A funeral service will be held on Saturday 2025 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Highways Catholic Church NC.  Burial will follow in Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery NC.  A visitation will be held on Friday 2025 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the J.C NC.  Online condolences may be sent to www.jcgreenandsons.com With a goal of pulling over 80 drivers each month Thomasville's new traffic unit is working to turn risky roads into safer ones With warmer weather and more folks on the road Thomasville Police launched a new traffic unit this spring to put more eyes on who's speeding and breaking the law in the neighborhood "So the state has funded us through the Governor's Office of Highway Safety They've given us some goals to reach every month as it relates to speeding enforcement and seat belt enforcement So we just have to meet those goals to receive the money," said Lieutenant David Fisher Officers will aim to catch at least 80 speeders—or more—by using radar and LIDAR to monitor traffic in busy areas police issued 186 speeding tickets—up from 156 the month before "So I feel like it's been pretty productive and they've made a lot of contacts with people that we put our efforts on because that's where we have a lot of the issues with speeding," said Fisher That's right—Madison Street is one of those high-speed trouble spots.It's also where Martha Coes had her accident years ago She says drivers still treat the road like a highway but nothing I could do because other cars come the opposite way from the police report and all the things they did after the fact that he was going 75 miles per hour when he hit me," said Coes Martha tells me her car would've exploded if it hadn't been raining—and it took her 15 years to walk again hoping the new initiative will prevent others from going through what she did So that I kind of cut them down and teach them it's the other person you have to look out for," said Coes The unit currently has two officers working mostly Monday through Friday but Lieutenant Fisher tells me there are plans to expand it if necessary Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. Like us on Facebook Follow us onInstagramand X. Report a typo We cover stories making an impact in Thomasville. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Thomasville and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTHOMASVILLE (WCTV) - Thomasville residents in the area of Simeon and Grady streets were temporarily urged to remain indoors and lock their doors Thursday as police searched for a suspect TPD announced on social media that dispatch issued a “reverse 911 call” to notify residents that officers were looking for a suspect who may be armed Thomasville Police said in a Facebook post that officers were not able to locate the suspect The department said investigators do not believe there is any threat to the public and advised residents to no longer remain indoors or lock their doors Police said they were searching for an African American male with dreadlocks who was last seen wearing a black hoodie A spokesperson for the police department said the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office was leading the investigation The suspect may have run away from a traffic stop but officials were unable to provide specific details on the circumstances leading up to the manhunt Police said they also could not confirm if the suspect was armed For anyone who witnesses anything suspicious police said to call dispatch at 229-226-2101 or 911 This story will be updated as we learn more To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X (Twitter) Have a news tip or see an error that needs attention? Write to us here Please include the article’s headline in your message Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started Nearly half of all people in jails or prisons have been diagnosed with a mental illness according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics — but jails aren't built to treat them I'm taking a closer look at a local program that's changing how mental health crises are handled in the field — before they lead to an arrest "Sometimes you come across folks who are having trouble and jail is not the place for them Maybe they're having some mental health difficulties An officer might only have the choice of leaving them alone or taking them to jail if things seem dangerous What we provide is a third option," said Gregory Roberts Georgia Pines — a community mental health provider that offers mostly free services — now partners with Thomasville police officers to ride along during patrols The goal is to take a gentler approach during mental health calls…helping people get treatment instead of locking them up when that's not what they really need "One of the things that I have learned over my 35-year career as a police officer that we were doing it wrong for several years How we dealt with people in crisis and things like that It wasn't because we wanted to do it wrong because we had no other alternative," said Chief Glover from Thomasville Police a therapist like Gregory can join officers on scene — helping to calm things down and connect the person to services like counseling but they're not trained like a therapist who's been gone to school anywhere from four to six years and have gotten their license and are able to say I have a better feel about the resources that are available," said Robert Hurns And it's not just better for the community — it's helping officers That's hours beyond hours and hours of time," said Chief Roger Wade Glover "I'd say upwards of 80 percent of the folks that I come in contact with a lot of the folks that I talk to have a pretty good idea of what they're dealing with They just don't know how to deal with it," said Roberts If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in Thomasville you can call this number to get immediate help: (229) 225-3917 Georgia Pines is hosting a Mental Health Awareness Fair on May 21st from 10 AM to 2 PM — a chance for individuals and families to connect with support (WALB) - The city of Thomasville announced an expected road closure in a May 4 Facebook post The announcement said the city’s water department plans to start installing water services Monday They expect the road to be closed between Fletcher Street and Normal Lane on Monday The city did not specify what times they expect the road to be closed Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message Dozens of teacher jobs are currently open across the Thomasville City Schools district — and the need is growing the district is now turning to its own students I think a lot of people think it's time-consuming I'll show you how high schoolers are getting the chance to earn a college degree for free while working as classroom assistants colleges like Thomas University are working hard to boost enrollment numbers "We've noticed a decline in enrollment just because things are more expensive and people don't want to take out student loans to then have to pay forever to gain the investments," said Marriah Adams Thomas University reached out to local school districts — and with teacher shortages on the rise That led to a partnership with Thomasville City Schools "So they take what they've learned in my class and then they'll take it to one of the elementary schools as a paraprofessional So having that hands-on experience already and then gaining more experience Teacher Krishna Presha says her students are already getting real classroom experience — and this new program builds directly on that Two students officially signed up last week — making them the first to enter the program and get a free education while working in schools " I've seen their faces light up when they see those children and they work with them It's a feeling that you can't explain to see the faces of students that I've taught and I've seen them with different children For Thomasville High School senior Ni'shyah Duncan they always tell me all of the good things I've done for them to change their lives and stuff like that Even the teachers and the principal over there," said Duncan Leaders at Thomas university say they're already looking to expand the program to more schools in the region "If we can grow this program to multiple schools within a 50-mile radius and we can help young kids get a college education that's really what it's about," said Adams It all starts August 19 — with students on track to finish the program in four years and retire just four years after that 2025 at 8:07 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWALB is working to produce a video for this story (WALB) - Phase one of construction on the Remington Avenue Streetscape is set to begin later in May contractors will begin working on the Remington Avenue Streetscape Project the project will provide much-needed improvements to the portion of the corridor stretching along Remington Avenue and East Pinetree Boulevard to the intersection of Kern Street and Smith Avenue The current Phase one project scope includes: “Phase one will primarily address roadway safety infrastructure improvements and street paving issues,” said Mark Harmon Executive Director of Engineering and Inspections “A reduction of the road width at the intersection of Kern Street and Smith Avenue along with the addition of a concrete median in the five-lane section of the Remington Avenue and East Pinetree Boulevard intersection will greatly improve roadway safety and flow of traffic The addition of a three-way signalized light at the Remington Avenue and Covington Avenue intersection will also assist with speed reduction.” the city council approved the project award to The Scruggs Company in the amount of $5,130,734.94 “We are extremely excited to move this long-awaited project into the construction stage,” said Chris White “Public input and visioning sessions for the Remington Project date back to 2018 inflation and other variables have delayed and altered the scope of this project We are proud of the important features being addressed in Phase one of this vital project for one of our most traveled roadways.” The addition of a roundabout at the intersection of Kern Street Reid Street and Remington Avenue is another major phase in this project “We expect the construction of the proposed roundabout to require a significant amount of time to complete,” said Harmon “According to the Georgia Department of Transportation roundabouts provide a reduced speed environment and offer substantial safety advantages and excellent performance in terms of traffic flow.” Early projected costs for the Remington Project were approximately $9 million “Through public input sessions dating back to 2018 we discovered some features that were coveted by the community such as safe pedestrian access landscaping and road surfacing,” said Harmon as the project scope expanded and inflation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased costs the city had to reassess what was financially feasible while addressing features important to the project and community.” Phase one of this project is primarily being funded through 2018 SPLOST revenues The city plans to address additional community priorities such as sidewalks along Remington Avenue from the roundabout to East Pinetree Boulevard we anticipate this project to be completed in 300 days,” said White “While we do expect temporary road and lane closures and additional detours we are confident that the coordinated efforts between all parties will minimize the inconveniences created for our citizens and provide a safer and enhanced corridor for both motorists and pedestrians.” Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of John Everett Swaim 1965 to Austin Tomlinson “Tommy” Swaim and Josephine Walker Swaim in Davidson County He was a member of Fair Grove Church and a 1983 graduate of East Davidson High School He was an accomplished carpenter and craftsman John never met a stranger and made numerous friends over the years he would always go the extra mile to help anyone he could especially his friends who meant so much to him His legacy of hard work and craftsmanship will live on He is now in the presence of his loving Heavenly Father Left to cherish his memory are his loving mother Josephine Walker Swaim of Thomasville; two sisters Christy Swaim Barker and husband Sam all of Thomasville; nieces and nephew Emily Caroline Hill and fiancé Jacob Hitch Abbey Josephine Parrish and fiancé Layton Swain 2025 at 2:00 PM at Fair Grove Church Cemetery in Thomasville with Jane Baity officiating A gathering of family and friends will follow at the church fellowship hall memorials may be given to Pierced Ministries Rehab and Recovery Services 27263 or Celebrate Recovery Triad Church 705 Sunshine Way Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWALB is working to produce a video for this story (WALB) – Thomasville Police “do not believe there is any threat to the general public” after issuing an alert to residents who live in the area of Grady Street and Simeon Street earlier in the morning dispatch issued a reverse 911 call at 11:08 a.m Thursday morning to notify residents in the immediate area while Thomasville Police were attempting to locate a wanted suspect who was potentially armed and dangerous Citizens were advised to remain indoors and keep their doors locked during the search Thomasville Police Department says the alert “was a precautionary measure in case he attempted to enter someone’s home while we were actively chasing him.” Police were searching the neighborhood for a African American male with dreadlocks last seen wearing a black hoodie law enforcement had not located the suspect but they issued a second alert saying that the treat had passed and lifted the advisory urging residents to shelter in place Police continue to encourage anyone who observes suspicious activity or has information about the suspect to contact dispatch at (229) 226-2101 or call 911 WALB has reached out to Thomasville officials for additional details as the investigation continues A tight-knit community of local businesses makes Thomasville one of the most welcoming towns anywhere it felt like we were inviting them into our living room This video shows two aggressive dogs attacking a cat near McIntyre Park but neighbors tell me that incidents like this happen far too often an old cat that was asleep on the porch," said Burges I'm talking to neighbors who say they've had enough neighbors like Carol Burges near McIntyre Park have been living in fear of two aggressive dogs roaming their area Carol tells me these dogs have been attacking anything in their path They're not trying to eat the animals they killed they break their neck and drop them and go," said Burges Carol started taking matters into her own hands And now I have to put up a fence around my property to keep the dogs out because Animal Control has known the address of these dogs That was provided to Animal Control a week or so ago And they still haven't done anything about it," said Burges Carol and other neighbors decided to speak up at Tuesday's county commissioners' meeting to find out why this hasn't been resolved yet "We respond to 614 calls for animal services from January 1st until today We respond to each call that we actually get I was not aware that there was a video of these dogs actually attacking this cat," said Watkins who oversees the Sheriff's Department and Animal Control was at the meeting and assured neighbors that action would be taken We will actually take these dogs and hold the owners of these dogs responsible," said Watkins Sheriff Watkins tells me the owners will be charged with having their dogs running at large Lori Paige's remains were finally found right here in Thomas County I'm talking to the Thomas County Sheriff to learn how a prescribed burn helped uncover a critical piece of the puzzle Lori Paige's disappearance left her community searching for answers Her father reported her missing in June 2023 claiming she packed a bag and left in the middle of the night 2025—almost two years later—that her remains were found in a plantation just across the Florida line but thick brush made it nearly impossible to find anything Sheriff Watkins says the scheduled burn gave law enforcement a second chance to search that land—and this time "The prescribed burns actually gets rid of a lot of the undergrowth and usually plantations this time of year will do prescribed burns around all of the property they usually hunt and that gets rid of the undergrowth and makes it a lot easier to see and walk through those areas," said Watkins They found what they believe are Lori's remains in the spot they searched months ago had moved to Thomas County after she was reported missing Detectives also searched his apartment and tracked his internet history including searches about remote areas with water in Georgia and Alabama Sheriff Watkins believes Wiley didn't specifically plan to hide her at this plantation—but ended up there by chance Lori Paige's father now faces a murder charge and at his first court appearance in Tallahassee he was denied bond Meantime the Thomas County Sheriff's Office says they will also charge him with concealing her death and other crimes Before the Rose Festival takes center stage there's one event locals lace up for year after year I'm taking a closer look at the roots behind the Rose City 5K Walk and why it's more than just a stroll—it's a tradition nearly 50 years strong "My wife and I did the Peachtree Road Race in 1977 didn't just take that idea and run with it—he's been helping plan these events ever since we started having a one-mile run for the kids That one-mile run took place just last Saturday—and it came with a big moment: a new course record "So it's been 38 years since the record was set which it actually came in just a foot ahead So a woman was the fastest individual in the one-mile run this year," said Story occasionally you see people you haven't seen in a while It's just good being out there with all your friends and family and hometown people," said Cooper says the 5K Walk coming up this Saturday isn't as easy as it might sound I've won the overall event once," said Cooper They want this year to feel like the good old days we're having more than we've had since 2019 in every event," said Story The early registration fee is $25 per person This historic bookstore has been a downtown Thomasville staple for 52 years providing neighbors with faith-based resources I'm looking at how this closing impacts the community and what comes next "A lot of people have said they purchased their first Bible here and we put their names on the Bibles," said Eiford Rayann's Christian Bookstore has been a cornerstone of faith in Thomasville It was very instrumental in helping to educate my children on Christian belief great gift ideas for friends and family whenever something would arise," said Tracie Fiveash is preparing to close its doors for good after navigating the business through 23 years of changes But we've always felt like we did a good job at kind of changing with the times more things people can give just to encourage people," said Eiford But now she's ready to step into a new chapter "I'm retiring to just have more time available for my family And then I have grandchildren that live away from here and want to be very present in their lives like Tracie Fiveash at Pink Valise say losing RayAnn's means losing a vital part of Thomasville's small business community I think it's a one-of-a-kind type business somebody could take it over because it's a great store," said Fiveash Laura says she hopes someone will continue the tradition people need for you to stay with them for a while and kind of help train them and get them started because that was a commitment that we were just kind of ready to move on to the next season," said Eiford Laura tells me the store will officially close at the end of April 40,000 — that's how many people we're expecting to see right here in Thomasville over just two days I'm taking you on a stroll through this year's Rose Festival and showing you how businesses are celebrating in their own special way and Downtown Thomasville is overflowing with flowers who tells me she's been dreaming about this moment since she was a little girl "I can remember coming to this parade when I was a little girl and seeing miss thomasville and wanting to be just like her so beign able to be here and be that woman that little me loves is such an honor," said Taylor Also soaking in the memories is a couple visiting from Valdosta—Annette and Ed Woodruff—who say the festival brings back sweet family traditions "We just love to come over and look at the beautiful roses It's kind of special for me because my parents lived in Valdosta and my father was a big nut about roses and used to come over here and buy the roses that were registered and I enjoy seeing them and oh yeah he had one like that," said Woodruff And those neighbors aren't just here to see the flowers—they're shopping creating a $4.3 million impact for our city "We still normally are busy but we're expecting it to be a little bit more busy with a lot more foot traffic," said Love Leland Love tells me it's his first time working a Rose Festival at Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop where they're rolling out a special rose-inspired cocktail "With the artisan market going on downtown and everybody coming in for this event it's really beneficial," said Maguire Sweet Cacao Chocolates—who recently moved and expanded—have also been in prep mode tells me they are expecting sales to double from last year "We've been in full mode where all of us have really dedicated more hours than usual to make sure that we are fully stocked and prepared for this weekend," said Maguire you've got the Rose Fest Market at The Ritz GA — After nearly three years of investigation and legal proceedings Torrii Fedrick Robinson has been found guilty of murdering her husband She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole Thursday morning The case began in September 2021 when the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry after an autopsy revealed that the 40-year-old had antifreeze in his system TCSO says Fedrick was taken to Archbold Memorial Hospital where the emergency room staff suspected poisoning Investigators ruled out accidental exposure leading to Robinson’s arrest in November 2022 with her defense team arguing she wasn't responsible for his death but rather it was the result of a suicide attempt but evidence pointed to deliberate poisoning thanked the jury and said they came back with the correct verdict (WCTV) - The City of Thomasville recently received $19.8 million for community enhancement projects and city officials say it’s their largest grant in history because we need this sort of stimulation in Thomasville,” Charles Baker said Baker moved to the rose city more than 20 years ago and said he’s enjoyed watching the city progress “I think it’s going to move Thomasville forward “I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen 10 years from now.” The grant money will be split into multiple community projects, according to Earl Williams with the Thomasville Community Development Corporation (TCDC) He helped secure the grant in partnership with the city “It’s great that we - a nonprofit - and the city were able to work together,” Williams said TCDC is getting about $2 million for its Home Improvement Grant Program allowing residents to apply for funding to make upgrades to their homes “We have so many older people living in these communities and they want to stay there,” Williams said this is going to give us the resources to actually keep the seniors safe and in place.” The housing assistance will be for residents living in the Fletcherville TCDC will also receive nearly $8 million to renovate the historic Douglass School gymnasium Williams said the gym will be available for sports but it will also serve as a temporary shelter during natural disasters The other buildings attached to the gym will include community office spaces and a health clinic “We found a wellness company that could contract with us that is federally qualified and certified,” Williams said The City of Thomasville is also receiving a portion of this money Roughly $9 million will be used for replacing outdated sewage systems according to Assistant Utilities Superintendent Eric Gossett “If you just allow aged infrastructure to continue to go about as it is it will just start seeping into the ground,” Gossett said Williams said they have three years to complete the community projects and there will be an oversight committee to make sure the money is handled properly TCDC anticipates the housing grant application will be available in the spring and Williams said they will make public announcements to keep residents informed Renovations on the Douglass School gym are expected to begin in June and construction is estimated for 12-18 months Have a news tip or see an error that needs attention? Write to us here Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started (WALB) - The Thomasville Police Department (TPD) is investigating a stolen vehicle incident and several entering auto incidents a vehicle was stolen from the Covington Avenue and Remington Avenue areas police discovered that several vehicles were entered in the area during the night of Monday They believe that property including firearms were stolen Police believe that there was a theft victim in Cairo TPD is working with the Cairo Police Department to identify the victim the stolen vehicle was recovered and two juveniles were apprehended Anyone missing items from their vehicles is asked to contact the Thomas County dispatch at (229) 226-2101 Around 40 kids are going home with brand new bikes Thursday sharing more about this initiative—and also on a mission to finally learn how to ride a bike myself Spring is in full swing—and so is the giving season for Hubs and Hops a local spot that specializes in all things bikes right here in Thomasville Owner Roger Hawkes tells me this is the third year they've partnered with the Boys & Girls Club to give bikes to kids who need them "We have received quite a few donated bikes and then the couple behind me came to us and Doug has a extensive background in frame building of bikes and doing mechanic work and said that he would love to help not only find and bring together the donated bikes but do all of the work on them," said Hawks hours of work later—and the Hubs and Hops team was able to roll out 40 bikes right here in Thomasville But it's not just about giving kids bikes—they're also teaching them how to ride "We are going to have several other volunteer adults here and we all we put a adult with each rider and we'll get our exercise in jogging up and down the parking lot today and stay with them So we're gonna try to keep falling to a minimum and we have a technique that we use that kind of helps with that," said Hawks And while the kids were hopping on their new bikes I decided to put Roger's technique to the test myself "I think everybody needs to know how to ride a bike even ABC 27 reporters," said Brian Fleming CEO of Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs So I gave Roger's three-step method a shot "The first step is making them comfortable with where they are on the bike then second is balance and that's where we'll spend a good bit of time not trying to get them to pedal the bike but to balance the bike then once any individual is is more comfortable with the balance the pedaling becomes a second nature," said Hawks If you want to donate a bike to kids in our neighborhood you can drop it off at Hubs and Hops in Downtown Thomasville People often think policing is all about enforcement but Thomasville police tell me it's also about connection I'm showing you how they're getting involved and showing a different side through the Rose Festival's car show The Rose City Show & Shine Car & Truck Show is one of the highlights of the Rose Festival Beyond the fun of checking out incredible classic cars Sergeant Crystal Parker says the entry fees help fund programs like the Jr Law Enforcement Academy and Safe‑T‑ville—so every attendee is actually supporting local kids and community outreach "We're trying to humanize the badge so we need the community to understand that officers are people too we care and we want to have those connections with people We want our community to know that we're part of the community with them," said Parker Show began 22 years ago as a small fundraiser for the Thomasville Police Department's community programs it's grown into a must‑see event where more than 250 cars line the historic courthouse lawn you'll see rows of gleaming classic cars—everything from '57 Chevys to vintage pickups The show will take place at the Historic Courthouse downtown from 10 to 3 this Saturday but you'll need to be there by 8 to check in A Thomasville mother tells me she took the worst day of her life and turned her grief into purpose raising more than $80,000 to help other families who've lost a child I'm showing you how her daughter's memory is now making a difference for grieving families in South Georgia And you don't bring attention to it because people have differing opinions we've always been very open with our story and with our daughter And we want other families to feel the same and have that community and just come together," said Glass Kaleigh Glass and her husband lost their daughter Emerson Rae five years ago That heartbreak led her to start the Emerson Rae Foundation—a nonprofit that supports grieving families and brings awareness to pregnancy and infant loss they hosted their very first fundraiser: Hops for Healing we might have a lot of people that want to have something named in memory or in honor of somebody So we knew that when we were planning for this new maternity center we didn't have a bereavement room in our current facility," said Middleton tells me they're now in the process of upgrading their maternity wing which is over 90 years old and lacks a dedicated space for grieving families Kayleigh and I were talking about this gift if you raise $25,000 and want to name this new bereavement room in memory of your child says a bereavement room gives families the privacy they need to say goodbye "If mom needs a change of scenery and she wants to walk out of her room out of labor and delivery and go visit family just to get a break she is able to go and not have to worry about everybody seeing her We offer just that little bit of privacy," said Gainous the Glass family donated a cuddle cot to Archbold giving parents more time with their babies they hope to provide cuddle cots—each costing around $10,000—to hospitals across South Georgia That's the only time that a parent or family has with their baby So the cuddle cot that was donated to Archibald after Emerson has helped numerous families be able to gain more time with their babies and make those memories and that is something we want to continue," said Gainous Middleton tells me the bereavement room will open in couple of months FL — The Florida Department of Transportation rolls back on Thomasville Road plans following public input FDOT says after overwhelming input from the Tallahassee community they've determined to no longer pair the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency proposal with FDOT’s resurfacing project for Thomasville Road (State Road 61) FDOT had planned to remove the center continuous left-turn lane and install an eight-foot sidewalk on the west side of the road between Calhoun Street and Sixth Avenue FDOT now says it will continue with only elements of the Thomasville Road resurfacing work FDOT says its design work will keep the current roadway configuration of a five-foot sidewalk on each side and a ten-foot travel lane in each direction separated by a continuous left turn lane Closures associated with this new plan will only occur intermittently during overnight hours WTXL spoke to businesses in the area on how this project would impact them. For the previous report click here. We cover stories making an impact in Midtown Tallahassee. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Midtown Tallahassee and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood As part of a Thomasville Road makeover in Midtown Tallahassee state engineers are proposing to get rid of the center turn lane and widen the sidewalks on either side of the street But some local businesses are hoping the construction won't keep customers away: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said it will create "significant impacts to existing traffic patterns" for the next two years during which time there will no northbound traffic on the road – essentially one-way'ing it Now the state is seeking local input as it wraps up designs for the project that promises to radically remake the look of Midtown's main thoroughfare The department is hosting a public meeting next week to listen to concerns from residents and business owners "Public participation is very important to us," FDOT spokesperson Ian Satter said said FDOT representatives came by a few weeks ago to inform them about a previous community meeting and show him the construction plans Nestled on the corner where Thomasville Road branches off from North Monroe Street the family-owned coffee shop is hoping it can keep a steady flow of customers because its parking lot is also accessible from Monroe "I don't really want our business to be impacted any more than it already is," Smith said people try to stay away from the area just to stay away from construction." Smith said they're going to heavily market their North Monroe Street access to make sure people know they're still open "It's going to hurt all of the local businesses," he added said he too spoke with the project manager who spent some time with him explaining the details of what FDOT plans to do: "They did a great job with that." Baxter said he's not sure what kind of impact the construction will have on business at the eclectic lunch and dinner nook and we just have to do the best we can," he said "Hopefully it doesn't impact us too much." Satter said the state will weigh business owners' and residents' concerns against data they've collected on safety and other features as a part of the project What does the Thomasville Road construction involve?FDOT is proposing to remove of the continuous center left-turn lane and improve lighting on Thomasville Road from Calhoun Street to Sixth Avenue The project will cost the state almost $2 million Capitalizing on construction that will already be underway Blueprint is spending over $5.5 million to install an eight-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side of the road which will parallel businesses such as RedEye Coffee and Lemon & Thyme and a six-foot sidewalk on the east side of the road which will parallel businesses such as Table 23 and Whataburger the city is spending almost $3 million to replace 3,200 feet of a water main and 2,400 feet of a sewer main Both the city's and Blueprint's contributions will be within the same confines at FDOT's project parameters — between Calhoun Street and Sixth Avenue For the duration of the project — which is expected to last anywhere from a year-and-a-half to two years — access to businesses and residences will be maintained But there will be new traffic routes to accommodate construction Thomasville Road will have no northbound traffic according to a PowerPoint presentation of the project's design plans All northbound traffic will be rerouted as follows: Monroe Street to Sixth Avenue to Gadsden Street to Seventh Avenue and back to Thomasville Road Pedestrians won't be affected during construction Baxter said the detours aren't "really that inconvenient per se We'll just have to wait until people understand them." Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson said this is an "excellent project" to address the safety and walkability of the Midtown area Richardson is hoping residents will be in support "We certainly want the public and business input but we still have to move forward with the project because it does address pedestrian and traffic safety in the area Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa (WALB) - A two-vehicle wreck in Thomasville briefly shut down part of Cairo Road on Tuesday afternoon Thomas County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies were called out to Cairo Road The eastbound lane was shut down to incoming traffic TCSO officials confirmed with WALB that the road was reopened at around 5:45 p.m deputies were working on diverting drivers off of that portion of Cairo Road onto the I-84 bypass Troopers with Georgia State Patrol (GSP) are also on the scene and investigating the wreck We have reached out for more information and are waiting to hear back News of the state's plans to remove the center turn lane on Thomasville Road in Midtown Tallahassee and make it one way for up to two years has reached residents Many have come to the same conclusion: It's not a good idea The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting a community meeting Tuesday to listen to residents' and business owners' concerns as the department begins to finalize the plan that it says will create "significant impacts to existing traffic patterns." But opposition has already begun to mount as the Tallahassee Democrat's coverage of the project and photos of the plan bounced around social media over the weekend Background: Thomasville Road redesign aims to remove center turn lane in Midtown Tallahassee "Workers going to work like myself will be screwed," one person wrote a Midtown resident who lives off of Seventh Avenue on Terrace Street said the construction will only cause more issues I just thought it was an incredibly stupid idea," Allen said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat He said he walks his dog every day through the area and has never found the sidewalks to be an issue but he has seen "tons of problems with the traffic." cars line the two-way street through Midtown "I try to avoid it at all costs," Allen said The state intends to keep the road open for all southbound traffic according to a PowerPoint presentation of the roadwork plans But all northbound traffic will be rerouted as follows: Monroe Street to Sixth Avenue to Gadsden Street to Seventh Avenue and back to Thomasville Road Allen said there have been detours on Seventh Avenue before and they made every other road more congested you'd think you'd try to create a solution for the congestion at rush hour and they're literally doing the complete opposite." Even with the state promising access to businesses along Midtown's main thoroughfare for the duration of the project the looming construction slated to start sometime this year is threatening the fate of some local businesses "We anticipate a loss in sales volume of as much as 40%, given that the vast majority of our customers drive to our store," said Sally Bradshaw, owner of Midtown Reader, in an email to supporters and customers The local bookstore asked community members to the attend the meeting and speak against the roadwork "While their goal of reconstructing water/sewer lines and expanding sidewalks is admirable the decision by DOT and the City to remove the center left turn lane will be devastating for businesses in this area," Bradshaw wrote Online: Find full coverage of Tuesday night's meeting at tallahassee.com The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has teamed up with the City of Tallahassee and Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency “to prioritize enhanced safety and accessibility for roadway users through roadway reconstruction.” That’s nice reconstruct water and sewer lines and improve stormwater flow Another line item is to reconstruct Monroe Street traffic signals at Sixth and Seventh Avenues Meeting planned: Thomasville Road redesign aims to remove center turn lane in Midtown Tallahassee Street Scene supports wholeheartedly new sidewalks and any improvements to existing sidewalks we are onboard for improvements to utilities and stormwater drainage we take exception if anyone is calling the end product a project to enhance safety for roadway users The completed construction removes the center dual-purpose left turn lane and proposes one lane of traffic northbound one lane for southbound which ignores the obvious collapse of vehicle movement when a driver wants to turn left anywhere along a downtown two-lane road into and out of business and non-signalized intersections This section of road is a major connector highway (US-319 to the north and US-27 to the south) which is already saturated throughout the day Add peak-hour commuters headed south in the morning and north in the afternoon and a serious traffic mess becomes clear The proposed design serves to create bottled up traffic in both directions which isn’t the way to a safe public road The current dual left turn lane running down the middle of the existing two lanes provides necessary safe refuge for left turning drivers to get out of the way of north and southbound through traffic We must not allow the elimination of existing safe left turn lanes There is a planned public meeting scheduled to be conducted at East Hill Baptist Church, 912 Miccosukee Road, beginning 5:30 p.m. this Tuesday, March 4. The meeting may be attended online. The public concern is evident, we will see if the venue is large enough. For additional information go to nwflroads.com/calendar Cameron writes his family recently moved into an apartment complex in Tallahassee In the span of one month he has experienced a broken window break-in of one of their vehicles He notified the complex manager who didn’t seem concerned and pretty much shrugged it off Cameron filed a police report and had the broken window replaced Two weeks later they had an attempted break-in of another vehicle He contacted the complex manager who again wasn’t concerned Cameron asks Street Scene the best way to handle this They are relatively new here so haven’t met and made friends enough to ask around to see if anyone else had this happen If we asked someone in the complex we may unknowingly be talking to the perpetrator Two similar violations against the same resident You did the right thing in notifying police however I don’t understand the lack of interest by the apartment complex management The manager should have taken a full report and notified police Anything less brings questions about the management style of care they have for their residents Getting away with vehicle break-ins can lead to residential break-ins resulting in struggles I know the police checked for security cameras there may be information about the time of day/night a particular identification entered and which apartment the individual occupies Management should request regular police patrols or at least hire roaming security to monitor the property There may be a clause in your lease agreement addressing private property damage Check your lease for anything that addresses a vehicle damaged on the property and liability for such damage you may want to explore moving your family to another location fear of recurring damage to your private property or your person and the safety of your family And the lack of concern of the property management when advised of a crime During a recent forensics investigation I found the investigating officer openly criticized each driver for removing the vehicles from the highway lanes of traffic Saying doing so hindered his investigation We educate law enforcement and remind Street Scene readers of Florida Statute 316.061 This law requires the driver of any vehicle involved in a crash resulting only in damage to a vehicle or other property …must stop and remain at the scene of the crash 316.061(2) reads: Every stop must be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary if a damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic the driver of such vehicle must make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to block the regular flow of traffic Any person failing to comply with this subsection shall be cited for a nonmoving violation It is incumbent upon law enforcement to be familiar with the law Philip Stuart is a retired Florida State Trooper, Traffic Operations Projects Engineer and Forensics Expert Witness. Write to crashsites@embarqmail.com GA — Fire crews responded to a massive fire early Wednesday The Thomas County Fire Chief says flames broke out around 11:30 a.m prompting 39 fire personnel from Thomas County Thomas County Fire Chief Chris Jones said firefighters battled the flames for hours using 60,000 gallons of water to contain the fire was removing millions of pounds of cotton and cotton seed from the warehouse to access burning areas While the fire is no longer actively burning Thomas County Fire remains on scene to monitor and control hot spots The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause Officials urge drivers on Highway 19 North to remain cautious as smoke may still affect visibility an SUV rear-ended a school bus carrying 20 students in Thomas County The sheriff's office says the crash happened around 6:30 a.m TCSO says the 35-year-old female driver of the SUV was heading from Tallahassee to Thomasville and failed to brake in time The driver was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital The sheriff's office says none of the students were injured Students were transferred to another bus and taken to school Thomas County School System released a statement saying: one of our school buses was involved in an accident when an SUV rear-ended the bus We are grateful to report that everyone on board is safe Our bus driver handled the situation with the utmost care exercising caution and following all safety protocols during and after the incident We appreciate the swift response of our transportation staff and emergency personnel The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved." Thomas County Sheriff's Office says the scene was cleared around 9:00 a.m Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here (WCTV) - March 29 marks National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day family-owned businesses that keep communities thriving nonprofit training program Spark Thomasville has been going the extra mile since 2019 to support local gems with a program designed to help them succeed The nonprofit has helped over 70 entrepreneurs since then by offering training mentorship and access to capital to entrepreneurs across several industries and those aspiring to become business owners said Spark gives people the opportunity to prepare “Spark is that opportunity to actually do that to sit down and plan your business,” Williams said and you get to see what options are next that you wouldn’t really necessarily.. do on your own because you’re just doing all the things you do in life.” The majority of the trainings is conducted at Thomasville’s Chamber of Commerce Williams said providing entrepreneurs with better access to coaching and capital is the spark needed to help businesses thrive fail within the first year and 50% fail within five years So that’s the gap that Spark Thomasville is trying to fill along with work delivering specific cohorts for entrepreneurs and what the community needs are,” the executive director said Spark Thomasville went from offering one 12-week entrepreneur training and coaching program to offering an additional four new cohorts the nonprofit is looking to develop an arts cohort for various types of artists has managed to thrive and continues to do so kicked off his business by selling plates from his home for four years before opening his restaurant in 2021 with the help of Spark Thomasville He was part of Spark Thomasville’s inaugural cohort in 2019 “I’ve always wanted more for me and my family so I thought Spark would help me do that,“ Mosley said Climmie Mosley said he’s learned the financial component of running and owning a business as well as how connecting with others in the community can introduce entrepreneurs to various programs aimed at assisting business owners with their start-up said the Spark program was great and useful “It gave you the necessities that you needed in case you didn’t know what you needed to start your own business,” Ashley Mosley said For those interested in learning more about the program, upcoming trainings and additional resources, visit www.sparkthomasville.com To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X (Twitter) Have a news tip or see an error that needs attention? Write to us here Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started (WALB) - The Thomas County Public Works Department has issued an alert to a road closure within the county According to a Facebook post by the county, Ponder Road between Ponder Spur and Wilson Road is closed effective immediately at the bridge Until further assessment can be made of damages they cannot estimate a closure time at this moment but will update the public this week A multi-vehicle pileup in the far right lane of Thomasville Road near Lake Hall Road is snarling traffic during the morning commute on April 21 The crash involved at least four vehicles that appeared to have been involved in a chain reaction crash that saw at least three vehicles rear-ended An unmarked patrol car was on the scene at about 8 a.m The Tallahassee Democrat's Gridlock Guide can help drivers navigate through any situation the guide can be used as a powerful tool to see what road conditions are like THOMASVILLE – Secretary of State kicks off a visit to Thomasville County Central High Schools with an event focused on financial literacy The center turn lane on Thomasville Road in Midtown is safe After business hours on Friday, the Florida Department of Transportation released a statement that it would no longer pursue a proposal from the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency "to remove the center continuous left-turn lane and install an eight-foot sidewalk on the west side of the road between Calhoun Street and Sixth Avenue." "Overwhelming input from the Tallahassee community," FDOT spokesperson Ian Satter said The plan to remove the center lane and make it one way southbound for up to two years drew outrage and near-universal condemnation from residents and business owners alike since news of the construction surfaced a little over a week ago on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat FDOT will continue with only elements of the Thomasville Road resurfacing work," the Friday statement said "FDOT’s design work for this project will proceed forward with keeping the current roadway configuration of a five-foot sidewalk on each side Closures associated with this new plan will only occur intermittently during overnight hours." It added: "These community-driven changes enable the Department to move out the construction of FDOT’s work to a later timeframe The Department thanks the community for their valuable input and will provide an update once the new timing of this work is established."