Author: Staff Reports

Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m., the Coffee County Board of Elections and Registration will discuss bringing in independent counsel to investigate the alleged election security breaches that took place in January of 2021 at the elections office. The board will also be introduced to its new attorney, which the county has retained since the last elections board meeting two weeks ago. Since the last meeting, the elections office has moved; the building on Ashley Street is slated for demolition as a part of the upcoming courthouse annex construction project. However, this meeting will be held in the conference…

Earlier this month, a Valdosta man who was out of jail on bond for murder led a Coffee County deputy on a chase through a residential area that reached speeds of close to 100 mph. He was finally apprehended and remains in the Coffee County Jail. The driver of the vehicle was Torianto Markese Jackson, 32, of Valdosta. According to news reports from Valdosta, Jackson had been charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of crime on November 1, 2021. Jackson was wanted in the September 26, 2021, shooting death of Ronnie Greer…

Earlier this month, a Valdosta man who was out of jail on bond for murder led a Coffee County deputy on a chase through a residential area that reached speeds of close to 100 mph. He was finally apprehended and remains in the Coffee County Jail. The driver of the vehicle was Torianto Markese Jackson, 32, of Valdosta. According to news reports from Valdosta, Jackson had been charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of crime on November 1, 2021. Jackson was wanted in the September 26, 2021, shooting death of Ronnie Greer…

After three days of severe weather over the last week, more thunderstorms are in the forecast for Monday. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for South Georgia and North Florida that remains in effect until 2 p.m. The storms could affect a large portion of southeastern Georgia, including Coffee, Atkinson, Bacon, and surrounding counties. According to the National Weather Service, potential storms could be severe with high winds and heavy rain. Rainfall could be as much as a half an inch — and this will be on top of the five inches…

After three days of severe weather over the last week, more thunderstorms are in the forecast for Monday. The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for South Georgia and North Florida that remains in effect until 2 p.m. The storms could affect a large portion of southeastern Georgia, including Coffee, Atkinson, Bacon, and surrounding counties. According to the National Weather Service, potential storms could be severe with high winds and heavy rain. Rainfall could be as much as a half an inch — and this will be on top of the five inches…

Corey Carelock, 23, who just pleaded guilty in Coffee County on theft by deception charges and received 10 years on probation, is back in jail on similar charges — this time in Arkansas. Several different news outlets in Brookland, Arkansas, have released stories describing what allegedly happened. The alleged incident goes back to April 2022, when a man in Brookland agreed to purchase equipment for $40,540 online from Carelock. According to reports, the victim sent Carelock the money but never received the equipment. Authorities served a search warrant on Carelock’s bank account and noticed other large…

Corey Carelock, 23, who just pleaded guilty in Coffee County on theft by deception charges and received 10 years on probation, is back in jail on similar charges — this time in Arkansas. Several different news outlets in Brookland, Arkansas, have released stories describing what allegedly happened. The alleged incident goes back to April 2022, when a man in Brookland agreed to purchase equipment for $40,540 online from Carelock. According to reports, the victim sent Carelock the money but never received the equipment. Authorities served a search warrant on Carelock’s bank account and noticed other large…

The things that people do often defy explanation. File this story under that category. On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, three men with illegal drugs and guns pulled into the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, two Fitzgerald Police Officers walked by the vehicle the three men were in. They smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle. They contacted Ben Hill deputies which led to the arrests of the three men. One of the individuals, Leroy Johnson, was wanted out of Glynn County for Simple Battery. He was also charged…

The things that people do often defy explanation. File this story under that category. On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, three men with illegal drugs and guns pulled into the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, two Fitzgerald Police Officers walked by the vehicle the three men were in. They smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle. They contacted Ben Hill deputies which led to the arrests of the three men. One of the individuals, Leroy Johnson, was wanted out of Glynn County for Simple Battery. He was also charged…

At Monday’s regular city commission, the commission announced the FY ’24 budget and conducted a public hearing for the proposed budget. The budget is currently $130,190,566. No one came forward during the public hearing and spoke for or against the proposed budget. The budget is available at City Hall should any citizens have any questions or concerns regarding the proposed budget. The commission will vote on the budget at the next meeting, which will be held on Thursday, June 29. In other business, the commission also took the following actions: Announced the Improving Neighborhood…