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The Year 2007 in Review Jan. 3, 2007 • Retiring Chief Judge Walter McMillan administered the oath of office to incoming Judge Bobby Reeves last week at Emanuel County Courthouse. • The 62nd Annual Kiwanis Pine Tree Festival is just around the corner and with it comes the its beauty pageants. This year, the pageants will be held earlier on Jan. 26 and 27 and Feb. 2 and 3 at Swainsboro Emanuel County Auditorium. Jan. 10, 2007 • BI-LO announced Friday, Jan. 5 that its store located at 503 S. Main Street in Swainsboro will be closing its doors on Saturday, Jan. 13. BI-LO has operated in this community for 25 years and has decided not to renew its lease. The store will be closing at 7 p.m. • On Monday, Jan. 8 at approximately 10 a.m., Emanuel County Sheriff's Office, Swainsboro Police Department, Swainsboro Fire Department and Emanuel County EMS were called to respond to Swainsboro High School in response to a bomb threat that had been called in to the school. Tatyana Renette Leverett, 19, was later determined to be the caller. She was arrested without incident and charged with Terroristic Threats and Acts. She is currently being held in the Emanuel County Jail. • On Saturday, Jan. 13, an exhibition of mailed artwork created by amateur and professional artists will be featured in Swainsboro's newest art gallery, Gallery RFD. The exhibition includes artwork by hundreds of artists from all over the United States. Artists were asked to create work on envelopes and other materials to send through the postal service. Jan. 17, 2007 • Emanuel County Jail Officer Jamie Oglesby, 68, of Twin City, died Thursday, Jan. 11 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Coroner Walter Jeffrey Peebles. Oglesby was off-duty at the time of the shooting. He was found in his truck near a restaurant in Twin City. • Emanuel County 911 received a call from Toombs County about a shooting that occurred near the Emanuel- Toombs county line. Apparently Lawrence H. McCullough, Jr. of Toombs County shot the victim, Delwyn Outlaw of Emanuel County, who returned fire wounding the suspect. Both individuals were hospitalized following the incident. • Brent McMillan, 23, Swainsboro, shot himself to death after shooting another person in Florence, Ala., on Tuesday, Jan. 9. The victim, Heather Spalding, 34, was shot in the jaw and under her eye. She was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition. According to friends of the victim, Spalding and McMillan had a relationship for about six months, but it had ended some time ago, authorities said. Jan. 24, 2007 • Emanuel County Commission voted to name the downtown square in Swainsboro "Patriot Square" at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 16. A few members of the American Legion Post 103 were present to voice their support of the name. • An armed robbery occurred at Waffle King Restaurant in Swainsboro Monday, Jan. 22 at about 3:50 a.m. "(The suspect) forced both employees to lie on the floor," said Police Chief Johnny Shuman. "He took an undetermined amount of cash and exited the back door." Jan. 31, 2007 • Thursday, Jan. 25, a celebration was held at the State Capitol recognizing the milestone of 1 million HOPE Scholarship recipients since the inception of the program in 1993. • Joan Dunn has resigned as director of Keep Emanuel Beautiful, a position that she has held since 1991. At that time, the agency was known as the Swainsboro/ Emanuel County Clean Community Commission and included the Recycling Advisory Board. Feb. 7, 2007 • Georgia Center for Law in the Public Intere st- representing Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper (OCRK) and Altamaha Riverkeeper- has negotiated a settlement in their lawsuit filed against a Swainsboro developer in Southeast Georgia. The settlement under the Clean Water Act allows Pine Tree II, the developers of additional parcels of land around the Super Wal- Mart complex in Swainsboro, to complete development of a small portion of land while preserving more than 15 acres of protected wetlands and streams that flow into the nearby Ohoopee River. A public land trust organization to be named in the near future will manage the settlement. • Swainsboro- Emanuel County held its annual banquet at Swainsboro Country Club. Asa Garrett, owner of Custom Furniture won the award for Small Business of the Year; winner of Large Business of the Year was East Georgia College; and Person of the Year was Dr. Bobby Sasser. Feb. 14, 2007 • At its Monday meeting, a few parents approached Emanuel County Board of Education to inquire about plans for the new Swainsboro SHS School gym. Superintendent Butch Frye showed the board and the parents a set of blueprints for the facility that he had received that morning. The gym will seat about 1,900 people and will face the parking lot of the school. Cost of the building will be about $4.25 million. Bids are expected to go out in the near future. Feb. 21, 2007 • Jill and Chad Canady are the winners of Pilot Club's first "Dancing With the Stars of Swainsboro." A packed house enjoyed a night of dance on Feb. 9 at Swainsboro-Emanuel County Auditorium. Bobby and Daisy Reeves were third place winners and Johnna Ware and Michael Womack won second place. • Emanuel County Board of Commissioners agreed Monday night to contribute $3,000 to East Georgia College Foundation's housing project on the college campus. The funds will be distributed to the Foundation through the Joint Development Authority. Speaking on behalf of the project was L.C. "Shot" Strange, who informed the commissioners that the Foundation owns the land on which the student apartments will be built. Each unit will cost about $446,000 and the Foundation is hoping to raise its first $1 million with the help of the community. • The Food and Drug Administration last week warned consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter because of the risk of contamination. The affected jars have a product code on the lid that begins with the number "2111." Feb. 28, 2007 • After an almost twoweek investigation by Emanuel County Sheriff's Office and the Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, Terry Ray Woods, 50, of Swainsboro was arrested on 112 felony theft by deception warrants. Woods served as assistant superintendent for student services for Emanuel County School System. One hundred and eleven of the charges stem from Board of Education accounts. The other charge stems from a Youth Leadership Emanuel account maintained by Swainsboro Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce. • According to Emanuel County Sheriff J. Tyson Stephens, deputies responded Sunday night, Feb. 25 around 10 p.m. to a 911 emergency call on Fairground Road where a suspect was shooting at his neighbor's house. The suspect, identified as Charles Coxwell, 48, was firing a rifle across the street at his neighbor's house, trapping five victims inside. When officers arrived, the shooting continued. With the help of SPD Officer Heidi Hall and Trooper David Lawrence, Sheriff's Sergeants Marc Curry and Juan Yepe managed to evacuate the trapped residents while bullets whizzed around them. • Emanuel County Sheriff's Office along with agents from the East Central Georgia Drug Task Force, GBI, Georgia State Patrol and Swainsboro Police Department made two unrelated drug arrests during the President's Day holiday weekend, seizing $18,000 in illegal drugs. March 7, 2007 • A furious second half rally, ignited by senior Dawda Njie, wiped out an eight point halftime deficit and powered David Emanuel Academy to their first ever state basketball championship as the Eagles took a thrilling 47-44 win over region rival Bethesda Day School in the GISA Class A state tournament finals in Milledgeville at Georgia College and State University. • Mandy Kirby Wommack of Emanuel County Institute has been named Emanuel County's STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student System winner. The announcement was made at the annual luncheon held at Edenfield House Inn March 1. Wommack selected Glenn Turner as her STAR teacher. March 14, 2007 • Emanuel Medical Center has welcomed new Chief Financial Officer CFO) Rhonda Johnson Durden to the hospital's administration. As CFO of the facility, she is responsible for all financial oversight throughout the hospital. She will also work with contracting issues with insurance companies and healthcare providers. • The BP gas station at 227 West Main Street in Swainsboro was robbed at gunpoint Thursday, March 8 at around 9:56 p.m. just as it was about to close. • The Joint Development Authorities and Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce have announced that a new firm is looking to locate in this area. Resumes and applications are currently being taken at the Chamber of Commerce. The firm is a "marketing company dedicated to helping pharmaceutical companies take a proactive approach to promoting and enhancing brands. March 21, 2007 • According to Emanuel County Sheriff J. Tyson Stephens, the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a student and family members at Emanuel County Institute, as well as the Emanuel County Board of Education, alleging that inappropriate incidents took place earlier this year involving Coach DeWitt Davis. Davis, 35, of 339 Fairground Road, Swainsboro has been employed by the Emanuel County Board of Education for 13 years and a teacher and coach at Emanuel County Institute for seven years where he recently resigned his position. He is charged with child molestation (felony) and sexual assault (felony). • Emanuel County Director of Elections Jeb Cameron informed Emanuel County Board of Commissioners Monday night of a proposal to consolidate four existing polling precincts into two, which will reduce the total precincts from 14 to 12. Polling locations proposed for closure are Norristown and Red Oak. March 28, 2007 • One of the job requirements for law enforcement personnel from Emanuel County Sheriff's Office and Swainsboro Police Department sometimes includes swimming in a pond to retrieve a suspect. Arrested for felony obstruction of an officer was Christopher Robin Padron, 25, 10611 Memory Lane, Statesboro. April 4, 2007 • Three nominees have been named by the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) for the presidential position at Swainsboro Technical College. In alphabetical order, the nominees are: 1. William L. Calhoun (Larry), currently interim president at Georgia Aviation Technical College in Eastman. He is vicepresident for educational services. 2. Dr. Abraham Pallas, executive director of Academy of Allied Health Programs at Lake City College in Lake City, Fla. 3. William "Bill" Roden, associate dean of College of Business at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wis. • Emanuel County Magistrate Judge Ronald Wiggins would like local residents to know that the court is taking a hard stance on littering. Last week, three people were cited and fined. April 11, 2007 • The state board that oversees Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education has approved interim DTAE Commissioner Ron Jackson's selection of William L. "Larry" Calhoun as the next president of Swainsboro Technical College, effective May 1. • Emanuel County Board of Education members received a crash course in eBoard training Monday night as Pablo Pittaluga, eSolutions account executive with Georgia School Boards Association, navigated the board through the Emanuel County Schools website. • Thomas "Tommy" F. Dykes, Registered Respiratory Therapist, R.R.T. has been named Director of the Cardiopulmonary Department at Emanuel Medical Center. April 18, 2007 • Brian Daughtry, headmaster of David Emanuel Academy, has been put on administrative leave with pay while an investigation is conducted. "We are investigating allegations only, that have been reported to us," said Emanuel County Sheriff Tyson Stephens. "Under Child Abuse Protocols, we are required to open an investigation." No criminal charges had been filed. • High winds that have yet to be categorized as a tornado hit Adrian and Twin City early Sunday morning. "There is still no confirmation that it was a tornado," said Steve Carter, director of Emanuel 911. "However, my personal opinion is that it was one, but I can't confirm that. There was a (tornado) path that we traced." The hardest hit area in the county was the city of Adrian. April 25, 2007 • A Swainsboro city road block on Friday, April 20 proved to be highly successful for local and outof town officers. Confiscated in the traffic stops were 121 bags of controlled substances that included everything from $100 one-gram bags of crack cocaine to nickel bags of marijuana and one $500- $700 crack "cookie." Officers checked over 800 vehicles and made 48 arrests for no driver's license, no insurance, no seat belts, no child restraints and driving under the influence. • The Board of David Emanuel Academy has appointed Andy Sutton as acting headmaster for the remainder of the school year. Sutton previously served as DEA assistant headmaster and school counselor. Sutton is replacing Brian Daughtry, who will remain on administrative leave with pay until the end of the school year and will not be returning to DEA by mutual agreement. • A second grade student at Swainsboro Primary School was reported to have had a needle in the student's possession last week. "It is my understanding that a second grade student did have a needle at school," said Marie Wofford, director of PR & Personnel Services. "We are not sure of the origin of the needle." May 2, 2007 • The Board of David Emanuel Academy has appointed Andy Sutton as acting headmaster for the remainder of the school year. Daughtry is still under investigation for "personal conduct." • PharmaCentra, an Atlanta-based marketing and services firm that caters to the pharmaceutical industry with a suite of customizable healthcare management programs, has chosen Swainsboro as the site for its newest healthcare information facility. May 9, 2007 • Swainsboro Police Department and Police Chief Johnny Shuman were commended Monday night at Swainsboro City Council by Mayor Charles Schwabe, who complimented the department on its tireless efforts for the last two weeks. A rash of robberies in the city ranged from break-ins at local businesses to muggings. Chief Shuman said, "April has been the worst month the department has seen." • An arrest has been made in the rash of robberies by sudden snatch in the last week. According to Emanuel County Sheriff Tyson Stephens, Shawn Leonard Mutch, 36, of Jenkins County was arrested Friday, May 5 at 4 p.m., based on information provided by victims and witnesses. • Swainsboro Probation Detention Center will now become the Emanuel-Swainsboro Transitional Center. The conversion is underway and June 30 has been targeted as the date to be operational and at full capacity of 216 beds. There are no anticipated staff changes. May 16, 2006 • Swainsboro High won the state track meet on Saturday, May 12. This is the first time in Swainsboro High's school history that the boy's track team won state. • At its meeting Monday night, Emanuel County Board of Education approved a three percent raise for all employees, system-wide. The tentative budget for July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 was also approved. Total estimated expenditures are $28,984,854. Final adoption of the budget will be conducted at the June 25 meeting. May 23, 2007 • Four people were shot at around 2:57 a.m. Sunday, May 20. According to a report by Swainsboro Police Detective Coleman Hall, employees at Huddle House called 911 to report that shots had been fired. Injured in the shooting were Ken Jenkins, 21, of Swainsboro; Corey Johnson, 21, of Swainsboro; Thez Roberson, 21, of Lyons; and Cedric Evans, 21, of Vidalia. • The news of the neglected horses hit big last Tuesday when WJBF Channel 6 covered the story. Terri Peeler was the owner of the horses and had left the horses several years ago; her father was feeding the horses until about six months ago. There were 18 horses at one time, but the numbers slowly decreased when the horses were not being cared for. • At a called meeting Tuesday, May 15, Swainsboro city council rejected all bids for the proposed public safety building and voted to negotiate with the architect to see if money could be saved on the project. All bids submitted were over the allotted budget for the building. May 30, 2007 • In recognition of National Military Appreciation Month, Daniels is joining Buick, Pontiac and GMC dealerships across the country in an effort to help Americans say "Thank you" to members of the military and their families. June 6, 2007 • At Swainsboro city council's meeting Monday night, Police Chief Johnny Shuman asked council for assistance in finding a temporary building for the police department. He informed council that the heavy weekend rains had caused the roof over the detective's and administrative assistant's offices to cave in. Mayor Charles Schwabe said that talks are in the works to relocate the police department. • Geoffrey P. Cameron, 22, of 455 Kennedy Street in Metter has been and charged with theft by taking and theft by taking of a firearm. During a joint operation with Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents and investigators with Emanuel County Sheriff's Office, the suspect was found with three handguns and electronic equipment. June 13, 2007 • At Emanuel County Board of Education's Monday meeting, Superintendent Butch Frye unveiled the architectural drawings of the new Swainsboro High School gymnasium. Bids for the construction of the gym will begin in late June. Frye welcomed Jean Schwabe as the new assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Schwabe replaces Ray Woods. The board also agreed to transfer Twin City Elementary Principal Jim Jarvis to another position in the school system. That position will be determined at a later date. Huddie Culbreth will be interim principal at TCE and a permanent principal will be named in January. June 20, 2007 • Emanuel County Commissioners approved the Emergency Medical Services 2008 budget Monday night by going with Option 2 of the suggested proposals. Rhonda Durden of Emanuel Medical Center and Courtney Terwilliger of EMS were present to address the board. Staffing for Option 2 will have two 24-hour rescue crews and one person oncall. (Option 1 suggested two 24-hour crews, one 10- hour, no on-call and no separate rescue oncall.) Staffing expenses for Option 2 is $931,695 (Option 1 was $983,155.) • Swainsboro Police Department will be relocating to 622 South Main Street beginning Monday, June 25. The new location is at the south end of Goody's shopping center. The move is expected to take a week or more. June 27, 2007 • Larry Calhoun, president of Swainsboro Technical College, announced that Johnny Payne has been named as Swainsboro Technical College's Institutional Advancement Director as of July 2. • Nobody said moving a whole police department would be easy! On Monday, June 25, inmates were trying to remove the Swainsboro Police Department's flag pole to put it in storage when the pole fell on some power lines. As a result, electricity in a some downtown Swainsboro areas was cut off for about 45 minutes. The department is currently moving to its new location at South End on U.S. Hwy. 1 South, next to Goody's Shopping Center. July 4, 2007 • At the monthly Hospital Authority meeting Wednesday, June 27, the board passed a "negative budget" for 2008. Len Daugherty, CEO, said that Emanuel Medical Center had "assumed no growth in business" last year and that they would have to "tighten their belts" in the coming months. "Every little bit helps," he said. He added that he had been aggressive in cutting expenses, but felt that any more cost-cutting would not have been prudent. • State Rep. Butch Parrish of Swainsboro, Sen. Jack Hill of Reidsville and Sen. J.B. Powell of Blythe hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new rental cottages at George L. Smith State Park in Emanuel County. The legislators were instrumental in securing funding for construction of the new facilities. July 11, 2007 • Alcohol licenses proved to be the topic of much debate during the monthly meeting of Swainsboro city council Monday, July 2. One such case resulted in a specialcalled meeting Tuesday, July 3. On July 2, council voted 4-2 to deny the request of Brian Brown, doing business as 114 West Main Restaurant, for an application for advertisement only, of a liquor, beer and wine license. • Ray Woods will be arraigned in Emanuel County Superior Court Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. He has been charged with 124 counts of theft by deception. State warrants indicate that Woods embezzled a total of $237,798.25 from Emanuel County Board of Education, including some funds from the Youth Leadership Emanuel, an account maintained by Swainsboro Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce. • In a called meeting of the Emanuel County Library Board Thursday, July 5, Ann Buxton was unanimously chosen as the new manager of the Franklin Memorial Library in Swainsboro effective July 1. She replaces Jack Atkinson, who resigned effective June 30. July 18, 2007 • A Swainsboro greatgrandmother of two is a big winner in the lottery. Helen Tanajewski, 82, is one of four Millionaire Raffle winners who won $1 million in the statewide drawing held July 7. • Enmark on South Main Street in Swainsboro was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday, July 10 at around 10 p.m. According to a Swainsboro Police Department report, Enmark employee Tanishia Rich reported that an unknown black male brandishing a black handgun approached the store and demanded money. • Twenty-one members of the Swainsboro High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter recently had the opportunity to represent their school and community at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Ill. For the first time ever, SHS FBLA had two national first place winners. July 25, 2007 • According to Emanuel County Sheriff J. Tyson Stephens, on Friday, July 20, at around 5 p.m., Lyndon Johnson was arrested after a domestic dispute involving a handgun. • Swainsboro Police Chief Johnny Shuman relished the first opportunity to knock down the old police department on Monday, July 23. The building, which has been in disrepair of years, is being torn down this week. • Denton Beasley of Swainsboro was the winner of The Foundation of Emanuel Medical Center's Sizzling Summer Sweepstakes receiving a prize package of items valued at $3,000! "This is the first time I have ever won anything!" said Beasley when notified he was selected to receive the wheelbarrow full of gifts. Aug. 1, 2007 • Dr. Glenn B. Stracher, Professor of Geology at East Georgia College, recently participated in a National Geographic Film about coal-mine fires burning in several countries including India, China, and the United States. This is the third movie that Dr. Stracher is in. • Rev. S. Wayne De- Fore, pastor of Swainsboro First United Methodist Church (FUMC), was recently presented the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award for 2007 at the church's 50th Anniversary and Reconsecration Service. Aug. 8, 2007 • A 30-year-old Swainsboro man died after losing control of his car early Saturday morning, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Gerald R. McKenzie III was traveling eastbound on Ga. 26 just before 3 a.m. when the he lost control and the vehicle left the road, according to a radio operator working out of the Swainsboro patrol post. • At its Monday night meeting, Swainsboro city council approved two alcoholic beverage licenses that had previously been under the spotlight. Public hearings were held for both applications. • At its monthly meeting Tuesday, July 31, Emanuel County Hospital Authority received, in executive session, a letter from a group of medical doctors and physicians concerning issues dealing with management of Emanuel Medical Center. The letter, signed by 12 doctors, cited specific problems with communication between staff and upper management at the hospital. Aug. 15, 2007 • Superintendent Butch Frye announced at Monday's Board of Education meeting that enrollment in Emanuel County Schools is up. "We're up a good bit from last year," he said. "We are real pleased with the numbers." More students are expected to join the flock through Labor Day. • Janice Waters is the new head of school at David Emanuel Academy. Aug. 22, 2007 • Ray Woods, who was charged with 124 counts of theft by deception, pled not guilty during an arraignment held July 18. An article in The Forest- Blade on July 11 stated that Woods was to be arraigned on Aug. 15. However, court documents revealed that Woods was actually arraigned on July 18, almost a month before the pre-arranged date. • Emanuel County Commissioners Monday night approved footing up to $25,000 for a minibus for Emanuel County 4-H. Emanuel County Extension Director Mark Crosby was present to ask for the county's assistance in acquiring a van, which could cost over $43,000. • Members of the 2007 Swainsboro Tigers Track Team received their State Championship Rings on Friday, Aug. 10. Aug. 29, 2007 • A mass food distribution will be held at Emanuel County Senior Center on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 10:30 a.m. until all food is gone. The event is a first-come, firstserved basis, with one bag of food per low-income and/or elderly person. • Congressman John Barrow was the featured speaker at the Rotary Club meeting at Catered Creations in Swainsboro Monday, Aug. 27. Sept. 5, 2007 • At around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29, Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at 128A Veal Street, Swainsboro, the home of Maheshkumar Patel, owner of the Swainsboro Food Mart on North Main Street. Patel stated that two black males wearing black hoods attacked him as he was getting out of his vehicle at his residence. The suspects demanded money and pistol whipped Patel, who required emergency medical attention at Emanuel Medical Center. • Qualifying results for Swainsboro: Ward 1: Sandra V. Stroud; Ward 2: Henry Cleve Edenfield; Ward 5: John E. Parker. For Twin City: Mayor: Gene Baker, George E. Coleman, Jimmy Greenway; Ward 1: John William Turner; Ward 2: Artie Fields, Tommy Wilkerson. Sept. 12, 2007 • In an effort to cut expenses and "right size" the organization, Emanuel Medical Center recently implemented a reduction in workforce. The total effect of the nine eliminated positions and the reduction in hours for other employees will have an impact of reducing the payroll of the hospital by twenty-eight fulltime equivalent positions. • At its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 4, Swainsboro city council unanimously denied the beer and wine application of Ashok Patel at Ankit, Inc., (formerly Food Basket) on 228 Lewis Street. Several residents of the area were in attendance at the meeting to protest the application. • At its Monday night meeting, Emanuel County Board of Education members were given an update on the Ray Woods case concerning current status of charges and pleas. The board also discussed the possibility of an impending trial. According to a board report, "Additional information has been turned over to the District Attorney's office. At this time, it is not known whether additional charges will be filed by the DA's office." Sept. 19, 2007 • Swainsboro Fire Chief Mike Strobridge was among many local responders to Verizon Wireless Friday, Sept. 14. Employees at Verizon reported receiving a "suspicious package" in the mail. Instead, investigators discovered five pounds of marijuana, estimated to be worth about $10,000 on the street. • Next year, Emanuel County property taxes may be due Dec. 1 instead of Dec. 20 if commissioners decide to approve the change. • Anumber of individuals in the community are receiving statements for services rendered at Emanuel Medical Center for calendar years 2005 and 2006. The billing company EMC was using for Emergency Department services during that time span did not bill properly and EMC is trying to rectify these accounts. • Emanuel County Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday, Sept. 6 and voted to hire Matthew Braswell as the Emanuel County Code Enforcement officer effective Sept. 24. Sept. 26, 2007 • Swainsboro Middle School has established a partnership with the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion from Hunter Army Airfield while they are deployed to Iraq. Throughout the year, students from the school will correspond with soldiers from this unit via postal mail. • Emanuel County School System has been chosen to participate in upcoming training that will launch a three-year engagement with Georgia's Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI) to support Emanuel County's school improvement strategies. Oct. 3, 2007 • The calendar call date previously set for Wednesday, Oct. 3 for the State of Georgia vs. Terry Ray Woods has been canceled. According to a press release from the office of Middle Judicial Circuit Judge Kathy S. Palmer, Woods must now appear before the Honorable T. Penn McWhorter, Senior Superior Court Judge, on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. • At its Monday night meeting, Swainsboro city council affirmed its decision to deny an alcoholic beverage license for Ashok Patel for his store Ankit, Inc. at 228 Lewis Street (formerly Food Basket.) • Emanuel County Board of Education approved the low bid of $5,215,000 from Lavender & Associates, Inc. for construction of Swainsboro High School's gymnasium. Oct. 10, 2007 • Swainsboro police officers, Emanuel County Sheriff's deputies and Swainsboro Fire Department personnel were called to the scene at Subway Restaurant at Super Wal-Mart in Swainsboro on Saturday, Oct. 6 at around 12:14 p.m. to a call about a bomb threat. Nothing was found after a search. • Emanuel County Veteran Cecil Judson Joiner was awarded the World War II Cross of Military Service at the 112th Annual Convention of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Georgia Division Historical Evening recently at Augusta Marriott Hotel in Augusta. Oct. 17, 2007 • Ray Woods pled guilty to 123 felony counts of theft by deception and one misdemeanor count of theft by deception at a calendar call at Emanuel County Courthouse Tuesday, Oct. 16. Woods was sentenced to 20 years, five to be served in the state penal system and the remaining 15 to be served on probation. • At its meeting Monday night, Emanuel County Commissioners reported that Tax Commissioner Sandra Wright had withdrawn her request for a Dec. 1, 2008 deadline for county property taxes. However, Wright informed the board that next year's taxes, by law, will be due by Dec. 20 and not Dec. 31. Oct. 24, 2007 • Recent reports about antibiotic-resistant staph (staphyloccocus) infections in the Atlanta area and Johnson County High School have prompted questions about what local school officials are doing to prevent such an occurrence in Emanuel County. Superintendent Butch Frye has reported no such cases in the school system. Oct. 31, 2007 • Anthony Davis, MD has announced the acquisition of Twin City Family Health Center from Emanuel Medical Center effective Dec. 1. "I am very excited about this change, and I am committed to deliver medical care to current and future patients. I look forward to a long relationship with my patients and this community," he said. Nov. 7, 2007 • Central Georgia's Emanuel County is one of the state's newest "Entrepreneur Friendly" communities. The designation indicates the community has worked to develop an environment that is welcoming to small business and entrepreneurs. Ninety-two percent of Emanuel County's 807 companies are small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. • Superintendent Butch Frye informed Emanuel County Board of Education members that the position of principal for Twin City Elementary School has been announced and that a new principal will be hired by January 2008. Interim Principal is Huddie Culbreth. Interviews will be conducted through December. • Swainsboro city council will hold a special called meeting Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. to discuss issues pertaining to Swainsboro Fire Department. On the table to be discussed at that meeting will be 1. Promotion of Wendell Powell to assistant fire chief; 2. Promotion of Frank Nasworthy to captain; 3. Re-alignment of Fire Chief Mike Strobridge's salary; and 4. Hiring of a new firefighter. Nov. 14, 2007 • Swainsboro Technical College Administration was alerted Monday, Nov. 12 that a student was on campus with a weapon. A search of the suspect and the vehicle revealed no weapon in the suspect's possession. • Incumbent Jimmy Greenway was the winner of the Twin City mayoral race held Tuesday, Nov. 6. Greenway garnered 198 votes. Challenging the seat were George Coleman, who received 106 votes; and Gene Baker, who received 30 votes. • Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs and Swainsboro High School Tigers will host the first round of state playoffs Friday night, Nov. 16, at 7:30 in their home stadiums. Nov. 21, 2007 • The sudden death of Marie Wofford on Thursday, Nov. 15 was a shock to many residents of Emanuel County, especially to those who worked closely with her at Emanuel County Board of Education and Emanuel County Relay for Life. Wofford was the director of public relations and personnel services at Emanuel County BOE. • ECI Bulldogs faced off against the Seminole County Indians for the first round of playoffs Friday, Nov. 16. The Bulldogs beat the Seminole Indians 49-23. • George E. Coleman, candidate for mayor of Twin City, has appealed the results of the general election held in Twin City on Nov. 6. Coleman is requesting a second or special election. Nov. 28, 2007 • The Bulldogs are on the road to the Dome and they have just one more obstacle to go before they reach their destination. ECI will host Warren County this Friday night. • Garfield Police Chief Curtis Armstrong responded to a call in Garfield in regards to the possible violation of a Superior Court Family Violence Protective Order. Arrested was Willie Eugene Collins, 55, of Metter. • At a special called meeting Monday, Nov. 26 to discuss Swainsboro Fire Department pay scales, hiring and promotions, Swainsboro city council members approved the motion to authorize City Administrator Al Lawson and Fire Chief Mike Strobridge to work out, within 30 days, several options to realign the pay scale at Swainsboro Fire Department. Dec. 5, 2007 • Emanuel County Institute has played two undefeated seasons, and their countless hours of hard work has finally paid off. The Bulldogs defeated Warren County to seal their spot in the Georgia Dome. • In Emanuel County Court on Monday, Dec. 3, Senior Judge William M. Towson Sr. of the Dublin Judicial Circuit upheld the results of the Twin City municipal election held Nov. 6. The election was being contested by George Coleman, candidate for the mayoral position. • Emanuel Medical Center will be a smokefree campus by March 1, 2008. Hospital employees, patients and doctors will no longer be allowed to smoke anywhere on the property. Dec. 12, 2007 • The Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs earned their trip with a perfect season and a Class-A Region Championship. ECI defeated Clinch County to earn their way in to the championship game. • Chico R. Washington, 32, of Swainsboro was found dead in the intersection of New and Harris streets in Swainsboro on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4:43 a.m. "He died of apparent gunshot wounds," said Police Chief Johnny Shuman. "Witnesses identified Edgar Thomas Jr., 63, a.k.a. 'Shotgun' of Swainsboro had shot Washington." • Tourists, visitors and business travelers have in the past complained about the difficulty of locating Swainsboro from the new Bypass. This should soon change with the construction of three new permanent gateway signs. Dec. 19, 2007 • The skeletal remains of a woman missing for four years have been found on some land about two miles from where she first disappeared on June 16, 2003. Last Wednesday, Sheriff Tyson Stephens said he received a call from a timber company that was clearing land about two miles away from the Oak Grove community near Modoc where Verdell Moore was reported missing in the summer of 2003. • ECI Bulldogs capped off a winning season (15- 0) with a victory against Wilcox County, 41-21.
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