Area News
Locals join in peaceful protest of police killing of a black man
A young Whigham woman and her sister have helped organize peaceful protests in their home county this week to speak out against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Breanna Sloan, 23, and her sister Bernice, 20, have helped gather supporters to hold signs for passersby as they chant phrases imploring understanding. “I saw…
Read MoreCounty’s financial advisors won’t say how much they will be paid
The consultants hired by the Grady County Commission last December to advise county officials on financial matters told members of the Grady County Lake Authority Monday that the fees the firm will charge the county for consulting services have not been determined at this date. Until just recently, the members of the lake authority had…
Read MoreJordan voices opposition to bond “middleman”
District 1 Grady County commission candidate Richard Jordan spoke out at Tuesday’s board of commissioners’ meeting to oppose a “middle man” being involved in the proposed refinancing of the 2010 revenue bonds issued for the construction of the Tired Creek Lake dam. Richard Jordan, who is challenging incumbent June Knight in next week’s republican primary,…
Read MoreCOVID-19 rates continue to increase here, testing at Washington Middle School Thursday
Public health officials will conduct testing for COVID-19 at Washington Middle School Thursday morning, and the community is encouraged to take advantage of the free service. The number of positive cases here has risen in the last week by 10 up to 104 people who have tested positive since the pandemic was pronounced in March,…
Read MoreLocal Memorial Day observance was unlike any other due to pandemic
A small group of Grady County veterans paid public tribute to those who have given their lives in service to the United States of America during a moving Memorial Day service Monday. Due to the coronavirus, the ceremony was “virtual” and broadcast live from the Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce on the chamber’s Facebook page…
Read MoreLocal residents urged to respond to Census
The 2020 Census is underway, and less than half of the households in Grady County have responded so far, a worry for many local leaders. According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, 46.9 percent of Grady County residents have self-responded. That’s lower than the statewide response rate, which is 56.2 percent, the Census Bureau…
Read MoreVoters can cast ballots this Saturday
Grady County voters are voting in greater numbers by absentee ballot as the number of voters taking advantage of the advance in-person voting continues to drag. Since early vote opened on May 18, only 352 votes have been cast. Of those, 40 were democrat ballots and 312 were republican. No early in-person voters have cast…
Read MoreAuthority plans to use drone in fight against invasive grasses
The Grady County Lake Authority sought and received the Grady County Commission’s backing Tuesday to purchase a drone, which can be used for multiple purposes, but one primary use would be in the battle to control invasive grasses at Tired Creek Lake. Lake Authority Chairman Steven Childs made a presentation to the authority and commissioners…
Read MoreGraduation special section to be featured in May 27 edition
Friday night May 22 had long been planned as graduation night for the Cairo High School Class of 2020. That also meant that today, Wednesday, May 20, was the date planned long ago for the debut of the 2020 edition of The Cairo Messenger’s Red & Black graduation special section. However, a global pandemic was…
Read MoreCourts employ technology to navigate judicial emergency
With Georgia courts operating under judicial emergency guidelines, the South Georgia Judicial Circuit is turning to an online resource to help move at least some cases along. District Attorney Joe Mulholland says he worked with Superior Court Judges J. Kevin Chason and Heather Lanier to find what he calls a secure video conferencing tool that…
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