Qualifying for school, commission board seats starts March 5.
Four seats are up for election for the Dodge County Board of Education and two seats are up for the Dodge County Board of Commissioners for the upcoming May 22 General Primary and Non-Partisan election.
The Dodge County Board of Commissioners has four commission district seats and a commission chair. The District 2 and 3 seats for the board of commissioners are up for election. Terry Niblett holds the District 2 position and Brian Watkins holds the District 3 position, currently. No official word has been announced yet as to if Niblett and Watkins will be throwing their hats back in the ring or not.
On the Dodge County Board of Education, the following seats are up for election; District 1, District 3, District 5 and District 7. Roscoe Bennett, Robert Peacock, Mark Driggers and Shirley Ikedionwu currently hold these seats respectively. Dodge County School Superintendent Mike Hilliard told The Dodge County News on the phone Monday that he had not received official word if any of the incumbents would be running for re-election or if there would be any opposition as qualifying for election had yet to open.
Qualifying begins March 5 and ends March 9. For a candidate’s name to appear on the ballot, candidates must qualify for office, which basically means they must be a registered voter in Dodge County, live in a district if that office requires it, and pay a qualifying fee.
Top Stories - Topics from February, 2018

Dumpsters top county agenda
Complaints about trash and a city’s plea for help against crime were at the integral points of discussion at Monday night’s meeting of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners.
Chester Mayor Glynn Pittman appeared before the board to ask for help in eliminating crime in the rural city.
Pittman told the board, “I don’t normally come here to ask for anything as we try to handle things in Chester without having to bother anyone.”
“But, I have got to have some help,” he explained. “I am not here to bash the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office or Lynn Sheffield…they have a lot to do and are doing the best they can with what they have. I tried to research and find out more before coming here. I am not here to complain. I am here hoping you can give me some guidance on what to do.”
According to Pittman, the crime rate has increased in Chester. In the last few weeks, Pittman said, “We had a camp house broken into, the apartments have had windows broken out and residents’ homes have been vandalized.” He added that there have been several robberies on Phillips Street, and Pittman said the Shorty’s Quick Stop, “the only store we have in town was robbed.” Someone walked in with an aerosol can and a lighter and walked away with cash.
“I just don’t know what to do. We need some help,” Pittman pleaded.
Dodge County Commission Chair Dan McCranie told Pittman that the commissioners would look into the situation and will get back with him. “I am not real sure how that works with a city getting a police force…last year, the sheriff came before us, and we gave him an increase in his budget.”
[Full Story »]
Chester Mayor Glynn Pittman appeared before the board to ask for help in eliminating crime in the rural city.
Pittman told the board, “I don’t normally come here to ask for anything as we try to handle things in Chester without having to bother anyone.”
“But, I have got to have some help,” he explained. “I am not here to bash the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office or Lynn Sheffield…they have a lot to do and are doing the best they can with what they have. I tried to research and find out more before coming here. I am not here to complain. I am here hoping you can give me some guidance on what to do.”
According to Pittman, the crime rate has increased in Chester. In the last few weeks, Pittman said, “We had a camp house broken into, the apartments have had windows broken out and residents’ homes have been vandalized.” He added that there have been several robberies on Phillips Street, and Pittman said the Shorty’s Quick Stop, “the only store we have in town was robbed.” Someone walked in with an aerosol can and a lighter and walked away with cash.
“I just don’t know what to do. We need some help,” Pittman pleaded.
Dodge County Commission Chair Dan McCranie told Pittman that the commissioners would look into the situation and will get back with him. “I am not real sure how that works with a city getting a police force…last year, the sheriff came before us, and we gave him an increase in his budget.”
[Full Story »]

Police, deputies make arrests
The Eastman Police Department reported the following arrests from January 30, 2018 through February 13, 2018.
Mitchell Payne, age 32, of Eastman, was arrested for pedestrian under the influence (PUI).
Walter Harper, age 58, of Eastman, was arrested for giving a false name and/or address and/or date of birth to an officer.
Betty Wright, age 56, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass on business property and shoplifting, less than $500.00.
Harold Sheriff, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Mildred Grimm, age 60, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Chelsea Walker, age 27, of McRae, was arrested for shoplifting, less than $500.00 and possession of methamphetamine.
Kelsey Williams, age 18, of Helena, was arrested for shoplifting, less than $500.00.
Michael Dobson, age 43, of McRae, was arrested for battery and residential burglary, forced entry.
Alonzo Washington, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while license is suspended and/or revoked.
Stephen Howell, age 47, of Eastman, was arrested for aggravated assault (other weapon); possession and use of drug related objects; probation violation and hindering the apprehension or punishment of a suspect.
Victoria Wilcox, age 46, of Eastman, was arrested for possession and use of drug related objects and probation violation.
Russell Hall, age 43, of Eastman, was arrested for possession of marijuana, one ounce or less; a failure to pay bench warrant and possession of a dog at large and/or nuisance animal.
Donald Dassie, age 61, of Eastman, was arrested for a failure to pay bench warrant.
Brandon Parker, age 28, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass on business property; shoplifting, less than $500.00 and probation violation.
Nelly Dupree, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct and terroristic threats and acts.
Jessica Dupree, age 28, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct and aggravated stalking.
Amanda Adair, age 36, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while license is suspended and/or revoked. [Full Story »]
Mitchell Payne, age 32, of Eastman, was arrested for pedestrian under the influence (PUI).
Walter Harper, age 58, of Eastman, was arrested for giving a false name and/or address and/or date of birth to an officer.
Betty Wright, age 56, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass on business property and shoplifting, less than $500.00.
Harold Sheriff, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Mildred Grimm, age 60, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Chelsea Walker, age 27, of McRae, was arrested for shoplifting, less than $500.00 and possession of methamphetamine.
Kelsey Williams, age 18, of Helena, was arrested for shoplifting, less than $500.00.
Michael Dobson, age 43, of McRae, was arrested for battery and residential burglary, forced entry.
Alonzo Washington, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while license is suspended and/or revoked.
Stephen Howell, age 47, of Eastman, was arrested for aggravated assault (other weapon); possession and use of drug related objects; probation violation and hindering the apprehension or punishment of a suspect.
Victoria Wilcox, age 46, of Eastman, was arrested for possession and use of drug related objects and probation violation.
Russell Hall, age 43, of Eastman, was arrested for possession of marijuana, one ounce or less; a failure to pay bench warrant and possession of a dog at large and/or nuisance animal.
Donald Dassie, age 61, of Eastman, was arrested for a failure to pay bench warrant.
Brandon Parker, age 28, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass on business property; shoplifting, less than $500.00 and probation violation.
Nelly Dupree, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct and terroristic threats and acts.
Jessica Dupree, age 28, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct and aggravated stalking.
Amanda Adair, age 36, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while license is suspended and/or revoked. [Full Story »]

Maci Harrell named STAR student
By MaKylla Underwood
Because of her remarkable score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Dodge County High School (DCHS) senior Maci Harrell has been named the Dodge County High School STAR Student for the 2017-2018 school year.
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is co-sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the Georgia 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 two-part SAT and be in the top ten percent of their respective senior class based on grade point average.
“I was pretty excited to receive this award,” stated Harrell. “My oldest sister, [Mindy] was STAR Student, and it’s an honor to have repeated that a decade later.”
Following her recognition as STAR Student, Harrell nominated a teacher who inspired her the most throughout her high school career; world history teacher Hudson Christian was nominated as Harrell’s STAR Teacher.
“[His] class was always the one I looked forward to, and now it’s the one class I’m going to miss,” added Harrell.
[Full Story »]
Because of her remarkable score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Dodge County High School (DCHS) senior Maci Harrell has been named the Dodge County High School STAR Student for the 2017-2018 school year.
The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is co-sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and the Georgia 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 two-part SAT and be in the top ten percent of their respective senior class based on grade point average.
“I was pretty excited to receive this award,” stated Harrell. “My oldest sister, [Mindy] was STAR Student, and it’s an honor to have repeated that a decade later.”
Following her recognition as STAR Student, Harrell nominated a teacher who inspired her the most throughout her high school career; world history teacher Hudson Christian was nominated as Harrell’s STAR Teacher.
“[His] class was always the one I looked forward to, and now it’s the one class I’m going to miss,” added Harrell.
[Full Story »]
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