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Eastman Police Chief Becky Sheffield is advising citizens to take valuables out of their vehicles and make sure they are locked. Police are investigating seven vehicle break-ins that occurred on Saturday night, May 6, 2017, in the Hawkinsville Highway area around 8th and 9th Avenues.

The Eastman Police Department reported the following arrest made from May 2, 2017 through May 9, 2017.

Justo Alvarado-Avila, age 47, of Eastman, was arrested for interference with government property and theft of services.

Shedennia Archie, age 56, of Eastman, was arrested for financial transaction card theft and financial transaction card fraud.

Aquanda Facison, age 23, of Milan, was arrested for probation violation.

Rosalin Stuckey, age 35, of Warner Robins, was arrested for two counts of disorderly conduct.

Deandre Smith, age 21, of Eastman, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol 0.10gm or more, 21 or older and failure to maintain lane.

Chazz Gilder, age 19, of Lumber City, was arrested for possession of alcohol by a minor. [Full Story »] 

By Taelor Rye
At the May 8, 2017 meeting of the Eastman City Council, city council member Buddy Pittman initiated discussion on the possibility of bringing an annual festival to Eastman.

Citing similar successful festivals in surrounding areas (such as the Pondtown Festival in Rhine), Pittman expressed interest in initiating something that would draw citizens and businesses to downtown Eastman. Because of the high number of pecan trees in the area, Pittman noted that it could be a pecan festival.

Pittman emphasized, “I think we’re missing the boat on getting people to come downtown,” before listing some different avenues of community involvement: churches, school clubs, civic organizations, and businesses.

In addition, Pittman stated that the city could look into establishing a regularly recurring yard sale in the same vein as Peaches to Beaches.

Pittman said that the yard sales could happen perhaps every three months or so, having citizens – not businesses – gather to sell their own items.

He said, “All this is in an effort to… get traffic coming back downtown… People go to yard sales, and people like to have them.”

City council member Prince Dawson added, “I think we should get behind Buddy with this… and not drop this because we want to revive downtown.” Dawson also called for community involvement in the planning.

Pittman said that he would bring more concrete ideas for discussion at the council’s next meeting.

The council approved to use FacilityDude, an online interface that the city will use for work orders throughout the city. The 12-month contract comes at a cost of $5,520.00, with only a $4,140.00 fee for succeeding years, should the city decide to continue the services.

City manager Jason Cobb discussed “bringing some of our processes here into the 21st century,” acknowledging the potential for FacilityDude to help that. Cobb specifically stated that the service will “increase our efficiency on processing all sorts of things. Currently we use a paper work order system, which is relatively effective. However, it’s inefficient, also.”
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Dodge County Sheriff Lynn Sheffield is warning citizens about a possible scam.

According to the sheriff, on April 29, a citizen of Milan reported to the sheriff’s department about a possible scam. The citizen told sheriff’s deputies that he had posted on the Georgia Farm Bureau’s website about some bales of hay he wanted to sell.

A person by the name of Maj. Paul contacted him by text that he was interested in buying some of the hay. The citizen stated that the two agreed on a price by text and in the next couple of days, he received a certified envelope with a check inside in the amount of $1950.00

In the text, the citizen was instructed to cash the check and take out the amount agreed upon for the hay and to give the remaining amount of $550.00 to the delivery guys.

The citizen stated that he did not feel comfortable cashing the check because he thought it could possibly be a scam.

The name on the envelope was Thomas Carter, Premier Intelligence Company, 422 Pine Street, New Haven, MI.

The name on the check was Ed Mann Landscaping, Clarksville, PA.

If you encounter any situation that you believe may be a scam, contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

By Taelor Rye
The Eastman City Council began its regular meeting on April 24 by swearing in its newest council member, Sebrina Williams.

After the ceremony, city council member Prince Dawson said, “Welcome to our new city council member. We look forward to working with you.”

Additionally, city council member Buddy Pittman told Williams, “We look forward to working with you… You have a very good job ahead of you… Any time you have any questions or anything you need to know, we’ll be glad to help you!”

Additional welcomes came from Carl Hofstadter of Hofstadter and Associates, Inc.; Charles Williams of the development authority; and Catherine Parker, a community member who said, “I’m just happy and proud of… [Sebrina] that she took our district to represent.”

The meeting also served as the first weekday of Georgia Cities Week, which runs until April 29.
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By Taelor Rye
Henry Whitfield, director for the Cochran and Eastman campuses of Middle Georgia State University (MGSU), addressed the Dodge County Board of Commissioners concerning the Heart of Georgia Air Show, whose first planning meeting took place last week.

At the April 17 meeting of the board of commissioners, Whitfield stated that the annual air show, set for September 30, will begin at 12:00 p.m. although the event itself will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Last year’s air show saw over than 2,700 spectators from all over the state, with one school bringing around 40 students and chaperones. Its fundraising goal of $50,000.00 was slightly exceeded, with the county providing funding of $5,000.00 as an entertainment sponsor.

The air show is a “family-friendly event [that] features aerobatic performances, plus food, fun and interactive exhibits.” Promotional materials for the show tout MGSU’s Eastman campus as Georgia’s only four-year public aviation school.

Charles Williams, director of the Eastman-Dodge Chamber of Commerce, informed the board that the Dodge County Board of Education approved to sign Dodge County High School (DCHS) as the first school in Georgia to work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under HUNCH: High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware.
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By Taelor Rye
The Eastman City Council moved to select Sabrina Williams as its newest city council member at its regular meeting on April 10. Williams will fill the unexpired term of former city council member Milton Johnson, who had to vacate his position after moving out of state.

The council also considered Charlene Montford for the position, with city council member Buddy Pittman stating that Williams and Montford were both “two very fine, qualified candidates.” He added, “It’s exciting to see… that people are interested to fill the position.”

Candidates submitted letters of interests and résumés for council deliberation, which took place at a work session prior to the meeting. Regarding qualifications, chairman Raymond Mullis said, “It’s a shame we can’t have both of them.”

City council member Prince Dawson said, “I am here to assist her in any way. She has some concerns that are concerns of the council, so we all will work with you on those.”

Pittman added, “Welcome aboard. We look forward to working with you and answering any questions and helping get you guided and going.”

Williams will be sworn in at the council’s next meeting on April 24, which will also serve as the first weekday of Georgia Cities Week, which runs from April 23 to April 29. City manager Jason Cobb said that the meeting will serve as a “great time to introduce our new council member to the community.” Following the meeting will be an open reception with refreshments for all attendees.

Georgia Cities Week celebrations will follow on at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, in the form of the second annual State of the City address at the Magnolia Theatre.

Wednesday, April 26, will see a work session hosted in the media center of Dodge County High School (DCHS). Here, the city council will meet with the high school’s student council for collaborative dialogue with students. Although the event is geared toward the student council, Cobb stated that the public is invited to it.

Regarding last year’s work session at the high school, Pittman stated, “Those kids come up with some extremely interesting questions!”

Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 26, is a district 9 listening session in Hazlehurst.

Charles Williams, director of the Eastman-Dodge Chamber of Commerce, informed the council that the Dodge County Board of Education approved to sign DCHS as the first school in Georgia to work with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under HUNCH: High School Students United with Nasa to Create Hardware.

Williams said that HUNCH “is a huge step in the right direction of training high school kids for jobs in the technical world… There’s a real enthusiasm for teachers and kids at Dodge County High School (DCHS).”

Not only is DCHS the first Georgia school to become involved with HUNCH, but it is also one of fewer than 100 schools across the nation to do so.
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Wright T. Harrell, Sr. will be honored at the annual Pondtown Festival as the grand marshall for 2017 on Saturday, April 8 in Rhine.

Harrell has been married to Jerry Stuckey Harrell for 65 years. They have two children: Wright Harrell, Jr. “Wrighty” of Rhine and Cindy H. Jursick of Moultrie and five grandchildren: Tom, Kelly, Tyler Bracket, Jason and Anna Jursick and two great grandchildren.

Harrell was born and raised around Mitchell Fire Department. He attended Union School and later attended Rhine High School graduating in 1946. In January of 1955, Harrell joined the Army and less than a year later he was granted honorable discharge where he was stationed in Germany. After leave, Harrell went to work at a pulpwood yard.

Eleven years after graduating high school in 1957, Harrell and Stuckey married and made their home in Rhine. In 1962, he purchased a wood yard. His duties at the wood yard were to unload wood, book keep and measuring trucks while doing 90 percent of everything that was done. In 1991, Harrell retired from the wood yard and the doors were closed. He also delivered mail for ten years at the Rhine Post Office. Harrell is the owner and operator of W.T. Harrell Pulpwood in Rhine.
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By Taelor Rye
Misty Winter, director of the Eastman Youth Development Campus (YDC), and Kiwarren Reese, regional volunteer coordinator from the central office in Atlanta, visited the Eastman City Council at its March 27 meeting to discuss updates to the program and to request community involvement.

Winter began by discussing the changes that have taken and continue to take place at the YDC, stating that, over the past three to four months, the center has been transitioning into more of a vocational and educational building “geared toward reentry services.” Specifically, Winter noted that the center is adding programs for culinary arts, medical coding and billing, horticulture and Microsoft Office suite, among others.

Barbering is set to start April 1, and the YDC is looking into partnering with the aviation school for other options. In the meantime, Winter added that the center is looking for instructors for auto tech and construction.

The YDC also holds soft-skill group sessions concerning topics such as tying a tie and holding mock interviews “to better prepare them for the outside world,” according to Winter.

Winter also stated, “It’s a pleasure to see them grasping the things that we instill in them.”

The current population of the YDC is 64 “lower-risk youth,” often in their first time at the YDC.

In addition, the YDC is looking to hold more community service learning projects, allowing the youth to give back to the community. Winter said, “This is a great community that I would like to see more involved with Eastman YDC.”

Reese noted that the YDC took some of the young men in the YDC to volunteer at the food bank in Macon.

Reese said, “My plea to the council and to the community… is to really show some support by soliciting volunteers to go out… and talk with the kids that are looked for [in the real world]… because, at some point, they’re coming home.”

Winter closed by stating that the YDC is looking for members for its advisory council, which meets quarterly, as well as correctional officers for the center.

Concerning a speed limit reduction request, Eastman City manager Jason Cobb stated that he is in talks with Eastman Police Chief Becky Sheffield and Dodge County Sheriff Lynn Sheffield to figure out a plan of action, with an expectation to finalize the plan by the next city council meeting.
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The Dodge County Board of Commissioners approved a request from Dodge/Wilcox E-911 Director Dianne Millwood to purchase new servers for the center.

Director Millwood went before the commissioners at their regular meeting explaining that the E-911 center works off two servers that have been in place since 2004 and that one of the servers was down last week and can not be repaired. She presented the board with a proposal to purchase two new servers from Baker Audio and

E-911 Cad Mapping for a total of $130,692.30. According to the contract, half of the money is due when ordering the servers and the remainder after installation.

Millwood went on to tell commissioners that when the new system was installed, the citizens of Dodge and Wilcox counties will not be without any of the services provided by the center. Laurens County E-911 has agreed to help at any time during the installation process.

Interim county manager Bobby Peacock told commissioners that the funds to replace the servers were available through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax capital improvements fund. Commissioner Jr. Howell made the motion, which was seconded by commissioner Brian Watkins, to approve the request. The motion passed with all commissioners voting for the motion.
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A federal grand jury sitting in Savannah returned a 176-count indictment against George Mack Bird, III, age 58, a Georgia physician who operated a medical practice in Dodge County and a diet clinic in Laurens County.

According to the indictment, Bird instructed certain of his employees to dispense and distribute various controlled substances and highly addictive opioids using prescription forms that he had pre-signed in violation of federal law. The indictment further alleged that, because Bird rarely saw or examined his patients, he directed his employees to utilize pre-printed medical notes to give the appearance that patients had been thoroughly examined, when in fact, they had not. Bird’s unlawful dispensation scheme was remarkably lucrative, generating more than $4.5 million in proceeds, according to the grand jury. The indictment alleged that Bird and others conspired to illegally launder those proceeds by using them to pay for the operating expenses of Bird’s clinics.
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By Taelor Rye
Raymond Mullis of the Eastman City Council visited the board to request funds for the July 4 fireworks, following up last year’s show, which Mullis stated was “the best we’ve ever had.”

At its last meeting, the city council approved the upfront payment of $10,600.00 for July 4 fireworks. The early payment allows the city to save money that would otherwise be spent with a later payment.

However, companies that donated upwards of $3,700.00 for the fireworks last year have decided not to donate so far this year, Mullis stated. Therefore, he asked that the board of commissioners donate $3,000.00 to supplement the $1,000.00 that the chamber of commerce has donated.

Commissioner Karen Cheek asked whether the payment could be covered by the contingency fund, which county manager Bobby Peacock confirmed.

During his visit, Mullis also shared that the yellow flags on Eastman roads such as Oak Street and Griffin Avenue denote areas that will be repaved by the state.

County attorney John Harrington provided an update on an audit of the Rural Fire Department, discussing the potential of mandating such an audit for funds given to the county fire departments.

Harrington stated that, since the county is the steward of fire department money such as Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and Special-Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds, the board can require information about money spent.

In addition to LOST and SPLOST funds, Peacock said that the county distributes $90,000.00 to be distributed among the nine fire departments, funds that come from the general budget. The question at hand is whether money from the general budget should be audited, as SPLOST and LOST funds are already closely monitored. [Full Story »] 

A tractor trailer driver was taken to Dodge County Hospital after the truck she was driving turned over on the Terry Coleman Parkway on Monday, February 27 at approximately 12:02 p.m. Brittany Tarhera Hamilton, age 31, of Mount Vernon, was driving a 2009 International ProStar Premiu tractor and trailer south on the Terry Coleman Parkway between Edna Moore Road and the Rhine Highway. A rear tire on the trailer blew out and the truck and trailer rolled over on the passenger’s side, and slid down the roadway. The trailer hit the guard rail, tearing it loose and the truck skidded down the median. The accident blocked the southbound lane for approximately five hours. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

A Gresston man was shot after he shot at law enforcement officials.

According to Special Agent in Charge of the Eastman Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) office Scott Whitley, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 10, probation officer Terry Hood had gone to 147 Wilson Woodard Road Lot 2 in Gresston to do a routine home check on Kyle Hudson “Hut” Coleman, age 24, who was on probation. Hood knocked on the door of the mobile home several times, but no one answered.

About that time, Dodge County Sheriff’s Deputy Kirk Hartwell was driving by the trailer. Coleman ran out the back door of the trailer and Hood and Hartwell chased him.

Coleman ran by the Gresston Congregational Holiness Church and into a cemetery, where he began to shoot at the officers. Both officers returned fire and a bullet hit Coleman in the head area.

It is not known which officer hit Coleman. A ballistics test will have to be run on the bullet to determine that.

An Air Evac helicopter was called to the scene and Coleman was airlifted to the Medical Center Navicent Health in Macon.

Officials do not know why Coleman ran or began shooting at the officers.

Colony Bank submitted the lowest bid for a fixed interest rate for the $1.5 million line-of credit that was reviewed by the Dodge County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on Monday, February 6, 2017.

County commissioner chairman Dan McCranie opened bids from the Bank of Eastman, Citizens Bank and Colony Bank during the meeting. The Bank of Eastman submitted a bid of 2.8%; Citizens Bank a bid of 4.0% and Colony Bank a bid of 2.59%.

Board member Terry Niblett made the motion to accept the lowest bid of interest from Colony Bank, which was seconded by board member Brian Watkins. The motion passed unanimously. Board member Jr. Howell was not in attendance at the meeting.

Small Business Administration representative Burton Boone went before the Dodge County Board of Commissioners informing them that he would be in the area to assist businesses that were affected by the recent storm that hit adjoining Wilcox County. Boone told commissioner that low interest disaster loans were available to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory and business assets that were damaged or destroyed during the storm.
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