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■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