In an effort to make lower fire insurance premiums available to more Grady County residents, the county commission on Tuesday approved moving forward with the construction of a new fire station in the northeast section of the county. Grady County Fire Chief Richard Phillips presented three bids for the proposed 40’ x 40’ x 16’…

Four weeks after the shooting death of a Cairo man, law enforcement officials have no suspect in custody and are still awaiting information from the State Crime Lab. Willie “Russ” Bell was killed while in his yard on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 9. A city contractor found Bell lying outside his home at 696…

Grady County’s legal representative in a lawsuit filed by former county commissioner Charles Renaud has filed a motion to dismiss the suit and a hearing date on the motion has been set. Renaud’s attorney, K. Todd Butler, told The Messenger this week that a hearing on the county’s motion to dismiss will be held on…

The Cairo City Council gave final approval to the 2018 municipal ad valorem tax rate Monday night. City property owners will pay a net 7.70 mills this year, which is a 2.27 percent increase. However, at 7.70 mills applied to the city’s 2018 tax digest the city will have a projected shortfall of $172,757.80 in…

The Whigham mayor and council are giving owners and caretakers of cemetery lots in the city’s two cemeteries a 90-day notice to comply with all restrictions stated in cemetery lot deeds and in the Whigham Code of Ordinances. Whigham Mayor George Trulock says unkempt cemetery lots are primarily a problem in the old City Cemetery…

Grady County teachers and administrators are dissecting disappointing test scores from last spring’s Georgia Milestones assessments. The scores indicate Grady County students are performing below both the state and southwest Georgia region averages, but school system leaders say they are taking strides now in hopes of elevating student achievement next spring. “We had anticipated higher…

Grady County Commissioner June Knight failed in her bid Tuesday night to terminate the services of Tired Creek Lake development consultant Will Butler. Knight made a motion to end the month-to-month contract with Butler, but her motion died for lack of a second. “After the chewing out we got last Tuesday night, I believe we…

Charles E. Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, has announced that a Grand Jury, sitting in Macon, has returned indictments charging 32 individuals, including a 28-year-old Cairo man. Frederick Donald, a/ka “Double D,” 28, of Cairo is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Count 1), Possession of a Firearm…

After last Tuesday night’s vote to reject the recommendation by the Grady County Lake Authority to open Tired Creek Lake for duck hunting during the upcoming teal season, Grady County Commissioners voted this week 4-1 not to permit hunting during teal season, but to authorize the lake authority to revise its recommendation regarding hunting during…

Chairman to meet with state officials Thursday The continuing wet weather has caused problems for the Grady County Road Department, which is in the midst of major public works’ projects. After being asked for an update on the State Park Road project, Grady County Commission Chairman Ray Prince admitted to Commissioner Keith Moye, who inquired,…