The Dodge County News

An Eastman Police officer and a citizen were injured in an accident that happened at the intersection of Norman Street and Anson Avenue at approximately 9:23 p.m. on Monday, January 26. Kijana Raheem Brown, age 20, of Eastman, was driving a 2007 Toyota Camry into Eastman on Anson Avenue (Dublin Highway). He failed to negotiate the curve at the Georgia Power Company building, driving onto the sidewalk and knocking down a No Parking sign. He then continued onto the lawn of Georgia Power Company, knocking down the Georgia Power sign. He then continued onto Norman Street and ran into Eastman Assistant Police Chief Romand T. Drake, age 60, of Eastman. Assistant chief Drake was driving a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria police car and was stopped at the stop sign on Norman Avenue. After colliding with the police car, the Toyota continued forward and ran into the Pretty Paws business at the corner of Anson Avenue and Norman Street. Both Drake and Brown were taken to Dodge County Hospital for treatment. (Photo by Chuck Eckles)

The Dodge County High (DCHS) basketball teams had a full slate of games last week. The Squaws remained undefeated in sub-region play at eight and zero as they picked up wins over Tattnall County and Appling County. They also defeated rival West Laurens in a non-region game.
The Squaws defeated Tattnall County, 62 to 27; Appling County, 64 to 51; and West Laurens, 57 to 39. The Squaws are now 15 and four overall. [Full Story »]

The Eastman Police Department made the following arrests for the week of December 8 through December 16, 2014.

Whitney Williams, age 24, 611 Pearl Bates Avenue, Eastman, no insurance (one count).

James Cockrell, age 48, 36 King Way, Lot 5, Eastman, drugs-marijuana less than one ounce (one count).

Anthony Horne, age 51, 5774 Leitch Street, Eastman, license-driving while license suspended or revoked (one count).

Crystal Bechtold, age 17, 351 Eugene Smith Drive, Eastman, disorderly conduct (one count).

Rashaan Calhoun, age 23, 714 St. Elmo Circle, Apartment 3B, Eastman, firearms: possession during a crime (one count).

Enri Williams, age 38, 5597 Dodge Avenue, Eastman, shoplifting less than $500.00 (one count).

Juvenile, age 16, Eastman, possession of ounce or less of marijuana (one count).

Juvenile, age 15, Eastman, shoplifting less than $500.00 (one count).

Yogi Hamilton, age 51, 76 Sanders Cemetery Road, Chauncey, driving under the influence (DUI) refusal (one count).

Tammie Spires, age 47, 321 Poplar Street, Eastman, disorderly conduct (one count).

Jennifer Stokes, age 41, 5031 Greenhill Road, Eastman, furnishing alcohol to minors (10 counts).

The following arrests were reported by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office for the dates November 11, 2014 through December 5, 2014.

Johnny F. Johnson – 11/16/14 – public drunkenness (one count) and possession of marijuana-less than 1 ounce (one count).

Alonzo Robinson – 11/18/14 – crossing guard lines with contraband (one count).

Joseph P. Mitchell – 11/18/14 – crossing guard lines with contraband (one count). [Full Story »]

Clint Eastwood’s new movie, “American Sniper,” marks the return of the American war hero.
Heroism on the battlefield had never gone away, of course, far from it (witness the Medal of Honors awarded for acts of extraordinary valor in Iraq and Afghanistan). But the classic war hero is more than just brave or fierce. He is famous and almost universally acclaimed. On top of his battlefield exploits, he is a cultural phenomenon.
That is what “American Sniper” unquestionably makes of Chris Kyle. The late Navy SEAL sniper had already written a best-selling memoir and was known as “The Legend” within the military for his record number of confirmed kills during four tours in Iraq. The success of the movie, where he is played by Bradley Cooper, also means he will be remembered as a larger-than-life figure. Such is the power of the silver screen.
“American Sniper” had the largest opening weekend ever in January. It is producing the kind of numbers usually reserved for mindless comic-book superhero movies. It has played especially well in Middle America, with its top-grossing theaters in places like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Houston and Albuquerque.
All of this is profoundly disquieting to the left, which has so much sway in Hollywood. It hates and distrusts the idea of the war hero, believing it smacks of backwardness and jingoism. Its notion of compelling war movies were the tendentiously anti-war flops “Green Zone,” “Stop-Loss” and “In the Valley of Elah.” Its reaction to “American Sniper” has been to belittle the movie and smear Chris Kyle.
[Full Story »]

Age: 84

Died: Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Arrangements: Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.