The Dodge County News

By Taelor Rye
Given the reported success of the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) façade grant program, the Eastman City Council has approved a transfer of $10,000.00 to the DDA in the form of a resolution.

Funds will be transferred from a budgeted line item for downtown development activities, which reserves $15,000.00. After the transfer, $5,000.00 will remain allotted for that purpose.

The façade grant program encourages improvements to downtown businesses’ storefronts by having the city match up to $1,500.00 toward renovations. Concerning the program, city manager Jason Cobb explained, “We have seen an overwhelming support from those in the downtown area.”

City council member Buddy Pittman added that the DDA has already matched funds for four businesses downtown and that the DDA already has funding for three more approved businesses. The total for those seven businesses is $8,985.00.

As of the DDA’s most recent meeting last Thursday, five more businesses have been approved, pending funding. The $10,000.00 transfer will fund those five businesses, with $2,500.00 to go toward other businesses that are approved in the future.

Cobb noted that the program has encouraged business owners to make improvements far beyond the $1,500.00 matched by the city, and he said that a total of 12 businesses have committed to participating.

“It’s really been a very good program,” Cobb added.

The city has also released applications for participation in the first quarterly downtown yard sale, allowing yard sale vendors and food vendors the opportunity to reserve 10-by-10 foot slots along Main Street.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 9, 2017. Booths must be set up by 8:30 a.m. and taken down by 5:30 p.m.

Pittman clarified that, on the day of the yard sale, Main Street will still be open to traffic, so as not to impede access to downtown businesses that are open on Saturdays.
[Full Story »]

The Dodge County High School (DCHS) and Dodge County Recreation Department (DCRD) will be sponsoring the DCHS/DCRD Football Camp, on Saturday, August 26, 2017, beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Dodge County Recreation Department.
This camp is for DCRD football players between the ages of five and 12. There is no cost to attend, but players will need to bring their pads and helmets.
The DCHS coaching staff will be instructing.

The Eastman Police Department reported the following arrests in the previous week.

Korey Lowrey, age 19, of 5335 Manhasset Cove in Atlanta was arrested for obstructing law enforcement officers and possession/ purchase alcohol under 21.

Hannah Davis, age 26, of 279 Highway 165 in Milan was arrested for criminal trespass, business.

Melinda Long, age 48, of 1623 Belleview Road in Dublin was arrested for driving while license suspended or revoked and failure to stop at stop/ yield sign.

Leonidas De La Cruz, age 42, of 334 5th Avenue Apartment C in Eastman was arrested for driving while unlicensed or expired new resident.

John Holder, age 37, of 395 Lee Street in Milan was arrested for probation violation.

Jennifer Coons, age 22, of 2661 Dublin Highway in Eastman was arrested for driving while license suspended or revoked.

Martrell Brown, age 33, of 306 South Road in Wauchula, Florida was arrested for driving wile license suspended or revoked and speeding.

Juan Felipe Reyes, age 39, of 5918 Asbury Drive Lot 5 in Eastman was arrested for driving while unlicensed or expired new resident.

Juvenile, age 12, of 120 Holder Place in Eastman was arrested for juvenile runaway.

Prophet Thomas, age 51, of 525 Plaza Avenue Apartment F28 in Eastman was arrested for terrorizing threats and acts.

Laurie Ethridge, age 64, of 5239 Smith Avenue in Eastman was arrested for failure to yield while turning left and driving under the influence of alcohol. [Full Story »]

Dear editor,
God is not dead!
The way this nation is behaving, the citizens are acting as if God is dead. They don’t care, or he doesn’t see what they are doing. Making America a great nation will never happen as long as her citizens continue to turn from their Creator. The envy that so may Americans have developed, has placed them just one stop from hate, and they don’t realize it.
America is failing in training children. Their first school should have been the home, which is the place that is nonexistent with biological parents. Single parents are here, but it was not the way God designed things. Children don’t belong to parents; they are a gift.
When it comes to children, the right thing should be made easy and the wrong thing should be made hard. We need to say “no” to our children, when it is ok to say yes. Children need parents, not best friends. They need mothers and fathers. Children are the future leaders of this nation, looking at what our founding fathers had to say or their thoughts in establishing the rules for running this nation.
“The man or woman who fears no truth, has nothing to fear from lies.” – Thomas Jefferson.
“It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.” – George Washington.
“America must remember that separation of church and state much never mean separation of religious values from the lives of public servants.” – Lindon B. Johnson.
Freedom will always be free if we are willing to pay the price for it. We have the right to disagree with each other, but not to rewrite history.
Sin needs to be forgiven, not explained, and neither alone needs the support of government truth. It can stand by itself. Morally wrong can never be legally right.
Americans have developed the “me” time, instead of the “we” time.
Whether some Americans wish to believe it or not, God is not dead, and he sees all that we do. Lord Bless.
Johnny L. Blacke, Msg (r)

Age: 69

Deceased: July 26, 2017
Arrangements: Rollins Funeral Home