Former Syrupmaker quarterback and 2012 Cairo High School graduate Steven Bench has announced that he will remain at Penn State University and honor his commitment he made in February. Bench and his fellow teammates were given the option to transfer to another school after the NCAA handed down severe punishments to the University in light…

The Battery Exchange, a relatively new business in the Cairo area, provides unique battery services that not only help customers save money, but also help preserve the environment. In addition to selling new batteries, owners Howard Van Sant, Melvin Horne and Jim Berry buy back old, dead batteries to rejuvenate and resell, or to recycle.…

London, England is in for a taste of Syrupmaker flavor courtesy of Team USA this summer. Teresa Edwards, who grew up in Cairo and became the most decorated basketball player in the world, will participate in the Olympic opening ceremony this Friday evening. Edwards, who has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for the…

Grady County elections officials say they are pleased with the voter participation in the July 31 primaries and nonpartisan election. A total of 70 voters took advantage of Saturday voting last weekend, which ran from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Chief Registrar Jean Marshall said that was nearly three times as many as during any…

A member of the Cairo High School Class of 1961 will have a very special homecoming this weekend as Roddenbery Memorial Library hosts a book signing for Captain, JAGC, USN (Ret) Bob Bell, author of the book “Between Life and Eternity.” Bell is the son of the late Cairo Mayor Roy Arthur Bell and Roselle…

Only three Grady County Board of Education members were able to make a called 7 a.m. meeting Tuesday, but with board member Cuy Harrell III acting as temporary chairman, the board gave unanimous approval to a plan to meet a new state heat policy passed earlier this year. Board members Scott Higginbotham and Allen Jenkins…

Early voting continues in Grady County and as of the close of business Tuesday 615 ballots had been cast. This Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Grady County registrar’s office in the courthouse will be open for early voting. Election officials say the turnout has been steady and the early voting is running…

Some of Grady County’s top public officials are supporting the new Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax even though they are not sold on this method of funding transportation enhancement in Georgia. The Cairo Messenger polled Grady County Commission Chairman Elwyn Childs, Cairo Mayor Richard VanLandingham, Grady County Administrator Rusty Moye, Cairo City Manager…

A push by Grady County Commissioner T.D. David to increase the county’s funding for Roddenbery Memorial Library was defeated in a 3-2 vote Tuesday night. Library Director Pamela S. Grigg had sought an additional $30,000 from the county, which would have brought the county’s investment to $130,000. Commissioner David made the case for the increase…

Local residents could soon have a new place to enjoy a libation and talk sports. The Cairo City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a conditional use request for a sports bar to be located at 201-B Fourth Street N.W. Adriano Tyree Gonzalez, a student at Bainbridge College studying business, applied for the zoning…