WISK / WDEC

"Local News"

Tuesday May 21st, 2013

A called meeting of the Sumter County Board of Education was held last night. After approving the agenda, the SACS Progress Report was discussed. The Board will read over the revised Required Actions and have theirs ready for submission to Atlanta by this Friday. At this point, the agenda was deviated and a parent who requested to appear before the Board arrived. Her contention was she had requested information via the Open Records request last week and she had yet to hear anything. She was inquiring about the Graduation Test and needed clarification since her son is to graduate this Friday night. Moving back to the agenda, a change at the state level on Policy JBC (4)—awarding units and transfer credits was discussed. The Board will have to read the new state BOE rules and will have to re-work the local policy for the fourth time. The FY 2014 tentative budget was presented. The overview was there will be cuts across the board giving the projected revenues at $34.3 million with projected expenditures at $34.6 meaning there is currently $300,000 needed to balance the budget. Before adjourning, the board agreed to respond to the parent who had addressed them in a timely manner.

The Legislative Luncheon hosted by the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce will be held at noon tomorrow in the GSW Faculty Dining Hall. Seating is limited so make your reservation today. The cost is $10. Contact Ivy at 924-7007 or by email ivy@americus-sumterchamber.com. There will be NO meeting of the Rotary Club of Americus as usual today. Instead, the meeting of the Rotary Club will be tomorrow at noon as part of the Legislative Luncheon.

Today is the last day of school in the Sumter County School system. Baccalaureate will be at 8pm this Thursday night with graduation at 8 on Friday night. Both services will be outside at Alton Shell Stadium at Finklea-Robinson Field.

Southland Academy’s last day of school will be tomorrow May 22^nd. Baccalaureate will be at 7pm on Thursday night at Central Baptist Church. Graduation will be Friday night at 7 in the Melvin Kinslow Gymnasium.

The monthly meeting of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners will start at 6 this evening in the Commissioners Room at the Sumter County Courthouse. The public is encouraged to attend.

The monthly meeting of the Mayor and City Council will be at 5pm this Thursday May 23^rd in Council Chambers of the Public Safety Building. The community is encouraged to be in attendance.

Americus Police were kept busy on Monday especially nightshift. A traffic stop yesterday morning on Hanson Drive led to the arrest of Karari Jamel Williams for obstruction, his 2^nd offense of driving on a suspended license and a seat belt violation.

2-counts of financial transaction card fraud were reported for investigation followed by another case that had 4-counts.

Virginia Renee Bruce was arrested for criminal trespass at 1110 N. Jackson Street.

A loitering and prowling complaint was made at 411 and 413 Crawley Street.

7-counts of 4^th degree forgery are under further investigation.

A shoplifting incident occurred at 601 Hawkins Street.

A loud and unnecessary noise complaint was made at 116 W. Lamar Street.

A rape case is under investigation that occurred last night.

3-counts of aggravated assault and criminal damage to property in the 1^st degree were reported last night at 321 Patterson Street when shots were fired into the residence.

An armed robbery and aggravated assault is under investigation from last night at 1104 MLK Boulevard at Sojo.

Tyrone James Thompson was arrested late last night on Tom Hall Circle for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Officers responded to numerous miscellaneous and domestic-related calls in the past 24-hour period.

Be aware that local gas prices went up last night and this morning, anywhere from 10-14 cents a gallon, just in time for the holiday weekend.