A new era in Dodge County recreation has begun. On Monday, long time recreation associate Randy “Spook” Spivey began as Dodge County’s recreation director.
Spivey replaces Travis Niblett as the head man. Spivey was at the Laurens County Recreation Department for 27 years. Spivey is the current president of the Georgia Recreation Parks Association (GRPA). The GRPA governs the Dodge Recreation Department. Spivey also has served on the
GRPA athletic committee for 24 years and he has been the chairman several times.
Spivey said, “I don’t want to try to fix things that aren’t broken”. He said he is interested in bringing back co-ed softball and possibly basketball down the road. “I want to be an asset to Dodge County”, said Spivey. “I want to be accessible to the people in our program and be very visible”.
Recreation chairman Kenton Haley had this to say about the new director. “We were fortunate to have some great applicants for the director position. Spivey brings a lot of experience in not only running a recreation department but also leadership in youth organizations such as being president of GRPA. We are very excited to have him on board and we are looking forward to growing our recreation department and increasing the number of children and adults we serve in athletics.”
Currently, football and soccer are having registration open at the department. For information, call the department at 478-374-4696.
Top Stories - Topics from July, 2019
Driver dies in early morning accident
A Dodge County man was killed when the 10 wheel dump truck he was driving ran off the roadway and struck several trees.
The dump truck was traveling east on Georgia 87 (Abbeville Highway) when it ran off the south side of the roadway and hit a driveway culvert. The truck then traveled back across the highway into the north ditch, hit several trees and overturned onto the passenger’s side.
The identity of the driver was not available at presstime. The accident happened at approximately 7:25 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23.
The Eastman Police Department announces the following arrests for the weeks of July 9, 2019 – July 23, 2019:
Ricky Evans, age 29, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass-private.
Timothy Collins, age 33, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers.
Maya Lake, age 39, of Brunswick, was arrested for FTP bench warrant.
Juvenile, age 16, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and juvenile runaway.
Juvenile, age 16, of Arabi, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and juvenile runaway.
Devonte Lee Vann, age 19, of McRae, was arrested for firearms possession by convicted felon and firearms pointing or aiming at another.
Karla Beard, age 39, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and battery (family violence).
Cathedral Facison, age 22, of Eastman, was arrested for battery (simple) and cruelty to children in the third degree.
Erin Miller, age 22, of Eastman, was arrested for battery (simple) and cruelty to children in the third degree.
Gregory Spikes, age 26, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Lamel Sparrow, age 29, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Carl McCoy, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Demarcus McClinton, age 21, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers, disorderly conduct and aggravated assault-gun.
[Full Story »]
The dump truck was traveling east on Georgia 87 (Abbeville Highway) when it ran off the south side of the roadway and hit a driveway culvert. The truck then traveled back across the highway into the north ditch, hit several trees and overturned onto the passenger’s side.
The identity of the driver was not available at presstime. The accident happened at approximately 7:25 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23.
The Eastman Police Department announces the following arrests for the weeks of July 9, 2019 – July 23, 2019:
Ricky Evans, age 29, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass-private.
Timothy Collins, age 33, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers.
Maya Lake, age 39, of Brunswick, was arrested for FTP bench warrant.
Juvenile, age 16, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and juvenile runaway.
Juvenile, age 16, of Arabi, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and juvenile runaway.
Devonte Lee Vann, age 19, of McRae, was arrested for firearms possession by convicted felon and firearms pointing or aiming at another.
Karla Beard, age 39, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and battery (family violence).
Cathedral Facison, age 22, of Eastman, was arrested for battery (simple) and cruelty to children in the third degree.
Erin Miller, age 22, of Eastman, was arrested for battery (simple) and cruelty to children in the third degree.
Gregory Spikes, age 26, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Lamel Sparrow, age 29, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Carl McCoy, age 50, of Eastman, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Demarcus McClinton, age 21, of Eastman, was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers, disorderly conduct and aggravated assault-gun.
[Full Story »]
Train takes life of Gresston man
A Gresston man was killed when the pickup truck he was driving was hit by a train.
Casey Don Belflower, age 26, of Gresston, was killed when the 2004 Toyota Tundra pickup truck he was driving was hit in the passenger’s side by a southbound Norfolk Southern train on Wednesday, July 10 at approximately 11:44 a.m.
The accident happened at the Mann Road railroad crossing near the Cochran Highway.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department reported the following arrests for July 1, 2019 through July 15, 2019:
Larry Burton Bailey, age 18, of Swainsboro, was arrested for battery and aggravated battery.
Michelle Wyenette Buttery, age 48, of Eastman, was arrested for neglect of disabled adult or elderly person by guardian/caretaker (felony).
Timothy Joshua Collins, age 33, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation and obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers.
Casey Floyd, age 30, of Cochran, was arrested for probation violation.
Darius Tamious Gibson, age 24, of Milan, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Amy Michelle Jones, age 43, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass.
[Full Story »]
Casey Don Belflower, age 26, of Gresston, was killed when the 2004 Toyota Tundra pickup truck he was driving was hit in the passenger’s side by a southbound Norfolk Southern train on Wednesday, July 10 at approximately 11:44 a.m.
The accident happened at the Mann Road railroad crossing near the Cochran Highway.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department reported the following arrests for July 1, 2019 through July 15, 2019:
Larry Burton Bailey, age 18, of Swainsboro, was arrested for battery and aggravated battery.
Michelle Wyenette Buttery, age 48, of Eastman, was arrested for neglect of disabled adult or elderly person by guardian/caretaker (felony).
Timothy Joshua Collins, age 33, of Eastman, was arrested for probation violation and obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers.
Casey Floyd, age 30, of Cochran, was arrested for probation violation.
Darius Tamious Gibson, age 24, of Milan, was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Amy Michelle Jones, age 43, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass.
[Full Story »]
Collision with train takes life
An Eastman man was killed when the 18 wheeler he was driving was hit by a train.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Morgan Cole Sheffield, age 23, died after the 1999 Freightliner log truck he was driving was struck by a Norfolk Southern train in Chauncey on Wednesday, July 3. Apparently, Sheffield was leaving Koppers Utilities Industrial Products and had partially crossed the railroad tracks and was waiting for traffic on US 341 before moving onto the highway. The northbound train then hit the trailer.
Sheffield was taken by helicopter to a Macon hospital where he was pronounced dead. The engineer and a conductor on the train were injured and were taken to Dodge County Hospital.
The accident happened at approximately 1:47 p.m.
The Eastman Police Department announces the following arrests for the week of July 2, 2019 – July 9, 2019:
Tony Bolton, age 24, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass, private.
[Full Story »]
According to the Georgia State Patrol, Morgan Cole Sheffield, age 23, died after the 1999 Freightliner log truck he was driving was struck by a Norfolk Southern train in Chauncey on Wednesday, July 3. Apparently, Sheffield was leaving Koppers Utilities Industrial Products and had partially crossed the railroad tracks and was waiting for traffic on US 341 before moving onto the highway. The northbound train then hit the trailer.
Sheffield was taken by helicopter to a Macon hospital where he was pronounced dead. The engineer and a conductor on the train were injured and were taken to Dodge County Hospital.
The accident happened at approximately 1:47 p.m.
The Eastman Police Department announces the following arrests for the week of July 2, 2019 – July 9, 2019:
Tony Bolton, age 24, of Eastman, was arrested for criminal trespass, private.
[Full Story »]
Niblett resigns as recreation director
By Cindy Eckles
and Russ Ragan
Dodge County Recreation Director (DCRD) Travis Niblett gave his letter of resignation to Dodge County Manager Spence Barron on Monday, July 1, 2019.
The resignation letter stated, “ I would like to thank Dodge County for the opportunity to serve our community for the past seven years. This job has definitely been my most challenging undertaking, but also the most rewarding. I hope that you will find a successor who has the same dedication and love for our kids and for our parks and recreation that I shared.
In my time as DCRD, my team has managed to improve facilities and programs despite the lack of financial resources. My hope is that one day, our community leaders will understand the value of a good recreation and parks program. I also hope that they will come to understand the funding that is necessary to run a successful recreation and parks program.
I have made many life-long friends during my time here, and I hope to remain active in our community. I wish only the best for DCRD, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for our department.
[Full Story »]
and Russ Ragan
Dodge County Recreation Director (DCRD) Travis Niblett gave his letter of resignation to Dodge County Manager Spence Barron on Monday, July 1, 2019.
The resignation letter stated, “ I would like to thank Dodge County for the opportunity to serve our community for the past seven years. This job has definitely been my most challenging undertaking, but also the most rewarding. I hope that you will find a successor who has the same dedication and love for our kids and for our parks and recreation that I shared.
In my time as DCRD, my team has managed to improve facilities and programs despite the lack of financial resources. My hope is that one day, our community leaders will understand the value of a good recreation and parks program. I also hope that they will come to understand the funding that is necessary to run a successful recreation and parks program.
I have made many life-long friends during my time here, and I hope to remain active in our community. I wish only the best for DCRD, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for our department.
[Full Story »]
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