Memorial Day arrests double number in '08

A Memorial Day weekend crackdown on traffic violations in Richmond County netted 128 speeders, 18 drunk drivers and more than twice as many arrests as a year ago, according to Sgt. Pete Lamb of the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies issued 92 speeding tickets Monday as of 7 p.m., Sgt. Lamb said.

Overall, speeding citations fell from 170 in 2008 to 128. Drivers ticketed for not wearing seat belts dropped from 45 to 19.

Deputies served two felony and six misdemeanor arrest warrants, according to Sgt. Lamb. A total of 37 people were arrested.

Farmer pinned, killed by overturned tractor

A farmer was killed in Emanuel County when his tractor overturned Sunday.

According to a news release from the Emanuel County Sheriff's Office, Capers Phillips, of Lyons, Ga., was killed mid-afternoon. There was no sign of foul play. Witnesses said Mr. Phillips had been working on his pond dam for several weekends.

When he did not come home after dark, relatives said they started looking for him. They eventually found Mr. Phillips at the base of the pond dam, pinned beneath the tractor.