Archive for August 2011
Three Siblings Commit Armed Bank Robbery in Valdosta
Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin, in conjunction with Police Chief Charles F. Simons, Valdosta Police Department, provides the following information concerning the August 2, 2011 armed robbery of the Certus Bank, located at 460 Norman Drive, Valdosta, Georgia:
On 08/04/2011, the United States Magistrate, Middle District of Georgia, Macon, Georgia, issued warrants for the arrest of Ryan Edward Dougherty, Stanley Dylan Dougherty, and Grace Lee E. Dougherty for the crime of armed bank robbery, a violation of Title 18, Section 2113 (a) and (d).
These subjects should be considered armed and dangerous.
These individuals were last seen operating a 2006 white, four-door Subaru Impreza bearing New York license tag FBE 5900.
On August 2, 2011 at approximately 12:24 p.m., the Valdosta Police Department along with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Remerton Police Department, responded to an armed robbery at Certus Bank, 460 Norman Drive. Officers arrived on scene and were advised that three individuals, dressed in black with masks, entered the bank through the front entrance. The suspects are believed to be two white males and one white female. As the robbers entered the bank, shots were fired towards the ceiling and everyone in the bank was instructed to get down. At least two of the robbers brandished weapons, one described as being an AK-47 type assault rifle and the other appearing to be a machine pistol, while other robber obtained an undisclosed amount of money. All three robbers then departed the bank and were observed departing in an older model, white, four-door sedan. Detectives from the Valdosta Police Department, Crime Scene Technicians from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Crime Laboratory, and the FBI responded to the scene to investigate.
It should be noted that these individuals are also suspects in the attempted murder of a Zephyrhills, Florida police officer earlier that same day. On August 2, 2011, at 7:00 a.m., a patrol officer for that department was in pursuit of a four-door white vehicle. The suspects in the vehicle began to shoot at the patrol officer and subsequently disabled the patrol vehicle. Multiple calibers were used in that shooting. The suspect vehicle was described as being a 2006 white Subaru Impreza, New York license plate FBE5900.
The subjects, all siblings, are described as follows:
Name: Ryan Edward Dougherty, white male, age 21, 5’10” in height, 180 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes.
Name: Dylan Dougherty Stanley, white male, age 26, 6’1” in height, 185 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes.
Name: Lee Grace E. Dougherty, white female, age 29, 5’4” in height, 120 lbs., brown hair, brown eyes.
Anyone having any further information regarding this matter should contact the FBI at (404) 679-9000 or the Valdosta Police Department at 229-293-3145, or you can remain anonymous by calling 229-293-3091.
North Central Florida Regional Planning Council Awards Roy Ellis for Outstanding Attendance
Gainesville, FL – Madison County Commissioner Roy Ellis was awarded a Certificate of Outstanding Attendance at the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council meeting on June 30, 2011 by Scott Koons, Executive Director of the Council. The Certificate was awarded in recognition of his attendance at every scheduled Council meeting during Program Year 2010-11. Ellis has served on the Council since 2001, representing Madison County as a local elected official.
The Council, whose members are local elected officials and gubernatorial appointees, administers a variety of state and federal programs for north central Florida including Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union Counties. Programs include development of the Strategic Regional Policy Plan, technical assistance to local governments in development of comprehensive plans, land development regulations and grant management, and administration of developments of regional impact, local mitigation strategies, hazardous materials, homeland security and economic development programs. In addition, the Council staffs the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization for the Gainesville Urbanized Area, the North Central Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee, the North Central Florida Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team and The Original Florida Tourism Task Force.
Ellis has been very active in the organization over the past several years. He has served one term as Chairman and Vice-Chairman and two terms as Secretary-Treasurer. He has also served as Chairman of the Finance, Nominating and Program Committees, and has been a member of the Board of Directors for nine terms. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee.
The Council’s offices are located in Gainesville. More information about the Council can be found at ncfrpc.org.
NFCC’s historic conference center remains open to the public
College makes changes in Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center funding
The Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center is now operating as a self-supporting enterprise that no longer receives financial support from North Florida Community College’s general operating budget. The shift in funding was approved by the NFCC District Board of Trustees and considered a necessary change as the college prioritizes expenditures amidst another year of reduced state funding. A special announcement regarding the change was sent to NFCC’s “Friends of the Mansion” members in June.
“Over the years, Friends of the Mansion members have made monetary donations, volunteered time, and shown a great love for NFCC’s historic conference center,” said Maria Greene, WSG Conference Center Coordinator. “We are making changes, but our annual membership drive is currently underway and we continue to hold events, weddings and tours in the Mansion. It’s business as usual for now as we look for ways to build extra revenue.”
Greene is looking as far ahead as June 2012 with her current budget and needs the continued support of donors and the community. According to NFCC President John Grosskopf, the College is also actively seeking partnerships or alternative solutions that can keep the WSG Conference Center open to the public; even if that means taking NFCC out of the equation.
“NFCC is very proud of its tenure as the primary steward of this very important local treasure; however, we are now in a position where we must align all of our resources to the fulfillment of our primary mission, and we cannot continue to fund this endeavor,” said Grosskopf. “We will be working to find our successor to take over from here.”
The Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center, listed in the Historic American Building Survey and the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1860. NFCC purchased the WSG Conference Center property in 1988 through a Florida legislative appropriation to preserve and use it as a conference center for the six rural counties which the College serves.
Many of the antique furnishings and accessories inside the Mansion are loaned or donated by individuals within the area and according to Greene, these items will be handled with the upmost respect in regards to the donor or owner, whatever the future brings for the Mansion.
“The Mansion has become a valued icon in our community, full of history and character,” said Greene. “I appreciate all the community support, especially our Friends of the Mansion members, and ask for continued support and feedback as we work to build the future of the Wardlaw-Smith-Conference Center.”
