21 for ’21: A look back at some of the top local stories in 2021 💥👩👩💥

Following are the top 21 stories, in terms of Times-Enterprise website traffic, for 2021, along the dates each first appeared on the website and a short synopsis.

1. Body found in Barwick, teen charged with homicide

March 15

A 14-year-old male was charged with homicide in the death of a man whose body was found in woods.

2. Thomasville Pictures begins work on second feature film

January 15

A Thomasville-based motion picture production company is kicking off its second feature film to be filmed locally in as many years.

In early January, Thomasville Pictures began assembling production and technical staff, with pre-production and location scouting already under way on a film project entitled “One Way” that will star Kevin Bacon, Travis Fimmel and Colson Baker, more commonly known as Machine Gun Kelly.

3. Driver killed in mid-morning wreck

September 27

A vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on South Madison Street hit a telephone pole and flipped several times.

4. Human skeletal remains found off Ga. 188

April 17

Human skeletal remains were found shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area off Ga. 188 near Enon Road.

Remains were found about 100 yards off the state highway.

5. City abuzz with two local film productions

May 25

Thomasville is once again buzzing with activity surrounding not one, but two motion pictures taking advantage of diverse and picturesque locations available here, and local officials couldn’t be happier to host the productions.

6. Machete-wielding suspect arrested at Walmart

August 25

Three civilians are being praised for their brave actions after apprehending a violent customer at Walmart. Thomasville Police Department was dispatched to Walmart in reference to reports of a customer who attacked another customer.

Police later found out that the suspect was said to have used a machete from the sporting goods aisle in Walmart and was running through the store threatening to kill other customers.

7. Body found on Cairo Road

April 28

The body of a 31-year-old Thomasville man was found about 10:30 near Cairo Road’s intersection with Martin Luther King Drive. The man’s vehicle was found several hundred yards away off the road.

Police officers began CPR on the man while waiting for the emergency medical service to arrive. The victim was pronounced dead at Archbold Memorial Hospital.

8. Grady shootings investigated as murder-suicide

February 4

The deaths of a Grady County woman and her teenage daughter have been classified as a murder/suicide by a Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab. The husband of the suicide victim could not make contact with his wife and daughter late that night and went to the residence near the Florida state line.

9. Boston man charged with murder in child’s death

January 6

A Boston man has been charged with murder in the New Year’s Eve death of a 2-year-old girl.

Boston police and the Thomas County Emergency Medical Service responded the afternoon of Dec. 31 to a Jefferson Street residence.

10. Local man charged with child pornography, probe continues

February 26

Through a national alert program, Thomasville police learned a Thomasville resident was involved in transmitting child pornography.

Police and Thomas County Sheriff’s Office personnel went to a Glenwood Drive residence and arrested charged a suspect with 18 counts of computer pornography and child exploitation.

11. Three reported dead in helicopter that stopped in Thomasville

September 17

Federal investigators confirmed that three people died in a helicopter crash that departed from Thomasville Regional Airport, according to the Associated Press.

The flight, identified as a Robinson R66 helicopter, had two pilots and a passenger on board and was reported missing for over two hours, AP said.

Robert Petty, Thomasville Airport manager, said the flight arrived in Thomasville, got fuel and departed 30 minutes later.

12. Thomas County Central expected to name Colquitt’s Rogers as next head coach

December 9

Thomas County Central appears ready to name its next head football coach.

Sources close to the coaching search said the Yellow Jackets will name Colquitt County head coach Justin Rogers as their next coach.Rogers compiled a 25-8 record with the Packers, which included a 7-2 record in Region 1-AAAAAAA play.

13. Two injured, one dead from Monday shooting

November 3

Thomasville Police Department confirmed in a press release that a shooting incident resulted in one fatality and two reported injuries.

Officers responded to the 1100 block of North Stevens Street where an active shooter was reported.

Multiple people were found with apparent gunshot wounds and two people were taken to Archbold Memorial Hospital for treatment, officials said.

A third person was pronounced dead at the scene.

14. Multi-agency Grady drug takedown nets dealer suspects

February 16

Six suspected drug dealers were arrested in Grady County in a sweep involving local and state lawmen. One suspect remains at large.

About 35 Grady County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), Cairo Police Department and Georgia Bureau of Investigation officers conducted an arrest roundup following a three-month investigation into drug sales at Valero Travel Center on U.S. 84 East in Cairo.

The investigation resulted from citizen complaints about drug sales at the business.

15. Two dead in Grady County wreck

June 12

A two-vehicle accident claimed the lives of two Grady County residents.

A vehicle going southbound on Highway 111 apparently crossed the center line and hit a northbound log truck. The log truck went off the road and hit two pine trees, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

16. Six suspects arrested, two pounds of drugs seized

June 17

A man under surveillance and five more suspects were arrested after almost two pounds of drugs were found in a local neighborhood.

Authorities said a man had been under surveillance for the last two months for selling synthetic marijuana and Molly.

17. Crenshaw chosen Archbold chief of staff

February 5

Dr. Daryl Crenshaw’s first patient had four legs — but barely.

“I’ve always had this penchant for taking care of people,” he said. “I also had a love for taking care of animals and pets.”

When Crenshaw, a Selma, Alabama, native was 10, his first cat, Spot, fought with another cat on a weekend. One of Spot’s legs was almost severed in the feline battle.

18. Two suspects arrested in armed robbery

August 17

Two suspects were arrested by the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office after they allegedly robbed a local store.

Deputies responded to reports of the armed robbery around 8:30 p.m. at the Dollar General store located in Ochlocknee.

According to reports, two suspects entered the store with a long gun and demanded money from the store clerk.

19. Multiple fraudulent cases suspected throughout Thomas County

July 23

An investigation requested by the Georgia Department of Labor is underway in reference to suspicious unemployment benefits disbursed throughout Thomas County.

The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office started the investigation back in June 2020 in collaboration with the Secret Service out of Albany and an Inspector General’s office out of Jacksonville.

The investigation revealed that unemployment fraud was occurring mainly in Boston and Barwick.

20. Henderson out as Central coach

November 17

Thomas County Central will have a new football coach when the Yellow Jackets move into Class 6A next year.

Athletic Director Phillip Duplantis confirmed that Ashley Henderson will not return as head coach for a fifth season.

21. Body discovered in Grady County

July 26

A body was discovered in a Grady County pond by law enforcement.

Grady County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a body floating in a pond located on Singletary Road.