Worth Sheriff Indicted

478-227-7126

OCT. 6, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

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WORTH SHERIFF, DEPUTIES INDICTED

CHARGES STEM FROM STUDENTS SEARCH AT WORTH COUNTY HIGH

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby and two deputies in connection with what prosecutors said was intrusive body searches of Worth County High School students in Sylvester.


	SHERIFF HOBBY

Hobby was indicted for sexual battery, false imprisonment and violation of oath of office after he ordered a school-wide search of nearly 900 students on April 14. Deputy Tyler Turner was indicted on one felony count of violation of his oath of office and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery. Deputy Deidra Whiddon was indicted for one felony count of violation of her oath of office.

Students at the school claimed in a lawsuit filed in June that their constitutional rights were violated during the search. Hobby and the deputies allegedly touched students in their genital areas during a drug search that resulted in no drugs or arrests. Deputies locked down the school for more than four hours.

Following the complaints, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a review. District Attorney Paul Bowden then sought a 36-count indictment, and grand jurors returned charges on six counts.

The Georgia Police Officer Standards and Training has temporarily suspended Sheriff Hobby of his law enforcement certifications, but he still may handle administrative duties. Gov. Nathan Deal has authority to suspend Hobby of all of his duties. Hobby maintains his innocence and that he did nothing wrong.

The two deputies will also have their law enforcement licenses suspended until the case is resolved.

TODAY IS TIFTON YARD DEBRIS DEADLINE

Today (Friday) at 5 p.m. is the deadline for Tifton and Tift County residents to take wood waste and yard debris at no cost to the T ifton-Tift County Inert Landfill at 601 Armour Road in Tifton.

The debris from the recent hurricane/tropical storm may be hauled to the Inert Landfill only by residents with valid Tifton and Tift County identification. This is for residents only and not for commercial companies, including landscapers and tree surgeons.

The debris is being accepted only at the Inert landfill and cannot be accepted at the Tifton-Tift County Landfill at the Mitchell Store Road location because of state regulations.

GA SCHOOLS

CHIEF VISITS TIFT FOR

PRE-K WEEK

Richard Woods, Georgia's state school superintendent , visited Tift County Pre-K classes this week to read in honor of

Georgia Pre-K Week.

His first stop was Lindsey Coker's and Tiffany Luton's class, where he read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," by Eric Carle , seen in the photo at right.

The seventh annual Georgia Pre-K Week marks the 25th birthday of the state's Pre-K program, which has educated more than 1.4 million children since it began in 1992.

Pre-K Week highlights the state's quality early education programs.

ABAC TO HOST EX RANGER'S LECTURE,

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL DEDICATION

As part of ABAC's "Veterans Initiative," Retired Army R anger Col. Ralph Puckett, a Tifton native, will give a free lecture and sign copies of his new memoir beginning at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, in Howard Auditorium at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.


	Puckett with his memoir.

Later on Oct. 12, a Blue Star Memorial dedication ceremony, sponsored by ABAC and the Magnolia Garden Club, will be held at 4 p.m. in the college's Chapel of All Faiths.

Puckett is a 1949 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and has a master's degree from George Washington University. He formed, trained and commanded the Eighth Army Ranger Company in Korea as a first lieutenant. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in Korea in 1950.

Puckett also earned a second Distinguished Service Cross for meritorious service in Vietnam. He also served in the U.S. Army Infantry School Ranger Department. As the first Ranger advisor in the U.S. Army Mission to Colombia, he planned and established the Colombian Army's Ranger School. Later, he commanded Special Forces teams in Germany.

Puckett's accolades include his 1992 induction into the inaugural class of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame, two Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Commendation Medal, 10 Air Medals, and five Purple Hearts. In 2001, he was awarded the U.S. Special Operations Command Medal for outstanding contributions to Special Operations.

Thursday's Blue Star Memorial ceremony also marks the one-year anniversary of ABAC's Freedom Gallery. The Blue Star Memorial serves as a tribute to armed forces who have defended the nation. It will be placed in Baldwin Memorial Gardens near a bench that has special significance to the family of the late Harold B. "Pinky" Durham Jr. -- Tifton's only Medal of Honor recipient, an ABAC alumnus and the focus of the Freedom Gallery, opened last year in Tift Hall to educate students about those who defended the nation through military service.

The ABAC Veterans Initiative includes a Veteran Success Center, a student veterans' organization, recognition as a Purple Heart College, recognition as a Military Friendly College, free tutoring for veterans beyond normal tutoring hours and advanced preferred registration for veterans.

IT MUST BE FALL

PUMPKIN PATCH, FARMERS MARKET OPEN SATURDAY

This Saturday, Oct. 7, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village opens its annual pumpkin patch. Also Saturday, the Wiregrass Farmers Market opens its fall market at the museum.

Admission is not required to visit the pumpkin patch and playground area at the Country Store near the museum entrance. The pumpkin patch will be open Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices for pumpkins start at $5.

The farmers market is open 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays up to Thanksgiving.

For information about the pumpkin patch, contact the museum at 229-391-5205.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR VENDORS, FLOATS

IN HOMETOWN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

It may be only be October, but plans are underway in full force for Tifton's 19th Annual Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration set for Saturday Dec. 2.

This year's theme is "It's a Down-home Southern Christmas."

Reservations are open now for vendors and for floats in the popular Christmas parade.

To register as a vendor, Click Here!

To register your float for the Christmas parade, Click Here!

YOUR WEEKEND

. ..at a Glance

FRIDAY, OCT. 6

ABAC Horseman's Association Jackpot, 6 p.m., ABAC Rodeo Arena, Tifton
Tiftarea Academy Panthers football vs. Deerfield-Windsor Knights (Senior Night), 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Chula

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

Stepping Out for Your Heart 5K/1-Mile/Walk, 8 a.m., TCHS Northeast Campus, Fulwood Road, Tifton
Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton