On Wednesday night, around 9:30 p.m. Elberton Police Officers responded to a person with a gunshot wound on McKinley Street.

Responding Officers found 22-year-old Devin Hester of an Elberton address shot in the right side of his back.

EMS transported Hester to the Hospital. Officers began processing the scene and interviewing witnesses that came forward.

A vehicle identified as being involved was later observed by officers on Campbell Street.

Possible suspects were detained and interviewed. Physical evidence was recovered from the vehicle, and is being processed by Elberton Criminal Investigations Division.

Other Suspects have been identified by officers and are being sought in connection with
the shooting. If anyone has information about this shooting we ask that you contact the criminal Investigations Division of The Elberton Police Department at 706-213-3130.

At last night's Board of Commissioners' work session, the Commissioners heard from the Anderson-Oconee Waste Company about a new landfill. Jeff Browne of Browne Engineering (Pictured at right with Commissioner's Harper, Hubbard, and Chairman Lyon) gave a presentation to the commissioners about the cost and revenue from such a landfill.

Anderson-Oconee's plan is to open this landfill with Elbert County as a partner, helping out with the cost and the revenue. If for, any reason the county can no participate, the waste disposal company is prepared to open the landfill and shoulder financial burden alone.

According to Browne, for a new landfill to be worthwhile, it needs to bring in 1,200 tons of waste daily. Browne said he expected the landfill to bring in around 250-350 tons daily to start out with.

According to Browne's estimates and a current tipping fee of $1.50 a ton, a new landfill can bring in around 30 million dollars of revenue in it's lifetime.

The Board will vote on the decision to accept Anderson-Oconee's partnership proposal at their regular meeting this Monday at 5:30

Still no trial date for the man accused of holding his family prisoner in a filthy trailer for three years.


36-year old Raymond Daniel Thurmond is charged with rape, four counts of felony cruelty to children, and five counts of false imprisonment.


Authorities say Thurmond held his wife and four children captive in a filthy, roach infested trailer in Lavonia for three years.


They say his children were malnourished and were not allowed to go to school or go outside.


Thurmond pled not guilty to the charges, but was indicted in November 2008 by a Franklin County Grand Jury.

This week, Thurmond appeared in Superior Court in Carnesville expecting to have a trial date set.


However, Northern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Bob Lavender says Thurmond’s trial was pushed to sometime in the fall at the request of his defense attorney who iscurrently involved in a murder trial.


Thurmond was denied bond last September when Superior Court Judge Lindsey Tise ruled Thurmond was a threat to his ex-wife and a flight risk.


Since then, he has remainedin the Franklin County Detention Center.

The Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting this Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Chamber office to measure the interest among the public and civic groups in funding fireworks for an Independence Day celebration.

The purpose of the meeting will be to see how much support the chamber will have to raise $6,000 for a fireworks show Friday night, July 3.

Recently, some chamber members have said that the fireworks should be cancelled because it's asking too much from the area businesses that usually support the show. the purpose of the meeting is to get everybody's opinion on the annual event.

To contribute to the annual fireworks show, send a check to the Chamber of Commerce marked "Fireworks account."

A former Lincoln County native is charged with murder after reckless driving.

36-year-old John G. Ludwig Jr. was charged with murder yesterday afternoon by the 13th circuit solicitor in Greenville. The charges stem from when Ludwig was driving his Maserati in Greenville when it plowed into a home on April 25, killing Fredrick William Bardsley as he sat in his living room watching television.

After heavy investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol, a warrant was finally issued for Ludwig, who had fled his Greenville home to Lincolnton.

Ludwig was charged with murder instead of reckless homicide. The charge was based on the speed the car was going, a minimum of 86-95 mph, and the fact that Ludwig was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash.

Lincoln County Sheriff Gerald Lawson, who is a family friend, picked Ludwig up early Wednesday morning and escorted him to the sheriff's office in Lincolnton, where he was met by South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division, or SLED. Late yesterday afternoon, he was booked by the Greenville Sheriff’s Department and is currently in the Greenville Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing.

Ludwig, who is currently CEO of Greenville based computer service company SDI Networks Inc, was a high school football star at Lincoln County High School and graduated in 1990. Much of his family still lives there.

At the time of the crash, Ludwig was out on bond on burglary and domestic violence charges that are also being prosecuted by the 13th Circuit's Solicitor's Office.

Yesterday, the Georgia Division of Public Health confirmed 4 cases of H1N1 Influenza in Georgia, a 30 year old woman in a LaGrange hospital, a 36 year old pregnant woman in DeKalb County who is already recovering, a 3-year-old boy in Cobb County, and a 14 year old boy in Henry County. Awaiting testing is another suspect case of an 8 year old girl from Clayton County who recently visited Mexico.

The Georgia count differs from the count on record with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last Friday, the CDC decided that it would not include the woman who is now receiving care in LaGrange, GA because she is a resident of Kentucky and had her first symptoms in Kentucky before she traveled to Georgia.

A recent poll conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that the majority of Americans have a great deal of confusion about the H1N1 Influenza A virus. Formerly referred to as “swine flu,” this particular strain of influenza that is gaining so much recent attention is now called “H1N1 2009” by scientists.

There are 3 major types of influenza that can attack humans. Most of us have probably been exposed to one of these types in the past. The virus that is getting so much attention these days is Type A Influenza. Two less common types are Influenza B, which infects mostly humans, and Influenza C, which infects mostly humans and occasionally pigs.

Elberton’s Police Chief Mark Welsh was a student for a day yesterday for his part in the Falling Creek Children’s Home Fundraising event that is going on all through the county.

“We had a great time in Ms. Jameson’s class. We did grammar and dates. I also had to work on my handwriting.” Said Welsh.

“I had to work on my handwriting. I finally understood that my handwriting wasn’t as good as a kindergartner's. Then I messed up and didn’t follow instructions. So, maybe I’m not as smart as a kindergartner.” Added Welsh.

Several more local celebrities will be participating throughout the week. Mayor Larry Guest will wash a fire truck, Gary Jones of the Elberton Star will instruct an aerobics class, Bowman Elementary School Principal will make Sundaes at Dairy Queen just to name a few.

There will also be events taking place on Saturday morning at The First United Methodist Church.

Funds raised from this event will go towards several group homes on the Falling Creek Children’s Homes property located on the Lexington Highway.

If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause you please call 706-283-0777 or you can mail your donations to Falling Creek Children’s Homes PO Box 6506, Elberton, GA 30635.

Also several penny donation jars have been placed throughout Elberton and Elbert County at local businesses and churches and you can also bring a donation to Regions Bank that you can put towards the event of your choice.

The 58th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place tomorrow. Millions will unite in prayer as thousands of events will take place from coast to coast.

The theme for this year is "Prayer... America's Hope" and is based on the verse from Psalm 33:22 which states: "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

The Elbert and Wilkes county program will be held on The Square at noon. In case of rain on May 7, the event will be held at the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Spring and Liberty streets in Washington for the Wilkes County program.

Prayer ceremonies in Elberton will be broadcast live here on 105.1 WSGC.

The National Day of Prayer is a day designated by the United States Congress as a day when people are asked to come together and pray, especially for their country.
Although it is our constitution right for freedom of religion, the designated day has of course had some controversy.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force has argues for the constitutionality and need for a National Day of Prayer, claiming that the "Founding Fathers did not mean for our government to be separated from our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob".

A father is now facing vehicular homicide charges following an accident that resulted in the death of a child.

On Monday, April 27th 911 dispatchers were notified of a single car accident on Highway 77 near Brewers Bridge Road intersection. 5 year old Douglas Bernard Oglesby Jr. was critically injured and transported by Elbert County EMS to Elbert Memorial Emergency Room and was life flighted to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta where he died early the next morning at 2:30 am as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Through investigation it was determined that the child was not properly restrained inside the vehicle with a safety belt. As a result warrants were sought for the driver, the child’s father Douglas Bernard Oglesby Sr. on a Second Degree Vehicular Homicide charge, Failure to maintain lane and a Child safety seat violation. Oglesby voluntarily turned himself in Monday and was later released from the Elbert County Detention Center on $4,000 bond.

The exact cause of the accident is undetermined.

Elbert County Comprehensive High School's athletic department held their annual spring sports banquet last night at the First Baptist Church's Recreation Outreach Center (ROC).

Story courtesy of 92.1 WLHR

Franklin County now has a protocol in place in the event the swine flu virus or H1N1 virus hits Georgia. The virus has spread now through 30 states with 226 confirmed cases as of Sunday, but only one fatality so far.

Local leaders in EMS, public health, education, law enforcement and government met Friday to go over how a pandemic would be handled in Franklin County if it hit Georgia.They are part of C-HEART, which stands for County Health Emergency Response Team.Franklin County Health Dept. Nurse manager Pat Windsor told the group each entitity in the county has an emergency plan in place.

The group went over the protocol for how the County would respond if Governor Sonny Perdue declared a health emergency in the state due to the H1N1 virus.Windsor said if such an emergency were issued, the State Health Department would order the Franklin County Health Department to open up a point of distribution site or POD to dispense tamiflu. Windsor said the point of distribution for Franklin County would be the Franklin County Middle School."They are expecting everyone in Franklin county to be treated within 72 hours," Windsor told the group. "To do that, we will bring in nurses from other districts, other counties fromo ther districts.

We also have a list of retired nurses and of pharmacists. All of them will come in to help us," she said.The plan calls for children, the elderly, pregnant women, teachers and healthcare professionals to be given the tamiflu vaccine first, then the general public.On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control completed deployment of 25-percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States.

Windsor outlined what those stockpiles would include for each county."This is a big package of what would be needed, like flu vaccine, Tamiflu, masks, portable hospital, everything that would be n eeded in an emergency situation," she said.

She said a dedicated team would have to drive to Gainesville to a pick up point there to retrieve the County's share of the SNS.In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus.The Centers for Disease Control reports there has been only one confirmed case of the H1N1 virus in Georgia, but they are attributing that case to Kentucky since the victim is from there and was only visiting relatives in Georgia when she had to be hospitalized.

As of Sunday, the CDC said the virus does not appear to be as dangerous as first thought.And they continue to advise the normal precautions for preventing contracting the flu, including washing hands often and avoiding people who are sick or have flu symptoms.

The Elbert County FFA Club will be having a fundraiser today and continuing through Thursday.

They will be selling a Georgia grown favorite. Now here’s FFA member Haley Hill advised “We are selling top quality in 10 pound bags for $10.00.

We will have two locations in Elberton that FFA members will have set up to sell these onions at Claude Ray Ford and across from Walmart.

The FFA is proud to support Georgia’s agriculture by promoting marketing and selling this famous Georgia grown crop. We are proud to offer this product to the people of Elbert County.”

The FFA Club will also sell the Vidalia onions at McWilliams Park on Thursday.

Another fundraiser for the club will be held this coming Saturday, May 9 beginning at 9:00 am. Chris Barger of the club stated “I am proud member of the Elbert County FFA Chapter.
The Elbert County FFA is holing an open horse show on Saturday, May 9th at the Elberton Saddle Club. We would like to invite you to attend this event and support Elbert County FFA.”

The show will be for pleasure, running, jumping and fun classes. It is free admission to the event. For more information call Dixie McCarty 706-988-9113.

An Elberton man is facing multiple charges in reference to fleeing the scene of an accident that seriously injured an Elberton woman on April 23.

Sgt. Jonathan Burnette advised that warrants had been sought for 21 year old Mark McGarity following an investigation of a crash.

Trooper Robbie Turner from Washington State Patrol Post 17 reports that 21 year old Candace Sanders of Elberton, a passenger in the front seat, was ejected from the vehicle during a roll over where the car ended up on top of her. She was later life flighted to Greenville, SC following the wreck.

Two other passengers in the back seat of the car refused treatment.McGarity was arrested at his home. He remains in the Elbert County Detention Center at this time.

He faces charges of Failure to maintain lane, Driving too fast for conditions, Driving while license are suspended, Leaving the scene of accident, Serious injury by vehicle and Open container violation.

On April 23, the Sheriff’s Office started enforcement efforts on county roads.
In a news release from Sheriff Barry Haston he stated his deputies will enforce county ordinance 58-61. This ordinance states that NO motor vehicle with more than six wheels travel roads unless designated by the county or the state to be a thorough fares unless picking up or dropping off a delivery. Then you must use the state route to the closest turn off for the pick up or delivery.
It has become a problem that county roads are being used as shortcuts for trucks and they are tearing up the counties roadways.
During the enforcement efforts, traffic and patrol deputies will monitor the county roads and if used as a through fare, drivers will be stopped and issued a warning. The second time a citation will be issued.
Deputies will also be working with the States Motor Carrier Unit and the Georgia State Patrol to hold check points to weigh and inspect trucks on county roads; several of these checkpoints have already held and several warnings were issued.
The only roads designated by the county as permissible routes are State Routes. County roads are not designed to hold the weight of trucks over six wheels. It may take you a few more minutes, but let’s save our county roads and use the state routes.

At last night’s regular meeting of the Elberton City Council, they honored former City of Elberton police chief George Ward by naming the newly renovated police department building after him.

Ward served with the police force from 1952 until 1993, serving as Chief of Police for 36 of his 41 years on the force.

At the meeting City Manager Lanier Dunn read a resolution to name the police department after Ward, after a motion and a second to approve the new naming,
Councilmen Bobby Hunt started discussion, stating that he was concerned that the issue of the naming wasn’t discussed in a public meeting, stating that he had just one phone call with Mayor Larry Guest months before to get his opinion on the name change, and never finding out how all the council members felt. Hunt said that the move should have been handled better.

Mayor Guest stated that the reason the topic was not discussed in public was to keep it a secret and not let the local media alert anyone of the naming until the city was ready.

After the discussion, the motion to name the police department was unanimously approved 5-0.

After the regular meeting was adjourned, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held outside the police department doors.

Former Mayors Iola Stone and Jack Wheeler were in attendance during the ribbon cutting ceremony, as was Chief Ward.

Chief Ward was presented a plaque commemorating the event, and the mayor and council cut the ribbon on the new George W. Ward Police Department Building.

Today is May 5th which means it is the annual Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with traditional Mexican food, mariachi music and dance has become increasingly popular across the country. And, just as the day has become part of American culture, so has the practice of designating a driver. Carol Clark of Anheuser-Busch has more on how designated drivers can help keep celebrations safe during this festive holiday.

"Whether celebrating Cinco de Mayo at a community festival or at home with family and friends, if the fiesta includes alcohol, remember to choose a designated driver. Thanks in part to this life-saving practice, drunk-driving fatalities nationwide have declined 38 percent since 1982, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration." Said Clark

"Remember, drunk driving is 100 percent preventable. So, whether it's Cinco de Mayo or anytime throughout the year, we say gracias for being the designated driver."


The Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French Forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862.

For more tips on how to celebrate safely this Cinco de Mayo, visit www.designateddriver.com.

One person died and four were hurt in a car crash Saturday evening in Madison County.

The driver of a Honda Accord lost control on U.S. Highway 29 near Colbert Grove Church Road, crossed the centerline and hit a Toyota pickup, that’s according Madison County EMS.

The car's driver was identified as 22-year-old Brittani Panozza, of Greenville, N.C.

Troopers from the Athens post of the Georgia State Patrol said Panozza lost control of the car.

Injured in the wreck were Panozza's passenger and the three occupants of the truck.

All four were taken to Athens hospitals with serious injuries.

Elbert County Sheriff’s Investigators were notified by Elbert County E.M.S. Director Chuck Almond on Saturday that Kayleigh Henderson had passed away from gun shot wounds she received. Kayleigh Henderson, age 23, of 3313 Pressman Road, was being treated at the Medical College of Georgia for injuries she had sustained from an early Tuesday morning shooting incident occurring at 1214 Beachwood Road.

Elbert County EMS and Elbert County Deputies had received a call to respond to 1214 Beachwood Road in reference to an injured person. It was soon discovered that the victim was suffering from a gun shot wound to the shoulder and head area and was transported to Elbert Memorial Hospital and soon air lifted to the Medical College of Georgia.

During the course of the investigation it is believed that Kayleigh went to the residence of Mario N. Allen, age 37, of 1213 Beachwood Road residence. They had a minor child together.

There may have been a dispute between Kayleigh and Allen where Kayleigh ran across the road to Allen’s father’s residence to get help. Allen fired a single shot striking Kayleigh. Allen fled the scene. A lookout was posted and Royston Police Officers took Allen into custody.

Sheriff Haston advised that after Investigators were notified of Kayleigh’s death they met with an Elbert County Magistrate Judge where a warrant was obtained for Mario N. Allen charging him with Felony Homicide.

Allen who is being held at an undisclosed location was served with the warrant on Saturday afternoon.

Allen was already being held without bond on charges from the shooting and bond is expected to be denied on the homicide charge.

If you missed the Rabies Clinics in Elbert County on Saturday, there will be Rabies Clinics in Hart County this week. In light of the recent appearance of rabies in Elbert, Franklin, Hart and surrounding counties, the public is strongly encouraged to get your pet vaccinated against this dangerous disease.

David Laird, Environmental Health-Hart County advised that “We’ve had one this year. One skunk that tested positive for rabies this year. That was about two weeks ago. It was out in the Bowersville/Bethany area of Hart County.”

There are really no areas in this region that are exempt from Rabies.

“The issue is that these folks live out in the country. If you can see woods from you house, there is a potential for a rabid wild animal out there. The best protection you can give is to have your domestic animal vaccinated. That is the best protection against rabies that we have.” Laird said.

The clinics will be held at South Hart Elementary School this evening from 6-7 pm, Tomorrow, which is Tuesday, May 5 from 6-7pm at North Hart Elementary and 6-7 pm Thursday, May 7 at Hartwell Elementary School. The cost is a very reasonable $7.00.

Local veterinarians Dr. Bob Mauldin and Dr. Rob Ellis will be administering the vaccinations. The clinics are made possible by the Hart County 4-H program. For information call the 4-H office at 706-376-3134.

It’s been over a week since Athens-Clarke County police began their manhunt for UGA professor George Zinkhan, and police still have no leads.

This past Friday, Athens-Clark County police and FBI agents discovered Zinhan’s jeep in a ravine on the Clarke County, Jackson County Line. The spot where the jeep was found is not far from where the former professor of marketing lived.

No traces of blood or weapons were found in the car, indicating the 57-year-old Zinkhan was not in the car when it crashed.

Zinkhan is wanted for last Saturday's shooting death of his wife, 47-year-old Marie Bruce, along with two other men, 40-year-old Tom Tanner, and 63-year-old Ben Teague.

On Saturday, FBI agents watched Hartsfield-Jackson-Atlanta International Airport to see if Zinkhan would show. Last week authorities learned that he had purchased a plane ticket on May 2nd for the Netherlands, where the former professor taught part-time and owns a house.

Zinkhan did not show at the airport, and the flight to the Netherlands took off without him.

Authorities advise everyone to be on the lookout for Zinkhan, who stands at six foot four inches, has brown hair and blue eyes. If you have any information leading to his whereabouts, call the FBI’s Athens office at 706-549-6477

A called meeting of the Elbert County Board of Education Thursday evening involving personnel revealed some good news. Current Superintendent Abe Plummer will be with us a couple more years in the position. After the contract renewal Mr. Plummer announced that he was voluntarily taking a large pay cut due to tough times in the economy which is affecting our school system.

“I decided that with the trying economic times being the way they are and a lot of sacrifices having to be made I just decided that I would just cut my own salary by $10,000. Those kinds of things you think about are the fact that you want to do everything you can.
That’s one of the reasons. We were trying to make sure that if at all possible not lay anybody off. If you look around at every system in the state of Georgia they have laid somebody off. We were fortunate that we have not done that. We think that we will be able to make it through okay without doing that. We try to be very, very conscious of everything, of every dollar and be very careful to make sure that if we spent something, it was something we needed to spend.” Plummer said.

In recent weeks it has been determined that AYP which is Annual Yearly Progress for the high school is estimated to have great results.

Plummer adds, “The culture of the school, the kids are not looking at what I did, but did the school make A.Y.P. That’s so important that the kids are conscious of that. They work hard toward that end; we believe what we’ve achieved. We don’t know and nothing’s official until the state gives the results, but Rick (Principal Higginbotham) knows that they have done well.”
Of course as Mr. Plummer said, this good news is unofficial for the time being due to factors which include that the Graduation Tests were only recently taken, but Coach Higginbotham proudly announced the results of those last week.

Also, Mr. Plummer mentioned how well the drawing went for the students who passed the Graduation Tests.

“I wish you could’ve seen the enthusiasm.” Plummer said with a proud smile. “We’re talking about academics. These kids were so thrilled. One of the things that really stuck out with me is when Denise (Moon, teacher) wanted to take a picture of these kids. She was asking them to move in closer together. We had 200 kids or better in there, so you know they were all talking and everything else. I asked the students may I have your attention please and it just grew silent. It was so good that these kids were so mannerable it was really great.”

There were prizes such as gift certificates, I-pods, TVs and other nice items.

A complaint of a domestic dispute results in the arrest of three Elberton residents over the weekend on Friday night.

A female resident on South Oliver Street requested that Elberton Police Officers remove three subjects from her home due to arguing and profanity that they were using. While trying to arrest the subjects on disorderly conduct charges, the two males involved resisted arrest from the officers having to be forcibly detained.

As a result of the incident officers arrested 33 year old Wendy Massey and charged her with disorderly conduct. Also charged with disorderly conduct as well as public drunk in the incident was 38 year old Joel Hughley.

After fighting with officers, 28 year old Phillip Massey was eventually forced into handcuffs but still proceeded to continually resist officers--kicking the patrol car and banging his head--gained a charge of aggravated disorderly conduct and obstruction in addition to disorderly conduct and public drunk.

Wilkes County Clerk of Court Mildred Peeler was recently named the 2008 Superior Court Clerk of the Year for the state of Georgia.

The award was presented to Peeler at a recent spring training seminar for Superior Court Clerks of Georgia held at St. Simons Island.

“I just felt so honored to win this award, it’s a really special thing.” Said Peeler.

She becomes the 24th Superior Clerk Court of The Year, the winner of the annual award is chosen by their fellow clerks and the award is presented every spring.

Peeler has been working for the Wilkes County court system for over 30 years, serving as deputy clerk for 18 years before being elected as clerk in 1997.

“Most people think the clerk of court just handles records, but we do so much more.” Said Peeler. “The only way to really know what we do is to work here and see first hand.” She added.

During her tenure as clerk, Peeler has attained the honor of certified clerk through UGA’s Carl Vincent Institute of Government, serves as first Vice-President of the Superior Court Clerks Association of Georgia, chairperson of the Superior Court Clerks Training Council, and has received many other honors.

Elected as clerk in 1997 after running unopposed, Peeler is just starting her fourth term and has faced no opposition each time she has been reelected.