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Wife of prominent defense attorney reports being wrongly detained for DUI

By
Robbie Watson
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Mollie Shelnutt says she was wrongly detained for DUI (Robbie Watson/NowGeorgia.com)

The following report has been updated from its original version to reflect the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office was the arresting agency for this incident.

The wife of prominent defense attorney Mark Shelnutt said she was arrested and detained for several hours on suspicion of driving under the influence, but law enforcement got it all wrong. Mollie Shelnutt said she was pulled over by the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Sunday March 8,2026 on the Manchester Expressway for crossing the center line. “It was hell. It was inhumane. It was horrible,” Shelnutt said recounting her ordeal.

Shelnutt told Now Georgia she doesn’t drink or do drugs, but she does have thyroid eye disease and suffers from C-PTSD. She said she was not given a breathalyzer test but was instead taken to Piedmont for a blood sample before being hauled away to jail. That’s when the “hell began” Shelnutt said adding the jail was “not fit for humans” and nowhere was sanitary. “I could feel the hatred and reverse racism.” She said the staff laughed at her when she informed them she takes medication.

Mollie Shelnutt said she felt “targeted” by the arrest. “Yes, the same energy from the federal investigation against my husband from 2009. When you’ve lived through something like that, you know.”

Through work with her husband, Shelnutt said she has helped people navigate the justice system, but nothing could have prepared her for her own experience. “I knew it was horrible and have helped many people through the process. Absolutely nothing could prepare anyone for that. I think going there, as I did, should be a pre-requisite before ever being in charge of the inmates in any capacity!”

Now Georgia reached out to Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman and the Columbus Police Department for comment on the incident. According to a spokesperson for the Columbus Police Department “it does not appear that the Columbus Police Department made the arrest you’re referencing. Another agency was responsible for that arrest.” The Muscogee County Sheriff did not respond to calls for comment.

Gas prices spike across U.S. amid Iran war

By
Ashley Murray
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An American flag flies outside a gas station as gasoline prices are displayed on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

WASHINGTON (States News) — Americans are paying more for gas Monday as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran chokes off a significant route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum products.

Global prices for Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed over $100 a barrel. Prices were just above $70 a barrel in the days before the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise Feb. 28 attack on Iran, killing the regime’s top leader and other powerful government figures.

The spike, which peaked at $119.50 per barrel early Monday, caused ricochets throughout markets, with major stock indexes falling worldwide. Oil prices have not reached costs above $100 per barrel since mid-2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

Following the Feb. 28 strikes, Iranian officials effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, threatening and reportedly attacking vessels attempting to cross the narrow passage.

Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, reinforced on the social media platform X Monday that vessels trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz are not guaranteed safety as the conflict continues.

“It is unlikely that any security will be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires of the war ignited by the United States and Israel in the region,” Larijani wrote.

President Donald Trump defended the price spike late Sunday in a post on his online platform, Truth Social.

“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY! President DJT,” he wrote.

U.S. gas prices

The national average for gasoline in the U.S. rose to $3.48 per gallon Monday, according to the AAA gasoline price survey. That’s up from $3.25 per gallon on March 5, according to the survey.

AAA data shows consumers in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois experienced the highest prices in the Midwest and eastern U.S., with average retail prices ranging from $3.52 to nearly $3.60 for a gallon of regular gas.

Western states, which tend to pay higher gas prices already, saw an average gallon of regular surpass $4. California topped the nation’s list at $5.20 per gallon.

The price to fill up in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma remained the lowest, hovering between $2.92 to $2.99. That’s up from a week ago when prices averaged $2.47 in Oklahoma, $2.57 in Kansas and $2.61 in Arkansas.

Spike among “fastest rates in years”

GasBuddy, a platform that helps users find the cheapest gas prices in their area, put the national average Monday of regular at $3.45, and diesel at just over $4.59.

“In just a week, consumers have seen gasoline prices surge at one of the fastest rates in years after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said.

De Haan added in a blog post Monday that the reason behind oil prices pushing past $100 a barrel for the first time in years is “fuel markets are now rapidly recalibrating to the risk of prolonged disruption to global supply flows.”

“As a result, gasoline prices in many states could climb another 20 to 50 cents per gallon this week, with price-cycling markets potentially seeing increases as early as today,” De Haan said.

Prior to the war, average U.S. gas prices sat just under $3, with expectations for seasonal increases as warmer weather triggers more demand and refineries produce pricier summer blends.

Proposal to rein in future local property tax increases clears the House

By
Jill Nolin and Ross Williams
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The House's property tax bill now moves to the Senate, which passed a proposal last month capping annual property tax increases. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

ATLANTA (Georgia Recorder) — House lawmakers passed a scaled-back version of a property tax relief plan Friday after a more sweeping overhaul failed earlier in the week.

House Bill 1116, sponsored by Bonaire Republican state Rep. Shaw Blackmon, passed with a 98-68 vote as the clock wound down on a key legislative deadline day.

The gatekeeping House Rules Committee advanced a revised version of the proposal late Friday night. The 31-page bill would cap all property tax increases at 3% each year and include other changes House Republicans argue are designed to protect homeowners.

An earlier proposal would have eventually eliminated local property taxes on primary single-family homes, also known as homesteads. A version that would have significantly cut property taxes, but not eliminated them, still failed to win over the two-thirds support needed to pass a constitutional amendment. Critics said the plans would lead to higher sales tax rates or cuts to important local services.

Proponents have argued all along that an intervention was needed to stop the “unsustainable” trajectory of local property taxes.

“I doubt we would be talking about this if property taxes were not and had not been on such an unsustainable path for our property owners, and particularly our homeowners,” Blackmon said to his colleagues.

But Democrats objected to the bill, arguing the changes require a constitutional amendment. They also said the proposal risks destabilizing local governments, which rely on property taxes to pay for services like law enforcement and fund schools.

They also argued the bill was being rushed.

“This is a bad bill because we don’t know what’s in here, and we don’t understand the impact of this piece of legislation,” said Rep. Sam Park, a Lawrenceville Democrat who serves as the minority whip.

Rep. David Wilkerson, a Powder Springs Democrat, called the bill an “act of desperation.”

“People made promises they could not keep to voters,” Wilkerson told reporters Friday night.

Blackmon pushed back on claims that a constitutional amendment is required for the changes in his bill, saying no money is being taken away from local governments.

He said the constitutional amendment would have offered “real relief.” But he said the bill that passed Friday “stems the increases in future years.”

“I think that this is something that’s good for the taxpayers. It puts the right kind of restrictions in place. Thirty-six other states have a property tax revenue cap. And that, again, does not reduce any money coming into local governments. It just prevents massive increases into the future,” Blackmon said Friday night.

The bill also says revenue collected from data centers starting in 2029, which is when a current tax break for the facilities’ equipment expires, should go toward reducing homestead property taxes in Georgia.

The bill now moves to the Senate, which passed a proposal last month capping annual property tax increases. The Senate bill would prevent local governments and school districts from opting out of a statewide homestead tax exemption that voters approved in 2024. Both chambers have also passed differing income tax cut plans.

Demorest weighs pension changes but delays decision

By
Patrick Fargason
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FILE PHOTO - Demorest City Council (Carly McCurry/NowHabersham.com)

DEMOREST, Ga. — The Demorest City Council discussed possible changes to the city’s employee pension plan but ultimately tabled the issue while officials seek more information about how the changes could affect Social Security benefits.

The discussion during the March 3 City Council meeting centered on a proposal from the Georgia Municipal Association’s retirement program that could increase pension benefits for current and future city employees.

Council members did not vote on any changes and instead agreed to revisit the issue at a future meeting.

Three options outlined

Josh Colley, a field representative for the Georgia Municipal Association retirement program, told the council the city asked last fall about ways to strengthen its pension plan.
Demorest currently provides a pension based on a 1.5% benefit multiplier, meaning employees receive 1.5% of their final average earnings for every year of service when they retire.

For example, an employee with 10 years of service would receive a pension equal to 15% of their final average earnings once they reach the normal retirement age of 65.
Colley presented three possible changes the city could consider:

• Increasing the benefit multiplier from 1.5% to 2%
• Adopting a “Rule of 75” that allows employees to retire with full benefits when their age and years of service equal 75, with a minimum retirement age of 55
• Combining both changes

The Rule of 75 option is designed to allow long-serving employees to retire earlier without taking a reduced benefit.

Potential costs

Colley said the city currently contributes about $117,724 annually to its pension plan.

Depending on the option chosen, the annual cost could increase by:

• $33,385 to adopt the Rule of 75
• $71,933 to raise the multiplier to 2%
• $116,577 to implement both changes

City Manager Mark Musselwhite told council members the city currently contributes about 5.88% of payroll, or roughly $10,000 per month, to the pension plan.
He said the higher costs would not affect the current budget.

“This would be budgeted into our 2027 [budget], nothing to do with this year’s budget,” Musselwhite said.

Musselwhite also noted the city already provides additional benefits, including covering the full cost of employee health insurance, which averages about $860 per employee each month.

Example of retirement impact

Colley also showed how the proposed changes could affect an employee’s retirement benefit.

Using a hypothetical employee who began working at age 30 and earned a final average salary of $50,000, Colley said the employee could receive about $781 per month if retiring at age 55 under the current plan because of an early retirement reduction.

With the Rule of 75, that same employee could receive the full $1,562 monthly benefit at age 55 instead of waiting until age 65.

If the multiplier were increased to 2%, the monthly benefit could rise to about $2,083, Colley said.

Legal questions prompt delay

City Attorney Thomas Mitchell advised the council not to take action yet because of a potential interaction with Social Security benefits.

Mitchell said he has contacted attorneys who specialize in pension and Social Security law but has not yet received guidance on whether the proposed changes could affect employees’ ability to collect Social Security.

“Until I have a clear picture of how this impacts Social Security … it’s my advice that you all not act on this tonight,” Mitchell said.

He added that pension changes can be difficult to reverse once adopted.

Police chief urges consideration

Demorest Police Chief Casey Chastain spoke in favor of improving retirement benefits, saying the changes could help the city retain employees.

Chastain said former Demorest police chief and current Habersham County Sheriff Robin Krockum had advocated for similar changes years ago and believed stronger retirement benefits could have kept him with the department.

Chastain also pointed to the demanding nature of public safety and other city jobs, arguing that employees need to see a clear retirement path.

“You’ve got a bunch of young guys here,” Chastain said. “They’ve got to be able to see something in their future to stay here.”

Council to revisit issue

Mayor Jerry Harkness thanked Chastain for his comments and said the council would continue discussing the proposal.

“You know, the reason we’re talking about this is we do appreciate everybody and appreciate everybody’s hard work,” Harkness said. “So we’re going to continue to talk about it and figure out a solution.”

North Georgia Tech to open Ivester Center, host annual 1943 Gala

By
Patrick Fargason
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North Georgia Technical College will host a grand opening ceremony for the Mark A. Ivester Learning Center April 14 (Joy Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — North Georgia Technical College will celebrate the completion of its newest campus facility in April with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and its annual fundraising gala.

The grand opening for The Dr. Mark A. Ivester Center for Living and Learning, known as “The Mark,” will take place Tuesday, April 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the Clarkesville campus. The event will be held in partnership with the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce as part of its Business After Hours networking series.

Community members are invited to attend the celebration, which will include tours of the new facility and food from The Varsity food truck. A short ceremony and official ribbon cutting are scheduled for about 5:30 p.m., along with remarks from members of the Ivester family.

(Joy Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)

Memorial facility

The center is named in honor of the college’s late president, Dr. Mark A. Ivester, who served the institution for many years. Ivester envisioned the former campus gymnasium as a space where students and the broader community could gather for learning and engagement.

Ivester died from COVID-19 in 2020.

College officials say the completion of the center reflects Ivester’s goal of creating a more well-rounded collegiate experience for students pursuing technical education.

Inaugural event

Later that week, the North Georgia Technical College Foundation will host its 3rd annual 1943 Gala on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. inside the new facility. The event will serve as the first major fundraiser held in the building.

The gala is the foundation’s signature fundraising event and brings together community leaders, businesses, alumni and supporters to raise money for student programs and campus initiatives. Proceeds support scholarships as well as projects such as library and student success programming, dorm upgrades and the college’s new funeral services program.

Guests attending the gala will enjoy dinner, entertainment, and both live and silent auctions.

The new facility has a similar footprint to the old Cy Grant Gymnasium that it replaced. (Joy Purcell/NowGeorgia.com)

This year’s event will also feature a “Golden Ticket” raffle. Only 100 tickets will be sold for $100 each, with one winner receiving first choice of a live auction item. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize.

“The completion of The Mark is an exciting milestone for NGTC, and we are thrilled to celebrate by having the Gala inside the facility,” said Amy Hulsey, vice president of institutional advancement and marketing and executive director of the NGTC Foundation. “Many of our students would not be able to get the education they need to succeed, and our dedicated board of trustees and generous community help provide scholarships to change so many students’ lives.”

Tickets and sponsorships for the April 16 gala are available through the NGTC Foundation. Community members interested in attending the ribbon cutting on April 14 are encouraged to register through the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce.

Boil water advisory issued for parts of Demorest after water main repair

By
Staff Report
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(NowGeorgia.com)

DEMOREST, Ga. — The City of Demorest has issued a boil water advisory for several areas of the city following a water main repair that may have caused low pressure in parts of the water system.

City officials announced the advisory Monday, March 9, saying the affected areas include locations south of the intersection of Duncan Bridge Road and Level Grove Road to the end of the line, as well as Laurel Oaks Drive subdivision, Bethesda Church, Charlie Davis Road and Danny Smart Road.

According to the notice, the repair may have disrupted water service or caused water pressure to drop to very low levels. When pressure falls, there is a possibility that microbial contamination could enter the system.

The advisory was issued “out of an abundance of caution” while the city tests the water supply to ensure it is safe for use.

Residents who experienced water outages or low pressure are advised to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, cooking or preparing food until the advisory is lifted.

To properly boil water, officials recommend heating it until bubbles rise quickly from the bottom of the container, continuing to boil for one minute, and allowing the water to cool before use.

During a boil water advisory, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using boiled or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing food, preparing food or baby formula, making ice and providing drinking water for pets.

Other activities such as washing clothes and dishes can continue without boiling water if done properly.

The advisory will remain in effect until the city completes water testing and determines there is no longer a public health concern. Once the advisory is lifted, residents should flush all faucets for at least two minutes before using the water for drinking or food preparation.

Residents with questions can contact the City of Demorest at 678-315-1813.

Danny Lathan Seabolt

By
Now Georgia
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“Papa Danny” Lathan Seabolt, age 76, of Lula, Georgia passed away on Sunday, March 8th, 2026.

Mr. Seabolt was born on November 17, 1949 in Cedartown, Georgia to the late JC and Juanita Seabolt. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, George and Donny Seabolt.

Survivors include his daughter, Teri (Steve) Echols, of Lula, Georgia; daughter, Cherie Seabolt, of Cleveland, Georgia; grandchildren, Tim (Keri) Echols, of Lula, Georgia; Taylor (Holly) Echols, of Lula, Georgia; great grandchildren, Opie Echols, Izzy Echols, and Scottie Mae Echols; sister, Cathy Teague; sister, Mercia Hughes; sister, Kim Chordegian; brother, Chris Seabolt; brother, Jon Seabolt; sister, Joann Thompson; sister, Tina Shields along with many nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:00 P.M. at the Whitfield Funeral Home & Crematory, South Chapel.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 11th, from 5:00 P.M. to 5:45 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to assist with final expenses.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-1700.

Kentucky soldier in Saudi Arabia is 7th U.S. casualty to die in Iran war

By
Associated Press
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This image provided by the U.S. Army shows U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky. (U.S. Amy via AP)

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man who joined the Army straight out of high school is the seventh U.S. service member to die in combat during the Iran war, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after being wounded during a March 1 attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon statement said.

Mike Bell, retired pastor of Glendale Christian Church, said he’d known Pennington since he was a toddler and got a call from Pennington’s father when the soldier was hurt.

“I talked to Tim Saturday morning, and he was doing a little better, and they were talking about maybe moving him to Germany,” Bell said. But he said Tim Pennington called again that evening to ask for prayers as his son’s condition was worsening, and then later told him the soldier had succumbed to his injuries.

“He was just a quiet person,” said Bell, noting that Pennington attended the church’s after-school program. “I mean, he never attracted attention because he was just steady doing what he needed to do to do it. Does that make sense?”

Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The unit’s mission focused on “missile warning, GPS, and long-haul satellite communications” according to their website.

“This just breaks my heart,” Keith Taul, judge-executive of Hardin County, where Pennington was from, said in a written statement emailed to The Associated Press. “I have known the family for at least 30 years. I can’t imagine the pain and suffering they are experiencing. To lose a single service member is just a devastating blow. But when it is one of our own, we grieve as a community.”

Glendale is an unincorporated town of about 300 residents south of the Hardin County seat of Elizabethtown.

In a statement posted on social media, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called Pennington “a hero who sacrificed everything serving our country.”

The other six service members killed since the conflict began on Feb. 28 were Army reservists killed in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port.

President Donald Trump on Saturday had joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base at the dignified transfer for those six U.S. soldiers.

The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Trump said bearing witness to the transfer was “the toughest thing I have to do” as president.

Pennington graduated in 2017 from Central Hardin High School, where he was enrolled in the automotive technology pathway, district spokesman John Wright told the AP. Former automotive tech instructor Tom Pitt, who taught Pennington in 2017 at Hardin County Early College and Career Center, called him “an American hero.”

“A lot of times as a teacher, you have students who are smart, you have students who are charismatic, who are likable, dare I say, enchanting,” said Pitt, who added that Pennington — whom he called Nate — was a Boy Scout. “Rarely do you have students who are all of those. And Ben Pennington was all of those. He was basically the quintessential all-American.”

Pennington enlisted that year as a unit supply specialist, and was assigned to the space and missile command on June 10, 2025, the Army said in a release.

Among his awards and decorations were the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Pennington,” said Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, USASMDC commanding general. “He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country he loved. That makes him nothing less than a hero, and he will always be remembered that way. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Col. Michael F. Dyer, 1st Space Brigade commander, described Pennington as “a dedicated and experienced noncommissioned officer who led with strength, professionalism and sense of duty.”

Pennington will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, the Pentagon said.

By Allen G. Breed and Dylan Lovan

New center in Columbus adds needed beds to state’s forensic mental health system

By
Sofi Gratas
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A forensic mental health room at Operation New Hope in Columbus, which opened in February 2026. (Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Communications)

COLUMBUS, Ga. (GPB News) – Georgia’s network of support services for people with severe mental health issues recently got a new addition.

Thirty new units at West Central Georgia Regional Hospital in Columbus have been added to what Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities calls “Operation New Hope”: a network of step-down units for people who need support after lengthy treatment at state hospitals.

The first group of 10 patients began treatment last week. Program operators are working to fill the remaining 20 beds.

These units are part of the state’s solution to address a backlog of people in custody of the court who have been deemed “incompetent” to stand trial, or not guilty “by reasons of insanity,” but who otherwise have a chance at living in their community.

“These are folks who our doctors believe are clinically ready to leave the hospital,” said DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner.

There were over 800 people in Georgia waiting for placement in state hospitals for “court-ordered restoration services” as of last February, according to DBHDD.

Tanner describes the units at all Operation Hope facilities — there are two others in Savannah and Milledgeville and a total of 77 such units in the state — basically like dorm rooms. There are beds, a kitchen and a shared living area.

“We teach them how to do laundry, how to cook … how to manage financial resources, their money,” Tanner said. “So just a lot of opportunities to slowly reintegrate back into normal society.”

At each of the facilities, behavioral health service providers can be expected to get at least two to three people living independently in their communities every year, Tanner said.

The new center in Columbus was made possible by a $1.6 million investment by the state legislature.

This session, lawmakers are pushing for an even bigger investment into the state’s mental and behavioral health infrastructure: a $409 million state hospital to treat people waiting for restoration services. Tanner said the department plans to build the new hospital at the site of its headquarters in DeKalb County.

Supporters of the project say it’s necessary to ease the burden off local law enforcement, who say they’re often left responsible for housing people with critical mental or behavioral health challenges in their jails.

Will Philmon Lee move on in American Idol competition?

By
Mitzi Oxford
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American Idol contestant Philmon Lee was greeted by fans at Callaway Elementary in Lagrange, Georgia. (Photo/Kristi Terry)

Local fans will be tuned in tonight to watch Lagrange, Georgia’s favorite son, Philmon Lee, and his possible rise to stardom. The American Idol competition moves from Nashville to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. The top 30 contestants will sing for their families, who will be in the audience, and for the judges. Only 20 performers will advance to the next round.

A sold out crowd at the Royal Theater enjoyed a Philmon Lee concert recently. (Photo from Philmon Lee Facebook.)

Philmon is coming off a sold-out concert Saturday night at the Royal Theater in Hogansville, Georgia. He was also shown love and support while touring area schools in Lagrange, including Callaway Elementary, Callaway Middle School, and his alma mater, Lagrange High School. 

His mother, Kristi Terry, couldn’t be prouder of PJ, as his family and friends call him.

“When he was a boy, if you gave him a microphone, he would sing. When PJ was in the 5th grade at Callaway Elementary, he sang the National Anthem at a PTO meeting, and everyone was blown away,” his mom said.

When he was 13 years old, he attended Camp Jam in Norcross, Georgia. It was the ultimate music experience designed for kids who wanted to play in a band, write songs, or make a music video.

PJ and his mom, Kristi, (center) are surrounded by fans at a Lagrange High School appearance. (Photo/ April Ross Bee TV)

“We knew it would help him come out of his shell and perform comfortably. After that experience, he began developing his own style of music.”

Years later, he performed at open mic nights in Atlanta. Philmon was good enough to sign a record deal on his birthday in 2020, but then Covid hit and shut down the music industry, especially for up-and-comers like PJ.

Philmon continued to post music on TikTok and Instagram. To pay bills, he worked as an insurance agent in Lagrange.

Friends and family urged him to try out for American Idol. Judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Ritchie, and Luke Bryan are impressed with his talent. Now here he is with the opportunity to become the next American Idol. This video of PJ singing the classic Aerosmith hit Dream On was produced in Lagrange.

“The amount of support from our community is amazing. I am excited and proud. As a mother, it is nerve-wracking, but he is living his dream. We pray that his journey is just beginning.”

Philmon Lee is on the verge of becoming a household name outside of West Central Georgia. His performance tonight on American Idol, from 8:00 pm until 10:00 pm on WTVM will help write the rest of his story.

If you want to be surrounded by his fans, you can join his Watch Party at Lagrange High School tonight at 7:30 pm.

Dream on PJ. You have a legion of supporters who you inspire.

Australia grants asylum to 5 members of the Iranian women’s soccer team

By
Associated Press
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In this photo supplied by Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke's office, the Minister Tony Burke, center, poses in an undisclosed location with five Iranian women soccer players who have been granted asylum in Australia, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Australia Ministry of Home Affairs via AP)

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Australia granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who were visiting the country for a tournament when the Iran war began, a government minister said Tuesday.

The announcement followed days of urging by Iranian groups in Australia and by U.S. President Donald Trump for the Australian government to help the women, who had not spoken publicly about a wish to claim asylum. The team drew speculation and news coverage in Australia when players didn’t sing the Iranian anthem before their first match.

Early Tuesday, police officers transported five of the women from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia, “to a safe location” after they made asylum requests. There, they met with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the processing of their humanitarian visas was finalized.

“I don’t want to begin to imagine how difficult that decision is for each of the individual women, but certainly last night it was joy, it was relief,” said Burke, who posted photos to social media of the women smiling and clapping as he signed documents. “People were very excited about embarking on a life in Australia.”

The women granted asylum were happy for their names and pictures to be published, he said. Burke added that the players wanted to make clear that they were “not political activists.”

Iranian state TV said the country’s football federation asked international soccer bodies to review what it called Trump’s “direct political interference in football,” warning such remarks could disrupt the 2026 World Cup, which begins in North America in June.

Naghmeh Danai said she was invited as a migration agent and member of the Iranian-Australian community to visit the women at a hotel Monday night and to reassure them about what was available to them in Australia.

“I told them that if you accept this offer, you will have a great future here. You will have more respect. You won’t be under a lot of suppression that you have been in your country. And they were thrilled,” Danai said.

“At the same time, it’s understandable that it was a very hard decision for them to make when they have family back home and when they just came here to compete,” Danai added.

Future remains unknown for 21 in squad and others

The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The team was knocked out of the tournament over the weekend and faced the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment. Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari said Sunday the players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”

An official squad list named 26 players, plus Jafari and other coaches. Burke said the offer of asylum was extended to all on the team.

A commotion erupted Tuesday afternoon outside the team’s hotel as members of the public knelt or lay in front of the team bus.

The protesters, some wearing red, white and green clothing or holding pre-Revolution Iranian flags, tried to prevent the bus from departing the hotel, but it was delayed by only minutes. Some chanted “Save our girls” and “Please act now.”

An Iranian-born protester who sat in front of the bus, Hadi Karimi, said the demonstrators had attempted to buy the team members more time to talk to Australian authorities before they left the country.

Karimi regarded five of the team remaining in Australia as a success.

“We haven’t slept. We were there. That means it works. We did something,” Karimi told the AP.

The women flew to Sydney Airport, where police evicted protesters from the international terminal before the team left Australia on an international flight, Ten Network News reported.

Burke’s office did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for confirmation of the Iranians’ departure or comment on whether any additional women had opted to stay in Australia.

Burke didn’t detail what threats the players faced if they returned to Iran. During the tournament, the women have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families and all Iranians.

The Iranian team has drawn national news coverage in Australia after the players’ silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last week was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn’t clarified. Players later sang and saluted during the anthem before their remaining two matches.

“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Tuesday. “They’re safe here and they should feel at home here.”

Asylum came during Trump’s urging

Australia’s announcement came after Trump on Monday in Washington called on Australia to grant asylum to any team member who wanted it. Earlier that day, Trump had lambasted Australia on social media, saying Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the … team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.” Trump added: “The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”

Less than two hours later, in another social media post, Trump praised Albanese, saying, “He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way.”

Iran’s football federation said Trump’s comments were “baseless and unlawful” and urged global football authorities to intervene.

Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref separately said: “Iran welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security.”

“No one has the right to interfere in the family affairs of the Iranian nation and play the role of a nanny who is kinder than a mother,” he added.

The president’s offer of asylum represented something of a change for Trump, whose administration has sought to limit the number of immigrants in the U.S. who can receive asylum for political purposes.

By Charlotte Graham-Mclay, John Pye and R.J. Rico

Community policing unit named First Friday Heroes

By
Robbie Watson
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Columbus community policing unit recognized by Piedmont (Piedmont)

Piedmont Columbus Regional has named the Columbus Police Department’s Community Policing Unit the organization’s First Friday Heroes for the month of March.

Lt. Joey Weatherford, Sgt. Katina Williams, Cpl. Taurus Edwards, Cpl. Heather Hicks, Cpl. Julio Miranda, Cpl. Demetrius McDowell, Cpl. Tim Millheiser and Cpl. Brandon Hunter with the Community Policing Unit are being recognized for their work to proactively develop solutions to the immediate underlying conditions contributing to public safety issues in our community.

This unit has excelled at building relationships with nonprofit and community outreach organizations, businesses, schools, churches, group homes and people in need. From reading books to children at schools, helping homeless mothers with children get housed in shelters and hotels or coordinating and providing essential items to the homeless, this unit reveals the other side of law enforcement by aiding the community in proactive ways, which in turn builds trust. This trust results in crime prevention and creates a foundation of teamwork between police and the public.

In 2025, the Community Policing Unit conducted the below outreach and community relationship building:

  • Number of Citizen Contacts Made: 32,190
  • Number of Complaints Received Concerning Crime/Quality of Life Issues: 958
  • Number of Community/School Events Attended: 307
  • Number of Community/Neighborhood Meetings Attended: 82
  • Number of Citizen Law Enforcement Academy Classes Attended: 16

A ceremony with the Community Policing Unit and hospital leadership will be held at the Public Safety Building on March 12 at 9:30 a.m. to commend them for their response. Their story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in 2016 to recognize first responders and everyday heroes each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Their line of work is often a thankless job, and we want to make the community aware of what our local heroes do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.

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