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J.D. Sumner

Stories by J.D.

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River and creeks update

Projections for the Flint River at Albany have been reduced, with the river now not expected to reach flood stage.

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Washed out roads prompt school closures

River and creek flooding is likely in areas of Southwest Georgia later this week after a weekend of heavy rains.

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River flooding prompts marathon changes

The Snickers Marathon and the Mardi Gras Street Festival are two of downtown Albany's biggest events each year.

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Outlook 2013: Walmart impact a double-edged sword

The construction of a new Walmart complex in 2011 was the biggest new retail development in East Albany in decades.

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Chinese influence still bolstering pecan market

The Chinese people's discovery of pecans has sent prices soaring as supply has sought to catch demand, Willson Farming CEO Larry Willson told the Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County Monday.

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Quail Forever welcomes QU'ers into the fold

Amid the ruins of Quail Unlimited, officials at one of its chief competitors are stepping up efforts throughout the country to recruit the now-defunct organization's former members and chapters.

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Officials urge caution in face of heavy rains

A second round of storms is set to move through the area Monday, officials say.

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Study points to Albany self-loathing

Using a sophisticated ranking system analyzing a bank of more than 10,000 words, a new study delves into Twitter use, ranking cities based on the words its residents tweet to determine the "happiest" and "saddest" in the country.

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Baker sheriff challenge heads to supreme court

A special runoff election won’t be scheduled until after the Georgia Supreme Court renders its opinion.

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SPLOST funds can't be used for multimodal station, officials say

The $4 million approved by voters was for a transit maintenance facility, not a transit station, city officials say.

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Bill offered to close hospital authority loophole

Two Southwest Georgia representatives are among a group of legislators who have authored a bill in the state House that would close a loophole in state law created by a ruling Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court that blocked Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital from merging with Palmyra without approval of the federal government.

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Commission OKs mall parcel rezoning

Planning officials mention outdoors retailer Gander Mountain as a possiblity for locating a store on Westover Boulevard.

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Cutliff Grove asks city for debt reduction

The $200,000 each year that is generated by the Nativity housing complex isn’t enough to pay the city’s loan on the property, officials say.

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Georgia Supreme Court upholds Albany murder conviction

In a separate case, the high court also blocked a Dougherty defendant’s attempts to stop a retrial on murder charges.

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ASU responds to Charles' Foundation statements

The Charles’ Foundation gave $3 million to Morehouse College Saturday.

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Despite recession, 'Shutters' is growing

Shutters Plus is located on the 400 block of North Cleveland Avenue in midtown Albany.

When the economy tanked in 2008, it claimed more than its fair share of small businesses.

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Wintry mix possible Saturday

Any snow that may come with Saturday's arctic front won't accumulate, weather officials say.

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Live Oak students celebrate Arbor Day

Students at Live Oak Elementary celebrated Arbor Day Friday by planting the school's first Live Oak on campus.

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Jackson receives 2012 Citizens Medal (with video)

Pamela Green Jackson of Albany receives the nation's second-highest civilian award for her work fighting childhood obesity.

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Albany Museum of Art breaks ground on Willson Auditorium

An Atlanta-based design firm developed the site plan and a local contractor has been chosen to build the facility.

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Phillip Phillips' mother charged

DUI less safe is charged when a motorist is believed to be under the influence of a substance other than alcohol, officials say.

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Meals on Wheels driver robbed at gunpoint

A man robbed the driver of a Meals on Wheels vehicle at gunpoint Thursday morning, officials say.

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City forecloses on L'Juas; former owner files suit to block sale

The City of Albany has foreclosed on a restaurant owned by a former board member of the Albany Dougherty Inner City Authority with more than $200,000 in loans unpaid.

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USPS: Albany processing facility to stay open until Feb. 23

The U.S. Postal Service releases a list of facilities it will consider closing, and Albany and Valdosta facilities are included.

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Albany woman awarded Citizen's medal by White House

The Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States.

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Deal appoints Thomasville woman to state board of Education

Governor Nathan Deal has appointed a local doctor to serve on the state board of Education.

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Bike race joins racing circuit - WITH VIDEO

The annual SB&T Bank Bike Race will no longer be a part of Albany’s Mardi Gras celebration as it moves to May.

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Burke grabs senate seat

A Bainbridge doctor, businessman and author will be the next senator for District 11 after beating a former Georgia House member for the seat Tuesday.

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Events kick off 2013 fundraising season

Nonprofits hope to benefit from the kindness of supporters at a number of area fundraisers.

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AT&T turns on Albany 4G LTE service

AT&T is the second telecommunications carrier to provide faster 4G service in Albany.

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Quail Forever hires Bowles, QU staff

An attorney for one of QU's alleged creditors says possible legal action against the former nonprofit is being considered.

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‘Doggy Day care’ has tails wagging

Magnolia Pet Resort & Spa typically sees 25 to 30 dogs each day through the program.

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'Field of Flags' parcel under contract

There was no immediate word on who had bought or leased the space.

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Sixth student charged in Worth bomb threats

The investigation is continuing in a series of bomb threats that led to several evacuations at Worth County schools.

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Quail Unlimited goes out of business

A new organization unaffiliated with QU called Quail Albany has been formed.

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Dabney, McAfee and Liberty House win Chamber awards

The Albany-Area Chamber of Commerce announces a new website and logo.

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McAfee: RiverQuarium needs new business model

Efficiency is the “top priority” for the downtown aquarium, the board chair says.

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Five charged in Worth County bomb threats

Five juveniles and one parent have been charged in connection with a series of bomb threats that have disrupted school in Worth County for the last week.

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Officials propose stripping TSPLOST 'penalty'

Governments in regions that did not pass the TSPLOST currently have to pay 30 percent of all road-related construction costs.

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RiverQuarium eliminates CEO position

Aquarium board members say the decision is a cost-cutting measure.

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Bomb threats have Worth schools on alert

Three different threats are called in against Worth County schools Monday and Tuesday.

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Crowd flocks to Civic Center for 2013 Empty Bowls event

The event benefits the Albany Area Arts Council and the SOWEGA Council on Aging.

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New law will 'double tax' auto leases

Beginning March 1, those who lease cars will have to pay a 6.5 percent tax on the title plus the continuing monthly sales tax fee, officials say.

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Group asks highway to be dedicated to fallen Leesburg Marine

The Heroes Run, an event honoring the late Lance Cpl. Steve Sutton, is set for Feb. 23, officials say.

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Big 10 for Jan. 18-25, 2013

ALBANY — These are the most read stories at albanyherald.com for the week of Jan. 18 through Jan. 25, 2013.

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Garcia Taco truck rolls into downtown

Albany gets in on an eating option that is rapidly gaining popularity in the country.

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U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss to retire

The two-term senator from Moultrie’s announcement Friday catches many on Capitol Hill off guard.

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Metro Albany’s unemployment rate increases by 0.5 percent

Southwest Georgia as a whole is also up, officials say.

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Volunteers rally ahead of homeless count

When the U.S. Census Bureau undertook its constitutional task of counting Americans in 2010, they knocked on a lot of doors in Albany, counting up anyone and everyone they could find.

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Fourth quarter gains lift Synovus

Synovus is the parent company of SB&T bank.