Police investigating body found Friday morning

TIFTON, Ga. — An investigation into a body that was found in the 400 block of 11th Street this morning is ongoing. At approximately 4 a.m. Friday, officers with the Tifton Police Department responded to a report of a body, according to Sergeant Ferron Yi with the Tifton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Department. The deceased was identified as Marilyn Ross. Investigators were called in and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist with the scene. According to Yi, the investigation into the cause of death is ongoing.

Baldwin County resident wins state award

Robbie Jones of Baldwin County was recently awarded the William H. Booth Award (Northeast District), which applauds extension agents for outstanding work with youth and the 4-H program. According to Gale Cutler with Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (EMC), Jones’ professional experience and involvement in 4-H organizations at the state and national level made him a strong candidate for the Booth Award. Jones is a first-time winner and works as an extension agent for Baldwin County 4-H. Jones has been a 4-H Youth Agent for 11 years.  He currently serves as the 4-H Youth and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Baldwin County. He has been involved with agriscience, leadership and social science programs in Baldwin County. In addition to his county work, Jones has served as an agent advisor for the Northeast District 4-H board of directors, Georgia 4-H Communication and Technology team, as well as leadership roles in Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents. 

Colquitt Countian named Fire/Paramedic of the Year in Tift County

TIFTON, Ga. — The Exchange Club of Tifton recently presented the 2017 Fire/Paramedic of the Year award to Michael Chafin with Tift County Fire and Rescue. Chafin is cross-trained as both a firefighter and paramedic and serves in both capacities with Tift County Fire and Rescue, which he joined in 2016. Chafin grew up in Colquitt County on a family farm and was a volunteer with the Ellenton Volunteer Fire Department for many years. He graduated from the Fire Academy and received his EMT license in 2003. He became a paramedic is 2008. He is married to Leanne and they have two boys, Charlie and James and one more child on the way. Chafin thanked the club and said, ‘It has been an honor to serve in Tift County.’

Workshop on littering planned

DALTON, Ga. — Officers and people working in Georgia are invited to attend a workshop about enforcing Georgia’s Comprehensive Litter Prevention and Abatement Act from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Dalton Police Department. The workshop is free. Pre-registration is required at https://kdwb.ticketleap.com/litter2017. Three hours of POST credit is available for certified law enforcement officers who complete the workshop in the subjects of environmental law enforcement, tactics and solutions in Georgia. The free workshop is made possible in part thanks to a grant from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation.

Publix conducting ‘Tools for Back to School’ school supply drive

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Publix Super Markets invites the community to participate in a program to collect school supplies for children in Suwannee County.  The “Tools for Back to School” program is similar to “Stuff the Bus.” Store customers can purchase donation tickets for $5, $7 or $10. The school supplies will then be packaged and provided to Love INC, a United Way agency, for distribution to school children in need. The school supply drive, which began July 27, runs through Aug. 17 at the Live Oak store. Publix Super Markets thanks its dedicated customers for their support of this program and for helping make it possible for many children to receive the “tools” they need to learn this school year. Each Publix Super Markets patron who contributes toward the Tools for Back to School supply drive will receive a free reusable Tools for Back to School shopping bag.  United Way of Suwannee Valley is a community impact and fundraising organization which advances the common good by utilizing volunteers on all levels to identify unmet community needs and seek to alleviate those needs through United Way of Suwannee Valley initiatives and the funding of 23 affiliated health and human service agencies. 

Police to hold community forum

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta Police Department will host its second community forum of 2017 Aug. 29. The quarterly forums started in 2013 with civil rights groups and were expanded in 2014 to include all members of the public, according to a VPD press release. The forums cover a variety of topics including concerns the community may have with the police department, concerns regarding the issues in the United States between law enforcement and the community, crime issues in Valdosta, police recruiting efforts and any other issues the community wishes to discuss, according to the release from the Valdosta Police Department. The department will also discuss numbers for 2017 complaints and status, use of force, vehicle pursuits, crime year-to-date and community policing efforts. The forum will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, located at the Christ Gospel Missionary Baptist Church, 1402 E. Hill Ave. It will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.