Archive By Section - Local
Changes coming to tax notices
As 2010 ends and the new year begins the sweeping changes of Senate Bill 346 become effective on Jan. 1, 2011. As in past years, any Effingham County taxpayer who disagrees with the current value of their property can file a property tax return between Jan. 1 and April 1 with the Effingham County Board of Tax Assessors. However, beginning in 2011, all owners of real property, land and buildings will receive an assessment notice every ...
Interest grows in Gov. Treutlen site
The Effingham Industrial Authority's Governor Treutlen site continues to attract interest, so much so it may require the IDA to rethink the tract. IDA CEO John Henry said he and his staff currently are working on a handful of projects. The Governor Treutlen site, a 66-acre site in the Effingham Industrial Park, is a result of a reclaimed sprayfield. Henry said the IDA may need to look at how to split the site up into parcels of ...
AT&T gets clear signal from IDA for new tower
AT&T customers could be getting better reception in Effingham County sometime in 2011. Effingham Industrial Development Authority members agreed to enter into a lease/option arrangement with New Cingular Wireless to erect a cell tower site in Effingham Industrial Park. IDA CEO John Henry said they've been working on a cell tower site for some time. "At the EFACEC inauguration, we had some issues with them not being able to use their international phones," he said. For the complete ...
Christmas holiday travel period under way
ATLANTA-Law enforcement officers across the nation are preparing for a busy holiday travel season as motorists take to the highways for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said the Christmas and New Year's holiday periods are each 78 hours long and could be deadly on Georgia roads. The Christmas holiday travel period began Thursday at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight Sunday. The New Year's ...
Rincon set to adopt budget
Rincon City Council members are expected to take up their proposed budget for 2011 at Monday night's meeting. Council members will weight a general fund budget of nearly $3.7 million. Recreation will get the largest portion of the expenditures, nearly 36.3 percent, with almost $1.34 million. The police department is expected to receive $1.17 million for expenditures under the general fund budget. Public works is targeted to receive approximately $375,000, while just over $240,000 is being set ...
Meldrim area may be getting new health clinic
Effingham County commissioners have backed the creation of a clinic for the southern part of the county that will provide care to underserved and less affluent residents. Commissioners, by a 5-1 vote, agreed to a letter of support for East Georgia Healthcare in Swainsboro to obtain a federal grant for a clinic. The clinic, to be set up in the Meldrim area, would support the Effingham Hospital and also would provide services to the uninsured and ...
City, county back concept plans for a new Ulmer Park
Springfield City Council members and Effingham County commissioners are ready to move ahead with plans for a re-done Ulmer Park. An ad hoc committee of county and city representatives worked on a concept plan, which both groups gave a thumbs-up to earlier this month. The project will take place in three phases and the first phase will include a new gazebo, brick work, a water feature, a new fountain and an American with Disabilities Act compliant ...
Chief cleared of wrongdoing
Springfield Police Chief Paul Wynn is back on the job after an investigation into allegations of misconduct on his part yielded nothing to substantiate the complaint. Wynn was placed on administrative leave after Springfield City Manager Brett Bennett received a complaint from a citizen that Wynn had been driving his patrol car while intoxicated and operating his siren in the middle of the day. An investigation into the allegation resulted in it being unfounded and there ...
Springfield gets ready to adopt FY11 budget
Springfield City Council is expected to approve a budget and a millage rate for fiscal year 2011 at a special called meeting Tuesday. The city will consider a millage rate of 4.3 for its FY11 budget, pegged at $1.72 million. In the proposed budget for 2011, the city expects to spend 35 percent of its budget on streets and lanes, the biggest chunk for any department. For the complete story, see Tuesday's edition of the Effingham Herald.
State processing unemployment benefits claims extensions
ATLANTA-State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said Monday that the Georgia Department of Labor is processing extended benefit claims for unemployed Georgians who will qualify under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 enacted Friday. The new legislation expands the extended benefits claim filing period for jobless Americans through Dec. 31, 2011. The bill does not, however, provide additional benefits beyond 99 weeks. "These additional resources will help qualified jobseekers provide food, clothing, ...
Newest commissioners eager to get to work
The newest members of the Effingham County commissioners say they're ready to get to work. Phil Kieffer, Vera Jones and Steve Mason were sworn in Wednesday afternoon by Probate Judge Beth Rahn Mosley at the historic Effingham Courthouse and their first meeting as commissioner will take place Jan. 4. "We're excited," said Jones, the former school board member who won a Republican primary runoff for the District 2 seat. "We have a lot of good ideas that ...
With new year, county will revert to old schedule
With a new year will come a new work week schedule for county offices. Effingham County offices will revert to a Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. schedule beginning Jan. 3, 2011. Many county offices had been on a 4-10 schedule, working 10 hours a day for four days a week, since July. Commissioners adopted the schedule as a pilot program through Nov. 12 and extended it in October. With three new commissioners coming on board, a decision on ...
State unemployment rate jumps to 10.1 percent
ATLANTA-The Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent in November, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.8 percent in October. The preliminary October rate of 9.9 percent reported last month has been revised downward by one-tenth of a percentage point. The rate was 10.2 percent in November 2009. This is the 38th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently ...
Griffin gets life without parole
Lester Casey Griffin has been sentenced to life without parole plus 20 years for the death of Dylan Helmey.
County starts set up of special service districts
Effingham County commissioners have approved a resolution to set up the special service districts that were part of the service delivery agreement hammered out last month. After several rounds of mediation, the county and the three municipalities have agreed to a service delivery arrangement in which the county will set up special service districts for those services it expressly provides to residents in the unincorporated areas. The purpose of the resolution is to allow staff and chairman ...
Articles by Section - Local
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.
County strikes deal on Old Augusta signal
Effingham County and the ownership group of a large industrial tract have reached an agreement for a road into the property.
Springfield awards bid for Railroad Ave. sewer work
Springfield's long-awaited sewer improvement project is closer to getting started.
Slow and steady
The Effingham Industrial Development Authority is making steady progress in getting one of its tracts more appealing to potential customers - going at a pace a little quicker than what is being removed is accustomed.
County OKs resolution in support of Ogeechee River
Effingham County commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday night that asks the state to continue monitoring the Ogeechee River.
Bicyclist hit by semi on 80 dies
A Bloomingdale man who was hit by a tractor-trailer while riding his bicycle on Highway 80 on Jan. 9 has died.
Springfield signs agreement on VOA group home
The city of Springfield and an organization seeking to open a second group home for people with mental and intellectual disabilities have reached an agreement in a lawsuit filed against the city.
Folder can’t wait for ‘best’ MLK Parade
At 84 years old, Adam Folder Jr. doesn't get around like he used to. However, his family says, that doesn't keep from attending every local Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade he can.
Another tragedy touches ECHS
Several Effingham County teenagers have died in car wrecks in recent years, and the community suffered another loss Wednesday night.
No word yet on King America Finishing hearing
A court hearing regarding a local textile plant's continued discharge of chemical-laden effluent into the Ogeechee River was postponed after a court-ordered change of venue.
Guyton sewage plant draws vocal, fierce opposition
In a near-unanimous voice, attendees at a state Environmental Protection Division public hearing on Guyton's proposed wastewater treatment plant expressed their displeasure and opposition.
ECSO issues scam warning
The Effingham County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about groups of people who have been reported in the county going door to door soliciting business. Deputies have received reports that people from out of state have been offering to pave residents' property for them at a low cost.
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