Author: Staff Reports

Less than a week after being released from jail, 27-year-old Chasity Cumbass was booked back into the Coffee County Jail last week after she allegedly violated the conditions of her bond. On New Year’s Day, Cumbass was arrested on drug possession charges after she was reportedly discovered asleep in her vehicle at a gas pump at a local convenience store. The officer stated that when she made contact with Cumbass, she saw packages containing suspected illegal drugs. Cumbass was booked into the Coffee County Jail that day on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance.…

By Stanley Dunlap The Georgia Recorder www.georgiarecorder.com You could get your first glimpse soon into what a Fulton County special grand jury heard behind closed doors as it investigated efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to interfere in the results of the 2020 election. The calls by several media groups for an immediate release of the grand jury’s findings into the lengthy investigation are set to come to a head at a hearing on Tuesday before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. Dozens of witnesses have testified in the Atlanta…

By Stanley Dunlap The Georgia Recorder www.georgiarecorder.com You could get your first glimpse soon into what a Fulton County special grand jury heard behind closed doors as it investigated efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to interfere in the results of the 2020 election. The calls by several media groups for an immediate release of the grand jury’s findings into the lengthy investigation are set to come to a head at a hearing on Tuesday before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney. Dozens of witnesses have testified in the Atlanta…

By Jill Nolin The Georgia Recorder georgiarecorder.com If anyone was harboring hope that a new House speaker might want to take a fresh look at full Medicaid expansion in Georgia, House Speaker Jon Burns dumped cold water on that Thursday. Burns is only the second speaker since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, but he will continue the longstanding GOP tradition in Georgia of opposing fully expanding the insurance program for the state’s low-income residents. Georgia is one of 11 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Obama-era healthcare law. Instead,…

By Jill Nolin The Georgia Recorder georgiarecorder.com If anyone was harboring hope that a new House speaker might want to take a fresh look at full Medicaid expansion in Georgia, House Speaker Jon Burns dumped cold water on that Thursday. Burns is only the second speaker since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, but he will continue the longstanding GOP tradition in Georgia of opposing fully expanding the insurance program for the state’s low-income residents. Georgia is one of 11 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Obama-era healthcare law. Instead,…

Tony Kirkland, a deputy who was working as a bailiff at the Coffee County Courthouse at the time, has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI announced his arrest earlier today in a press release, with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office also releasing a statement regarding Kirkland’s arrest. The GBI release reports: “The GBI has Tony Kirkland, 58, of Alma, with one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery stemming from an incident that occurred between September 30, 2022, and October 1, 2022 at his residence in Alma, Georgia.…

Tony Kirkland, a deputy who was working as a bailiff at the Coffee County Courthouse at the time, has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI announced his arrest earlier today in a press release, with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office also releasing a statement regarding Kirkland’s arrest. The GBI release reports: “The GBI has Tony Kirkland, 58, of Alma, with one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery stemming from an incident that occurred between September 30, 2022, and October 1, 2022 at his residence in Alma, Georgia.…

Every year, members of the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee of Coffee County come together to host a special day-long event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s accomplishments and constant fight for civil rights. The celebration will kick off tonight at the Hightower Memorial Temple, with this year’s theme announced as “His Dreams Still Matter.” The service will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Bishop Michael White of Litman Cathedral in Albany as the keynote speaker. On Monday morning, the MLK fellowship breakfast will take place at Gaines Chapel AME beginning at 8:00 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.…

Every year, members of the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee of Coffee County come together to host a special day-long event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s accomplishments and constant fight for civil rights. The celebration will kick off tonight at the Hightower Memorial Temple, with this year’s theme announced as “His Dreams Still Matter.” The service will begin at 6:00 p.m. with Bishop Michael White of Litman Cathedral in Albany as the keynote speaker. On Monday morning, the MLK fellowship breakfast will take place at Gaines Chapel AME beginning at 8:00 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.…

The second of three trials in the state’s case regarding the January 2020 death of Vann Brown is scheduled to take place at the end of the month. The defense has filed several pretrial motions, which will be heard later this week by Superior Court Judge Kelly Brooks. Jason’s brother, Justin, was tried and acquitted of murder and other offenses last year. However, he was convicted for tampering with evidence and making false statements to law enforcement. Justin is currently serving his sentence in the Coffee County Jail. Several pretrial motions have been filed by Jason’s…