Here are things happening in the region: 

Cartons of cigarettes taken from Fred’s

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Lowndes County sheriff’s office wants the public’s help in finding someone who broke into a local pharmacy Monday. Around 6:45 a.m., an unknown person forced their way into the Fred’s department store located at 4401 Bemiss Road, according to a sheriff’s department press release. Once inside, the person entered the pharmacy but was unsuccessful in taking anything there, according to the release. The person did take a large quantity of cigarette cartons as they left the store, according to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying the person. Sheriff Chris Prine said, “We are hopeful someone saw something that will move this investigation forward. Bemiss Road is heavily traveled and maybe someone saw a vehicle parked nearby or someone walking in the area.” Anyone with information about the incident or any other can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (229) 671-2950; anonymous tips can be provided at (229) 671-2985 or online at www.lowndessheriff.com. The sheriff’s office is also accessible on Facebook.

 

Live Oak mayor recognized 

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Florida League of Cities recognized Live Oak Mayor Sonny Nobles and two other mayors with 2016 Home Rule Hero Awards. Nobles said he was proud of all the work he has done for the city of Live Oak and honored by FLC’s award. “We were recognized and set apart for all our effort for our cities,” Nobles said. “Just about everyday I was contacting legislators, trying to get their support for or against laws.” The Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials. They consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective to an issue.

 

Third graders invade downtown Tifton

TIFTON, Ga. – Downtown Tifton, Ga. was crawling with third grade students Thursday. In honor of Historic Preservation Month, the Tifton-Tift County Main Street program hosted downtown tours for the students, an annual event. Students visited the Tift Theatre for Performing Arts, First Community Bank, Ameris Bank, Colony Bank, Union Depot, the Myon/City Hall, Tifton Museum of Arts & Heritage, the Tift County courtroom, the Tift County administration building, Tifton Terminal Railway Museum and Veterans Memorial Park. 

 

Cat adoption event set downtown

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — With June as Adopt a Cat Month, Miss Kitty Feline Sanctuary & Adoption Center is getting a head start by conducting an event today at Grassroots, 123 S. Broad St., in downtown Thomasville and in nearby downtown stores. “We will have a photographic exhibit of ‘101 Cats in Bow Ties,’ and we will be placing kitties in surrounding downtown stores,” said Carol Jones, Miss Kitty board chairman. Cats will be available for adoption at the event.

 

New lighting on tap for county jail

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — New light is about to be shed on areas at the Thomas County Jail. Lyndall Knight, county government building supervisor, said the Jail-Justice Center utilities bill is about $19,000 monthly. In recent months, the bill has been $16,000 o $16,500 a month, but hot weather has not been a factor, Knight told the commission public properties committee. A Thomas County Commission committee Thursday OK’d LED (light-emitting diode) lighting for the jail sallyport and interior intake area. Lighting in the jail sallyport — where law enforcement vehicles arrive with people to be booked into the jail — illuminates the area for cameras that record arrivals and subsequent activity. Commissioners OK’d an expenditure of $4,500 to install LED lighting in the sallyport and intake. Sallyport lighting installed four years ago is dim and obsolete. Lighting in the interior jail intake area also is dim, Knight explained.

 

Little Caesars Pizza bringing Love Kitchen to Moultrie

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Little Caesars Pizza plans to feed up to 175 less-fortunate people on Sunday when its Love Kitchen comes to Outreach Family Worship Center. The rolling Love Kitchen has fed more than 3 million people in 48 states and four Canadian provinces, the company said, and has responded to disaster situations including the World Trade Center Site after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the 1995 bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Local franchise owners and company regional offices donate the food and associated labor for the Love Kitchen, the company said. “The Love Kitchen was created to provide quality meals for people who need them,” said Little Caesars franchisee Torey Bynum. “As a member of the area business community, it’s important for us to support people when they need it and help make the community stronger. We’re excited to support this program with food and staff to provide a quality meal for people who otherwise may not get one.”

 

‘Second Saturdays’ to recall traditions in Chatsworth

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — The Chatsworth Depot and the Wright Hotel, located at the corner of Market Street and First Avenue in downtown Chatsworth, were local gathering places in the city’s early days more than a century ago. On May 14, and on several “Second Saturdays” after that, the sites will recall those traditions as music, trains, history and socializing will again bring folks to these historic buildings. Tours, a model train and a new/used book sale will run continuously from noon until 5 p.m. on May 14, and there will be a free concert by the Little Prospect Pickers and Singers featuring gospel, bluegrass and classic country music.