METRO GUIDE 2017: Settling in: What newcomers need to know

Whether you’re new to the metro Albany community or a longtime resident of the area, it helps to know where to go and who to contact when you need to make changes. here are locations and contact information commonly needed.

Change of Address — Dougherty: U.S. Postal Service, main office, 1501 S. Slappey Blvd. Albany; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday; 345 W. Broad Ave. downtown, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, closed Saturday. Lee: U.S. Postal Service, Leesburg Post Office, 152 Robert B. Lee Drive; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday and 9 to 11:15 a.m., Saturday; Smithville, 103 Le Conte St., 8:45 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Worth: U.S. Postal Service, Sylvester, 404 Hardy St.; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Terrell: U.S. Postal Service, Dawson, 124 Stonewall St., S.E., 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Baker: U.S. Postal Service, Newton, 343 Sunset Blvd.; 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Birth Certificate — Dougherty: Probate Court, Judicial Building, 225 Pine Ave., Albany; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 431-2102. Lee: Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 759-6005. Worth: Probate Court, Worth County Courthouse; 201 N. Main St., Sylvester; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 776-8207. Terrell: Probate Court, 513 S. Main St., Dawson; call (229) 995-5515. Baker: Probate Court, 167 Baker Place, Newton; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 734-3007. All Georgia birth certificates are $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy.

Marriage License — Dougherty: Probate Court, Judicial Building, 225 Pine Ave., Albany; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 431-2102. Lee: Probate Court, Lee County Courthouse, 100 Leslie Highway, Leesburg; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 759-6005. Worth: Probate Court, Worth County Courthouse, 201 N. Main St., Sylvester; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 776-8207. Terrell: Probate Court, 513 S. Main St., Dawson; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 995-5515. Baker: Probate Court, 167 Baker Place, Newton; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; call (229) 734-3007.

Fees vary by location and whether premarital counseling is available. Call first! All location fees include one $10 certified copy of the marriage license.

Business license — Dougherty: Treasurer’s Office, Suite 150, 240 Pine Ave., Albany; call (229) 431-2118. Lee: Lee County Administration offices, 110 Starksville Ave. N., Leesburg; call (229) 759-6003. Worth: Sylvester City Hall, 101 N. Main St., Sylvester; call (229) 776-8505. Warwick City Hall, 132 Washington St. S.W., Warwick; call (229) 535-6256. Worth County Building and Zoning; 201 N. Main St., Sylvester; call (229) 776-8202. Terrell: Dawson City Hall, 101 S. Main St., Dawson; call (229) 995-4444. Terrell County Zoning and Planning, 125 Jefferson St., Dawson; call (229) 995-5210. Baker: Newton City Hall, 146 Ga. Highway 91, Newton; call (229) 734-5421. Baker County Courthouse, 167 Baker Place, Newton; call (229) 734-3000.

Property Taxes — Dougherty: Tax Department, 240 Pine Ave., Albany; call (229) 431-3208. Lee: Tax Commissioner’s Office, 100 Starksville Ave., Leesburg; call (229) 759-6015. Worth: Tax Commissioner’s Office, Worth County Courthouse, Room 15, 201 N. Main St., Sylvester; call (229) 776-8204. Terrell: Tax Commissioner’s Office, 187 E. Lee St., Dawson; call (229) 995-5151. Baker: Tax Commissioner’s Office, 167 Baker Place, Newton; call (229) 734-3010.

Driver’s license — Georgia Department of Driver Services, 2062 Newton Road, Albany; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, closed Monday. Fees: Learner’s permit — $10; Regular license — $20 (five years) and $32 (eight years); Veterans — no charge; Georgia ID card — $20 (five years) and $32 (eight years); Georgia ID card for voting purposes only — no fee when qualified. Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) — $6 (three-year report) and $8 (seven-year report). Call (229) 430-4258 or 1-866-754-3687.

Voter Registration — Dougherty: Government Center, 222 Pine Ave., Room 220, Albany; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 431-3247. Lee: Lee County Board of Elections and Registration, 102 Starksville Ave. N., Suite 205, Leesburg; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 759-6002. Worth: Registrar’s Office, Worth County Courthouse, Room 11, 201 N. Main St., Sylvester; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 776-8208. Terrell: Terrell County Board of Elections, 955 Forrester Drive. S.E. Dawson; 8 a.m. to noon, 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 995-5066. Baker: Elections Office, 167 Baker Place, Newton; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 734-3019.

Applications to register to vote are also available at the following locations: Albany State University, Darton College, Albany Technical College, Department of Family and Children Services, high schools, public libraries, Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, and driver’s license posts.

Forms may also be downloaded at http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/how_to_register.htm and returned by mail.

Vehicle Tag — Dougherty: Tag Office, 240 Pine Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 431-3255. Lee: Tag Office, 102 Starksville Ave., Leesburg; call (229) 759-6015. Worth: Tag Office, Worth County Courthouse, Room 15, 201 N. Main St., Sylvester; call (229) 776-8204. Terrell: Tag Office, 187 Lee St., Dawson; call (229) 995-5151. Baker: Tag Office, 167 Baker Place, Newton; call (229) 734-3010.

Cable television — Mediacom, 1104 N. Westover Blvd., Albany; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; call 1-800-476-1163. Newton: Blakely Cable, 65 Liberty St., Blakely; 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 723-3555.

Satellite television — DirecTV — 1(877) 348-0158 or 1(877) 841-8936; Dish Network — Call 1(855) 229-3693 or 1(855) 471-8007.

Telephone Service — AT&T, establish service – Residential 1(800)288-2020; Business — 1(866) 620-6000.

Utilities — Dougherty: Albany Utility Board, 207 Pine Ave., Albany; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; Call (229) 883-8330 to establish service; Drive-thru window — 401 Pine Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Georgia Power Company, 704 N. Westover Blvd., Albany; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; night box available. Call (229) 436-0336 or (888) 660-5890 to establish service. Lee, Dougherty, Terrell: Sumter EMC, 133 W. Century Road, Leesburg; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; must provide government-issued ID to establish service; drive-in window for bill payment at same address; call (229) 759-2291 or 1-800-342-6978. Lee: Lee County Utilities Authority, 111 Main St., Leesburg; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; Call (229) 759-6056; Garbage service, 115 Main St., Leesburg — call (229) 759-6048. Leesburg: City Hall, 107 Walnut St.; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 759-6465. Smithville: City Hall, 116 Main St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 846-2101. Worth, Baker: Mitchell EMC, 312 W. Kelly St., Sylvester; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; drive-in window for payment at same address; call (229) 336-5221. Sylvester: Sylvester Water, Gas & Light, 105 East King Street; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 776-8505. Dawson: City Hall, 101 S. Main St.; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 995-4444. All utilities require a deposit. Amounts vary by location and credit background. Call to get specifics.

Job search — Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Baker, Worth: Georgia Department of Labor, 1608 S. Slappey Blvd.; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; call (229) 430-5010.

Newspapers — Dougherty: The Albany Herald, publishes seven days a week, 126 N. Washington St., call (229) 438-3230; Lee: The Lee County Ledger, 126 4th Street, publishes weekly on Wednesdays, call (229) 759-2413; Terrell: The Dawson News, publishes weekly on Thursdays, call (229-995-2175); Worth: The Sylvester Local News, publishes weekly on Wednesdays, call (229) 776-3991.

Libraries — Dougherty: Central Library (downtown) — Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m to 8 p.m, Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 2 to 6 p.m.; call (229) 420-3200 Northwest (Dawson Road) — Monday and Thursday 10 a.m until 8 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call (229) 420-3270; Southside (Habersham Road) — Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 3:00-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Closed Friday and Sunday; call (229) 420-3209; Tallulah Massey (East Albany) — Monday-Friday 10 a.m to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m to 5 p.m.; call (229) 420-3250; Westtown — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; call (229) 420-3280. Baker: 100 Main Street , Newton; call (229) 734-3025, Monday-Friday 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m to noon. Terrell: Kinchafoonee Regional Library (Dawson) Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call (229) 995-6331; Lee: Leesburg (229) 759-2369; Monday, Wednesday Friday and Saturday 9 a.m to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 2 to 6 p.m.; Oakland (229-889-0300); same hours as Leesburg; Redbone (229) 903-8871 Monday-Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., Friday 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Smithville (229) 846-6625 Monday, Wednesday 3 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Worth: Margaret Jones Public Library Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

How to get a library card: Proof of residence is required; photo ID with current address, photo ID and one item from the list or two items from the list; The list: valid driver’s license, valid voter ID registration card, checks with printed address, a utility bill or other piece of mail showing current address; Children under 18 must be registered by parent or guardian.

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