Newspaper Page Text
■A i
County Ledger
Volume XXIV - Number 17
Ijour Hometown Source of Cocal JVews
Leesburg, Georgia -- December 6,2001
Hometown Newspaper of Dave and Debbie Moore
Fifty Cents
Leesburg Police Chief Moore and Captain Monetery Moody are pictured with
Leesburg new police dog “Rex”. Captain Moody and Councilman Morris Leverett
went to Texas last week to transport Rex back to Leesburg. Following a training
session, Captain Moody will visit several civic clubs and schools to introduce
Rex to the public. Rex will be used by Captain Moody and the Leesburg Police
Department to eradicate drugs from the community. Several businesses have
made contributions to make the transition easier for Rex as he adjusts to his
new home in Leesburg. Businesses and people who gave supplies or labor in
preparing Rex’s home are The Home Depot, Andy May, Southern Concrete,
Richard Morris, Dawson Tarpaulins, Melvin Gilley and Sammy Moody and
Problem Solved, George “Smitty” Johnson.
Leesburg Police Files Report
Leesburg Police Chief Charles
Moore reports that officers
worked several cases during the
past week including cases for en
tering auto and burglary.
Officer Craig Steele responded
to a Magnolia Street residence
where the complainant told Of
ficer Steel that he found his front
driver’s side window broken out
and the dashboard was partially
cracked. The car radio had appar
ently been ripped out.
Officer Gregory Barrett re
sponded to a burglary on Fifth
Street November 21. The com
plainant told Officer Barrett that
some unknown person(s) had en
tered a storage shed and stole a
12 inch partner chop saw valued
at $900.00, an air compressor val
ued at $135.00, a heat gun val
ued at $600.00, impact wrench
valued at $600, roofing nailer
valued at $240.00. a grinder val
ued at $190.00 and a set of im
pact sockets valued at $200.00.
The incident occurred between
November 13 and November 21.
Lee County Magistrate Court Docket
Twenty-one defendants ap
peared before Magistrate Court
Judge Jim Thurman on Novem
ber 27.
Eric Brown was charged with
deposit account fraud and posted
cash bond of $227.38.
Robert Alford was charged with
deposit account fraud and posted
cash bond of $296.40.
James W. Coley was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $331.36.
David A. Brown was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $528.00.
Stephanie Bronner was charged
with deposit account fraud, sen
tenced to 12 months jail to be
served on probation, fined
$200.00 and ordered to pay resti
tution of $103.57.
Johnny B. Favors was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $314.23.
Melissa A. Felder was charged
Doherty
Duggan
Rouse
Insurors
Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health
P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040
Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040
2301 Dawson Road (31707) Fax (229) 435-3036
www.ddrins.com
Smithville
City
Council
Will Meet
Monday,
Dec 17
at 5:30 p.m.
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $254.65.
Trina Faulkner was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $247.15.
Rachelle Gilstrap was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $460.94.
Erika Lynne Baker was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $321.35.
Jillian C. Desonia was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $219.25.
Mariann Houston was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $394.21.
Charles L. Higgins was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $226.95.
Jessie R Johnson was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $254.35.
Erica T. Slaughter was charged
with two counts deposit account
fraud and sentenced to 12 months
in jail to be served on probation,
fined $175.00 and ordered to pay
restitution of $60.22 on the first
count and sentenced to 12 months
Shoplifter Gets
Cold Stomach
Lowetta Johnson, 50, of 200
South Boulevard Street, Smith
ville, was charged with theft by
taking (shoplifting) by Lt. D.H.
Smith.
On Tuesday, November 27, Lt.
Smith was dispatched to a food
store in reference to a shoplifter
in custody. Lt. Smith spoke with
the store clerk who stated that
another clerk had observed
Lowetta Johnson place two pack
ages of sausages under her
clothes. She was followed outside
by the store clerk who observed
her take the items from under her
clothes and place them in a bag
Low Employee Morale Concerns
Commissioner Harris
Commissioner Lewis Harris
made a formal request that the
Lee County Board of
Commission’s Personnel Com
mittee investigate the reasons for
low employee morale. Harris’ re
quest was made during the com
mission meeting Monday night.
In his statement. Commissioner
Harris stated that it has come to
his attention over the past few
weeks that the morale of the em
ployees of the Lee County Board
of Commissioners is at an all time
low. Harris expressed his con
cerns with the morale problem
because the county employees are
one of the county’s most valuable
assets. Harris said that without
dedicated employees who are
motivated to give their best to the
function of the county’s govern
ment, Lee County will suffer
greatly.
Harris’ statement continued that
it is very important that the
county employees are made to
realize their worth and that they
are treated with the respect and
dignity they so richly deserve.
Harris’ statement concluded by
asking that the personnel commit
tee investigate the reasons for low
employee morale, why valuable
employees are leaving, and why
some are looking for other em
ployment. He asked that the per
sonnel committee present their
findings to the Lee County Board
of Commissioners with recom
mendations for plans and proce
dures to improve the situation.
Chairman Billy Mathis said that
he and Commissioner James
Mays, who make up the person
nel committee, will set a time for
them to meet.
The board of commissioners
conducted several public hearings
including one in which Commis
sion Vice-chairman Jackie
McCorkle requested a conditional
use of his property to allow live
stock (goats) on residentially
zoned property. McCorkle’s
property is located at 1163 Graves
Springs Road and consists of
eight and a half acres of property.
Commissioner McCorkle re
quested the conditional use zon
ing so that he could use the goats
to eat the weeds around his pond
and the underbrush in the woods.
The Lee County planning staff
recommended approval of
McCorkle’s request because the
proposed use will not be detri
mental to the use or development
of adjacent properties or the gen
eral neighborhood nor affect ad
versely the health and safety of
residents and workers. According
to zoning guidelines, he would
have to fence the goats 25 feet
from the property lines.
The planning commission rec
ommended denial but the reasons
for their recommendation were
not given. During the public hear
ing, Monday night. Commis
sioner Lewis Harris said that he
had a problem with goats being
in an area that backs up to a nice
subdivision. McCorkle’s property
backs up to Buckston Trace.
Commission Chairman Billy
Mathis noted that several people
in his subdivision have horses and
the property is well maintained.
The commission will act on the
McCorkle’s request at their Janu
ary meeting.
The commission also conducted
public hearings on two commu
nity development block grants.
On September 28. 2001, Lee
County was awarded a grant of
$500,000 to perform acquisition,
water, street and drainage facili
ties improvements in the Lee
Villa Subdivision. The grant is
designed to benefit low and mod
erate income persons.
On December 15, 2000, Lee
County was awarded a grant of
$250,000 to perform water and
sanitary sewer facilities improve
ment to the Walmart Super Cen
ter site and to make roadway im
provement to accommodate the
additional traffic flow to that site.
Project funds were used to create
employment opportunities for
low and moderate income people.
Rev. Levi Robinson asked the
commissioners to look at a dif
ferent approach in paving roads
that have limited traffic flow. Rev.
Robinson said that the state had
procedures that are less expensive
that can be used to pave roads that
have limited usage. Rev.
Robinson was asked to share the
information with William Clark,
Road Superintendent.
The commissioners reappointed
Commissioner James Mays and
Billy Chambers to the RDC board
for a one year term that expires
December 31, 2002.
The Lee County Board of Com
missioners received the Fiscal
Year 2000-2001 Annual Audit
results. The audit report shows
that Lee County has 1.3 million
dollars left over. Chairman
Mathis said this was a tribute to
the board of commissioners and
staff for their fiscal responsibil
ity.
jail to be served on probation,
fined $200.00 and ordered to pay
restitution of $134.81 on the sec
ond count.
Martha Dean Young was
charged with deposit account
fraud and posted cash of $288.76.
Isaiah Hawkins was charged
with deposit account fraud and
posted cash bond of $381.99.
Nina D. Warrior Hampton was
charged with deposit account
fraud and posted cash bond of
$243.55.
Kristal C. Jones was charged
with seven deposit account fraud
counts and sentenced to 36
months probation with a fine of
$700.00 and ordered to pay resti
tution of $790.48.
Kerisha K. Carter was charged
with deposit account fraud and
sentenced to 12 months jail to be
served on probation, fined
$175.00 and ordered to pay resti
tution $62. 81.
Eric E. Woods was charged with
deposit account fraud and posted
cash bond of $228.21.
Arrests Result From Smithville
PD - GSP Roadblock
The Smithville Police Depart
ment and the Georgia State Pa
trol teamed together for a road
block on the Lee/Sumter County
line on November 24. As a result
of the roadblock, several arrests
were made.
Marcos G. Carillo, 21, of 1049
Highway 195 Lot 13, Americus,
Georgia, was charged by Lt.
Smith with driving without an li
cense.
As a car approached the road
block, the passenger and driver
were observed by Chief Causey
and Trooper Rucker changing
places. As a result, Martin Izel,
the original driver, was charged
with driving while license sus
pended. The original passenger,
Leroy Stewart, of 124 Pecan Ter
race, was observed to be DUI. He
refused the test and was trans
ported to the Lee County Jail.
David L. Ladmirault. 30, was
charged by Chief Causey with his
third offense of driving while li
cense suspended and no insur
ance. When asked for his license
and proof of insurance,
Ladmirault said “My driver’s li
cense is suspended.” Trooper
Gurley ran his driver’s license
which verified the statement.
Ladmirault was transported to the
Lee County Jail.
Smithville Files Police Report
with other items that she had pur
chased.
Ms. Johnson admitted to taking
the items and placing them under
her clothes but said that she had
forgotten that she put them under
her clothes until she was outside
of the business and her stomach
had gotten cold from the pack
ages. She stated that she did not
know why she did not return to
the store to pay for the items. The
value of the sausages was $1.79
per package.
Lowetta Johnson was released
on summons to appear in Munici
pal Court on January 4.
Chief Walt Causey of the
Smithville Police Department
filed these incidents.
On November 2, Nicole Cherry
Lakesia, 20, of 151 Fox Stephens
Road, Americus, Georgia, was
charged by Lt. Smith during a
traffic stop for seatbelt violation.
A check of the passengers of the
vehicle revealed that the back seat
passenger was wanted on a bench
warrant for controlled substance
violation.
Lavonda Shakela Holley. 131
Pine Street, Smithville. was
charged with seatbelt violation
and driving while license sus
pended on November 16. Lt.
Smith observed Ms. Holley on
North Main Street not wearing a
seatbelt. A check of her license
revealed that the license was sus
pended for serious violations.
Miss Holley was then placed un
der arrest for driving while li
cense suspended and seatbelt vio
lation. She was transported to the
Lee County Jail for processing.
Kristal G. Cunningham of
Richland, Georgia was charged
with creating a disturbance on
November 23. Chief Causey was
called to a Long Street location
where the complainant stated that
Ms. Cunningham was at his
house and was cutting up his
clothes. She received a summons
to appear in court January 4.
Also on November 23, Officer
James Smith received a call from
dispatch in reference to a burglary
on Church Street. Officer Smith
was told that someone had re
moved a dishwasher from the
residence without permission.
On November 24, Lt. D.H.
Miss Lee
County
High School
Tonight
Twenty contestants will vie for
the title of Miss Lee County High
School on Thursday, December
6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Lee County
High School Robert Clay Audi
torium. Sarah Hallman, Miss
LCHS 2001, and Mallory Grebel,
Miss LCHS 1999, will serve as
emcees for the event. Betsy
Jones, Lee County Junior Miss,
and Ava O'Neal, Miss Albany
2002, will provide entertainment
for the evening. Tickets are $5.00
and may be purchased at the door
starting one hour before the per
formance. For further informa
tion, call 759-6107.
Smith responded to a LeConte
Street residence in reference to a
burglary. Lt. Smith was told by
the complainant that when he
went outside, he noticed that
someone had broken the back
window out of his vehicle and re
moved some bags.
BUFFALO ROCK
Board of
Education
Will Meet
At
6:00 p.m.
Monday,
Dec. 10