Two dogs disappear; one is returned

MOULTRIE, Ga. — What had shaped up to be a romantic stroll through a field turned ugly when the canine couple disappeared. The plot turned thicker when a woman returned the male dog but refused to give any information about the whereabouts of his lady dog friend, according to the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office.  It all started on Saturday when Kerianne Johnson dropped off her blue nose pit bull to hang out with another dog on Grady Matthews Road. That day the last time anyone saw the two dogs they were playing around a field. The dogs had done the same thing in the past, but on Saturday they never returned to the residence. On Saturday night the owner of the male dog posted about the missing dogs on Facebook, and on Sunday a man called saying he knew where the dogs were located. On Monday,  police said, a woman called and asked for information to ensure that the dogs actually belonged to the two owners. Both sent photos of their dogs to the woman. On Tuesday, a woman who identified herself as Staci returned the male dog to its owner at a location in Moultrie, but refused to return the other dog. She reportedly told him that the owner of the female dog could not take care of it and that she had given it to an animal rescue center that she refused to identify. Later in the conversation, however, the woman admitted that if the female dog is pregnant she is to get some of the puppies, indicating that she still had the dog or knew where it was, police said. Johnson estimated the dog’s value at $500.

 

Smile Cart donated to Tift Regional Medical Center’s Foundation

TIFTON, Fla. – On Dec. 20, the Pediatrics floor at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) received a donation to lift the spirits of sick children. A “Smile Cart” has been donated to the TRMC Foundation by the late Janice Roberts, in honor of her cousin, Dale Broome, who is a Physician Assistant at the Anita Stewart Oncology Center in Tifton. The Smile Cart was purchased from The Jester and Pharley Phund, a charitable organization dedicated to helping children with cancer and other serious illnesses with the inspiration of David Saltzman’s award-winning book, The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. To learn more about The Jester and Pharley fund or Tift Regional Medical Center, visit www.thejester.org or www.tiftregional.com.

 

Suwannee Democrat Christmas coloring contest winners announced

LIVE OAK, Fla. — From stockings to candy canes, to ornaments and gifts, these kids took off the marker caps and opened the box of crayons and decked our halls with a big blast of color. And these three were the winners in the Suwannee Democrat’s annual coloring contest. Ten-year-old Kendal Lycan was the grand prize winner and got to take home our colossal six-foot Christmas stocking. Andrew Hutcheson, age 7, was a runner-up with his entry and Gracie Fletcher, age 12, was a runner-up from the 11-12 age group. 

 

Dalton police warning of phone scammers … again

DALTON, Ga. — The Dalton Police Department is again warning residents to beware of phone scammers. The police department has received reports of phone scammers posing as representatives of Dalton Utilities in recent days. In an unusual twist on usual phone scams of this type, in at least two of the cases the phone scammer instructed the potential victim to meet in person at a location in Dalton instead of giving payment information by phone or by loading money onto a prepaid credit card. Dalton Utilities has warned residents several times in recent days to beware of phone scammers. The police department has received complaints of phone scammers calling claiming to be from both Georgia Power and also Dalton Utilities and demanding payment to avoid disconnection. Police say no utility company, government agency or legitimate business will ever demand that you meet with them in person to settle a bill in cash, nor will they demand that you load funds onto a prepaid card.

 

State program urges motorcycle safety

CONYERS, Ga. — The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program, a division of the Department of Driver Services, is teaming with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind all drivers and riders that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to always plan a sober ride before the holiday parties begin. “Too many people take to the roadways after consuming alcohol because they think they are okay to drive,” GMSP Manager Tom Komjathy said.  “During the holiday season, festive parties and celebrations with alcohol contribute to the number of impaired vehicle operators on our roadways. Please, separate the consumption of alcohol with the operation of any vehicle, on any road/highway.” Any consumption of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction times, making it unsafe to drive, according to a press release. Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving is a nationwide impaired driving campaign to inform all vehicle operators about the dangers of driving after drinking. Drunk driving kills thousands of people nationwide each year. In 2015, 35,092 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on our roadways, and 29 percent (10,265) died in crashes that involved a driver/rider with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit of .08, according to the press release. The holidays are especially dangerous. In December 2015 alone, there were 840 people killed in crashes involving at least one drunk driver or motorcycle operator.  This holiday season, GMSP and NHTSA urge people to designate a sober driver before drinking, according to the press release.