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The Lee County Ledger
Volume XXIV - Number 29
your Hometown Source of Cocal fJews
Leesburg, Georgia -- February 28,2002
Man-Eating Monster
From Outer Space
Visits Leesburg!
Hometown Newspaper of Joey and Connie Sims
Fifty Cents
B. T. Eason told the Lee Couty Commissioners that the
Burke’s Ferry Road case should be decided in Lee County.
Eason Inquires Of
Burke’s Ferry Suit
B. T. Eason addressed the
county commissioners Thursday
night regarding Burke's Ferry
Road. Eason noted that Lee
County has only one public boat
landing beneath the bridge of East
32 Highway, just short of High
way 300. According to Eason, Lee
County’s three most valuable
natural resources for recreation
are the Flint River, Kinchafoonee
Creek and Muckalee Creek.
Eason said of the three, the Flint
River has been poorly utilized in
recent years for boating or fish
ing by Lee County citizens be
cause a put-in and take-out pub
lic boat landings to have exten
sive recreation on the river.
Eason asked if Burke’s Ferry
Road as it approached the Flint
River mined and sold to Crisp
County Dam Authority for fill dirt
for approximately 100 yards used
to build up under the massive con
crete emergency spillway after the
damage of the 1994 flood. Eason
asked who gave the Dorminys the
road or the right to sell the soil
thereunder?
Eason said that Lee County
from this time forward solely
needs this road for a boat put-in
place and the Highway 32 land
ing is already in place for boat
take out landing.
Eason asked about the status of
the suit that the commissioners
agreed to file in Lee County’s
court against the Dorminys. Com
missioner Billy Mathis told Eason
that there were two suits already.
The one that is pending in Ben
Hill County against the Dorminys
that was filed by Mr. Eason and
other Lee County citizens. The
second suit is in federal court
where the Dorminys have filed
suit against Lee County and the
Lee County has filed a counter
suit.
Chairman Mathis said that since
a suit was pending in Ben Hill
County, the judge was staying dis
covery in the federal case until the
citizen suit was decided. Eason
said it seems that the case should
be decided in Lee County.
David Moncrief, representing a
group of Lee County farmers at
the meeting, asked the commis
sioners to support the appoint
ment of Doug Collins as coordi
nator of Lee County Extension
Service. Moncrief stressed that
the farmers were satisfied with the
service they were receiving from
Collins. Chairman Mathis told
Moncrief that all the commission
ers had signed a letter of support
for Collins.
Tom Sumners asked the com
missioner to be patient. Summers
said the job has not been offered
to others and there could be more
qualified applicants to apply for
the job. Summers said, “I am not
putting down what Doug had
done”.
The commissioners transferred
the economic development direc
tor to the development authority
board effective March 1. The De
velopment Authority will also
have full discretion of funds and
will be responsible for meeting
the employment benefit require
ments of the director and subse
quent staff.
Two members of the board of
commissioners will serve as vot
ing members of development au
thority board.
The commissioners also ap
pointed Judy Pate to serve as a
member of the development au
thority board. Mrs. Pate has
owned and operated her own busi
ness for 21 years. Mrs. Pate said
that she was willing to invest time
to see Lee County prosper both
commercially and economically.
A man-eating creature from
outer space? This is the stuff of
great musical theatre? You bet!
When we're talking about the car
nivorous extra-terrestrial veg
etable that audiences meet in the
latest Lee County High produc
tion, "Little Shop of Horrors"!
This upbeat musical tale of love,
rags-to-riches, and alien domina
tion of the earth comes to the Lee
County stage March 8-10 and 14-
16. "We have had ball producing
this show," says theatre director
Robby Davis. “It's great fun for
actors and audiences! And we
have cooked up loads of sur
prises. After all, everyone loves
a good and goofy sci-fi horror
story."
The "Little Shop of Horrors"
story first appeared on the big
screen in Roger Corman's B-
movie horror favorite of the same
name. The film featured the then
little known Jack Nicholson.
Later David Geffen and company
took the concept, turned it into a
musical, placed it on the off-
Broadway stage and thrilled au
diences for years in Greenwich
Village's Orpheum Theatre.
Geffen then pushed his musical
"Little Shop" to movie theatres in
the 1986 hit featuring Rick
Moranis and Steve Martin.
“Folks who have only seen the
film version of 'Little Shop'
haven't really seen 'Little Shop'"
says Davis. "As my students
would say. 'It's way different from
the movie.' And much more fun,
I think!"
The stage musical features the
music of Alan Menken and
Howard Ashman, the composing
duo who created the unforgettable
music of Disney's "Aladdin,"
"Beauty and the Beast," and "The
Little Mermaid". Menken has
contributed music to other clas
sics like "The Lion King,"
"Pocahontas," and "Mulan." Au
diences will immediately recog
nize the Aslunan and Menken
touch to the music of "Little
Shop." LCHS chorus director
Kevin Blaise directs the vocal
performances for the Lee County
show, and the dance numbers are
choreographed by Dotty Davis.
The Lee County production fea
tures Randy Harrell and Christina
Whitaker is the roles of Seymour
Krelborn, the lowly florist shop
clerk who discovers the mysteri
ous plant from another world, and
Audrey, the beautiful but ditzy
blonde whom he loves. Brady
Hamlin plays florist shop owner
Mr. Mushnilik. and Dylan Duke
is Orin Scrivello, Audrey's deli
ciously despicable boyfriend. In
the tradition of the ancient Greek
chorus, the "Little Shop" story is
driven forward and narrated by a
doo-wap trio of urban locals
played by Laura Ruckel, Kim
Perez, and Elizabeth Walters.
There is a special guest appear
ance by Albany performer Phil
Arnold as the voice of the ma
levolent carnivorous plant,
Audrey II. Other student perform
ers appearing in the cast include:
Daniel Bass, Cody Kelley, Diana
Garcia, Michael Edwards, Emily
Kitchens, Kyle Campbell, Wayne
Duan, Jennifer Hemphill. Sara
Malphrus, Lynwood Smith, Jason
Clark, Christa Burton, and
Carolyn Kimbrell. The produc
tion staff is led by students Eric
Clausen and Brittany Dixon.
"Little Shop of Horrors" comes
to Lee County's Clay Auditorium
March 8,9,14.15, and 16 at 8:00
PM nightly. There is a Sunday
matinee on March 10 at 2:30 PM.
Adult tickets are $10. Students
and children are admitted for $6.
The box office will open one hour
prior to the curtain. For more in
formation on "Little Shop," pa
trons are invited to call the LCHS
theatre office at 229-759-9005.
Ricky Johnson (left) received a plaque from Chief
Dennis Parker at Johnson’s retirement lunch last week.
Lee County’s
Top Investigator
Changes Career
Sentences Issued In
Magistrate Court For
Deposit Account Fraud
Col. Rickey Johnson of the Lee
County Sheriff's Department
ended his law enforcement career
Friday, February 22, 2002.
Col. Johnson, with 23 years of
law enforcement experience, has
purchased Albany Aluminum
Company from Grady Smith. In
addition to his law enforcement
experience, Johnson has also
worked in the construction field
for over 20 years.
As a tribute to Col. Rickey
Johnson, the Lee County Sheriffs
Department has officially retired
Number Three (Lee-3) ,
Johnson's call sign. He joined the
Lee County Sheriffs Department
soon after Sheriff Harold Breeden
took office, beginning his career
in Lee County as Deputy and end
ing his career as Chief Investiga
tor in charge of criminal and nar
cotics divisions, records, and E-
911 dispatch.
Chief Deputy Dennis Parker, in
paying tribute to Rickey Johnson
at a dinner given in his honor last
Friday, noted that Col. Johnson is
a "people person". Parker said
that Col. Johnson has a way of
getting more accomplished by
phone in just a few minutes than
most people can do all day in per
son. Col. Johnson said that leav
ing the department and law en
forcement to go into business has
been one of the five hardest de
cisions that he has ever made.
After opening gifts from his co
workers. an emotional Johnson
expressed his sincere gratitude to
the entire Sheriffs Department
for everyone's assistance during
his career with the Department.
As the dinner drew to a close and
officers, friends, and personnel
prepared to return to assigned
duties, Col. Rickey Johnson was
told good-bye by his fellow of
ficers. With great respect and ad
miration, some simply said "Bye
Colonel, we'll see you”, while
other officers in full uniform ap
proached the Colonel that they
loved and respected and gave
him a great big bear hug. The
impact that Rickey Johnson has
had on law enforcement was very
evident last Friday.
Magistrate Court Judge Jim
Thurman issued sentences for
deposit account fraud February
19.
Regina Anderson, charged with
deposit account fraud, posted a
cash bond of $229.51.
Thomas Spencer, charged with
deposit account fraud, posted a
cash bond of $248.68.
Tedearl Hawkins, charged with
three counts of deposit account
fraud, posted cash bonds of
$243.60. $233.36 and $222.82.
Donna Askew, charged with
two counts of deposit account
See Court, Page 2A
Sentences Issued In
Leesburg Municipal Court
Doherty
Duggan
wRouse
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
Preschool
Story Time
Tuesdays
10:30 AM
Leesburg
Library
Free & Open
Sponsored by
Lee County
Library
Official Ribbon Cutting
The Lee County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Peach
State Auction Group, Inc. According to President/CEO Lance D. Kearce, CAI,
Peach State specializes in auctioning real estate and commercial and business
liquidation. Located at 1636-D Philema Road South, Peach State Auction Group,
Inc. has been in business for over a year and employs five full-time employees
and 12 real estate agents/auctioneers. Mr. Kearce indicates that Peach State’s
experience and the fact that there are not many auctioneers/companies in the
area set Peach State apart from the competition. Peach State has over 12 years
experience and has successfully sold farmland, timberland, family estates,
business liquidations, commercial liquidations, city/county municipalities, and
a salvage yard.
Leesburg Municipal Court was
held February 19. Ten people ap
peared to have cases heard.
Travis Scott Allen pled nolo to
striking an unattended vehicle
and hit and run. He was sentenced
to six months probation and fines
of $445.
John David Braxton was found
guilty to violation of a sound
making device. He was fined $70.
Katherine Flanders was found
guilty to improper right turn. She
was fined $70.
Alonzo Flowers was found
guilty to criminal trespass. He
was sentenced to six month pro
bation and fined $375.
Willie George pled guilty to
operating a restricted vehicle. He
was sentenced to 30 days proba
tion and fined $70.
Cheri James pled guilty to
speeding 71/55 and driving on a
suspended license. She was sen
tenced to 12 month probation and
fined $685.
Christopher Lockett pled guilty
to running a stop sign, leaving the
scene and no proof of insurance.
He was sentenced to six months
probation and fined $470.
Carla Owens pled guilty to driv
ing on a suspended license, no
insurance, following too close,
and seat belt violation. She was
sentenced to 12 months probation
and fined $995.
Donna Shreves pled guilty to
disorderly conduct. She was sen
tenced to 30 days probation and
fined $70.
Terry Wisham pled guilty to
speeding and no proof of insur
ance. He was fined $75.
The following people did not
show for court or make arrange
ments to pay their fine.
Adam Jenkins was charged with
speeding 73/45. His fine is $125.
Shampoire Orange was charged
with no proof of insurance. Fine
is $275.
Julia Tyner was charged with
speeding 52/35. Her fine is $85.
BUFFALO ROCK
Spring Chicken
Bar-B-Que
March 15
Bar-B-Que Tickets are on
sale now by the Lee
County High School
Band.
Spring Chicken Bar-B-
Que
March 15, 2002
$5.50 per plate
Purchase your ticket from
a band or
danceline student now.
More info,
call Mr. Phillips
at 759-6107