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A heavy downpour of rain hit Eastman on Friday, June 7 in the early evening. There were high winds and reports of from three to five inches of rain in less than an hour’s time. The parking lot at apartments on the corner of Third Avenue and Wright Drive became a small pond. A tree limb fell on two vehicles on Pine Street. (Photo by Cindy Eckles)

On Sunday, June 9, 2013, newly appointed Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority member Butch Kirkley emailed several members of the authority resigning his seat on the authority. Kirkley had been appointed to the airport authority by the Dodge County/Eastman Development Authority, of which he is also a member, on Monday, May 13. When asked why he had resigned from the airport authority, Kirkley stated that he would rather not say. [Full Story »] 

Two men, Nathaniel Lewis Cummings (age 38), of Eastman and Jeffery Madison (age 20), of Eastman have be named as the persons responsible for the murders of Greg Giddens and Jimmy Gay, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Todd Lowery. [Full Story »] 

The body of an unidentified black man was found on Cook Road in north Dodge County on Monday, June 10, 2013, between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Bleckley County Sheriff Harold Lancaster stated that the unidentified body found in Dodge County may have been the victim of a murder that possibly occurred in Bleckley County. Lancaster stated that a suspect is in custody and another suspect is being sought. [Full Story »] 

A Rhine man had to be flown to a Macon hospital after he was involved in a vehicle accident at approximately 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. [Full Story »] 

The Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority met in a called meeting on Friday, May 31 at 10:00 a.m. to discuss hiring a lawyer and the necessity of cutting trees. [Full Story »] 

Two men, Nathaniel Lewis Cummings, age 38, of Eastman and Jeffery Madison, age 20, of Eastman have be named as the persons responsible for the murders of Greg Giddens and Jimmy Gay, according to Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Todd Lowery.
According to SAC Lowery, Cummings is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of armed robbery and is still on the run from law enforcement. He is described as a black male, approximately six feet four inches tall, weighs approximately 180 pounds and may or may not be wearing glasses. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
Madison was arrested on Monday, June 3 in Bibb County after fleeing from the Georgia State Patrol in a stolen vehicle. After he was apprehended, he was held on a burglary charge from Laurens County. Madison was charged with two counts of murder and two counts armed robbery on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. He is currently in the Dodge County Jail.
The GBI, Dodge County Sheriff’s Department and Eastman Police Department are working together to apprehend Cummings.
Giddens was found at his residence on Page Street in Eastman on May 11, 2013. Gay was found near a dumpster site on Harry Hargrove Road near Eastman on May 31, 2013.
Anyone with information about Cummings’ whereabouts or the two murder cases are asked to call the GBI at 478-374-6988 or the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department at 478-374-8133.

Authorities are investigation a murder that occurred on Friday, May 31.

At approximately 8:40 p.m., law enforcement officials and rescue personnel were called to the site where dumpsters are located on Harry Hargrove Road just south of Eastman. A person from the area had gone to the dumpsters and discovered a body and a vehicle and then called for help. [Full Story »] 

Citizens of Eastman and Dodge County gathered at the war memorial on the grounds of the Dodge County Courthouse for a memorial service dedicated to the memory of former comrades in arms who gave their lives in service to their country. The annual program is sponsored by American Legion Post 126 of Eastman. (Photo by Tracey Graham)

The remains of what once were Soo’s Fashions and Roy’s were torn down on Monday, May 27 on Main Street in Eastman. Graham and Studstill tore the buildings down and are in the process of hauling off the remains. The buildings were destroyed by fire on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. The fire was caused by an electrical short in the Soo’s Fashion building. Both buildings were a total loss. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

The following arrests were reported by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for the dates of May 14, 2013 thru May 26, 2013. [Full Story »] 

The Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority met on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, and elected a new chairman and secretary/treasurer.
When the Eastman/Dodge Development Authority appointed two new members to the airport authority on May 13, the current chairman Eddie Driggers and board member Jack Burnham were replaced with Butch Kirkley and Phil Bearden. [Full Story »] 

Graduation exercises for 199 students were held on Friday, May 17, 2013 for Dodge County High School at Memorial Stadium. A large crowd was in attendance for the ceremony.