Newsbreak

CCSO Thunder and Daxx

Candler County Sheriff John Miles with K9s Thunder and Daxx, two new tools in the CCSO Special Response Team.

The Candler County Sheriff's Office now has new ways to serve the community; from four-legged trackers to aerial assistance, the Special Response Team is already proving to be an asset for the community and even outside the boundaries of Candler County.

A report of shots being fired brought a rapid response from the Candler County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday night round 9:30 to a residence on Turkey Ridge Road. The person who made the call said someone was firing toward their home while standing in the roadway. A description of the subject could not be established due to the nature of the incident.

The Special Response Team which included tracking K9s, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and personnel went into action setting up a perimeter, and Code Red and Social Media alerts were sent out to notify the community to lock their doors and be vigilant.

Sheriff John Miles reports that after a thorough ground and air search, deputies were unable to locate the suspect. However, evidence collected at the scene should lead to the identification of the person responsible.

This incident is the second this week that called for the Candler County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team.

Last Sunday morning, deputies responded to a domestic incident in the small community of Olifftown on Rosemary Church Road. As law enforcement neared the scene, the suspected perpetrator fled into the woods. The Special Response Team was called to locate that subject. Deputies were finally able to communicate by cell phone with the man, and when K9 Thunder, the department’s new bloodhound arrived, the man turned himself in to deputies without further incident. He is facing charges of domestic violence including battery and criminal trespass, as well as obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

The Special Response Team was recently created by Sheriff Miles and includes two K9s, Thunder and Daxx, as well as utilizing technology to serve the residents of Candler County.

Details: Written by Kathy Hilt; Category: Newsbreak; Published: 08 May 2024; Hits: 175

In addition to the Grand being tasked with determining if cases presented to them by the District Attorney’s Office for indictment, the men and women periodically also make visits to county Constitutional Officers’ departments and make reports and recommendations if necessary.

Within the last few months, committees formed from members of the sitting Grand Jury did that in Toombs County, and one of those committees visited the Toombs County Detention Center where they met with Captain Amanda Brown.

The committee noted that there had been a vast improvement in the jail since the new construction was completed, noting that the number of beds in the facility had increased from 120 to 220. There had also been the addition of a barber shop, multipurpose room, conference room, and a central control room. A direct corridor from the jail into the courthouse now allows inmates heading to court to go from one building to another without additional transportation.

But there were some concerns noted by the committee. In the old section of the jail, some of the locks on the cells are hard to open, and the committee recommended replacing them with the same type locks that are in the new section. There is also a lack of storage spaces, and a need for onsite training, allowing staff from having to go offsite for training with a cost associated with it. Another notation by the committee at the jail was about the need for additional parking.

When it comes to staff issues, the members of the committee acknowledged that while employees have received raises, salaries need to be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure employees are compensated as they should be to retrain good employees from leaving for higher wages.

Finally, the committee considered the handling of inmates with mental health issues. They suggested specialty training of employees with job duty definitions pertaining to identifying and implementing necessary care for inmates who exhibit mental health issues.

In the Board of Commission, committee members noted that the new courthouse is more than adequate for the current needs of the county, and the members of the committee stated that they believe it will be sufficient for growth in the county well into the future. But they concur that more attention needs to be drawn to additional employees in the Road Department and the EMS. The committee said they don’t believe the issue of lack of workers is related to budgetary limitations, but similar to the same issues of recruitment and retention of workers that seem to plague all areas of business these days.

In the office of the Probate Court, the committee found everything to be satisfactory except for the ability of the workers behind the counter to view the entire room from their workstations. The committee suggested a camera or dome mirror for the safety of the staff.

The committee members who investigated the Clerk of Courts Office found basically everything favorable in that office. Their report noted effective and efficient processing of records, a well-trained staff with cross training, and updated computers and software. The only recommendation given by the committee was the need for more space in the future due to the number of existing and future files and records.

County offices were investigated by a committee assigned to them as part of their duties as grand jurors. Committees submitted their reports to the entire grand jury for voting and full approval. These reports will be delivered to and filed in the office of the Clerk of Superior Court.

Details: Written by Kathy Hilt; Category: Newsbreak; Published: 08 May 2024; Hits: 320

On Thursday, May 2, Southeastern Technical College (STC), along with Toombs County Family Connection, co-hosted the third annual This Guy Can graduation.

This Guy Can is a workforce development program created in collaboration with Toombs County Development Authority and Greater Vidalia Chamber. Its aim is to provide male students with exposure to and hands-on experience in career pathways traditionally dominated by females.

Toombs County Family Connection offered their 7th and 8th grade after school students at Vidalia Learning Center and Toombs County After School with the opportunity to participate. Students spent each afternoon during the week of April 15 in a different program area of Southeastern Tech.

"The Technical College System of Georgia defines a non-traditional career as comprised 75% of one gender, as determined by labor statistics. We are in our third year, and the program has been a success. We are trying to expand the views of job fields available to males and females. If students are inclined to help others, they may want to consider the Early Childhood Care and Education field," said Helen Thomas, Special Needs Specialist at STC.

Students spent Monday learning how to create personalized business cards in Business Technology with Dr. Jessica Eisner.

On Tuesday, students learned various braiding techniques in Cosmetology. Several students admitted that they loved this hands-on activity led by Mrs. Althea Ricks and Mrs. Jamie Lambert.

The third day, participants spent time in the Early Childhood Care & Education program where Mrs. Mindy Sumner challenged students to be creative in an art activity. Some of Sumner's current students were present to discuss different career paths within this field.

The workshop series wrapped up on Thursday. Participants learned about Southeastern Technical College's Radiology Technology program from Mr. Keagan Spell and Medical Assistant training from Mrs. Erin Rollins. Rollins taught the boys how to check blood pressure, how to tie a tourniquet, and much more. The students said they really enjoyed using the stethoscope and learning about what phlebotomists do on a daily basis.

During the graduation ceremony, Paige Williamson, Family Connection Director, welcomed everyone and provided an overview of the program. Helen Thomas of STC expressed the College's excitement to partner with This Guy Can. Kurt Peters, a graduate of Southeastern Technical College's nursing program, and Michele Johnson, Executive Director of the Greater Vidalia Chamber, were keynote speakers. Participants then received a certificate of completion. After the graduation, everyone gathered in the Student Center for a meal.

"Thanks to our sponsors at Trane Technologies, our students gained some much needed hands-on experience during This Guy Can," said Williamson. "We simply could not do this program without our wonderful partnerships. Thank you to the fantastic instructors for engaging our students this week in such a meaningful way. We appreciate each of them and are encouraged by all the opportunities our students have at their fingertips through Southeastern Tech. I'd also like to specifically thank Helen Thomas, Jeannie Morris, and Laura McCullough at STC for planning, decorating, and hosting the program. Our community can accomplish big things when we work together towards a common goal and this program is proof."

Details: Written by Kathy Hilt; Category: Newsbreak; Published: 07 May 2024; Hits: 437

Vidalia Police Department reports the following arrests:

Monjaraz, Ricardo – Twin City – No Driver’s License; Hands-Free Violation.

Ambrosis, Agustin – No Driver's License; Hands-Free Violation.

Pittman, Amy – Lyons – Warrant Served (Bulloch County).

Meeks, Audra – Collins – Obstruction.

Wright, Keyna – Vidalia – Theft by Conversion.

Ramirez, Nilo – Vidalia – No Driver’s License; Failure to Yield to Funeral Possession.

McSpadden, Cady – Vidalia – Forgery.

Moxley, Ginger – Vidalia – Warrant Served (Montgomery County).

Toombs County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests:

No report.

Lyons Police Department reports the following arrest:

Guerrero, Ricardo Angel – Vidalia – Failure to Register Vehicle Within 30 Days; Hands-Free Law Violation; No Insurance.

Santizo, Eri Perez – Lyons – Public Drunkenness.

Carter, Jennifer Love – Glennville – Battery.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests:

Foisy, Steven Kylan – Uvalda – Contribution to the Delinquency of a Minor; Tampering with Evidence; Incest; Sodomy; Child Molestation; Aggravated Sexual Battery.

Braddy, Cindy Renee – Ailey - Seat Belt Violation; DUI/Drugs.

Maness, Coy Alvin – Mount Vernon- Aggravated Assault; Bench Warrant/Failure to Appear.

Brown, Felton T. – Vidalia – Driving with Suspended License; DUI.

Green, Kaitlyn Elizabeth – Vidalia – DUI/Drugs.

Anderson, Kerry Duwayne – Glenwood – Operating Watercraft Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Cartwright, Joseph Eric – Glenwood – Operating a Watercraft Under the Influence of Alcohol; Operating Vessel Without Registration.

Candler County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests:

Bolton, Jeremy Preston – Metter – Criminal Trespass; Obstructing/Hindering A law Enforcement Officer; Simple Battery; Theft by Taking.

Hurtado, Arturo – Claxton – Driving on Roadways Laned for Traffic; Driving While Unlicensed DUI/Controlled Substance/Marijuana; Possession of Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area.

Wright, James Mathew – Cobbtown – Disorderly Conduct.

Bautista-Hernandez, Enrique – Metter – Discharging Gun/Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drug; Reckless Conduct.

Williams, James Lyndell, IV – Statesboro – Criminal Damage to Property in the 1^st Degree; Criminal Trespass; Obstructing/Hindering A Law Enforcement Officer; Probation Violation (Felony); Theft by Taking ($1,500 or Less).

Lefebvre, Brendan Timothy – Metter – Driving on Roadways Laned for Traffic; DUI; Reckless Driving.

Patricio, Juan Carlos – Claxton – Disorderly Conduct.

Details: Written by Kathy Hilt; Category: Newsbreak; Published: 08 May 2024; Hits: 740

5 4 24 Drivers

May 4—The 32nd Annual Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby was held Saturday at Derby Hill at Partin Park in Lyons. A total of just over 40 cars competed in the Stock, Super Stock, and the Masters Divisions for an opportunity to race in the Soap Box Derby World Championships this July in Akron, Ohio. The winners received a check for $1500 to help with the expenses to Akron, Ohio. 5 5 24 Soapbox Winners