Albany Herald

These are the most-read stories at albanyherald.com for the week of Feb. 22 of March 1.

1. Lee peanut buyer faces criminal charges

HAWKINSVILLE, Ga. - Doug Wingate, owner of Great Southern Peanut Company in Leesburg, is facing a hearing at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Hawkinsville this morning, court officials say. At issue are 11 separate peanut contracts between Wingate and area farmers.

2. Restaurant customer threatened with knife

ALBANY — A customer was threatened with a knife as she waited to buy lunch on Thursday at a local fast food restaurant, according to Albany Police.

3. Squawk of the Day - Feb. 25, 2013

"Lord, we truly thank you for the rain you are blessing us with. You have answered our prayers. But could you maybe save some for July or August? Thank you."

4. Norton Johnston and Arctic Bear remembered

ALBANY — Lee Norton Johnston, 89, passed away last Wednesday. He was predeceased by a giant ice cream-licking polar bear and a popular family restaurant.

5. Petsmart looking to open Albany store

ALBANY, Ga. — Pet supplies retailer PetSmart is eying a location in Northwest Albany, documents obtained by the Herald Wednesday show.

6. Outlook 2013: Interim Dougherty School superintendent looking to shake things up

ALBANY — When Butch Mosely became the Dougherty County School system’s Interim Superintendent in January, he knew exactly what he was walking into.

7. Caregiver charged with stealing from elderly woman

ALBANY — A caregiver who had been on the run since being questioned by police in November in connection to a series of thefts from an 86-year-old woman has been arrested, authorities say.

8. Squawk of the Day - Feb. 28, 2013

"To the person that said the American people don’t pay for Obama’s vacations: They must be living under a rock somewhere down by the Flint River. We pay for every penny of it."

1. GHSA/GISA STATE TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP: Rutland ends Herald No. 1 Monroe boys’ season in Sweet 16; R-C boys, Pelham girls moving on after huge road wins

MACON — Monroe thought it had shaken its playoff curse by getting out of the first round earlier this week.

10. Squawk of the Day - Feb. 27, 2013

"When I was growing up, if you saw a car speeding up, slowing down or weaving from side to side for no apparent reason, it was probably because a girl was sitting too close to her boyfriend on the front seat. Now, it’s probably because someone is talking or texting on a cell phone. I liked the old way better. "