🌱 Columbus Dog & Raccoon Have Rabies + Police Chief Speaks After Vote

Hello, neighbors! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Columbus Patch newsletter. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: A t-storm in the a.m.; breezy. High: 85 Low: 62.
• Sunday: Cloudy, a shower and t-storm. High: 76 Low: 64.

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Here are the top three stories today in Columbus:

1. The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) is advising people in Columbus to take precautions after a dog tested positive for rabies on Mar. 23. The dog was attacked by a raccoon in the 43rd street area, west of river road, in Columbus. GDPH advises residents and visitors of the area not to pick up any wildlife or stray animals, to report any animal bites and/or scratches to Columbus Animal Care & Control Center and the Columbus Environmental Health Office, to report any animals behaving strangely or aggressively, and to contact a veterinarian if a pet or livestock is behaving strangely or is injured. View the link to see more suggestions and for what to do if you are bitten and/or scratched. (WRBL)
2. Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon spoke to the public for the first time since his leadership was called into question with a vote of no confidence. After the Jensen Hughes assessment, Blackmon said he presented a strategic plan to Columbus City Council but the next day he was given a severance package. He said, "It was not a comfortable feeling. As I stated, I know there are challenges, but I would like [the] opportunity to work at implementing the strategic plan." (WTVM 9)
3. On Mar. 23, 22-year-old Jayvon Hatchett of Columbus was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated assault and five years for the possession of a knife during the commission of a crime for a racially motivated attack in 2020. Hatchett stabbed Michael Hunt seven times because, as he told police, he wanted to kill a white person after watching a video of police brutality against a Black man in Wisconsin. Superior Court Judge John Martin called the incident "the absolute definition of a hate crime." (WRBL)

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Today and tomorrow in Columbus:

Saturday, March 25

• House On Broadway At 1100 Block, Broadway & 11th (4:00 PM)
• Guys And Dolls At Springer Opera House (7:30 PM)

Sunday, March 26

• Girls With Goals Presents Women In Wealth: “The Ultimate Tea Party” At 1540 Veterans Parkway (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Columbus police posted surveillance photos of a suspect cashing in stolen lottery tickets. The tickets and a large amount of money was stolen during a burglary at Veterans Grocery on Mar. 8. Police ask that you contact Sgt. Edenfield at jedenfield@columbusga.org if you know the person pictured in the photos at the link. (Columbus Georgia Police Department via Facebook)
• On Mar. 23, Piedmont Columbus Regional announced that the former Doctors Hospital building will become the region’s only freestanding Children’s Hospital. The Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital will be located on the Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown campus at 19th Street. (WTVM 9)
• A Labrador Retriever puppy named Arlo is looking for his forever family! See Arlo and more adorable adoptable pets in the Columbus area at the link. (Columbus Patch)

You're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!