Area News
Drive-thru food distribution event planned for April 27
The Help Agency in Cairo is holding its last planned drive-thru food distribution of the pandemic next week, and will reopen for their regular hours next month. Cindy Johnson, treasurer, says the local charitable organization will hold the food drive-through on Tuesday, April 27, 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Help Agency office, 1651…
Read MoreCOVID cases up following spring break for local schools
There were 13 new cases of COVID-19 involving Grady County residents in the last week, according to information from public health officials while the number of local deaths remained unchanged at 46. Grady County Schools are also seeing an increase in those touched by the disease with one student and one employee testing positive for…
Read MoreEx-Grady County jailer is charged with enticing a child
A former jailer at the Grady Detention Center was arrested Monday on charges of enticing a child for indecent purposes. Seth Adam Matthews, 20, of Ochlocknee, is also charged with violation of oath by public official. Matthews was still a jailer at the local jail when he was arrested earlier this week. Information from the…
Read MoreGrady election probe is launched
Grady County is one of three counties that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has referred for investigation for those counties alleged failure to properly complete absentee ballot transfer forms, which is a violation of Georgia Rules and Regulations. The office of the Secretary of State has confirmed with the other 120 counties that had…
Read MoreTurf project will be done in two weeks, or less
Grady County school superintendent Dr. Kermit Gilliard briefed the Grady County Board of Education Tuesday night that the new artificial turf at West Thomas Stadium could be completed within two weeks or perhaps sooner, weather permitting. “Regardless, it will be completed in plenty of time for graduation,” Dr. Gilliard said. COVID-19 restrictions have been eased…
Read MoreGeorgia pauses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines amid blood-clot cases
By Beau Evans, staff writer, Capitol Beat News Service and Cairo Messenger staff Georgia has paused distribution of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as part of a nationwide halt after reports of blood clots in six people in the United States who had received the shot. The six cases of “a rare and…
Read MoreSlight uptick in school cases following break
For the second week in a row, Grady County has seen only three new cases of COVID-19 here, bringing our total number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,510. As of Tuesday, the state public health information indicates we have not had a new death from the disease caused by the novel…
Read MoreSchool system launches “Literacy in the Laundromat”
Going to at least one laundromat in Cairo may seem educational and entertaining for young children thanks to a partnership between the business owner and Grady County School system. Proceeds from an L4GA grant to the school system has helped to create a literacy learning area for children at the new laundromat located on Martin…
Read MoreState to pick up tab on new Pine Park Rd. bridge
Grady County officials say they could not have received more welcome news than the copy of a letter from the Georgia Department of Transportation that Grady County Commission Chairman Phillip Drew received via email Thursday. In the letter, dated April 5, Meg B. Pirkle, P.E., the chief engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation, wrote…
Read MoreDon’t worry kids! No more overdue fees!
The board of trustees of Roddenbery Memorial Library recently authorized the elimination of overdue fines on all children’s and young adult library books on the recommendation of R.M.L. director, Janet Boudet. According to the library director, research is showing that overdue fines act as a barrier to library use and disproportionately impact people without the…
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