Stacey S. Jackson passed on Sunday, May 5,2024, at this home in Harris County at the age of 50. Jackson served as the District Attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial District which serves; Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, and Taylor Counties in west central Georgia. He was appointed to the role by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in April of 2022, after the departure of former District Attorney Mark Jones.
Jackson was a native of Harris County, Georgia and a 1992 graduate of Harris County High School where he was an honor student and was class Salutatorian. Following his graduation from high school he was the recipient of the distinguished full four-year Presidential Scholarship to Albany State College, now known as Albany State University. Jackson would hold many titles during his time at ASU including playing on the schools baseball team and serving in student government as well as being a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu national honors fraternity. He would graduate in 1996 with Bachelors of Science in criminal justice.
Following his graduation, Jackson would go on to pursue furthering his education at the University of Dayton School of Law. Jackson would earn his Juris Doctorate degree in 1999 and began his law career with a clerkship working with Superior Court Judges Douglas C. Pullen and William J. Smith. A year later in 2000 he began working with the District Attorney's Office. He would prosecute several major felony cases during his time at the District Attorney's Office and would later go on to work in the field of criminal defense. Jackson worked his way through the ranks of the Columbus Judicial system and became a well-known name in the field of criminal defense. On April 4, 2022, Governor Kemp named Jackson as the District Attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial District.
Jackson served in the role through the time of his passing, but did take a medical leave in November of 2023. News of his passing of Jackson has sent ripples across the state. In a statement released on Sunday, Governor Kemp released a statement:
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr also released a statement remembering and honoring Jackson. The statement reads as follows:
Social media feeds on X (formerly known as Twitter) were filled with condolences and memories of Jackson on Sunday from attorney and law enforcement agencies from across the state.
Jackson was 50-years-old at the time of his passing. His death was announced by the District Attorney's Office on Sunday. There has been no funeral arrangements announced at this time.
On Monday, the Pentagon identified the causalities as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Ga; Spc. Kennedy Landon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Ga; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Ga. The three were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade at Fort Moore (Fort Benning), Georgia.
The Department of Defense says the three Army Reserve soldiers were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve at Tower 22 in Jordan. The attack not only claimed the life of the three US service members but also left more than two dozen other US soldiers injured. Of the military personnel that was injured US Central Command has said that eight had injuries severe enough to need evacuation from Jordan. The injured soldiers are being transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for follow-up care.
The attack on the small base in Jordan came as Iran-backed militants attacked living quarters at the small logistics base. The attack is just one of 165 that have come against American military posts in the Middle East since October 17, 2023. Those attacks have left more than 80 US soldiers injured, not including those injured in the attack on Sunday. The deadly attack on Sunday marks the first American causalities since the attacks by mostly Iranian backed militants have occurred.
In a statement on Sunday shortly following the attacks US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said,
Iran-backed militias are responsible for these continued attacks on U.S. forces, and we will respond at a time and place of our choosing.
The President and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the attack and has stated that the United States will respond. The nature of that response has not yet been released, but the President is facing mounting pressure from opponents and proponents in DC to respond to the loss of American life, with some calling for direct attacks on Iran, which many fear could cause a wider conflict in the region as tensions continue to mount in Israel.
On Monday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his sympathy on the loss of the Georgia based military members in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) January 29, 2024
Gwinnett County, located northeast of Atlanta has announced the county will be opening five warming stations on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, ahead of the predicted cold weather.
The warming centers will be open at the following locations:
BUFORD
Buford Senior Center 2755 Sawnee Avenue.
SNELLVILLE
Centerville Senior Center 3025 Bethany Church Road
DULUTH
Shorty Howell Park Activity Building 2750 Pleasant Hill Road
LAWRENCEVILLE
Lawrenceville Senior Center 225 Benson Street
NORCROSS
Best Friend Park Gym 6224 Jimmy Carter Blvd
The warming centers in Gwinnett County will open at 6 p.m. and remain open through 7 a.m. For more information please call (770)822-8850 or visit GwinnettOneStop.com.
According to the National Traffic Administration, estimates show that 42,915 people were killed in traffic accidents across the United States in 2021. The high number represented a 10 percent increase over estimates of the previous year. The data for 2021 was also the most traffic related deaths seen in the nation since 2005.
“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and our partners continue to implement programs designed to save lives and promote safe driving behaviors,” said Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “We ask everyone to help our state and nation reach the attainable goal of zero traffic deaths by driving safe speeds, always wearing a seat belt, keeping the focus on the road and not the phone, and never operating a vehicle under the influence of any substance that impairs your ability to drive.”
The grant was awarded on October 1, 2023, and will span through September 30, 2024. During the 12 month span, the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department will host community events and provide free child safety seat installations and checks. The safety seat installations and checks are available free of charge at at Atlanta Fire Stations.
“The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department’s commitment to serving the City of Atlanta and exceeding the anticipated needs of the citizens is multi-faceted,” said Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick Smith. “With the support and funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Administration, we can strategically and preventatively serve the City’s parents and youth with comprehensive programs and child safety seats.”
Motorist traveling south on the Downtown Connecter Interstate 75/85 caught a bit more than they bargained for on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 as they approached the area of Williams Street near the Spring Street exit ramp.
A man dressed in a full Ghostface outfit was standing on top of a Black BMW sedan with a knife in his hand and dancing. The individual also held up a sign that encouraged passing motorists to follow them on social media. Ghostface had his sedan parked in an area off the roadway between the Interstate travel lanes and the onramp to greet motorists in a chilling way.
The individual stayed on top of the vehicle for some time before reports indicate that Atlanta Police showed up and asked him to move along.
The creative Halloween display was cited for causing extra backups on the connector for motorists that stretched beyond the area where Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 merge near Atlantic Station.
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The traffic isn't the only thing that caused a scream on the Downtown Connector in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon. (photo credit- GDOT Traffic Camera) |
On September 14, 2023, a Tifton woman let her 17-year-old dog outside, shortly after letting the animal go outside she heard a yelping sound from the animal and went to investigate when she noticed a Fox was attacking her dog.
The woman went outside to try to assist her pet and fell on the ground. Once she was on the ground she was scratched and bitten by the Fox. A nearby cat ran away at which time the fox began to chase the animal and stopped the attack.
The woman went to a nearby hospital for treatment of her injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. The dog had to be euthanized according to reports released. Tift County Animal Control and the Georgia Department of Public Health South Georgia Health District were able to locate the fox a day later and exterminate the animal. The animal was tested for Rabies and it was confirmed to be positive.
Georgia is home to numerous species of animals that can carry Rabies, which include foxes, racoons and bats to name a few. These types of animals are found in various parts of the state.
Monday night's winning Powerball numbers were 9, 25, 27, 53, 66, and the Powerball was 5. There was no winner that matched all six numbers. However, one lucky winner in Georgia in Georgia matched four of the white balls and the red ball to win $50,000. But being just short of the $522 million jackpot on Monday night.
Ahead of Wednesday's night drawing the jackpot is now estimated to be $550 million. Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.