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For the first time in more than 20 years, the Eastman City Council voted unanimously to raise their millage rate.

After discussions by the council on Monday, September 22, which included city manager Bea Edge telling the council that revenues for the city were down, councilman Bobby Slye made the motion to set the proposed millage at seven (7) mills. In previous years, the millage rate for the city has been six (6) mills. The motion was seconded by councilman Prince Dawson and was passed unanimously.

The extra mill will bring in approximately $110,000.00 in additional revenue for the city. In order to be able to raise the millage rate, the city is required to hold three (3) public hearings.

The public hearings will be held on Thursday, October 2 at 6:00 p.m. and on Monday, October 13 at 11:00 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m. at Eastman City Hall.
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Names have been chosen for the October term of the Dodge County Grand Jury and Traverse jury. If you see your name on either of the following lists and have not been notified by mail, you should call the Dodge County Clerk of Court at 478-374-2871.

The following people should report to the Dodge County Courthouse for Grand Jury duty at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 29.

David Banks, Ronald Alvin Beck, Jr., Effie Edwina Brack, Richard Elliott Bradham, Jr., Calan Luke Brantley, Kimberly Amanda Bryant, Patricia A. Bryant, Michelle Marie Campbell, Elizabeth Ann Compton, Inez Marchant Douglas, Katie Ann Marjarek Dupree, Jada Coleman Durden, Cindy Lee Evans, Dellese Floyd, Jim Robert Foskey, Linda M. Foskey, Robin Marshell Fountain.

Brock Michael Giddens, Mary Emma Hardeman, Savannah Rose Hargrove, Kenneth Cecil Herndon, Erica Yawn Hildebrand, Amber Dawn Howell, Benjamin James Jackson, Robert Junior Johnson, Jack Randall Jones, Jr., Sherry E. Manus, William Zachary Mercer, Terry Keith Newson.

Judith W. Peacock, Sarah Ellen Pham, Julia Jones Roberts, Lucy S. Roberts, Vivian Joyce Sheffield, Laura Elizabeth Simmons, James Edward Souleyrette, Shellie Ann Toler, Diane M. Trunk, Angela B. Walker, James Wilson Weathersbee, Jessie Dewayne White and Dianne P. Wrease.
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Cases were heard in Dodge County Superior Court recently. The following are the results of those cases.

Henry Walker was found guilty on one count felony sale of cocaine, which was reduced to possession of cocaine and was sentenced to seven years probation and 200 hours community service work.

Boris Williams was found guilty on one count reckless driving and was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine; and found guilty on one count driving without license and sentenced to 12 months probation to run concurrent with prior and ordered to pay a $100.00 fine.

Robert Pace was found guilty on one count felony terroristic threats and acts and sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine. [Full Story »] 

An Eastman man was killed in a one vehicle accident on the Wilson Woodard Road when he apparently lost control of the vehicle he was driving and struck a tree.

Jenning William (Buck) Roberts (62), of a Chester Road, Eastman address, was driving on Wilson Woodard Road toward Gresston when he ran off the right side of the roadway, traveled down a ditch and struck a tree.

The accident happened at approximately 9:09 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16. Dodge County Coroner Joe Smith pronounced Roberts dead at the scene at 10:01 a.m.

Roberts was driving a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck. The Georgia State Patrol investigated the accident.

Many options exist when it comes to voter registration.  We have received reports of voter registration drives where personal data is obtained that could possibly be used for identity theft. 

Please be aware of the following:

• Never give personal information to anyone over the phone who claims to be running a voter registration drive.

• You do not have to provide an email address in order to register to vote.

• You do not have to provide a phone number in order to register to vote.

• You do not have to provide a full social security number in order to register to vote.
Georgians with an ID issued by the Department of Driver Services now have the ability to register to vote or update their information online through the Online Voter Registration System (OLVR) at www.sos.ga.gov.  The process is safe and secure.
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Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp wants to remind Georgians they must be registered to vote by October 6 in order to participate in the November 4 general election. This leaves less than one month before the deadline.

“Every Georgian should have the opportunity to vote in the November 4 general election,” said Kemp. “The good news is that it is easier than ever to get registered to vote or to change your registration information.”

Georgians with a valid Georgia driver’s license can go online and register at https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/#no-back-button. [Full Story »] 

Christmas in September? Too HOT to think about Christmas!

In an effort to expand and improve the annual Eastman Lions Christmas parade, the work for the 2014 parade has already begun. The 2014 Lions Christmas parade is scheduled for December 6, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. This is a change from previous years, when the parade was held on the second Saturday in December.

There is a $25 entry fee for floats, vehicles (beauty pageant winners, homecoming queens, political and etc.), and walking units. A fee of $25 for the first 10 and $15 for each 10 over the 1st 10 is charged for equestrian units (horses), and motorcycle units. [Full Story »] 

Eastman police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at Flash Foods convenience store on the Soperton Highway at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27.

According to the police report, a black male entered the store and went into the men’s rest room.

When he came out, the cashier asked him if he needed anything else. He told her he needed a pack of cigarettes. As the cashier turned to get the cigarettes, the man pulled a knife on her and told her to give him all the money.

He advised her not to touch any buttons. The cashier told him she had to use the keys to open the cash register and get the money.

The cashier proceeded to get the money and hand it to him. He then picked up the cigarettes and fled the store.

If anyone has any knowledge about this robbery, they are asked to call the Eastman Police Department at 478-374-7788.