Valdosta Fire Chief Freddie Broome has joined 14 fellow chiefs as one of the first certified by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs during the Executive Training Session in Savannah. Certification applicants must meet four prerequisites, including holding a Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (GFSTC) State Certification in at least one of the current Fire Service Certifications and serving as a minimum of a Battalion Chief or Division Supervisor.
A bond hearing is scheduled to take place for four of the seven people involved in the killing of Fitzgerald lottery winner Craigory Burch, Jr. last January. The robbery attempt went tragically wrong when the home invaders could not find any cash in Burch’s residence; he was shot and killed. Wayan Jordan, Ernest Holcomb, Rosalyn Swain and Dabrentis Overstreet are charged with home invasion and with being a party to murder. Overstreet is charged with felony murder.
An appeal for clemency in the case of death row inmate Daniel Lucas was denied and the convicted killer is scheduled to be put to death tonight in Jackson at the state prison. Lucas was sentenced to death for the April 1998 killings of Steven Moss and his two children Bryan and Kristin. They returned home to find Lucas in the act of burglary.
Starting May 7th the office of the Lowndes County Tax Commissioner will open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon. Officials say that the change will give citizens greater access to the services provided by that office. The main lobby will be closed but customers may still obtain license plates and avail themselves of other business related services. The pilot program coincides with Downtown Farm Days and officials hope to see more citizens over the weekend and the plan includes the use of strategically placed kiosks around the county in order to serve clients in areas other than downtown Valdosta. The tax office is located at 300 N. Patterson St. For more information, residents can contact the Tax Commissioner’s office, (229) 671-2579 or visit the Facebook page at Lowndes County Tax Commissioner.
Rather than surrender himself to the authorities searching for him Antonio Spradley fled his residence by jumping from a window. Police sought Spradley on a probation warrants and now faces new charges of eluding officers of the law. Initially the suspect told officers that he only wanted to get some clothing to take with him and time to make necessary arrangements. However, as officers waited outside the home Spradley made good his escape through a bedroom window; the bedroom was occupied by Terrance Owens. When officers went in to check on Spradley, both men had fled the scene. Owens was apprehended walking near the home but Spradley is on the run.
Dr. Edd Colbert Jones III, of Fitzgerald has been indicted on 17 counts of narcotics charges in the Middle District of Georgia. He’s charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and 16 counts of unlawful dispensation of controlled substances. Jones entered a not guilty plea and was granted terms of release on bond. Jones could face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $1 million fine or both if convicted.
Congratulations go out today to some special graduates. A group of mothers participated in the Boy’s and Girls Club 13 week parenting class learning about themselves and their children. Over 30 parents took part in the program and the organizers plan another class in the
