Entries by Walter Geiger

By Walter Geiger

The man charged with setting fire to his family’s iconic seafood restaurant, the Lighthouse, pleaded guilty in Lamar superior court Thursday.

Stephen Neal Brehaut, 39, entered guilty pleas to first degree arson and insurance fraud. He admitted setting the fire and trying to profit from insurance proceeds.

Investigator Mark Barry of the Lamar County sheriff’s office confirmed Brehaut was captured setting the restaurant ablaze June 10, 2012 on his own security camera system. “The video showed him trying to set the fire four times. The fourth time it went up,” Barry testified. [Full Story »] 

World War II veteran Rufus Durrah was honored with multiple events on his birthday August 22 including a parade through downtown.

By Walter Geiger

Courtesy of Shep Marsh, a group of us spent the weekend at the Satilla River Club which sits hard by the black water from which its name is derived near Waynesville in extreme southeast Georgia. [Full Story »] 

With nearly a week of classes in the books, enrollment at Gordon State College is up slightly over last fall. [Full Story »] 

The Lamar County commission unanimously approved Brutz English's racetrack at its regular meeting Tuesday night. [Full Story »] 

Overdose case:
Lovick's mom weeps, defendants enter pleas.

Lighthouse fire:
Admitted arsonist avoids prison time after pleading guilty.

102nd birthday:
World War II veteran Rufus Durrah to be honored with Thursday parade.

Baby safe:
Kidnapper nabbed after stop sticks reduce high speed chase to low speed chase.

Scrimmage:
Trojans rout Stone Mountain 35-6 in last preseason tune-up.

The Macon Telegraph has named three seniors off the 2014 edition of the Lamar County Trojans to its 12 to Treasure preseason watch list. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

Around our household, just a glance at J.J., the family’s yellow Lab, confirms the dog days of summer are upon us. The big dog just languishes, sprawled out in various postures of relaxation in the coolest corner of the garage. [Full Story »] 

Incident report summaries July 30 - August 6; compiled by Kay S. Pedrotti

The Herald Gazette has begun this feature in an effort to show the mayhem our police officers and sheriff’s deputies face everyday.

Reporters will go through the reports each week,gleaning those that are unusual or of the most interest to readers.

Beer bottle flotilla:

The sheriff’s office investigated a report from Ponderosa Lane about beer bottles from one residence being carried by rainwater runoff to a neighbor’s yard. Dep. Michael Hamrick reported that Barry Hoover of 228 Ponderosa Lane made a complaint at the sheriff’s office Aug. 1 that “when it rains or floods the water carried his neighbor’s (226 Ponderosa Lane) beer bottles onto his property.” [Full Story »]