By Stacy Ashmore Cole Toby Ashmore was held in slavery by my Liberty County, Georgia, Ashmore family. He was very likely also my half 3d great-uncle. Before Emancipation Toby Ashmore was born around 1...

A manhunt is underway in Texas for a gunman whom police say killed one man and injured five other people at a bar in suburban Houston.

Finance staff reported higher-than-expected general fund revenues and year-end savings, discussed prepaying pension and vehicle loans, and reported Floss collections of $5.8 million through June, with 61% ($3.6 million) attributed to the county.

The sheriff’s office reported 13,062 incidents for the quarter and recommended replacing aging handheld radios. Commissioners approved buying 100 Kenwood handhelds with the lowest-bid financing plan paid across three annual payments charged to school-zone speed funds.

Another French looking courthouse!  Louisiana is leaking in again!  On the way in, at a friend’s request, I took a shot at a famous grave, that of comedian Jerry Clower.  Unfortunately, his grave w…

There is no active threat to the community, Fort Stewart officials say

Universal Agape Love executives discuss increasing domestic violence and trafficking in Liberty County.

After a detailed presentation, Liberty County commissioners voted to authorize county staff to negotiate general terms for a proposed 2,400‑acre solar project by Trinity River Solar, including a tax‑abatement framework and pilot payment; the court emphasized risk, lease terms and school-district impacts before voting to proceed.

After a presentation by Sterling Traditions developers, the court approved a $25,000 deposit agreement, adopted an order creating the Sterling Traditions Public Improvement District and accepted the developers presentation. Developers say phase 1 infrastructure and lakes are in place and that PID financing would fund parks, linear parks and collector-road enhancements.

LJ Engineering told commissioners it has completed existing-condition drainage models at about 90% and proposed publishing interactive 10- and 100-year maps to support permitting, grant applications and a consistent watershed naming scheme; consultants recommended calibration with May 2024 high-water marks and a public web portal within months.

Multiple fire chiefs described recurring long ambulance ETAs and mutual-aid gaps; one chief said a patient died after delayed arrival. Chiefs pressed for more locally posted ambulances and immediate operational fixes while longer-term funding options are explored.

Auditor Angela presented the 2026 jail commissary audit showing a commissary fund balance of $555,152 (as of 06/30/2026), closed accounts over $100 totaling about $29,205 across 118 inmate accounts, and smaller unclaimed accounts (1,540 accounts under $100 totaling $20,003.96) transferred to the treasurer; an NCIC phone escrow balance of $49,576 was identified and auditors recommended transparency for escrow purchases.

Sheriff Bobby Raider told commissioners that exhaust fans have been installed and two replacement fire doors are expected in November–December; camera installation remains delayed by ceiling work and about 30 cameras remain to be installed. The court accepted the report.