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Many cases were heard recently in Dodge Superior Court. The following are the results of those cases.
James Davis was charged with one count felony aggravated battery, which was reduced to felony simple battery and received 12 months probation and a fine.
Nedra Deckard was charged with one count felony theft by shoplifting and under First Offenders Act (FOA) received four years probation and ordered to pay a $750.00 fine.
Donna Hardeman was charged with one count of felony theft by taking and under FOA she received 15 years probation, ordered to pay a $1,250.00 fine and restitution.
Sherry Marie Hardy was charged with one count felony burglary and she received five years probation and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine.
Justin Scott Hatfield was charged with two counts felony burglary in the first degree and under FOA he received 12 years probation per charge, ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine per charge and received credit for time served.
Shawn Brady was charged with one count felony possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and he received three years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine; one count felony possession of hydrocodone and received three years probation to run concurrent with prior; one count misdemeanor theft by taking and received 12 months probation; one count misdemeanor obstruction of officers and received 12 months probation; one count misdemeanor marijuana less than one ounce and received 12 months probation; and one count misdemeanor possession and use of drug related objects and received 12 months probation.
Michael David Williams was charged with one count felony theft by taking and he received three years probation and ordered to pay a $750.00 fine.
Corey Hughes was charged with one count felony possession of cocaine and received three years probation and ordered to pay a $750.00 fine.
Shawn Paul Armstrong was charged with one count felony theft by taking and he received four years probation and ordered to pay a $700.00 fine.
Leonard Hammons was charged with one count felony theft by taking and under FOA received three years probation and ordered to pay a $350.00 fine.
William Almajeed McClain was charged with one count felony failure to register as sex offender/failure to comply and received four years probation and ordered to pay a $750.00 fine; and once count misdemeanor theft by taking and received 12 months probation to run concurrent with prior and ordered to pay a $350.00 fine.
Timothy Kelby Crawford was charged with one count misdemeanor simple battery and he received 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $350.00 fine.
Eric Brown was charged with one count felony possession of cocaine and he received three years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine.
Dylan Cole Yawn was charged with one count felony burglary in the second degree and received three years probation and ordered to pay a $350.00 fine.
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Two people were transported to Dodge County Hospital after a collision at the intersection of Fish Road and the Terry Coleman Parkway at approximately 7:55 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21. According to the Georgia State Patrol report, Daniel Wilson Lee, age 16, of Eastman, was driving a 1995 Chevrolet pickup on Fish Road. He attempted to cross the intersection of Terry Coleman Parkway when he collided with Theodore Duane Eagy, age 58, of Dexter, who was driving a 2012 Blue Bird school bus north on the parkway. Lee hit the bus on the driver’s side in front of the rear axle. After the impact, the bus tilted on the passenger side, then rotated clockwise and overturned onto the driver’s side. No children were onboard the bus at the time. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

An Eastman Police officer and a citizen were injured in an accident that happened at the intersection of Norman Street and Anson Avenue at approximately 9:23 p.m. on Monday, January 26. Kijana Raheem Brown, age 20, of Eastman, was driving a 2007 Toyota Camry into Eastman on Anson Avenue (Dublin Highway). He failed to negotiate the curve at the Georgia Power Company building, driving onto the sidewalk and knocking down a No Parking sign. He then continued onto the lawn of Georgia Power Company, knocking down the Georgia Power sign. He then continued onto Norman Street and ran into Eastman Assistant Police Chief Romand T. Drake, age 60, of Eastman. Assistant chief Drake was driving a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria police car and was stopped at the stop sign on Norman Avenue. After colliding with the police car, the Toyota continued forward and ran into the Pretty Paws business at the corner of Anson Avenue and Norman Street. Both Drake and Brown were taken to Dodge County Hospital for treatment. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

The following arrests were reported by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for the dates January 1, 2015 through January 20, 2015.

Chasity NeSmith– 01/01/15 – possession of Schedule II controlled substance (four counts).

Dylan Bass– 01/02/15 – burglary (one count) and interference with government property (one count).

Terry Sheffield– 01/02/15 – deposit account fraud (two counts).

Steve Lewis– 01/06/15 – sexual assault by a law enforcement officer against an inmate (one count).

Lewis Wilcox– 01/16/15 – burglary (one count).

James King– 01/16/15 – burglary (one count).

Andy Eady– 01/16/15 – affray (one count) and obstruction of officer (one count).

Takasha McCrary– 01/16/15 – affray (one count) and disorderly conduct (one count).

John C. Williams– 01/17/15 – possession of drug related object (one count) and theft by taking (one count).

Mason Veal– 01/17/15 – theft by deception (one count).

Clayton Boutwell– 01/18/15 – terroristic threats (two counts).

With cold temperatures set in Middle Georgia for the next few months, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens wants to remind Georgians that if their homes are damaged by the extreme cold, they may get financial relief through their homeowners policies.

“Depending on the source of the property damage, you may or may not be covered,” Hudgens said. “Here’s what a typical homeowners policy may pay for”:

• Repairing damage to internal plumbing caused by freezing will generally be covered by your homeowners policy. The policy should also pay for damage to carpeting, furniture, and other belongings caused by your own pipes freezing.
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The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade was held in Eastman on Monday, January 19 and was sponsored by the United Concerned Citizens for Unity and the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Grand Marshal for the parade was John Battle and Bishop Woodrow “Woody” Jarrett was the special guest speaker for the gathering at the Dodge County Courthouse steps after the parade. (Photo by Tracey Graham)

The board of directors of the Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce and the Dodge County-Eastman Development Authority are pleased to announce the hiring of Charles Williams as interim president and CEO.

“We are excited to have Charles on our team and are looking forward to working with him to grow Dodge County,” said Stephanie Burton, chairman of the chamber board of directors.

“There are numerous economic development opportunities out there and we are glad that Charles will be leading us in recruiting and bringing businesses to Dodge County,” said Butch Kirkley, chairman of the Dodge County-Eastman Development Authority.

Williams is a lifelong resident of Dodge County and his business background, extensive contacts and love for Dodge County make him an excellent choice to meet this need in our community as we seek a full time professional for the position.

Williams’s excitement for the job ahead is obvious: “The future looks bright to me and I hope the citizens of Dodge County will commit to join me in this effort to leave our community better than we found it.”

United Concerned Citizens for Unity and the local chapter of the NAACP will be hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK Jr.) parade on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “Hope-Action-Change.”

All parade entrants must be lined up by 12:00 noon. Parade line up will be on Second Avenue near the Eastman post office. All vehicles must be clean and presentable. All late entries will line up at the end of the line.

First, second and third place trophies will be awarded based on originality, parade theme observance and creativity. Trophies will be awarded in the following categories: floats, trucks and cars. No dogs will be allowed due to safety reasons.

This year’s grand marshal is John Battle of Eastman. He has been dedicated for years to make his community a better place to live and work.
Battle is a member of Giddens Gift Holiness Church and currently serves as assistant Sunday school teacher and assistant choir director. He is the president of the Dodge County local branch of the NAACP and the eighth district coordinator for central and south central Georgia for the Georgia State Conference NAACP.

He received his high school education from Peabody High School in 1965 and his college degree in mathematics and physics from Savannah State in 1972. He later earned his master’s degree from Fort Valley State in elementary science and counseling. [Full Story »] 

The board of directors of Citizens Bank and Trust has named James E. (Butch) Kirkley, II President and Chief Operating Officer as well as a director of the bank. A native of Eastman, Kirkley joined the bank in January 2013 as executive vice president and Chief Credit Officer. He succeeds Gene Haskins who retired from active management of the bank at the end of 2014.

“Since joining Citizens Bank, and for many years prior, Butch has demonstrated strong leadership qualities in this community. We are very pleased to have him as the senior leader of our bank. This step completes the senior management transition plan which we adopted several years ago,” said Jim Green, chairman of the Citizens Bank board. “We know that Butch will continue to make great contributions to our bank and the communities we serve in the future.”
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This old picture of an Eastman baseball team was brought into the newspaper recently. Nothing is known about the picture, including the year nor the names of the players. Do you know who they are?

Dodge County Hospital is happy to announce the birth of Kynslii A’Marah Vaughn as our first baby born in 2015! Kynslii was born on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at 9:07 a.m. to Taylor Vaughn. She was 17 ½ inches long and weighed four pounds 11 ounces. Taylor and Kynslii were presented with an assortment of gifts from Dodge County Hospital to celebrate Kynslii being the first baby of 2015. Pictured with Taylor and Kynslii are Nikki McNeal, RN and Alice Alonzo, RN. Dr. Lou Barker delivered Kynslii and Dr. Johnny Peeples cared for Kynslii while at Dodge County Hospital.

The Eastman City Council plans to raise garbage rates for the year 2015 starting in February.
At their meeting on Monday, January 12, the council voted unanimously to adopt the first reading of an ordinance to raise the garbage rates by one dollar per month. The current rate is set at $18.75 per month and $14.75 per month for senior citizens.
The rates, if passed at the next meeting of the city council on Thursday, January 29, will become $18.75 and $15.75 respectively.
If approved at that meeting, the new garbage rates will go into effect with the February 20, 2015 billing with payment due by March 20.
Also at their meeting on Monday, the council elected officers for the 2015 year. They were: Raymond Mullis, chairman; Buddy Pittman, vice chairman and Prince Dawson, chaplain.
The council also appointed Rita Llop as their attorney and Joey Marchant as the municipal court judge.

National Weather Service representative Steve Nelson confirmed the cell path of a tornado with winds reaching 95 mph hit an area at the intersection of Antioch Church Road and Log Cabin Road at approximately 11:57 a.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2015 when he was in Eastman on Tuesday, January 6, 2015. High winds took down trees that blocked Antioch Church Road and tore down power lines across Log Cabin Road. Property belonging to a resident received damage of trees uprooted in their yard from the high winds. Dodge Emergency Management Agency Director Stanley Stephens reported the incident to the National Weather Service. According to Stephens and Nelson, the incident on Antioch Church Road and Log Cabin Road was the only area hit in Dodge County. (Photo by Cindy Eckles)

Gresston Volunteer Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire at 1196 Garrett Oxley Road at 12:29 a.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2015. According to State Fire Marshal James Atkins, the mobile home, belonging to Randall Carr, was intentionally set and was a total loss. No one was at the residence when the fire began according to Atkins. Volunteers from Gresston, Roddy Fire Department and the Dodge County tanker responded to the incident. Atkins stated that the incident is still under investigation and anyone having information should contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department at 478-559-1130 or the State Arson Hotline at 1-800-282-5804. (Photo by Cindy Eckles)