Achieving a 98% graduation rate for two years in a row is no small feat, and thanks to the combined efforts of some extremely proud Dodge Countians, the announcement of this accomplishment will be on public display for years to come.
Recognizing the effort this requires and wanting to celebrate and publicly display the success, Development Authority Project Manager George Smith suggested that signs be placed at the entrances of Dodge County and Eastman to share the feat with visitors.
“This makes a huge statement, and it’s all because of the ones sitting in this room,” Smith said, adding that the development authority is “glad to be a part of making this happen.”
On Thursday, January 16, Dodge County High School (DCHS) faculty and staff, community members and representatives from the development authority, the chamber of commerce and the Dodge County Board of Education attended a ceremony presenting one of the ten signs to the school.
Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce President and Development Authority Director Charles Williams opened the ceremony by giving a shout-out to the extensive group of people who helped the county earn this level of success.
“This requires serious teamwork,” Williams began. “It’s not just one person; it’s a team effort.”
The team, he said, includes everyone from bus drivers and cafeteria workers and from Pre-K all the way to the high school, and is an effort that pays off far beyond the classroom and graduation stage. “It means a lot of local industries,” he said.
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Top Stories - Topics from January, 2020

Gym to be named for Davis and Kelly
Former players are encouraged to attend.
The Dodge County High School (DCHS) Gymnasium will be dedicated as the Davis-Kelly Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 28 during the DCHS basketball game scheduled with Wheeler County at 6:00 p.m. Ceremonies will take place between the girls’ and boys’ games.
Coach Bob Davis coached for a total of 35 years with 14 of those years coaching the Dodge County High Squaws from 1960-1974. During that time, he went 358-78 and led the team to the State Playoffs eight times including two state championships in 1962 and 1966, four state runner-up finishes and won eight region championships. Davis’ career won-loss record was 722-162.
Coach Dick Kelly coached the Squaws at Dodge County High School for a total of 30 years with a career record of 634-130. He led the team to 28 state playoff appearances, including five elite eight finishes, five final four finishes, two state runner-up finishes, two state championships in 1985 and 1987 and won 14 region championships.
Dodge County School System and Dodge County High School are proud to honor these two legendary basketball coaches and their contributions to our community and school system.
DCHS would like to invite everyone to come out for this special occasion and send a special invitation to all former players and students of coach Davis and coach Kelly to come out and help honor these two men.
For more information contact DCHS Athletic Director Ken Cofer at 478-374-4019 or DCHS Head Basketball Coach CaSandra Walker Hamilton at 478-374-6690.
The Dodge County High School (DCHS) Gymnasium will be dedicated as the Davis-Kelly Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 28 during the DCHS basketball game scheduled with Wheeler County at 6:00 p.m. Ceremonies will take place between the girls’ and boys’ games.
Coach Bob Davis coached for a total of 35 years with 14 of those years coaching the Dodge County High Squaws from 1960-1974. During that time, he went 358-78 and led the team to the State Playoffs eight times including two state championships in 1962 and 1966, four state runner-up finishes and won eight region championships. Davis’ career won-loss record was 722-162.
Coach Dick Kelly coached the Squaws at Dodge County High School for a total of 30 years with a career record of 634-130. He led the team to 28 state playoff appearances, including five elite eight finishes, five final four finishes, two state runner-up finishes, two state championships in 1985 and 1987 and won 14 region championships.
Dodge County School System and Dodge County High School are proud to honor these two legendary basketball coaches and their contributions to our community and school system.
DCHS would like to invite everyone to come out for this special occasion and send a special invitation to all former players and students of coach Davis and coach Kelly to come out and help honor these two men.
For more information contact DCHS Athletic Director Ken Cofer at 478-374-4019 or DCHS Head Basketball Coach CaSandra Walker Hamilton at 478-374-6690.

Martin Luther King, Jr. parade set for Monday
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade will be held in downtown Eastman on Monday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m. Lineup for the parade will begin at 12:00 noon in front of the Eastman Post Office.
This year, Barbara B. Francis has been chosen for the grand marshal. She is the daughter of the late Oscar and Carrie Barden. She graduated from Peabody High School and attended and graduated from Fort Valley State University with a B.S. Degree in Natural Sciences and Elementary Education.
She was married to the late Edward L. Francis. They have three children and five grandchildren. Francis is a former teacher and entrepreneur. She is a member of the NAACP, Rose Beulah Chapter #251, Order of Eastern Star and bowling league in Dublin.
Francis is a member of Antioch Dempsey Missionary Baptist Church of whom Reverend Prince Dawson is the pastor.
Her hobbies are reading the Bible, watching basketball on television and yard work. Her motto is “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you”.
After the parade, Pastor Stefan Brown will be the guest speaker at the old Dodge County Courthouse.
Pastor Brown is a native of Chester. He is the son of the late Linda A. Coley and the late David E. Smith and the late Eric Brown. He is the grandson of Mertha Brown, a retired educator of the Dodge County Board of Education.
Currently he serves as a law enforcement officer and church minister of 28 years, with five of those years as pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in Chester.
He is married to Virginia Austin Brown and they have been married for 29 years. They have four children, Danielle, Jasmine, Leah and Christopher.
This year, Barbara B. Francis has been chosen for the grand marshal. She is the daughter of the late Oscar and Carrie Barden. She graduated from Peabody High School and attended and graduated from Fort Valley State University with a B.S. Degree in Natural Sciences and Elementary Education.
She was married to the late Edward L. Francis. They have three children and five grandchildren. Francis is a former teacher and entrepreneur. She is a member of the NAACP, Rose Beulah Chapter #251, Order of Eastern Star and bowling league in Dublin.
Francis is a member of Antioch Dempsey Missionary Baptist Church of whom Reverend Prince Dawson is the pastor.
Her hobbies are reading the Bible, watching basketball on television and yard work. Her motto is “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you”.
After the parade, Pastor Stefan Brown will be the guest speaker at the old Dodge County Courthouse.
Pastor Brown is a native of Chester. He is the son of the late Linda A. Coley and the late David E. Smith and the late Eric Brown. He is the grandson of Mertha Brown, a retired educator of the Dodge County Board of Education.
Currently he serves as a law enforcement officer and church minister of 28 years, with five of those years as pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in Chester.
He is married to Virginia Austin Brown and they have been married for 29 years. They have four children, Danielle, Jasmine, Leah and Christopher.

Special election set for Senate seat in District 13
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Wednesday the date of the special election required for Senate District 13 which became vacant with the death of Senator Greg Kirk, R-Americus.
The special election will be February 4 for the district, which includes parts of Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee, Sumter, Tift, Worth, Turner and Wilcox counties. A run-off, if needed, will be March 3.
Qualifying for the special election was in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State in Atlanta on January 2 and 3 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and January 6 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The qualifying fee is $400.00.
Those who qualified for the special election are Mary Egler, a democrat, retired, from Leesburg; Jim Quinn, a republican, a journalist, from Leegsburg and Carden H. Summers, a republican, self employed, from Cordele.
January 9 is the last day to register to vote in the special election.
The Secretary of State is Georgia’s chief election officer and has the mission to help ensure secure and accurate elections. County election officials run the actual elections and handle voter registration.
Georgia is a leader in election innovation and access with automatic voter registration through the Department of Driver Services, three weeks of early voting – including a Saturday, and no-excuse absentee voting. It is the top state in the number of motor voter registrations and in the last election cycle experienced record registration and a record increase in turnout.
The special election will be February 4 for the district, which includes parts of Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee, Sumter, Tift, Worth, Turner and Wilcox counties. A run-off, if needed, will be March 3.
Qualifying for the special election was in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State in Atlanta on January 2 and 3 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and January 6 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The qualifying fee is $400.00.
Those who qualified for the special election are Mary Egler, a democrat, retired, from Leesburg; Jim Quinn, a republican, a journalist, from Leegsburg and Carden H. Summers, a republican, self employed, from Cordele.
January 9 is the last day to register to vote in the special election.
The Secretary of State is Georgia’s chief election officer and has the mission to help ensure secure and accurate elections. County election officials run the actual elections and handle voter registration.
Georgia is a leader in election innovation and access with automatic voter registration through the Department of Driver Services, three weeks of early voting – including a Saturday, and no-excuse absentee voting. It is the top state in the number of motor voter registrations and in the last election cycle experienced record registration and a record increase in turnout.

Eastman police officers make arrests recently
The Eastman Police Department reported the following arrests during the period of December 17 through December 30.
Dana Northcutt, age 25, of Eastman was arrested for Driving too fast for conditions, driving under the influence (DUI) refusal, fleeing and attempting to elude police, taillights/lenses required, tag light required, Safety belt violation (adults) and failure to maintain lane.
Walter Morgan, age 65, of Eastman, was arrested for giving false name/address/date of birth to officer, operating vehicle without valid tad/decal, driving while license suspended/revoked, driving while habitual violator and speeding.
Marci Courson, age 28, of Eastman, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession and use of drug related objects, drugs to be kept in original container and obstructing law enforcement officers.
Maria Oviedo-Arredondo, age 42, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while unlicensed or expired/new resident and headlights/other required.
Hunter Harrell, age 23, of Eastman, was arrested for striking a fixed object.
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Dana Northcutt, age 25, of Eastman was arrested for Driving too fast for conditions, driving under the influence (DUI) refusal, fleeing and attempting to elude police, taillights/lenses required, tag light required, Safety belt violation (adults) and failure to maintain lane.
Walter Morgan, age 65, of Eastman, was arrested for giving false name/address/date of birth to officer, operating vehicle without valid tad/decal, driving while license suspended/revoked, driving while habitual violator and speeding.
Marci Courson, age 28, of Eastman, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession and use of drug related objects, drugs to be kept in original container and obstructing law enforcement officers.
Maria Oviedo-Arredondo, age 42, of Eastman, was arrested for driving while unlicensed or expired/new resident and headlights/other required.
Hunter Harrell, age 23, of Eastman, was arrested for striking a fixed object.
[Full Story »]
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