Crandall man charged with rape remains in Murray County jail

CHATSWORTH, Ga. —  A 21-year-old Crandall man is being held in the Murray County jail after the sheriff’s office charged him with the rape of a 20-year-old woman. Dakota Lee “Cody” Choate, of 444 Highway 2 W., was arrested Saturday by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office after the alleged rape was reported on Nov. 6. According to an incident report, Choate and the woman had been “talking and flirting” on social media, but the woman said they were “just friends.” She said they started “hanging out” around 1 p.m. and for three hours “everything was good and Mr. Choate was respectful.” She said she let Choate drive her car and they were going to his grandparents’ house. But during the drive, she said Choate “started taking her in the boondocks” and she grew suspicious. She said eventually they ended up at “a cemetery alley somewhere in Cisco,” where she said he “pushed” her into the back seat of the car. She said she told him “she did not want to do this” and was crying, repeating that “she did not want to do this.” When he got on top of her, she told him to get off of her, she said. She said he raped her after she told him “no.” She told a deputy she thought he had a weapon “but was unsure what it was.” Choate refused a bond hearing and his next court date has not been scheduled. 

Permanent Solutions hosts Thanksgiving fest

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Permanent Solution Salon will host its annual Thanksgiving community fest. The event will be held 12-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Valdosta-Lowndes Parks & Recreation Authority, 1901 N. Forrest St. Families will receive free a Thanksgiving meal, see entertainment and  have the opportunity to win various door prizes, organizers said. Permanent Solution Salon’s  desire is to not only feed people in need but take time to show gratitude kindness, and support to families of Lowndes  and surrounding counties for their continuous support to the business, organizers said. 

Allied Arts awarded $1,000 professional development grant

Allied Arts has been awarded a professional development/artistic planning grant for $1,000 for the workshops at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. The grant comes from South Arts.

South Arts strengthens the South through advancing excellence in the arts, connecting the arts to key state and national policies, and nurturing a vibrant quality of life. The organization works in partnership with the state arts agencies of Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. It is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, member states, foundations, businesses, and individuals.

This grant is will provide important support for staff at Allied Arts and for the community. Staff will be able to learn more about budgeting, finance, marketing and board development. Allied Arts staff will be taking workshops at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits from December 2018 through March 2019.  

Branford Rotary plants Tree of Remembrance

BRANFORD, Fla. — In cooperation with Branford’s Town Council, the Rotary Club of Branford had a Tree of Remembrance donated and planted by Shade Tree Nursery of McAlpin.

The 10-foot Nellie R. Stevens Holly was planted Nov. 6 along the Greenway on the north side of U.S. Highway 27 in Branford.

The Rotary Club will decorate the tree with lights and ornaments for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Ornaments will be sold for $5 each and will have the person’s name to be honored placed on the ornament. Proceeds from ornament sales will be used to make improvements to Greenway Park. The Town Council agreed to furnish water for the tree and electricity for the holiday lights. Rotarians agreed to provide the lights and to maintain the tree with trimming and fertilizing.

“Our Tree of Remembrance is a way for us to remember special people that have passed on, but we remember as having made an impact on our lives,” Rotary Club President Dr. Mel Kemmerer said. “These can be family or friends. 

“We appreciate the cooperation of the Town Council and, especially, the tree planting and donation by Ronald White of Shade Tree Nursery.”

A tree lighting ceremony will be held on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. as a kickoff to the Suwannee River Christmas Festival.

For anyone wishing to purchase an ornament, contact Dr. Kemmerer at Mel.Kemmerer@gmail.com. Checks should be made payable to Rotary Club of Branford.