Area News

An additional 50 local voters cast ballots Tuesday in the runoff election between Grady County Sheriff Harry Young and challenger Steve Clark for the republican nomination for sheriff, bringing the total number of voters, as of press-time Wednesday, to 426. In addition to the advance in-person voting, Grady County chief registrar Malinda Butler reports that…

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has been notified that several Georgia residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China. Recipients are strongly advised not to open the packages or plant the seeds. “At this time, we are not sure what the seeds are and therefore are urging everyone…

CORRECTION In the July 29, 2020 article about the latest COVID-19 cases in Grady County, we erroneously reported that Pinewood Nursing Center in Whigham has three residents who have recovered from COVID-19. That is incorrect. None of Pinewood’s residents have ever tested positive for COVID-19, and therefore, none could have recovered. We regret the error.…

As Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are in court over the city mayor’s attempt to mandate the wearing of facial masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Cairo’s mayor is strongly urging local residents to wear masks and he is asking businesses to require masks of their employees and patrons. Mayor…

A pair of Cairo men were arrested in Alabama Friday in a human trafficking undercover sting operation. Isaiah Rashaud Williams, 25, and Demetrius Lamonallen Wright, 26, were arrested by agents with the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, according to Lt. Darren Beams, commander of the task force. The men were arrested during an operation…

The first day of school for Grady County children has been delayed until September 8 and whether or not the fall sports season will be delayed or canceled remains very much up in the air. The Grady County Board of Education convened last Thursday evening for a budget workshop, but it was not long before…

Approximately 700 students will be better equipped to get back to classwork thanks to many local donors who contributed to a huge community school supply giveaway. Normally held inside the gymnasium at Cairo High School, Saturday’s Back to School Blitz was a drive-thru event with bags of paper and pencils, rulers and erasers, given to…

The Grady County Board of Education voted unanimously this evening, July 23, to delay the reopening of school until the day after Labor Day, Tuesday, Sept. 8, on the recommendation of Public Health officials due to an increase in local cases of COVID-19. Grady County School superintendent Dr. Kermit Gilliard also said that this would…

Advance in-person voting in the runoff for the republican nomination for Sheriff of Grady County got underway Monday and as of the close of business Tuesday, a total of 113 votes had been cast. Grady County chief registrar Malinda Butler told The Messenger Tuesday she had anticipated more voters than who had come in during…

The final touches are being made to the new home for the Cairo High School Navy J.R.O.T.C. program and when school reopens next month, the new facility will be open for cadets. Cairo High School College and Career Academy C.E.O. Todd Gainous said this week that only minor work remains to be done on the…