Area News

The ongoing legal battle between the Grady County Joint Development Authority and Joseph W. Higdon of Higdon Furniture Company took an unexpected twist this week.A counterclaim was filed in Grady Superior Court Monday on behalf of Higdon against the JDA. This action is in response to a law suit filed previously by the authority against…

For the fourth time in as many years, a Grady County man has been arrested on charges connected with the same illegal drug, methamphetamine. Danny Ketter, 54, was arrested at his home on Wilder Road Wednesday, April 14; the same home where he was also arrested on meth charges just five months ago on Dec.…

Citing the tough economic picture, Grady county commissioners Tuesday night voted down partnering with the City of Cairo to host a Independence Day fireworks display here. City officials had written county leaders to determine if the county would fund $5,000 of the $10,000 fireworks show. Last year both governing bodies voted down having the fireworks…

In response to the plan by the Grady County Board of Education to cut out the $100,000 it allocates for Roddenbery Memorial Library, Library Director Alan Kaye has issued a request for aid from the Grady County Commission.Kaye wrote to county commissioners seeking their approval to include the maintenance of the library’s grounds in the…

City officials are now coming forward with an explanation of why water and sewer revenues were down nearly $1 million from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2009.The Cairo City Council learned of the difference late last year when officials with Bowen, Phillips, Carmichael, Davis & Sims, the city’s auditor, presented a draft of the…

A Cairo High School athletic field will be filled with many enthusiastic folks Friday night, but it won’t be the Syrupmakers they’re cheering for, but rather a cure for cancer. Yes, it is time for the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Cairo. A slew of volunteers have organized this year’s relay, held…

As expected, Grady County School Superintendent Dr. Tommy Pharis is not including a single dime for the funding of Roddenbery Memorial Library as he and his administrative staff begin the tough task of developing an operating budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.Should the school board back the superintendent it would be…

Local residents in recent days may have received a second Census form delivered by the postman. This is not a mistake, according to Census officials.Jennifer Edwards, a partnership specialist for southwest Georgia, told The Messenger Tuesday that Grady County was identified as a “hard to count” area during the 2000 Census so the Census Bureau…

A major road resurfacing project encompassing approximately 38 miles of county roads will be put out for bid following action by the Grady County commission Tuesday.The cost of the project is estimated to be about $2.1 million and will be financed with proceeds from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The county issued…

Grady County commissioners expressed interest Tuesday in engaging the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission to facilitate discussions regarding development of a zoning ordinance for the county, but are not ready to invest $12,000 into the project.Commissioners discussed and debated a proposal from the Regional Commission (RC) that would include the participation of RC staff from start…