Local Lens
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — Residents living along the Alapaha River are being urged to act now—not after the water begins rising. Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton issued an early warning this week advising residents that the Alapaha River is expected to leave its banks by…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | GEORGIA – Several South Georgia historic landmarks are among 18 sites across the state receiving funding through grant programs administered by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The Georgia Trust announced June 24 that it has awarded a total of $165,000 in historic preservation…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | MACON, Ga. — Federal prosecutors say a Macon-based organization turned high-powered drones into an aerial supply line for federal inmates, allegedly delivering drugs, cell phones, weapons and other contraband into prisons across eight states in what authorities are calling the largest federal drone-smuggling…
Lakeland, Tifton, and Valdosta Gear Up for Star-Spangled Independence Day Fêtes * By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LANIER, LOWNDES and TIFT Counties — From patriotic runners carrying American flags through the streets of Lakeland to a symphony under the stars in Valdosta and a golden jubilee celebration in…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | As families across South Georgia prepare to celebrate Independence Day with backyard cookouts, fireworks, lake trips and family reunions, the Georgia Children’s Safety Team (GCST) is delivering a message that could save lives: If you’re drinking, don’t drive. Period. It is one of…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — For more than two decades, LeRoy “Uncle Roy” Clay has built a reputation for quality barbering, professional service and community involvement. Now, through So Sharp Cutz n Stylez in downtown Lakeland, he’s offering customers something rarely found in…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — As Americans prepare to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary with fireworks, family gatherings and road trips, law enforcement officials are delivering a message that could mean the difference between life and death: Slow down. Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton offered…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — Thousands of discarded tires end up illegally dumped across Georgia each year, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing fire hazards and polluting the environment. Beginning Monday, July 7, Lanier County residents will have an opportunity to help change that — at…
Area News
SGMC Health has named Women and Children educators Kendra Butenschon, RN, and Amber Chadwick, RN, as Health System Heroes, recognizing their creativity, dedication to staff education, and commitment to advancing patient care through innovative training. Butenschon and Chadwick recently developed an immersive “escape room” simulation focused on the care of a premature infant, transforming a…
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr today announced the indictment of Kevin Waldron, 46, of Blackshear, for the trafficking, statutory rape, and sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old female in Pierce County. As asserted in the indictment, Waldron molested the victim in videos that were sold to other individuals for monetary gain. “Georgia’s children are not for…
Formal hearing proceedings regarding the proposed rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) will begin on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. ET in the North Courtroom at DEA Headquarters located at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Va. The hearing will be open to the public…
Area Sports
Get ready for another exciting season with VLPRA Youth Football & Cheerleading! Registration is now open for boys and girls across Lowndes County and Valdosta… but don’t wait, the registration deadline is June 23. VLPRA’s Football & Cheerleading Program is school-based, meaning participants are assigned to teams based on the middle school they will attend. Children…
Whether you are spending the day on the trail or camping overnight, remember to pick up all trash and be BearWise, encourages the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). “Taking a few simple steps to be BearWise can help make outdoor adventures safer and more enjoyable for everyone, while also helping keep…
Put a stop to goose conflicts before they become issues. Canada geese are well-suited to a wide range of habitats, from agricultural fields and rural waterways to neighborhood ponds, business parks, and urban green spaces. As they continue to thrive in developed areas, encounters between geese and people have become more common, according to the…
First Responses
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — A Lakeland man was arrested Tuesday, June 23 after a Lanier County deputy conducting a traffic stop allegedly discovered nearly 20 grams of suspected marijuana and drug-related paraphernalia inside his vehicle, according to the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Nick Norton…
By T.S. Carter / * Inglés y español | TIFTON, Ga. – A months long investigation into a string of golf cart thefts has led to the arrests of a half dozen suspects, say the Tifton Police Department and Tift County Sheriff’s Office, which investigated the thefts jointly. By June 10, the two law enforcement agencies…
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles The following individuals were arrested and appear on this week’s Lanier County Sheriff’s Jail Media Report: June 14, 1118 hours. Jelani Yohance Wells Jr. (23) charged with Failure to appear for finger printable charge – misdemeanor. Arresting Agency: Arresting Officer: April Taylor. Property/Cash…
Entertainment, Inspiration & Solutions
By Jack Bagley / * Inglés y español | This Saturday is the Fourth of July, which in itself is a wonderful day. But this year, it’s extra-special. You see, this year’s Independence Day is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the symbolic thumbing of the nose to King George…
By Gary Toole / * Inglés y español | While everything is debatable in general terms, there are absolute truths that work without question. The proverb we’ve heard all our lives, “The family that prays together, stays together,” is true. It’s been quoted so often and with such religious fervor that some have even…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | LAKELAND, Ga. — Move over, Uncle Sam. There’s a new patriotic fashion statement walking the streets of Lakeland, and it has people doing double takes. Local artist and Jon the Scout creator Jon Moore has officially become his own walking comic strip after unveiling…
By Vic Dove / * Inglés y español | “And many of the brethren in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds are much bolder to speak the word without fear.” Phil. 1:14 Pedro Menendez de Aviles was the Spanish Admiral who founded St. Augustine, our nation’s oldest city. He founded St. Augustine on September…
Opinions & Viewpoints
By Ty B. Kerley, D.Min / * Inglés y español | We continue this week looking at the biblical story of Cain and Abel (Gen 4:1-17), specifically observing the actions God takes (and does not take) concerning the question of why He may possibly allow evil to exist in the world. According to the biblical…
By James Finck PhD | Historically Speaking | June 24, 2026 5 MinutesFrom the Lawton Constitution Finals are done and grades are all turned in. That means just one thing: summer. While there are many things that represent summer, my favorite is the road trip. I love traveling, seeing new things, and especially visiting historical sites.…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | Words matter. In government, they matter even more. Few words carry greater legal and public significance than “emergency.” It is not simply another way of saying “important,” “urgent,” or “inconvenient.” Under American law, an emergency has a well-established meaning: a sudden, unforeseen circumstance requiring…
Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.
Government for its Citizens
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | MADISON, Fla. — A Madison County man is facing multiple federal charges after authorities alleged he possessed large quantities of methamphetamine and firearms during an ongoing drug trafficking operation. A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Florida has indicted Frederick Allen Smith…
Federal case highlights growing focus on illegal firearms possession and public safety concerns throughout the Southeast By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | FLORIDA – A Venezuelan national living illegally in the United States has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison after authorities discovered a loaded handgun…
By Carol A. Gasser Moore / * Inglés y español | TALLAHASSEE – A 27-year-old Panama City Beach man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of attempted enticement of a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. Tyler Ryan Lee Heimer was arraigned…