Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Charter Foundation of Valley, Alabama and the Chipley Historical Center of Pine Mountain.
About Harris County journal. (Hamilton, Harris County, Ga.) 1920-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2015)
*******************3-DIGIT 306 Project Georgia Newspaper 0 UGA The Harris County Journal Serving the Garden Spot of Georgia since 1869 16 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS, 1 INSERT 50c VOL. 143 - NO. 52 HAMILTON / PINE MOUNTAIN, GA. - THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 2015 Courtesy Hamilton Fire Dept. NO PASSING ZONE - In the darkness and driving rain, the Harris County Water Works truck wound up in the washout on Lower Blue Springs Road. Luckily, the driver only suffered minor injuries. Suspended from a piece of asphalt marked with double yellow lines, the truck is not completely resting at the bottom. Not Just Wet Christmas ) Torrential Rain, Flooding Hit Harris Hard By ANDY KOBER Estimates from the National Weather Service indicate that eight to 10 inches of rain fell on Harris County the days leading up to Christmas Day. The torrential rains that saw storms train over west central Georgia caused flooding issues throughout the county, and led to •RELATED STORY: Santa trades sleigh for boat. -8B the closings of at least two roads and widespread damage. Lower Blue Springs Roads, con necting Hamilton to the Mountain Hill Community, will be closed for some time. About six miles south of Ga. Hwy. 116 West, and just south of Winston Road, a stream ran through a pipe See RAIN, Page 2A .ft 2 F Courtesy Hamilton Public Works NOT A GOOD SIGHT - Hamilton Public Works employees had to work on Christmas Day to remove this threat to the water system. At Little Palmetto Creek where it passes under Ga. Hwy. 116 East, the ground supporting this dead tree was saturated with water and the tree fell into the creek. It then lodged against a water main creating an impromptu dam restricting water flow. This could have resulted in damaging or breaking the water main. Hamilton work crews spent part of Christmas Day carefully removing the tree and blockage. Mail Theft Thugs Caught Crackdown Covers Multi-County Area By ANDY KOBER Arrests have started and are expected to continue as law enforce ment officials begin nabbing those responsible for recent identity and mail thefts. Harris County Sheriff’s Investigator Glenn Presley reports that a “rash of mail thefts and ID fraud” took place in Harris, Muscogee, and Troup counties beginning several weeks prior to Christmas. The suspects were not only report ed to be stealing mail, they were allegedly using credit card offers to obtain credit cards and charge accounts in the victims’ names. Law enforcement officials report the stolen information was used to open checking accounts and write bad checks carrying the names of the vic tims. IN SOME CASES, Presley said checks in the stolen mail were “washed” in a chemical bath allowing suspects to change who the check was made out to and the amount of the check. The investigation involved the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Troup County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Narcotics Task Force and Georgia Parole agents. “During the investigation it was dis covered that as many as 50 to 60 indi viduals in Muscogee, Harris, Troup and Coweta counties have had their mail stolen and may have be subjected to ID Fraud,” Presley said. ALTHOUGH NAMES have not yet been released, Presley said that sever al suspects have been apprehended with stolen mail, credit cards and checks, along with a “large amount” of methamphetamine. The individuals face charges including theft by taking, identity theft, and various drug charges. The investigation continues and additional arrests could be made soon. EMAIL US •Send news and photos (as JPEG attachments) to news@Star-Mercury.com by noon Tuesday •Letters to the editor must include your name and address and phone number or verification. •Send legal ads to starmercurylegals@gmail.com To subscribe: (706) 846-3188 7 93573 90603 8 Courtesy Becky Chambers — CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON - The City of Hamilton held a luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 23, for city employees in celebration of Christmas. The luncheon was held in Hamilton City Hall with a few council members joining the celebration. Zero Tax on Your Car? Don’t Celebrate Yet By ANDY KOBER Don’t believe that your vehicle registration tax is zero. Apparently those with birthdays in January have been receiving tag notices showing that no tax is due. Officials report that Wells Fargo was contracted to print vehicle registration renewal notices. Somehow, some or all of the renewal notices show a zero amount due on vehicle taxes. While the renewal notice might show a zero due amount, Harris County Tax Commissioner Vicki Jamerson plans on collecting those taxes and employees in the tag office are ready to assist in deter mining the actual taxes owed. It is recommended that those with birthdays in January hurry on by the Tag Office in Hamilton to correct the problem. Live Life Fully Covered!! me Car Bus hi-did Experience and knowledge from people who care! Spears Insurance www.spearsinsurance.com Chipley Village 747 Garden View Drive • Pine Mountain 706-489-3071
