Area News

The Grady County commission voted unanimously this week not to reappoint Chief Appraiser Susan Bennett to the Grady County Board of Tax Assessors.Ms. Bennett’s term on the board expires June 5th and commissioners voted Tuesday night to replace her with John Tillis, a current member of the Grady County Board of Equalization.According to County Administrator…

Anticipating the need to cut the county’s teaching staff, the Grady County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a reduction in force plan as recommended by Superintendent Dr. Tommy Pharis.Although the vote was unanimous, it was not taken without much discussion and it took Board Chairman Drew Pyrz to offer a second to Board…

Between March, 2009, and February of this year, the city of Cairo’s health insurance provider has paid out over $1.8 million in claims, but only collected $1,077,040 in premiums and city leaders are bracing for a second consecutive year of a double digit rate hike as they craft the 2010-2011 operating budget.“We need to be…

The city of Cairo is partnering with a Clearwater, Fla., developer to expand the city’s sanitary sewer to serve a proposed new RV park  located off Alton Hall Road next door to Valley Pines Golf Course. James K. (Jim) Krivacs, representing ProSport Management, Inc., of Clearwater appeared before the mayor and council Monday night to…

Grady County Sheriff Harry Young is putting grant funds to work by placing three new vehicles on the road to replace aging patrol cars.Tuesday morning, Grady County commissioners voted 3-1 to accept a bid of $33,472 per unit from Stallings Motors of Cairo for the new sheriff’s vehicles. The actual low bid of $32,863.15 was…

The former finance director for the city of Cairo is running for election to the Grady County Commission as a Republican. Cecil M. Rash qualified Friday and will challenge Democrat Thomas L. (T.D.) David for the commission’s District Five seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Bobby Burns, who is retiring.Rash, 67, is a Grady County…

A Grady County man who believes county tax dollars are not being spent to benefit all residents is seeking a seat on the county commission.Billy Poitevint of 1926 Stage Coach Road qualified Friday as a Republican candidate for the District 2 county commission post, which is currently held by incumbent Democrat Commissioner Charles Renaud.Renaud and…

As qualifying came to a close at noon today, April 30, two county commission races developed. Republican qualifying agent Billy Hester reported on Friday that Billy Poitevint qualified for the District 2 county commission seat and former Cairo finance director Cecil M. Rash  qualified for the District 5 county commission seat. Poitevint will face incumbent…

Although it has not been budgeted yet, city officials are looking at the possibility of giving city workers a minimum of a two percent pay hike in the new fiscal year which begins on July 1.Cairo City Manager Chris Addleton presented his proposed budget to members of the city council Monday night and the 2010-2011…

Just like Grady County commissioners, Cairo city councilmen want to see what budget cuts Roddenbery Memorial Library Director Alan Kaye proposes to make to the library’s operating budget before they will agree to increase funding for the public library.Kaye is scrambling to fill a $100,00 budget gap in anticipation of the Grady County Board of…