Age: 79
Died: Saturday, February 14, 2015
Arrangements: Hamilton-Burch Funeral Home, Inc. of Eastman had charge of arrangements.
Entries from March 2015
Vernon Eschol Adams
Age: 65
Died: Saturday, March 7, 2015
Arrangements: Vaughn Funeral Home of McRae was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Saturday, March 7, 2015
Arrangements: Vaughn Funeral Home of McRae was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Ann Johnson
Age: 54
Died: Sunday, March 1 ,2015
Arrangements: Mathis Funeral Home of Cochran was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Sunday, March 1 ,2015
Arrangements: Mathis Funeral Home of Cochran was in charge of arrangements.
Wanda Nell Rutherford Wright
Age: 76
Died: Friday, March 6, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Friday, March 6, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Brian Lee Allen
Age: 42
Died: Friday, March 6, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Friday, March 6, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Dell NeSmith Holt
Age: 81
Died: Monday, March 2, 2015
Arrangements: Fisher Funeral Home in Cochran was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Monday, March 2, 2015
Arrangements: Fisher Funeral Home in Cochran was in charge of arrangements.
Rodger Steve Cadwell
Age: 64
Died: Thursday, March 5, 2015
Arrangements: Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Thursday, March 5, 2015
Arrangements: Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Dodge County Indians baseball hosts Johnson High School Atomsmashers in region matchup
On Friday, February 27, the Dodge County High School Indians baseball team hosted the Johnson High School Atomsmashers for their third region matchup. Lance Pruett got the start on the mound for the Indians.
Pruett surrendered a run in the first inning following a lead off walk and that would be all the offense the Atomsmashers would be able to put together. Pruett threw three innings striking out seven, walking one and surrendering the one run. Cain Peterson pitched one inning allowing no runs and Clint Thompson pitched one inning striking out two. [Full Story »]
Pruett surrendered a run in the first inning following a lead off walk and that would be all the offense the Atomsmashers would be able to put together. Pruett threw three innings striking out seven, walking one and surrendering the one run. Cain Peterson pitched one inning allowing no runs and Clint Thompson pitched one inning striking out two. [Full Story »]

Change clocks, change batteries
It’s time to spring ahead to Daylight Savings Time. People should move their clocks forward one hour before they go to bed this Saturday night, March 7.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens wants to remind Georgians that when they change their clocks to daylight saving time this year, they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the same time.
Hudgens said the annual change from standard time to daylight saving time, is a good time to make sure your smoke alarm is working as it should.
“Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms didn’t function because of dead batteries,” Hudgens said. “If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it’s in working order. Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.”
So far in 2015, there have been 28 fire fatalities in Georgia. In 22 of those fires, investigators were unable to determine if the home had a working smoke alarm present.
Hudgens also recommended changing batteries in flashlights and weather radios, and having an emergency plan in place in case severe weather threatens.
Federal law specifies that daylight saving time begins at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, when clocks are set ahead one hour.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens wants to remind Georgians that when they change their clocks to daylight saving time this year, they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the same time.
Hudgens said the annual change from standard time to daylight saving time, is a good time to make sure your smoke alarm is working as it should.
“Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms didn’t function because of dead batteries,” Hudgens said. “If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it’s in working order. Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.”
So far in 2015, there have been 28 fire fatalities in Georgia. In 22 of those fires, investigators were unable to determine if the home had a working smoke alarm present.
Hudgens also recommended changing batteries in flashlights and weather radios, and having an emergency plan in place in case severe weather threatens.
Federal law specifies that daylight saving time begins at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, when clocks are set ahead one hour.
Mary Brown Sapp
Age: 89
Died: Thursday, March 5, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, Inc. had charge of arrangements.
Died: Thursday, March 5, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, Inc. had charge of arrangements.

Remember This?
This is a picture of the Lee-Land Hotel in Eastman from around 1935. The hotel was located where Citizens Bank and Trust now stands. For many years this grand hotel could be seen near the center of Eastman near the highway leading to Cochran and Macon.

Dodge fishermen found safe
Two Dodge County fishermen were found safe Tuesday afternoon, March 3 after they had been reported missing at approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Authorities began searching for two fishermen who went fishing in a boat on the Ocmulgee River Monday, March 2 and had not been heard from since.
The two men were Donald Sheffield and Christopher Hightower.
Search crews had been sent out to try and find the two men.
The men were located and a boat brought them back to the staging area at Chestnut Drive.
Officials said the men apparently hit a log in the river Monday, and the two men made it to shore after their boat capsized.
At approximately 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the two men were back on shore and were greeted by family and friends. They had no visible injuries, but one of them was a diabetic and was taken to Dodge County Hospital due to extremely high blood sugar. They were also dehydrated.
Authorities began searching for two fishermen who went fishing in a boat on the Ocmulgee River Monday, March 2 and had not been heard from since.
The two men were Donald Sheffield and Christopher Hightower.
Search crews had been sent out to try and find the two men.
The men were located and a boat brought them back to the staging area at Chestnut Drive.
Officials said the men apparently hit a log in the river Monday, and the two men made it to shore after their boat capsized.
At approximately 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the two men were back on shore and were greeted by family and friends. They had no visible injuries, but one of them was a diabetic and was taken to Dodge County Hospital due to extremely high blood sugar. They were also dehydrated.
Harvey Junior Moore
Age: 87
Died: Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
Died: Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.

Jeb Bush: “Demo Lite”
Jeb Bush is the current “Demo Lite” open borders Republican candidate for president. Jeb even bused in supporters to the recent Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) yet finished low in the pack of conservative presidential candidates. This shows you how weak he actually is. The liberal media sense that Jeb, if nominated, will lose to a Democrat in the General Election. The clueless Republican establishment always claims such “moderates” are the key to electoral success in November 2016. They fall for the media hype.
In years past the Republican in-crowd has pushed Nelson Rockefeller over Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford over Ronald Reagan, then Howard Baker and George Bush I over Reagan. Recent examples of this flawed strategy are John McCain, probably the weakest candidate running in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012, another weak candidate, though far more likable than McCain. In 2016 conservatives need to find one candidate to support and to reject media-hyped candidates.
Jeb Bush married a Latina with expensive tastes, not a good image for someone trying to attract working class support in a run for the presidency.
“Columba and Jeb have absolutely no frame of reference with which to understand ordinary Americans. Any advantage Bush may have gained from having a Hispanic wife will be eviscerated by the jeering commentary about her opulent tastes.”
Thomas Martel on VDARE.com 2-28-15
I doubt we will see savvy commentator Thomas Martel on Fox News. They generally hire less forceful writers, someone more “moderate.” You have to look around a bit to find the good ones. VDARE.com has them. Fox has too many liberals and watered down inoffensive “conservatives” seeking to sound “mainstream,” reaching out to liberals. Laura Ingraham is a good example of the type of conservative, focused commentator Fox should seek. She does not reach out to the Left. Her radio show is far better than Fox Network’s content. Bill O’Reilly is a type to avoid. I’ll take the Internet any time over watered-down Fox News.
“Don’t buy the elite media line here or take the bait.”
Laura Ingraham
[Full Story »]
In years past the Republican in-crowd has pushed Nelson Rockefeller over Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford over Ronald Reagan, then Howard Baker and George Bush I over Reagan. Recent examples of this flawed strategy are John McCain, probably the weakest candidate running in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012, another weak candidate, though far more likable than McCain. In 2016 conservatives need to find one candidate to support and to reject media-hyped candidates.
Jeb Bush married a Latina with expensive tastes, not a good image for someone trying to attract working class support in a run for the presidency.
“Columba and Jeb have absolutely no frame of reference with which to understand ordinary Americans. Any advantage Bush may have gained from having a Hispanic wife will be eviscerated by the jeering commentary about her opulent tastes.”
Thomas Martel on VDARE.com 2-28-15
I doubt we will see savvy commentator Thomas Martel on Fox News. They generally hire less forceful writers, someone more “moderate.” You have to look around a bit to find the good ones. VDARE.com has them. Fox has too many liberals and watered down inoffensive “conservatives” seeking to sound “mainstream,” reaching out to liberals. Laura Ingraham is a good example of the type of conservative, focused commentator Fox should seek. She does not reach out to the Left. Her radio show is far better than Fox Network’s content. Bill O’Reilly is a type to avoid. I’ll take the Internet any time over watered-down Fox News.
“Don’t buy the elite media line here or take the bait.”
Laura Ingraham
[Full Story »]

Letter to the Editor
Dear editor,
I’m delighted to be able to share that the Eastman Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has been activated. This has been a project that I have championed and my colleagues on the city council have recognized as a necessity for our community. This community win allows Eastman to work towards a future where our city central business district is an economically vibrant and fun destination. Installing the new DDA board was not about the city council passing along the “buck” to another group. The activation of our DDA was about giving Eastman an additional tool in its toolbox to shape the quality of life in our community, intelligently.
I provide this disclaimer because where we grow from here will be the result of a thoughtful and methodical approach. Our DDA will not be an event management group. Our DDA will not be a financial lender. Our DDA will not be a cosigner to assist in acquiring capital. What our DDA will be is a group of community minded individuals that will work in harmony with Eastman’s city council to focus, in 20/20 clarity, our residents’ vision of what their desired central business district looks like. I will labor on the behalf of Eastman with my colleagues and the DDA to develop a community supported vision plan that will serve as the blueprint for the reconstruction of the heart and soul of this community.
The one thing that I ask of you is to train your minds to disassociate the narrow view of Main Street as the geographical boundary of our downtown. The downtown core of Eastman is more expansive than our historical main street. As a result of this, in the activating resolution of our DDA, which I sponsored before city council, the jurisdiction for the DDA was outlines in such a way that it captures what was once the business zone of Eastman in the 1980s. The makeup of this zone has not changed much in the last three decades and it seemed fitting to challenge the City of Eastman and the DDA with revitalizing this corridor.
[Full Story »]
I’m delighted to be able to share that the Eastman Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has been activated. This has been a project that I have championed and my colleagues on the city council have recognized as a necessity for our community. This community win allows Eastman to work towards a future where our city central business district is an economically vibrant and fun destination. Installing the new DDA board was not about the city council passing along the “buck” to another group. The activation of our DDA was about giving Eastman an additional tool in its toolbox to shape the quality of life in our community, intelligently.
I provide this disclaimer because where we grow from here will be the result of a thoughtful and methodical approach. Our DDA will not be an event management group. Our DDA will not be a financial lender. Our DDA will not be a cosigner to assist in acquiring capital. What our DDA will be is a group of community minded individuals that will work in harmony with Eastman’s city council to focus, in 20/20 clarity, our residents’ vision of what their desired central business district looks like. I will labor on the behalf of Eastman with my colleagues and the DDA to develop a community supported vision plan that will serve as the blueprint for the reconstruction of the heart and soul of this community.
The one thing that I ask of you is to train your minds to disassociate the narrow view of Main Street as the geographical boundary of our downtown. The downtown core of Eastman is more expansive than our historical main street. As a result of this, in the activating resolution of our DDA, which I sponsored before city council, the jurisdiction for the DDA was outlines in such a way that it captures what was once the business zone of Eastman in the 1980s. The makeup of this zone has not changed much in the last three decades and it seemed fitting to challenge the City of Eastman and the DDA with revitalizing this corridor.
[Full Story »]
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