Area Breaking News
An Open Letter to the Lanier County Board of Education – Editorial
Editorial An Open Letter to the Lanier County Board of Education Randy Sirmans (Chairman), Erlish Locklear (District 1), John “Jay Jay” Strickland (District 2), Phillip Connell (District 3), Denny Fender Jr. (District 4) Board Members, Lanier County families deserve a school board that puts student safety and the public trust ahead of courthouse politics. Your…
Read MoreFlatlanders Too! brings art, people, and small-town sparkle back to Courthouse Square
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | Lanier County News LAKELAND, Lanier County, Ga. — The Flatlanders Too! Arts and Crafts Show returned to the Lanier County Courthouse Square on Saturday, August 30, turning downtown into a strollable marketplace of quilts, stained glass, woodwork, jewelry, and all things handmade. The Labor Day backup date proved unnecessary…
Read MoreJust Opened: 37 & Main
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | Downtown Lakeland has a new spot to pull up a chair. 37 & Main has opened its doors at 37 W Main St, bringing fresh energy to a Main Street storefront and a menu centered on Cajun favorites and classic comfort dishes—the kind of plates made for lingering with…
Read More7-minute City Candidate Election Challenge Successful: candidate’s name may not appear on ballot after residency challenge*
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | LAKELAND, Lanier County, Ga. — A called meeting of the Lanier County Board of Elections, which supports City of Lakeland elections, was held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2. It lasted just seven minutes, but ended with council member Greg “Duner” Sealey Jr. being voted off the ballot after…
Read MoreANALYSIS… Lanier BOC doubles down on due-diligence failure, makes up a job for Tony Galardo
ANALYSIS… Lanier BOC doubles down on due-diligence failure, makes up a job for Tony Galardo By T.S. Carter | LANIER COUNTY, Georgia – Behind closed doors to avoid public scrutiny, Lanier County commissioners this week created a ‘make-work’ job for Anthony “Tony” Galardo after his recent firing by U.S. Homeland Security for concealing multiple felony…
Read MoreTimothy Balch pressed to pick a job, already
By T.S. Carter | LANIER COUNTY, Georgia – As of Monday, August 25, Timothy Balch is interim director of Lanier County’s Emergency Management Agency. The hitch is, Balch is also chief of School Police for Lanier County as of two (2) weeks ago. You can’t do both, the School District told Balch this week, insisting…
Read MoreFlatlanders Too! Arts and Crafts 2025 Show Returns to Lakeland
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | LAKELAND, Lanier County, Ga. — The spirit of community and creativity takes center stage this Saturday, August 30, 2025 as the Flatlanders Too! Arts and Crafts Show fills the Lanier County Courthouse Square from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the show will be…
Read MoreWhen Informing the Public Itself Becomes a Conflict of Interest – Lanier County News – Conflicts of Interest Part 21
LANIER COUNTY NEWS SPECIAL REPORT EDITOR’S NOTE: This particular article speaks to the decision making outgrowth of leaders with known conflicts of interest. This is an ongoing series examining ethics and governance in Lanier County. The series spotlights potential and actual conflicts of interest involving elected officials and their employees. By Carol A. Gasser Moore…
Read MorePublic Statement: A Journalist’s Duty
Readers, As a journalist, my duty is to report truthfully on the actions and qualifications of those entrusted with public authority. Recent reporting regarding the Lanier Emergency Management Agency director has been based on official records and public proceedings. Under Georgia law: The Georgia Constitution protects the right of a free press to inform the…
Read MoreGalardo fired as Lanier EMA chief after S.C. felony convictions come to light
By T.S. Carter | LAKELAND, Lanier County, Georgia – A criminal past concealed from federal, state and county officials caught up with Anthony “Tony” Galardo III on Aug. 19, with his firing as Lanier County Emergency Management Agency Director over long-ago felony convictions in South Carolina. The removal came from Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security…
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