Good morning, here is your 6:30 local news for Tuesday, August 18th.
In police and sheriff’s reports from the Gordon County Jail, recent bookings include:
* Sharekia Rashanna Durr, 37, of Snellville, arrested by the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office for DUI, fleeing or attempting to elude, speed limits, obstruction of officers, reckless driving, and improper stopping, standing, or parking.
* Bridgette Sherray Riddle, 41, of Tunnel Hill, arrested by Calhoun Police for aggravated assault family violence.
* Steven James Watson, Sr., 55, of Warrenville, South Carolina, arrested by Calhoun Police for criminal trespass and willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.
* Tamiko Michele Jones, 58, of Louisville, Tennessee, booked and released by Georgia State Patrol for driving while license suspended or revoked and speeding 91 in a 70.
In county government, the Gordon County Board of Commissioners meets tonight in the Judicial Building Assembly Room, starting with a 5:00 PM Work Session and 6:00 PM Regular Session. The public hearing features three A-1 to R-1 rezoning requests recommended 5-0 by the Planning Commission: Manuel Vega’s 4.94 acres at 504 Craigtown Road for a family division, Andrew Jones’s 0.786 acres at 192 Timms Loop to resolve setback issues, and Bron Stanley’s five-plus acres at 346 Newtown Loop Creek for a residential subdivision. Under new business, commissioners will consider a Community Development reorganization, FY27 budget amendments, a three-year disaster debris monitoring contract with DebrisTech, school board requests for a sidewalk and a Liberty School-Sonoraville Rec land swap, plus the Administrator’s Report from Jim Ledbetter.
In local business, the Wendy’s at 905 Highway 53 has closed its doors, leaving one location operating in Gordon County.
At the pump, Georgia’s statewide average for regular unleaded sits at $3.79 per gallon today, though listeners report seeing lower prices locally for cash transactions and by using store loyalty points. According to AAA, pump prices are expected to remain volatile with upward pressure continuing in the near term as crude oil prices climb above $80 a barrel amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Turning to local youth athletics, Calhoun Recreation Director Kim Townsend reports a booming 979 total participants registered for fall programs—an increase of 193 over last year. Calhoun’s totals include 581 players across soccer, 197 in football across five flag teams and eight tackle teams, 105 in volleyball, 66 in cheerleading, and 30 runners in cross-country.
Gordon County Parks and Rec Director Craig Sparks also reported strong fall participation, highlighted by the program’s first-ever girls’ flag football league with 26 players. The county’s program also features 221 boys’ football players across four age divisions, 95 cheerleaders, and 79 volleyball players