Dalton State College presents the Fuze Trio

DALTON, Ga. — The Fuze Trio features Ronda Ford on flute, Erika Schafer on trumpet and Jenny Parker on piano. The Trio will perform Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Jonas Hall at the Creative Arts Guild at 520 W. Waugh St. in Dalton in a concert presented by Dalton State College. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors over 65 and non-Dalton State College students. DSC staff, faculty and students are admitted free with valid identification. Be prepared for an exceptional evening of beautiful chamber music, organizers say. This concert is supported by the Dalton State Foundation and the School of Liberal Arts. For more information, contact Ellie Jenkins at Dalton State at ejenkins@daltonstate.edu. 

Barton wins special election runoff for state House District 5

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — Matt Barton, a Republican and former member of the Calhoun City Council and the Calhoun Board of Education, won a special election runoff on Tuesday for state House of Representatives District 5. District 5 covers one precinct in Murray County (the Southwest precinct) and 10 precincts in central and western Gordon County. “I’m excited, but I’m also humbled,” said Barton. “I want to thank the voters of Gordon and Murray counties.” Barton received 1,712 votes (55.03 percent) to Jesse Vaughn’s 1,399 votes (44.97 percent). Vaughn, a Republican and an attorney with Vaughn & Clements P.C. in Calhoun, had the most votes (33.72 percent) in a January special election for the seat among six candidates, but since he did not receive more than 50 percent of the vote, he and Barton, who came in second (23.15 percent), went to a runoff. The death of John Meadows, a Republican who represented District 5 for 14 years, on Nov. 13, 2018, made the special election necessary. The legislative session began on Jan. 14. Barton said he did not know Tuesday evening when he will be sworn in. “The election will first have to be certified,” he said. “I would expect that would be Friday at the latest.”

Resident finds stranger in his kitchen getting tea

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Moultrie man’s powerful early morning thirst led on Monday to a trip to jail as the resident whose kitchen he entered did not appreciate the intrusion and theft of “a red Solo cup full of sweet tea.” A Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched at about 4:31 a.m. to the residence of Omer Key in the 100 block of Newton Road to investigate a reported burglary. “(Key) heard some noises coming from his kitchen,” sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Robinson said. “He went in there and saw a white male helping himself to a glass of sweet tea.” When Key asked the intruder what he was doing there the man, identified as Jonathan Eric Chafin, responded: “I’m thirsty,” Robinson said. Key “told him you need to get out of here,” Robinson said. “The guy left, he called 911, and a deputy saw him walking down the side of the road.” Chafin, 25, 137 Lighter Knot Court, was charged with criminal trespass. Robinson said that the deputy’s report did not indicate whether Chafin was holding the cup of tea when he saw him.

Hamilton Humane Society offers free dog training classes

JENNINGS, Fla. — The Hamilton Humane Society is hosting free dog training classes in Jennings. The classes are open to anyone interested in learning positive obedience training and behavior modification. A no-obligation introduction will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Humane Society’s facility at the old North Hamilton Elementary School. Attendees will learn canine communication, correcting common behavior problems and positive obedience training methods. Everyone interested in attending a free six-week course can sign up after the presentation. Contact the Humane Society dog training team at 386-938-4092 for details.