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Multiple agencies work to make Albany safe this summer

ALBANY, GA (WALB)- Law enforcement agencies in Albany and Dougherty County are teaming up and strategically hitting the streets to make sure you stay safe this summer.

Operation Takeback is a summer-long program to catch people with active warrants and clean up the streets.

Part of the operation will focus on housing projects.

Ole Thornton is one of many residents in the Golden Oaks Housing Project who says a coordinated police effort to clean up the streets of Albany and Housing developments across the city is a fantastic idea.

Police on the lookout for bike thieves

ALBANY, GA (WALB)- Albany police are still on the lookout for a couple of thieves, who were prevented from selling a stolen bicycle by an alert WALB fan.

The expensive road bike was stolen from a Kirt Phillips' storage shed at his Cumberland Lane home a little after 4 a.m. Tuesday.

We posted a picture of the bike and a surveillance shot of the crooks on walb.com. When two men tried to sell the bike at Mega Pawn, an employee recognized it from our web story and confronted the men. They took off.

Heritage Financial Group CEO says economy is improving

Len Dorminey, Heritage Financial Group President

ALBANY, GA (WALB)- The president and C.E.O. of Heritage Financial Group said the economy is improving.

Thursday, Len Dorminey spoke at the Rotary Club Meeting at Doublegate Country Club about the financial market.

He said his company's decision to convert credit unions into commercial banks helped them survive when other financial institutions had to close their doors.

Guilty verdicts in bar parking lot beating trial

ALBANY, GA (WALB)- Three Albany men, charged with beating a man in a bar parking lot so viciously they fractured his skull. are found guilty of different levels of involvement in their trial.

After three hours of deliberation this morning, the jury found William Sizemore guilty of aggravated assault and aggravated battery, both felonies.

Sean Marney was found guilty of aggravated assault, a felony, and misdemeanor battery.

And Steven Hatcher was found guilty of misdemeanor affray.

Several streets close for Spring Fest and SB&T Bike Race

ALBANY, GA (WALB)- Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, P. E.  announced some road closures Thursday morning.

Beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, the following streets will be closed for the Spring Fest and SB&T Bike Race: 

  • 100 and 200 Blocks of Washington Street
  • 200 Block of Broad Avenue
  • 100 and 200 Blocks of Jackson Street
  • 200 Block of Flint Avenue
  • 100 and 200 Blocks of Pine Avenue. 

 

Metro Albany's unemployment rate declines to 8.6% in April

ATLANTA, GA (WALB)-  ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Albany's unemployment rate declined to 8.6 percent in April, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 8.9 percent in March. The rate was 9.2 percent in April a year ago.

The rate declined as the number of jobs in metro Albany increased by 200 to 61,200, up from 61,000 in March. Most of the growth came in retail trade and state government.

Jobs were unchanged at 61,200 over the year.

Two men suspected of early morning smash and grabs

ALBANY, GA (WALB)- Dougherty County Police believe two men are behind a smash and grab and a break in at two convenience stores within four miles of each other.

The first smash and grab happened around 2:20 am at the Pit Stop convenience store at 3225 Sylvester road.

Then just a half hour later, closer to 3 am, the police believe the same two men smashed the glass door with a cinder block at the Stop and Shop at 700 Cordele Road.