Flu Outbreak Shuts Down County School
Students at Mountain View Elementary School near Manchester were remote learning for two days last week after an influenza outbreak among students.
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Hogansville City Council Recognizes Youth Football
The Hogansville City Council opened their December 15 meeting by recognizing two local little league football teams. The 9 and 10 year old Hogansville Greenwave, who went undefeated and won the 2025 Textile Bowl, and the 8 and under Hogansville Cavaliers, who won the Showdown Bowl, were recognized, as were their coaches, cheerleaders and cheer coaches. Mayor Jake Ayers congratulated the players and cheerleaders for their hard work and thanked the coaches for all the time they spend with the kids. The coaches also thanked the parents for their willingness to get their kids to practice and support their teams. Each player and cheerleader was given a certificate from the city in recognition of their outstanding seasons.
Manchester Council Adjusts Budget, Sets Sign Moratorium
Manchester opened their monthly meeting Dec. 9th with adjustments to the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget. The budget for total revenue was amended with a decrease of $86,532. Meanwhile, the total expenditure budget increase by $191,816. This increase in expenditure is predominantly as result of the streets being resurfaced as well as the addition of the marshal's office for code enforcement. However, the city will end up saving money in regards to the code enforcement in the long run versus where the city used to use out-of-county assistance. These adjustments to the 2025 Fiscal Budget were approved unanimously.
Commissioners Change Meeting Night
The Meriwether County Commission decided at their December 8 meeting to make the first meeting of each month on the second Monday, rather than the first.
Commissioner Gene King noted that in a large number of cases, the first Monday meeting is postponed to the second Monday due to scheduling issues with the county attorney or conflicts with members of the board having other plans. King suggested making the first meeting of each month take place on the second Monday, and after some discussion the Commissioners approved the request.
Hogansville Residents Speak Out Against Data Centers
On Tuesday, December 2, over one hundred concerned citizens attended the forum in the Royal Theater about the data center being discussed for Hogansville. Mayor Jake Ayers welcomed everyone and said most of the two-hour event would be reserved for citizens to make comments , but prior to that, there were two people to speak about what a data center is and some of the positive and negative impacts it could bring to this area. He also explained that much research was still needed before a decision could be made, in fact, Hogansville was in the very early stages of this research.
First to speak was Aaron Fortner of Canvas Planning, who is a consultant for Hogansville UDOs (Unified Development Ordinances) and several other projects over the last few years. He defined data centers as secure facilities that house a vast array of computer servers and networking equipment which hold all the internet information we use each day when on our phones and laptops. They store, and protect, digital systems that store personal files, business information, medical records and school and city government data.
Hawkins Elected Woodbury Mayor
Voters in Woodbury went to the polls on December 2nd for the runoff election for mayor, and Dustin Hawkins won a narrow victory over former City Council member Jada Holmes.
Holmes and Hawkins were the top two vote-getters in the November 4th General Election, beating out challenges from incumbent Mayor Ronnie Garrett and former Mayor Tonya Moody. None of the candidates received 50% of the vote plus one, so the runoff was necessary.
Hogansville Council Hears From Public
The December 2 Hogansville City Council meeting began with four citizen appearances, each concerning the much discussed proposed data center. First to speak was Ila Burdette of Maple Drive, whose poignant statement spoke volumes about what has been happening in the city: “It doesn't feel like Hogansville to me, and I bet it doesn't to some of you either. It surprised me when I sat back and thought about it, and it sort of broke my heart, to tell you the truth. I've been really unhappy to realize, all of a sudden, that this data center, whatever else it may or may not do, is already tearing the trust between our town officials and our townspeople apart. I've not seen it like this before and I hope it doesn't stay this way.”
Meriwether Deputies Arrest Violent Offender After Chase
The Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a man considered to be a violent offender after a high speed chase, according to Sheriff Chuck Smith.
“Our agency has apprehended a fleeing violent offender from Clayton County in which the suspect will be facing additional felony charges in our jurisdiction regarding this case investigation,” Sheriff Smith said.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, on Sunday, Nov. 23 at approximately 1:27 a.m., Meriwether County Deputies received a BOLO (be on the lookout) from Clayton County in reference to violent suspect operating a 2013 Honda Accord.
“The suspect had reportedly just committed the offenses of aggravated assault, kidnapping, possession of a weapon during a crime, cruelty to children in the first degree, along with criminal damage in the second degree of his estranged wife in their jurisdiction. Reportedly this was an active ongoing investigation that had just occurred in Clayton Counties Jurisdiction.
Gathering Results in Shooting
Two people have been charged in a shooting incident that occurred on Saturday, Nov. 15 in Grantville, according to Meriwether County Sheriff Chuck Smith.
According to Sheriff Smith, at around 10:50 p.m. on that date, Meriwether County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to reports of gunfire near the 3100 block of Primrose Road in Grantville, an unincorporated area of Meriwether County commonly known as the Zion Hill Community.
Opposition to Data Center Raised Again in Hogansville
The November 17 Hogansville City Council meeting began with a citizen appearance from Gage Bailey, who spoke for many in the overflow crowd who are against the proposed data center coming to Hogansville. Bailey told of the great strain the center would put on electrical and water resources. He stated that residents who live near the proposed site on Hightower Road will see their property values drop drastically. Bailey also said that leadership isn't just about managing growth but also of preserving the integrity, culture and charm of our small town.
Hogansville City Council Recognizes Youth Football
The Hogansville City Council opened their December 15 meeting by recognizing two local little league football teams. The 9 and 10 year old Hogansville Greenwave, who went undefeated and won the 2025 Textile Bowl, and the 8 and under Hogansville Cavaliers, who won the Showdown Bowl, were recognized, as were their coaches, cheerleaders and cheer coaches. Mayor Jake Ayers congratulated the players and cheerleaders for their hard work and thanked the coaches for all the time they spend with the kids. The coaches also thanked the parents for their willingness to get their kids to practice and support their teams. Each player and cheerleader was given a certificate from the city in recognition of their outstanding seasons.
Manchester Council Adjusts Budget, Sets Sign Moratorium
Manchester opened their monthly meeting Dec. 9th with adjustments to the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget. The budget for total revenue was amended with a decrease of $86,532. Meanwhile, the total expenditure budget increase by $191,816. This increase in expenditure is predominantly as result of the streets being resurfaced as well as the addition of the marshal's office for code enforcement. However, the city will end up saving money in regards to the code enforcement in the long run versus where the city used to use out-of-county assistance. These adjustments to the 2025 Fiscal Budget were approved unanimously.
Commissioners Change Meeting Night
The Meriwether County Commission decided at their December 8 meeting to make the first meeting of each month on the second Monday, rather than the first. Commissioner Gene King noted that in a large number of cases, the first Monday meeting is postponed to the second Monday due to scheduling issues with the county attorney or conflicts with members of the board having other plans. King suggested making the first meeting of each month take place on the second Monday, and after some discussion the Commissioners approved the request.
Hogansville Residents Speak Out Against Data Centers
On Tuesday, December 2, over one hundred concerned citizens attended the forum in the Royal Theater about the data center being discussed for Hogansville. Mayor Jake Ayers welcomed everyone and said most of the two-hour event would be reserved for citizens to make comments , but prior to that, there were two people to speak about what a data center is and some of the positive and negative impacts it could bring to this area. He also explained that much research was still needed before a decision could be made, in fact, Hogansville was in the very early stages of this research. First to speak was Aaron Fortner of Canvas Planning, who is a consultant for Hogansville UDOs (Unified Development Ordinances) and several other projects over the last few years. He defined data centers as secure facilities that house a vast array of computer servers and networking equipment which hold all the internet information we use each day when on our phones and laptops. They store, and protect, digital systems that store personal files, business information, medical records and school and city government data.
Hawkins Elected Woodbury Mayor
Voters in Woodbury went to the polls on December 2nd for the runoff election for mayor, and Dustin Hawkins won a narrow victory over former City Council member Jada Holmes. Holmes and Hawkins were the top two vote-getters in the November 4th General Election, beating out challenges from incumbent Mayor Ronnie Garrett and former Mayor Tonya Moody. None of the candidates received 50% of the vote plus one, so the runoff was necessary.
Hogansville Council Hears From Public
The December 2 Hogansville City Council meeting began with four citizen appearances, each concerning the much discussed proposed data center. First to speak was Ila Burdette of Maple Drive, whose poignant statement spoke volumes about what has been happening in the city: “It doesn't feel like Hogansville to me, and I bet it doesn't to some of you either. It surprised me when I sat back and thought about it, and it sort of broke my heart, to tell you the truth. I've been really unhappy to realize, all of a sudden, that this data center, whatever else it may or may not do, is already tearing the trust between our town officials and our townspeople apart. I've not seen it like this before and I hope it doesn't stay this way.”
Meriwether Deputies Arrest Violent Offender After Chase
The Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a man considered to be a violent offender after a high speed chase, according to Sheriff Chuck Smith. “Our agency has apprehended a fleeing violent offender from Clayton County in which the suspect will be facing additional felony charges in our jurisdiction regarding this case investigation,” Sheriff Smith said. According to Sheriff’s Office reports, on Sunday, Nov. 23 at approximately 1:27 a.m., Meriwether County Deputies received a BOLO (be on the lookout) from Clayton County in reference to violent suspect operating a 2013 Honda Accord. “The suspect had reportedly just committed the offenses of aggravated assault, kidnapping, possession of a weapon during a crime, cruelty to children in the first degree, along with criminal damage in the second degree of his estranged wife in their jurisdiction. Reportedly this was an active ongoing investigation that had just occurred in Clayton Counties Jurisdiction.
Gathering Results in Shooting
Two people have been charged in a shooting incident that occurred on Saturday, Nov. 15 in Grantville, according to Meriwether County Sheriff Chuck Smith. According to Sheriff Smith, at around 10:50 p.m. on that date, Meriwether County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to reports of gunfire near the 3100 block of Primrose Road in Grantville, an unincorporated area of Meriwether County commonly known as the Zion Hill Community.
Opposition to Data Center Raised Again in Hogansville
The November 17 Hogansville City Council meeting began with a citizen appearance from Gage Bailey, who spoke for many in the overflow crowd who are against the proposed data center coming to Hogansville. Bailey told of the great strain the center would put on electrical and water resources. He stated that residents who live near the proposed site on Hightower Road will see their property values drop drastically. Bailey also said that leadership isn't just about managing growth but also of preserving the integrity, culture and charm of our small town.