After a huge increase in piles of garbage and debris throughout the city, officials believe they have now found a ‘logical’ solution to the problem. Instead of questioning how the city’s extreme workforce depletion may be causing residents to be fed up with their garbage not being regularly collected, the city created a hotline to report the symptom of the trash problem instead. Explore the full story to see how you can rat out your neighbor to compensate for the city’s inability to render proper services.

Back on April 6, Mayor Skip Henderson assured the public that he would name an interim chief for the Columbus Police Department ‘almost immediately.’ However, after three weeks, the officers of CPD remain without an appointed chief. Explore the full story to see how the mayor’s soft approach to public safety may have the city running him instead of the other way around.

Long-time servant-leader Colonel John House and his beloved wife Marilyn both received honors from the City of Columbus and Ft. Benning Tuesday night as House retired from public life. After House’s nominee was approved by a vote, Tyson M. Begly was sworn in to serve as the city’s new district ten at-large councilor. Explore the full story to hear the heartfelt words Col. House and his colleagues had to say during the rare and historic event.

As City Councilor John House leaves public life to care for his beloved family, there are incredible things about his leadership that we should all come to appreciate. Through an entire career of public service, John House and his wife Marilyn have given us all more than we could have hoped for. Explore the full story to see how Colonel John House continues to set the example for us all to follow throughout his life of servant leadership.

In a violent and lawless weekend throughout the Fountain City, no less than two people are dead from gunshot wounds, two others shot, and one innocent bystander was killed by a fleeing vehicle in a high-speed car chase. As the Columbus Police Department remains without an interim chief at the indecisive mercy of Mayor Henderson, our city largely continues to go underpoliced. Explore the full story for our interactive map with the details.

From the Springer Opera House planning to allow children to attend an adult-only show, to a CPD assistant chief throwing a temper tantrum after she wasn’t selected to be the interim chief, to the Springer scrambling to hastily change course after our publications held them accountable, here’s all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Georgia area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead.

In May of last year, local educator Vanessa Ellis was recognized for her exceptional teaching abilities as the Muscogee County Teacher of the Year. Now, as her dedication to students continues to exceed the standard, Ellis is a finalist for the upcoming Georgia Teacher of the Year. Explore the full story to see how you can help support outstanding teachers like Vanessa Ellis as they continue to develop the bright future of our city.

Internal messages show the Springer knew their adult play with nudity and simulated sex should require patrons to sign a waiver, but the executive staff trashed that idea opting to allow children to attend instead. After our published exposé, the Springer changed course and hastily added two contradictory disclaimers to their website. The nudity was ultimately removed and parents were finally advised of the show’s content. Explore the full story to see how the Springer scrambled to literally cover their behinds.

After police chief Freddie Blackmon accepted a severance from the city, Assistant Chief Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick threw a temper tantrum by wrongfully threatening to sue the city if she was not made the department’s interim chief. However, the position is an appointed one that officials may award to whomever they deem appropriate. Explore the full story to see why her tyrannical attempt to seize power is ironically why she should never have it.

Nine months after its original publishing, this article’s sentiments continue to expose the Springer Opera House’s haphazard and inconsistent ways. As the Springer now scrambles to alter its age restrictions for a show featuring extreme adult content, their motives and morals come into question again. Explore the full story to see how the Springer claims to be a champion of free speech, yet continues to combat speech they do not agree with.

We recently published an article exposing how the Springer’s staff currently plans to allow children to attend a play that explicitly features profane language, simulated sexual acts, and real nudity, all while receiving state grant funds. In this follow-up, we wanted to inform the public of what local organizations are funding the Springer’s production. Explore the full story to see a complete list of the Springer Opera House’s current sponsors.

Though the Springer is producing a play featuring profane language, simulated sexual acts, and real nudity, its staff currently aren’t planning to exclude children from attending. As the State Theatre of Georgia, the Springer sees no problem with using its state funding to distribute sexual content to minor children. Explore the full story to see how the disturbingly-adult content could land the Springer in seriously hot water.

From an officer of the Columbus Police Department telling the uncensored truth about our city’s violent crime, to the city manager openly stating he plans to misappropriate his position to influence a judge, to the mayor still failing to appoint an interim chief to our city’s police force, here’s all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Georgia area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead.

Immediately following police chief Freddie Blackmon’s decision to accept a severance offering, Mayor Skip Henderson stated there would be an interim chief in place ‘almost immediately.’ The next day, he walked back his words to ‘in a day or two.’ One week later, the department remains without an interim chief. Explore the full story to see how CPD is far from leaderless, despite Henderson’s delays.

Since its original publishing in July 2022, the words of this article unfortunately continue to be proven true with each passing day. Though Columbus says it wants to retain talented and educated people, its actions continue to drive them away. Explore the full story to see how this irony may provide the valuable insight needed to get it right.

In front of the entire city and its elected officials, City Manager Isaiah Hugley brazenly explained his plan to improperly use his position to directly influence a judge’s decision in hopes of achieving a predetermined outcome conducive to his political goal. The move comes after Hugley was exposed for having unethical connections to an organization that held a political protest against the city. Explore the full story for the details.

During the city council meeting on April 11, a 16-year veteran of the Columbus Police Department delivered her keen insight on CPD’s recent history and immediate future needs. The officer did not mince her words as she politely explained the realities of our city’s violent crime. Explore the full story to hear her words for yourself as she boldly and bravely chose to set the record straight for the future of our city.

As our city remains at a critical political juncture that may well determine the future direction of Columbus, residents can sometimes forget how important it is to voice their concerns to their elected officials. However, the absence of your voice is often more detrimental than anything else. Explore the full story to see how easy it really is to voice your concerns during the public agenda of a city council meeting.

Given the extreme fallout that has occurred in recent months, the initial appointment of police chief Freddie Blackmon was rather obviously quite flawed. When examined, a long pattern of behavior from our city’s elected officials reveals how that came to be. Explore the full story to see how the Columbus City Council can avoid a repeat ‘Blackmon Scenario.’

From a generous severance package being offered to police chief Freddie Blackmon, to an outright extortionary counter offer contingent upon a frivolous discrimination claim, to the chief’s acceptance of his retirement enabling a brighter future for the department, here’s all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Georgia area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead.

In the aftermath of recent events surrounding police chief Freddie Blackmon, we at the Muckraker recently published a message to our City’s Finest. Mayor Henderson’s words now appear to match our sentiments, showing he may have learned a very valuable lesson in the importance of martial leadership. Explore the full story to see how the city is starting to shape a strong foundation for a unified Columbus Police Department.

Police Chief Freddie Blackmon has accepted the severance offering from the City of Columbus, now due $400k plus additional benefits for his retirement beginning on April 30. Blackmon has also begun paid leave until that time, effective immediately. Explore the full story as we begin to take a look at what comes next for the Columbus Police Department, along with a special message for our City’s Finest.

On April 5, WTVM made an embarrassing past-tense Facebook post about the special meeting called by city council before the meeting had even occurred. More interestingly, the article contained objectively false and misleading info about how city council can legally remove a city officer. Explore the full story to see how a few tactful comments from the Muckraker caused WTVM to pull their false article from their website completely.

Just hours before police chief Freddie Blackmon’s 5:00 p.m. deadline on Wednesday, April 5 to either accept or reject the generous severance package offered to him by Mayor Skip Henderson, the Columbus City Council called for a Special Meeting to be held in executive session on Thursday, April 6, at 3:00 p.m. The meeting was called to discuss ‘personnel and potential litigation.’ This is a breaking story. Stay with the Muckraker and check back for updates.

After Chief Blackmon presented his inept strategic plan, Mayor Henderson offered him a generous severance. In a video news interview given the following day, Henderson blatantly lied to the entire city by saying he didn’t think Blackmon would be removed. Explore the full story to see how Henderson seeks to save his own face instead of the city he’s supposed to lead.

Even though police chief Freddie Blackmon isn’t entitled to any severance at all and can be terminated at any time without cause, he sent a laughable counter offer anyway. The offer established a quid pro quo, stating he would withdraw his erroneous claims of ‘discrimination’ if the city pays him more. Explore the full story to see why that’s a crime, along with the other laughable claims made in the counter offer.

Though police chief Freddie Blackmon is not entitled to any severance package whatsoever, the city of Columbus, Georgia provided Blackmon with the opportunity to bow out gracefully through a very generous offer anyway. Explore the full story to see why city officials can choose to terminate any city officer at their sole discretion, along with a complete look at what Blackmon’s very polite offer contains.

From the city manager being exposed for having deep connections to an organization holding political protests against the city, to a local news outlet being caught trying to cover it up, to the city manager himself inadvertently admitting to funding the organization, here’s all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Georgia area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead.

After record-low crime rates controlled by the outstanding rise in police recruitment & retention under police chief Freddie Blackmon, a national association has taken note. The city was also noted for its absence of political corruption, particularly how there are absolutely no city officers recently tied to political protests against the city. Explore the full story to see how foolish it would be to ignore our city’s prestigious award.

After our investigation revealed city manager Isaiah Hugley’s close ties to the organization that hosted a political protest against the city, Hugley released a statement claiming he had ‘nothing to do’ with the protest. However, the same statement inadvertently admitted his conflict of interest by being a ‘financially active’ member. Explore the full story to see how Hugley’s statement could land him in some seriously hot water.