In a surprisingly unanimous decision last week, the Dodge County Board of Education approved the selection of Michael H. Ward as superintendent of schools for Dodge County.
According to a representative of the Dodge County School System district officers, Ward was named last week, and the vote was tallied at a unanimous approval of six to zero after all board members voted.
Ward retired in June 2018 after serving for 13 years as the assistant superintendent for operations and business services with the Harris County School System in Hamilton, Georgia.
Some of his duties there included negotiating all insurance and other contracts, being responsible for all operations’ planning, programs, policy analysis and fiscal management, being responsible for all student discipline tribunals and acted as a liaison for the school superintendent.
Ward also served as the director of transportation for the Douglas County School System for four years, and as the director of transportation for the Monroe County School System for four years.
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Top Stories - Topics from July, 2018
Authorities make arrests
Eastman Police Chief Becky Sheffield reported the following arrests by officers with her department during the week of July 3, 2018-July 10, 2018.
Mitchell Payne, age 32, of Eastman, was arrested for failure to appear.
Tabitha Spikes, age 40, of Eastman, was arrested with forgery in the first degree-other object.
Patrick Williams, age 42, of Eastman, was arrested with possession of drug-related object, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana and for an FTP bench warrant.
James Hughes, age 47, of Eastman, was arrested for an FTP bench warrant.
Bernard Butler, age 24, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Herschel White, age 33, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Jason Marshall, age 36, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Christopher Fordham, age 49, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Rickie Blackshear, age 37, of Eastman, was arrested for firearms, possession by convicted felon, littering, consuming alcohol in public, pedestrian under the influence and failure to appear.
Robin Dorsey, age 53, of Lumber City, was arrested for following too closely and leaving the scene of an accident with injury/damage.
Jasmine Harrow, age 25, o f Eastman, was arrested with forgery in the third degree.
Stewart Giddens, age 36, of Eastman, was arrested with possession drug-related object and possession of drugs-methamphetamine.
Brandon Lampkin, age 30, of Eastman, was arrested with possession of a drug-related object, possession of drugs-methamphetamines and theft by receiving stolen property $500 value or more.
Brandon Dykes, age 35, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while license suspended/revoked.
Miracles Ellis, age 19, of McRae, was arrested for speeding and driving while license suspended/revoked.
Tina Watts, age 45, of Eastman, was arrested on a bench warrant.
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Mitchell Payne, age 32, of Eastman, was arrested for failure to appear.
Tabitha Spikes, age 40, of Eastman, was arrested with forgery in the first degree-other object.
Patrick Williams, age 42, of Eastman, was arrested with possession of drug-related object, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana and for an FTP bench warrant.
James Hughes, age 47, of Eastman, was arrested for an FTP bench warrant.
Bernard Butler, age 24, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Herschel White, age 33, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Jason Marshall, age 36, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Christopher Fordham, age 49, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation.
Rickie Blackshear, age 37, of Eastman, was arrested for firearms, possession by convicted felon, littering, consuming alcohol in public, pedestrian under the influence and failure to appear.
Robin Dorsey, age 53, of Lumber City, was arrested for following too closely and leaving the scene of an accident with injury/damage.
Jasmine Harrow, age 25, o f Eastman, was arrested with forgery in the third degree.
Stewart Giddens, age 36, of Eastman, was arrested with possession drug-related object and possession of drugs-methamphetamine.
Brandon Lampkin, age 30, of Eastman, was arrested with possession of a drug-related object, possession of drugs-methamphetamines and theft by receiving stolen property $500 value or more.
Brandon Dykes, age 35, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while license suspended/revoked.
Miracles Ellis, age 19, of McRae, was arrested for speeding and driving while license suspended/revoked.
Tina Watts, age 45, of Eastman, was arrested on a bench warrant.
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Former teacher pleads guilty to sexual battery
Jayme Michael Fordham, a former Dodge County teacher and coach, was sentenced recently on two counts of sexual battery as a result of charges of child molestation and computer pornography that occurred in Dodge County.
According to documents released from the case and sentencing, Fordham was sentenced to a total of 10 years, with the first two and half years to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on probation.
Though the offense occurred somewhere between May 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016, Fordham, at first, pled not guilty to the charges against him on March 21, 2017. On May 22, 2018, Fordham changed his plea to guilty to both counts of sexual battery.
As per the inventory of special conditions of probation regarding Fordham, the following will hold true: (1) Fordham is sentenced under the provisions of the probation management act sentencing options system; (2) Fordham will have to submit to a search of person, residences, papers, vehicle and/or effects at any time of day or night without a search warrant whenever requested to do so by a probation officer or other law enforcement officer upon reasonable cause to believe that Fordham is in violation of probation or otherwise acting in violation of the law, and
Fordham shall specifically consent to the use of anything seized as evidence in any judicial proceedings or trial; (3) Fordham will have to produce upon oral or written request by a Probation Officer, a law enforcement officer or official of a Georgia Department of Health and Safety approved substance abuse or mental health provider personnel a breath, saliva, urine and/or blood specimen for analysis for the presence of drugs including alcohol, and Fordham shall waive evidentiary foundation for admissibility of the laboratory results.
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According to documents released from the case and sentencing, Fordham was sentenced to a total of 10 years, with the first two and half years to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on probation.
Though the offense occurred somewhere between May 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016, Fordham, at first, pled not guilty to the charges against him on March 21, 2017. On May 22, 2018, Fordham changed his plea to guilty to both counts of sexual battery.
As per the inventory of special conditions of probation regarding Fordham, the following will hold true: (1) Fordham is sentenced under the provisions of the probation management act sentencing options system; (2) Fordham will have to submit to a search of person, residences, papers, vehicle and/or effects at any time of day or night without a search warrant whenever requested to do so by a probation officer or other law enforcement officer upon reasonable cause to believe that Fordham is in violation of probation or otherwise acting in violation of the law, and
Fordham shall specifically consent to the use of anything seized as evidence in any judicial proceedings or trial; (3) Fordham will have to produce upon oral or written request by a Probation Officer, a law enforcement officer or official of a Georgia Department of Health and Safety approved substance abuse or mental health provider personnel a breath, saliva, urine and/or blood specimen for analysis for the presence of drugs including alcohol, and Fordham shall waive evidentiary foundation for admissibility of the laboratory results.
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