Area News

A public hearing will be held next week to consider a request by an out-of-town development firm seeking a variance from the city’s zoning ordinance that could result in a new fast food restaurant coming to Cairo. Southeastern Retail Development LLC, which has offices in Santa Rosa, Florida, Atlanta and Birmingham, is seeking a variance…

A Decatur County resident appeared before the Cairo City Council to complain the city is too harsh in dealing with dilapidated properties here. Bryan Doss, the owner of several substandard structures here, met with city leaders during the council’s regular meeting Monday night. Doss has appealed a decision of Municipal Court Judge Joshua C. Bell…

A City of Cairo official hopes to build on the success of an annual clean-up project to tackle litter issues in Cairo and Grady County by harnessing volunteer manpower and interest to create civic pride. Alyssa Blakley, who serves in multiple roles for the city including the executive director of Keep Cairo/Grady County Beautiful, appeared…

Renovations are well underway at what was formerly the Grady County Senior Center, which come January will be the headquarters for the Grady County Commission. A crew from Martin Contractors of Darien, Georgia has been working on the project since early October, according to county officials, however, at least one commissioner said she was in…

The South Georgia Judicial Circuit and Accountability Court celebrated the graduation of two members of its Drug Court recently. Reginald James and Felicha Rixie Carver completed the program. The 18-24 month intensive program is designed to help addicts kick the habit and stay out of jail. Superior Court Judge J. Kevin Chason has spearheaded the…

The Grady County School System has seen an increase in the number of students and teachers who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, and a dramatic jump in the number of students on quarantine. There are six students and two employees who are positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus…

Grady County turned a shade of red last week for the annual recognition of Red Ribbon Week here. Volunteers with the group Drug Free Grady bathed the Grady County Courthouse and Cairo City Hall in red light in honor of the week, which is set aside to promote drug abuse prevention. A highlight of the…

A Shiver School student who encountered racism from a stranger on social media while supporting his favorite college football program, found kindness and school spirit from another stranger hundreds of miles away. Seventh grader JaBraylen Crittenden experienced the hurtful statement after he commented on a Twitter post by University of Florida football coach Dan Mullen…

A whopping 67.69 percent of Grady County voters cast ballots in the Nov. 3 general election, according to Grady County Election Superintendent Denise Maddox. Locally, the big winners were incumbents, both Democrats and Republicans. Grady County Sheriff Harry Young, a republican, coasted to reelection by soundly defeating democratic challenger Donald (Dickie) Thomas, 6,478 to 3,956.…