Ben Wright, The Ledger-Enquirer

Ben Wright

The Ledger-Enquirer

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Past:
  • The Ledger-Enquirer
  • The Telegraph
  • The Kansas City Star

Past articles by Ben:

Columbus Council approves five new Recorder’s Court pro-tem judges

Columbus Council unanimously approved the appointment of Cynthia Maisano Griffin, Susan Henderson, Bob Wadkins Sr., Jennifer Cooley and Traci Green Courville for the Recorder’s Court of Columbus for a four-year term Tuesday. → Read More

Columbus assistant police chief’s new plan to fight crime gets pushback from the inside

Chaplains Roy Isasi, 58, and Donald Hall, 53, were ordered to leave their desk jobs at the Public Safety Center more than a week ago to shore up a police force with 81 open positions. Isasi decided to retire. → Read More

Pedestrian killed while trying to cross Veterans Parkway in Columbus, coroner says

Erick Bronson, 58, of Columbus was pronounced dead of blunt force trauma at 11:07 p.m. , Coroner Buddy Bryan said. No autopsy is planned in the death because there were three witnesses to the crash. → Read More

Phenix City woman gunned down in driveway on Fourth Place South, coroner says

Erica Elias, 36, was pronounced dead of multiple gunshots at 10:20 a.m. at the scene , said Coroner Arthur Sumbry Jr. → Read More

Metra buses break down three to four times daily but riders are up, director says

Over 4,000 riders use Metra public transportation daily in Columbus, Ga., and deal with maintenance issues like faulty transmissions, check engine lights, excessive smoking, oil leaks and burning smell. → Read More

Body of Columbus woman found in creek off Lee Road 454 , coroner says

Amy Katherine Hagler, 47, of Columbus, was pronounced dead of unknown causes at the scene by Lee County Coroner Bill Harris. → Read More

Phenix City man accused of disseminating pornography of children under age 17, police say

Bobby Jay Barbee, 56, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of dissemination or display of child pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography → Read More

More than $11,000 in ecstasy, drugs and cash seized on Macon Road, police say

Police seized more than $11,000 in ecstasy, meth and cash Tuesday during a search by the Special Operations Unit on Macon Road, Columbus police said. → Read More

Domestic dispute leaves 55-year-old man dead on Tip Top Drive, coroner says

John Allport was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound at 4 p.m. at 2950 Tip Top Drive, Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said. He said Allport’s body will go to the state crime lab in Decatur for an autopsy. → Read More

After 11 years and $1.5 million, there is no hope for Water Witch at Naval Museum

Concerns are growing over the Water Witch on Victory Drive, 11 years after supporters raised $1.5 million to place the Civil War replica in front of the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus. → Read More

Man dies of gunshot more than week after shooting on Parkchester Drive, coroner says

Ronnie Brooks Jr., 24, was pronounced dead at 1:40 p.m. Friday in the intensive care unit at Piedmont Columbus Regional midtown campus, Coroner Buddy Bryan said. → Read More

Man, woman die in Auburn after shootout and apartment fire on Stonegate Drive

A man believed to be Christopher James Wallace, 38, and an unidentified woman were removed from the rubble of an apartment and pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. Friday, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said. → Read More

Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition staying in Columbus, mayor Henderson says

The Miss Georgia Scholarship Competition will celebrate 75 years in Columbus when pageant contestants take the stage at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Mayor Berry “Skip” Henderson announced Saturday. → Read More

City truck driver, 72, charged in fatal crash Jan. 31 on River Road, police say

Lewis Triester, 72, is charged with one count each of failing to yield and misdemeanor homicide by vehicle second degree in the death of James Gibson of Fortson. → Read More

Math teacher at Randolph-Clay dies in two-vehicle crash on Po Biddy Road in Talbotton

Kevin Smith, 54, was pronounced dead of massive head injuries at 9:30 p.m. at the scene of the crash, said Talbot County Coroner Clinton Cosby. → Read More

Residents at forum want cost estimates on options for new Government Center

About 33 residents who gathered at the Salvation Army Community Center Tuesday on Warm Springs Road favor moving to a new site and also building a court building at the current location but moving the administration building to a new site. → Read More

More than 250 trees getting replanted along J.R. Allen Parkway, at shopping center

Months after a contractor cut more trees than the permit allowed, a local business, the city of Columbus and the state have agreed on a $75,000 plan to replace trees on J.R. Allen Parkway and Columbus Park Crossing. → Read More

Son of former school board member found slain at Castlegate Apartments, coroner says

John Wells Jr. , 55, was pronounced dead at 2:25 a.m. of a gunshot wound at an apartment, according to Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison → Read More

Man, 35, gunned down on his front porch in Lee County, sheriff’s office says

Fletcher Lewayne Tolbert, 35, was found on the porch about 7:30 a.m. CST after residents reported hearing what sounded like several gunshot about 11 p.m. Tuesday but didn’t report them to authorities. → Read More

Warning sirens tested for Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Georgia

The city’s outdoor warning sirens went off about 9 a.m. Wednesday as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week for the state of Georgia, the Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services said. → Read More