Archive By Section - Local
Two life terms plus 85 years for Heidt
A case and trial that gripped the Effingham County community and ripped apart a family has reached its conclusion. Craig Heidt was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison plus 85 years in Effingham County Superior Court on Thursday afternoon. Heidt was convicted four weeks ago for the murder of his father Philip Heidt and his brother Carey Heidt. He also was convicted of nine other charges, including aggravated assault, burglary, criminal attempt to commit ...
Commissioners pushing for home rule ordinance
The first meeting of the newly-constituted Effingham County Board of Commissioners did not lack for its share of fireworks Tuesday night. Commissioners debated adopting a home rule ordinance that would change when the chairman of the commissioners votes. Currently, the chairman, who is elected at-large, votes at will, as do the commissioners chosen from the five districts. Under the proposal, the chairman would only vote to break a tie. Chairman Dusty Zeigler issued a sharp and pointed ...
Heidt: two life sentences plus 85 years
Judge Gates Peed has sentenced Craig Heidt to serve two consecutive life sentences, three consecutive 20-year sentences, a ten year sentence and three five-year sentences in prison for the for the 11 counts he was convicted of Dec. 11, 2010, including the murders of his father Philip Heidt and brother Carey Heidt.
New commissioners to take part in first meeting today
The three newest members of the Effingham County Board of Commissioners will begin their first meeting today at 5 p.m. Newcomers Vera Jones, Phil Kieffer and Steve Mason, who were sworn in last month, will begin their official duties, along with incumbent commissioners Bob Brantley, Reggie Loper and Chairman Dusty Zeigler. Among their topics for consideration on today's proposed agenda are changing the geographical boundaries for the five current Georgia Militia Districts to coincide with the ...
Guard association honors Hill
GARDEN CITY-State Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) was presented the National Guard Association of the United States (NAGAUS) Charles Dick Medal of Merit by Maj. Gen. William T. Nesbitt, Georgia's Adjutant General, during a ceremony at the Georgia Air Guard's Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center. Hill, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spent 33 years as an officer and unit commander with the Air Guard. According to the citation, he spearheaded the funding for several ...
Hospital launches expansion
Having beaten the clock to get its financing in place, the Effingham Hospital isn't waiting to get started on its extensive modernization and expansion effort. Workers were scheduled to begin installing silt fences Monday morning as the first steps in the hospital's $30 million, 50,000 square foot expansion are taken. Hospital officials, staff, dignitaries and community members celebrated the groundbreaking for the project on a cloudy and drizzly Sunday afternoon. But to hospital officials, it might as ...
Baxley to take over on Rincon council
Ken Baxley is returning to the Rincon City Council. The former council member will assume the seat vacated by Ann Daniel, after current council members voted last week to appoint him to the post. Baxley served for one four-year term, opting not to seek re-election in 2009. "They asked, and I told them I would be agreeable to do it," Baxley said. For the complete story, see the Tuesday Jan. 4, 2011 print edition of the Effingham Herald.
DDS adding more online services
ATLANTA–Eight internet services have been added for Georgia drivers and ID card holders from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). Customers can now create a personalized customer account and initiate multiple transactions at one time safely and securely through the agency's Web site www.dds.ga.gov. In addition, customers may now check point violations and request a certified Motor Vehicle Report (MVR). For those with a valid Georgia license, an identification card may be requested. Drivers may ...
State boasts gains in economic development
ATLANTA-The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced that jobs increased by 14 percent and investment by 20 percent in the state during 2010. New and expanding companies created more than 20,000 jobs and invested $4.1 billion in Georgia during 2010. Entertainment and tourism also made strong showings. "This kind of success only happens as the result of great teamwork by our GDEcD staff and partners," said Heidi Green, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. ...
Jobs Act has backed $12B in SBA lending
WASHINGTON, D.C.-SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced Monday that as of Dec. 31 the agency had approved more than $10.3 billion in loan guarantees which supported more than $12 billion in lending to small businesses since President Obama signed the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 on Sept. 27. The Jobs Act included an extension of reduced fees and higher guarantee loan enhancements in the agency's two largest loan programs. In a statement, Mills noted that SBA ...
Heidt sentence to be delivered next week
Craig Heidt will learn the sentence Jan. 6 for the 11 guilty verdicts handed down by an Effingham County jury for the murder of his father and brother. After a trial that lasted seven days, Heidt was convicted for malice murder in the August 2008 shooting deaths of his father, realtor and developer Philip Heidt, and his brother Carey Heidt, who was also a realtor. Craig Heidt also was convicted of aggravated assault with the intent ...
A high volume of business for ECSO traffic unit
It's been a busy first month for the Effingham County Sheriff's Office traffic unit. Effingham County commissioners approved the unit, which consists of four additional deputies and two new Dodge Charger patrol units. The traffic unit, a long-awaited goal of Effingham Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, hit the road in November. For the complete story, see Friday's print edition of the Effingham Herald.
Guyton pubilc safety enters social networking
Community outreach for police departments is reaching into 21st century methods. The Guyton Department of Public Safety has started its own Facebook page, posting information about the department and events around town for the citizens, including alerts from the police. "It's very important," Chief Randy Alexander said of launching into the social network world. "You have to grow with the times. Facebook and all these social networks can be a big help to us, if you do ...
Collins takes over as DOT district engineer
Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith has announced the appointment of Anthony (Tony) Collins as district engineer for the 24 counties in southeast Georgia that make up DOT District 5. Collins began his career with the department in June 1983 as a co-op student in the Waycross area office. After graduating from Southern Polytechnic University, he worked in road design in GDOT's Atlanta general office and has held various engineering positions with the department. His most ...
Flu vaccine still available
As flu rates continue to climb in Georgia and around the country, Coastal Health District officials are urging citizens in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties to protect themselves and others against the flu by getting vaccinated. "One of the easiest New Year's resolutions to make and keep is to get the flu vaccine," said Elizabeth Hausauer, Immunization Coordinator for the Coastal Health District. "Cases of flu are on the rise and ...
Articles by Section - Local
Carters discuss life in and after White House
STATESBORO - Former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter brought a real-life, personal history lesson to a cheering audience of Georgia Southern University students recently.
Rincon pares candidates for city manager to three
The city of Rincon could have a new city manager in a couple of weeks, according to Mayor Ken Lee.
County digs into jail work
It might be a couple of years before Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie can move jail inmates and his personnel into a brand-new building. But he's already looking forward to that day.
Commissioners to discuss resolution on non-partisan elections
Effingham County commissioners are scheduled to break ground today on the new jail and when they go into their regular meeting later this afternoon, they may take up the matter of a resolution opposing non-partisan elections for their seats.
Pridgeon takes seat on council
Springfield City Council officially welcomed a new member and accepted the resignation of another.
County may look at airing meetings
Effingham County residents may be getting to see their commissioners in action - without having to sit in the pews at the county administrative complex.
Changes coming to Olde Effingham Days
The Olde Effingham Days festival is losing a day but gaining a parade.
EPD to hold public meeting on King America consent order
People with an interest in the Ogeechee River will be able to offer their input about a proposed consent order for a textile mill's pollution discharge.
ECSO seeks help identifying two sets of cremains
The Effingham County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance in identifying human cremains.
Hall re-indicted for 2011 fatal wreck
An Effingham County grand jury has re-indicted a Guyton man for a 2011 crash that killed an Effingham teen and seriously injured three other people.
Clyo man one of four people killed in I-16 pileup
An Effingham County man was one of four people killed in a massive pileup Wednesday on Interstate 16.
Effingham takes Capitol by storm
Nearly 80 Effingham County government, business and civic leaders made the annual trek to Atlanta for Effingham Day at the Capitol and by all accounts, it was one of the most successful and productive in some time.
Conviction in molestation that may have led to suicide
(Editor's note: To protect the alleged victim's identity, her name and her family members' names are not used.)
Man dies in motorcycle wreck
A Rincon man died Sunday night in a motorcycle crash on Highway 21.
Springfield moving ahead with streetscape work
Springfield's streetscape improvement could be moving ahead later this year.
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