Sally D. Meadows Elementary would like to celebrate the Students of the Month for May! Thank you for showing pride at Sally Meadows and modeling how to walk the Brave Way!
These students do a great job of representing our PBIS motto and schoolwide expectations: Be Respectful and Value Everyone! Congratulations!
Back Row (left to right): Stewart Blakey, Stella Carter, Brenda Resendiz-Alonso, Trinity Tompkins, Patricia Hall, Macon August, Maci Powell, Corbin Turner, Dequan Warn, Diego Guzman, and Ki Simpson; Middle Row (left to right): Messiah Johnson, Solomon Johnson, Kinsley Kidd, Zymoria Butler, Makayla Middleton, Jessiah Fussell, Te’Zaylah McMillian, Joanna Morris, Diante Carter, Demeria Owens, and Brinley Lowery ; Front Row (left to right): Ethan Hodge, Hatcher Williams, Kaylee Page, Katherine Zainey, Legacy Cartrette, Kharter Thrower, Kadyn Merritt, Carter Kinsey, and Adan Ramirez-Rojas Not Pictured: Eliana Smith and Paisley Beacham
Thank you to our SDM Students of the Month sponsor, Altamaha EMC!
- Details
- Written by Jeff Raiford
- Category: Newsbreak
- Hits: 127
Robert Toombs wants to acknowledge their May Students of the Month. The Student of the Month is based on work ethic, good character, good and/or improved grades and attendance. Our Student of the Month in Lower Elementary is Autumn Sanford, Upper Elementary is Lila Garrett, Middle School is Emma Kate Palma, and Ansley Akins is for High School.
- Details
- Written by Kathy Hilt
- Category: Newsbreak
- Hits: 314
Five middle Georgia men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large-scale dog fighting operation.
The 96 dogs rescued from the operation were discovered during searches conducted as part of an investigation into a drug trafficking conspiracy in Laurens, Treutlen, Johnson, and Emanuel Counties, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Two of those implicated in the dog-fighting operation also were sentenced in connection with the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
“As this investigation shows, animal fighting operations often occur in conjunction with other illegal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “In this case, holding these defendants accountable protects the welfare of these rescued animals while also removing dangerous drugs from the community.”
The five defendants each pled guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, and were sentenced in U.S. District Court. They include:
- Travis Martin, a/k/a “Fat,” 43, of Wrightsville, Ga., sentenced to 24 months in prison and fined $1,000. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen ordered the new sentence to be served consecutively to the 200-month sentence Martin is serving as the leader of the drug trafficking conspiracy;
- Sentell Carey, 41, of Wrightsville, Ga., sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $2,000. Carey is serving a sentence of probation in the drug trafficking conspiracy;
- Dennis Wilcher, a/k/a “Buck,” 42, of Wrightsville, Ga., sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $3,000;
- Terry Gilmore, 28, of Sandersville, Ga., sentenced to 23 months in prison and fined $2,500; and,
- Jonathan Linder, 35, of Rentz, Ga., sentenced to 20 months in prison and fined $2,000.
The defendants are all prohibited from owning dogs or engaging in any activity involving dogs, and must serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.
As described in court documents and testimony, the 2022 investigation by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration led to a 27-county federal indictment charging 11 defendants with participating in an operation distributing methamphetamine and heroin in the greater Laurens County area. That investigation led to multiple searches of residences and vehicles and the seizure of large amounts of drugs, cash, and firearms.
During that investigation, authorities rescued 96 dogs suspected to be part of a dog fighting operation from three locations in Johnson County, and two other locations in Laurens and Washington counties.
The dogs were seized in a civil action brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and the U.S. Marshals Service contracted with an agency to provide veterinary service, care, and rehabilitation of the rescued dogs.
“The intentional infliction of pain and suffering on animals for sport is unfathomable,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Miles Davis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “We appreciate the commitment of our law enforcement partners to pursue these individuals who choose to participate in these heinous acts while also committing other severe offenses in our communities.”
The criminal dog fighting prosecution was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and lead Agent Kelsey Tolomeo, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica K. Rock, while the civil forfeiture of the dogs was coordinated by Southern District of Georgia Civil Division Chief Shannon Heath Statkus.
The drug trafficking case was investigated by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland.
- Details
- Written by Kathy Hilt
- Category: Newsbreak
- Hits: 1762
Despite local broadcasting and social media warnings, last week’s EF-1 tornado in the area took many by surprise, and questions about local severe weather notifications arose. Monday night, Toombs County Emergency Management Agency Lynn Moore updated the Vidalia City Council about a new system that will supersede the current alert system of a warning siren.
The new system will be Ipaws or Integrated Public Alert & Warning System.
“Operating the siren system we have now is expensive,” Moore said. “Another issue is when someone is inside their home with the air conditioning running and other things making noise, sometimes you can’t hear the sirens when they do go off.”
But with Ipaws, there will be several ways that a person will receive notification of severe weather.
“If you have a cell phone, a computer, a TV, or an AM/FM radio, you will be a notification with Ipaws,” he said. “It’s the best thing on the market. Southern Nuclear is doing away with their siren systems and we’re testing Ipaws right now. It’s a better system and we’re going to get it.”
Ipaws was first introduced in 2006, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are currently over 1,800 jurisdictions in the country who utilize the service.
Moore said Ipaws may be operational by the end of this year.
- Details
- Written by Kathy Hilt
- Category: Newsbreak
- Hits: 1272
Norma Croft (center), Financial Director, with Vidalia City Schools Finance Team
Vidalia City Schools has once again been honored with the prestigious Award for Excellence by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, marking its ninth consecutive year of this remarkable achievement! The award is one of distinction for Excellent Financial Reporting by school systems in the state of Georgia.
“I am honored to receive this award on behalf of Vidalia City Schools,” said Norma Croft, Finance Director for the Vidalia City School System. “This award would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our entire finance team. We have four excellent bookkeepers, an amazing Accounts Payable person, and a fantastic HR/Payroll Manager, along with our School Food Service Bookkeeper.” We currently have the best finance team we have ever had in my 26 years with VCS, and I am thankful for all these ladies,” Croft said.
The award was established to recognize excellence in financial reporting and controls. According to Croft, the award encourages governmental organizations to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and recognizes individual organizations that successfully achieve this goal.
Superintendent of Vidalia City Schools, Dr. Garrett Wilcox, recognized the work of the Finance Department and the effort it takes to ensure that everything is up to standard. “This award shows just how hard Norma and her staff work within the guidelines that are set by the state. To receive this recognition once is an accomplishment, but for 9 years in a row is truly remarkable! This award emphasizes the commitment of the system to financial excellence and continued success. Norma and her staff are required to do the same things that big school systems do, and they do it with just a fraction of the staff.”
“We couldn’t be prouder of their efforts and are thankful that we have a group of individuals who work so well as a team to make sure that the state and the taxpayer’s finances are being managed in the proper way.”
- Details
- Written by Kathy Hilt
- Category: Newsbreak
- Hits: 673