Murray County Archives - MurrayMurray

Murray County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 10/13 – 10/20

Arrest Reports, Police & Government October 20, 2020 , by Content Admin

The Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70) allows for FetchYourNews.com to obtain and post the arrest records/booking report of any and all individuals arrested in Murray County. Those arrests are posted on FetchYourNews.com for viewing pleasure. Please remember that all individuals listed have been arrested and charged, however, they are presumed innocent until guilt has been proven in a court of law. FYN publishes the arrest report provided by the MCSO.

UPDATE: Wells Fargo building to become county’s tax office

Business, News, Police & Government October 7, 2020 , by Susan Kirkland

The former Well Fargo building will be turned into the new Murray County Tax Commissioner’s office, allowing customers to use the drive-through service. The building was purchased using CARES funding and SPLOST.

Murray County Sole Commissioner Greg Hogan announced the county’s purchase of the former Wells Fargo bank building for $385,000 to help expand county offices and give customers the option of driving through when they need to pay their taxes.

Hogan wanted to assure county residents that funding for the purchase comes from both the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was signed into law on March 27, providing financial relief for communities and Special Local Option Sales Tax. Murray County received about $1.8 million in relief funding.

“We are not using tax dollars on this,” said Hogan.

He explained the purchase of the Wells Fargo building meets the conditions set forth in the act because the drive-through window allows for social distancing and limited in-person contact.

“During the shut down, we were still open,” said Hogan. “Many of the older residents just want to go to the office to pay the bill.”

The former Wells Fargo bank is located at the intersection of Ga. Hwy. 41 and Ga. Hwy. 52 Alternate and other than minor cosmetic changes, the building is move-in ready, he said.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Billy Childers, tax commissioner, said the building will need about $6,000 of renovation, mostly customer interface partitions and the county will use inmate labor to make many of the renovations.

“This was much cheaper than building a place,” Childers said.

Hogan said the building would provide much needed room for city hall.

“About 12-percent of our population comes through the tax commissioners office every month. That’s about 3,500 people per month just for motor vehicle taxes and tags,” said Hogan.

The building offers 2,820 square feet including basement, main floor and an upper level. It comes with a safe and a working drive through, which the city plans to utilize.

“We expect many of our senior citizens to use it, ” said Tommy Parker, County Manager. “What we were surprised by was how many mothers wanted a drive-through option. It makes it easier when you children in a car seat and if they are napping, you don’t want to wake them.”

CARES Act Georgia Murray County SPLOST Wells Fargo

MC Tax commissioner Billy Childers warns residents against legal third-party websites that charge a large fee for car tag renewals.

Murray County Tax Commissioner Billy Childers is warning residents to beware of costly third-party websites advertising to renew car registration. He said the sites have exorbitant fees attached to them and those wanting to renew on-line can use the county’s website at a much lower cost.

“These websites are legal,” he stressed. “The most anyone should pay is $26 for a tag and that includes the late fee if there is one.”

“We’re just now learning more about it and we are learning through disgruntled customers who are calling and wanting to know what we are doing with all these fees,” he said.

Websites like www.GeorgiaCarreg.org will charge several fees, including a convenience fee of $39.99 and a processing fee of $27 for a total of $66.99.

Melissa Webb, who works in the Tax Commissioners office, said that cars under the the ad valorem system have different charges.

Childers said there is no need to pay that much. Residents can go directly to the Georgia Department of Revenue to renew their tags for a three-percent convenience fee.

This is for cars under the “new” system, said Melissa Web, Childer’s assistant.

Georgia switched how they handle taxes in 2013, going from an annual ad valorem tax to a straight sales tax upon purchase based on the value of the vehicle and not the sales prices.

Childers received and email from Rodney V. Cain, Lowndes County Tax Commissioner, encouraging other commissioners to let their residence know the cost of using non-government sites to renew tags.

I feel sure that most of you are aware of GeorgiaCarreg.org and probably others like it. As a Tax Commissioner, I feel that it is our duty to make folks aware of such sites. Such sites are Non-Government Sites and these sites are charges our constituents large fees for simply being a go between. They just now charged a Lowndes County tax payer a Processing fee of $39.99 + $27.00 for a total charge of $66.99 to renew his Registration. Directly through us the Vehicle Registration would have been only $26.00. — Rodney V. Cain, Lowndes County Tax Commissioner

Websites like GeorgiaCarreg.org add more than $60 in fees to renew $20 tags.

Childers said he doesn’t know if there is true deception and the GeorgiaCarreg.org websites looks official, but it is noted twice on each webpage that is is not a government website and that it is privately owned. It does, however, come above the Georgia Department of Revenue site in searches, labeled with a tiny box that denotes it as an “Ad.”

Third-party websites offering costly tag renewals pop up on searches before legitimate, government websites.

“It’s a go-between and if people aren’t careful, they will use them instead of the government site,” said Childers.

If people are unsure, they can all the Tax Commissioners office at (706) 695-2413.

WATCH MURRAY COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER SPEAK ON THIRD PARTY TAG RENEWALS. 

KELLY LOEFFLER MAKES A STOP AT LOCAL DALTON EATERY.

car taxes Murray County tag renewal taxes third-party websites

Murray County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 8/23 – 8/30

Arrest Reports, Police & Government September 1, 2020 , by Content Admin

Arrest Arrest Reports criminal FYN GA Georgia Georgia Open Records Act history Murray County News Reports Sheriff Sheriff's Office so

Murray County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 8/15 – 8/24

Arrest Reports, Police & Government August 25, 2020 , by Content Admin

Arrest Arrest Reports criminal FYN GA Georgia Georgia Open Records Act history Murray County News Reports Sheriff Sheriff's Office so

Murray County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 8/4 – 8/10

Arrest Reports, Police & Government August 11, 2020 , by Content Admin

Arrest Arrest Reports criminal FYN GA Georgia Georgia Open Records Act history Murray County News Reports Sheriff Sheriff's Office so

Murray County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 8/7 – 8/14

Arrest Reports, Police & Government August 18, 2020 , by Content Admin

Arrest Arrest Reports criminal FYN GA Georgia Georgia Open Records Act history Murray County News Reports Sheriff Sheriff's Office so

Murray County Sheriffs Office Arrest Report 7/27 – 8/3

Arrest Reports, Police & Government August 4, 2020 , by Content Admin

Arrest Arrest Reports criminal FYN GA Georgia Georgia Open Records Act history Murray County News Reports Sheriff Sheriff's Office so

Officers arrest Crandall man for possession of methamphetamine

News, Police & Government July 31, 2020 , by Lauren Souther

MURRAY COUNTY, Ga – Murray County law enforcement apprehended Lance Tyler Stephenson on several drug charges after a lengthy drug investigation.

The Murray County Proactive Drug Unit investigated Stephenson over several months. Previously, Stephenson allegedly fled and evaded capture by deputies on his motorcycle.

Once arrested on July 22, law enforcement found 5.3 ounces of methamphetamine, smoking pipe, $1,058, and a stun gun in Stephenson’s possession. He was charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, trafficking of methamphetamine, and possession of drug-related objects. The numerous felony charges each carry hefty fines and jail sentences if convicted.

Murray County Sheriff’s Office accepts drug activity tips on its website, which goes directly to the narcotics unit. Individuals can remain anonymous.

Fetch Your News will update this story as more information becomes available.