Convenience Store Robbed

The Dade County Sheriff's Department responded to the Smart Mart, located 243 Hwy 301 South, to a strong–armed robbery around 7 a.m. Tuesday.

A white male wearing a mask entered the store demanding money. He assaulted the clerk and took the cash register before leaving the scene in a white car.

No other details were available at press time.

Dade County law enforcement also arrested 27–year–old Alabama resident Tillman Haswell Merritt on Jan. 29, on two counts of burglary that occurred at the convenience store located at 66 Highway 136 West and at the B Mart, located at 10125 Highway 301 North.

Jackson County authorities arrested Merritt on a warrant taken out by Dade County. Merritt was taken into custody by the Dade County Sheriff's department and is being held at the Jackson County jail for Dade County.

The investigation is ongoing.

Real Estate Tax Sale

The Dade County Tax Commission will hold one of its periodic real estate tax auctions Feb. 5, beginning at 10 a.m. on the steps of the new courts facility.

As of last week, there were 22 properties on the auction block for unpaid taxes, though Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner Angie Galloway said with any luck at least some of them should be paid up and off the list by Tuesday.

Owners have until the morning of the sale to redeem their properties, and in fact even after the sale have a year to pay off the new owner and reclaim their real estate.  

For those who wish to bid, a list of the still-available properties may be obtained by emailing Ms. Galloway at angiegalloway-@dadecounty-ga.gov. The tax office may also be called at (706) 657-7563.