Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress calls the killing of a 26 year old white male in the 800 block of North Troup Street a “senseless incident.” What began as an argument between two men escalated into gunfire and it ended with a white male dead and his alleged shooter a black male identified as Antonio Denson attempting to escape the law. However, witnesses gave investigators a description of a vehicle spotted leaving the scene of the shooting and Denson was later captured and felony murder charged are now pending. Denson was taken to the Lowndes County Jail and more charges could be filed. Childress congratulated the officer working the case for quick resolution.
Police in Clayton County report the shooting death of Fanoris Jackson Jr. of Albany. He was found in an apartment complex where he had been shot multiple times. The suspected shooter was seen running from the area and police gave chase but the suspect got away. Jackson was transported to a North Georgia hospital where he later died.
Persons with long-term outstanding debt owed to the IRS could soon be contacted by private debt collectors. Letters will be sent out to taxpayers who may be affected by the collection calls for debts owed over several years. The name and contact information of the collection agency will be provided. The Internal Revenue Service also urges all taxpayers to report any ill treatment.
A 14 year old Tybee Island teenager who purchased a gun from an undercover operative is in custody. Officials say that they had been monitoring the activity of the youth for 2 to 3 weeks after it was reported by his friends that they feared that he might kill another teenager and two adults. He was arrested without incident and faces a host of charges including Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder.
Andre Davis had eluded capture by law enforcement officers for 5 months and was on a watch list of suspects wanted by officials in Coffee County. He was spotted last week and Drug Agents-a K-9 Unit and Douglas detectives descended on the fugitive and arrested him. When Davis was captured he carried a half ounce of marijuana and two loaded weapons.
Residents along the Georgia 177 roadway in the southern part of Clinch County have been put on notice to keep watchful eyes on the wildfire burning in the Okefenokee Swamp and officials in Clinch County urge these residents to be prepared to evacuate if necessary. At last report nearly 19 thousand acres had been burned. In a statement from the Okefenokee national Wildlife Refuge the fire was started by a lightning strike.
Congratulations go out to the Colquitt County Odom, Okapilco and Sunset elementary schools. They have been taken off of the list of “focus” schools — a category reserved for schools with the biggest gap between low academic performers and the state average. According to the report the lists are a requirement tied to the soon-to-be-replaced federal No Child Left Behind initiative. Once the new Every Student Succeeds Act is fully adopted, the focus and priority school lists will also be replaced. The new criteria have not yet been decided. The new list will help determine which schools are eligible for the state’s new school turnaround plan, now sitting on Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk.
A proposal before state lawmakers would allow persons renting vehicles in Georgia to pay lesser tax amounts, and while that may be seen as a boon for consumers analysts say that it could negatively impact the state’s budget. Vehicle renters currently are taxed on the full market value of the car, truck or SUV, but the new proposal calls for taxes to be levied only on the actual payments made, or for the life of the lease. That move says state budget analysts could cost the state as much as $227 million dollars over time, and local governments could lose over $161 million dollars over the next five years.
Congratulations go out to Denerick Simpson of Doe Run. He was recently recognized as the top ranking student in the Savannah State University College of Science and Technology. He is a double major in Biology and Biology Education and plans to attend Dental School to pursue a Doctorate in Dental Medicine.
