'Five O'clock Court' added to judges schedule
By Field Manley Millen News Intern

Chief Magistrate Judge Janice Cheney, sitting, and Magistrate Clerk Hester Oglesby. (Staff photo by Field Manley, Millen News Intern)

The Jenkins County Magistrate Judges office has taken on some new responsibilities.

Since June of last year the office has been conducting "Five O'clock Court", which takes place after regular court on the second Wednesday of every month. Chief Magistrate Judge Janice Cheney presides over this court with associate magistrate and clerk Hester Oglesby assisting her. "In five o'clock court, we handle all littering, bad checks and mobile home citations," Cheney said, adding that in the future the court will also handle county nuisance and noise violations.

The court usually handles anywhere from 10 to 30 cases when in session, according to Cheney.

Other duties of the Magistrate Court include dispossessory actions, county ordinances, criminal warrants and search warrants. "We are always on call to issue warrants," Cheney said. "These are usually issued to search for drugs."

Cheney has been working in the courthouse for 30 years, having worked for the tax assessor's office prior to being appointed to the Chief Magistrate position. She is the only Chief Magistrate Jenkins County has ever had.

Oglesby and Cheney have been working together for six and a half years. "We're a good team," Oglesby said. "We work well together."