Area briefs: Sheriff’s Conference at Classic Center, sheriff’s candidate in Jackson Co

The second annual Law Enforcement Community Engagement Conference that kicked off Sunday continues today at the Classic Center. The four-day event is organized and hosted by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office.

Madison County Commissioners meet this evening, a 6 o’clock session at the County Government Complex in Danielsville.

Chris Nichols becomes the latest candidate to announce for Sheriff in Jackson County. He’s running to replace retiring Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum in next year’s election.

It’s a top honor for a city in Hart County: the Georgia Downtown Association names Hartwell as this year’s Downtown of the Year.

A 23 year-old man, now identified as Edgar Martinez, has died while swimming in Lake Lanier. Rescue and recovery crews from Gwinnett and Forsyth counties say the body was found Sunday, discovered in about ten feet of water off Lanier Park.

There is an ongoing investigation in Newton County, with firefighters working to determine the cause of the Sunday blaze that destroyed several buildings on the historic square in downtown Covington. There were no reports of any injuries.

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