Pair of suspects have their day in court

A man who forged more than $16,000 worth of checks in his elderly father’s name entered into a plea deal in Superior Court earlier this month.James McKinley HIll, 63, pleaded guilty to one count of exploitation of an elderly person and was sentenced to 20 years probation.

ARREST REPORT

MONDAY, FEB. 16• Thelma Elizabeth Barnes, 41, of Milledgeville – false report of a crimeTUESDAY, FEB. 17• Joshua Mark Bennett, 37, of Milledgeville – county jail hold for Cherokee County• Andy Johnson, 63, of Milledgeville – court sentence• Tommie Lee Wilson, 72, of Milledgeville – court hold•...

CRIME WATCH

Last March, Ayden Calder Moore led an officer on a foot chase through the woods near The Milledgeville Mall, eventually getting away and completing the first leg of his own personal law enforcement triathlon.Three months later, while deputies were attempting to serve a warrant on Merry Drive, Moore...

New details emerge in drug ring cases

RICO STATUTE BEING USED TO PROSECUTE DRUG DEALING OPERATIONSWhen most people hear the phrase “organized crime,” their mind goes straight to the mafia and New York City.Around here, however, “organized crime” almost exclusively deals with drug dealers and drug dealing networks.

Petition aims to replace all 5 tax assessors

Rarely if ever have this many local Board of Tax Assessors in Georgia been under this much scrutiny.In neighboring Wilkinson County, citizens have filed multiple lawsuits against its Board of Tax Assessors and its chief appraiser – Romona Vaifale.

DOWNTOWN HOTEL/CONFERENCE CENTER PROJECT MOVING FORWARD

CITY COUNCIL GIVES AMBITIOUS PROJECT ITS ‘FIRST READING’It’s a project that would re-shape the heart of Milledgeville, and now it’s one step closer to becoming a reality.The City Council on Tuesday conducted a first reading for seven zoning change requests that are necessary before any construction...

Mayor delivers her annual State of the City address

Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan, two months into her third term, gave her 13th State of the City address at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.Parham-Copelan missed the first council meeting of the year with an illness, while attending the second meeting of January remotely.

After K–8 phone ban, Georgia considers extending policy into high schools

Just a year after Georgia implemented a statewide ban on cell phones in K–8 classrooms, lawmakers are considering a new bill that would extend the restriction to high schools, potentially changing daily routines for students across Baldwin County.House Bill 340, also known as the Distraction-Free...

Grant, former councilman and mayor, passes away

Former Milledgeville city councilman and mayor Johnny Grant, Jr. passed away over the weekend, just three-anda- half months shy of his 100th birthday.During his 20-plus years around City Hall, Grant learned just about everything there was to know about Milledgeville, especially its infrastructure.

Central State Hospital walking tours return soon

Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at the Depot, Inc., in partnership with Seeking Asylum LLC, has announced dates for this year’s Central State Hospital Haunting History Tours.Each immersive walking tour invites visitors to explore the grounds for a glimpse into the complex history of mental...