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A man and his girlfriend have been charged in the death of a three year old boy.

On Friday, March 14, 2014, a call was placed to the Dodge/Wilcox 911 center about a child that was injured. When emergency medical personnel arrived at a mobile home at 27 Arthur Cooper Road just outside Eastman, they found that three year old Zackory Dean Smith had severe injuries and called for the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. After sheriff’s deputies arrived, they called for assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Zackory was taken to Dodge County Hospital and efforts to revive the child were made, but to no avail. Dodge County Coroner Joe Smith pronounced the child dead at the hospital. The child was sent to the Georgia Crime Lab to determine the cause of death.
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Kenzell Montrell Walker was found guilty on one count felony aggravated assault, which was reduced to felony obstruction of officer and sentenced to serve four years in prison.

Bridget Roberson was found guilty on one count felony theft by shoplifting, which was reduced to misdemeanor theft by taking and sentenced to 12 months probation, pay a $400.00 fine and was banned from the property.

James Alexander Warren was found guilty on one count headlights and sentenced to 12 months probation and pay a $185.00 fine.

Samuel Warren was found guilty on one count felony possession/manufacture/distribution/etc of marijuana and was sentenced to 10 years probation to run concurrent with prior and pay a $1,250.00 fine.

Milton Evans was found guilty on one count felony theft by taking, which was reduced to misdemeanor theft by taking and sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $350.00 fine.

Diana Blash was found guilty on one count felony aggravated assault, which was reduced to misdemeanor reckless conduct. She was sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $250.00 fine.
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The 2014 Leadership Dodge class recently traveled to Atlanta to catch a glimpse of the state legislative process and also to gain an understanding of the economic development process for the State of Georgia.

The group visited the Centergy Center, which is home to the State Economic Development Department and houses the economic development leaders of Georgia Power and Georgia EMC.

The class was introduced to economic development strategies that can be useful in Dodge County.
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Only one local candidate will see opposition in the May 20, 2014 General Primary.

Incumbent Dee Yearty, in School Board District 3, will face Robert E. Peacock.

District 1 incumbent Prentice J. (Roscoe Bennett, Jr., School Board District 5 incumbent Mark Driggers and School Board District 7 incumbent Shirley Randall Ikedionwu will all run unopossed.

In the Dodge County Commissioner District 2 and District 3, incumbents Terry Niblett and Brian Watkins will also run unopossed.
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Names have been chosen for the February term of the Dodge County Traverse jury.

If you see your name on the following list and have not been notified by mail, you should call the Dodge County Clerk of Court at 478-374-2871.

The following people should report to the Dodge County Courthouse for Traverse Jury duty at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2014.

Shelia Rene Anderson, Sandra Davis Beck, Juan Enrique Bernard, Walter Leslie Bracewell, Philip Austin Brown, Mary Carolyn Burch, Bradley Jacob Butler, mary Carolyn Burch, Bradley Jacob Butler, Christopher Butler, Anthony Lane Carr, Michael David Carrigg, Justin Brian Carroll, Celia Karen Cheek, Derome Jalil Clark, Sean Alexander Clemons, Bridget Nicole Coffman, Delbra P. Collins, Theresa Lynn Corben, Andrew Benjamin Cravey, Tommy Cravey.

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The Georgia Department of Revenue wants to remind its citizens that if you purchased a motor vehicle on or after January 1, 2012 and prior to March 1, 2013 you have the opportunity to opt in to the new Title Ad Valorem Tax.

However, this expires at the close of business on February 28, 2014. [Full Story »] 

The question as to whether or not Dodge County should be governed by a single commissioner or a board of commissioners may come to a vote this year, if legislation introduced by Georgia State Representative Jimmy Pruett is passed by the Georgia Legislature.

A ‘Notice of Intent to Introduce Local Legislation’ is running in the legal section of this week’s newspaper.
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By Cindy Eckles
Dodge County Chief Tax Appraiser Cassie Faulk turned in her resignation to the Dodge County Board of Tax Assessors effective February 21, 2014.

Faulk stated in her letter of resignation that she had accepted a position with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.

Board assessor chairman Marvin Giddens went before the Dodge County Board of Commissioners with a letter stating that Faulk resigned from her position due to inadequate salary. Giddens added that the board of assessors requested that now assistant tax appraiser Dale Jones be appointed chief assessor with a starting salary of $42,000.00 annually, which was previously approved for Faulk.
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A new phone scam could get you a hefty cell phone bill and an ear full on the other end of the line.

It’s called the “One Ring” scam. Scammers only ring once, disconnect, and then wait for cell phone users to call the number back. The numbers usually come from islands like Grenada, the British Virgin Islands and Antigua.

One Woodruff woman received two strange phone calls, but before she called back, she called her cell phone provider.
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Names have been chosen for the February term of the Dodge County Grand Jury and Traverse jury. If you see your name on either of the following lists and have not been notified by mail, you should call the Dodge County Clerk of Court at 478-374-2871.

The following people should report to the Dodge County Courthouse for Grand Jury duty at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 17.

Barbara Ann Darsey, April Ashley Davis, Julie Renee Davis, Brittany Michelle Deloach, David G. Evans, Reco Flowers, Jr., Amanda Leigh Fussell, Jimmy Wiley Giddens, Stephanie M. Griffis, Rosemary Young Jones, Linda S. Kimmons, Bobby Lampkin, Jr., Jacob Lee Lawrence, Ravion Demond Madison, Larry James Mingo, Jr., James Clifford Moore, Ronald Michael Moore, Cynthia Davis Northcutt, Daniel B. Pickett, Sr., Eddie Lamar Pope, Clinton Purvis, Lawrence Daniel Selph, Marion Melvin Stokes, Earl Thomas Vinson, Edwin Matthew Walker, Jr., Ciara D. Whittington, Terry Lynn Widener, and Kerri Yvonne Wood.
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The Eastman City Council voted unanimously to raise garbage pickup rates by $1.00 in 2014.

The price increase will take place in two increments. The first increase of 50 cents per month will take place with the February 20, 2014 billing.

The second increase of an additional 50 cents will become effective with the August 20, 2014 billing.
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BREAKING NEWS:
From Dodge County School Superintendent Dr. Melinda Dennis: Due to forecasted bad weather for Dodge County on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, students in schools in the county will be released at the following times on Wednesday:

South and North Dodge Elementary students will be released at 12:00 noon. Dodge County Middle School and Dodge County High School students will be dismissed at 12:15 p.m. All staff members will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. [Full Story »] 

The Eastman Police Department made the following arrest the week of January 28, 2014 through February 4, 2014.

Kasabian McDuffie, age 41, Eastman Street Eastman, cruelty to animals (one count).

Jonathan Snellgrove, age 20, 1147 MLK Drive Eastman, aggravated assault on police officers (one count), obstruction of officers (one count), leaving a scene of an accident (one count) and driving on suspended license (one count). [Full Story »]