Dalton man sentenced to 25 years for aggravated sodomy

DALTON, Ga. —  A Dalton man was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by life on probation after being convicted of aggravated sodomy, according to Chief Assistant District Attorney Scott Helton. Leynwood Thomas Jr. must also register as a sex offender. According to a Dalton Police Department report, an officer responded to Hamilton Medical Center on April 2016 to a report of a possible sexual assault. The officer was met by a woman who said Thomas sexually assaulted her. Thomas was 35 at the time of his arrest.

Ameris Bank announces 9th annual food drive

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Ameris Bank recently announced its ninth annual Helping Fight Hunger food drive initiative taking place during October. All Ameris Bank locations are collecting nonperishable food items to donate to local food banks as part of the company-wide initiative. The Helping Fight Hunger initiative will unite all bank locations, divisions, customers and community members to one common cause: collecting food items for those in need in the fight against hunger, according to a press release from Ameris Bank. A food bank in every town with an Ameris Bank location will receive the donation of goods collected at the local bank branches, plus a monetary donation from Ameris Bancorp. Since the inception of Ameris Bank’s Helping Fight Hunger initiative in 2010, Ameris Bank has collected more than 4.4 million food items that provided more than 6.3 million meals to families. More than $655,000 has been donated to 78 partner food bank organizations. For more information on Ameris Bank’s Helping Fight Hunger Food Drive initiative, visit amerisbank.com/HelpFightHunger.

West Nile virus confirmed in Suwannee County

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Suwannee County’s first West Nile virus case in a human has been confirmed.

The Florida Department of Health in Suwannee County issued an advisory Wednesday warning residents of increased mosquito-borne disease activity and a “heightened concern additional residents will become ill.”

Kerry Waldron, the administrator of health in Suwannee County, said the resident lives in the western portion of the county and health officials were able to determine that the patient did not leave the county.

“It’s rare that you have a human case,” Waldron said, adding there have been several cases reported in Florida, including 3-4 in Duval County. “Our mosquito population that’s out there can carry illnesses.

“They’re pesty. Generally you don’t have any issues with them, but they’re pesty and a nuisance.”

A couple of horses had contracted the illness this past summer near Wellborn.

West Nile is carried by mosquitoes and Waldron and DOH-Suwannee urge residents and visitors to try and avoid mosquito bites by “Drain and Cover.”

People should drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying whether it’s from garbage cans, gutters, buckets, pool covers, flower pots or toys. Bird baths and pets’ water bowls should be emptied and cleaned every few days and plastic swimming pools should be emptied when not in use.

The DOH-Suwannee also encourages residents to cover their skin with clothing and/or repellent while outside. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol and IR3535 are effective, according to the department. Doors and windows can be covered with screens to also keep mosquitoes out of one’s house.

Abraham Baldwin to host Family Weekend

TIFTON, Ga. — Students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will welcome family and friends to the campus on Oct. 5-6 during the college’s eighth annual Family Weekend. ABAC dean of students Bernice Hughes said there is a food and activity cost of $25 each for family members and friends and $15 each for ABAC students. Check-in for families will take place on Oct. 5 from 4-6 p.m. in the ABAC Lakeside Grand Lobby.  Water and snacks will be provided, and the ABAC Stallion Shop in J. Lamar Branch Hall will be open until 5 p.m. so parents can pick up their “ABAC Mom” or “ABAC Dad” car decals. The Ag Engineering Technology Club will host its Truck and Tractor Pull on Oct. 5 from 7-10 p.m., and the Baldwin Players will perform “Stop Thief” from 7-9 p.m. in Howard Auditorium. Tickets for the Truck and Tractor Pull are $15 for adults, $10 for kids, and free for children five and younger. Friends and family who sign up for Family Weekend will receive a wrist band which is good for $5 off the regular admission. “Stop Thief” is a farce which centers on a family in the middle of preparing for a wedding at the same time that two thieves slip into the house. Much confusion and several mistaken identities occur as well as many twists and turns in this classic comedy. This was the first play performed by the Baldwin Players on Dec. 15, 1933. Tickets for “Stop Thief” are included in the food and activity cost for Family Weekend participants. General admission tickets are $10. To register for ABAC’s Family Weekend event, participants can go to www.PurplePass.com/familyweekend2018. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sept. 28 at 11:45 a.m. For more information on ABAC’s Family Weekend, interested persons can contact Hughes at bhughes@abac.edu.