ONE DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT 

JUNE  4, 2008

According to Sheriff Alvie Lee Kight, Jr., on Wednesday June 4, 2008, James Otis Wright was driving a Dodge Neon when he stopped at a stop sign at US Highway # 1, then pulled out in front of a Semi truck traveling north which he did not see coming.

Patricia L. Wiggins, of 811 Charles Street, Ailey, Georgia who was a passenger in the Neon was seriously injured and transported to Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia where she died later from her injuries. No one else was hurt in the accident.

The accident is under investigation by the Toombs County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia State Patrol.

(June 4, 5:50 p.m.) Markets for Vidalia onions should strengthen as new-crop shipments yield to the storage season, grower-shippers predicted.

Glennville, Ga.-based Bland Farms LLC wrapped up its harvest the week of May 19 and had moved all of its onions to coolers and controlled-atmosphere storage by the following week, said Michael Hively, general manager.

Hendrix Produce Inc., Metter, Ga., finished harvesting May 31, said Kevin Hendrix, vice president, with other growers finishing shortly thereafter.

June should bring stronger Vidalia markets, Hively predicted.

“The industry is talking about higher prices for controlled-atmosphere,” Hively said June 3. “The market should improve by the middle to the end of next week.”

Hendrix agreed.

“Everybody will be shipping out of storage pretty soon, so the market should rise up a little bit,” he said.

Marty Kamer, sales manager of Greencastle, Pa.-based Keystone Fruit Marketing Inc., said prices should rise as June progresses.

“As we get deeper into the storage crop, and people finish up with fresh shipments, the market should strengthen,” he said.

On June 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported prices of $10-12 for 40-pound cartons of jumbo Vidalias, down from $16 last year at the same time.

Hively said this season’s storage crop should be above average in volume, with product shipping through mid- to late August.

Hendrix reported an average-size storage crop, with shipments expected through Labor Day.

Quality should be excellent all summer long, with sizing on the large side, Hively said.

“Mediums and small jumbos will be a little tight,” he said.

Hendrix forecast excellent quality and average sizing for the 2008 CA crop.

Kamer said he looks forward to more of the same quality and good size profile — featuring mostly jumbos and colossal onions — that the company has seen so far. Keystone’s primary Vidalia grower is Cowart Farms, Lyons, Ga.

“We’re very excited about this year’s Vidalia crop to date,” he said. “The quality and the support from retail has been terrific, and we should have good supplies to keep the momentum going all summer.”

06/01/2008

 Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order suspending a scheduled increase in gas taxes that would have taken effect on July 1.

“Georgians are already facing record gas prices, and raising taxes even higher would put further strain on families’ budgets and on our economy,” said Governor Perdue. “Suspending these tax increases will benefit some of our most important industries, including agriculture, tourism, aviation and logistics, as well as every Georgian that buys gasoline.”

Legislation passed in 2004 requires the Department of Revenue to use recent gas prices to recalculate the state motor fuel and state sales taxes on fuels every six months. That percentage-based tax is converted to a per gallon rate which is readjusted every January 1 and July 1. Record gas prices at the pump over the past 6 months meant Georgians would have faced higher gas sales taxes at the pump.

Without today’s action, the state motor fuel and state sales taxes on gasoline would have risen on July 1 by 2.9 cents per gallon to 13.9 cents, a 26 percent increase. Governor Perdue’s order will hold the tax at 11 cents per gallon, which is combined with an excise tax of 7.5 cents per gallon.

The suspension also freezes state motor fuel and state sales taxes on other categories of fuel, including diesel, aviation gasoline, liquid propane gas and “special fuels” which includes compressed natural gas. Taxes on diesel were set to rise 4.2 cents a gallon to 16.5 cents and taxes on aviation gasoline would have increased by 3.6 cents per gallon to 20.9 cents. Propane taxes would have risen 0.8 cents a gallon to 8.2 cents and taxes on compressed natural gas would have increased 2.9 cents per gallon to 13.8 cents. The suspension does not freeze or apply to any local sales and use taxes.

Pursuant to state law, the tax will remain frozen until the Georgia General Assembly meets again. The legislature has adjourned its regular 2008 session, which means the next meeting of the General Assembly is expected to be in January 2009.

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