Bainbridge -As if being defeated on the field Tuesday evening wasn’t bad enough for the Bainbridge High School soccer team, then they discovered several thousand dollars worth of their possessions from their locker room had been stolen.

BPS Officer Archie Mills responded to the theft at Centennial Field at about 9:15 p.m. Team members reported that during the soccer game someone had apparently entered their locker room, which was situated only about 30 yards away from them, and stolen cell phones, cash and other items.

It was noted that one player, that had not dressed out for the game, told others that, somehow, he had $200 taken from his jeans. It was also noted that he was seen texting throughout the game. Speculation was that several individuals, known to the students as blood gang members, had gone into the locker room during the game.

We were told that witnesses spotted the three gang members heading into the locker room. One was a reported gang member and a 10th grader at BHS, and the other two were reportedly northside bloods from Quincy, FL.

It was also reported to us that blood gang members can be easily identified at Bainbridge High School by the red kerchiefs they wear hanging from their back pockets and if that was not enough, they flash gang signs on a regular basis.

One student reported his car had been driven during the game, parked in a different place and then his car key was replaced in his bag.

Several hundred dollars were stolen from the BHS players. Other items reported stolen include several wallets with a number of credit cards, gold teeth grill, black gym bag, Nike tennis shoes, blue jogging pants, gold link loop necklace with Jesus pendant and Polo boots.

Blakely - Bainbridge College President Tom Wilkerson met with faculty, staff and students in the Blakely Site atrium Monday at noon to discuss the situation and provide time for questions.

“This is unlike any meeting I’ve ever gone into,” he stated, “and I have been in higher education for 42 years.”

Bainbridge college’s share of the cuts is $1,588,149. To meet those cuts the college proposed capping enrollment in the nursing associate degree to 40, reducing LPN student admission from 120 to 50 and eliminating the drafting program which would impact 25 students.

Other proposals included eliminating continuing education programs, the advising center, reducing hours in the library and reducing Early County arts and sciences operating budget.

While Wilkerson didn’t have any answers to whether the cuts would actually come to pass, he expressed optimism that the cuts wouldn’t be as bad as those outlined, noting that while the University System represents only 12 percent of the state’s budget, they were being asked to bear 30 percent of the latest cuts.

Camilla - A correctional officer was arrested at Autry State Prison for attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail.

Officers from the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Autry State Prison on Saturday, March 6, at 2 p.m. for investigation.

Courtney Daniels, a 26-year-old Albany woman, was arrested when three plastic baggies of marijuana were found on her. She had attempted to smuggle the drugs into the jail in the inseam of her jacket.

Daniels was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, crossing guard lines with contraband, and violation of oath of office.

Daniels was arrested and taken to the Mitchell County Jail and is awaiting trial.

Cairo - State revenues took another drop in February and the Grady County Board of Education, like other school boards in the state, are bracing for another tough budget in the new fiscal year beginning in July.

To get an early start on the process, Superintendent Dr. Tommy Pharis outlined for the board members his recommended Fiscal Year 2011 budget plan.

Hoping that normal attrition through resignations and retirements will cover most of the ground, Pharis told board members he is looking to cut certificated personnel by 15 to 20 positions between the end of the current school term and the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1st.

“Our primary resource is personnel. The one thing I do not want to do is to get to the point we have to implement a large reduction in force to meet the budget,” Dr. Pharis said.

“It’s going to be tough. Very tough. We are looking at all situations. We cannot run the school system without a certain number of personnel. We will not cut any personnel that will leave us with too few adults on school campuses to insure student safety and security,” Pharis said.