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SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin officials have declared a state of emergency and as part of that declaration, a curfew is in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. It will remain in effect “until the conditions requiring this declaration are abated.” Residents, unless otherwise exempt, are required to remain in their homes or on […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Temporary relief at the pumps has arrived with a temporary reduction in Georgia’s motor fuel sales tax. Governor Brian Kemp on Friday signed House Bill 304, which suspended the tax through May 31. The tax suspension took effect at 5 p.m. Friday. This sales tax reprieve applies to gasoline, clear diesel, aviation […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies, state service providers and state properties from requiring COVID-19 vaccine passports. The prohibition also outlines that no vaccine passport may be required for entry into the state of Georgia. Additionally, state employers are not permitted to have different rules for […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Griffin Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Christopher Charles Edwards met today with Governor Brian Kemp to announce his resignation from the bench. Edwards held the bench for 22 years. He will now resume a private law practice. “Serving the people of Georgia these past two decades has been the great honor […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The ethics complaint filed against Spalding County Commissioner James Dutton by Sharon Royl will not move forward due to a tied two-two vote during the Monday night Board of Commissioners meeting. In discussion prior to the vote, potential changes to the current ethics code were cited as a reason to table […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has suspended from office Spalding County Commissioner Don Hawbaker. An executive order announcing Hawbaker’s suspension was issued Wednesday. Hawbaker was indicted on Oct. 29 indicted on one count of aggravated assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act, five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer and two […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The July 24 murder of 26-year-old Jeffery Ryan Deluca, of Griffin, has been linked to Operation Caged Dove, an extensive criminal street gang operation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Gang Task Force with the assistance of numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Operation Caged Dove was […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Spalding County Commissioner Don Hawbaker has been indicted by a grand jury on eight felony charges. The charges relate to a Feb. 4 incident at his Satilla Court residence. The grand jury today true billed one count of aggravated assault under the Georgia Family Violence Act, two counts of possession of a […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Don Hawbaker, the Spalding County commissioner who has been held without bond in the Spalding County Jail since his Feb. 4, 2020 arrest, has filed a lawsuit against Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Maj. Robert Sowell and Capt. Kyle Phillips. Sowell is the jail administrator and Phillips is the assistant jail […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Marie G. Broder was sworn in today as district attorney of the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Broder’s husband held the bible and her little girl looked on during the Wednesday morning ceremony at the Georgia Capitol as Governor Brian Kemp swore her into office. “I am very honored to appoint you to […]
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