The first armed robbery in the county in five years happened Jan. 19 at Newington’s Southside Beverage when a man allegedly walked into the store, showed his 9mm pistol to the clerk, jumped over the counter, and took money from the cash register.
The suspect even wanted the clerk’s car keys so he could make a getaway.
The clerk gave up their keys to Jermill Shabron Milton, 24, of 2176 Simpsontown Road, but not after the car’s ignition key was slipped off while the robber was picking out the liquor of his choice -- Hennessey Cognac.

The Screven County Probate Court announced early voting will begin Feb. 13 for the Presidential Preference Primary election as well as the Sunday Alcohol Sales Referendum.
The last day to register to vote on the election day, March 6, is Feb. 6. Those wanting to vote for their choice in candidates and alcohol sales must register by Feb. 6.
A special Saturday advanced voting day will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 25 for those wanting to place an early vote during the weekend.

A Screven County man traveling home from work in Savannah lost control of his vehicle Tuesday evening and died in a crash on Newington Highway.
Driving a 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass GLS, 49-year-old Shawn Kitchens was involved in a single-car collision that flipped the vehicle several times, said James Strickland, county corner.
The vehicle crash of Kitchens, of Beardsville Road, occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the 5000 block of Newington Highway.
Kitchens, who was ejected during the crash, was employed with the Ports Authority in Savannah.

Featured speaker Dominique Halaby brought a message of find a way to make your business growth better Jan. 19 at the annual Screven County Chamber of Commerce banquet in the family life center at the First Baptist Church.
Halaby is the director of the Bureau of Business Research & Economic Development at Georgia Southern University.
The 2012 Agnes Tebeau Volunteer of the Year is June Burke-Forehand. Forehand has been instrumental in helping her community of Hiltonia and she played a major role in the United Way of Screven County’s bicycle ride that was held in October.

The start of the 2012-2013 school year in Screven County may be delayed up to two weeks.
But this is a good thing.
County officials project the replacement of the heating and air conditioning units at the elementary school may take longer than the weeks alloted for summer break.
However, when the students do return to classes the therastats should be working much better than with the current system.
The HVAC system is not the only expenditures the local school board will make through SPLOST dollars.

Part-time Sylvania Police Department officer Billy Bonney was arrested last week on charges of theft by taking and falsifying a report.
Bonney was taken into custody by the sheriff’s office Jan. 11 after an investigation of farm equipment stolen from his rental property.
Bonney’s landlord is an ex-law enforcement officer and reported Bonney to the authorities after the landlord noticed various pieces of scrap metal missing.
Bonney told the Sylvania Telephone Wednesday morning that he denies the allegations against him.

A Bulloch County murder spilled across county lines, getting the Screven County Sheriff’s Office and many other law enforcement agencies involved in the manhunt for the alleged murderer.
Frank Hayes Walters, IV, 25, of Bascom Road, was found in the wooded area near Bascom and Hiltonia-Perkins Road armed with an AK-47 and a 9 mm pistol on Sunday. Earlier in the morning, he allegedly had a dispute with Deidra Thompson, his 34-year-old girlfriend in Bulloch County, at her residence and then fatally shot her with a pistol.

The United States’ oldest functioning information and visitor welcome center will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a series of events dedicated to the historic building.
On Friday, Jan. 20, the half-century of the center’s existence will be marked by Sylvania Mayor Margaret Evans as the special guest to the U.S. Highway 301 welcome center.
When Tourism Day in Atlanta on Jan. 24 comes around, the welcome center will be officially designated a historic site.

U.S. Rep. John Barrow stopped by Shannon Vineyards Friday to speak with a group of farmers and others  from the community during the congressman’s eighth annual Rural Listening Tour.
Members of the Screven County Commission and other land owners, including Shannon Vineyards asked the Congressman questions related to the economy and field work.

The 38th Annual Banquet of the Screven County Chamber of Commerce will be at the First Baptist Church today, Jan. 19.
The evening begins at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available to members for $25 per person and non-members $30 per person.
Reserved seating with a table of eight seats costs $300 for rows one through three and $250 for rows four and five.
The night’s speaker is Dominique Halaby, D.P.A., director of the Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development at Georgia Southern University.
Contact the chamber at 912-564-7878 for more information.