Commission may recommend new Dalton police chief Monday

DALTON, Ga. —  The Dalton Public Safety Commission’s monthly meeting for May has been rescheduled. The meeting will be held on Monday, May 21, at 8:30 a.m. in the City Hall council chamber, instead of May 22. The PSC typically meets at 8:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. During Monday’s meeting, the Public Safety Commission is expected to vote to select a new chief for the Dalton Police Department. The PSC previously announced two finalists for the position, Assistant Chief Cliff Cason and Capt. Chris Cooke.

One injured in North Florida accident involving school bus

LIVE OAK, Fla. — A Suwannee County school bus ran a stop sign Wednesday afternoon, causing a car to hit a tree and one person to be injured.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the bus was headed north on 135th Drive approaching 92nd Street at 3:30 p.m. when it failed to stop at the stop sign and turned right onto 92nd Street.

Failing to yield the right of way to 31-year-old Marcus Udell, of Live Oak, who was heading east on 92nd Street in a Chevrolet Caprice, Udell drove off the north side of the road in order to evade the bus, according to FHP’s report.

The car then hit a tree with its front end, the report states.

Udell was not injured, while 22-year-old Nikira Johnson, also of Live Oak and a passenger in the car, was transported to Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

According to FHP, there were 26 students on the bus at the time of the accident and none were injured.

The bus driver, 66-year-old Dorie Bingemann, was also uninjured in the accident but has been charged with failing to yield the right of way.

“We are grateful that no students were injured,” Assistant Superintendent Bill Brothers said, adding that the school district is investigating the accident. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the individual who suffered minor injuries.”

An open container citation was issued to Udell, according to FHP.

Alabama brings ‘Mountain Music’ to Valdosta

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The group has been called the “Country Group of the Century.” Given it’s 2018, it may not matter what century. Alabama continues to play its more than 20 No. 1 hits. The band still draws massive crowds. And it is still considered the supergroup of country bands. Alabama plays Saturday evening, May 19, at Wild Adventures Theme Park. Hits include songs such as “Love in the First Degree,” “Mountain Music,” “Dixieland Delight,” “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)” and “Song of the South.” It’s been 10 years since Alabama frontman Randy Owen played Wild Adventures as a solo act. Then, Alabama had broken up and Owen was enjoying the success of being on his own. But even then in a phone interview, Owen understood and appreciated the legacy of Alabama. He may have known the band would get back together. “We’re all individuals,” he said in the 2008 interview with The Valdosta Daily Times. “We’re each very different, but when we get together and sing, it is absolutely magical. These are obviously all talented people, but we’re doing different things right now. I’m grateful and thankful for that music …” And so are millions of fans.