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19 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