Newspaper Page Text
The
Lee County Ledger
(Jour Hometown Source of Cocal JVews
Hometown Newspaper of Jane and Kenneth Dykes
Pictured left to right-Chief Magistrate, Jim Thurman, Sheriff Harold Breeden,
Probate Judge John Wheaton, Tax Commissioner, Betty Johnson and Superior
Court Clerk, Ann Nix
Lee County Officials Meet for Lunch
Lee County elected officials
gathered Monday for lunch at the
Lee County Jail conference room.
Sheriff Harold Breeden, Probate
Judge John Wheaton, Tax Com
missioner Betty Johnson, Clerk of
Superior Court, Ann Nix and
Chief Magistrate Jim Thurman
have decided to have an informal
luncheon on a regular basis to dis
cuss the needs of the citizens of
Lee County. Sheriff Breeden
stated that the officials want to
discuss current issues and keep
each other informed of changes
in legislation, regulations and
other matters affecting the daily
operation of the elected officials
offices.
“We have not had the opportu
nity before to meet and discuss
common issues affecting our
county. As everyone knows, Lee
County is changing every day and
we must stay informed in order
to better serve the public.” the
Sheriff stated.
Judge John Wheaton said that
what started as an informal gath
ering of the elected officials
proved to be very educational.
“Each of us cares deeply for the
needs of our citizens and we are
dedicated to working together as
elected officials in a constructive
manner. The first time we got to
gether for lunch, we were able to
discuss several issues that impact
our county. All of us agreed to try
and meet occasionally in order to
talk about the common goals and
needs affecting each office,”
Wheaton said.
Tax Commissioner Betty
Johnson summed up her feelings
about getting together for lunch.
“So many counties have elected
officials at odds with each other.
We are all friends and we respect
each other’s responsibilities. To-
Doherty
Duggan
~s~ Rouse
Insurors
Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health
P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040
Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040
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www.ddrins.com
Lee County
Board Of
Education
Will Meet
Monday,
February 11
at 6:00 p.m.
gether, we have more than 98
years of public service to the citi
zens of Lee County. By combin
ing our experience and working
Kelli Powell was crowned Jun
ior Miss Plantation Trace on
January 26. Kelli will be support
ing Miss Amanda Goodson, Miss
Plantation Trace, as she competes
for the title of Miss Georgia in
June. Kelli is eleven years old
and attends Twin Oaks Elemen
tary.
Kelli is the daughter of Mike tation Scholarship Board.
Leesburg Police Files
Weekly Police Report
Chief Charles Moore released
the Leesburg Police Department’s
most recent incident reports.
Calls included larceny, criminal
trespass, and traffic violations.
Cheri James, 25, of Americus,
was charged with driving on a
suspended license and speeding
on January 30. Officer Prokesh
clocked Ms. James at 71 mph.
She told the officer that she did
not have a drivers license. When
Officer Prokesh ran a G.C.I.C.
check by name, her license came
back as suspended.
Also on January 30, a 16 year
old Lee County High School stu
dent indicated that a play station
had been taken from his locker.
He indicated that the locker
Holbrook Ready To
Serve Lee County
together, we can better serve our
citizens. Keeping each other in
formed and pulling in the same
direction is good for Lee County.”
Langford Holbrook, who was
named Lee County Administra
tor, expressed enthusiasm and
excitement at the opportunity
given to him Monday night by the
board of commissioners.
Holbrook, 35, was the assistant
administrator and planning direc
tor for Lee County from January
1994 until he resigned in July and
moved to Kennesaw where he
served as assistant city manager
and director of community devel
opment. Mr. Holbrook said it is
almost impossible to describe the
excitement that builds up within
him as he turns off Interstate 75
onto Highway 300 to return to
Lee County. He said that he can
not envision wanting to live any
where else but Lee County. While
coming from a big city back
ground, Holbrook said that Lee
Countians, during the past seven
years have made him feel at
home. Expressing optimism,
Holbrook talks of the opportuni
ties Lee County offers including
upscale development as well as
the preservation of the county's
agricultural heritage. He said Lee
County provides a high quality
place to raise a family.
Stressing openness in govern
ment, the
new admin
istrator said
he will focus
on where
Lee County
will go from
here. Mr.
Holbrook
assures Lee
County citi
zens and
employees
Langford Holdbrook
(most of whom are residents of
Lee County) that their concerns
will be heard. He said that he and
the other county employees are
here to serve the citizens.
Langford Holbrook said that
nothing will be done in secret. As
an example, he intends for depart
ment heads and elected officials
to present their budget request to
the board of commissioners and
establish priorities for their de
partment. Holbrook said that he
and the finance director will es
tablish a proposed budget based
on available tax revenue for the
commissioners consideration that
will include input from the de
partment heads and elected offi
cials. Langford
said that he con
siders it his re
sponsibility to
make sure that
the county staff
has what they
need to carry out
their duties to
serve the citizens
of Lee County.
In discussing
his role in rela
tionship to the county commis
sioners, Holbrook said that he is
paid for his education and expe
rience and that the elected offi
cials will weigh his advice along
with information that they will
collect from other sources and
make decisions that they feel are
in the best interest of Lee
Countians.
In response to a question con
cerning employee morale,
Holbrook said people should feel
good about coming to work and
that he intends to address the is
sues that have negatively affected
morale. He said that he will lis-
Smithville Police Files
Weekly Report
Powell Crowned Junior
Miss Plantation Trace
and Betsy Powell and the grand
daughter of Mr . And Mrs. Will
iam Powell of Leesburg, and Mr.
and Mrs. Ernest Finley of Hamp
ton, Georgia. Kelli competed in
the areas of introduction, inter
view, and on stage question. Kelli
is very proud to represent the fine
organization of The Miss Plan-
Smith ville Chief of Police Walt
Causey said that officers worked
several cases recently including
cases for criminal trespass, dis
orderly conduct, lost or stolen
property, simple battery, disor
derly while intoxicated, and bat
tery.
Jeffery Brown, 19. 132 Wells
Street, Apartment A-5. Smith
ville, was charged with criminal
trespass, disorderly conduct
(cursing) and threatening a fam
ily member on February 4 by
Chief Walt Causey. Chief Cau
sey received a call that Brown
was threatening a family member.
Chief Causey told Brown to stay
away from the apartment. Later
that same day, Brown returned to
the apartment after being told not
to go back there. He was arrested
and transported to the Lee County
Jail. He was released on bond.
Chief Causey received a report
of lost or stolen property on Feb
ruary 3. The victim reported that
her cellular phone was removed
from her car.
Chief Causey worked a stalking
case on January 23. A Leesburg
female reported to Chief Causey
that she was being stalked every
where she went in Albany and
Lee County. Chief Causey in
formed the victim that she would
have to make the original report
in Leesburg since that was where
the stalking occurred.
Marcus Butts, of 506 Hartman
Street, Americus, was charged
with simple battery on January
23. The complainant reported to
Officer Strain that she was hit in
the mouth after her mother told
Mr. Butts to leave.
Walter Mae Brown, 50, of 142
Boulevard Street Apt. C-l, was
charged with disorderly conduct
while intoxicated on January 28
by Chief Causey. Chef Causey
was sent to 153 Main Street in
reference to a disorderly person.
Ms. Brown was intoxicated and
was giving problems to the resi
dent at that address. She was
transported to the Lee County
Jail.
Kristal G. Cunningham, 19, of
Americus, was charged with bat
tery on January 28 by Chief Cau
sey. The complainant said that he
and Ms. Cunningham were argu
ing and got mad with other. The
complainant told her to leave. She
left but returned and hit him. She
was contacted at her home in
Americus about the incident. She
came to the Smithville Police
Department on January 29 and
was transported to the Lee County
Jail. Her bond was set at $5000.
ten to all employees. Holbrook
will implement a staff meeting
each Friday with department
heads as well as meeting on a
regular basis with the elected of
ficials. He did point out that if a
concern exists that people should
not wait until those meetings but
feel free to contact him at any
time. Department heads will be
asked to submit a summary each
week detailing what has hap
pened in their department that
will then be included in a memo
to the board of commissioners so
that the board is also aware of the
activities undertaken by each de
partment. Holbrook said that he
will expect the staff to not only
come to him with problems but
with potential solutions to those
problems.
Langford Holbrook expressed
his excitement about returning to
Lee County and rejoining a
highly skilled county staff. Since
he has been gone from Lee
County only six months,
Holbrook said that he is familiar
with the major projects in Lee
County including the East - West
Connector and the construction of
fire stations and parks.
Holbrook said that he will have
an open door policy. He invites
all Lee Countians to call or come
by the county administration
building to see him or any other
staff member. The administrator
said that he was employed to
handle the business of Lee
Countians.
would not lock. Case is pending.
On February 1, Captain Moody
responded to a call regarding van
dalism and criminal trespass. The
victim reported, that during her
work hours, her car window had
been damaged while in the park
ing lot of Applied Fiber. The of
ficer noticed that the front pas
senger window had been broken
from the inside. The vehicle was
unlocked.
Captain Moody worked a case
of theft by taking on February 2.
A complainant indicated that his
1986 GMC Safari van was sto
len from a Walnut Street address.
The keys were left in the vehicle.
Case is pending further investi
gation.
33 Permits Issued
For New Homes
During January
During the month of January,
33 permits were issued for single
family dwellings. Twenty-five
permits were issued in the unin
corporated area of Lee County
and eight were issued in Lees
burg.
The 25 single family houses in
Lee County has an estimated
construction cost of
$2,646,500.00. The 25 permits
cost $10,004.00. Five permits
were issued for mobile homes at
a permit cost of $1,120.00.
Seven permits were issued for
other nonresidential use at a per
mit cost of $438.00. One permit
was issued for structure other
than building at a cost of $25.00.
Six permits were issued for resi
dential addition and alteration at
a cost of $500.00. Thirty-seven
electrical permits were issued
at a permit cost of $2,030.00.
Thirty-five plumbing permits
were issued at a permit cost of
$2,760.00. Thirty-one heating
and air permits were issued at
a cost of $1,737.00.
Eight single family permits
were issued in Leesburg with a
construction cost of
$565,625.00. The permit cost
were $2,210.00. Five electrical
permits were issued in Lees
burg at a permit cost of
$300.00. Two plumbing per
mits were issued in Leesburg at
a permit cost of $132.00. One
heating and air permit was is
sued at a cost $47.50 in Lees
burg.
BUFFALO ROCK
LCHS Trojan
Baseball
Opening Day On
Saturday
March 2, 2002
LCHS Trojan
Baseball Field
Meet The Players
Intra Squad
Games
BBQ Plates
Homerun Derby
Ole Timers Games
10:00 a.m.- until
Volume XXIV - Number 26
Leesburg, Georgia -- February 7,2002
Fifty Cents