THOMASVILLE — Two arrests by the Thomas County Sheriff’s Department at Melhana Plantation Tuesday night resulted after two Georgia Department of Revenue agents were served an alcoholic beverage at the resort.

“We have an investigation going on with the establishment,” Charles Willey, revenue department director of public information, told the Times-Enterprise Wednesday. ” … It has to do with possible inappropriate activities involving alcoholic beverages.”

Willey said that since the probe is not complete, he could not discuss details.

Melhana does not have a state or local on-premise beer/wine license.

About 8 p.m. Tuesday at the 301 Showboat Lane business off U.S. 319 South, revenue agents contacted the sheriff’s department and requested two officers.

Taken into custody by the officers were Barbi Lynn Strickland, 25, 1415 Hunters Chase Circle, and Zackary Seth Lewis, 26, 606 Skyline Drive.

The two were charged with sale of alcohol and released from the Thomas County Jail on their own recognizance.

After the arrests, revenue agents executed a search warrant and seized alcoholic beverages, said a sheriff’s department officer who witnessed the activity.

“They were not licensed to sell alcohol,” the deputy explained.

Noting the local charge, Willey said state-level administrative action is possible.

When asked if such action is pending, Willey said, “Possibly. It depends on what the investigation undercovers.”

Laura Nichols, Thomas County government finance manager, said revenue department officials told her in 2004 that Melhana’s state on-premise beer/wine license had been revoked.

An establishment must have a local alcoholic-beverage license before a state license will be issued, Nichols explained.

The local license has not been renewed by Melhana this year.

“I just assumed they couldn’t sell anymore,” Nichols said. “I was just waiting for the new owners to apply.”

Melhana — or a portion of the site — was sold to a Florida company in late 2004.

Thomas County has two or three on-premise beer/wine license-holders. The cost for a license is $500 for beer, $1,000 for wine and $1,500 for both.

Thomas County does not have a distilled spirits ordinance.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.