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The Dodge County Hospital OB Department welcomed Madisyn Ruth Kirkland as the first baby of 2014.

Her mother is Danielle Kirkland. Madisyn weighed four pounds and 15 ounces and was 17 and three-quarter inches long.

She was delivered by Dr. Lou Barker and was cared for by Dr. Johnny Peeples.
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Anthony “Tony” Yawn, who was found guilty of enticing a child for indecent purposes in Dodge Superior Court, lost his appeal to the Court of Appeals of Georgia in Atlanta on January 22, 2014 and reported to prison on Monday, February 3, 2014 to begin serving his sentence.

Yawn was arrested in 2011 and was tried in Dodge Superior Court in October 2012. At trial, Yawn was found guilty of one felony count of enticing a child for indecent purposes and was sentenced to 15 years with 10 to serve in prison and five to serve on probation.
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Many cases were heard and disposed of in Dodge Superior court recently. The following are the results of those cases.

Erich Raybon was charged with one count felony burglary and under the First Offenders Act (FOA) was sentenced to eight years probation and ordered to pay a $1,250.00 fine.

David Cole was charged with one count felony theft by taking, which was reduced to misdemeanor theft by taking and was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $750.00 fine.

Casey Yawn was charged with one count felony theft by taking and under the FOA was sentenced to seven years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine.

Robert Albert Jackson was charged with one count felony possession/manufacture/distribution/etc of marijuana and under FOA was sentenced to eight years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000.00 fine.
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Georgia Governor Nathan Deal recently signed into law the elections bill, moving primary elections for state offices from July to May 20. House Bill 310 aligns state office primaries with the date of the primary for federal offices, which was set by a federal judge.
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With inclement weather headed toward Georgia, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, in coordination with Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, signed an executive order prohibiting price gouging for propane.

Georgia’s continued period of cold weather has increased the demand for propane, causing a substantial price increase in recent days.
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The following arrests were reported by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for the dates December 30, 2013 thru January 20, 2014.
Darrell Simpson – 12/30/13 – theft by taking (one count).

Giovonni Lucas – 1/2/14 – disorderly conduct (one count).
Nathaniel Collins – 1/6/14 – simple battery (one count).

Tyler Johnson – 1/7/14 – burglary (one count).
Hope Landmesser – 1/7/14 – simple battery (one count) and possession of a drug related object (one count).
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The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade was held in Eastman on Monday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m.
The parade was sponsored by United Concerned Citizens for Unity and the local chapter of the NAACP.

The theme of the 2014 parade was “We shall not be moved.”
This year’s grand marshal was Jimmy D. Wilcox of Rhine.
Minister Victor C. Cooper was the guest speaker for the parade. [Full Story »] 

Georgia State Transportation Board Chairman Jay Shaw led the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Northwest Eastman Bypass project on Thursday, January 16.

The Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) Office of Transportation Investment Act (TIA) awarded the $6 million project on State Route 87 Connector in Dodge County to Everett Dykes Grassing Company, Inc. based in Cochran.
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United Concerned Citizens for Unity and the local chapter of the NAACP will be hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK Jr.) parade on Monday, January 20, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “We shall not be moved.”

All parade entrants must be lined up by 12:00 noon on Second Avenue near the post office. All vehicles must be clean and presentable. Deadline to sign up for the parade is Monday, January 13, 2014. All late entries will be placed at the end of the line.
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At the start of the Eastman City Council meeting on Monday, January 13, 2014, newly elected councilmen Milton Johnson and Prince Dawson were sworn in by Eastman City Attorney Rita Llop.

Officers for the 2014 Eastman City Council were elected at the council’s first official meeting of 2014. [Full Story »]