Area News

Reception for her to be held April 13 The new executive director of the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce is now on the job and says she is looking forward to getting to know her new community. Jennifer Jarvis started Thursday, and says it has been a very welcoming experience. “It is a very hospitable…

Grady County School System personnel are enjoying a week’s vacation this week and they all departed last Friday with some extra green in their pockets. All 627 employees of the school system received $1,000 bonuses on Friday. The state picked up the payment for all teachers and other staff including cafeteria workers, custodians, and bus…

It has been exactly one year since the first positive COVID-19 case was announced in Grady County and only a few weeks later that the first death was reported. The first positive test result was discovered March 31, 2020 and reported in the April 1, 2020 issue of The Messenger, just days after local governing…

Cakes decorated in a variety of themes and colors dazzled judges and onlookers at Saturday’s Cake Decorator’s Contest put on by the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce and Miss Myrt’s. There were 10 entrants who displayed their cakes at Gate 16 Plaza Saturday where judges selected the winners and a people’s choice award was announced…

The director of Grady County School district’s social services department, Dr. Katina Cooper, is now leading the School Social Workers Association for Georgia. During this spring’s virtual conference for the School Social Workers Association of Georgia (S.S.W.A.G.), Dr. Cooper was elected the association’s state president for the term 2021-2022, effective at the end of the…

The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Grady County in one week continues to remain low for the fourth week in a row, however it is on an upward climb. There were nine Grady County residents who tested positive for the disease in the last seven days, up from four new cases the week…

Five lucky Grady County eighth graders have a “jump start to a new beginning,” according to Grady County assistant school superintendent, Tilda Brimm. Ms. Brimm also declared that the five students awarded REACH Scholarships Tuesday morning are the “chosen few.” This year’s recipients are Taliyah Denise Ausgood – Whigham School, Journi Rakiya Bell – Washington…

On March 25, students from multiple clubs and organizations at Cairo High School took a field trip around Cairo to show appreciation for staff at the Cairo Police Department, Cairo Fire Department, Grady County Emergency Medical Services station, and Grady General Hospital. Fourteen students thanked the essential workers for their dedication amidst the pandemic, and…

Two Cairo High School students are facing felony charges in connection with separate incidents last Thursday and Friday involving guns on campus and in one instance also possession of illegal drugs. School officials are urging parents to help the school system prevent weapons and illegal drugs from being brought onto school campuses. Malachi Antonio Spicer,…

After back-to-back incidents of students at Cairo High School being in possession of guns on campus last Thursday and Friday, school administrators conducted a surprise search of students’ book bags Monday morning. The search was conducted by school system personnel, but was observed by members of the Grady County School System Police Department, the Cairo…