Woman hurt in accident: Victim in 'fair' condition Tuesday
Sharon Garnett, 56, of Harlem, was the driver of this dump truck that crashed on a sharp curve on the Augusta Highway on Monday afternoon. Photo by Justin Schuver.
A Harlem woman was airlifted to the Medical College of Georgia Hospital in Augusta after experiencing severe injuries in a single-vehicle accident Monday.
The woman was hurt when the dump truck she was driving crashed on a sharp curve on U.S. Highway 278, just west of the Boneville Pond Road intersection Monday afternoon.
Trooper Mike Callaway of the Georgia State Patrol said Sharon Garnett, 56, of Harlem, was the only victim in the accident, and her truck collided with several trees, a fire hydrant and power lines. The extent of Garnett’s injuries were not immediately known.
“It appears that she was coming around the curb, and instead of making the turn, she just went straight ahead," Callaway said. “We’re not sure if she was drowsy, or distracted, or if it was something else. It’s too early to tell.”
For the complete story, see the Wed., Sept. 1, edition of The McDuffie Progress.
Volunteer assistant fire chief charged
Thomson Police Department officers escort David Hawkins to the Law Enforcement Center on Monday. Photo by Dianne Bond.
David Hawkins, a volunteer assistant fire chief with the City of Thomson Fire Department, was taken into custody Monday evening on theft charges, Thomson Police Chief Joe Nelson said.
Nelson said Hawkins will be charged with at least one felony count of theft by taking, but additional charges are pending.
“The investigation is continuing, because there is some more merchandise that has not been accounted for,” Nelson said.
Hawkins was held under a $5,000 bond. No other information was available at press time Tuesday.
Junior cadets learn 'life-saving' skills
McDuffie County Fire/Rescue Service cadets (L-R) Thomas Knight, Jamarius Tate, Trevor Curry, John May and Marquez Stewart practice lifting “victim” Nathan Shepard onto a baseboard during their class Saturday. Photo by Justin Schuver.
After a serious accident, the difference between life and death can sometimes be a matter of minutes.
Saturday, junior cadets at the McDuffie County Fire/Rescue Service were participating in several classes that will allow them to act as "first responders" on the scene of such an accident. In addition to first aid and CPR, the cadets are also learning skills such as how to set broken bones, load bodies onto stretchers or apply oxygen to someone who is having trouble breathing.
The teacher of the course said the skills these teenagers are learning could eventually help them save someone's life.
"Often on emergency calls, we get there before the ambulance arrives," said Lt. John Payne of the McDuffie County Fire/Rescue Service, who is teaching the 46-hour course to the cadets. "This allows us to do what we can do to help, before the ambulance and other first responders get there."
For the complete story, see the Wed., Sept. 1, edition of The McDuffie Progress.
TCB teammates get very sticky at 'Messy Games'
Tiffanie Moore crawls through the gooey boxes during the obstacle course Saturday at the fifth-annual TCB “Messy Games.” Photo by Dianne Bond.
The TCB (Thomson Competitive Bulldogs) Competition teams held their fifth annual “Messy Games” at Sweetwater Park on Sat., Aug. 28. Messy Games was designed to give the new members a chance to get to know their team members and to build the relationship needed to trust each other on the competition mats.
Members had to “listen” as their team members instructed them which way to go in the “box races” and they had to learn to “do whatever it takes” by crawling or running through the obstacle course. That course left them extremely “messy” with ketchup, shaving cream and all sorts of gooey mess squirted on them as they passed through.
For the complete story, see the Wed., Sept. 1, edition of The McDuffie Progress.
Man charged in copper heist A Thomson man was arrested Monday, and is accused of stealing copper from air-conditioning equipment at a McDuffie County trailer park Friday.
Charles William Odum, 30, was charged with second-degree criminal damage to property and theft by taking — over $300.
According to a report filed by McDuffie County Deputy Alan Baldwin, Odum allegedly removed copper ductwork from underneath one of the trailers at the park.
“(The trailer park owner) stated it appears (Odum) lifted up the underpinning and gained access to underneath the trailer,” Baldwin wrote in the report. “(The owner) further states they also broke into the air conditioning unit on the outside of the trailer. (The owner) stated they removed a copper pipe and cut some wiring inside the unit.”
For more on this story, see the Wed., Sept. 1, edition of The McDuffie Progress.
