WISK  /  WDEC

"Local News”

Friday February 3rd, 2012

It has been clarified to Local News that if you want to address the Board of Education at a work session, you can make your request as late as noon on the Monday of the work session. In this case, you have until noon this Monday if you would like to address the Board at the work session at 6pm Monday night. If you would like to address the Board at a monthly meeting, that needs to be done 3 days ahead of time. The regular meeting of the Sumter County Board of Education will be Thursday February 9^th at 7pm. All meetings, the committee meetings at 5 on Monday, the work session at 6pm and the monthly meeting at 7pm are all open to the public. All meetings will be held in the SCS Administration Building boardroom. If you would like to make that request and address the Board of Education, call the Central Office at 931-8500. So far, 2 people have requested to speak at Monday’s work session and 1 request has been made to speak at next Thursday’s regular monthly meeting.

Despite all the controversy with the Board of Education, there are good things going on in the system. Students, faculty and staff will celebrate Career, Technical and Agricultural Education during February. Special activities are being planned this month highlighting the importance of academic and technical skills development. Business and community partners are invited to share experiences as well as become more informed about program offerings. Each Career and Technical Student organization will host activities that display leadership proficiency.

Reserve your tickets now for the 92^nd annual meeting of the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce. The big event will be on Thursday February 16^th at 6:30 at the Rylander Theater. Charles Marshall, a humorous but motivational speaker will make the keynote address. The non-refundable tickets prices are $35 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. In addition to the keynote address, many awards will be presented that night. A cocktail reception will follow the annual meeting. February 8^th is the deadline to reserve your tickets. Call the Chamber at 924-2646 or email ivy@americus-sumterchamber.com before the deadline.

Drivers have noticed a jump at the pump and it’s getting a little pricey these days. Most places around town now exceed $3.40 a gallon for regular unleaded. A few places are just below the state and national average for the price of regular unleaded gas but quite a few exceed these averages. As of this morning, the national average was $3.47 a gallon. That’s up from last week when the average was $3.39. A month ago, the national average was $3.29 and a year ago it was $3.12 a gallon. The lowest price per gallon is $3.01 a gallon in Colorado and the highest is Connecticut at $3.76 a gallon. Georgia is approximately in the middle of these national averages.

Americus Police had a full Thursday. Criminal trespass complaints were made at 119 South Lee Street for a damaged vehicle, at 308 Winn Street, 407 Ashby Street and at 205-N Murphy Mill Road.

A burglary was investigated at 132 Hosanna Circle.

Cordarra Lockhart was arrested at 50-C Reddick Drive for simple battery.

2 separate cases of identity fraud are under investigation.

Derrick Coley was arrested for disorderly conduct at 122 Appleblossom Lane after a domestic situation.

Charles Hardy was arrested last night at 151 130 Lonnie Lane for public intoxication.

A 14-year old was arrested last night and charged as a runaway juvenile.

Several miscellaneous calls were answered by officers in the previous 24-hour period.

There were 2 accidents yesterday that had 2 injury complaints. That accident was at the Wendy’s entrance on Crawford Street. The other accident was a 7-vehicle accident. That occurred in the Wal-Mart parking. Emmett Rowland, driving a Ram pickup, felt dizzy and struck the rear bumper of vehicle#2, then the rear bumper of vehicle#3, then the rear quarter-panel of vehicle#6. After impact, vehicle#3 struck vehicle#4 and #5. As a result of vehicle #6 being struck, it then struck vehicle#7. Vehicles #207 were all legally parked when they were struck.