GDOT names new district engineer for northwest Georgia 

DALTON, Ga. —  The Georgia Department of Transportation has selected Grant Waldrop as the new District Six engineer. Waldrop, who has served as an assistant district engineer, takes the place of DeWayne Comer who retired. Waldrop will take the helm of the 17-county district that occupies the northwest Georgia region stretching from the Alabama state line on the west to the Tennessee state line on the north and the metro Atlanta region on the east and south. He will be the face of the department in northwest Georgia overseeing all of the department’s programs, projects and activities in the area and working with local and state lawmakers, chambers of commerce, business leaders and the public in the 17-county area. He also will work with GDOT’s adjoining state departments of transportation including Tennessee and Alabama. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Georgia Tech, Waldrop began his career with the Georgia Department of Transportation in 2004, and was promoted through various transportation and traffic engineering positions. His broad experience of 14 years with GDOT includes traffic design engineer, regional traffic manager, district traffic engineer and assistant district engineer. The GDOT District Six office is in Cartersville, but the department also maintains area offices in Buchanan, Rome and Dalton. There are 2,079 bridges in the district, 1,900 state route centerline miles and 160 interstate centerline miles.

Business, home burglarized

VALDOSTA, Ga. — City police are looking for a burglar. The Valdosta Police Department reported a convenience store and home were burglarized in recent days. Police are searching for a suspect who burglarized the Kash Foodmart. Reports indicate the incident happened between 11 p.m., Thursday and early morning Friday at the 4000 block of Brightwell Drive. Authorities estimate that about $10,000 worth of merchandise was stolen. The suspect stole 15 rolls of lottery tickets worth $5,100, 60 cartons of cigarettes worth $3,000, 30 boxes of cigars worth $2,000, $350 cash and bluetooth headphones worth $90, according to the report. Around the same time, a home located on the 3000 block of Will Drive was also burglarized, according to the police. The authorities are still searching for the suspect. An estimated $4,180 worth of goods were stolen from the home, including a black 32-inch smart TV, $800 cash, a $900 Toshiba laptop computer and a $300 engagement ring. If anyone knows anything about these incidents, they are encouraged to call the VPD at 229-293-3091. 

Windstream delivers school supplies

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Windstream employees delivered about 500 back-to-school items for the Boys and Girls Club of Moultrie/Colquitt County. The items, including 40-50 backpacks, notebooks, pencils and much more, were donated by members of the community during a month-long drive at the store. The Boys and Girls Club offers homework help four days a week for its members, ages 5-18, and any of the members who need the supplies are welcome to them, club CEO Joseph Matchett said.

Greater Poplar Springs Church to hold awards day

JASPER, Fla. — The annual Educational Awards Day program will be held Sunday at 11 a.m. at Greater Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church, 702 1st St. NW.

Humanitarian, evangelic and academy awards will be given.

The motivational speaker is Verna Jackson Johnson, a Hamilton County native and graduate.

Dinner will be served.

The church invites the community to come out and support the youth.

Rev. J.T. (Billy) Simon is the pastor at Greater Poplar Springs.

For more information about the awards day, contact Jackie Houston at 386-792-1029.

Baldwin Players’ Tryouts for ‘Stop Thief’ on Aug. 27-28 at ABAC

TIFTON, Ga. — Auditions for the Baldwin Players’ fall production will be held Aug. 27-28 at 6:30 p.m. each night in Howard Auditorium at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Dr. Brian Ray, professor of English and theatre and the director of the Players, said roles are open for nine men and five women for the comedy, “Stop Thief.” “George P. Donaldson, who later became the ABAC president, directed the Baldwin Players in this play in 1933,” Ray said. “As a celebration of the 85-year heritage of the Baldwin Players and live theatre at ABAC, this play is being performed once again.” Ray said the play is a farce that centers on a family in the middle of preparing for the daughter’s wedding. In the frenzied story of activity, two crooks enter the house, causing much confusion and leading to mistaken identities and surprising revelations. Auditions are open to ABAC students, faculty, staff, and administrators as well as members of the community. No prior acting experience is required. “Stop Thief” will be performed in Howard Auditorium on Oct. 4-6. Interested persons can contact Ray for more information at 229-391-4969.