Area Breaking News
Lakeland’s July 5th Bash Promises Small-Town Charm, Big-Time Fun
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | LAKELAND, Georgia – Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of stars, stripes, and Southern summer fun as Lakeland gears up to host its annual Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 5 — and the whole community is invited. Sponsored by the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, the festivities kick off…
Read MoreStruggles and Strength: Inside the Piggly Wiggly #71 Battle to Serve Lakeland Amid Staffing and Sanitation Challenges
By Carol A. Moore | A Grocery Store at the Crossroads LAKELAND, Lanier County, Georgia – Running a grocery store has never been easy, but in Lakeland, Georgia, the Piggly Wiggly #71 has become the frontline of a quiet, exhausting battle: balancing customer satisfaction, health compliance, and reliable staffing—all while facing down the forces of…
Read MoreJustice for Remerton: Ten Indicted in Deadly Gang Shootout at Site of 2023 VSU Student Brianna Long’s Murder
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and District Attorney Bradfield M. Shealy Indict 10 in Connection with Deadly Remerton Gang Shootout By Carol A. Gasser Moore | GEORGIA – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bradfield M. Shealy have announced the indictment of 10 individuals in Lowndes County for their alleged…
Read MoreSouthern Georgia TIA Program Spurs Infrastructure Progress Across Seven Counties
By Carol A. Gasser Moore GEORGIA – Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act (TIA) program continues to drive major infrastructure improvements across the Southern Georgia region. Now in its 13th year, the TIA program is demonstrating how regional collaboration, voter support, and financial discipline can produce transformative community results. In his annual update to the State Transportation Board,…
Read MoreLightening Strike Sends Flames Through the Roof, Hope Through the Ashes: A Hahira Family’s Story
By Carol A. Gasser Moore HAHIRA, Lowndes County, Georgia – It began with a flash—a jagged bolt of lightning tearing through the late June sky over Hahira, Georgia. Moments later, smoke curled skyward from the Lewis family’s rooftop, a silent signal of the disaster unfolding inside. In a matter of minutes, what had been a…
Read MoreChief Appraiser Jason WebrandAppears Conflict Free After Taking Over at a Tumultuous Time- Conflicts of Interest Part 13
LANIER COUNTY NEWS SPECIAL REPORT EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the twelfth in a 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 | Lakeland, LANIER COUNTY, Georgia –Because of negligence on the part of Lanier County…
Read MoreGroup’s $60 million land purchase spares Okefenokee from impact of titanium mining
By T.S. Carter | GEORGIA —The Conservation Fund, a national land preservation organization, says the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has gained a new lease on life with an Alabama company’s termination of plans to dig a titanium mine near the Okefenokee. Persuading Twin Pines Minerals LLC not to dig adeep earth mine on Trail Ridge cost…
Read MoreGuided by Light: Lakeland’s New Tower Elevates Emergency Preparedness: UPDATED
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | LAKELAND, Lanier County, Georgia – A significant milestone has been reached in Lakeland. The City of Lakeland and the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office efforts have enhanced emergency response capabilities countywide. This week, lighting systems were installed on the new area emergency communications tower located in Lakeland. The new 300-foot…
Read MoreLakeland Residents Arrested in Echols County on Fentanyl Trafficking Charges
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | ECHOLS COUNTY, Georgia – Two residents of Lakeland, Georgia, were arrested in the early morning hours of June 20 following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of a significant quantity of suspected fentanyl pills, according to the Echols County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO). Sheriff Randy Courson reported that…
Read MoreGiants of the South — The Enduring Legacy of Live Oaks: Lakeland’s Live Oak Trees, Part 1
By Carol A. Gasser Moore | LAKELAND, Lanier County, Georgia – Towering and twisted like sentinels of time, live oak trees (Quercus Virginiana) are more than just natural landmarks across the Southern landscape — they are storytellers. From their sprawling canopies to their gnarled roots, these trees have witnessed centuries of regional change. Scientifically, live…
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