Operation Ghost Busted: 76 indicted in Southeast Georgia drug trafficking investigation
A newly-unsealed indictment names 76 people as part of a plan to move large amounts of drugs into Southeast Georgia, and much of the conspiracy operated from inside Georgia state prisons, the U.S. Department of Justice for the Southern District of Georgia announced Wednesday.
Photo gallery: University Christian, Clearwater Central Catholic meet in the Class 1M state semifinals
The Christians faced off with Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 1M state semifinals and treated fans to a classic in a 34-29 loss. Photographer Kevin Nguyen captured the game in photos. Click through the gallery above to check out those pictures.
High school football โ22: Ware County headed to title game; all 5 Florida teams fall in state semis
Ware County was the lone area state semifinal survivor on a miserable night of football for local programs. All five Florida-area programs bowed out one win shy of championship game appearances, some in blowout fashion and others in agonizing misses that will be talked about for some time.
High school football โ22: Results from Friday nightโs Week 11 games; playoffs up next
The high school football regular season is in the books and the playoffs are on tap. Whoโs in, whoโs out and whoโs going where? That will be finalized on Sunday morning when the FHSAA releases its first brackets for its new Suburban and Metro state playoffs.
What Ware County voters will see on the primary ballot
The much-covered governor and U.S. Senate races are on the ballot across Georgia, along with several other statewide offices you can learn about here. Ware County voters and surrounding counties settled every state Senate, state House and several local offices during the primary in May, although the elected office holdersโ names will appear on the November ballot.
After couple found dead in Waycross home, son of woman and his wife charged with felony murder: GBI
Two days after a man and woman were found dead in their home in the Waycross area, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday that the son of the woman and the sonโs wife were arrested and each charged with two counts of felony murder.
Results from elections in Brunswick, other local races in Georgia
The first Tuesday of November is traditionally Election Day and there are high-profile races like the Virginia governorโs race that are getting a lot of attention. In odd number years, many cities and some counties also fill their elective offices.
Coronavirus case surges force school closures
Several counties across the U.S. have temporarily suspended school because of a surge in coronavirus cases among students and faculty early in the academic year.Why it matters: Richard Besser, former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told NBC this week he believes more schools will close due to COVID-19 than last year because the Delta variant spreads with greater ease than other versions of the virus.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights
news.yahoo.comGov. Kemp tours Waycross vaccination site, gets his shot
WAYCROSS, Ga. โ In an effort to encourage Georgians outside the metro Atlanta area to get vaccines, Gov. Brian Kemp traveled to Waycross on Friday afternoon to tour the mass vaccination site at the Waycross Mall and then receive his COVID-19 vaccine. The largest vaccination site in Southeast Georgia opened just over a week ago. LINKS: myvaccinegeorgia.com | Georgia county vaccination appointments | vaccinefinder.orgGeorgia had previously limited eligibility to people 55 and older, people with serious health conditions and those who are overweight and obese. Kemp said earlier this week the state was ready to expand eligibility to the broadest possible population, saying supplies of the vaccine continued to rise and he was confident that enough older adults had been vaccinated.
Ware County triggers early release schedule today over severe weather warnings
All Ware County schools will follow their early release schedules Thursday because of the chance for severe storms moving through the area in the afternoon when students would normally be heading home, district officials announced Thursday morning. DAFFODIL and elementary schools will release at 10:30 a.m., middle schools will release at 11 a.m., and the high school will release at 11:30 a.m. All after-school events are canceled Thursday. Models continue to bring the squall line into inland Southeast Georgia and I-75 around noon and push it eastward to the Atlantic Coast early around sunset. News4Jax has declared a Weather Alert Day from Noon to 7 p.m. with a focus across Southeast Georgia. The storms are currently expected to track across the Waycross area from 1 to 2 p.m.
Ware County voters retain interim sheriff in special election after sheriffโs death
WARE COUNTY, Ga. โ In a special election Tuesday for the countyโs top law enforcement position, Ware County voters opted to retain interim Sheriff Carl James. James, who was deputy sheriff, became interim sheriff in mid-January when longtime Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal died after a short illness. James received 3,971 votes. His opponent, fellow Republican Chris Tatum, received 1,340 votes, according to Ware Elections. Tatum is a retired law enforcement officer.
1 year after Georgia reported its first coronavirus cases, the stateโs total reaches 819,730
At least 15,148 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported across the state, including 80 new deaths added Monday on the stateโs status report. The state reported 50 additional hospitalizations Monday, bringing the total for the year to 56,089. Over the year since the pandemic reached Georgia, about one of every 13 residents have tested positive for coronavirus. His 20-year career was honored with a parade that passed right by the house of Linda Thompson, Gibbโs mother. On Monday, Georgia reported 2,060,352 vaccines have been given in the state, with nearly 1.3 people having received their first dose and almost 778,318 have both shots.
Georgia surpasses 14,000 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19
The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 1,872 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. As of Tuesday, a total of 794,349 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. The agency on Tuesday reported 180 additional confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 -- including one in Charlton County, one in Glynn County and two in Ware County -- bringing the stateโs total to 14,176 confirmed deaths since the start of the pandemic. Ad(Note: There are variations in the day-to-day data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)
Spring Break camps: Fun places to send your kids when theyโre out of school
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Spring Break is less than a month away. Depending on your county, students will be out of school anywhere from three to six days for Spring Break in March or April. Alison Peters-Carlson with Jax4Kids.com said her team is noticing more camps offering single-day options. AdFor highlights of camps available this year, watch the interview at the top of this page. For a full breakdown of available camps, click here.
210 COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths recorded in Southeast Georgia
The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 4,943 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 151 were reported in Glynn County and 59 were reported in the other five Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax. As of Tuesday, a total of 689,676 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. Georgia was reporting a total of 138,768 antigen positive cases and 1,317 โprobableโ deaths on Tuesday. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)
Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal dies
Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal died on Wednesday after a short illness, according to his obituary. According to a post by the Georgia Law Enforcement Organization, his death was not duty or COVID-related. โOn behalf of the Mayor, County Commissioners, and the City of Waycross we mourn the loss of our dear brother in service, Sheriff Randy Royal. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sheriff Royal and his family and friends. โHaving held every position, I am the most qualified to serve as your sheriff,โ Royal wrote on his campaign website.
Challenges await Ware County schools as students return to classrooms
Ware County Schools said its return-to-school plans are designed to be flexible so it can quickly adjust as needed. WAYCROSS, Ga. โ As Ware County students prepare to return to school on Monday, the school board held a short meeting Wednesday morning to discuss some of the challenges that could follow. Ware County closed its schools three days before winter break was scheduled to begin due to a rise in COVID-19 cases among staff members, bus drivers and students. โWe are trying to do all we can to help employees with the leave,โ Smith said. School officials said Waycross hospital Memorial Satilla Health was diverting possible ER and ICU patients due to capacity issues.
Olivia Sharpe honored as All-Star Athlete
Olivia Sharpe is on the basketball and track and field teams at Ware County High School. Olivia is a member of the Waycross Bank and Trust Junior Board of Directors, the South Georgia State College Sport Club and the Ware County High School Beta Club. Oliviaโs volunteer activities include working at the Ruskin Elementary field day, Wacona Fall Festival and the Satilla Nursing Home. Olivia currently has a 3.8 GPA.