JONESBORO COMMUNITY NEWS
Volume 25, Issue 7 July 2021
One Great Community, Many Stories
Joy B. Day, Mayor jday@jonesboroga.com
Council: Pat Sebo-Hand, Mayor Protem Bobby Lester Tracey Messick Billy Powell Donya Sartor Ed Wise Ricky L. Clark, Jr., City Mgr. Tommy Henderson, III Chief of Police Richard A. Godfrey, Asst. Chief of Police David Allen, Comm. Development Joe Nettleton, Pub. Works Dir. Pat Daniel, Asst. City Clerk Ken Thompson, Finance Derry Walker, Code Enforcement Fincher Denmark, Legal Counsel Keith Wood, Municipal Judge Jerry Patrick, Solicitor City Hall (770) 478-3800 Jonesboro PD (770) 478-7407 NON-Emergency # (770) 477-3550 TIP LINE: (470) 543-2011
Jonesboro Police Department Receives CJCC Grant
Under the leadership of Chief Tommy Henderson and through the efforts of Asst. Chief Richard Godfrey, the Jonesboro Police Department has received a $62,5000 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Grant. The grant will be used for the sole purpose of enhancing training options with officers for de-escalation and use of force strategies. Through the purchase of a state-of-the art Apex Officer Virtual Training Simulator SysAsst. Chief Richard Godfrey tem, training will be conducted quarterly and officers will receive feedback on their responses and additional training if necessary. The instruction is designed to prepare our officers so that they are equipped to appropriately interact with members of the public and foster a more cohesive relationship and partnership. This dynamic training equipment will allow our instructors the ability to create over 1,994,727 scenarios that range from no force to deadly force scenarios/exercises; it will continue to evolve with future updates at no cost to the City. The CJCC grant will cover the entire cost of the training equipment. Future plans include involving members of the community in experiencing the training scenario simulator.
Independence Day Parade
STREET PAVING IN THE CITY
on Main Street! July 3, 4:00 pm
Through a Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) administered by the Georgia Department of Transportation, streets will be paved during the Summer of 2021. After applying for the grant and receiving confirmation, Mayor Day announced the following streets would be paved : Cloud Street, Mercer Court, Mercer Drive, and Northlake Drive. The City is required to provide a minimum 30% match for any/all LMIG funding received through GDOT. Mark your calendar NOW and
Wind Down with us at the Park on Fridays! July 2 August 6 September 3 Sponsored by the Jonesboro Main Street
Call City Hall if you would like to participate… (770) 478-3800
CLEAN UP DAY IN THE CITY* Join the fun! Saturday, July 24 Meet @ Lee Street Park 10:00 a.m. *Equipment and Lunch Provided Sponsored by the Jonesboro Beautification Commission
Get to Know…
Derry Walker
Get to Know…
Lori Cuendet
JPD STATS: MAY 2021 Citations 343 Warnings 95 Accidents 73 Arrests 39 Warrants: 317 (FTA) 317 DUI: 5 CID Active Cases 143 Probation, Active Cases 281 VOP Warrants 219 Training Hours 431* *Use of Force, Fundamentals of Drug Identification, Basic Mandate, Firearms, GACP Training
Chief Code Enforcement Officer, Derry Walker, has worked for the City since 2012. Born in Atlanta, GA, Derry has over 20 years experience in his field. He ensures that the health, safety and welfare are preserved for all who live, work, or visit the City of Jonesboro. Derry enjoys fishing, hunting, camping, riding motorcycles, and spending time with family and friends. He is married, the father of five children, and also has five grandchildren.
Lori Cuendet, a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, has served as TAC Officer/Records Clerk for JPD since October 2020. She confirms/clears warrants, compiles driving and criminal histories for City Court, and ensures GBI certifications for employees are current. Lori assists with police reports, receives payments, runs background checks, and employee applications. Lori enjoys yardwork, sewing, crafting and camping in the mountains. She has been married 45 years and has one daughter. Lori served as a dispatcher for 20 years, and an EMT for 24 years. She has received two life-saving awards for CPR instructions. (Both patients recovered).
our City was the proud recipient of the 2020 Chief’s Award from Clayton County Fire & Emergency for providing Answers pageServices 4 hand made masks to our first responders at the beginning of the pandemic. Ms. Divins made over 5,000 masks during the pandemic. Congratulations and thank you, Ms. Divins.
3 lb. 14 oz. 17 inches long Congratulations to parents, Amanda and Jason Sebo. Proud Grandparents are Councilmember Pat Sebo-Hand and Darryl Hand.
Natalie Skye Beard June 8, 2021 7 lbs, 19 In. long 19 inches long
Pictured at right: Chief Landry Merkerson, CC F& E Services and Ms. Ellen Divins
Mr. Barton was Principal at Suder Elementary for 19 years
Athens, Georgia
To Parents Lilian Jordan and Police Recruit Justin Beard On the birth of your daughter
Ms. Ellen Divins of
Doug Barton
Born: May 10, 2021
Congratulations
CHIEF’S AWARD
IN MEMORY
ASHER PAUL SEBO
Thursday July 22, 5:30 pm “The Grove” North McDonough Street Food...Music...Fellowship. Come out and Meet Your Neighbors! Sponsored by the Jonesboro Beautification Committee
DANIEL C. BARNES IS A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR
Currently a student at Elite Scholars Academy, Daniel C. Barnes is starting his businesses career early. He is the sole proprietor of “CLOUXDYRAGS,”, which offers customers Luxury Durags. Daniel hosted a table at a recent Pop-Up Shop in the City, and he offers a wide variety of styles. Contact him at www.clouxdyrags.com or Text “CLOUDXY’ to 844-945-1869 for a 10% discount. Congratulations, Daniel, and best wishes in your future career.
IN REMEMBRANCE
JONESBORO FARMERS MARKET
Saturday, 10 a.m-1 pm Wednesday, 10 am-1 pm Lee Street Park
YARD OF THE MONTH
Commissioner Sonna Singleton Gregory
IN MEMORY
SEND US A MESSAGE!
“I like living in Jonesboro because….” Email to jay@jonesboroga.com or call City Hall and tell Cable, Maria, or Pat! (770) 478-3800
119 Evenview Drive Eric Carston
Mr. Carston has lived in the city for four years.
FRONT PORCH PLAYERS ARE BACK!
“The Guys” - A beautiful tribute to the fallen heroes of 9/11 August 20-22, 27-29
“Walking Across Egypt”- Growing older & bridging the gap between Doris Mae Sluder 1926-2021
generations. November 12-13, 19-21.
All performances at Jonesboro Presbyterian Church. www.frontporchplayers.com
AROUND TOWN
The Community News Jonesboro City Hall
Pre-Sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Jonesboro, GA Permit No. 7
124 North Avenue Jonesboro, GA 30236
COMMUNITY CALENDAR JUL 1
DDA, 6 pm, PD
JUL 2
Food Truck Friday, LSP, 5 pm
JUL 3
4th of July Parade, 4 pm
JUL 3
Free Concert, LSP, 7 pm
JUL 7
Design Review Comm., 4:30 pm
JULY 5
City Holiday, Offices closed
JULY 12 City Court, 8 am, PD JULY 12 City Work Session/Council, 6 pm
JULY 19 Historic Comm., 5:30 pm, CH JULY 22 Block Party, The Grove, 5:30 pm JULY 24 City Clean up Day, 10 am, LSP JULY 26 City Court, 8 am, PD JUL 26
Beautification Comm., 5:30 pm
JUL 27
Promotions Comm., 4:30 pm
The Community News is published at Jonesboro City Hall. Written & Edited by Mayor Joy B. Day. To submit news, email jday@jonesboroga.com
WHERE IN THE CITY?
CITY ARCHIVES
First three callers win a Dairy Queen prize! Call Pat or Maria (770) 478-3800
We need NEWS! If you live in the City, we need to hear from you about promotions, retirements, special birthdays, etc. jday@jonesboroga.com or call (770) 478-3800
Mike, Vicki, and Joey Smith 1983
Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine is the Next Step Toward Normalcy. The livelihoods of so many Georgia workers and business owners rely on the ability for all of us to gather in groups again, and the only way to achieve this is by widespread vaccine adoption.
Get your vaccine today...protect yourself and others.