith Street in Vidalia Wednesday night. Police say both women, 24-year-old Vasillia Daniels and her sister, 26-year-old Tamica Spikes, are charged with murder and are being held in the Toombs County jail. Collins says officers were called to the home to investigate a family violence call and found Gray dead at the scene.
June 17--Over 90 percent of the third graders at Sally Meadows Elementary School passed the reading test that allows them to be promoted to the fourth grade. Vidalia City School Curriculum Director Lucy Claroni says 92 percent of the students passed the state-required reading test. The fifteen students who failed the test are enrolled in summer school and will have a chance to take the test again before school starts. Those who pass will advance, those who don't will repeat the third grade.
Meanwhile, at Montgomery County Elementary School, principal Randy Rodgers reports that 95 percent of the school's third graders passed their reading tests. Rodgers also praised teachers and parents for supporting their kids, and said the new standards imposed by state law are improving education in the public schools. Next year, the same reading test rules will be applied to fifth graders.
June 16--The state of Georgia has approved $3.7 million in grants to support 75 different youth programs in the state. Locally, Toombs County is receiving two grants totaling over $118,000. Toombs Family Connections and the Toombs County Boys and Girls Club will share $74,069 to provide abstinence education as a means of reducing teenage pregnancies. Also, a mentoring program for troubled young people is receiving $44,632 under the auspices of Toombs Family Connections, the Hand-to-Hand/Heart-to-Heart Program, and the Sunshine House. Mentors are needed for the program and encouraged to call Sherrie Adam, 538-9981.
The Wheeler County Board of Education is receiving $100,625 to help fund the alternative school program for Montgomery, Treutlen and Wheeler counties.
June 15--A Montgomery County man missing since June 7th has been found safe. Sheriff Clarence Sanders says 53-year-old Ronald Phillips had checked himself into a substance abuse treatment center and a tip to the GBI office in Eastman led to his whereabouts. Phillips' family was unaware of his location and sounded an alarm Monday when he could not be found.
June 14--It's political season and if you see political signs sprouting up along Georgia highways, they're illegal. The state Department of Transportation has issued a statement to candidates that any political signs posted on state right-of-way will be removed by maintenance crews. Signs placed on private property are OK, but the highway department says candidates who place signs close to state roads are guilty of a misdemeanor.
June 14--The Vidalia city council seems amenable to helping developers build more housing in the city. At its June meeting, the council gave general approval to a deal with developer Massie McIntyre for 50-50 cost sharing on water, sewer and roads for a proposed 18-duplex housing complex on Aimwell Road near Sally Meadows Elementary School. McIntyre has been trying to get the city to change its policy for years citing the migration of population from the city to the county and the impact that has on the city's economic development. The city will still have to amend its current sub-division ordinance and set up criteria for city participation which, according to city attorney Reid Threlkeld, will be fair to all developers. That action may be taken in July.
In other actions, the council approved the rezoning of land in the Virginia Way/Rigsby Drive area from commercial to residential, okayed a request from the Downtown Vidalia Association to seek non-profit status in order to qualify for more categories of financial assistance, and awarded $125,000 in paving contracts to Sikes Contractors for work on Remondo Circle off Adams Street and on Melvin Page Drive off Maple Drive. The council also granted a nearly four percent increase to a renewal contract for the Environmental Services Group to continue operating the city's water and sewer system, and approved education bonuses of up to $3,000 per year for city employees.
June 13--A Lyons man is in the Toombs County jail in connection with Friday afternoon's armed robbery of the Altamaha Bank on Highway 280 west in Vidalia. Vidalia Police Captain Kevin Collins says 26-year-old Jason Swain, an employee of Toombs County, is being held in the Charles Durst Detention Center on armed robbery charges. Sources say Swain was masked and armed when he entered the bank early Friday afternoon and told teller Carolyn Ray to give him the money. On the way out of the bank parking lot, bank employee Ronnie Green fired at Swain's vehicle three times with an automatic shotgun and damaged one of the tires and windows in the van. Officers say Swain had a slight wound to his hand that may have been caused by glass or a shotgun pellet.
Toombs County Sheriff Junior Kight says Swain went back to work at the Toombs County Road Department in Lyons after the robbery. Later he and his father, Fuzzy Swain, who runs the road department, showed up at Sheriff Kight's house for the younger man to give up. However, while they were talking, Swain got in his father's truck and tried to escape. Sheriff Kight radioed for help and he and the father followed Swain with Fuzzy on the patrol car loudspeaker urging his son to stop. He finally stopped near Five Points and surrendered to Sheriff Kight. The sheriff says he believes crack cocaine motivated the robbery and that Swain had the bank money on him when he gave up. The FBI is also investigating the case and is expected to file federal armed robbery charges against Swain.
June 13--Officers in Candler County believe three Metter men arrested in connection with convenience store holdups in Candler, Bulloch and Tattnall counties are also responsible for the robbery of the Pineland State Bank in Cobbtown the end of May. The three are identified as Maurice Darien, David Lee Mack, and Geronimo Burke, all of Metter.
June 13--The Vidalia Onion Growers Committee has hired a new office manager to succeed Tina Wheeler of Tarrytown who's facing multiple criminal counts for allegedly stealing an estimated $639,000 from the committee while she held the job. Swainsboro native Jeffrey Hall comes to the job from Savannah where he was in charge of administration for Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire.
June 9--Toombs County commissioners are proceeding with condemnation proceedings to obtain right of way for paving of the Clifford Rogers Road. The commission voted Tuesday to take property owner Ben Neely to court since he is the only property owner refusing to give the county right of way. At the same time, commission chairman Charles Rustin says legal action will also be taken if necessary to get the right of way needed to pave about two miles of the Ezra Taylor Road which has been held up for paving for nearly six years.
State senator Tommie Williams of Lyons, chairman of the senate transportation committee, urged the commission to follow the policy of Appling County in getting roads paved in a timely manner. Williams says Appling makes use of available state money by having right of way and preliminary road preparation completed before it recommends a road for paving. This approach allows the state to make immediate use of its paving funds which are allocated on a fiscal year basis and which expire if not used.
In other actions, the commission agreed on a six-months test with the cities of Vidalia and Lyons whereby ten percent will be added to city court fines to help pay jail costs for city prisoners housed in the Toombs County jail.
June 9--The Truetlen County school board has accepted the resignation of the county school superintendent. Marion Shaw submitted his resignation effective June 30 at a called meeting of the school board. He is moving to be the superintendent in Evans County. At the same time, the board accepted the resignation of Treutlen Elementary School principal Herbert Hodges who had been hired on Shaw's recommendation. School board chairman Freddie Mills says assistant school superintendent Chuck Ellington will be considered for Shaw's job at the board's meeting June 21. Ellington has been Shaw's assistant for five years. Whomever is hired as superintendent will recommend a new elementary school principal, according to Mills.
June 9--The Vidalia school board has named Vidalia High School teacher Ginger Morris to be the new assistant principal at Sally Meadows Elementary School. At its June meeting Tuesday night, the board also voted to maintain non-resident tuition at $200, the same as last year, according to school superintendent Dr. Tim Smith.
June 9--It's been a good year financially for Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia. CEO Alan Kent told the local Rotary Club Wednesday the hospital netted nearly $4 million in the fiscal year ending this month, and has some $7 million in reserve.
June 8--Toombs County commissioners are considering two contractors to provide ambulance service for the county. Meadows Regional Medical Center is bowing out of the ambulance business effective June 28, and the county is looking at proposals from Heartland of Cochran and Transport One of Savannah to provide ambulance service. Commissioners Louis Powell and Roy Lee Williams are working with a five-member committee headed by current EMS director Joe Hulett and four EMS employees to select the new contractor.
At Tuesday's meeting of the commissioners, EMS volunteer Randall Clark claimed that Hulett and two members of the committee work part-time for Heartland and that Hulett had told him Transport One would not get the contract if "he had anything to do with it." Clark also alleged that a copy of Transport One's proposal had been given to Heartland. Clark says he knows nothing about either company, but he's concerned that an impartial decision is made which will provide the best service to the people of Toombs County.
Commissioner Powell says whichever contractor is selected will have to agree to retain the 40 current employees for at least a year and provide a $500,000 performance bond. He says the county subsidized the Meadows' ambulance service to the tune of $495,000 and he doesn't expect the new contract to cost any more. Powell reports Meadows billed $1.8 million for ambulance service last year, but only collected 41 percent.
June 8--For the first time since last July, Toombs County has a monthly financial statement for public review. Finance committee chairman Louis Powell says the county has implemented the uniform chart of accounts mandated by the state in 1998. The system tracks line item revenue and expenses, and while it took ten months to implement, Powell is satisfied the county kept up with the taxpayers money during the transition period.
June 7--The same group which is threatening the city of Dublin with a lawsuit for allegedly polluting the Oconee River, is keeping an eye on the city of Vidalia's Swift Creek Sewage Treatment Plant which feeds water to the Ohoopee River. James Holland of the Altamaha Riverkeepers says the city of Dublin has 60 days to fix its alleged problems or go to court where it could face hefty fines for violating the Clean Water Act. Holland has pictures of Dublin sewage pipes dumping solid waste into the Oconee. On a trip to Vidalia, Holland checked Vidalia's Swift Creek plant and happened to be there during plant maintenance that allowed some pollution to slip through, however, he says it cleared up after a short while and he reported it to state environmental officials in Brunswick.
June 3--Bond for the woman accused of stealing $639,000 from the Vidalia Onion Growers Committee has been reduced from $1.2 million to a $125,000 property bond. Superior Court Judge Walter McMillan reduced the bond at a hearing Thursday morning after he was assured 35-year-old Tina Wheeler of Tarrytown is not a flight risk due to her family ties in this area. Four of her relatives agreed to put their homes up for bond as a guarantee she will appear for trial. Judge McMillan restricted her to Montgomery, Toombs, Tattnall and Emanuel counties and prohibited her from seeking a passport. District Attorney Steve Askew told the court Wheeler is alleged to have written checks to herself and to her debtors and to have falsified audits during a seven-year period when she was the office manager of the Onion Committee. Her attorney, Bobby Reaves of Swainsboro, said any money she is accused of stealing is no longer there and has gone to pay debts.
June 3--Lyons businessman Wayne Hartley has been sworn in to the Lyons city council succeeding 13-year council veteran Carlton Robbins who resigned upon moving to Screven County. Lyons Mayor John Moore presented Robbins with a plaque in appreciation for his service to the city. At its June meeting, the council also approved renaming of Pine Avenue to Bernell Lindsay Street, and was informed by Mayor Moore that city employees may have to start paying for part of their health insurance next year due to rising premium costs. He said the city can't afford to pay the estimated $30,000 increase next year. The council will have to take action on the issue later, according to the mayor.
June 3--The Georgia Department of Transportation is planning on replacing the highway 280 bridge over the Oconee River between Montgomery and Wheeler Counties. Montgomery county manager Keith Hamilton informed the county commissioners of the plans at their June meeting and said the project will cost about $8.5 million. No date was given for the construction. The commissioners also reappointed F. Lee Carter of Mount Vernon to the board of the county Department of Family and Children's Services.
June 2--State Senator Tommie Williams of Lyons says he shares the frustration of local officials regarding the snail's pace of highway construction in Toombs County, however, he's in a position to make sure the work gets done. Last week Toombs commission chairman Charles Rustin complained about the repeated delays in the project to widen U.S. #1 from Lyons to I-16, a key corridor which impacts the newly constructed industrial park north of Lyons. Williams chairs the senate transportation committee and says he regularly checks the status of the Toombs County project on his visits to the capitol. According to Williams, the department of transportation should complete its engineering and environmental studies this year, begin right of way acquisition next year, and start work on the project in late 2006.
June 2--A meeting to organize a planning committee to suggest locations for bike-riding trails in a 17-county area of southeast Georgia was held Wednesday in Vidalia. While only seven of the 17 counties in the Heart of Georgia Regional Development Commission were represented, planner Raphael Nail says its a start toward developing another tourism resource for the area. Input from the RDC committee will be passed to the state department of transportation for consideration when planning highway projects which could include bike paths. The next meeting will be in July in Telfair County.
June 1--The Vidalia school board has given the go-ahead to find a construction firm to build the new football stadium at Vidalia High School. At a called meeting Monday, the board approved phase one of the project estimated to cost $1,250,000. Assistant superintendent Charles Cook says increased cost of steel and aluminum plus rising fuel costs raised costs 20 to 25 percent. Phase one will include preparation of the field, bleachers to seat 4,000, lighting, concession stand, press box, restrooms and some additional parking. Sales tax collections will pay $1 million of the costs, with the remainder funded from reserve funds. The board hopes to have bids on the project by the end of the month or in early July for award of the contract. Plans are to have the Indians start using the field for their 2005 season. Phase two of the project include plans for a field house with weight room and offices, lighting for the school soccer field, and more parking.
June 1--A teenager accused of carjacking and kidnapping is being held in the Treutlen County jail. Sheriff Tommy Corbin says 18-year-old Dadge William Parrish of Swainsboro flagged down 23-year-old Sean Day of Vidalia in Soperton on May 11th and forced Day at gunpoint to get in the trunk of the car. Day used his cell phone to call for help from the trunk and Treutlen Deputy Felton Strickland told Day how to use the safety release in the trunk to escape. Parrish went to Augusta and later to Aiken, South Carolina where he wrecked the car in a police chase with the South Carolina state patrol. He fled the wreck on foot and made his way back to Swainsboro where he was arrested May 27th according to Sheriff Corbin.
June 1--Retiring state senator Hugh Gillis of Soperton has been appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to serve on the Georgia Ports Authority. The 85-year-old Gillis is the longest serving legislator in the nation. His appointment becomes official upon his resignation from the General Assembly in July.
June 1--The unemployment rate in this area continues to improve. Preliminary reports for April show the Toombs County unemployment rate at 4.8 percent, the lowest in years. And other counties are even lower with Montgomery County at 3.8 percent, Tattnall at 3.5 percent and Treutlen County at 2.9 percent unemployment. The state rate is 3.5 percent.
News Break - Vidalia Communications.
News Break - Vidalia Communications.
Internet Archive Wayback Machine views of http://www.vidaliacommunications.com/news.shtml
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. Second Arrest in Burglaries
Burglary Indictments Dominate Grand Jury Findings
Judge Dismisses Motion to Stop Trial
June 25
Toombs County Commissioners Name EMS Provider
June 24
City of Vidalia Gets State Funds For Projects
June 23
Southeastern Tech Dedicates New Building To Longtime State Senator
Trane Corporation Holds Ribbon Cutting For New Distribution Center
June 22
Treutlen School Board Selects Ellington for Top Position
June 21
Leadership Toombs Alumni Giving Back to Community
June 17
Stepdaughters Accused in Man's Death
Third Grade Reading Tests
June 16
Grants to Benefit Youth
June 15
Man Found
June 14
DOT to Candidates - "Move Signs"
Vidalia Expected to Share Cost With Developers
June 13
Bank Robbery Suspect Surrenders
Suspects Arrested in Cobbtown Bank Holdup
New Manager for Onion Growers
June 9
Commissioners Move on Road Right of Way
Truetlen Superintendent Moving
Assistant Principal Named by Vidalia BOE
MRMC Has Good Year
June 8
Ambulance Service Contractors Sought
Toombs Completes Accounting Transition
June 7
Altamaha Riverkeepers Watching Sewage Systems
June 3
Wheeler Bond Reduced
Hartley Sworn In
State Plans on Replacing Bridge
June 2
State Senator Monitoring US #1 Project
Bike Trails Planning Starting
June 1
Stadium Construction OK'd
Sheriff Nabs 'Napper
Gillis Appointed to Ports Authority
Area Employment Rates Improving
References
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URL: http://toombs.150m.com/news/radio/2004/June.htm Updated: Wednesday, June 30, 2004. Top