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Ludowici looks for new chief
MR CityCouncil
Debbie Bolick was sworn in at the January meeting. Bolick replaced Donald Combs Sr., who retired, for the 4th district. - photo by Mike Riddle / Coastal Courier
LUDOWICI - At the Jan. 8, Ludowici City Council meeting, several items of business were on the agenda, but none more important than those dealing with the city police department.
As of the meeting, the council had not replaced retired Police Chief Frank McClelland Sr., but according to Mayor Myrtice Warren, Assistant Chief Richard Robertson was filling the position.
"We are still accepting applications for the position, and we are also talking to Richard about the job," Warren said.
She said that even though Robertson was heading up the department now, he had turned in a letter informing the council he may be leaving the department soon.
The mayor also said the city was accepting applications for a full-time certified police officer.
When asked about the capability of the police department, Councilman Frank McClelland Jr. said, "The department has made shift adjustments to make sure we can cover the city, and we will do whatever is necessary to continue to provide adequate protection and service to the citizens."
In other police related business, the council approved raising the rate of prison meals from $4.50 to $5 per meal, and discussed the possibility of increasing rate charged to hold federal prisoners. Currently the rate is $30 per night.
The council also voted to rehire all city employees at the meeting, however due to financial strains, the employees were hired on an interim basis.
According to Councilman James Fuller, "We are just doing this temporarily until we can make some adjustments at the city with the finances."
The council also discussed the possibility of extending the city limits, and City Attorney Richard Phillips said there were two ways to do this; either take the measure through the state legislature or do so by self-governing at the local level. However, the attorney did say that for it to be feasible, the council would probably need to make a decision on what they wanted to annex by the February meeting.
All city councilmen were sworn in by Judge Richard Phillips. Aldermen who took oaths of office were A.A. "Zip" Billings, James Fuller Jr., Frank McClelland Jr., Gwendolyn Davis and Debbie Bolick. Warren and Municipal Court Judge Larry M. Fowler Sr. also were sworn in.  
The council also reappointed Phillips as city attorney and appointed Cathy Stapleton to represent Ludowici on the Long County Board of Health.
Arthur Davis, owner of the Ludowici Car Wash, report on the business since he purchased it.
We've been fixing it up and have eliminated the drainage problem. I'm up there every day, and people are telling me that it looks great."
Mary Hamilton informed the council of the activities planned for the Martin Luther King holiday on Jan. 21, and invited members to the celebration at Long County High School.
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3rd ID, Army, allies mourn four soldiers lost in accident
Farewell ceremony set for Thursday morning in Lithuanian capital
four soldiers

The four U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania have been identified.  

The Army has confirmed the four soldiers who died when their vehicle sank into a bog as Staff Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, 25, PFC Dante Taitano, 21, and Staff Sgt. Troy Knutson-Collins, 28.

"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies - and our own sailors, airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers - have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.” 

The four soldiers, who were the crew of a M88A2 armored recovery vehicle, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25. Their vehicle eventually was found March 26 but it was beneath approximately 14 feet of water and sunk into more than six feet of mud.

Crews worked to drain the area around the vehicle to make it stable for heavy equipment needed to pull out the M88. U.S. Navy divers were flown in and attached cables to hoist points so the submerged vehicle could be lifted out of the bog.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd ID commanding general. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.” 

Knutson-Collins, Duenez Jr., and Franco were all posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

Knutson-Collins was an artillery mechanic with over seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2018 and was assigned to 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion.

Knutson-Collins graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Tracked Vehicle Recovery Operations course, and the Combat Lifesaver course. He deployed to Korea in 2020.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Master Technician Badge.

“Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, commander, Foxtrot Company, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.”

“The pain we feel from this loss is insurmountable,” said Lt. Col. Erick Buckner, 1/41 Field Artillery Battalion commander. “Staff Sgt. Knutson-Collins was well loved throughout our unit and a brother to all. He was an expert, an incredibly talented mechanic and a warrior. We will never forget his dedication to his unit, his family and his country.”

“We are incredibly relieved that we were able to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, who also grew up on Fort Stewart. “We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission. Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade.” 

Throughout the seven-day recovery effort, the combined and joint team worked day and night to find the soldiers. 

“As the fourth and final soldier has been recovered from this tragic accident, we will continue to mourn their loss as we work to quickly return our Dog Face Soldiers home to their families,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps and former Fort Stewart and 3rd ID commanding general. “It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.” 

All four soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide credible ground deterrence alongside Allies and partners, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. 

“I'm immensely proud of our entire team. They have been relentless in their efforts to search and recover our soldiers and get every capability and asset necessary to enable this effort,” Gen. Donahue said. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also posted on X his sorrow at the loss of the four soldiers.

“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen soldiers,” he wrote. “Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them. The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.”

A farewell ceremony for the soldiers will be held Thursday morning in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

“Every soldier is also a Lithuanian soldier, and their families’ pain is our pain,” said a statement from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army is investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

"We continue to stand by the families and loved ones through this incredibly difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Norrie. “Now, it’s time to bring them home.” 

 

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