Phillip Nelson
Oglethorpe County game warden Phillip Nelson received the Rocky Wainwright Waterfowl Award from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division in August.
The Rocky Wainwright Waterfowl Award generally goes to a warden in South Georgia because there are more duck hunters in that part of the state than North Georgia, he said Tuesday.
“Everything fell in place” for him to win the award this year, Nelson said Tuesday.
Nelson’s contributions to waterfowl education and duck hunting included speaking to Oglethorpe County students, working with University of North Georgia students, building and installing wooden duck boxes around the county and banding ducks.
He also arrested hunters for illegally hunting over bait, including one who was hunting while intoxicated.
Nelson, who is a 23-year veteran of the law enforcement division, also has won the state award for hunter education and won the region’s turkey award in 2006 and 2009.
Lincoln County’s Cory Bohannon is the DNR’s Game Warden of the Year.
Bridge work slated for Highway 78
The Georgia Department of Transportation will use signal lights to regulate the flow of traffic while it repairs a bridge on Highway 78, near the old Hogan’s Store, east of Lexington.
The lights will feature a red light/green light system for traffic control, rather than flagmen and a pilot car. The DOT was to perform a calibration test on Wednesday morning, the results of which would lead to a project timeline.
Pinnacle remodels Lexington branch
Pinnacle Bank’s Lexington Branch is being renovated.
The improvements include a new roof, dentil molding and gutter replacement. The trim was painted and the windows and doors replaced. In the interior, the conference room will become an office. Other areas of the branch will also have a facelift, including restrooms and the kitchen.
Pinnacle acquired the branch in 2002 and the number of employees has increased over that time.
“We realized it was time to consider revitalizing the Lexington Branch,” said Kim Huff Wheless, vice president-business banker. “The Pinnacle team worked with the City of Lexington Historic Preservation Commission and had several items approved for a refresh.”