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LOCAL NEWS

Friday October 16^th, 2026

*UPDATE*

Weather changes begin throughout the afternoon and it may seem like we’re having another tropical system move in but this will be a cold front that will have winds gusting as much as 30mph at times bringing in a blast of much cooler and drier conditions. Highs today will be on the unseasonably warm side but we’ll go from the mid-to-upper 80s today to around 70 and upper 60s for the highs this weekend. Clouds will be moving in during the afternoon but no rain is mentioned. It will be partly cloudy, cooler and breezy tonight with lower 50s feeling even cooler due to the winds. The winds will stay all weekend long so despite the sunny conditions overall, it will feel even cooler because of the winds. This cool snap will last until at least Tuesday with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. We may moderate a little by next weekend. Any outdoor activities you have planned this weekend will be nice but cooler.

The agenda-setting meeting of the Mayor and Americus City Council was a little different with four items for discussion only that started off the meeting. The E911 IGA with Sumter County; reviewing City vendor contracts; the Martin Marietta lift station update; and CBDG application were discussed for almost the entire first hour. Under agenda items, a speed device request was tabled. Five items were placed on the consent agenda. A public hearing amending the zoning ordinance providing for the approval and regulation of Data Centers, Research & Development facilities and substations will be held next week. Ordinance amendments will be on the next agenda for approval. After comments the meeting moved to closed session for personnel and appointments. Next week’s regular monthly meeting is at 6pm in Council Chambers of the Public Safety Building downtown.

Early voting continues at the Sumter County Fairgrounds with a steady turnout so far. You will be able to early vote tomorrow on the 17^th and again on Saturday the 24^th if you find it difficult to get to the Fairgrounds to vote during the week. Early voting on the two Saturdays is from 9 to 5 the same as it is Monday-Friday. Early voting will end on Friday October 30^th. Whenever you do decide to early vote, you will need to have a valid photo ID with you.

Fall at the Market that was postponed due to the expected weather last weekend, will be held tomorrow at Lenny’s Market on Hampton Street downtown. Fall at the Market will have extended hours until 3 tomorrow afternoon. In addition to the usual fall produce and other items, there will be some food vendors, music and even a Rotary Club yard sale from 8 until noon tomorrow as well. Come early and shop for fall produce from our local growers and stay until 3 in the afternoon for Fall at the Market on Hampton Street.

It was one of the slowest 24-hour periods in quite some time Thursday for the Americus Police. Five total incidents were reported and two of those were already on yesterday’s Local News. Officers answered to total domestic-related calls yesterday. One abandoned vehicle was tagged on Winn Street. Anthony King was arrested at 5:23 this morning at 1304 N. Lee Street and charged with criminal trespass. Officers worked one traffic crash on Thursday that had no reported injuries. As a reminder, it is the weekend so remember to lock and secure your vehicles and remove any items of interest, such as guns, that would tempt a would-be thief.

*UPDATE*

Thursday was a traffic stop kind of day for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office as Deputies conducted seven stops. At a stop on W. Lamar Street, Neisha T. Hill was charged with failure to maintain insurance. A stop last evening on US 280E led to the arrest of Jose Diaz-Garcia for driving while unlicensed and failure to dim headlights. Last night around 11 a stop was made on the SGT Parkway and Kennedy K. Lewis was charged with taillight requirements. Warnings were issued in the other traffic stops. One activated alarm was checked out. One prisoner transport was made yesterday.

In the Sumter County Jail today—Jose Diaz-Garcia for driving while unlicensed and failure to dim lights; Derling Bartolon Florin for DUI/ driving with a suspended license/ failure to maintain lane/ open container/ and driving while declared as a habitual violator; Casey Ryan Gillis for shoplifting; Nikey Nicole Little for shoplifting; Jarrian Percintres Walters for aggravated assault/ simple battery/ possession of a firearm by a convicted felon/ and affray. One was released for jail after posting bond.