Debbie Lurie-Smith

Thankfully the vandals were not successful in cutting down the tree, which could have destroyed the gravestone. COURTESY OF JCSO

A Baldwin County woman was sentenced to 10 years to serve in prison following a guilty plea in Jones County Superior Court last week bringing to a close a case that began with the 2021 discovery of an unidentified dead body that appeared to have been discarded.Dafredia Yvette Stephens,45, entered her plea Oct. 28 to the charge of concealing the death of another. She was arrested July 11, 2023, on…

Members of a Jones County jury wasted no time in making their decision about the guilt of a defendant facing multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated child molestation.David Clinton Smith, 36, a resident of Haddock, was found guilty of all counts for which the jury had before them and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 50 years to serve in prison. Jones County…

Tally ribbons from the precincts are hung to show totals as the votes are tabulated at the elections office under the oversight of Election Superintendent Marion Hatton. DEBBIE LURIE-SMITH/Staff

Jones County Commissioners had a busy week, beginning with a work session before their November meeting and more meetings that followed.Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the Nov. 5 work session to order as voting in the presidential election was drawing to a close.The topic of the work session was water, and the meeting covered issues of capacity, distribution and available fund...

It would appear that a brewery is in the future for the City of Gray following a unanimous vote by city council members to approve an important step in the process.Mayor Ed Barbee called the Nov. 4 meeting to order and had a short mayor’s report.“Vote tomorrow,” he said. A planning and zoning hearing was first on the agenda to consider the request of Anndrea Lampkin and Char...

A Jones County woman recently lost her life in an accident involving a tractor trailer at the intersection of Gray Highway and Joycliff Road.The accident occurred Oct. 23, just after 1 p.m. The deceased was identified as 68-year-old Lily Greer.A report of the accident by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Matthew Lee Dennis stated Greer was driving a 2011 Chevrolet HHR. The ot...

The community of Haddock is starting a new tradition and bringing back a former holiday tradition this Saturday.The Haddock Christmas Market will take place Nov. 23 beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. with a community Christmas Tree lighting and carols. The event will include food trucks, arts and craft vendors, goodies and photos with Santa.Haley Watson, who is assisting...

Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Wright Barksdale (far right) meets with investigators of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office in their conference room Nov. 8 to discuss current cases and their prosecution. DEBBIE LURIE-SMITH/Staff

A con artist is in the Jones County jail facing charges in multiple states following the investigation of a scam that involved Georgia Bulldog football tickets.Matthew Timothy Neet, 42, was booked into the Jones County Law Enforcement Center Nov. 5 for theft by conversion (felony).Neet gave an Alpharetta address when booked into the Jones County jail but was arrested in Louisiana....