Gabrielle Taite

Clean Machine Laundry is offering FREE access to washers and dryers all day today and tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 29th). They’re located at 110 Cordele Rd next to the east side Walmart 🧼🧺

The DOCO school system voted to adopt a millage rate of 17.993 at their meeting Monday, Aug. 14. This marks the first time since 2002 that the property tax rate that Dougherty County citizens pay for school taxes has been below 18 mils. It’s also a decrease from last year's millage rate. Parents, if you’re willing to talk with me about this, please DM!!!

If you live in Albany, Leesburg or any other surrounding areas and are concerned about continuous street racing near you, pls DM me.

Starting today, you may notice people around your neighborhood, taking pictures of houses and properties… but it’s probably not what you think.

All month long, surveyors from the iVueit company will be outside taking pictures of both public properties and private properties like this.

“What they’re focused on is kind of the infrastructure that the county has in place in the rural areas and how they connect to the neighborhoods or maybe connect to your home," Assistant County Administrator Barry Brooks said. "And what it’ll help is with our planning department and the planning commission for any kind of land use or zoning kind of questions.”

People taking the photos should not be on your property, but on the right of way. Once the photos are taken through the iVueit company, they'll be entered into a county database.

“The people that are taking the photographs should have a letter issued by the county saying that they’re an authorized representative to be doing this photographic survey during the month of August," Brooks added.

The county says this database will allow them to access information regarding zoning projects and areas more quickly for residents.

The Arc of Southwest Georgia and Phoebe Putney are teaming up to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities find a job!

“I think that there is kind of a big misconception that people with disabilities they don’t want to work or maybe would have a lot of challenges in the workplace. But the folks that we serve, they’re incredible," Executive Assistant for the Arc of Southwest Georgia, Elizabeth Blount (pink top), said. "They are husbands and wives, they work full-time, they drive, they live on their own independently. We’re just there to ensure that they have all of the support they need in the workplace to be successful.”

While potential employees from the Arc have to go through the same hiring process as anyone else, they’re provided with some extra help from job coaches.

Nicholas Daniel (first picture), who is on the autism spectrum, is the latest Phoebe Putney employee who was hired through the partnership. He says working in the hospital cafeteria and having a job in general has helped him grow as a person.

“I was able to try to look at people when speaking to them somewhat, trying not to slur my words, making sure when you speak, you speak with clarity and you know what you’re going to say," he said. "Also, time management, making sure you work good with others. And that even though you are apart of a team, you also have to do things by yourself.”

Daniel says the Arc has helped him with many other things such as finding housing, money management and basic living skills.

If you'd like to learn more about the program, be sur to visit https://thearcswga.org/

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Many teachers say they often use their own money to help with school supplies. But Dougherty County teacher won’t have to do that after winning a $10,000 award for a classroom makeover!

This grant comes from one of the DOCO School System’s partners called Ed Farm who’s main objective is to enhance technology in the classroom. The recipient was chosen through video submissions from many Dougherty County teachers.

The grant went to Chateireya Fordham, who is a 6th grade science teacher at Merry Acres Middle School. She says she already has some ideas as to how she is going to spend the money.

“What I plan on doing with it is making a thing called a mini makers space," she said. "And a mini makers space is a place where you can create. That would include things like 3D printers, lasers. We have our MacBooks so that they can edit video software. Just things that get them really in touch with their creative side.”

Both Whitt and Fordham will work directly together to decide how to spend the money for the upcoming school year which starts August 1st. 📚🖍️📝

Happening tomorrow!! 💉🩺📚✏️🤓

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital will be expanding even more within the next year.

One of the two major projects is the Living and Learning Center where students are scheduled to start living on campus in the fall of 2024.

“The other project is the expansion of trauma, NICU and adult ICU beds," President & CEO of Phoebe Putney Health Systems Scott Steiner said. "That’s a larger project slated the first phase will be able to move in in the fall- late summer and fall of 2024. So they’re on budget, they’re on time. And we’re just looking forward to getting them finished.”

This project is also expected to have a $400 million economic impact… something that caught the attention of many commissioners at today’s meeting.

I'm also told that the new advancements in both the Living & Learning center and the new trauma center will also create 125 to 150 new jobs for citizens of Dougherty County.

The new trauma center will be coming in July of 2024.

https://www.walb.com/2023/07/11/city-edison-addresses-400k-debt-issues/

City of Edison addresses $400K debt issues The city is $400,000 in debt with no answers as to where the money went.

The people of Sylvester are banning together to raise money for a 9-year-old girl, who is in critical condition after a hit and run.

The hit and run incident happened on Monday in Albany. Now, several businesses now have donation drop off jars set up for the girl's family.

The 9-year-old victim was crossing the street with a group of children on North Maple Street in Albany when she was hit. The 16-year-old driver initially fled the scene, but eventually returned later in the day.

The victim’s mother was an employee at Downtown Pizza and Tavern in Sylvester but is now out of work indefinitely.

Her former coworkers say because of this, they want to do everything they can to help. Other businesses are also getting involved, inclduing Los Amigos Sylvester and Ed's Truckstop in Poulan.

“The community is also stepping up to the plate," Manager at Downton Pizza & Tavern, Donna Crosby (last picture), said. "We have Ed’s Truck Stop, I just was informed by them that they want to do a bingo and cake sale for her sometime next week. And also Southern Woods has teamed up with Michael, the owner here at the tavern, to offer a half a day quail hunt with a three-thousand-dollar value with lunch and unlimited birds.”

Crosby asks that above all else, the community continues to pray for the girl. Downtown Pizza and Tavern's number is (229) 821-3583 if you would like to try to reach out and help.

The Educational Talent Search, or ETS, program at Albany State University is a federally funded TRIO program that aims to help low-income middle and high school students get to college.

They do this through tutoring, career exploration, practice for the SAT and ACTs, as well as coordinating college tours.

Today, they held one of their summer events... a field day!

Students within the organization tell me this program has helped to boost their confidence tremendously.

I’m told that for some of the students, they will be the first in their families to go to college.

“The colleges I’m looking into are Tuskegee and FAMU. Colleges that have good engineering programs so that I can become an aerospace engineer or any type of engineer," incoming high school junior, Jurdyn Johnson (fourth picture), said.

Some noteworthy leaders in Georgia are also alumni of the organization from other HBCUs, including Senator Raphael Warnock! The first African- American senator in the state of Georgia from Savannah State University.

The ETS, TRIO program will be hosting a summer camp that starts July 17th. Be sure to check out asurams.edu to see how you can sign your child up for the program. 🤓📚✏️

Fourth of July festivities are underway all around Southwest Georgia, and Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Officers want you to remember a few safety tips while out on the water.

One of the main offenses officers tell me they see is drinking and boating. They say if caught above the .08 limit, there will be no warning. Just jail!

Wakeboarders and wake surfers should also remember to keep at least 200ft away from any structure like a doc, the shore, etc.

Lastly, all kids under the age of thirteen are required by law to wear a life jacket.

Stay safe and have fun 👍🏾🎆🛟🌊🚤