The explosion of the Colonial gas pipeline in Shelby County Alabama has sparked renewed concerns about the Sabal Trail Pipeline that will run through parts of South Georgia. The Sabal Trail plan is to pipe natural gas through parts of Alabama into Georgia and on into Florida.
Two more officers of the law have given their all in the line of duty. According to the Des Moines, Iowa report the officers were ambushed when they responded to a shots fired call. Both officers later died of their injuries.
In the wake of the Colonial Gas Pipeline explosion Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has issued an executive order that waives regulations for commercial truck drivers who transport motor fuel. The order will remain in effect through the 15th. This measure is intended to help ensure uninterrupted fuel supply in Georgia.
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston is asking voters to give their support to a constitutional amendment on election day. The amendment would empower state lawmakers with the ability to discipline judges. Approval of the amendment would eliminate the independent judicial Qualifications Commission that currently oversees judges and a new commission would be appointed by the state legislature. House Speaker Ralston says that the adoption of the new amendment would offer more judicial protections for Georgia citizens. More than 60 Georgia judges have been removed from the bench for various violations within the last eight years.
Another Constitutional Amendment-Amendment 2 would add financial penalties for sex crimes. The money would fund services for children who experienced sex trafficking. The amendment would also add fees for strip clubs. A yes vote would support adding those fees and penalties to support the sexually exploited children fund.
The plea entered in the drug case involving Fitzgerald doctor Edd Colbert was guilty. He was charged with conspiring to distribute and dispense drugs such as Oxycodone, Alprazolam and Diazepam. The doctor would write prescription in the name of Shannon Benedict and others; Benedict would then sell the drugs.
The preliminary rate for the graduation of high school students in the state of Georgia is currently at 79.2% according to the Georgia Department of Education. The state is now in its sixth year of calculating the graduation rate of high school students using the cohort rate allowed by the federal Department of Education.
The annual Halloween sweep of the 280 registered sex offenders in Lowndes County ended with warrants being issued for five of them. Four did not live at their listed addresses and one was found to be in possession of child pornography. Residencies are verified throughout the year by deputies with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department.
Thanks to students at Scintilla Charter Academy more than 2,000 pairs of socks were donated to Lowndes Associated Ministries to People; AKA LAMP, the local homeless shelter. LAMP serves nine surrounding counties including Brooks, Berrien, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Thomas, Tift, Lowndes and Lanier.
Local residents have one more day to take advantage of the opportunity to serve Valdosta and Lowndes County by filling vacancies on multiple Boards, Advisory Committees and governing Authorities. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday. These are non-paid positions to be appointed and approved by the Mayor and Council on November 10th. For more information on these openings visit Valdosta Today. com, www.valdostacity.com or by calling City Clerk Teresa Bolden at (229) 259-3503.
