Residents living near 1277 Baxter St. in Hinesville’s Pine Ridge subdivision were evacuated Wednesday afternoon after discovery of a Mexican War or Civil War-era cannon ball, according to Mike Hodges, director of Liberty County Emergency Management Administration.

On hand to protect the public were the EMA, Hinesville Police Department, Hinesville Fire Department and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Hodges said they were blocking off the area until the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team arrived.

“We have a young man here who went to the dump to get rid of some trash,” explained Hodges. “While he was there, he found what looked like a cannon ball and brought it home. He probably thought it was worth something. They did some checking on the Internet and determined it was from either the Mexican or Civil War.”

Hodges said a closer look at the cannon ball revealed the fuse appeared to still be in it, and therefore, it still might be armed.  The police and other emergency services were called at that time, he said.

According to Assistant EMA Director Larry Logan, the dump where the cannon ball was found was JV Landfill off Highway 196 near Gum Branch. The young man said he found it in a dumpster marked “household Items.” As he relayed this information, HPD officers conferred with other agencies about getting someone out to that landfill in case there are other cannon balls in the Dumpster.

Look for more information about this developing story in Friday’s Coastal Courier.