Airport terminal named for World War II ace fighter pilot
By Charles Shiver If you ever want to learn about some interesting local history, please visit the Cook County Airport terminal building named for Donald S. “Bush” Bryan. The airport has an exhibit with historic photos of the World War II ace pilot and his wife Frances, “Little One.” The exhibit features artifacts on loan…
Read MoreA lost tradition: Big Oak Tree Community Celebration on Christmas Eve
By Charles Shiver In 2019, I took photos of the Celebration Oak in the center of West Meeting Street in Adel. Over the years, everyone was invited to the Annual Big Oak Tree Community Celebration, always held beginning at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve under the Big Oak Tree that lived in the middle of West…
Read MoreSale City Man Guilty of 69 Counts in Dog Fighting Case
67 Dogs Rescued at Rural Southwest Georgia Property; Many Injured and Scarred ALBANY, Ga. – A well-known dog-fighting breeder and trainer in Southwest Georgia was convicted this week of dozens of federal animal welfare charges, along with possessing guns and manufacturing drugs. Dun Bradford, of Sale City, Georgia, was found guilty of 67 counts of…
Read MoreAdel business owners, former CMS principal indicted in federal counterfeit goods case
Last week, a federal grand jury indicted an Adel business owner, two of her daughters, the business owner’s husband, and three other defendants for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, according to court records. The defendants are identified as Michelle Meadows, owner of Michelle’s in Adel; Russell B. “Rusty” Meadows, former principal of Cook Middle…
Read MoreEight Valdosta residents sentenced to prison in fraudulent check cashing scheme Defendants ran counterfeit check cashing fraud with stolen information from USPS employee ALBANY, Ga. – Eight South Georgia residents, including a bank branch employee, were sentenced to prison for a check cashing and kickback scheme in Valdosta utilizing stolen check information from a…
Read MoreMan indicted for conspiracy to produce child pornography
On Oct. 1, 2025, the Cook County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment against Billy Ray Daniel, 67, of Dayton, Ohio, (currently in federal custody) for aggravated child molestation – party to a crime, aggravated sexual battery – party to a crime, conspiracy to commit production of child pornography (two counts), enticing a…
Read MoreBridge on Springhill Road dedicated in memory of Zera D. Storey
Bridge on Springhill Road dedicated in memory of Zera D. Storey On Friday morning, Sept. 26, 2025, the family of the late Zera Darrell Storey and his wife, the late Mattie Wetherington Storey, attended a sign dedication ceremony for Mr. Storey at the Cook County Courthouse. State Rep. Chas Cannon of the 172nd District and…
Read MoreOn the trail of Cain
On the trail of Cain By Charles Shiver After reading my recent article about the unsolved 1973 murder of Claude Wood, a family member asked me to report on another “cold” unsolved local case, the May 1989 murder of Benjamin “Benny” Dale Nolan, 42, of Route 1, Sparks. According to a front page article in…
Read MoreNHRA announces South Georgia Motorsports Park to host Southern Nationals in 2026
INDIANAPOLIS – The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) today released their highly anticipated 2026 national event schedule, celebrating their 75th anniversary as the gold standard of drag racing sanctioning bodies. The 20-event schedule will include two new venues including South Georgia Motorsports Park, located just outside Valdosta, Georgia (between Adel and Cecil on Highway 41…
Read MoreMurder case remains unsolved from 52 years ago
Murder case remains unsolved from 52 years ago By Charles Shiver In 2019, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation released a poster seeking information in one of Cook County’s oldest “cold” murder cases. Claude Norris Wood was shot and killed at his business (a country store/gas station) at the intersection of Fellowship Road and Val-Del Road…
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