A Greenville, Tennessee Ferris wheel accident left three people with injuries; two of them children the other a 16 year old girl. One child suffered head injuries and is hospitalized in serious condition. Greenville police report that one of the rides gondola’s tipped over causing the three youth to fall out. The Ferris wheel ride is owned and operated by Family Attractions Amusement Company of Valdosta. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. The company and Vortex ride operators were fined $114 thousand dollars after an incident in North Carolina in 2013; several people were injured in that incident. Ride operator Timothy Tutterrow faced felony criminal prosecution in connection with that case.
Two teenagers ages 16 and 19 continue to recover at a Jacksonville hospital. They were shot while playing in their neighborhood by a person or persons unknown. Multiple shots were fired at the teenagers from a passing truck. Their injuries are not life-threatening.
Congratulations go out to Ian Bennett a second year student at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He is a 2014 graduate of Lowndes High School. Bennett will represent the city, county and the state at the National Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
A small increase in the millage rate could come from the Lowndes County Board of Education for the fiscal year. Officials say that the increase would be equal to $2.52 annually on a home valued at $100 thousand dollars. A public meeting is set for August 15th. In Hahira the millage rate vote from the city council comes with no increase. The current rate of 4.75 mills has stood since 2012.
Reames and Son Construction Co. Inc. of Valdosta is about to start road work involving Interstate 75 South. The outside and middle lanes will be closed in the work zone for safety reasons. The contractor will be working in the outside lane, but the proximity of equipment and people to the middle lane will require closing both lanes. Reames will start on the Turner County end of the project and work south impacting Tift County and Turner County’s. The work will be done from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday to minimize traffic interruptions.
