If you’re planning to go to the Vidalia Onion Festival Air Show, Arts and Crafts, or carnival this weekend, you should know that extra steps have been taken this year to minimize the traffic congestion that in the past has been an issue.
Brian Scott is the Safety and Security Coordinator for this year’s Vidalia Onion Festival, and said, “In 2022, Vidalia saw the most attendees of any air show in history. Tablets used at the entry gates relied on cellular data to scan tickets for prepaid and same-day tickets. This overwhelmed cellular towers which caused delays. This year, Altamaha Fiber has run dedicated lines to the gates which should provide reliable access.”
Scott has collaborated with other responders in the area to coordinate a plan including the Vidalia Police Department, Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Public Safety, Toombs Emergency Management Agency, Lyons Police Department, and a private security company to coordinate a feasible plan for this year.
“The plan is designed to keep air show traffic separate from the arts and crafts and the carnival during the day on Saturday and Sunday,” Scott said. “Way-finding signs have been placed along Highway 280 and adjacent side streets to assist motorists with navigation to these events.”
According to the plan, general air show admission which includes sponsors, Mayor’s guests and media guest will enter off Matthews Industrial Circle, according to Scott. Motorists traveling eastbound on Highway 280 will turn right on McNatt Street; motorists traveling westbound on Highway 280 will turn left onto Harris Industrial Boulevard. Attendees who purchased pre-paid premium parking as well as vendors and volunteers at the air show will enter on Pete Phillips Drive.
Attendees and visitors to the Airs and Crafts and carnival venues will enter on Commerce Way.
While diligence has been exercised, remember that this is the one time of year that a little extra patience in getting from Point A to Point B should be exercised as everyone is in town to celebrate the harvest of the world’s sweetest onions and enjoy the annual Vidalia Onion Festival.
For more information on this year’s traffic flow or any or the events of the 47th Vidalia Onion Festival, log onto www.vidaliaonionfestival.com or download the QR code on your device’s app store.
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Below is a complete list of events for this week's 47th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival. More info is available at www.vidaliaonionfestival.com or you can download the Vidalia Onion Festival app.
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The driver of a pickup truck that was involved in an accident Friday morning on Loop Road and Old Normantown Road has been charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle, driving while unlicensed, and stop signs and yield signs violation.
Freddy Jose Suarez Juarez was behind the wheel of the truck when he failed to stop at the intersection and two 17-year-olds, Daniela Teran and Sebastian Juarez died at the scene. Other passengers in the truck as well as the driver of the other vehicle involved, Robert Yepe of Lyons, all sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to his booking information Juarez, was born in Venezuela, and in addition to the previously mentioned charges, he was also placed on a hold for the Department of Homeland Security. That charge, however, has been resolved and dropped as “ICE stated that they couldn’t make it here [Toombs County] within the 48-hour hold time.”
Juarez has been released on bond.
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Vidalia Police Department reports the following arrests:
Doleman, Charles – Vidalia – Theft by Shoplifting.
Stokes, Derrick – Vidalia – DI; Failure to Maintain Lane.
Harmon, Michael – Vidalia – Criminal Damage to Property.
Toombs County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests:
Cesar, Carnalla, Jr. – Daytona Beach, FL – Open Container Alcoholic Beverage (Passenger); DUI/Alcohol/Less Safe.
Connell, Cassie – Rome, GA – Probation Violation.
Fisher, Calvin – Tarrytown – Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.
Graham, Christopher – Uvalda – Probation Violation.
Lopez, David – Lyons – Battery (FVA); Criminal Trespass (FVA); Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree (FVA); Aggravated Assault (FVA); Probation Violation; Simple Battery (FVA).
Oliver, Callie – Reidsville – Speeding in Excess of Maximum Limits.
Rogers, Rakeem – Vidalia – Probation Violation.
Sanders, Kendall – Vidalia- Probation Violation.
Sherman, Ellison – Vidalia – Probation Violation.
Suarez Juarez, Freddy – Brunswick – Driving while Unlicensed; Homicide by Vehicle (2 Counts); Stop Sign and Yield Sign Violations; Immigration Hold.
Tillman, Javon – Statesboro – Failure to Appear.
Uscanga, Pablo – Auburn, AL – Driving While Unlicensed.
Lyons Police Department reports the following arrest:
Armstrong, Melissa – Lyons – Seatbelt Violation; Allowing Unlicensed Person to Drive; Willful Obstruction of Police Officer (Simple/Verbal).
Armstrong, Brandon Jermaine - Lyons – Driving While License Suspended or Revoked; Operating A Vehicle While Registration is Suspended; Willful Obstruction of Police Officer (Simple/Verbal); Giving Fase Name/Address/Birthdate to a Law Enforcement Officer.
Newberry, Donald Randal – Lyons – Operating A Vehicle While Registration is Suspended.
Grimes, Alexander Jordan – Lyons – Driving While Unlicensed; Defective Equipment (No Horn, Headlights, Tail lights).
Ruiz, David – Register – Operating A Vehicle While Registration is Suspended; No insurance; Driving While Unlicensed; Expired Tag.
Canionero, Dominque Orun – Augusta – Warrant Service.
Hayes, Justin Tyler – Lyons – Criminal Trespass.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests:
Vaughn, Jeffery Bill – Ailey – Terroristic Threats (Family Violence).
Willhite, Kelly Jess – Vidalia – Theft by Conversion.
Weber, Lenzie Rae – Vidalia – Simple Battery; Cruelty to Children (3rd).
Palmer, David Allen – Tarrytown – Battery (Family Violence); Cruelty to Children (2nd).
Burns, Joshua Landis – Ailey – Simple Battery; Aggravated Assault.
Candler County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests:
Lindo, Aaiyah Ashanti – Jonesboro, GA – DUI Under 21; Impeding Traffic Flow.
Early Damion Mikell – Probation Violation.
Fulmer, Justin Matthew – Metter – Contributing to Delinquency of Minor; Public Drunkenness.
Hall, Edward – Metter – DUI (Combination of Substances); Fleeing/Attempting to Elude Arrest; Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Sell/Distribute; Possession of Cocaine; Possession of Drug-Related Objects; Possession of Ecstasy; Possession of Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area; Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Speeding.
Lee, Diamond Odette – Vidalia - Alcohol Possession (Under 21); Public Drunkenness.
Lucas, Albert – Probation Violation.
McCoy, Jamie Tyrell – Swainsboro – Probation Violation.
Molina, Michael Martinez – Claxton - Probation Violation.
Quinn, Kyle Ivan – Twin City – Alcohol Possession (Under 21); Public Drunkenness.
Ruiz, Andrea – Probation Violation.
Silva, Pascual Alex – Metter – Probation Violation.
Taylor, William Lawson – Metter – Probation Violation.
Jackson, Travis Roosevelt – Metter – Sexual Offender Registry (Failure to Comply.
Reed, Michael Daniel – Cochran – Giving False Name/Address/Birthdate to A Law Enforcement Officer; Stop Sign Violation.
Johnson, Zannia – Vidalia – Probation Violation.
Smith, Chandler Scott – Baxley – Theft by Taking.
Varela, Andrew Caleb – Griffin – Driving on Roadways Laned For Traffic; DUI Drugs; Possession of A Controlled Substance; Possession of Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Passenger Area.
Vazquez, Angel Ismael – Anniston, AL – DUI Drugs; Speeding.
White, Michael Dean – Metter – Probation Violation.
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On Friday, April 19th, 2024, at approximately 9:01 am, Toombs County 911 Dispatch received a call of a wreck involving a white Ford truck and a green Chevrolet car at the intersection of GA Hwy 130 east and Old Normantown Road. Upon arrival, deputies observed that both vehicles were northwest of the intersection in the ditch. The white Ford truck was driven by Freddy Juarez, 40, of Lyons. The driver of the green Chevrolet car was driven by Robert Yepe, 45, of Lyons. There were six passengers in the white Ford truck with Freddy Juarez: Daniela Teran, 17 (deceased), Sebastian Juarez, 17 (deceased), Jose Gomez, 37, Reynalda Jimenez, Jesus Juarez, 27, and Brusela Lopez, 33, all of Jacksonville, Florida. Freddy Juarez, Jose Gomez, Jesus Juarez, and Brusela Lopez, along with Robert Yepe, were all transported by Toombs-Montgomery EMS to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital with serious injuries. Reynalda Jimenez was flown to Memorial Hospital in Savannah by Air Evan Lifeteam 91. Based on preliminary evidence, itappears that Freddy Juearz's vehicle was traveling north on Old Normantown Road when he failed to stop at the intersection, striking Yepe's vehicle that was traveling west on GA Hwy 130 east. The accident has been turned over to Georgia State Patrol Post 18 (Reidsville) for further investigation. Thank you to all the agencies and staff that assisted with the wreck. We asked that you keep all the families in your thoughts and prayers.
Press release issued by the Toombs County Sheriff's Office.
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