WISK / WDEC
LOCAL NEWS
Thursday October 15th, 2026
*UPDATE*
We are about to have some serious changes to
our weather but it’s not a tropical system like last weekend! This is an early season
cold front and our highs and lows will be drastically different for this
weekend. We will continue to see near-record highs for today around 90 but the
changes arrive throughout tomorrow afternoon when the winds kick up and clouds
increase but no rain is anticipated except for areas of North Georgia and that
is spotty at best. By Friday night, we’re looking at lower 50s with partly
cloudy skies and breezy conditions. Saturday will be sunny, windy and much
cooler with highs around 70 and then under clear skies Saturday night, many
will drop into the mid-40s still with the breezy conditions making it feel even
cooler. Sunday will have highs in the upper 60s and lows in the mid-to-upper
40s. This will be a brief cool down for the weekend and then the extended
forecast has highs next week in the mid-to-upper 70s to low 80s with lows at
night generally in the 50s. Any weekend outdoor plans will be cooler with no
mention of rain.
Today is the deadline to sign up to participate in the
Veterans Day Parade on November 11th. This will be a night time
parade in the hopes of having more people show up to honor our veterans. If you
would like to participate with a car, float, tractor, motorcycle or walking
unit, contact Tony Cooper Sr. at 229-938-7396. There is NO charge to enter the
parade but any donations will be greatly appreciated. The Veterans Day Parade
is sponsored by the C. B. Dowdell American Legion Post #558.
The Agenda-setting meeting of the Mayor and Americus City
Council is at 6 this evening in Council Chambers of the Public Safety Building
downtown. Several items will be on the agenda for discussion. You can attend in
person or if you prefer to listen in tonight, get the call-in or Zoom
information on the City website. The regular monthly meeting will be on
Thursday October 22nd.
Two weeks from today will be the Kiwanis Pet Parade and
Downtown Trick-or-Treating. This is the 79th Kiwanis Pet Parade. Parade
registration will start at 4:30 in front of First Presbyterian Church on
Jackson Street. The Pet Parade starts promptly at 5 to be followed by the
Downtown Trick-or-Treating. The Kiwanis Club is soliciting pet supply donations
for the Sumter Humane Society—pet food, pet supplies and/or monetary donations.
Donations can be made prior to the event by dropping them off to Charlene
Pennymon at the Citizens Bank Tripp Street Branch.
Americus Police were kept busy on Wednesday.
Ungovernable children were detained in the Bay Street area at 1:39 yesterday
morning well past curfew.
Damage to property was reported that could have
occurred anywhere in the City.
A shoplifting incident occurred at 1711 E.
Lamar Street.
Investigation is underway into a 1st
degree felony forgery.
Shots fired last evening in the area of 603
Eastview Apartments resulted in the arrest of Jarrian P. Walters for possession
of a firearm by a convicted felon. While booking 2 additional warrants were
taken care of for affray and simple battery and aggravated assault.
Following a traffic stop on W. Church at S.
Hampton at 1:59 this morning, Derling B. Florin was arrested for DUI-refusal;
habitual violator; failure to maintain lane; open container; and driving with a
suspended license.
APD worked two traffic crashes yesterday that
did have 2 injuries. That was a 2-vehicle accident yesterday afternoon on N.
MLK Boulevard when vehicles driven by William Laster and Deo Cochran Sherrod
collided with both vehicles winding up in the turning lane severely damaged.
Charges are pending.
*UPDATE*
Sumter County Sheriff’s Deputies made six
traffic stops in the previous 24-hour period starting on Wednesday morning. Five
had verbal warnings issued. The other was a stop on US 280E at 4 this morning.
Robert Hawkins was charged with speeding; failure to maintain insurance; and
window tint violation. A felony theft took place at 492 Logan Store Road. One prisoner
transport was made. A lost/stolen tag was reported to the Civil Division at the
Sumter County Courthouse.
In the Sumter County Jail today—Derling Bartolon
Florin for driving with a suspended license/ DUI/ open container/ failure to
maintain lane/ and habitual violator; Michael Steven Smith for probation
violation; Oscar Lee Smith for failure to appear; and Jarrian Percintres
Walters for affray/ simple battery/ aggravated assault/ and possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon. One was released from jail after bonding out.