Albany and Southwest Georgia News Briefly

Easter Bunny coming early to Camilla

CAMILLA — The Easter Bunny will be making some early rounds this week in downtown Camilla.

Jenny Bostick, Camilla Main Street director, said that the event is set for 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Thursday at merchants in the downtown business district. As with other events the program has conducted in recent months, the businesses will stay open later in the hopes that families will bring their children to see the Easter Bunny and shop locally.

Kids are being encouraged to bring their Easter baskets for the event, with the Easter Bunny giving away free candy-filled, colorful plastic eggs. There will also be free prizes, special merchandise discounts and a jelly bean counting contest, officials said.

Applicants sought for Dougherty boards

ALBANY — Dougherty County commissioners are looking for applicants for several local boards. Interested candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and/or resume by noon April 15. The boards include:

— One appointment to the Department of Family and Children Services Board to fill a term that expires Dec. 31, 2019. Board meets as needed;

— Three appointments to the Electrical Board, which meets as needed, for terms that expire at the end of this year. Two appointments are for electrical suppliers and the third requires the applicant be a master electrician;

— One appointment to the Flood Plain Management Board, which meets as needed. The applicant must be a surveyor, and the term ends Dec. 31, 2018;

— Two appointments to the Plumbing Board, which meets as needed. Both terms end at the end of this year and both appointments require the applicant to be a master plumber;

— One appointment to the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of the months January-October in Camilla. The appointment is to fill an unexpired term that ends at the end of this year.

County officials say additional information may be found at www.dougherty.ga.us.

Work to start on U.S. 27 in Bainbridge

BAINBRIDGE — Motorists who use U.S. Highway 27 in Bainbridge will see roadwork starting on a 2.4-mile stretch on March 28, officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation say.

DOT officials at the Southwest Georgia District office in Tifton say the project take at least two months. The roadwork will require multiple lane closures for the duration of the project, but traffic will be shifted to adjacent lanes as needed rather than being rerouted, DOT officials said.

The project will stretch from Toole Dairy Road to south of Alice Street. Most work will be done during daylight hours, DOT officials said, but resurfacing on the northern end of the project will be done 7 p.m.-7 a.m. to minimize traffic interruptions in the commercial area.

Motorists should expect delays and are reminded to pay special attention to traffic control devices, signs and posted speed limits to ensure safe passage through the work zone, DOT officials said.

Habitat house a first for Georgia

AMERICUS — A Habitat for Humanity house dedication set for Saturday in Canton was a state first for the international housing organization based in Americus.

The Community Associations Institute-Georgia Chapter said the dedication ceremony was to be for the 273rd Habitat house built in the state, but it was the first in Georgia to be completely funding and sponsored by a single group.

CAI-Georgia officials said the project was funded and completed after “months of diligence and efforts by committed CAI-Georgia volunteers and service providers.”

CAI-Georgia, which started in 1981, is a professional chapter of the National Community Associations Institute that has a mission to assist community associations and their service providers through educational programs, networking, legislative advocacy and publications.