Holiday Traffic Is Light on Lake
The Labor Day weekend traffic on Jackson Lake was keeping with the yearly trend of being down from previous years, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The DNR did report two Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs arrests, but also reported no accidents or injuries on the lake.
Their spokesman speculated the economy as the reason for less traffic and equated less boats and people on the lake to fewer citations, accidents or injuries.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) reported several break-ins including some lawn equipment and a shed on Blue Heron Drive where copper wire and tools were stolen.
They also reported the following arrests during the period of August 31 to September 7:
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Hiram Carey Stone, 33, Monticello—child support.
Kelvin Marrell Head, 23, Jenkinsburg—probation violation.
Oscar Henry Jenkins, 46, Monticello—forgery in the first degree.
Chasity Shinnette Austin, 25, Gordon—hold for warrant at Gordon Police Dept.
Mathew James Robinson, 18, Newborn—obstruction or hindering law enforcement officers and cruelty to children.
Michael James Welch, 38, Atlanta—driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, operation of vehicle without current plate and failure to maintain lane.
Harold Norwood, 53, Shady Dale— criminal trespass.
William Darnell Standifer, 46, Monticello—child support.
Hakeel Devont Norwood, 17, Monticello—simple battery.
Also, during this period deputies with the JCSO responded to 152 calls for service including 28 stopping suspicious person/vehicle, 20 alarm, 19 subject needs officer, eight mechanical break down, seven theft by taking, five each accident, pickup prisoner, vandalism of property and 911 hang up, four persons refuse to leave, three each music/noise complaint, argument and domestic.
Also, two calls each for speeding auto, escort or convoy, crowd disbursement, discharge firearms, trouble unknown, threatening or harassing calls and abandoned vehicle, one each dog disturbance, burglary, livestock on road, intoxicated driver, hit and run, need assistance, mental person, rape, child custody, juvenile complaint, road hazard, attempt to serve warrant and forgery.
During this same period the Monticello Police Department (MPD) reported the theft of trailers and lawn type equipment.
No arrests have been made in these incidents yet, however, Chief Bobby Norris said his department was working hard to solve the crimes.
The chief also warned of a new outbreak of counterfeit money being passed.
Also, during this period officers with the MPD responded to 79 calls for service including 10 stopping suspicious person/vehicle, seven subject needs officer, six each escort or convoy, music/noise complaint and vandalism of property, five alarm, four each crowd disbursement, juvenile complaint and argument, and three persons refuse to leave.
In addition there were two calls each for domestic, private property and trouble unknown, one each burglary, speeding auto, accident, mechanical break down, fire alarm need assistance, wanted counterfeit, discharge firearms, property found, VGCSA and forgery.
During this same period the Georgia State Patrol reported the arrest of Kerry Lydell Jackson, 27, of Monticello, and charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The Georgia State Patrol investigated 360 traffic crashes over the 78-hour Labor Day holiday travel period. The crashes resulted in 211 injuries and 10 fatalities. Statewide there were 13 traffic deaths reported from crashes investigated by law enforcement agencies.
The holiday period was also an Operation C.A.R.E. weekend. C.A.R.E., or Combined Accident Reduction Effort, is a traffic safety initiative of state highway patrols and state police agencies across the United States and Canada. Sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Operation C.A.R.E. unites state law enforcement in a campaign to keep the number of holiday period traffic deaths as low as possible through high visibility enforcement and education.
