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Five hundred beautiful Crepe Myrtle seedlings were given away at Dodge County’s annual Arbor Day celebration recently.

The Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce hosts the yearly celebration, but it is a community event that involves the chamber, the City of Eastman, the Georgia Forestry Commission as well as many volunteers from around the county, including the Girl Scouts of Dodge County and the Garden Club.

More than 25 people came together Friday, February 20, for the reading of the Arbor Day proclamation by the City of Eastman and to bag and distribute Crepe Myrtle seedlings. The proclamation is one of four requirements met that will allow Eastman to renew its Tree City USA certification for the 24th year.

“Being a Tree City USA community means that we are dedicated to forestry management in Dodge County,” chamber manager Araina Reaves said. “There is true joy in continuing this annual Arbor Day tradition and we are a blessed community to have so many volunteers come together to make sure this event grows larger each year.”

Carl Ross brought this old picture of Empire School into The Dodge County News office recently. His mother provided the picture and believes it was around 1926 or 1927. Pictured (top row, l-r) Adoloph Mercer, Gladys Fountain, Wilkens Ross, Cora Knight and Joe Williams; and front row, l-r) Roxie Floyd, Mr. Albritton (teacher), Annie MacArnold and Mildred Jimmerson.

The Dodge County Grand Jury convened in February and returned the following indictments:

Jordan White was indicted on one count felony possession of methamphetamine and one count brake lights and turn signals required.

James King was indicted on one count felony burglary second degree.

Adrian Garcia was indicted on one count felony aggravated assault.

Charles King was indicted on one count felony terroristic threats and acts; one count felony obstruction of law enforcement officer when engage; one count misdemeanor criminal trespass; one count misdemeanor disorderly conduct; and one count misdemeanor public drunkenness.

Eric Wright was indicted on one count felony aggravated sodomy- commit sodomy with force and one count misdemeanor battery.

Dontae Robertson was indicted on one count felony aggravated assault and two counts cruelty to children in the third degree or subsequent.

Cathleen Price was indicted on three counts felony burglary first degree; two counts misdemeanor theft by taking; and one count misdemeanor public drunkenness.

Bobby Rickerson was indicted on one count felony inmates in possession of drugs or weapons; one count felony interference with government property; and one count felony criminal attempt to commit a felony.

Kelechia Hamilton was indicted on one count felony possession of a schedule III controlled substance with intent to distribute; one count felony possession/manufacture/distribute drugs within 1,000 feet of schools; and one count misdemeanor obstruction of officers.

Charles McKay was indicted on one count theft by shoplifting.
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Eastman City Council Chairman Raymond Mullis received the prestigious Certificate of Distinction from the Georgia Municipal Training Institute at the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Annual Mayors’ Day Conference in Atlanta on January 25.

The Georgia Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort of GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for elected city officials. To receive a Certificate of Distinction a city official must complete a minimum of 204 units of credit, including at least 72 hours from the required list and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. The training program consists of a series of more than 50 courses.

The Certificate of Distinction is the highest level of Georgia Municipal Association training certification. Mullis was one of six city officials to receive the Certificate of Distinction at Mayors’ Day.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), through the generosity of an anonymous donor, awarded seven middle Georgia counties funding to purchase 30 new signs highlighting public access points along the Ocmulgee River Water Trail in the fall of 2014. The grant allowed for signs to be placed in Ben Hill, Bleckley, Dodge, Houston, Pulaski, Telfair and Wilcox counties to raise awareness and improve access to the trail.

“We are extremely happy to be able to support this multi-county collaboration with funding to promote public awareness of the Ocmulgee River Water Trail,” said NPCA Senior Program Manager Chris Watson. “NPCA remains committed to a range of initiatives in middle Georgia, including the expansion of Ocmulgee National Monument, protecting Native American cultural sites, conserving outstanding wildlife habitat, and permanently protecting public hunting areas. Promoting the growth and vitality of the water trail are part and parcel of these efforts.”

The Ocmulgee Water Trail Partnership, in conjunction with local governments and partners and the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trail, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, is building the Ocmulgee River Water Trail into a premier paddling destination.
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The Eastman Rotary Club will have its annual Farmer’s Appreciation dinner at the Sidetrack Café on Friday, February 20. The Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black will be the keynote speaker.

Commissioner Black is the sixteenth Georgian to hold the office of Commissioner of Agriculture since the department’s inception in 1874. Always involved in the agricultural community, Black began his leadership roles early in his high school years when he joined the Future Farmers of America, later becoming State President of the organization. In his career, Black served 21 years as President of the Georgia Agribusiness Council, a chamber-like organization representing all facets of Georgia’s food and fiber industry.

Throughout the years, he has championed sound policies throughout Georgia ranging from private property rights to food safety, and from lower taxes to science-based environmental stewardship.
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By Charlie Johnson

For her exemplary performance on the SAT, Tyndal Mitchell has been named the Dodge County High School (DCHS) STAR Student. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is cosponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and locally sponsored by the Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce. To be recognized as a STAR student, high school seniors must obtain the highest score on a single test date on the three-part SAT in their senior class and be in the top ten percent of their respective class based on grade point average. With a score of 1980, Mitchell has distinguished herself as the STAR student for the DCHS Class of 2015.“When I was told I received STAR Student, I was extremely overwhelmed,” said Mitchell. “I was excited because it was validation that all my hard work finally paid off.”The STAR Student selects one teacher who has had the greatest influence on the student and Mitchell has named Jennifer McDaniel as her STAR Teacher. McDaniel is a former teacher from DCHS who taught Mitchell AP World History during Mitchell’s tenth grade year.“I moved to DCHS when I was in the tenth grade and when I was new, Mrs. McDaniel made me feel like I belonged,” said Mitchell. “Even in the eleventh grade, she helped me when I needed her, so I gave her the recognition that she so honestly deserved.”“I’m very excited for Tyndal,” said McDaniel, who currently teaches history at Houston County High School. “I know that she works hard for everything she does and is very deserving. I was completely surprised and touched that she chose me to be her STAR Teacher and thought of me as someone who could inspire her.” [Full Story »] 

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reported that it has been a victim of a cyber-attack and there was a breach involving the personal information of its policyholders. Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is closely monitoring the Anthem security breach and want you to protect yourself if you think you may be an affected policyholder.

What happened?

In late January, Anthem discovered the unauthorized access of consumer information including member names, member health identification numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, employment information and income data.

What is Anthem doing to protect my information?

Anthem notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation once the breach was discovered, and sent notices to Anthem consumers responding to consumer questions. Anthem is also working with a cybersecurity firm to evaluate the extent of the attack. They will be providing free credit monitoring and identify protection services to all who were affected. [Full Story »] 

The Internal Revenue Service is warning citizens to be aware that there are tax scammers that will try to get your information.

IRS-Impersonation
Telephone Scam

An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been making the rounds throughout the country. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. 

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license.

In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

Or, victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information. 

If the phone isn’t answered, the scammers often leave an “urgent” callback request.

Note that the IRS will never:

1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill; [Full Story »] 

On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, a Dodge County citizen was awarded a check for $4,000.00 for a tip that he turned into the arson hotline. The tip was in reference to a structure fire in Dodge County in 2012 that helped lead to an arrest and conviction of the arsonist. Accepting the check on behalf of the anonymous tipster was Dodge County Sheriff Lynn Sheffield. Pictured (l-r) William Bishop with Georgia Arson Control, Inc., M. Dwayne Garriss, State Fire Marshal; Sheffield; Mike Patterson, Dodge County deputy; and James Atkins, Dodge County Fire Investigator. Citizens are reminded that tips can be called into the Arson Hotline at 1-800-282-5804 or locally to the sheriff’s office. (Photo by Tracey Graham)

Susan Carpenter Hamilton, age 81, of Milan, was injured and taken to Dodge County Hospital when the 2013 Buick Encore she was driving ran off the Terry Coleman Parkway at the intersection of the Rhine Road and struck several small trees. Two passengers in the vehicle were not injured. The accident happened on Friday, January 30 at approximately 5:31 p.m. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

The Eastman Fire Department was called to a house fire at 206 Troy Road at approximately 12:51 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. When firefighters arrived, the doublewide mobile home was engulfed in flames. The home was a total loss. The house was occupied by Willie Davis and was owned by Holder Properties. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. (Photo by Tracey Graham)

By Cindy Eckles

The Dodge County Board of Commissioner reviewed bids received from the Bank of Eastman, Citizens Bank and Trust of Eastman and Colony Bank of Eastman for the 2015 operating line of credit for the county. Interim county manager Bobby Peacock requested permission from county commissioners at their meeting on January 5, 2015 to submit requests to local financial institutions for an operating line of credit in the amount of $2,750,000.00 for 2015 at the best-fixed rate of interest.

Bids received were: Bank of Eastman, $2,750,000.00 with a fixed rate of 2.73%; Citizens Bank and Trust of Eastman, $2,750,000.00 with a fixed rate of 2.74% and Colony Bank of Eastman, $2,750,000.00 with a fixed rate of 2.78%. Commissioner Jr. Howell made the motion to accept the lowest fixed rate bid from Bank of Eastman, which was seconded by commissioner Terry Niblett. The motion passed unanimous.

Bids were then opened for a new roof at the Georgia Department of Labor building. Bids were received from Graham and Studstill and Moore Roofing. Because of a difference in the way the bids were presented, a committee of commissioners, Howell and Niblett, were appointed to review the bids and then make their recommendation to the board of commissioners at the next meeting.
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