Troopers with the Georgia State patrol report that the number of holiday highway fatalities is up and the reported deaths were 10 at last report. It was estimated by AAA that the number of persons taking to the highways would come to about 103 million. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia’s total for traffic related deaths in 2016 so far is 1,460 fatalities. Last year’s total was 1,432. One of the reasons for that increased number is impaired driving.
The number of homicides investigated by officials in Albany now comes to 13 with the reported stabbing death of Dacy Robinson. Law enforcement officers say that a domestic dispute between Robinson and Crystal Hayes ended in death. This was the fourth death this year connected to domestic violence.
Area residents looking to re-cycle their Christmas trees can drop them off at the Lake park City Hall to be chopped and mulched. They will also be collected at Home Depot on Norman Drive, Walmart on Inner perimeter, Mathis Auditorium, the YMCA and in Hahira at the intersection of Lawson and North Lowndes Streets.
Sadness invaded the celebrations of some Alapaha residents with the news of the death 67 year old Evelyn Rowe. She was traveling on Highway 11 when her vehicle left the roadway and struck a culvert in Berrien County.
The holiday weekend came with lots of reports of auto break-ins in Tifton and the authorities are investigating 8 that happened in just one night. Tifton officials are urging residents to be extra cautious when securing their vehicles and not to leave valuables inside. All suspicious behavior should be immediately reported.
Pine Grove Elementary School has been participating in monthly archery tournaments in preparation for the upcoming regional tournament that will be held at Pine Grove Middle School Jan. 28. The last two years the PGE Archery Team has participated in state, national and world competition. Last year, the team finished 12th in the world at the world tournament held in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Incentives including a cash offer to a manufacturer are coming from the leadership of Colquitt County. The pledge amount of $2 million dollars from the county commission is set to be used for renovation of an existing facility and the next step in the process is securing backup from Governor Nathan Deal and his administration. Economic Development officials say that the manufacturer sought would bring a minimum of 350 jobs over five years — jobs that reportedly will pay in the $25-per-hour range. Moultrie is one of the finalists in the running as the location of the manufacturing plant, along with nearby Thomasville as well as cities in Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.
CBS News Chicago reports that 43 people were shot over the holiday weekend in that city and that 11 of the shootings were fatal. Last year 30 people were victims of gun violence. The Chicago Tribune reported that this weekend’s violence pushed the Chicago total to over 4,300 persons shot so far in 2016.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal say that a top priority for his administration and for state lawmakers is the extension of the annual hospital tax. The revenue generated by the tax helps to pay for a large portion of the Georgia health care program for low income residents. The so-called bed tax is scheduled to expire June 30th of 2017. Failure to extend the hospital tax would cost the Georgia Medicaid program 800 million dollars. Hospitals are compensated via a higher payment rate through the Medicaid Program connected to low-income residents.
