News Around Us

Bainbridge - Bainbridge Public Safety officers searched for a man who reportedly snatched money out of a store's cash register midday Tuesday.

The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash from the Dollar General at 1616 E. Shotwell Street, then fled on foot into an area near where Shotwell Street meets the eastern end of the U.S. 27/84 Bypass, BPS Investigator Chris Jordan said.

BPS officers swarmed the neighborhood east of Gordon Avenue and later searched near Selman Place Apartments and the YMCA's soccer fields with the help of sheriff's deputies.

According to witnesses, the suspect is a black male, about 6 feet in height and of average build, who was shirtless and wearing gray shorts and either wearing or carrying a gray bandanna.

Dawson - A Terrell Superior Court Judge has sentenced a Dawson man in connection with the death of a Dawson toddler after he pleaded guilty during the course of his trial in Superior Court last week.

Terrell Superior Court Judge Ronnie Joe Lane sentenced Gary Wayne Trotter, Jr., 21, of Dawson, to life imprisonment after he entered a guilty plea to two of three charges he faced, Terrell Superior Court Clerk Lousie Darley reported this week.

Trotter had been charged with malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children in the first degree, following the death of two-year-old James L. Lewis in May of this year.

Trotter's trial ended after only two days of court testimony in Terrell Superior Court last week, after a negotiated plea was reached.

Judge Lane accepted the plea presented by Pataula Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Ron Smith and defense attorney Weyman E. Cannington. Under the plea arrangement, Trotter pleaded guilty to felony murder and the cruelty charge, while the malice murder charge was nolle prossed.

Judge Lane sentenced Trotter to life for the murder charge and 20 years for the child cruelty charge, with the two counts merged, Mrs. Darley said.

Blakely - Officers responded to a call on McDowell Street last Thursday after a black male hit an elderly black lady in the head with a stick and fled with her purse.

The suspect fled from the scene on a bicycle. A short time later he ditched his bike behind a residence on Freeman Road by the railroad tracks, along with the purse and a shirt he was wearing. He then stole another bicycle and rode off.

Investigators found his bike and the purse a short time later and were investigating the scene when Travis Battey was spotted by one of the officers riding back down Freeman Road on the bicycle.

After he was stopped, it was determined by officers that the victim, 67-year-old Pinky Wimberly, was Battey's cousin and that his girlfriend worked for Wimberly. They also recovered the cash taken from Wimberly's purse from Battey.

Battey, 30, of 308 MLK Blvd., was charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Camilla - In an August 24 press release, State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox announced that she will be heading to South Georgia this week to kick off the 2007- 2008 school year.

"These visits give me the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the people on the front lines of education in Georgia," said Superintendent Cox.

"I enjoy seeing what is working in their schools, and I also want to hear about the unique challenges these schools face and how they are working to overcome those challenges."

"What I learn on the road has a big impact on the work of the Georgia Department of Education and the State Board of Education," she said.

Traveling to Georgia's schools and visiting with local educators is part of the State School Superintendent's job description, but Superintendent Cox has taken it to a new level. Since taking office nearly five years ago, Superintendent Cox has visited 418 schools in 130 counties.

Pelham - "We would like to honor Debra Cox for all the outstanding work she does with our 4-H program and the kids on the 4-H Archery Team for their award winning performance at this year's competition," Mayor Steven Turner said.

The team was a featured guest at the Monday, August 22, Pelham City Council meeting as a proclamation acknowledging their achievements during the competition was read.

Consisting of members Chase Hembree, Ty Bennett, Tyler Foister, and Michael Harper, the team represented Georgia at the national 4-H Shooting Sports Competition in the Compound Bow Division held June 24 through June 28, in Rapid City South Dakota.

Chase Hembree, who placed second in the nation in the Compound Bow Division, was a key part in helping the team achieve its ranking of fourth place in the nation.

According to the proclamation, "The Mitchell County 4-H has made immeasurable contributions toward helping young people become self-directed, productive, and contributing members of society."