...auditors. The fees and expenses run into the thousands each year.Last year, for example, Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength spent more than $2,000 sponsoring golf tournaments, Little League baseball, charity softball teams and a bass...

...said he wasn't sure when the tips became fees collected by the sheriff for the benevolent fund.Former Sheriff Ronnie Strength said he thought that practice began under Sheriff James Beck, who served from 1977 to 1980.Freddie Sanders, who...

...institution in the state of Georgia. WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? Former Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength's friends, including lawyer Freddie Sanders, went to great lengths to keep Strength from finding out he'd been...

...The sheriff's office has been working to build a team of reserves for years.Capt. Scott Gay said former Sheriff Ronnie Strength was "adamantly against it at first." But as crime began to increase, Strength began to see advantages, and he asked...

...the names, I was involved either directly or indirectly with many of them," said former Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength, who also worked in the Augusta Police Department. "I lost four heroes while I was sheriff. Nothing is worse than...

...Harrelson, said GOHS offered its services about four years ago but was turned down. Former Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength said he preferred not to elaborate on the reason why the task force was refused."If (Operation Thunder) helps...

Former Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength originally thought moving the south precinct to a vacant building on Mike Padgett Highway was a bad idea, but at the grand opening...

...office! I can honestly say that I DO NOT know of any Harrisburg drug houses. I could NOT say this during the time Ronnie Strength was in office!!!"Butch is so dramatic.Times Flies In Prison if You're Not the Prisoner: Former Republican...

...150-per-person gala for the new sheriff? Better not be us taxpayers. I'M GLAD THERE was a nice private fete to Sheriff Ronnie Strength. I just wish there was a nice public one that more of us could attend. I CAN GET OVER the fact that Obama was re-elected...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the fifth installment of a 10-part series on the top stories of 2012. When Ronnie Strength announced in March that he would not seek another term as Richmond County sheriff, a flurry of hats was tossed into the ring as...