WISK/WDEC

"Local News"

Monday May 20th, 2013

You probably watched in awe this weekend as hang gliders could be seen in the skies over Americus. The 2013 US Hang Gliding Championships continue all this week at Southerfield Airport. 60 competitors from around the world are here competing. The public is invited to come out and watch take-offs from noon-2pm and landings around 4-6pm. Tandem opportunities will also be available this week.

The last few days of school are here. The Sumter County School system’s last day is tomorrow May 21^st. Baccalaureate services will be this Thursday night at 8pm and graduation will be this Friday night at 8pm. Both services will be held at Alton Shell Stadium at Finklea-Robinson Field.

Southland Academy’s last day of school is Wednesday May 22^nd. Baccalaureate services will be this Thursday night at 7pm at Central Baptist Church. Graduation is this Friday night at 7pm in the Melvin T. Kinslow Gym.

The Sumter County Board of Education will hold a called meeting this afternoon at 6pm in the boardroom of the SCS Administration Building. The purpose of this called meeting is to discuss and/or approve the AdvancEd Institution Progress Report; review Policy JBC (4)—awarding units and transferring credits; and to discuss the tentative FY 2014 Budget. The community is encouraged to attend.

Compared to past weekends, this was an unusually quiet weekend for the Americus Police Department. A burglary was investigated at 207 E. Lester Street.

Korrey B. Harris was arrested for shoplifting at 1201 MLK Boulevard.

A traffic stop at 12:18 Saturday morning on Garden Lane led to the arrest of Kendall Tatum for reckless driving, colliding with a fixed object, his 4^th DUI and for driving without a license.

A juvenile was arrested for criminal trespass at 84-B Fairfield Avenue.

Criminal trespass complaints were made on US 280 east, 1310 2^nd Montgomery and at 809 Hawkins Street where a vehicle was damaged.

A shoplifting incident occurred at 1604 E. Forsyth Street at Fred’s Department Store.

There were 10-counts of identity fraud reported to police for investigation.

A battery complaint was made on Ashby Street.

A traffic stop at 12:10 Sunday morning on Prince Street led to the arrest of Justin William Lyle for his 2^nd offense of driving on a suspended license and for a City Probation warrant.

Travis Cook was arrested at 4:15 Sunday morning at 1204 S. MLK Boulevard for a City Probation warrant.

There were quite a few miscellaneous and domestic-related calls answered by officers since Friday.

A hit-n-run accident was reported on Ashby Street.

Officers worked 3 weekend accidents with no reported injuries. After an accident investigation on E. Lamar, JaMarcus D. Floyd was arrested for failure to yield while turning left and driving without a license.

The Downtown Development Authority and the Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring monthly Cash Mobs in Americus and Sumter County! A Cash Mob is a new trend in which people use social media to plan organized events, providing a way to join together and support local businesses. Cash Mobs encourage members of a community to make an economic impact by supporting local business, typically spending $15-20 at the business being mobbed, which creates an immediate economic stimulus. A “Cash Mob” in a local business in downtown Americus is planned today. Meet at the Visitor Center downtown between 11-1 to receive further instructions. Don’t forget to bring $15-20 to spend at the local business! Be sure to check the Americus Downtown Facebook page, Americus and Sumter County Twitter and the Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for updates! Look for green balloons and a banner to mark the store being mobbed. You can register for $50 in Downtown Dollars to be given away!